February 2009 - KICTANet

Senegalese consumers called to boycott mobile phones to protest 2% tax increase on wide range of services
by alice 07 Feb '09

07 Feb '09

(From Balancing Act) Senegalese consumers called to boycott mobile phones to protest 2% tax increase on wide range of services African politicians see the telecoms and Internet sector as the "golden goose" in terms of being able to tax its operators. In various countries a whole raft of different taxes have turned mobile operators into Government’s most effective tax collector. But this week saw the two main Senegalese consumer organisations organise a boycott of services to protest against a 2% tax called RUTEL that falls directly on consumers. Along with all the other taxes they pay (including TVA/VAT), Senegalese consumers are now being asked to stump up an additional 2% across a wide range of telecommunications and Internet services. The tax is called Redevance d’utilisation des telecommunications (RUTEL) and it came into force on 1 February 2009. Law 2008-46 of 3 September 2008 put the tax on the statute book but its introduction has caused widespread anger. So for example, a prepaid mobile kit costs about FCFA2,120 and with TVA/VAT FCFA2,500. With the RUTEL tax on the base price it now costs FCFA2,160, giving a final price to the consumer of FCFA2,550, an increase of FCFA50. The wide range of services the tax has been slapped on includes fixed and mobile services, IP-TV services, dial-up and ADSL subscriptions, recharge cards, international roaming, leased lines and interconnection charges between operators. The latter will have the effect of charging the tax twice over to consumers, providing a real case of "double-dipping", that bears down directly on consumers. The Ministry of Commerce has pointed out that a range of essentials like food and fuel have actually come down in price but its figures have been contested in the discussions taking place on Senegalese blogs. It seems that the announced reductions in price often turn into price rises later. As with TVA/VAT, the operators have been given the responsibility of collecting the tax and as a concession to the operators they are now freed of any taxes or customs duties on the import of mobile and fixed phones. In reaction to this tax raise, Senegal’s two main consumer associations, l'Association des consommateurs du Sénégal (ASCOSEN) and l'Union nationale des consommateurs du Sénégal (UNCS) have called for a boycott of the use of mobile phones today, Friday 6 February 2009. "The Senegalese state has decided, in a unilateral manner, that is peremptory and without justification to raise by more than 2% the cost of telecommunications," the President of ASCOSEN, Momar Ndao told a press conference on Thursday. He estimated that the Government will be taking FCFA33 million a day from consumers’ pockets. The joint plan of action for a boycott has been organised by sending SMS messages to consumers telling them the boycott will take place and calling on them to stop all bill payment, opening new subscriptions, buying credit from 8am to 3pm and stop using their mobile from 1pm to 3pm. One of Senegal’s ICT sector associations, Le Rassemblement des entreprises du secteur des technologies de l'information et des télécommunications (RESTIC) issued a statement saying that it considered the boycott to be "counter-productive and unacceptable." The statement argued that:"Mobile service is not just a commodity for the majority of consumers but a necessity for most of them. This boycott will be a useless trouble to users and leave operators having to make up lost revenue." According to RESTIC, the operators and employers were not involved in the decision to introduce the new tax and operators were already paying up to 3% on turnover as a contribution to the universal service fund Fond National de Développement de Service Universel (FNDSU). Therefore it invited the Government to rethink all taxes placed on operators. There have been two consumer boycotts of mobile phones in Nigeria, the first in 2003 caused a significant dent in operators’ revenues but the second several years later had much less of an impact. There was talk of a similar boycott in South Africa but it never seemed to get off the ground. The complicated way the boycott has been structured in Senegal (with different hours to boycott different services) may also mean that the impact is not as great as its promoters might hope. A similar all inclusive tax was introduced in Ghana in mid-2008. African Governments in the main do not have a strong record of tax collection and have turned mobile operators into their chief tax collectors. The largest proportion of Government revenues comes both from TVA/VAT collected directly from consumers and also the wide range of other taxes they pay the Government. African politicians of all stripes see the telecoms and Internet sectors as a "golden goose" that produces easy money. The contradiction at the heart of this taxation policy is that there is clear evidence that the more you charge consumers for communications services, the less they will use them and the more it cuts out the marginal user who really struggles to pay for these services. President Wade has been one of Africa’s most vocal politicians in calling for the closing of the digital divide. A tax policy of this kind simply widens the divide. For as one Senegalese blogger, Souleymane Jules Diop, wrote yesterday:"It’s not the phone that’s to blame. It’s (President) Abdoulaye Wade whose to blame." Perhaps this boycott will make African politicians think again before they reach out to stroke "the golden goose" for more money.

