Mutual Aid and Open Access Publishing in Africa: Who Benefits? Specific Reference to Kenya

Abstract

Purpose – A proper mutual aid partnership in research and publishing is one that bridges the knowledge gap between the developed and developing countries in ways that reduce the interregional generational knowledge imbalances. In view of the low purchasing power in developing countries, open access (OA) publishing avails needed reading material for all who have access to the internet. Foreign sponsored researches in developing countries can uplift the living standards of the people in these regions if the results of the findings can influence policy and are availed to the people studied. This study sought to find out if research findings of these are published in OA publications. Design/methodology/approach – This study conducted a survey on leading local medical research institutions in Kenya using secondary data and interviews with key informants in these institutions. Findings – The results failed to support the hypothesis that foreign sponsored researches are published in prescribed journals as a prerequisite by the sponsors. The findings instead indicated that local researchers published in international subscription journals because of their desire for prestige and reach. Consequently, the North-South knowledge inequality is perpetuated more by the local elite, whose international recognition overrides social benefits, thereby supporting the hypothesis that foreign funded researches on mutual aid in Kenya result in more private than social benefits. Practical implications – There is need for the local learned society to embrace a paradigm shift towards building reputable local journals and accept the OA concept. Originality – To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first study on this subject in Kenya.