Research data management challenges in Kenya: the case of private universities in Nairobi County

Abstract

This research paper is a spinoff from a Doctoral degree study that was carried out at the University of KwaZulu-Natal between 2017-2019. The aim of the study was to establish the role private university libraries in Nairobi, Kenya play in supporting eResearch and the challenges thereof that librarians and researchers face in the process of managing data. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative epistemological approaches with semi structured interviews and survey questionnaires to collect data from a population consisting of university librarians, faculty members and doctoral students respectively. The population was sampled purposively. The qualitative and quantitative data sets were analysed using SPSS and content analysis respectively. The findings revealed several challenges, which included among others the lack of strategies and policies to guide research data management support, the lack of integrated RDM policies, a research process that was fragmented, and limited ICT policies and infrastructures. The institutionalisation of RDM in the private universities in Kenya is therefore urgent and imperative. The findings have policy, practical and theoretical implications for the effective RDM in Kenyan private universities in order to enhance scientific and scholarly communications. While the focus of the study limits generalisation of the findings, other universities may gain insights on RDM challenges within university settings.