Strategic Role of the Library in the Public Service Delivery: Information and Devolution in Achieving the Kenya Vision 2030

Abstract

The Kenya Vision 2030 (Kenya, Republic of, 2007) recognises the role of science, technology and innovation in modern economy in the creation of new knowledge which plays a central role in boosting wealth creation, social welfare and international competitiveness. Information is vital for sound planning and decision making at all levels and in all sectors including educational and professional development of the people. Running hand in hand with Kenya vision 2030 are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly after the expiry of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in September 2015. The goals build on the successes of the MDGs but include new areas such as climate change, economic inequality, innovation, peace and justice among others. The purpose of this paper was to examine library’s role in the public service delivery and its contribution towards the achievement of Kenya’s Vision 2030, which are also embedded in the SDGs. The methodology is based on literature review and questionnaire administered to 11 libraries. The results demonstrate how information as a resource cuts across related strategies and activities, aimed at the attainment of Kenya Vision 2030, and consequently, the SDGs. They argue that the government cannot achieve the Vision 2030 and SDGs in isolation, but also through re-engineering of libraries for the efficient and effective public service delivery.  A number of libraries in the public service offer services such as lending, reference, information service including teaching ICTs skills to users, The paper highlights and recommends various roles of the library in the public service delivery, and how the devolved Government has re-strategized it in order to effectively participate in the achievement of the Vision 2030 and the SDGs to enable Kenya to be globally competitive.

Keywords: Libraries, public service delivery, Kenya Vision 2030