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Supplement to Launch National BPO Expo Week
by Joseph Ochola 07 Feb '09

07 Feb '09

Dear Collegue, The Kenya BPO & Contact Centre Society will on 31st March 2009, run a supplement on the Launch of the National BPO Expo Week, in the Daily Nation. We would like to take this opportunity to invite you book your adverts in the supplement. This will be an excellent medium to market your products and services. Deadline for advert submission is 17 March, 2009.Expo website:www.bpoweek.co.ke Kindly contact the undersigned for further details. Kind Regards, Joseph Ochola Executive Officer Kenya BPO & Contact Centre Society. Studio House, along Argwings Kodhek road, 2nd floor E-mail: secretariat(a)kenyabposociety.or.ke Website: www.kenyabposociety.or.ke Tel. No. /020-2391301/ 0722-663176/ 0733-917518 _

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Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development is accepting resume for new board members....
by Crystal Watley 07 Feb '09

07 Feb '09

Salama! So what does it take to be a VOA board member? We need to find someone who knows and loves technology and believes that it can be used to build a better Kenya, and if we meet our organization goals, a better Africa. It is important that this board member not be shy to controversy or afraid to speak their mind. It is critical that our new board member is a believer in grassroots democracy. This is a voluntary position and does not have a pay check attached. The reward is knowing that you are contributing to a freer, more open and informed Kenya. Board members are required to make contributions to the organization as they are able and to help fund raise. Board meetings are held online once a month. We require at least a ten hour per week commitment. If you feel you are "the one" to help lead and guide our organization, please send your resume to: crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org. Asante sana. Many blessings, Crystal -- Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Voices of Africa crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org http://www.voicesofafrica.org/ "You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi

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India is planning to produce a laptop computer for the knockdown price of about $20
by P Gitau Githongo 06 Feb '09

06 Feb '09

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ecf1eae2-f092-11dd-972c-0000779fd2ac.html?ftcamp=P opu_story4/NL/CEFeb2009/Cluster_1_pop_4/0/ <http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ecf1eae2-f092-11dd-972c-0000779fd2ac.html?ftcamp= Popu_story4/NL/CEFeb2009/Cluster_1_pop_4/0/&nclick_check=1> &nclick_check=1

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Fwd: ICANN blows $4.6 million in the stock market
by waudo siganga 05 Feb '09

05 Feb '09

Sorry for any cross-postings: Talk of Internet Governance - ICANN has blown US$4.6 million, the equivalent of the amount of 23 million domain registrations, through speculation in the stock markets! .... [1]www.circleid.com/posts/20090203_icann_blows_46_million_stock_m arket/ References 1. file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/www.circleid.com/posts/20090203_icann_blows_4… We are the change we've been waiting for. - Kenyan-American Barack Hussein Obama

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Kenya Data Networks to introduce advanced news gathering applications for local TV and Radio stations
by alice 05 Feb '09

05 Feb '09

(from Balancing Act) Kenya Data Networks to introduce advanced news gathering applications for local TV and Radio stations Kenya Data Networks is bringing a whole new way of news gathering and dissemination for Local TV and Radio stations that will significantly reduce their operating expenses by up to 30 percent as happened in Latin America, Far East Asia and Europe and raise their quality of service levels for their viewers. Kenya Data Networks aims to achieve this through partnership with Scopus Video Networks which supplies digital technology to the broadcasting industry in the world. The digital technology forms the basis for a new transmission infrastructure that will enable TV and Radio stations - currently using costly satellite equipment for broadcasts – to leverage the lower costs and reliability of content delivery over an IP network. “Ours is a partnership aimed at providing solutions through improved means of reaching out to your consumers in a way that will increase revenues, improve customer retention and minimize your costs’’, said Kenya Data Networks Managing Director, Kai Wulff’ while addressing a gathering of media executives on the new technology. KDN will deploy the technology using the fiber optic cable – a faster, high capacity and less expensive means of communication – to run live broadcasts, allow journalists and even people who have a story to send to do it from their homes and save media houses the trouble of using the costly Outside Broadcasting (OB) vans every other time there is a major event to be reported. The project will also see KDN provide media stations with connectivity to their remote transmitters which will enable them deliver more content on the same bandwidth hence more revenues.

