February 2008 - KICTANet

Re: [kictanet] Media
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 15 Feb '08

15 Feb '08

Edith, I have taken your views. The Task Force will collate the widest variety of views of both the producers of media content and the consumers i.e. the practitioners of journalism and the reading, viewing and listening public. It will also take into account the findings and recommendations of other independent audits of media conduct and content placed in the public domain, including the views of Kenyas worldwide Diaspora. The purpose of the study is to assit the Government come up with an appropriate policy intervention. At the Editors' forum on this subject, Government was criticised for lack of clear ploicy on Information. I promised a comprehensive review of the ICT Policy which was largely focused on the new media. We are in this together throughout because I intend to involve stakeholders in coming up with a well informed comprehensive policy framework. I must admit here that in the past I have enjoyed the discourse in this forum but if we turn it into a name-calling arena, then in my view let Government be Government and activism be what it is. We have a wonderful opportunity to change the ways things have always been done. Ndemo. > Dr Ndemo, > > It appears that you're not open to suggestions as much as you seem to ask > for suggestions from your last communication. > > In other words, I'm suggesting that the purpose of the study and how the > results would be applied be included as part of the TOR. I don't see where > I'm being critical. > > Kind regards > > -----Original Message----- > From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke [mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke] > Sent: 14 February 2008 18:06 > To: Edith Adera > Cc: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke; 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' > Subject: RE: [kictanet] Media > > Dear Edith, > I can only work within my boundaries. The Clergy have made their > apologies and practically pre-empted detailed findings as to how they > behaved. The review of politicians is ongoing and are faced with a > possibility of constitutional and legal changes. Some investigative > journalist may find it interesting to put all these efforts into > perspective. > > Rather than criticise, please make recommendations. I would not be > participating in this forum if I did not want stakeholder views. The > semantics have nothing to do with the objectives of the exercise. We > simply want to make informed policy decisions. We are not ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: Kenya: The Media is Not Innocent]
by Bill Kagai 15 Feb '08

15 Feb '08

Hello Robert, Having googled you and realising that you have been attached at the Kigoma Logistics Base with the UN Mission in Congo, I would tend to believe that your experience has taught you processes of handling such a matters diplomatically rather than 'venting' at the wrong persons. Your accounts deserve a story and would encourage you to visit the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights to write statements. The Commission has over 40 officers in the field currently collecting evidence and am sure they would be pleased to listen to you and the victims of the violence so as to build a full picture that will eventually point to where the buck stops. http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143981924&cid=4&PHPSESSID=b1d4f0299b4ea… Bill

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Re: [kictanet] Media
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 15 Feb '08

15 Feb '08

Dear Edith, I can only work within my boundaries. The Clergy have made their apologies and practically pre-empted detailed findings as to how they behaved. The review of politicians is ongoing and are faced with a possibility of constitutional and legal changes. Some investigative journalist may find it interesting to put all these efforts into perspective. Rather than criticise, please make recommendations. I would not be participating in this forum if I did not want stakeholder views. The semantics have nothing to do with the objectives of the exercise. We simply want to make informed policy decisions. We are not Policing anybody here. The police will or may have already moved on those who broke the law. Ndemo. > Dr Ndemo, > > The wording of the TOR appears more of "an inquiry into" rather than what > has been the subject of discussion - "evaluation of". Again, the main > purpose of this "something" including how the results will be used need to > be spelt out from the outset. It's not included in the TOR. > > An integrated approach to examining the issues, in my view, would be more > helpful than specifically targeting the media per se....as the study would > appear to have pre-empted the findings without allow an objective and > holistic assessment of what occurred taken into consideration what I > called > "key boundary partners". Is there room to change the approach? > > Edith > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke [mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke] > Sent: 14 February 2008 13:39 > To: Edith Adera > Cc: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke; 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' > Subject: RE: [kictanet] Media > > Dear Edith, > History is always a good teacher. When Rwanda had a political crisis, > some FM station worsened the situation. In our case, no one denies the > fact that we were in a crisis towards the end of December. It was > desperate and we too desperate measures. No one can say what would have > happened if we let media inflame passions of our people. Further you very > well know that media was liberalized withou putting a legal framework in > place. We for example have no regulatory mechanism for electronic media. > We are the least regulated (electronic media) country in the World. This > is not good for a developing country like ours. > > Media h ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: Kenya: The Media is Not Innocent]
by Robert Alai 15 Feb '08

