PhD student Gladys Kemboi has been awarded the 2024 Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) Fellowship Award for her distinguished contribution to securing digital legacy to advance local and Indigenous knowledge in development in Kenya and across Africa. She received the award virtually during the DPC's biennial awards ceremony, which took place last month during the International Conference on Digital Preservation (iPRES 2024).
Kemboi, who recently started her doctoral studies at the iSchool, was raised in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. It was during her childhood that she learned about preserving food, traditional medicine, and predicting weather from her grandmothers.
"This early connection with Indigenous knowledge instilled in me a deep connection for my community research on Indigenous knowledge systems to create community-driven solutions," said Kemboi. "My work focuses on addressing epistemic injustices—ensuring that Indigenous voices are heard, included and recognized."
Kemboi, who holds a bachelor's degree in information studies from The Technical University of Kenya and master's degree in information and knowledge management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, has over a decade of experience as a knowledge manager and Communities of Practice leader. Since 2020, she has been an advocate for the decolonization of knowledge in international development, working with the Knowledge Management for Development (KM4Dev) community. Kemboi previously worked at Jhpiego, a nonprofit organization for international health, where she developed knowledge management strategies and Community of Practice for various countries. Her professional contributions include implementing the Global Coalition Knowledge Management Strategy on Youth, Peace and Security with the United Nations Development Programme and working with the Visions of Hope for Africa charity in developing the knowledge management strategy on local resource mobilization and sustainable partnership in the U.S. and Africa.
With support from the DPC's Career Development Fund, Kemboi was able to attend the iPRES 2023 conference at the University of Illinois to present her lightning talk, "Empowering Rural Communities to Address Climate Change and Epistemic Injustices through Digital Archives." This opportunity sparked her interest in the doctoral program at Illinois. At the conference, she made connections with future mentors and collaborators, including Assistant Professor Karen Wickett and Chris Prom, associate dean for digital strategies at the University Library.
"My desire to contribute to social change through decolonization of knowledge and digital preservation of Indigenous knowledge found a home at the iSchool," she said. "My research focuses on decolonization of knowledge, epistemic justice, building Communities of Practice and digital preservation of Indigenous knowledge in addressing climate change shocks, and contributing to the work done by my community scholars such as Dr. Isaac Tarus about the Keiyo [ethnic group in Kenya] during the early colonial period."
In their awards press release, the DPC noted, "Gladys works tirelessly to advance local and Indigenous knowledge development in Kenya and across Africa and has collaborated with leaders and partners across sectors and around the globe to build dynamic and equitable knowledge ecosystems."
"This represents more than my personal achievement—it is a victory for the underrepresented youth, marginalized communities, and Indigenous knowledge holders in Africa," Kemboi said of the honor.