August 2008 - KICTANet

CNN to Feature SIDAREC (Kenya) and Architecture for Humanity (Saturday August 30th)
by Janet Feldman 28 Aug '08

28 Aug '08

Dear Friends, On Saturday, August 30th, at 7:30pm on CNN, Architecture for Humanity's latest project, a full-fledged media center serving youth in slum areas of Nairobi, Kenya, will be featured. For more see these websites: http://www.architectureforhumanity.org and http://openarchitecturenetwork.org/node/1677 And read more below about the Open Architecture Contest, including the overall winner: SIDAREC (Slums Information, Development, and Resource Centers), at http://www.sidarec.org. SIDAREC is an amazing nonprofit started by young people, and it is young people who still manage the organization and are served by it. The media center will help to transform many individual lives, the communities in which SIDAREC operates, and also a city whose slums are among the worst in the world. Please tune in Saturday and hear more about the outstanding work being done by these organizations. Thanks and all best wishes, Janet (Feldman, KAIPPG International and ActALIVE, kaippg(a)earthlink.net) CNN's Charles Hodson presents the second Principal Voices program: "Principal Voices: Design for Good" at the times below: http://edition.cnn.com/CNNI/Programs/principal.voices/design/ Saturday, August 30 (SIDAREC featured today) 0730 ET 1330 ET Sunday, August 31 0330 ET 0930 ET 1430 ET Monday, September 1 0930 ET 1330 ET PRESS RELEASE SIDAREC SCOOPS THE 2007 AMD Open Architecture Challenge: An ultra-modern technology media lab and radio station to be constructed in Mukuru Slums Organizational summary: SIDAREC is an acronym that stands for Slums Information Development and Resource Centres. This is a community based organization operating in the slum areas of Mukuru and Majengo in Nairobi, Kenya. SIDAREC was formed in 1996 as a youth group but later developed and changed status to an NGO in 1997. It is instructive to note that SIDAREC was founded by a group of youth who have managed it to date. The primary target group for SIDAREC is children, youth, and women living in these slums. SIDAREC pillars (programmes) include: Youth Reproductive Health and Development, Early Childhood Development, Community Media and ICT, and Livelihood. Vision: Empowered slum community with easy access to information and opportunities that enable them to lead a decent life on a sustainable basis. Mission: To build the capacity of slum communities through provision of quality services in the areas of Information, Communication, and Technology, as well as advocacy and socio-economic initiatives. Global Challenge: SIDAREC submitted its bid to the global challenge organized by Architecture For Humanity in 2006. There were about 556 entries received from all over the world. The screening and selection process was very competitive and time-consuming. On Tuesday June 3, 2008, Architecture for Humanity and AMD (NYSE: AMD) announced SIDAREC as the winner of the 2007 AMD Open Architecture Challenge during the World Economic Forum in Cape Town, South Africa. AMD sponsored the 2007 challenge through 50x15, a global initiative founded by AMD with the goal of enabling affordable Internet access and computing capability for 50 percent of the world's population by the year 2015. The winners, including one overall competition winner and two regional site winners, were determined by an international review board of jurors comprised of architects, technologists, and community members. SIDAREC was not only the Africa challenge winner but also scooped the overall competition prize among three entries from Nepal (construction of a health facility) and Ecuador (establishment of an indigenous chocolate factory). The site winner for SIDAREC is the Global Studio of Seattle, WA, USA, which will construct a technology media lab. This Community Media lab will include but is not limited to an internet centre, computer training lab, day care, amphitheatre, elevated wide screen, and radio station. With the construction of this media lab, the youth feel like managers (who are also the pioneers), and they believe that it will become "the next Silicon Valley," in the slum area of Mukuru. Benefit of Award to SIDAREC: -Build institutional capacity in terms of technology. -Generate revenue from the hire of amphitheatre, hall, computer training which will be ploughed back to social development activities. -Establish offices within the facility as opposed to renting elsewhere and thus saving on this cost. Benefits to be accrued by the community members: -Narrowing of the digital divide. -Increased affordability and accessibility of technology in the slum areas. -Improvements in the surrounding environment by building a facility complete with a greening concept. -Increased markets to local entrepreneurs through e-marketing and advertising. About the Sponsors: AMD Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NYSE: AMD) is a leading global provider of innovative processing solutions in the computing, graphics and consumer electronics markets. AMD is dedicated to driving open innovation, choice and industry growth by delivering superior customer-centric solutions that empower consumers and businesses worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com The 50x15 Initiative, launched by AMD in 2004 at the World Economic Forum, is a bold and far-reaching effort to develop new technology and solutions to help enable affordable Internet access and computing capability for 50 percent of the world's population by the year 2015. More than just goodwill, 50x15 is about fostering long-term economic progress and investment within high-growth markets in ways that benefit a wide range of people and businesses. For more information, visit http://www.50x15.com Architecture for Humanity: Architecture for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that seeks architectural solutions to humanitarian crises and provides professional design services to communities in need. For more information, please visit http://www.architectureforhumanity.org Open Architecture Challenge: Each year, Architecture for Humanity hosts a global design challenge on the Open Architecture Network to harness the creativity and energy of the design community to address a different systemic issue facing those living in underserved communities. By reaching beyond the traditional bounds of architecture, the open design competition challenges architects, designers and others to solve inequities in the built environment affecting the health, prosperity and well-being of under-served communities. Contacts: Lucy Mathai, Executive Director Slums Information Development & Resource Centres (SIDAREC) P.O. Box 9687 00300 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 020 246961 / 247356 Email: info(a)sidarec.or.ke, lucy(a)sidarec.or.ke Laura Galloway Galloway Media Group Tel: (212) 260-3708 Email: laura(a)gallowaymediagroup.com Travis Bullard AMD Public Relations Executive Tel: (512) 602-5667 Email: travis.bullard(a)amd.com

