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About

Tom Kwanya is a pioneering researcher whose work sits at the intersection of information science, emerging technologies, and the ethical dimensions of human-robot interaction, with a particular focus on African and Kenyan contexts. His most influential contribution, "Working with Robots as Colleagues" (2023), has garnered 11 citations and critically examines how Kenyan workers perceive the integration of collaborative robots — or co-bots — into professional environments, raising vital questions about workplace ethics, identity, and human-machine relationships. This work is complemented by his 2021 study exploring whether robots are viewed as tools or colleagues within Kenya's broader information ecosystem, positioning him as a leading voice on robot perception in Sub-Saharan Africa. Kwanya's forward-looking scholarship extends to information science education, where he interrogates how the Fourth Industrial Revolution will reshape professional training and the nature of work itself. By grounding global technological debates in African realities, he offers perspectives often missing from mainstream discourse. His growing citation record reflects increasing international recognition of his ability to bridge information science theory with urgent, real-world questions about technology, ethics, and the future of human labor.