AO: This project related to our broader work looking at the use of ICTs as part of Kenyan elections (e.g. Umati). Our close relationship with Ushahidi and their election-specific project, Uchaguzi made it easier for us to gain access to many of the various process meetings, and interview the people involved (things that a non-Kenya-based research organization would not have been able to do). However, our closeness was also challenging as it required us to be very sensitive in how we framed our critique and suggetions. In the end, I believe we were able to navigate this challenge well and I think this project is a solid example where documentation of the processes from an "insider" perspective was only possible because of the unique position of iHub Research looking at Nairobi's technology world from a social scientist's perspective.
Rhoda Omenya, "Final Report: Uchaguzi Kenya 2013", contributed by Angela Okune, STS Infrastructures, Platform for Experimental Collaborative Ethnography, last modified 9 July 2018, accessed 21 November 2024. https://stsinfrastructures.org/content/final-report-uchaguzi-kenya-2013
Critical Commentary
AO: This project related to our broader work looking at the use of ICTs as part of Kenyan elections (e.g. Umati). Our close relationship with Ushahidi and their election-specific project, Uchaguzi made it easier for us to gain access to many of the various process meetings, and interview the people involved (things that a non-Kenya-based research organization would not have been able to do). However, our closeness was also challenging as it required us to be very sensitive in how we framed our critique and suggetions. In the end, I believe we were able to navigate this challenge well and I think this project is a solid example where documentation of the processes from an "insider" perspective was only possible because of the unique position of iHub Research looking at Nairobi's technology world from a social scientist's perspective.