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Re: [kictanet] Day 3 of 10:-IGF Discussions, Internet Interconnection Charges
by Brian Munyao Longwe 27 Aug '08

27 Aug '08

Yes, and the entire phenomenon that occurs between ISPs in order to allow them to announce networks to each other is what is known as peering http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peering which is the correct technical term. An excerpt from the above: " Peering requires physical interconnection of the networks, an exchange of routing information through the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routing protocol and is often accompanied by peering agreements of varying formality, from "handshake" to thick contracts." This is what happens at KIXP which I established in 2000 and at various IXPs that I have been training ISPs on and helping various countries around Africa build for the past 8 years. Best regards, Brian - Hide quoted text - On 8/27/08, Gakuru, Alex <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> wrote: As promised earlier, .... Here's how it works. When a user types a website name into his browser or clicks "send" to launch an e-mail, a Domain Name System server produces an IP address for the destination. A router belonging to the user's ISP then consults a BGP table for the best route. That table is built from announcements, or "advertisements," issued by ISPs and other networks -- also known as Autonomous Systems, or ASes -- declaring the range of IP addresses, or IP prefixes, to which they'll deliver traffic. .... <http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/08/revealed-the-in.html> regards, On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 3:48 PM, Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > Clearly Brian I am was not referring to peering but something within. > I shall locate and extract the lines from my 6deploy notes and post. > > regards, > > > > --- On Thu, 8/14/08, Brian Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> From: Brian Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com> >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 3 of 10:-IGF Discussions, Internet Interconnection Charges >> To: alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com >> Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> Date: Thursday, August 14, 2008, 12:52 AM >> Alex, >> >> The term is not "announcing" it is known as >> "peering" >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peering which is defined as >> " >> is voluntary interconnection of administratively separate >> Internet<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet> >> networks <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_network> >> for the purpose of >> exchanging traffic between the customers of each network. >> The pure >> definition of peering is settlement-free or "sender >> keeps all," meaning that >> neither party pays the other for the exchanged traffic, >> instead, each >> derives revenue from its own customers. >> " >> >> Underlying the ability to peer is the ability to access >> affordable >> infrastructure, otherwise most operators settle for transit >> arrangements >> where the inherent costs of the underlying transport is too >> high. >> >> Regards, >> >> Brian >> >> On Wed, Aug 13, 2008 at 9:47 PM, Gakuru, Alex >> <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com>wrote: >> >> > Alongside we should also consider the IXP concept >> where ISPs mutually >> > accept one another traffic without international >> transit (the concept >> > is called "announcing"). Simply put, such >> traffic never incurs >> > international transit costs. Question: Should this >> "part" of internet >> > cost consumers the same as costly international >> satellite? This >> > becomes more apparent when a lot of popular sites get >> locally hosted, >> > and for example where local content woes and comprises >> most traffic. >> > >> > Besides that, East (and all of) Africa should embrace >> solutions that >> > "keep Africa traffic in Africa" such as >> RASCOM 1 - the satellite now >> > in space that was designed by Kenya's own Engineer >> James Rege;) >> > potentially saving Africa a sizable chunk of the US$ >> 800 million >> > annual spending on transit traffic. Also more local >> and regional IXPs >> > would assist (and less NATs please) >> > >> > Network neutrality is a very hot one I dare not touch >> much except >> > affirm that whatever obstructs "the end-to-end >> > principle"< >> > >> http://web.mit.edu/Saltzer/www/publications/endtoend/ endtoend.txt> >> > should be removed from the network. They include >> privacy invading >> > techniques known as Deep Packet Inspection (or >> > >> DPI).