15 Feb '08

Alice Did it touch you? Who again did you warn. Do you see like you are cutting my oxygen when you ban me? Ban, kwani? If Wainaina brings politics know that I will answer him politically and threats from you or Ndemo wont scare me. Kenyans know the truth and thinking that ogre mentality will scare me from saying what it is as it is then you are in for a suprise. By the way how important is KICTANET? Alice, you are just behaving like Michuki who was Bitange's boss. Thinking that killing the messenger will stop people from getting the truth. Hell NO. KTN and Standard are more stronger than ever and with or without government lincenses we watch it in Kisumu through sattelite. Shame on you and your stooge, Ndemo. Alai unedited On Fri, Feb 15, 2008 at 8:27 AM, alice <alice(a)apc.org> wrote: > Dear Robert... > > This is a warning to you. Respect KICTAnet mailing list rules especially > these ones: > > *WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE LISTSERV?** *The > listserv should *not* be used at this time for personal > advertising of services or the advertisement of services available > from someone else. Please do *not* send updates of your addresses > or other personal contact details to the listserv. Greetings to > your friends, etc only flood mailboxes and should *not *be done > through the listserv. Gender inappropriate or other references > that may be offensive to some groups or individuals should not be > posted, of course. > * *Mailing list manners you must mind*: Don't send rude, political, > tribal and offensive e-mails or postings. * Be polite - virtual > members are real not a cyberspace dunderheads with no feelings.* > Watch your words - We can't see your face, and the emotions in > words can get misinterpreted.* Kick the bad language - People are > listening.* Laws are laws - What's real in the real world are the > same in cyberspace. Be ethical in your posting, don't lie, > plagiarize, or deliberately do harm to another KICTANet forum user. > > > > > if you repeat these offences we shall ban you from this list. > > regards > > alice munyua > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya: The Media is Not Innocent > Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:51:59 +0300 > From: Robert Alai <alai.robert(a)gmail.com> > To: alice(a)apc.org > CC: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > References: > <fb2c60220802130416x356f9e9ap82debaf42c1e8407(a)mail.gmail.com> > <453375.42402.qm(a)web36201.mail.mud.yahoo.com> > <21ca13ee0802130755if502766jfafb1e0376853656(a)mail.gmail.com> > <fb2c60220802140803l3b7d322meef08c0bcd42964c(a)mail.gmail.com> > > > > Wainaina > This is funny. On one hand you are describing how KTN/Standard did > incite the public and ignore the fact that All Royal Media outlets > including RamogiFM, Kameme, and KBC have gone to become Kikuyu > chauvinist and not ready to protect the interest of Kenya. On another > hand you claim ho the current Kenyan problem is political. *THE PROBLEM > IS NOT POLITICAL BUT ETHNIC. *I have just come from a tour which took me > from Tigoni, Juja, Nyeri, Naivasha, Eldoret, Kisumu, Yala and Busia. I > travelled with the IDPs and listened and cried of what I heard. Kenyans > are being denied their rights because they are not Kikuyu. I have the > word of MPs and confirmed with IOM that the government explicitly > informed the Redcross and IOM not to serve some communities. I have > horror tales of women whose husbands were hacked with pangas inside > Tigoni police station and the police couldnt save because they are not > Kikuyu. I have talked to Abbas of IOM of how different Redcross is > treating IDPs. kikuyu IDPs are treated with all care and others ignored. > I personally snatched blankets from Pamela who is the regional redcross > manager in Kisumu when she refused to give them to mothers and chidren I > transported from tigoni and naivasha. I brought 17 buses and called > redcross and informed them of my mission. I had a meeting with Dr Simiyu > and Abbas Guled and they agreed to prepare the ground. After a whole day > travel I got redcross not ready and when they saw the buses is when they > started cutting the mbogas and meat. We handed over 4 children whose > mother was admitted to Agha khan with serious illness and redcross took > the children to a police station in Siaya. > Kenyan problem is tribal and not political. We cannot have one tribe > running roughshod and even the religious leaders from Kikuyu preaching > the Kikuyu superiority. We cannot have one tribe killing and maiming > Kenyans while claiming there is a genocide against Kikuyus. No Kikuyu > was killed in Kisumu. Infact they were protected and even I have Mwangi, > and Kuria who are my friends living and working in Kisumu even now when > they cant work anywhere else. But Kibaki is ordering NGOs not to serve > non Kikuyus. Kikuyus enjoy greater access to loans and even humanitarian > assistance. Go to Kondele in Kisumu where the Kikuyu IDPs are housed. > You will find that there is a bigger difference with Moi stadium where > redcross dont want to even put basic facilities forcing the local > community in Kisumu to house the IDPs at St Stephens. > kenyans, these theories of Bitange and Wainaina only works for the few > they serve. Bitange was key in selling 51percent shares of Telkom Kenya > to the french consortium at 26 Billion Ksh. Before that the government > cleared a debt of 69 billion. if 51% shares were sold at 26 it menas > that Telkom Kenya was just worht 52 Billion. Why settle a debt of 69 > billion? What is the mathematics here? telkom Kenya was worthless? Shame > on you Bitange. Only people who dont know your inner dealings will > respect what you say. You really like to please masters and never acts > proffesionaly. > Alai > > On Thu, Feb 14, 2008 at 7:03 PM, Wainaina Mungai > <wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org <mailto:wainaina@madeinkenya.org>> wrote: > > I believe Waruru has raised an important question especially as > relates to .....should Media houses be partisan? or must Media > houses remain neutral independent of the preference of their owners? > > My take is that Media is too critical as a part of society that it > must not be partisan. We call the Press the "Fourth Estate" and we > should make the press non-partisan just as we require the judiciary > or other statutory bodies to be non-partisan even though the > individuals running those institutions may be free to support > different political leanings. > > Dear Alai, let's all admit we have erred no matter what party or > ideology we support. The political bias of the media is the problem > we turn our focus to as it has brought us to the crisis we find > ourselves in. My example of KTN/Standard also pointed out that other > media houses (the same that you mentioned), have to deal with the > fact that they are perceived as partisan in favour of the > establishment. I also chose to deflect the debate to "way forward". > Please let us not trivialise it as a matter of tribal chauvinism coz > we will lose sight of the issues at hand. Let's work together for a > win-win solution. > > I would like to venture into analysing the role of SMS and the > Internet but that would divert my atention from the unsolved problem > of a Media that can destroy Kenya if left untempered. > > > On 2/13/08, *Robert Alai* <alai.robert(a)gmail.com > <mailto:alai.robert@gmail.com>> wrote: > > Kenyans and Friends of Kenya > The Media shuldnt have media council. The media must go the way > of the SA broadcast complaints commision which must be > independent of the media and the gvernment. And guys and > especially Wainaina. Please dont bring the PNU vs ODM politics > in this forum. We are going to that direction and it wont help > us. Lets all know that KTN has a duty to inform people just the > way Royal Media and KBC and the Kameme 24 has been sending > Kikuyu enthnic chauvinism in our ears. We have situations in > this country where even Redcross and IOM have been called and > informed by the government not to transport some IDPs. Please > know that Kenya cant be in an imagined peace state. And peace > exist only where justice is. Even if Raila and Kibaki agrees > know that thre will be no peace without the people's right > protected. > Alai > > On Feb 13, 2008 2:49 PM, Kanja Waruru <kanjawaruru(a)yahoo.com > <mailto:kanjawaruru@yahoo.com>> wrote: > > hi all, > i like mungai's line of thought and i would like to > contribute an additional point. > > for media houses to be transparent during elections > the media council should insist that each media house > state their position's publicly and declare the > parties/presidential candidates that they > support/endorse or if they intend to remain neutral > and independent. > > this way the public will be making informed decision > when they tune/buy into a particular media. > Kanja > > > > > --- Wainaina Mungai <wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org > <mailto:wainaina@madeinkenya.org>> wrote: > > > Allow me to re-deflect the issue away from a > > specific media house and state > > the following as a way forward: > > > > 1. Journalists must work with all Kenyans to make > > the press free from undue > > influence from Media Owners. Press Freedom will not > > be achieved until we > > liberate the journalists from the editorial biases > > of the media owners. > > > > 2. Editors must be held responsible when media > > houses publish/broadcast in > > an unethical manner. For this to hold, we must > > ensure that the media owners > > are not the 'final' editors. > > > > 3. Journalists/reporters have developed a culture of > > accepting inducements > > in order to edit stories as requested. This must be > > treated as a crime due > > to the privileges society accords the press. > > > > 4. Media houses must employ and retrain qualified > > and ethical staff. There > > must be standards that ensure professionalism. > > Engineers, Doctors and others > > submit to standards that the media continues to > > dodge. > > > > 5. Kenya needs a Media Council "with teeth"...that > > will be a watchdog that > > acts in the interest of the public not as a > > affiliate lobby for Media > > Owners. > > > > The verdict should be a clear message to all of us > > in the media circles. > > It's time to look inwards and liberate the > > profession of journalism from the > > businessmen who own the media houses. > > > > Wainaina > > > > > > > > > > On 2/13/08, Wainaina Mungai > > <wainaina.mungai(a)gmail.com > <mailto:wainaina.mungai@gmail.com>> wrote: > > > > > > Thanks Farida, > > > > > > We should not consider the presence of lessos in > > ballot boxes in Kajiado > > > or Kamukunji as evidence that your story was true. > > The pre-marking or > > > ballots and the lesso story are what would be > > considered mutually exclusive > > > events. The use of lessos as indicator of accuracy > > is at the very least > > > speculative. The fact that [it is possible] for an > > election to be stolen > > > does not mean that and election [will be] stolen. > > > > > > For KTN/Standard, the more direct issues as you > > vouch for the integrity of > > > your story would be: > > > > > > 1. Did you have [evidence] that the ballot boxes > > were stuffed with > > > pre-marked ballot papers? or were you speculating > > because someone came > > > forward as a "witness"? > > > > > > > > > 2. Do you believe that the killings of the > > Administration Police in Nyanza > > > were a direct result of the story you authorised? > > If so, what have you done > > > to at least console the families of the bereaved > > policemen? > > > > > > > > > 3. Did you have evidence that the Citi Hoppa buses > > that were carrying APs > > > to various parts of the country were meant to be > > used for