September 2014

Second Knowledge Management/Knowledge Services Workshops for Knowledge Workers – September 18-19, 2014 – The Boma Hotel, Nairobi

The 2^nd Knowledge Management/Knowledge services Workshop was attended by participants from diverse professional backgrounds that included researchers, human resource personal, Liberians, knowledge managers and archivists.

Some of the institutions represented included Kenya Forestry and Research Institute (KEFRI), Kenya Power & Lighting Company (KPLC), Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC) and World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF).

The workshop was officiated by Guy St, Clair (via skype), President, SMR International and William Mibei, Executive Director, Information Africa.

Mildred from Kenya Power giving a vote of thanks to Guy via Skype.

What the participants said:

Ayub Kathurima, Archivist, Kenya Power

The role of Knowledge Management in sustainability of organizations is very crucial. I appreciate SMR International and Information Africa Organization (IAO) approach to articulate KM in a very simplified approach which demystified the KM/KS . It has given us impetus to initiate and sustain the KM/KS in our organizations. Keep it up and let us make KM/KS a National culture.

CLS workshop – 22nd September, Boma Inn Eldoret

This was a one day interactive workshop that focused on coaching, professionalism, embedded librarianship, Communication at the work place and Knowledge Culture at the workplace. Librarians had an opportunity to share knowledge and best practices with a commitment to champion knowledge culture in their respective institutions.

The institutions represented included Moi Teaching & Referal Hospital (MTRH), Moi University main Campus, Moi University- Faculty of Health Sciences, Kisii University- Eldoret Campus, Eldoret Polytechnic, Egerton University, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOST).

What the participants said:

Ziporah Rop, Moi University , eResources

Thank you very much for the training. It has been a wake-up call for librarians and information managers. Training pleases and inform us in good time.

Winnie , Kisii University, Eldoret Campus

The workshop has been so successful and in my own view, thou our campus is still growing we will be somewhere and we will be able to add some more sections for example the institutional repository.

Lucy, Librarian in-charge Kisii University, Eldoret Campus

The workshop has been good; I have learned a lot that will enable us as young professionals to be the champions. I hope through this workshop, Kisii University Eldoret Campus library will be a role model library to other libraries because of the knowledge that I have learned in the workshop. Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to share ideas with each other. The workshop has been wonderful.

Joseph Opondo, TEEAL Library, Egerton University

The workshop was a capacity building and coping within the current management and IT Skills. Thanks, organize many more workshops.

Grace C. Sitienei, Head Librarian, Eldoret Polytechnic

The workshop was good and please organize more workshops on KM.

Japheth Murila (JOOST)

Good work, keep it up!

Antonina Omuke, Librarian in-charge, Faculty of Health Sciences Moi University

Market the workshop to many information and library professionals and other organizations early enough. The workshop should be more than a day for all the content to be exhaustively covered. The content shared is very important for all people working in libraries at all levels.

Closing Speeches

Guy St. Clair thanked the participants for attending the workshops and congratulated them for the good work they had put in. He wished them good luck, success, and happiness as they grow into a rewarding new future in knowledge management and knowledge services.

He reiterated the commitment of SMR international to work with IAO in enhancing KM programs in Kenya and the greater Sub-Saharan Africa region.

Guy St. Clair, President SMR International

Libraries are crucial in measuring institutional research, service and product output. This is determined by among other things the quality of library staff and services offered. The workshop, he said is an opportunity for participants to renew, reposition, re- strategize and embed/integrate their services to various institutional programs.

Prof. Rotich assured participants on SMR International and IAO collaborative efforts in not only sensitizing and creating awareness on the need and role of Knowledge Management in organizations but also in assisting institution’s carry out knowledge audit, develop strategies and create knowledge culture ultimately contributing to a knowledge economy. This he said is achievable by establishing partnership between SMR International/IAO and your institutions.

Prof. C. Rotich, Chairman of Board, Information Africa Organization