<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_packet_inspection> >> Trust me to >> > sneak in consumer issues;) But it is an important >> aspect when >> > determining through whom your traffic passes. >> > >> > Regards, >> > >> > Alex >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > On Wed, Aug 13, 2008 at 5:04 PM, mwende njiraini >> > <mwende.njiraini(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> > > In traditional telephony call termination >> revenues are shared between >> > > operators and are based on negotiated >> interconnection rates, in a >> > regulated >> > > environment, rather than the size and number of >> subscribers on the >> > network. >> > > (I stand to be corrected) Developing countries >> for a long time have >> > > benefited from revenues generated from this >> international settlement >> > > scheme. However, these revenues are rapidly >> being eroded by VoIP, which >> > is >> > > encouraged by 'loosely regulated' flat >> rate pricing of internet >> > bandwidth. >> > > The issue internet interconnection is based on >> the fact that >> > international >> > > ISPs have no incentive to enter shared-cost >> peering with ISPs developing >> > > countries thus forcing them to incur the full >> cost of transmitting >> > > international traffic. What incentives need to >> be put in place to >> > encourage >> > > shared-cost peering? Content development? >> > > >> > > >> > > There is raging debate on "network >> neutrality"; with network operators >> > > seeking to price network access on the basis of >> utilization in a bid to >> > > manage network congestion. In the US, for >> example the recent Comcast >> > case >> > > has resulted in the regulator, FCC, ruling that >> Comcast 'discriminatory' >> > > network management practices were illegal. To >> overcome the challenge of >> > > network congestion several proposals have been >> made including the >> > > introduction of bandwidth metered services. Vint >> Cerf, Google's chief >> > > internet evangelist, has proposed that ISPs >> should "introduce >> > transmission >> > > caps allowing users to purchase access to the >> Internet at a given minimum >> > > data rate, which would be guaranteed even during >> times of congestion." >> > Net >> > > neutrality is definitely an issue we may need to >> consider with reference >> > to >> > > the current developments in national and >> international fibre optic >> > > projects. >> > > >> > > References: >> > > >> > > http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10007079-93.html >> > > >> > > Regards >> > > >> > > Mwende >> > > >> > > Disclaimer: Comments are author's own. >> > > >> > > On 8/13/08, John Walubengo >> <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> > >> >> > >> Plse feel free to belatedly contribute on Day >> 1 or 2 themes, jst >> > remember >> > >> to pick the correct subject line. Meanwhile >> today we should discuss one >> > of >> > >> IG issues that touch squarely on the retail >> cost of Internet Service in >> > >> developing countries- the Internet >> Interconnection Charges (IIC, in >> > short) >> > >> >> > >> This issue is fairly complex and explosive >> but we could try and >> > understand >> > >> if we used a simplified model for Mobile >> Phone Interconnection Charges >> > and >> > >> Relationships. Consider mobile phone >> company, X with 8million customers >> > and >> > >> mobile phone company, Y with 2 million >> customers. Each company is >> > supposed >> > >> to compensate (pay) the other for terminating >> calls originating from the >> > >> other. In such a relationship, the bigger >> company X, can chose to >> > dictate >> > >> how much the smaller company, Y pays it to >> terminate the 'Y' calls to >> > its >> > >> bigger 'X' network/customers. >> > >> >> > >> This is losely similar to what is called >> Transit relationship on the >> > >> Internet. The big internet networks (Tier 1 >> and 2 Internet Backbone >> > >> Providers) in US/Europe get to dictate how >> much the smaller networks in >> > >> developing countries need to pay in order to >> terminate their internet >> > >> requests for email, web, dns, voip and other >> services into their >> > Network. >> > >> Even our much celebrated TEAMS, EASsy and >> other projects cannot escape >> > these >> > >> Transit Interconnection Costs. Ofcourse if >> you do not like their >> > >> Interconnection Charges you are free to take >> a walk into nowhere (read: >> > stay >> > >> offline). >> > >> >> > >> Another relationship does exist, the >> Peer-to-Peer relationship which is >> > >> equivalent to Mobile phone company Y and >> company X both having equal or >> > >> similar number of customers/value e.g. >> 5million each. In such a >> > >> relationship, the two Internet >> Backbone/Service providers chose NOT to >> > >> charge each other anything. Traffic between >> the two is exchanged >> > >> reciprically for free but below each of this >> big Networks are the >> > smaller >> > >> networks (read African networks), that must >> pay Transit Charges. Put >> > >> bluntly, Africa and other developing >> countries are subsidizing Internet >> > >> Costs for the rich nations in the North. >> > >> >> > >> Many studies have been carried out to get us >> out of this fix such as the >> > >> Halfway-propositions, the ICAIS, etc but >> todate the status quo remains. >> > The >> > >> standard response has remained 'If it >> current interconnection models are >> > >> working, why should you try and fix >> them?' >> > >> >> > >> 1 day for comments, corrections and/or >> proposals on this theme. >> > >> >> > >> walu. >> > >> >> > >> Ref: for some of the Studies: >> > >> International Charging Arrangements for >> Internet Services, Module I, >> > >> ICAIS, p.3 >> > >> >> http://www.tmdenton.com/pub/reports/icais_mod1_ch1.pdf >> > >> >> > >> The Half-Way Proposition. >> > >> >> http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing- act_130.html >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >>