a rigging mission? > > > and would you consider that your story was > > responsible for the burning of > > > Citi Hoppa buses? > > > > > > > > > Most voters know that ballot boxes are checked > > before the start of voting > > > and sealed infront of witnesses (agents, ECK > > officials etc). It is > > > therefore unlikely that rigging would only take > > place is unless there is an > > > elaborate conspiracy involving [all] > > officials/agents at a polling station. > > > > > > Overall, the "vibes" KTN/Standard fraternity must > > contend with is not that > > > they are a model of "free press" but that it is > > biased against the > > > government or pro-ODM. The vibes stations such as > > Royal Media, Kameme and > > > KBC contend with is that they have given Kenyans > > reason to be seen as > > > pro-government/PNU. Those are the issues the press > > must address honestly and > > > not hide behind tags and clichés such as 'press > > freedom' and 'muzzling the > > > press'. > > > > > > NOTE: I work for a competing media house but that > > is not my motivation for > > > the issues i have raised on KTN/Standard. I > > respect journalists for the > > > effort that goes into writing even the simplest > > story. However, I am aware > > > that media houses and journalists have continued > > to allow their political > > > and other biases to influence the way they report > > stories. > > > > > > Wainaina > > > > > > On Feb 14, 2008 12:09 AM, Farida Karoney > > <fkaroney(a)ktnkenya.com <mailto:fkaroney@ktnkenya.com>> > wrote: > > > > > > > Wainaina > > > > I personally authorised the story you are > > blaming KTN for and can vouch > > > > for the integrity of that report any time. If > > indeed you believe it is not > > > > possible to steal an election, how come that > > ballot boxes were found with > > > > lessos, and election materials in some polling > > stations? > > > > > > > > We cannot resolve explosive issues by hiding or > > supressing the truth, > > > > and no one is trying to exonerate the press. Let > > us not pretend that we do > > > > not know why we are where we are, it is > > definately not because of KTN or the > > > > Standard Group. > > > > > > > > And it is certainly not an academic excercise, > > afterall most of us do > > > > not have another place to call home except > > Kenya. Believe me, any Country > > > > which calls itself democratic must be able to > > live with a free press, no > > > > matter how much of a nuisance it is. > > > > > > > > By all means industry players need mechanisms to > > promote responsible > > > > behaviour in the media but aggression against > > media houses in light of the > > > > current political crisis is in my opinion > > misplaced. > > > > > > > > regards > > > > Farida > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > *From:* Wainaina Mungai > > <wainaina.mungai(a)gmail.com <mailto: > wainaina.mungai(a)gmail.com>> > > > > *To:* fkaroney(a)ktnkenya.com <mailto: > fkaroney(a)ktnkenya.com> > > > > *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > <mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>> > > > > *Sent:* Tuesday, February 12, 2008 9:53 PM > > > > *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Kenya: The Media is > > Not Innocent > > > > > > > > Like Dorcas, I am not surprised that the media > > has for the umpteenth > > > > time, failed to take responsibility for their > > role. Allow me to cut to the > > > > chase on how the media fueled the conflict. > > > > > > > > The issue of "self regulation" has come up as > > journalists remind us how > > > > effective they were during the election period. > > I would like to know what > > > > the Media Council would say about KTN/Standard > > Group having published and > > > > aired sensational stories of a very unlikely > > vote rigging two or so days > > > > before the election day. Editors must have known > > that it is no longer > > > > possible to stuff ballot boxes prior to the > > voting day and get away with it. > > > > That unsubstantiated story led to the death of > > five Administrative > > > > Policemen. How would KTN/Standard Group justify > > the deaths of the APs > > > > especially because the accuracy of that rigging > > story > === message truncated ===> > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > <mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: kanjawaruru(a)yahoo.com > <mailto:kanjawaruru@yahoo.com> > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kanjawaruru%40yahoo.com > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > <mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: alai.robert(a)gmail.com > <mailto:alai.robert@gmail.com> > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alai.robert%40gmail.com > > > > > -- > --------------------------------- > www.kazi-africa.com <http://www.kazi-africa.com/> > polls2007.blogspot.com <http://polls2007.blogspot.com/> > ---------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org > <mailto:wainaina@madeinkenya.org> > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya… > > > > > -- > Made in Kenya Network > P. 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Kenya > Tel: +254-20-780669 > Cel: +254-722-811171 > www.madeinkenya.org <http://www.madeinkenya.org/> > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: alai.robert(a)gmail.com > <mailto:alai.robert@gmail.com> > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alai.robert%40gmail.com > > > > > -- > --------------------------------- > www.kazi-africa.com <http://www.kazi-africa.com> > polls2007.blogspot.com <http://polls2007.blogspot.com> > ---------------------------------- > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: alice(a)apc.org > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alice%40apc.org > > > -- --------------------------------- www.kazi-africa.com polls2007.blogspot.com ----------------------------------

