The TOEthical Model: Deconstructing the Technological, Organizational, and Ethical Determinants of Generative AI Adoption in Kenyan University Research Ecosystems

Abstract

The rapid integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) presents a transformative shift in the global academic research lifecycle. However, traditional technology adoption models like the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework often prioritize institutional and competitive pressures, failing to account for the acute ethical dilemmas inherent in higher education. This paper proposes and conceptualizes the TOEthical Model, a hybrid macro-micro framework that replaces traditional environmental factors with an explicit Ethical dimension, while using constructs from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) as micro-level behavioral mediators. Focusing on the unique context of Kenyan universities characterized by advanced national digital infrastructure alongside localized resource constraints and structural data vulnerabilities, this paper maps out how Technological capabilities, Organizational readiness, and Ethical safeguards collectively predict Gen AI research practices. We establish a theoretical paradigm demonstrating how institutional policies shape individual researcher perceptions, ultimately driving robust, high-integrity academic adoption.