Mwai Daka

PhD Candidate in Law

Institute of Arts and Humanities

School of Law

Contact Details

email: dakm1_23@uni.worc.ac.uk

Mwai Daka is a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Worcester who is passionate about how the law keeps up with our digital world. Have you ever wondered how algorithms might impact your rights, or what happens when a government shuts down the internet? Mwai's work explores these exact questions, focusing on Techno-Functionalism and the fight for communication rights in the age of digital authoritarianism.

Beyond his PhD, Mwai has a wealth of experience as a Digital Policy Consultant and has reported on human rights issues across Africa for the Oxford Human Rights Hub, Africa at LSE, Democracy in Africa, the Continent, Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute, Open Democracy, and Africa Arguments.

Qualifications

BA Politics and History

MA Politics

PhD Candidate Law

Teaching Interests

My teaching philosophy is centered on demystifying the scaffold of academic inquiry. I am particularly interested in teaching modules that challenge students to look beneath the surface of legal and political data to understand the philosophical assumptions driving research.

Foundational Philosophy & Theory- Axiology and Ethics in Research: I am eager to lead seminars on how values and 'what ought to be' drive research and agendas, particularly in sensitive areas like human rights and digital surveillance.- Ontological and Epistemological Frameworks: I can teach students to distinguish between objective realities and socially constructed ones, and how these perspectives dictate whether knowledge is 'discovered' through measurement or 'co-constructed' through interaction.

Advanced Research Methodology- Qualitative & Mixed Methods: I am equipped to teach knowledge creation through interaction, covering case studies, grounded theory, and phenomenology.

Quantitative Analysis & Technical Tools: Having utilised STATA and R to understanding voting behaviour, I can teach students how to identify trends and create data visualizations from complex datasets.

Applied Methodology & Design- Research Design: I can guide students through the process of selecting precise procedures (Methods) to match their overarching Methodology, whether they are using structured questionnaires or ideological reviews.- Sampling and Data Sources: I am interested in teaching the nuances of data collection.- Dissertation Supervision: Given my experience in project management and meeting strict doctoral deadlines, I am well-prepared to supervise undergraduate dissertations, helping students define goals, manage risks, and maintain academic rigour.

Research Interests

My research sits at the intersection of Socio-Legal Theory, Digital Governance, and Human Rights, with a primary focus on how emerging technologies reshape the relationship between the state and the citizen in the Global South.

Recent Publications

Forthcoming Book Chapter Publications:

Daka, M. (2026, forthcoming) ‘TBC’, in N. Egbunike, D. Tsandzana, and T. Roberts (eds), Digital Youth Participation in Africa and Technology Affordance. Bloomsbury Publishing.

Daka, M. (2026, forthcoming) ‘The Elgar Encyclopaedia of Local and Regional Governments (in Zambia): A Global Perspective’, in J. Kincaid and J. E. Benton (eds), The Elgar Encyclopaedia of Local and Regional Governments. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Daka, M. (forthcoming) ‘TBC’, in J. Ayee, F. Ohemeng, and A. F. Dadze-Arthur (eds), The Public Administrator and Technological Development in Africa. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Daka, M. (forthcoming) ‘TBC’, in G. Horton, J. Henrichsen, and E. Carter (eds), Media Freedom Under Threat. Routledge Publishing.

Blog Articles:

Albar, R. A. H and Daka, M. (2024) Freedom of the Press Online: Bandwidth Throttling in Indonesia [online]. Oxford Human Rights Hub. Available at: Freedom of the Press Online: Bandwidth Throttling in Indonesia | OHRH

Masheshwari, N. and Daka, M. (2024) Curtains over connectivity: A Peek Behind India’s Opaque Internet Shutdown Orders [online]. Oxford Human Rights Hub. Available at: Curtains over Connectivity: A Peek Behind India’s Opaque Internet Shutdown Orders | OHRH

Masheshwari, N. and Daka, M. (2024) Proportionality in theory, not practice: Internet Rights in Indian Courts [online]. Oxford Human Rights Hub. Available at: Proportionality in theory, not practice: Internet Rights in Indian Courts | OHRH

Daka, M. (2023) Violent landscape undermines opposition [online] Zimbabwe Independent. Available at: Violent political landscape undermines opposition - The Zimbabwe Independent

Daka, M. (2023) Gender-based Violence, LGBTQIA+ Rights, and Christian Values in Zambia [online]. Oxford Human Rights Hub. Available at: Gender-based Violence, LGBTQIA+ Rights, and Christian Values in Zambia | OHRH

Daka, M. (2023) Why ZANU-PF still can’t dance to chimurenga music [online]. African Arguments. Available at: Why ZANU-PF still can't dance to chimurenga music | African Arguments

Daka, M. and Lourenco, M. (2023) Protecting Anti-Apartheid Songs Under the Rubric of Free Speech [online]. Oxford Human Rights Hub. Available at: Protecting Anti-Apartheid Songs Under the Rubric of Free Speech | OHRH

Daka, M. and Lourenco, M. (2023) You have the right to insult a president: repealing Zambia’s Penal Code Section 69 [online] Oxford Human Rights Hub. Available at: You Have The Right to Insult a President: Repealing Zambia’s Penal Code Section 69 | OHRH

Daka, M. (2023) Digitocracy: Situating Shutdowns in a conceptual digital framework [online]. Democracy in Africa. Available at: Digitocracy: Situating Shutdowns in a conceptual digital framework | Democracy in Africa

Daka, M; Lourenco, M; and Cheeseman, N. (2023) How and Why Internet Shutdowns Threaten Democracy in Africa [online]. Democracy in Africa. Available at: How and Why Internet Shutdowns Threaten Democracy in Africa | Democracy in Africa

Daka, M. (2023) Challenging Draft Bills and the Role of the ECOWAS Court [online]. Oxford Human Rights Hub. Available at: Challenging Draft Bills and the Role of the ECOWAS Court | OHRH

Daka, M. (2022) Protecting women during elections in Malawi [online]. Democracy in Africa. Available at: Protecting women during elections in Malawi | Democracy in Africa

Daka, M. (2022) Corroboration as Sex Discrimination: The Equality Implications of Sexual Offence Cases in Malawi [online]. Oxford Human Rights Hub. Available at: Corroboration as Sex Discrimination: The Equality Implications of Sexual Offence Cases in Malawi | OHRH

Daka, M. (2021) Edgar Lungu, Zambia’s third term controversy, and the 2021 election [online]. Democracy in Africa. Available at: Edgar Lungu, Zambia’s third term controversy, and the 2021 elections | Democracy in Africa

Daka, M. (2021) Indemnity clauses in Mining Development Agreements in Zambia [online]. Oxford Human Rights Hub. Available from: Indemnity clauses in Mining Develop

Membership of Professional Bodies

Former SEND Link Governor for Marling Grammar School, Stroud.