Maximising the socioeconomic value of indigenous knowledge through policies and legislation in Kenya

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-05-2018-0043
Published date04 February 2019
Date04 February 2019
Pages60-75
AuthorSally Chepchirchir,Tom Kwanya,Alice Kamau
Subject MatterLibrary & information science,Information behaviour & retrieval,Information in society,Information literacy,Library & information services
Maximising the socioeconomic
value of indigenous knowledge
through policies and
legislation in Kenya
Sally Chepchirchir
Karatina University, Karatina, Kenya
Tom Kwanya
Technical University of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya, and
Alice Kamau
Karatina University, Karatina, Kenya
Abstract
Purpose Indigenous knowledge (IK)is the anchor of survival and stability for indigenous communities.
The purpose of this study was to establishhow the socioeconomic value of IK can be maximised in Kenya
through effectiveenactment and implementation of relevant policiesand legislation.
Design/methodology/approach The study adopteda mixed methods research using a survey design.
The target population comprised 104 top- and middle-level managers drawn from organisations
implementing diverse IK policies and legislation. Primary data were collected from the target population
using questionnaires.Additional data were collected usingcontent analysis of IK policies and legislation.The
collected data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the help of IBMs Statistical
Package for SocialSciences (SPSS Version 22) software.
Findings The ndings revealed a low awareness of the IK policies and legislation by the
stakeholders. It also became evident that the policies and legislation relevant to IK are not
implemented effectively. The authors conclude that policies and legislation do not maximise the
socioeconomic value of IK in Kenya.
Originality/value This is an original study which has practical implications for the use of IK for
socioeconomic purposes. The ndings of the study may be used to inuence policy formulation and
implementation; theory on IK; and practiceswhich mainstream IK in socioeconomic activities in Kenya and
beyond.
Keywords Kenya, Knowledge management, Intellectual property, Indigenous knowledge,
Legal aspects, Policies and legislation
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Indigenous knowledge(IK) is dened as the distinctive, local knowledge which is developed
within and around the specic conditions of indigenous community of a given area
(Kwanya, 2015). Other scholars have provided varied denitions of what constitutes IK.
Masango (2010) dened IK as the totalityof all knowledge and practices established on past
experiences and observations that is held and used by people. Semali and Kincheloe (1999)
argue that IK reects the dynamic ways in which the residents of an area have come to
understand themselves in relationshipto their environment and how they organize that folk
GKMC
68,1/2
60
Received4 May 2018
Revised17 July 2018
3 September2018
Accepted25 September 2018
GlobalKnowledge, Memory and
Communication
Vol.68 No. 1/2, 2019
pp. 60-75
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2514-9342
DOI 10.1108/GKMC-05-2018-0043
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2514-9342.htm
knowledge of ora and fauna, cultural beliefs and history to enhancetheir lives. According
to Agrawal (1995), IK has becomea new area of attraction in socioeconomic development as
demonstrated by the growing interest in it from researchers, donors, writers and scholars.
He further explains that although IK was earlier seen as inferior, inefcientand an obstacle
to development, todays thinking has recognized the value it holds for sustainable
development.
In the emerging global knowledge economy a countrys ability to build and mobilize
knowledge capital is equally essential for sustainable development as the availability of
physical and nancial capital (World Bank, 1997). The basic component of any countrys
knowledge system is its IK as it encompasses the skills, experiences and insights of people
applied to maintain or improve their livelihoods. The World Bank (2004) explains that IK
provides the basis for problem-solvingstrategies for local communities, especially the poor,
and it represents an important component of global knowledge on development issues.
Nonetheless, the World Bank (2004) also points out that IK is an underutilized resource in
the development process suggests that learning from IK by investigating rst what local
communities know and have can improve the understanding of local conditions; provide a
productive context for activities designed to help the communities; and increase
responsiveness to issues. It further proposes that adapting international practices to the
local setting can help improve the impact and sustainability of development assistance;
sharing IK within and across communities can help enhance cross-cultural understanding
and promote the cultural dimension of development;and most importantly, investing in the
exchange of IK and its integrationinto the assistance programs of development partners can
help to reduce poverty.
Access to relevant information has been documented to be crucial to the economic,
political and socialwell-being of any community. The 1998-1999 World DevelopmentReport
(World Bank, 1999) noted that knowledge, not capital, is the key to sustainable economic
and social development. Mundy and Compton (1991) noted that indigenous technical
knowledge is a new focus in developmentcircles and that growing numbers of scientists and
organizations recognize that it offers affordable and locally adaptable solutions to
development problems. Gachanga (2005) argues, however, that despite the
acknowledgement of the important role IK plays in sustainable development, many
governments, donors and NGOs appear to make little use of this valuable resource. Their
recognition of IK often amounts to littlemore than lip service seldom translating into action
or funding.
A study sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in
Kenya, Tanzania, Swaziland and South Africa and conducted between 2004 and 2006
concluded that the value of indigenous knowledge lies in its ability to deliver social
and economic goods; [and] that certain traditional practices if popularized, and
integrated with modern knowledge systems, can help to alleviate poverty (Steiner,
2008). The study also found that IK systems have enabled communities in those
countries to live in harmony with their environments for generations as evidenced in
agricultural production, food preservation and storage, healthcare, environmental
conservation and natural disaster management. The rural poor depend on IK for
specic skills essential for their survival. However, Sithole (2007) notes that very little
IK has been captured and recorded yet it represents an immensely valuable database
that provides humankind with insights on how numerous communities have
interacted with their changing environments, including resources of ora and fauna
and warned that IK is vulnerable to attrition if it is not recorded for storage and wider
transmission. Indigenous communities used oral communication and hands-on
Value of
indigenous
knowledge
61

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