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Day 3 of 10:-IGF Discussions, Internet Interconnection Charges
by John Walubengo 27 Aug '08

27 Aug '08

Plse feel free to belatedly contribute on Day 1 or 2 themes, jst remember to pick the correct subject line. Meanwhile today we should discuss one of IG issues that touch squarely on the retail cost of Internet Service in developing countries- the Internet Interconnection Charges (IIC, in short) This issue is fairly complex and explosive but we could try and understand if we used a simplified model for Mobile Phone Interconnection Charges and Relationships. Consider mobile phone company, X with 8million customers and mobile phone company, Y with 2 million customers. Each company is supposed to compensate (pay) the other for terminating calls originating from the other. In such a relationship, the bigger company X, can chose to dictate how much the smaller company, Y pays it to terminate the 'Y' calls to its bigger 'X' network/customers. This is losely similar to what is called Transit relationship on the Internet. The big internet networks (Tier 1 and 2 Internet Backbone Providers) in US/Europe get to dictate how much the smaller networks in developing countries need to pay in order to terminate their internet requests for email, web, dns, voip and other services into their Network. Even our much celebrated TEAMS, EASsy and other projects cannot escape these Transit Interconnection Costs. Ofcourse if you do not like their Interconnection Charges you are free to take a walk into nowhere (read: stay offline). Another relationship does exist, the Peer-to-Peer relationship which is equivalent to Mobile phone company Y and company X both having equal or similar number of customers/value e.g. 5million each. In such a relationship, the two Internet Backbone/Service providers chose NOT to charge each other anything. Traffic between the two is exchanged reciprically for free but below each of this big Networks are the smaller networks (read African networks), that must pay Transit Charges. Put bluntly, Africa and other developing countries are subsidizing Internet Costs for the rich nations in the North. Many studies have been carried out to get us out of this fix such as the Halfway-propositions, the ICAIS, etc but todate the status quo remains. The standard response has remained 'If it current interconnection models are working, why should you try and fix them?' 1 day for comments, corrections and/or proposals on this theme. walu. Ref: for some of the Studies: International Charging Arrangements for Internet Services, Module I, ICAIS, p.3 http://www.tmdenton.com/pub/reports/icais_mod1_ch1.pdf The Half-Way Proposition. http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act_130.html

