Web Accessibility and Information Service Delivery in Academic Libraries: A WCAG 2.1 Audit of Kenyan University Websites

This study examines the accessibility of university library websites in Kenya as a critical dimension of digital library service quality, digital inclusion, and equitable access to information. A descriptive, standards-based audit was conducted using the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 (Level AA) as the evaluation framework. The homepages of 93 public and private university library websites were assessed using the WebAIM Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool (WAVE). The audit identified 15,934 accessibility issues, averaging approximately 200 issues per website, with substantial variation across institutions. Accessibility barriers were detected on all evaluated websites and were concentrated in Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) (31%) and structural elements (24%), followed by alerts (17%), contrast errors (11%), features (10%), and general errors (7%). The findings indicate that accessibility challenges are embedded primarily within the interactive and organizational architecture of library websites rather than in isolated technical defects. These barriers have implications for website usability, information discovery, resource access, and the effectiveness of digital library service delivery. The study further demonstrates that accessibility outcomes are shaped by institutional governance, organizational practices, and technical implementation decisions, highlighting accessibility as both a service-quality and governance concern. By providing the first sector-wide assessment of university library website accessibility in Kenya, the study contributes to scholarship on digital inclusion and academic library services in Africa and argues for integrating accessibility into the strategic planning, governance, and continuous improvement of digital library environments.