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Death of a dream: Africa’s pay TV challenger GTV runs out of financial road
by alice 05 Feb '09

05 Feb '09

(From Balancing Act) Death of a dream: Africa’s pay TV challenger GTV runs out of financial road Last Friday Gateway Broadcast Services (GTV’s operating company) announced today that its Board of Directors has unanimously approved a plan to liquidate the Company. Its statement blamed “excessive demands on the business” caused by the global financial crisis that “interrupted (its) ability to secure funding on an acceptable timescale and have left us no choice but to cease operations”. Russell Southwood looks at where it all went wrong. To understand how GTV came to be launched, it’s necessary to go right back to the beginning and start with Gateway Communications. Ex-banker Julian McIntyre and his friend Ghanaian-Briton telecoms manager Peter Gbedemah launched the company over ten years ago and worked out of a modest set of offices near Warren Street in London. They were part of a very small group of people outside the continent who could see its potential and sought to provide international wholesale services to ISPs and carriers. Africa wasn’t one of its markets, it was its market. Among other things, McIntyre bought a banker’s instinct for deal and the company thrived on a combination of organic growth and acquisition. Some acquisitions like the company that became its South African subsidiary were a shining success, whilst others like Datatel in Sierra Leone less so. There were ups and downs but the company continued to grow. The turning point came in 2005 when mobile operator Celtel (now Zain) decided to sell a number of its non-core businesses prior to carrying out the IPO that led to its trade sale to MTC. In order to make the deal attractive, Celtel gave a long-term commitment to Gateway Communications as the buyer that it would use it as its wholesale carrier. In a single leap the company had gone from being an interesting challenger to being a significant player: it could now lay claim to around 20-25% of the market for international voice traffic and this would grow to 30% over three years. With the acquisition of Link Africa, the company had an assured stream of business and a positive cash flow. It had become “bankable” on a much larger scale. Faced with this happy circumstance, the question then arose: what can we do next? A number of possibilities were investigated and a decision was taken to enter the Pay-TV market in Africa that was announced publicly in February 2007. Pay-TV in Sub-Saharan Africa was dominated by two large players: Naspers-owned DStv/Multichoice in Anglophone territories and Vivendi’s Canal Plus in Francophone territories. Both had invested significantly in rights and were charging relatively high monthly rates for access to their services. The strategy was two-pronged: firstly, to provide users with lower subscription rates (US$20-35 per month) and secondly, to acquire compelling content to drive that process. Rupert Murdoch has described sports rights as the “battering ram” of successful Pay-TV and Africa is no exception. So in May 2007 GTV announced that it had bought the UK Premiership rights for 40 Sub-Saharan African countries. These countries did not include Nigeria and South Africa that were considered sufficiently large to be sold separately. Although it would not discuss the cost, Nigeria’s Hi-TV spent US$28 million on getting them for Nigeria and GTV’s rights cost US$30 million. Although the Premier League does give some “holiday” on full payment, this kind of gearing meant that GTV had to maximise its income as quickly as possible in order to show new investors some kind pattern of progress towards a cash-positive operation. So it was a sprint from the start as the company launched in 10 countries (East Africa followed by Southern Africa) and sought to establish itself as a continental brand. This sprint for growth was backed by the Swedish group Kinnevik (more of which later) with a US$40 million investment and Citigroup, Noonday Global Management and Avenue Investment Management. McIntyre was supremely confident that GTV would kick down DStv/Multichoice’s front door, get more subscribers than it outside Nigeria and South Africa and move on to compete with Canal Plus in Francophone territories. The Premiership rights almost by themselves would be sufficiently persuasive to get subscribers to switch from the incumbent and that a deeper bouquet could be built as things progressed. In the event, DStv/Multichoice after its initial shock and anger fought back with a range of tactics including a low-cost bouquet. But if competition was good for Pay-TV subscribers, it was less good for GTV’s sprint for growth: the short, sharp campaign which was to have ended in a victory declaration turned into something more like trench warfare. The longer GTV was in a territory, the better it established itself and its impact on the market was that it took more of the new market growth than its competitor: