Constraints on research productivity in Kenyan universities: case study of university of Nairobi, Kenya

Besides teaching, research has become a core function of universities around the world. Yet, like in many African countries, Kenyan universities still lag behind in terms of research productivity, due to factors many researchers refer to as constraints. This study which was conducted in the University of Nairobi sought to analyze constraints that influence research productivity in the university. Specific constraints that the study sought to analyze their impacts on research productivity included; resource constraints, institutional constraints, cultural constraints and other concepts and issues that impact on research productivity in the University of Nairobi. The study also sought to understand the respondents’ view on the overall status of research productivity in the University of Nairobi. Being the largest and the leading research university in the country, the researcher believed that the findings arising from the study of the University of Nairobi could appropriately be generalized to other universities in Kenya. The target populations of the study were the research personnel of the six colleges of the University of Nairobi. Data were collected by use of both open and closed ended questionnaires. The collected data were then analyzed and the findings presented by use of tables, graphs and charts. The study concluded that resource constraints, institutional constrains and cultural constraints have impact on the research productivity in the University of Nairobi. In the overall, the study established that research productivity in the University of Nairobi is at fair level. This view was overwhelmingly supported by the majority of respondents (62%). Other concepts and issues that were stated to have impact on research productivity included; lack of funds, poor management, lack of dissemination and implementation of research findings, inadequate materials and equipment, lack of incentives and rewards to researchers and sophisticated procurement procedures.