October 2010 - KICTANet

ICT Information & Trends
by Matunda Nyanchama 24 Oct '10

24 Oct '10

Colleagues, I am looking for ICT information in Kenya; if you know where I can get this, please let me know. Examples: 1. The number of high speed Internet users in Kenya and projected growth rates. 2. The number of phone users and projected growth rates; and of these what % are smart phones (present and projected) 3. Usage: business vs personal Kind regards. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.”- George Bernard Shaw ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you.

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Fwd: Re: Kenya ICT Excellence Awards 2010 Nominations
by waudo siganga 23 Oct '10

23 Oct '10

----- Original message ----- From: mwambanga(a)cskonline.org To: KariukiAM(a)centralbank.go.ke, emailsignet(a)mailcan.com, challimakali(a)yahoo.com, Oketch10(a)yahoo.com, Cmamokaya56(a)yahoo.com, rmoruri(a)nairobiwater.co.ke, kimarujk(a)gmail.com, muthoka(a)cck.go.ke, rkilel(a)yahoo.com, jmbakaya(a)nairobiwater.co.ke, ccthika(a)localgovernment.go.ke, KariukiAM(a)centralbank.go.ke, KitturCC(a)centralbank.go.ke, bremack1(a)yahoo.com, chrispuspeter(a)yahoo.com Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2010 23:37:55 +0200 Subject: Re: Kenya ICT Excellence Awards 2010 Nominations The Independent Panel of Judges (IPJ) for this year's Kenya Annual ICT Awards is inviting you to participate in the nominations for this year's winners in various categories and, more importantly, nominate 2 individuals, a man and a woman, to be this year's inductees to the Kenya ICT Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made long-term outstanding and exceptional contribution to ICT in the country. The hall of Fame was inaugurated by the Deputy Prime Minister, Musalia Mudavadi, in November 2009 and so far those inducted are Hon. James Rege, Njeri Rionge, the Late Juma Okech, George Okado and Crowther Pepela. The ICT Awards Gala Night, which also acts as the annual convocation for the ICT Community, will be held on November 25th at the Hilton Hotel. To nominate visit http://www.cskonline.org Mwambanga

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Inviting Applications for the 2011 Anita Borg Scholarship
by alice＠apc.org 23 Oct '10

23 Oct '10

Inviting Applications for the 2011 Anita Borg Scholarship<http://feedproxy.google.com/%7Er/OfficialGoogleAfricaBlog/%7E3/IjARElmpeoI/…> Posted: 22 Oct 2010 03:29 AM PDT As part of Google's ongoing commitment to encourage women to excel in computing, we are pleased to announce the 2011 Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship: Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship <http://www.google.com/anitaborg-emea/>, established by Google in 2004, honors Dr. Anita Borg, a computer science pioneer who dedicated her life to changing the way we think about diversity and technology. In 2010, 350 students applied for the award, and among them, our first applicants and winners from Africa. Google awarded a total of two scholarships and two finalist positions to female sub-Saharan African students<http://google-africa.blogspot.com/2010/05/introducing-googles-2010-africa-a…>, from four universities in South Africa, Ghana and Uganda. You can find a complete list of all US, European, Middle Eastern and African scholars and finalists on the Official Google Blog<http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/introducing-googles-2010-anita-borg.…> . We hope to make the 2011 Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship as successful as it has been in the past. The scholarship is for female students studying Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Informatics or closely related technical fields. Every year scholarship finalists and recipients are invited to visit Googles Engineering Centre in Zurich for an all-expenses-paid retreat: check out the YouTube video<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsJbU2RHq2s>and web site <http://www.google.com/anitaborg/emea/retreat.html>. The deadline for applications is 1st February 2011. For more information about Anita Borg and the Memorial Scholarship, please visit our scholarship site<http://www.google.com/anitaborg/emea/>.

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African Leadership MBA Scholarship
by Atieno Sandra Aluoch 22 Oct '10

22 Oct '10

Hi: Kindly forward this opportunity to any interested relatives, friends or colleagues. Best,

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The big Kwaheri: reflecting on 10 years on the MJ 10 yr safari and his-tory - day 1
by muriuki mureithi 21 Oct '10