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Re: [kictanet] Media
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 14 Feb '08

14 Feb '08

Dear Edith, History is always a good teacher. When Rwanda had a political crisis, some FM station worsened the situation. In our case, no one denies the fact that we were in a crisis towards the end of December. It was desperate and we too desperate measures. No one can say what would have happened if we let media inflame passions of our people. Further you very well know that media was liberalized withou putting a legal framework in place. We for example have no regulatory mechanism for electronic media. We are the least regulated (electronic media) country in the World. This is not good for a developing country like ours. Media has taken advantage of the vacum and if you recall last year we lost a case against a leading media house when we tried to stop them from airing movies of adult nature during prime time. There is no problem showing reality. However, jounalistic principals and ethics must be observed. You watched the whole episode of twin towers and inspite the fact that many people died, you did not see a single body. I rather not delve into the bribery issue which is a reflection of our society and must be dealt with by all. Why can't we be the leading light in this endeavour? Our hypothesis on the fourth estate is that its important role in society is serously threatened by multiple factors including tribalism, lack of ethics, poor training, poor pay etc. Below please find the proposed TOR for the Tast force. I would appreatiate it if you added that which we may have omitted. 1. To inquire into the role of, and make recommendations about, the conduct, performance and professionalism (or lack thereof) of the media sector prior, during and post the 10th General Election 2. To inquire into the role of, and make recommendations about, vernacular FM radio broadcasting during the same period and their contribution to, and or complicity in the preparations for violence, the conduct of violence and its aftermath 3. To inquire into, and make recommendations about, the impact and dynamics of media ownership vis a vis the 10th General Election 4. To inquire into, and make recommendations about, the employment criteria and the working conditions of journalists vis a vis their commitment to professional standards and conduct as contained in the Code of Conduct of Journalism in Kenya 5. To inquire into, and make recommendations about, the education and training of journalists and the training institutions that certify journalists as professionals 6. To inquire into, and make recommendations about, the training of journalists as regards the coverage of national democratic events such as general elections and referenda 7. To inquire into, and make recommendations about the impact of the phenomena of opinion polling and political advertising on media content and conduct 8. To inquire into, and make recommendations about, the role of foreign correspondents and news agencies during the 10th General Election 9. To inquire into and make recommendations about the accreditation of journalists both local and international. Ndemo. ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Suggestion for Academic Trips (Coastal Region)...
by Michael Kipsang Bullut 14 Feb '08