for example in Uganda, it had 20,000 subscribers. However, the number of markets where it was making demonstrable progress was still relatively small in number. Nevertheless it continued to fundraise and look for ways of increasing its market share. Late in 2008 it announced that it would enter Francophone markets to compete with Canal Plus. But by this time, the financial costs of running an operation that had not yet gone into profit were beginning to bear down on the company. Its fundraising efforts were taking place in a financial climate that just got steadily worse. In order to stay upright, it made a decision to sell the “cash cow” Gateway Communications to Vodacom for US$700 million. However, this was clearly a sign of desperation as things began to unravel. On the 7th of January 2009, Kinnevik announced that it had sold its stake $23.6 million, a return 1.8 times the amount invested in May 2007. How do you sell a stake in a loss-making company and make that rate of return? (Kinnevik is owner of the MTG Group which runs Pay TV operations in 24 European countries. On 7 January 2009 it launched Viasat 1, a new Free-To-Air channel in Ghana. It was also rumoured to have expressed interest in becoming a shareholder in new South African Pay TV player, OnDigital Well reading between some of the fairly clear lines of the different players, the investment that GTV had obtained from different companies was underwritten by its ownership of the profitable Gateway Communications. Once that was sold, investors probably had agreements that allowed them to claim back their investment. A loss-making bank like Citigroup would doubtless also want to exit in order to retrieve whatever funding it could at this stage. Therefore the plan to sell to Canal Plus can be read as a last desperate throw of the dice before facing the inevitable. Why did GTV fail? Not all of the blame can be laid at the door of the current financial crisis for there are other reasons: * The “battering ram” of football rights alone was not enough to get DStv/Multichoice customers to peel off quickly enough. GTV started with 12 channels and DStv/Multichoice had 70 video channels and 40 audio channels. Customers might want the Premiership matches but other family members still missed content on its competitor’s bouquets. Indeed, there was some resentment from customers in countries where GTV had not launched about their inability to get their favourite games. * The sprint for growth strategy was not helped by the lead times needed to deliver set-top boxes. In the early stages, there was a shortage of boxes and it took three months for them to get from the manufacturer to the market. Supply problems of this kind were ironed out but there was a period when there was more demand than supply could meet. * But these reasons pale into insignificance alongside the biggest reason of all. Wherever you are globally, Pay-TV is a deep pocket business. It should not be forgotten that making a success of BSKyB almost unseated Rupert Murdoch. The extremely expensive core rights that will make a success of the business have to be repurchased every three years and thus far they have only ever gone up in value. So now that GTV is no more what will happen to the UK Premiership rights? DStv has secured the licence to show the Barclays Premier League Live Package A and will be showing these matches on SuperSport from this weekend. SuperSport already held both Live Package A & B rights for South Africa and Live Package B rights for the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa and with this deal has now secured all Premier League live rights for the remainder of the 2008/2009 season and for the whole of next season. The Nigerian rights are still held by Hi-TV. So where does this leave competition in the Pay-TV market? In the short-term, competition is not in good shape. There are regional players like TV Cabo in the Lusophone markets and Hi-TV in Nigeria. The latter claims 195,000 “activations” with some smaller number actually as paying subscribers. Others like Orange and Wananchi are reliant upon sub-licensing deals from existing rights holders which will mean that the existing large players will have considerable influence. The shame is that GTV’s presence in the market energised individual markets and attracted investor interest in the broadcast sector. It is to be hoped that the pioneers get the arrows and later settlers will get some of the land. But sadly in the short-term, GTV’s passing can only undermine the slowly building credibility of Africa’s broadcast market. CALL FOR PAPERS – 2nd AFRICAN BROADCAST, FILM AND CONVERGENCE CONFERENCE (23-25 NOVEMBER 2009), ABUJA This is an early call for papers to be presented at the 2nd African Broadcast, Film and Convergence Conference taking place 23-25 November 2009. If you wish to present a paper at this conference, please send a short outline of your proposed topic to Russell Southwood, Balancing Act who is responsible for putting the programme together: info(a)balancingact-africa.com