21 Oct '10

Hi Listers As you are aware , Michael Joseph (MJ) leaves the office of CEO on 31st of this month after a 10 year career at Safaricom. As is tradition, we at KICTAnet bid our members welcome/ farewell and certainly this list is the tool of choice supplemented by a bash when feasible . this is what we want to do starting now - from 10 hrs today the 10th day of the 10th month of the 10 year of the new century we wish to take just 10 days to reflect on the MJ's 10 year safari ---- . As usual we expect fair and candid thoughts from our hearts and mind and the daily prompting questions will provide a structure for our discussion we shall present your candid views in style to MJ at a suitable time shortly after the closure of the list discussion---- To kick-start discussion , first let's look back over your shoulder - just recall when he landed in Nairobi in June 2000 and went to work on/at Safaricom. At 17k customers , with barely 9 base stations , the operator was the smallest and in the eyes of the potential consumer, an appendage of the towering TKL of the day . that was then , it's no more . What still lingers in your mind of MJ early days at Safaricom, his interaction with you , the customers , the media, the regulator , competition etc? . What factors shaped MJ's and Safaricom's destiny - did he create the opportunities or was he just smart enough to take advantage of the situation? . In juggling between competing technologies, customer expectation, staff demands, government, market competition, what strikes you as MJ's character that produces the results we see . What do you think he could have done differently? . What actions did MJ take then that are still inexplicable and you would want MJ to explain now? cheers Muriuki Mureithi

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Re: [kictanet] University Education in Traditional Computer Science.
by Catherine Adeya 21 Oct '10

21 Oct '10

Perhaps...they could. But evidently we need the database developed as it will help many other people who are interested in the skills available . I do understand that the extent of a research depends on the resources available. The fact that we have the stats on degree holders is a huge step in the right direction. Nyaki --- On Wed, 10/20/10, ESTHER MUCHIRI <emuchiri(a)andestbites.com> wrote: >From: ESTHER MUCHIRI <emuchiri(a)andestbites.com> >Subject: RE: [kictanet] University Education in Traditional Computer Science. >To: "'Catherine Adeya'" <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> >Cc: "'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions'" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 10:45 AM > > > >Nyaki > >Unfortunately the data collected by the Skills Taskforce with the help of Prof. >Waema mainly focused on the first degree not postgraduate. I however agree with >Tim that we have quite a number of postgraduates in IT and Engineering from all >our universities. It is unfortunate that such data is not easily available for >Collins and others who are interested in such information. Perhaps the Ministry >of Education, IDRC (or other donor) or KICTB need to explore funding for such a >study and the development of a National Skills database? > > >Esther > >From:kictanet-bounces+emuchiri=andestbites.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke >[mailto:kictanet-bounces+emuchiri=andestbites.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On >Behalf Of Catherine Adeya >Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 5:12 PM >To: emuchiri(a)andestbites.com >Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >Subject: Re: [kictanet] University Education in Traditional Computer Science. > >Tim, > >But I also wonder do the Skills Taskforce team have any statistics that would >further help Collin's concern. There are many of these people out there in >Kenya. > > >Collins, that Registrar needs to go back to 'school'. > >Nyaki > > ________________________________ >From:Mwololo Tim <timwololo(a)gmail.com> >To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com >Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >Sent: Mon, October 18, 2010 2:11:10 PM >Subject: Re: [kictanet] University Education in Traditional Computer Science. > >Collins, >This registrar must be very ignorant - one wonders how he became a registrar if >he does not know what happens in the few universities we have. We have had PhDs >in Computer Science/Informatics since the 1980s/90s in this country, largely >trained abroad. In our School of Computing and Informatics, we have a number >PhDs and we have produced a number through our PhD program. I am at the moment >supervising 4 PhD students and my colleagues are supervising others as well. In >addition, we have graduated tens of Masters and Postgraduate Diploma graduates >year on year since the 1980s. I have not done any research on the numbers in all >the universities but this was an alarming statement and hence the quick >reaction. Please be careful about your sources of information. tim waema >On Mon, Oct 18, 2010 at 1:40 PM, [ Brainiac ] <arebacollins(a)gmail.com> wrote: >An interesting discussion i had this morning with one of the registrars in a >public university presents a very dire and wanting situation in education in >Computer Science. (Pure & applied) whose conclusion was pretty much that there >just arent postgraduates in computer science in the country. It came as a >shocker and since my background is in Engineering and IT, i am inclined to >ask... > > >What is the status of manpower in the country in the discipline? how many people >can qualify as lecturers, associate lecturers and professors in the science? > > >-- >Regards, > >Collins Areba. > >Strategic Operations. >Center for Renewable Alternatives >Old Ferry Road, off Msa Malindi Rd, | Kilifi, Kenya. +254 720 516758 /734 696821 >| skype/gtalk/twitter: arebacollins >Error! Filename not specified. > > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >This message was sent to: timwololo(a)gmail.com >Unsubscribe or change your options at >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.com > >

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University Education in Traditional Computer Science.
by [ Brainiac ] 20 Oct '10

