Collaboration And Transdisciplinary Research During Covid-19 Crisis: A Lesson From Kenya
Samuel Mwangi Wanjiku
Tübingen University, Germany
Joe Wanyua
Maseno University, Kenya
Abstract
Every country has had some unique ways of responding to the COVID-19 virus. This article focuses on the Kenyan response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed secondary materials including blogs, mainstream media outlets, government declarations. We then monitored the intervention actions. The paper demonstrates collaborations by different domestic actors and brings into perspective a generalized approach in managing the Corona crisis. As an argument, Kenya was quick to establish collaboration between universities, research institutions, and government agencies to generate new forms of synergy, especially in research. As a rapid response, this interdisciplinarity in research occurred in various dimensions. (1) The collaboration between the Ministry of Health, and national universities and research institutions; (2) collaboration between institutions of higher learning and, research institutions; and (3) interfaculty collaboration within universities i.e. between lecturers/instructors and students in different faculties. Lastly, the study brings out two levels of collaboration: the national level and the local level. This collaboration was a commendable approach to managing the Corona crisis. Even after overcoming the crisis, there will be a need to institutionalize the momentous collaborations and interdisciplinarity in research. The study recommends more studies on different perspectives of collaboration not only in developing countries but also between the global south and the global north.