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Oriti Daktari...
by Gakiria 04 Feb '09

04 Feb '09

Dear Friends, On behalf of the entire Kenya e-Learning Center stakeholders and partners, i express our deep sense of Loss and grief. KeLC was born out of a challenge Dr Juma gave me in March 2006. I had just come back to office from Addis Ababa after attending a graduation workshop for a 7 month blended learning course (eLDI) offered by inWEnt. After admiring my nice certificate, He asked me, "Now that you have successfully graduated, how can you contribute towards the effective implementation of e-Government in kenya"? I had to think fast, and i answered that we could establish an e-Learning center along the lines of the successful Namibia eLC. He imemdiately asked me to draft a brief to him justifying why we need an eLC and the process of establishing it. 3 years down, we are fully established as a multi-stakeholder e-Learning center, physically hosted by KIE and with over 30 public sector institutions on board. computers and other equipment were generously provided by Our e-Champion. Sadly, he is not here with us but may His legacy and spirit live on forever! Andrew Gakiria gakiria(a)kelc.org On Wed, Feb 4, 2009 at 2:15 PM, waudo siganga <emailsignet(a)mailcan.com>wrote: > Yes, today's Tin Tin meeting is for e-Gov staff and the family, according > to Sergon of e-Gov who was at the home last night. > > Waudo > > > > On Wed, 4 Feb 2009 13:38:20 +0300, "Barnabas K. Sang" <bksang(a)education.go.ke> said: > > Waudo, > > > > Thanks for clarification. I think Tin Tin meeting is meant for E-Government > Staff but will confirm this afternoon on attending a meeting scheduled at 2 > pm to discuss the same. Will keep you posted. > > > > Kind regards > > > > BKS > > > > *From:* waudo siganga [mailto:emailsignet@mailcan.com] > *Sent:* Wednesday, February 04, 2009 1:28 PM > *To:* Barnabas K. Sang > *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] CONDOLENCES-R.I.P, Dr. J. Oketch > > > > Just to add to this information Barnabas - there are actually 2 other > meeting places i.e. the home (opp. Masaba Hospital) and Lagoon Bar & Grill > opposite Yaya Centre. When I visited the home last evening I gathered that > the Lagoon venue is specially for friends and colleagues and is a good place > to put together a coordinated plan for an appropriate send-off for our > brother. > > Waudo > > > > On Tue, 3 Feb 2009 20:39:30 +0300, "Barnabas K. Sang" <bksang(a)education.go.ke> said: > > > > FYI > > > > Kindly be informed that there will be a funeral arrangement meeting at Tin > Tin Restaurant every day. The first meeting will be on Wednesday, 4th > February, starting at 6 p.m. So plan to attend the meetings and participate > if you find time. > > > > Kind regards > > > > B. K. Sang > > > > > > *From:* kictanet-bounces+bksang=education.go.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke[mailto: > kictanet-bounces+bksang <kictanet-bounces%2Bbksang>=education.go.ke@ > lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *francis anyona > *Sent:* Tuesday, February 03, 2009 7:02 PM > *To:* Barnabas K. Sang > *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] CONDOLENCES-R.I.P, Dr. J. Oketch > > > > I have also had opportunity to attend several workshops conducted by > Dr.J.Oketch and we have been proud of him on behalf of our government. > May he rest in peace and May God give his family strength and comfort. > > > > Francis G.Anyona > Project Coordinator > Ikonzo Musanda Self Help Group > P.O.BOX 105 Bumala > Busia > Kenya > --- On *Tue, 2/3/09, Fiona Asonga <tespok(a)tespok.co.ke>* wrote: > > From: Fiona Asonga <tespok(a)tespok.co.ke> > Subject: [kictanet] CONDOLENCES-R.I.P, Dr. J. Oketch > To: francisanyona(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2009, 1:20 AM > > The Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK) > takes this opportunity to express our deepest sympathy to the Family of Dr. > J. Oketch. > > May he rest in peace and May God give his family strength and comfort. > > > > Fiona Asonga > > Secretariat Manager > > TESPOK/KIXP > > 14th Floor Bruce House > > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* kictanet-bounces+tespok=tespok.