20 Oct '10

An interesting discussion i had this morning with one of the registrars in a public university presents a very dire and wanting situation in education in Computer Science. (Pure & applied) whose conclusion was pretty much that there just arent postgraduates in computer science in the country. It came as a shocker and since my background is in Engineering and IT, i am inclined to ask... What is the status of manpower in the country in the discipline? how many people can qualify as lecturers, associate lecturers and professors in the science? -- Regards, Collins Areba. *Strategic Operations. * *Center for Renewable Alternatives* Old Ferry Road, off Msa Malindi Rd, | Kilifi, Kenya. +254 720 516758 /734 696821 | skype/gtalk/twitter: arebacollins **

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Tandaa Tech Funding Challenge Live stream
by Twahir Mohamed 20 Oct '10

20 Oct '10

Dear Listers, Please follow the event above on Ustream live on the link below http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tandaa-tech-ideas-funding-challenge <http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tandaa-tech-ideas-funding-challenge>About the event: The Kenyan technology and new media sector is buzzing. In Kenya, over 80% of citizens have access to a mobile phone and internet connectivity is expanding across the country. Solutions like mPesa have revolutionized the day-to-day life of Kenyans bringing financial services to anyone with a mobile phone. With the increasing use of technology for business and lifestyle comes the opportunity to build vibrant businesses to deliver technology solutions that will capitalize on the expanding demand for mobile and internet services. Technology entrepreneurs are seizing the opportunity and are ready to develop their ideas and launch their products in the Kenyan and global market. But for many 'techpreneurs', finding the funding to grow sometimes risky and complicated technology-based companies has been a difficult--until now. *On October 18, six companies will pitch their ideas to a panel of Venture Capitalists. In front of a live audience, each company will have 20 minutes to pursued the VC panel that their company is worth investing in. * *http://www.ict.go.ke/* -- Twahir

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The big Kwaheri: reflecting on 10 years on the MJ 10 yrsafari and history. Thank you!
by alice＠apc.org 19 Oct '10