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The climate of innovation around IT in SSA
by Eric M.K Osiakwan 26 Aug '08

26 Aug '08

http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/node/4569 - some how Kenya would be a centre piece of this conversation so you welcome to join by webcast and if you let me know in advance, we would schedule the interventions into the structure. Eric here Eric M.K Osiakwan ICT Integrator Internet Research www.internetresearch.com.gh emko(a)internetresearch.com.gh 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Tel: +233.21.258800 ext 2031 Fax: +233.21.258811 Cell: +233.24.4386792

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MobileActive08 Summit - Register Now!
by alice 26 Aug '08

26 Aug '08

MobileActive08 Summit 13-15 October 2008 Johannesburg, South Africa ------------------------------------------------------ SANGONeT and MobileActive.org are pleased to announce the programme for the MobileActive08 Summit. Please refer to http://mobileactive08.confabb.com. MobileActive08 is the only global gathering that is connecting leaders who are working at the convergence of civil society, mobile technology and social change. The three-day event convenes key stakeholders that will explore mobile technology in support of social action - how mobile phones are used to advance civil society work, assess the current state of knowledge in the use and effectiveness of mobile technology to advance social action, and investigate trends, needs and investment opportunities. Lots of great people from the ICT sector and civil society are leading sessions and workshops (http://mobileactive08.confabb.com/conferences/MobileActive08/speakers) and there is also lots of time to take it all deeper in the open space sessions. If you are thinking of registering, or know people who want to come to MobileActive08, please register/encourage them to register soon as we are rapidly filling up and will close registration when we reach 300 participants (and we are close!). Please register now at http://mobileactive08.org, and of course, let us know if you have any questions! Best wishes David --------------------------- David Barnard Executive Director Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT) Tel: (+27) (11) 403-4935 E-mail: dbarnard(a)sangonet.org.za URL: http://www.sangonet.org.za "Linking civil society through ICTs" --- You are currently subscribed to aisi-l as: [alice(a)apc.org] To unsubscribe, forward this message to leave-aisi-l-84914M(a)lyris.bellanet.org

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Re: [kictanet] Abuse of Personal information
by James Kagwe 26 Aug '08

26 Aug '08

Brian, I think to me the abuse comes in due to the fact that the victim gave out personal information innocently not knowing what the recipient was planning to use it for. Later he was called and told that he had won a holiday which was actually a lie as it was pegged on him joining and paying a membership fee. I think it also feel bad when you are invited to take up a ticket which you have won only for people to use your three hours trying to market a product to you, they would as well come out clean and indicate what they want outrightly other than wasting your time. Besides, if I can take my example the time they approached me my financial position then, would not have afforded me such and if I new that they were calling me for that I wouldn't even had gone. Well, I may be wrong but that's my feeling. Regards, James Kagwe ________________________________ From: Brian Munyao Longwe [mailto:brian@caret.net] Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 10:44 AM To: James Kagwe Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Abuse of Personal information Hi James, I have been invited for this same session in much the same way the lady describes in her story. Due to a hectic schedule I didn't make it for the evening presentation, despite being scheduled (and confirming) 3 times in a row. While I cannot vouch for or against this particular group as I have not yet "tasted" their system/process etc, I will say that I went through an identical experience about 4-5 years ago with "Africa Vacation Club" - and my wife and I actually opted to purchase one of the options which was an off-peak week at their resort (my subsequent experience showed that it's a concept called timeshare). To cut a long story short, we paid for our membership category, have maintained our membership by paying the required annual maintenance fee and have enjoyed a wonderful week holiday at their Kilifi resort with the kids (I have 3). We have also since received our full RCI membership pack, including card and catalogue of other venues around the world where we can "exchange" our local week. But, having said that I do know, and am aware that some con artists have used this gimmick in the past to con innocent Kenyans out of hard-earned money, there are a couple of sites on the 'net that attest to that. What I'm curious about is how the experience you detailed/shared amounts to abuse of personal information? Especially since the said forms were filled voluntarily, which could be assumed to be an "opt in" decision milestone. Please elaborate? Regards, Brian On Aug 26, 2008, at 9:51 AM, James Kagwe wrote: All, I came across the following story http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=2370#post2370 <http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=2370#post2370> and felt I could share it with all of us. Talk about giving out personal information to the wrong people. I was a victim about 4 years ago and I cannot belief that these guys have been going on with this all this time. I have a feeling that this is some abuse of personal information and some policy issues need to be sort out somewhere regarding personal information and how it can / should be used. Best Regards, James Kagwe If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can't, you're right. ********************************************************************* Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis Bishops Garden Towers Bishops Road P.O. Box 56445 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: (254) 20 2719933, 2719934, 2714714, 2714715 Fax: (254) 20 2719951 Confidentiality Warning ======================= The contents of this e-mail and any accompanying documentation are confidential and any use thereof, in what ever form, by anyone other than the addressee is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify admin(a)kippra.or.ke <mailto:admin@kippra.or.ke> and delete it immediately from your system. Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis accepts no responsibility for losses or damage as a result of any viruses and it is your responsibility to check attachments (if any) for viruses. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: brian(a)caret.net Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40caret.net

