Abstract:
Institutional repositories (IRs) have a leading role in providing long-term access to the research output
of universities. This study assessed the capabilities of institutional repositories in Kenya to support
long-term preservation of digital content by reviewing digital preservation policies and plans. Data was
collected through face-to-face interviews from 19 respondents drawn from three public universities
that were identified by their registration in OpenDOAR, ROARMAP and the number of items in their
repositories. Additional data was acquired through analysis of documents such as open access policies
and mandates, as well as institutional websites. Findings revealed that the organizations were poorly
prepared to support long-term digital preservation. Policies were inadequate and plans to support
the implementation of the policies were lacking. The study concluded that although the IRs were to
undertake digital preservation, they lacked clearly defined actions from plans and policy. This article
offers recommendations, including identifying digital preservation goals that will guide policy formulation
and multi-stakeholder involvement in the policy-making process. Effort should also be made to create
awareness of the relationship between digital content selection and its successful long-term preservation.