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto: > kictanet-bounces+tespok <kictanet-bounces%2Btespok>=tespok.co.ke@ > lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *Jotham Kilimo Mwale > *Sent:* Tuesday, February 03, 2009 8:51 AM > *To:* tespok(a)tespok.co.ke > *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] CONDOLENCES-R.I.P, Dr. J. Oketch > > > > I have also had an opportunity to meet Dr Oketch and he is a great man and > he'll be missed greatly by this country and the region. > > > > May God comfort his family at this difficult time. > > > > Jotham > > --- On *Mon, 2/2/09, Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org>* wrote: > > From: Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] CONDOLENCES-R.I.P, Dr. J. Oketch > To: jokilimo(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Monday, February 2, 2009, 2:09 AM > > Dear All, > > > > Having worked closely with Dr Okech in many of the e-Government initiatives > > in the country and across > > > > > > East Africa , I'm deeply saddened by his demise. I > > will cherish the memories of the times we spent together. My heartfelt > > commiserations to family, friends and colleagues. > > > > Kindest Regards > > Harry > > > > > > On 2/2/09 12:50 PM, "James Nguo" <James(a)alin.or.ke> wrote: > > > > > Dear ICT Colleagues, > > > I'm saddened by the demise of Juma at this time when the ICT industry > > is > > > thriving. He should have seen a bit of what he has contributed. > > > MAY GOD REST HIS SOUL IN ETERNAL PEACE > > > > > > James > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________ > > > __________________________________________________________ > > > > > > James Nguo, Regional Director > > > > > > Arid Lands Information Network | > > > > > > AAYMCA > > > > > > Building , along State House > > > Crescent, Off > > > > > > State House Avenue | > > > > > > > > > > > > P.O. Box 10098 - 00100 G.P.O. Nairobi, > > > > > > KENYA > > > > > > email: james(a)alin.or.ke | Tel +254 20 2731557 | Telefax +254 20 2737813 > > > | website: www.alin.or.ke > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: > > kictanet-bounces+james=alin.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+james <kictanet-bounces%2Bjames>=alin.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] On > > > Behalf Of John Walubengo > > > Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 10:56 AM > > > To: James Nguo > > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] CONDOLENCES-R.I.P, Dr. J. Oketch > > > > > > > > > > > > Oh my! > > > > > > This is truly shocking and quite untimely (from a selfish and human > > > point of view). We have indeed lost a truly humble, dedicated and > > > distinguished academician and civil servant. > > > > > > May God rest his soul in eternal peace. > > > > > > walu. > > > nb: someone should keep us posted on funeral arrangements, church > > > service, etc. > > > > > > > > > --- On Mon, 2/2/09, charles nduati <charlesnduati2002(a)yahoo.co.uk> > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > >> From: charles nduati <charlesnduati2002(a)yahoo.co.uk> > > >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] CONDOLENCES > > >> To: > > > > > > jwalu(a)yahoo.com > > >> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > >> Date: Monday, February 2, 2009, 11:47 AM > > >> Hi All, > > >> > > >> I have just been informed by reliable source of the > > >> unfortunate demise of Dr Juma Oketch. I believe we owe > > >> him him a hello send off as kictanet. > > >> > > >> Pole > > > > > > sana to all > > >> > > >> Charles > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> --- Gakuru Alex <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > >> > > >>> /FYI > > >>> > > >>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > > >>> > > > > > > From: Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> > > >>> Date: Fri, Jan 30, 2009 at 12:44 PM > > >>> Subject: [ke-internetusers] Next week, Freedom of > > >>> Information law discussions > > >>> To: ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> Folks, > > >>> > > >>> There's a proposed law called "Freedom of > > >>> Information" and a Bill has > > >>> been prepared to that effect. > > >>> > > >>> I understand this law will repeal archaic > > >> "Sirikali" > > >>> (Official > > Secrets > > >>> Act) and armed with it, you can demand information > > >>> you need from > > >>> government and it will be criminal for civil > > >>> servants to deny you the > > >>> information! > > >>> > > >>> To help us understand the need for this law, its > > >>> genesis, the > > >>> implications, how it affects us and what its means > > >>> for Civil Servants, > > >>> government and companies, Chris Gitari and Peter > > >>> Gitonga both of > > >>> ICJ-Kenya <http://www.icj-kenya.org> have agreed > > >> to > > >>> lead an FOI > > >>> discussion here next week. They are the experts so > > >>> they will > > >>> co-moderate the session as lay me from over here > > >>> deep down the > > >>> trenches contributes by asking questions like you;) > > >>> > > >>> It is proposed be a 5-day discussion from > > Monday 2nd > > >>> February to > > >>> Friday 6th as follows: > > >>> > > >>> Day 1 (Mon) - DEFINING FREEDOM OF INFORMATION & > > >> THE > > >>> PURPOSE OF A FOI BILL > > >>> > > >>> Day 2 (Tue) - THE > > RIGHT TO INFORMATION & > > >> ACCESSING > > >>> OF INFORMATION > > >>> > > >>> Day 3 (Wed) - APPEALS, OFFENCES, PENALTIES & > > >>> MISCELLANEOUS > > >>> > > >>> Day 4 (Thur) - CASE STUDIES > > >>> > > > > > > > > >>> Day 5 (Fri) - HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FREEDOM OF > > >>> CAMPAIGN > > >>> > > >>> So prepare yourselves to find out about Freedom of > > >>> Information (aka > > >>> FOI) next week and we all ask them as many question > > >>> as we can. > > >>> > > >>> Feel free to invite others to subscribe to this list > > >>> and to contribute > > >>> to the conversation. > > >>> > > >>> Regards, > > >>> > > >>> Alex > > >>> _______________________________________________ > > >>> ke-internetusers mailing list > > >>> ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > > >>> > > >> http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > > >>> > > >>> _______________________________________________ > > >>> kictanet mailing > > list > > >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > >>> > > >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > >>> > > >>> This message was sent to: > > >>> charlesnduati2002(a)yahoo.co.uk > > >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at > > >>> > > >> > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/charlesnduati2002%4 > > > 0yahoo.co.uk > > >>> > > >>> -- > > >>> This message has been scanned for viruses and > > >>> dangerous content by MailScanner, and is > > >>> believed to be clean. > > >>> > > >>> > > >> > > >> > > >> CHARLES N. NDUATI > > >> GENERAL MANAGER > > >> JKUAT ENTERPRISES LTD > > >> > > > > > > JOMO KENYATTA > > > > > > UNIVERSITY OF > > AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY > > >> JUJA MAIN CAMPUS, THIKA > > >> P. O. > > > > > > BOX 79324-00200 > > >> > > > > > > NAIROBI , KENYA > > >> TEL: 254-067-52420 OR 254-067-52711 FAX: 254-067-52438 > > >> > > > > > > MOBILE :254-722728815 > > >> > > > EMIAL:charlesnduati2002@yahoo.co.uk <EMIAL%3Acharlesnduati2002(a)yahoo.co.uk>,cnduati@gmail.com,bm@jkuates.jkuat.a > > > c.ke > > >> www.jkuat.ac.ke > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> kictanet mailing list > > >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > >> > > >> This message was sent to: > > > > > > jwalu(a)yahoo.com > > >> Unsubscribe or change your options at > > >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > > >> > > >> -- > > >> This message has been scanned for viruses and > > >> dangerous content by MailScanner, and is > > >> believed to be clean. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > kictanet mailing list > > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > > > This message was sent to: James(a)alin.or.ke > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > > > > > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/james%40alin.or.ke > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > kictanet mailing list > > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > > > This message was sent to: > > harry(a)africanedevelopment.org > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/harry%40africanedevelo… > > > nt.org > > > > African eDevelopment Resource Centre > > eDevelopment House : : > > > > > > 604 Limuru Road > > Old Muthaiga : : > > > > > > P O Box 49475 00100 > > Nairobi : : > > > > > > Kenya > > T +254 20 3741646/7 : : C +254 725 650044 > > > > Training : : Research : : Consultancy > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: jokilimo(a)yahoo.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jokilimo%40yahoo.com > > > > -- > > This message has been scanned for viruses and > > dangerous content by MailScanner, and is > > believed to be clean. > > > > > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by *MailScanner* <http://www.mailscanner.info/>, and is > believed to be clean. > > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by *MailScanner* <http://www.mailscanner.info/>, and is > believed to be clean. > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by *MailScanner* <http://www.mailscanner.info/>, and is > believed to be clean. > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > > kictanet mailing list > > > > > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > > > > > > > > > This message was sent to: francisanyona(a)yahoo.com > > > > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/francisanyona%40yahoo.… > > > > We are the change we've been waiting for. > > - Kenyan-American Barack Hussein Obama > > We are the change we've been waiting for. > - Kenyan-American Barack Hussein Obama > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: gakiria(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/gakiria%40gmail.com > > -- Gakiria Andrew Coordinator Kenya eLearning Centre Nairobi, KENYA

