TM: In Panel 2, there was a mention of how data even within the McMillan library is patriarchal, so bearing this in mind, in matters qualitative data, one cannot fail to consider the cultural influence of patriarchy in shaping data based on what data is included and who gets to decide what way it is kept. Despite existing freedoms, because of these factors, data will be shaped in a particular way, be it patriarchal or be it from the basis of a global north looking down on a global south in matters surrounding the discussion on repatriation.
PC: One dominant frame/concern is that of Western/foreign intrusion-- “data colonialism.” Though I didn’t hear that term per se, the core idea was being tossed around… Do Kenyan’s own the data or do outsiders? And even more generally, I heard people leveraging their African identity with respect to data and research… I may be reading too much into this, but that seems to signal Africa in opposition to… what? Perhaps in opposition to current (US/European) centers of data gathering and analysis.
AO: Lots of debate on this issue - sentiments that “Kenyan society doesn’t value research” which was pushed back against: “Academics don’t write things that society wants to read!” Reminds me of both sides of the “Kenyans don’t like reading” discussion - I’ve heard opinions on both sides. More broadly, I see the heavily commercialised, individualisation of Kenyan capitalism heavily influencing legislation and how people are describing their personal data (esp. on panel 3). There were also a few unexplicit paternalistic Development sentiments about the “ignorant” who don’t fully “get it” - esp. when we are talking about those in informal settlements, etc. there are vulnerable populations that might be prone to manipulation.