Browsing by Author "Rotich, Daniel Chebutuk"
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- ItemInformation services provided by Maarifa Telecentres to rural communities in ASALs in Kenya(University of Zululand, 2019) Chege, Catherine W.; Kiplang’at, Joseph; Rotich, Daniel ChebutukTelecentres are established to provide information, to bridge the information and digital gap, foster development and confront the requirements of the poverty stricken in remote and isolated rural areas in developing nations. The purpose of this study was to explore information services provided by two Maarifa centres to rural communities in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) in Kenya. The specific objective was to establish the information needs of ASAL communities served by Maarifa centres; to explore information services provided by Maarifa centres to ASAL communities; to analyse the challenges and prospects of Maarifa centres in the provision of information to rural communities in Kenya and to make recommendations for the improvement of information services to ASALs communities in Kenya. The study employed a multiple case study research design as an overall strategy and drew upon multiple data sources to develop a triangulation of methods. Qualitative research was administered as a predominant approach. Data was gathered through interviews from a sample of 20 respondents from each Maarifa centre: Isinya in Kajiado and Ng’arua in Laikipia counties. In addition, two focus group discussions were administered with the respondents of the two Maarifa centres. Key informants included directors and programme coordinators of Maarifa centres and government agencies who provide infrastructural support to the telecentre project. This study was informed by the Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) theoretical framework namely: the ‘Sustainable Livelihoods Approach’ (SLA) framework. The findings of this study suggest that Maarifa centres are points of Arid Lands Information Networks (ALINs) engagement with communities living in ASALs. People appreciate Maarifa centres as places to access information, acquire ICT skills, and improve livelihood activities such as agriculture and businesses and for social communication. The challenges are mainly infrastructural such as poor connectivity and Internet access. This study revealed that Maarifa centres have solved most of the community’s information related challenges through egovernment services, e-commerce and agricultural development and knowledge creation, resulting in improved livelihoods. The study contributes to knowledge because it adopts a community-centred approach that focuses on the views of users of Maarifa centres.
- ItemThe present and future growth of scholarly publishing in Africa(University of Zululand, 2011-01) Rotich, Daniel ChebutukScholarly publishing in Africa, though still struggling to keep pace with the rest of the world, has made major progress. Many universities in Africa are seriously engaged in scholarly publishing, both in print and electronic formats. The outputs of research are constantly disseminated in universities, at conferences and during seminars; the same are then published as proceedings or in refereed journals. The various initiatives by African universities provide opportunities to researchers to present their findings for discussion before submission for publication in various scholarly journals published by universities or those collaborating with publishing houses. The journals provide an avenue for disseminating research findings from Africa, hence adding to the already existing body of knowledge by researchers from other parts of the world. The advent of electronic publishing has widened the space and opportunity for African researchers to publish their work. Most African universities maintain some sections on their websites for uploading research findings. The uploaded materials, whether proceedings or already published work elsewhere, contribute to the visibility of African research in the world. Scholarly journal publishing, therefore, has the potential to encourage research in Africa.