14 Feb '08

Greetings, I need your help. My colleagues and I are undertaking our final semester in campus and our course requirements recommend that we go for an academic trip. The destination isn't confined to any specific area and this year we'll be visiting the coastal region to study the I.T. infrastructure in place. My request is whether you're acquainted with any organizations that have established I.T. departments or a colleague/associate who's conscious of the same. Feel free to pass on my e-mail address (the one given below) to any organization that doesn't mind in being paid a visit by final year I.T. students. You can also furnish me with their contacts so that I can get in touch with them directly. Thank you and looking forward to hearing from you. Warm regards, Michael. P.S. Please get in touch with me through: kipsangb(a)iconnect.co.ke -- "To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wildflower...hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour..." ~ William Blakeg. --

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Fw: Auditing the Media
by Florence Etta 14 Feb '08

14 Feb '08

Hi all, I have been following this very interesting debate. Harry says in response to David that:- neither the Government nor the Media Council should do this audit. David had suggested:- 'Our suggestion remains, let MCK do the audit, otherwise we'll be accused of creating institutions just to kill them'. In my humble opinion there could be two or even more audits but at least one would NEED to be commissioned but not necessarily done by the MCK. If it is commissioined by the MCK with government backing (and conducted as Harry suggests by independent and credible researchers/professionals) this presupposes that it (the audit) will recieve its (MCK) complete and unalloyed support so that the findings and possibly recommendations, when they do come out, would hopefully get fair reception and possibly use. It is possible also even for KICTANET on behalf of the ICT community to seek support to commission an audit as well. This one could be stilted towards handhelds so that the full extent of the implication and use of these tools could be attempted and future scenarios constructed for the preservation and maintenance of both individual and collective rights and public order using these tools. Cheers, FE Florence Etta PhD P.O. Box 14285,00800 Westlands-Nairobi, Kenya Tel: Mobile + 254-733-621851 Terrestrial: + 254-20-7121506 Fax/Phone: + 254-20-7125723 Alternative Email:florence.etta@gmail.com ----- Original Message ---- From: Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org> To: florence.etta(a)gmail.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, 13 February, 2008 4:49:43 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic Cables David, neither the Government nor the Media Council should do this audit. It should be done by an independent research organization. The media council just like the ECK and other institutions have been too politicized to be objective and credible. Regards Harry African eDevelopment Resource Centre 3rd Floor, Nelleon Place Raphta Road, Westlands PO Box 49475 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Cel +254 725 650044 Land +254 20 4453445 www.africanedevelopment.org *********************************************************** February 2008 Capacity Building Opportunities VSAT Field Engineering: 5-8 Records Management: 13-15 Fiber Optics: 26-29 Book Now, Limited spaces available From: kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of David Aduda Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 10:44 AM To: harry(a)africanedevelopment.org Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic Cables Dear colleagues, Having followed the debate on the media audit, I'm convinced there is consensus that it's important that we review how the media handled the elections, before, during and after. That is perfectly in order. What's alarming is the insistence that the government should do it, whereas there is an organisation, the Media Council, whose mandate includes checking how the media operates with a view to protect the producers and consumers of news.We've expressed our views as media practitioners about our disdain for a governmental audit and Dr Bitange knows about that. Our suggestion remains, let MCK do the audit, otherwise we'll be accused of creating institutions just to kill them. But it must be noted vilifying the media won't do when all of us know where the problem lies. It's human to take an easy route out of a crisis. The ministry of Information and Communications must not fall into that trap. Finally, I associate myself with a view expressed earlier by one contributor, namely, moderation in this discourse. David Aduda Nation Media Group ---------- From: kictanet-bounces+daduda=nation.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke on behalf of bitange(a)jambo.co.ke Reply To: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 5:36 PM To: David Aduda Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic Cables We are working towards that. We need private sector to push these developments. Government is not good in business. We can only intervene to facilitate especially the small enterprises. Ndemo Sent from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: "Eric Osiakwan" <eric(a)afrispa.org> Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:22:38 To:bitange@jambo.co.ke Cc:KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic Cables Nothing against all the big guns establishing in Kenya but what about a long term objective of building our own version of Akamai,googles, Limelights etc. Dont forget the real winners in the knowledge era are those who produce their own not use others. So our long term objective should be to have our own alongside others because it is a free market economy. Eric here ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Michuki Mwangi <michuki(a)swiftkenya.com> Reply-To: michuki(a)swiftkenya.com Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:14:04 +0300 > > >bitange(a)jambo.co.ke wrote: >> Good news is that Etisalat (our partners in Teams) in conjunction with >> Akamai are building an Internet Point of Presence (POP) in Fujaira thus >> eliminating long distance needs for Internet in this region. > >The long term objective should be to have the likes of Akamai, Limelight >and google collocating their nodes in Kenya . This will essentially keep >at least 50% of our Internet traffic local. > >Regards, > >Michuki. > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >This message was sent to: eric(a)afrispa.org >Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eric%40afrispa.org > -- Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now" -- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world" _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: daduda(a)nation.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/daduda%40nation.co.ke DISCLAIMER: The information contained in or accompanying this e-mail is intended for the use of the stated recipient only. 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To get all breaking news alerts send the word BREAK to 6667 or visit http://www.nationmedia.com/wap to read news on your mobile phone. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: florence.etta(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/florence.etta%40gmail.… Support the World Aids Awareness campaign this month with Yahoo! for Good ___________________________________________________________ Support the World Aids Awareness campaign this month with Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/

