The role of Kenyan universities in promoting research and scholarly publishing

Abstract

This study examined the role of Kenyan universities in promoting research and scholarly publishing. Two universities, one public and one private, were sampled from the total number of seventy-one universities in Kenya. From a population of 433 in total, 111 participants were sampled from the two universities and from the Commission for University Education (CUE). Qualitative and quantitative data were collected using questionnaires and interviews. The study revealed that the role of CUE in promoting research and scholarly publishing has not yet been fully realised in universities and that incentives offered to university faculty members to research and publish are ineffective. Faculty members of universities experienced research challenges including: inadequate research funding and infrastructure, poorly funded libraries, insufficient time for research and training, and a poor research culture. The study concluded that there is a need for universities to motivate and facilitate their faculty members to undertake research and publish research findings. CUE should play an active role in promoting research and scholarly publishing in Kenyan universities.