19 Oct '10

Dear Michael and all, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who participated and contributed to this 10day discussion moderated by MM. Indeed it has been an amazing 10 years, one that has helped begin a transformation of our country. Thanks too for those who did not contribute :) listening is part of the job, where would all those mobile calls go if no one was prepared to listen! Michael, thank you for having been such an active member of this very vibrant community, for always responding despite some rather difficult discussions that would sometimes border on the personal. OK, in fact often got personal, but I think you have heard just how highly we all think of you. We look forward to continuing to work and interact with you. We look forward to having similar interactions with new CEO Bob Collymore, welcome Bob. Listers, we intend to put together excerpts of this discussion and present it to Michael at a function we shall organize very soon to say kwaheri ya kuonana to him and welcome Bob. Thank you very much MM for moderating the 10 day discussion. Very best, Alice Munyua On 10/19/10 2:32 PM, Michael Joseph wrote: > > Thank you for all your kind wishes, appreciations and words of advice. I will attempt to respond as much as possible. > > > > Muriuki asked me to response to specific questions which are listed below and I will add other responses to comments expressed from other Listers. > > > > - What is behind the success; is it luck, ability to manipulate the environment around you? > > There are many factors behind the success of Safaricom, but I would sum it up as follows: > > We determined that our core market was going to be the man and woman in the street (matatu passengers if you will) and came up with prices, products and services that were accepted and used by this core market. We also make some wise (in hindsight) decisions like per-second billing, 24 hour 7-days a week free customer care, inexpensive handsets, pre-paid tariffs etc. We stressed our Kenyan roots both in our branding and our CSR programmes from the very beginning. It was a combination of knowledge and experience from the past (mostly what did not work), some knowledge of the local market, gut feel and luck. > > > > - What drives you and can this be ported to other managers to drive their enterprises to success like Safaricom > > I am very ambitious, competitive and firmly believe in doing the very best you can. I believe that we are all given great opportunities in life and its up to us to take these opportunities and use them for the benefit of our fellow man. I believe in integrity, care for ones fellow man and hard work and these credos can be used by anyone. Very few of us are born with a silver spoon in their mouths and therefore to be successful takes some effort. It came to me late in life but nevertheless it came. > > > > - Is this specific to ICT sector or are these skills generic and can apply to other sectors? > > As above > > > > - How do you manage time to handle all demands on your time > > I handle stress quite well but I work quite long hours I start at 6am and finish around 8pm and then usually I am required to attend some function. I use the hours of 6am to 8am to deal with all my emails and reading of documents and the rest of the day is for meetings both formal and informal. Weekends, wherever possible, belong to me and my family > > > > - Going forward , how will you use your time > > At this point, I have no idea. As the time gets closer I am getting a little more concerned. I will remain on the Board of Safaricom for another 2 years, will maintain an office at Safaricom and will also act an advisor to Bob Collymore the new CEO, and the CEO of the Vodacom Group. > > > > - And finally a chance to introduce the incoming CEO to the listers > > Bob is copied above and I have urged him to join this list. > > > > Other comments: > > > > 1. I do respond to all emails addressed to me. I am particularly concerned when complaints are made about our service and we do not respond. I find this unacceptable but it is sometimes like pushing a large boulder uphill to get people to change although we are making progress. I want our subscribers to be satisfied with our service and I take it very personally when they are not due to our own inability to get things right > 2. I learnt early on to lead from the front. You need to be seen to be the leader and to act like one. The title of CEO or whatever does not make you a leader. When things are both bad and good you need to be seen and to take responsibility. I always admire people that when they get promoted, suddenly have the wisdom they never had the day before (perhaps it came through the walls like osmosis). Take our Ministers as a perfect example. > 3. I agree with Sam I need to achieve (its a fixation) and I am the second born! > 4. To the PS (to whom I am eternally grateful), I still think some of your ideas are wacky but are probably right! I apologize about the lawyer no more can be said here! > 5. To be clear: M-Pesa was developed by Vodafone using a co-grant from DFID. It was originally developed for the micro-finance industry for the disbursement and repayment of small loans. We were asked to trial it in 2006 which we did and then Safaricom and Vodafone suggested and made the changes that created M-Pesa. M-Kesho was my idea as expansion of M-Pesa. Sambaza and Okoa Jahazi were ideas borrowed from other Vodafone companies Egypt mostly. > > > > The future: > > > > I have been urged to write a book, go in public service and or just fade into the background. I really have not decided yet. A book sounds interesting but somewhat arrogant from my side, but maybe it will be necessary. I would love to do more for Kenya but NOT as a politician. Lecturing would be great but I have yet to be asked. I will take some time to think about it and then decide. Life will for sure present me with my next opportunity and challenge. > > > > Thank you for allowing me to respond and once again thank you for the many positive comments. > > > > > > Regards, > > > > Michael > > > > CEO > > Safaricom Limited > > > > From: kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of muriuki mureithi > Sent: Sunday, October 10, 2010 9:58 AM > To: Michael Joseph > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > Subject: [kictanet] The big Kwaheri: reflecting on 10 years on the MJ 10 yrsafari and his-tory - day 1 > > > > Hi Listers > > As you are aware , Michael Joseph (MJ) leaves the office of CEO on 31st of this month after a 10 year career at Safaricom. As is tradition, we at KICTAnet bid our members welcome/ farewell and certainly this list is the tool of choice supplemented by a bash when feasible . this is what we want to do starting now from 10 hrs today the 10th day of the 10th month of the 10 year of the new century we wish to take just 10 days to reflect on the MJs 10 year safari ---- . As usual we expect fair and candid thoughts from our hearts and mind and the daily prompting questions will provide a structure for our discussion > > we shall present your candid views in style to MJ at a suitable time shortly after the closure of the list discussion---- > > > > To kick-start discussion , first lets look back over your shoulder - just recall when he landed in Nairobi in June 2000 and went to work on/at Safaricom. At 17k customers , with barely 9 base stations , the operator was the smallest and in the eyes of the potential consumer, an appendage of the towering TKL of the day . that was then , its no more > > > > · What still lingers in your mind of MJ early days at Safaricom, his interaction with you , the customers , the media, the regulator , competition etc? > > · What factors shaped MJs and Safaricoms destiny did he create the opportunities or was he just smart enough to take advantage of the situation? > > · In juggling between competing technologies, customer expectation, staff demands, government, market competition, what strikes you as MJs character that produces the results we see > > · What do you think he could have done differently? > > · What actions did MJ take then that are still inexplicable and you would want MJ to explain now? > > > > > > > > cheers > > > > Muriuki Mureithi > > > Note: > All emails sent from Safaricom Limited are subject to Safaricoms Email Terms & Conditions. Please click here to read the policy. > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 41, Issue 64
by ALEX OWITI 19 Oct '10

19 Oct '10

hi my fellow bloggers, On Wednesday, October 20, 2010 from 2 pm, Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph will be making a presentation to a group of 60 apps developers at the iHub. The event will also feature a town hall style Q & A session where he is expected to share his 10-year experience as head of the region’s leading telco and some of the initiatives Safaricom has invested in to develop local capacity in content development. While this is not a media event, you could follow it through a live-stream link on our corporate website at safaricom.co.ke. Alex Owiti

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