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[Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Keeping it all straight]
by alice 14 Feb '08

14 Feb '08

Dear all FYI -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] Keeping it all straight Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:40:25 +0200 From: Steve Song <ssong.lists(a)gmail.com> Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> To: fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org Greetings, In the wake of the cable cuts, few would argue that there are too many African cable initiatives but there certainly enough to make it difficult to keep it all straight. I created a short page listing the various cables and their key investors at http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/african-undersea-cables/ and a map of some of the initiatives at http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/african-undersea-cables-map/ If anyone has maps or even rough diagrams of Uhurunet or Infraco's initiatives, I would be grateful to be able to add it to the map. Also, if anyone can point me to more information on Flag's Next Generation Network (NGN) or the Main One initiative, I would be very interested to hear about it. Thanks... Steve P.S. I see today that VSNL (now rebranded as Tata Communications) have announced a 50 million dollar investment in Seacom (http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=146025) Only two weeks ago, there was news announcing their investment in EASSy (http://www.telecomtiger.com/fullstory.aspx?storyid=527) In the wake of flagging profits, they are obviously betting a lot on Africa. _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

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Re: [kictanet] Develop the LOCAL Outsourcing Market
by Kwach 14 Feb '08

14 Feb '08

Fellow Contributors, Firstly I am impressed by the contributions that have been made in this discussion forum and I must commend Marcel for kicking off this timely discussion in the first place. Kenya is a beautiful country with a determined and hard working people. If there is one thing we Kenyans ask is an equal opportunity and we shall excel. If you talk to any economist they will tell you that the future is in the service industry more so for a country like Kenya that is neither gifted in mineral riches nor expansive arable land (Kenya is primarily 70% desert however with the remaining 30% we are able to become one of the global leaders in floriculture and tea production). The sad thing is that the world markets have changed and become increasingly competitive. Service industries worldwide more so in the IT Outsourcing space compete very aggressively for the market opportunities that present themselves. And those opportunities that have already been bagged are protected jealously. Unfortunately when it comes to the IT industry the trend that is emerging is not pretty. Blue chip companies, government departments and parastatals have for a while adopted a strategy that has not been conducive in nurturing this industry. The sad thing is where they seem to have a silent conspiracy in only seeking international players for the major IT projects. Talk of Chinese Government IT Loans/Grants complete with planeloads of Chinese Engineers and technicians who swarm in and out without passing on any skills leaving us with pretty much mis-directed/unused investment once the project is implemented aren't misplaced. Almost all of these institutions continue running non-core back office activities that should be outsourced. The "smarter" ones that should outsource are sure take their business offshore. Yes this is true. It is an open secret that if you were to pick up a phone in EABL, the pride of Kenyan Manufacturing, and dialed IT help desk you would end up talking to a person sitting in Bangalore India. It's not that I have anything against the good people of Bangalore, my issue is that by farming out this work to Bangalore and not giving local companies a chance to undertake the work locally we are actually exporting jobs. We are taking jobs that were previously there and shipping them to India. The very least Mr. Gerald Mahinda should have done was to engage local entities to carry out this work and require them to partner with international firms to so as to ensure that the necessary skills are brought to this market. A very good example of this is the proposed IPO for Safaricom, some of the world's leading investment banks partnered entered into consortiums led by local entities to carry out the investment advisory work. It took a concerted government policy to ensure that this happened; otherwise local Investment Banks would have had no chance in the world to win that work. The Kenya BPO & Contact Centre Society (KBPOCCS) says very little about growing local BPO outsource work. Is this not on your agenda? It seems that we are focussing (hastily) more on closing international outsource work even before you build and deepen your local capabilities and capacity, not forgetting experience. Do you also think that it is feasible/advisable to only depend on work from off-shore, when we know of the many other challenges that we face e.g. bandwidth availability and even when available, the quality of this bandwidth? Fortunately not all is lost, one major player (Safaricom) announced plans sometime mid-last year thereabouts to outsource part of their customer care. Has the KPPOCCS motivated for this work to be awarded to a local service provider OR are we going to see this work being awarded to an off-shore operation? Did they ever award this work? Safaricom made a clear indication that it is interested in engaging local entities