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Re: [kictanet] CONDOLENCES-R.I.P, Dr. J. Oketch
by James Nguo 04 Feb '09

04 Feb '09

Dear ICT Colleagues, I'm saddened by the demise of Juma at this time when the ICT industry is thriving. He should have seen a bit of what he has contributed. MAY GOD REST HIS SOUL IN ETERNAL PEACE James ________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ James Nguo, Regional Director Arid Lands Information Network | AAYMCA Building, along State House Crescent, Off State House Avenue | P.O. Box 10098 - 00100 G.P.O. Nairobi, KENYA email: james(a)alin.or.ke | Tel +254 20 2731557 | Telefax +254 20 2737813 | website: www.alin.or.ke -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+james=alin.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+james=alin.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of John Walubengo Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 10:56 AM To: James Nguo Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] CONDOLENCES-R.I.P, Dr. J. Oketch Oh my! This is truly shocking and quite untimely (from a selfish and human point of view). We have indeed lost a truly humble, dedicated and distinguished academician and civil servant. May God rest his soul in eternal peace. walu. nb: someone should keep us posted on funeral arrangements, church service, etc. --- On Mon, 2/2/09, charles nduati <charlesnduati2002(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > From: charles nduati <charlesnduati2002(a)yahoo.co.uk> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] CONDOLENCES > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Monday, February 2, 2009, 11:47 AM > Hi All, > > I have just been informed by reliable source of the > unfortunate demise of Dr Juma Oketch. I believe we owe > him him a hello send off as kictanet. > > Pole sana to all > > Charles > > > > --- Gakuru Alex <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > /FYI > > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > > From: Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> > > Date: Fri, Jan 30, 2009 at 12:44 PM > > Subject: [ke-internetusers] Next week, Freedom of > > Information law discussions > > To: ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> > > > > > > Folks, > > > > There's a proposed law called "Freedom of > > Information" and a Bill has > > been prepared to that effect. > > > > I understand this law will repeal archaic > "Sirikali" > > (Official Secrets > > Act) and armed with it, you can demand information > > you need from > > government and it will be criminal for civil > > servants to deny you the > > information! > > > > To help us understand the need for this law, its > > genesis, the > > implications, how it affects us and what its means > > for Civil Servants, > > government and companies, Chris Gitari and Peter > > Gitonga both of > > ICJ-Kenya <http://www.icj-kenya.org> have agreed > to > > lead an FOI > > discussion here next week. They are the experts so > > they will > > co-moderate the session as lay me from over here > > deep down the > > trenches contributes by asking questions like you;) > > > > It is proposed be a 5-day discussion from Monday 2nd > > February to > > Friday 6th as follows: > > > > Day 1 (Mon) - DEFINING FREEDOM OF INFORMATION & > THE > > PURPOSE OF A FOI BILL > > > > Day 2 (Tue) - THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION & > ACCESSING > > OF INFORMATION > > > > Day 3 (Wed) - APPEALS, OFFENCES, PENALTIES & > > MISCELLANEOUS > > > > Day 4 (Thur) - CASE STUDIES > > > > Day 5 (Fri) - HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FREEDOM OF > > CAMPAIGN > > > > So prepare yourselves to find out about Freedom of > > Information (aka > > FOI) next week and we all ask them as many question > > as we can. > > > > Feel free to invite others to subscribe to this list > > and to contribute > > to the conversation. > > > > Regards, > > > > Alex > > _______________________________________________ > > ke-internetusers mailing list > > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > > > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: > > charlesnduati2002(a)yahoo.co.uk > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/charlesnduati2002%4 0yahoo.co.uk > > > > -- > > This message has been scanned for viruses and > > dangerous content by MailScanner, and is > > believed to be clean. > > > > > > > CHARLES N. NDUATI > GENERAL MANAGER > JKUAT ENTERPRISES LTD > JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY > JUJA MAIN CAMPUS, THIKA > P. O. BOX 79324-00200 > NAIROBI, KENYA > TEL: 254-067-52420 OR 254-067-52711 FAX: 254-067-52438 > MOBILE:254-722728815 > EMIAL:charlesnduati2002@yahoo.co.uk,cnduati@gmail.com,bm@jkuates.jkuat.a c.ke > www.jkuat.ac.ke > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: James(a)alin.or.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/james%40alin.or.ke

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Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Next week, Freedom of Information law discussions
by Gakuru Alex 03 Feb '09

03 Feb '09

/FYI ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> Date: Fri, Jan 30, 2009 at 12:44 PM Subject: [ke-internetusers] Next week, Freedom of Information law discussions To: ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Folks, There's a proposed law called "Freedom of Information" and a Bill has been prepared to that effect. I understand this law will repeal archaic "Sirikali" (Official Secrets Act) and armed with it, you can demand information you need from government and it will be criminal for civil servants to deny you the information! To help us understand the need for this law, its genesis, the implications, how it affects us and what its means for Civil Servants, government and companies, Chris Gitari and Peter Gitonga both of ICJ-Kenya <http://www.icj-kenya.org> have agreed to lead an FOI discussion here next week. They are the experts so they will co-moderate the session as lay me from over here deep down the trenches contributes by asking questions like you;) It is proposed be a 5-day discussion from Monday 2nd February to Friday 6th as follows: Day 1 (Mon) - DEFINING FREEDOM OF INFORMATION & THE PURPOSE OF A FOI BILL Day 2 (Tue) - THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION & ACCESSING OF INFORMATION Day 3 (Wed) - APPEALS, OFFENCES, PENALTIES & MISCELLANEOUS Day 4 (Thur) - CASE STUDIES Day 5 (Fri) - HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FREEDOM OF CAMPAIGN So prepare yourselves to find out about Freedom of Information (aka FOI) next week and we all ask them as many question as we can. Feel free to invite others to subscribe to this list and to contribute to the conversation. Regards, Alex _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers

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