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Abuse of Personal information
by James Kagwe 26 Aug '08

26 Aug '08

All, I came across the following story http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=2370#post2370 <http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=2370#post2370> and felt I could share it with all of us. Talk about giving out personal information to the wrong people. I was a victim about 4 years ago and I cannot belief that these guys have been going on with this all this time. I have a feeling that this is some abuse of personal information and some policy issues need to be sort out somewhere regarding personal information and how it can / should be used. Best Regards, James Kagwe If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can't, you're right. ********************************************************************* Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis Bishops Garden Towers Bishops Road P.O. Box 56445 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: (254) 20 2719933, 2719934, 2714714, 2714715 Fax: (254) 20 2719951 Confidentiality Warning ======================= The contents of this e-mail and any accompanying documentation are confidential and any use thereof, in what ever form, by anyone other than the addressee is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify admin(a)kippra.or.ke <mailto:admin@kippra.or.ke> and delete it immediately from your system. Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis accepts no responsibility for losses or damage as a result of any viruses and it is your responsibility to check attachments (if any) for viruses.

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Foreign Software Houses of Babel..in kenya.
by Bill Kagai 26 Aug '08

26 Aug '08

I am watching news in awe where they are reporting that Kenya Ports Authority has deployed a Korean piece of software (Kwatos) to ease turn-around at the Port but now its not working well with the Kenya Revenue Authority software from Chile (Simba). Ofcourse both cost billions. As the spanish-speaking chileans 'haga el informe con los otros extranjeros' with the Koreans to '소프트웨어를 저희를 위해 일한' , sisi wakenya tunangoja kusaidiwa. Mwafrika anajimaliza mwenyewe...as Baba Gideon would say. < http://uk.babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_txt> The result according to one Mureithi of Kenya Shipping Associations is that port has now become a 'store' rather than a 'door' taking ages (14 days instead of 3 days) to clear goods because of the software conflict. Here be dragons...is this a kictanet sized problem...or do we just watch and comment later in another study on this discussion forum???? Time for an ICT Commission of Inquiry ??? Bill Kagai

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The digital war on poverty -this, we can win?
by Eric M.K Osiakwan 25 Aug '08

25 Aug '08

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/21/ digitalmedia.mobilephones Eric M.K Osiakwan ICT Integrator Internet Research www.internetresearch.com.gh emko(a)internetresearch.com.gh 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Tel: +233.21.258800 ext 2031 Fax: +233.21.258811 Cell: +233.24.4386792

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[Fwd: BPO study]
by alice 25 Aug '08

25 Aug '08

Dear all University of Nairobi will soon undertake comprehensive research in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sub-sector in pioneer, emerging and mature markets in order to provide evidence and a deeper understanding of the imperatives for success in this industry to better inform Kenya’s policy decisions and investment choices. Please find the brief attached and for all those interested, take note of the the launch workshop scheduled for 10^th September. Best alice

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