to carry out this work. However given that this process has gone quiet I pray they have not sold us down the river and awarded the business to some Indian or Philipino or even South African company. My point is the international clients we are trying to woe into farming out their work to Kenya will check us out thoroughly and if they see that the big players in this market are not giving their business to their fellow Kenyans why should they? Similarly, Barclays Bank is another major player where the CEO is on record for declaring he was looking to establishing a large Contact Center in Kenya which could serve other Barclays operations across the globe (I think he said something like up to a 10,000 Seat contact center would be established! Can you imagine that? No one knows whether he was misquoted). He lamented the poor telecommunications infrastructure and our unpreparedness (probably skills, technology, work ethic, culture etc -wise) for such work. I think that the best strategy to adopt is for KPPOCCS in conjunction with the Kenya ICT Board and the Ministry of ICT to lobby hard for these kinds of declared outsource opportunities and bring them to fruition. Neglecting local outsource opportunities is like giving these potential outsourcers a "carte blanche" option to look externally for service providers. This way, many potential jobs are lost not forgetting the foreign exchange that is exported with the jobs! I read in the newspapers yesterday that the "World Bank has released funds to support Kenyan Call Centres". The entire article was based on mostly subsidising the cost of international bandwidth. In effect the money being lent to us for this is all being remitted out to bandwidth providers who in a way put a premium to the bandwidth that they supply us. Isn't this money better utilised now to actually help "incubate" the budding BPO/Contact Center businesses by strengthening their skill capabilities, technology capacities, etc.with seed capital. It is clear that only the few established players and those yet to establish but with deep pockets to set up big, will reap the benefits of this bandwidth subsidy. These are the reasons that I will throw the gauntlet to the Honorable Minister Samuel Poghisio, Bwana PS Dr. Ndemo, CEO of ICTBoard Mr. Paul Kukubo etc, please be vigilant, do not rest. Fight for this fledgling industry, there are many low lying fruits such as Call centers for organizations such as Safaricom, Kenya Police, GoK etc which you can lobby and encourage to be outsourced to local entities that will give the local industry the critical mass that will enable it grow and compete very well in the international arena. I rest my passionate plea! ----------------------------------------------------------------- Akich D. Kwach Director - Research & Operations ARCHWAY Technology Mobile:+254 722 742155 Tel: +254 20 4778026 e-mail: <mailto:kwach@archway-productions.com> kwach(a)archway-productions.com www.archway-productions.com <http://www.archway-productions.com/> *** Market & Social Research for Development ***

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Media
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 14 Feb '08

14 Feb '08

Dear David, Thank you for supporting the baseline review of Media. The purpose of the study is to provide baseline data to improve on our media policy. You must admit that this is the first time in the history of this country that the Government is consulting stakeholders on its intentions to improve the sector. We have involved Media Council from day one. It is the MC that would provide the sectretarial services. It is the Media Council that would recommend names to the task force. It is the Media Council that we are using as a bridge to improve the conditions of journalists in this country. We need an objective study that is done by independent minded Kenyans. It is not prudent however to have current employees of media houses to serve in the task force. Unfortunately, most members of the MC fall in that category. That leaves us with Media Academics,special interest groups, retired media personalities to do the study. There is nothing in our sleeves against media and I think by now you should have known that we are only interested in developing a vibrant Media in this country. The study is important because we feel that there are multiple reasons why Media behaved the way they did. We cannot simply blame Tribalism. We have all gone to school and know very well know that Journalists were taking bribes. From many studies in media, we can speculate on reasons why they were easily bribed as mainly poor pay. Bribes cloud objectivity and eventually what we see is nothing but incitement. There are more other factors that we need the task force to establish. We have sent the TOR for the study to MC and I think it is upon them now to consult the wider stakeholder before we move forward. It is our responsibility to ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes we have made again. From the policy perspective, the study is a must if we have to address the problems in the Media. We need to make informed decisions. Bitange Ndemo. > Dear colleagues, > > Having followed the debate on the media audit, I'm convinced there is > consensus that it's important that we review how the media handled the > elections, before, during and after. That is perfectly in order. What's > alarming is the insistence that the government should do it, whereas there > is an organisation, the Media Council, whose mandate includes checking how > the media operates with a view to protect the%2 ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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