July 2010 - KICTANet

Digital to Analog Conversion
by robert yawe 19 Jun '15

19 Jun '15

Hi, When the migration from analog to digital was initially raised fear was put into the public on how there would be no option but to throw away our analog TV sets and replace them with Digital. Now that digital transmission is finally here we need to look at how to make the migration as painless as possible while at the same time we do not disenfranchise any citizens. It has been mentioned that there are over 1 million TV sets in Kenya today, that means 1 million digital to analog converters will be required over the next 2-3 years. I believe this is a great opportunity for us to go into the electronic assembly business, I would like to propose that we 1st increase duty on converters from the current 35% to 250% so as to discourage the importation of the converters. Then exempt from duty and vat all assembly stations, test equipment and components for anyone who sets up a converter assembly plant, with a 3 year tax holiday. If you setup the plant more than 200 kilometers from Nairobi or Mombasa you receive an addition 2 years tax holiday. I believe this will sort out the issue of substandard converters and will also provide an opportunity for us to develop our electronic devices assembly skills. If you make a net profit of 1,000/- there is a clean 875,000,000/- to be made, close to what the government is spending on purchase of the Malili farm. This is assuming a standard device, there is still a market for those who want high end devices with recording, tuners, USB ports, etc which would mean that the returns could be much higher than projected above. So will we move away from juts being importers and retailers or do we have what it takes to do some value add? Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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Re: [kictanet] KCSE Performance
by Jotham Kilimo Mwale 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

Hi Akich, I found the list you are asking for from The Standard online home page. I have attached the document. Regards, Jotham --- On Thu, 3/4/10, Akich Kwach <kwach(a)archway-productions.com> wrote: From: Akich Kwach <kwach(a)archway-productions.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] KCSE Performance To: jokilimo(a)yahoo.com Cc: "alewela" <alewela(a)ict.go.ke>, "ke users" <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net>, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Thursday, March 4, 2010, 1:01 AM _filtered #yiv689680575 { font-family:Wingdings;} _filtered #yiv689680575 { font-family:Cambria Math;} _filtered #yiv689680575 { font-family:Calibri;} _filtered #yiv689680575 {margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt;} #yiv689680575 P.MsoNormal { MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;FONT-FAMILY:"serif";FONT-SIZE:12pt;} #yiv689680575 LI.MsoNormal { MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;FONT-FAMILY:"serif";FONT-SIZE:12pt;} #yiv689680575 DIV.MsoNormal { MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;FONT-FAMILY:"serif";FONT-SIZE:12pt;} #yiv689680575 A:link { COLOR:blue;TEXT-DECORATION:underline;} #yiv689680575 SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR:blue;TEXT-DECORATION:underline;} #yiv689680575 A:visited { COLOR:purple;TEXT-DECORATION:underline;} #yiv689680575 SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR:purple;TEXT-DECORATION:underline;} #yiv689680575 SPAN.EmailStyle17 { FONT-FAMILY:"sans-serif";COLOR:#1f497d;} #yiv689680575 .MsoChpDefault { FONT-SIZE:10pt;} #yiv689680575 DIV.Section1 { } #yiv689680575 OL { MARGIN-BOTTOM:0in;} #yiv689680575 UL { MARGIN-BOTTOM:0in;} Many thanks Barnabas for sharing this valuable information. Would you be having the list of top 100 candidates national and provincial categories with names of schools in which the candidates sat for their KCSE exams? If you do, kindly share it. The way the list is published in the media only gives incomplete information. Would you imagine if they announced the names of the winners during the Olympic Games and then they only play the national anthem without mentioning the countries they represent, (in our case the Index numbers represent schools). In the case of Olympic games, one has to go through the catalogue and find out which country is represented by such a flag; similarly, in the case of KCSE relults, those few who knows index numbers for various schools. I am of the view citizens should never be denied information they deserve. All in all your Ministry (MoE) and the KNEC has made good progress by incorporating ICT tools while releasing results. This has greatly saved parents and candidates the costs of running to schools, (some of them miles away) for their results. May God bless this nation to keep moving in the right direction at competitive speed. Akich Kwach ----- Original Message ----- From: Barnabas K. Sang To: kwach(a)archway-productions.com Cc: alewela ; ke users ; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 9:26 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] KCSE Performance Thought would be of interest to you. Kind regards B. K. Sang _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: kwach(a)archway-productions.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kwach%40archway-produc… -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: jokilimo(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jokilimo%40yahoo.com

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ICANN head warns against putting Internet addresses under UN control
by alice 12 Oct '10

12 Oct '10

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/icann-head-warns-against-put… Alexander Dziadosz Cairo — Reuters Published on Tuesday, May. 25, 2010 8:00AM EDT The head of the U.S.-monitored organization in charge of assigning global internet addresses such as .com and .net has cautioned against proposals to put the group under UN or other international control. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), at the heart of global debate over who should run the Internet, is the closest thing the vast system of intertwined computer networks has to any central authority. Countries such as Iran and Brazil have argued ICANN, which was founded in 1998 under the aegis of the U.S. Department of Commerce and still reports partly to the U.S. government, should cede its authority to a global body such as the United Nations. “If you think of that rate, or pace, in technology, it’s just a lot more rapid than most traditional forms of policy development would be suited to,” Rod Beckstrom, the organisation’s chief executive, told Reuters on Monday. Multilateral state control could make ICANN less nimble, he said, and therefore less likely to quickly develop technologies like Arabic-language domain names that feed rapidly expanding Internet demand. “It’s hard to imagine any replacement for (the current system), and I feel I can say that somewhat objectively because I’ve worked for government as well,” he said, adding such a decision would be up to ICANN’s board of directors. Still, the U.S. government last September agreed to changes that meant ICANN would no longer report solely to the United States, part of a push to give global constituents more say. The agreement set up an international review team to monitor ICANN’s performance and it is due to issue initial recommendations at the end of the year. The deal also included guidelines aimed at making the group more transparent. In 2003 a group of nations suggested ICANN come under the authority of the International Telecommunication Union, a UN agency, but that move stumbled on the view that the private sector is better able to run the Internet’s addressing system. A contract that gives ICANN authority over much of the Internet’s basic plumbing, such as allocating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, is up for review next year. Mr. Beckstrom was in Cairo after Egypt became one of the first countries to win approval to use Arabic script on its national domain name, the last part of the address after the dot. ICANN approved use of non-Latin scripts in October. Egypt said this month it had launched the first domain name using Arabic letters under the name .misr – the Arabic word for Egypt, which is spelt in Arabic script. Countries including China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have so far won ICANN approval to use their national language scripts on the top-level domain. ICANN is now on track to broaden the non-Latin script, top-level domain names that are available into generic names such as .org, Beckstrom said. “Of course you know .com and .net. Those are English language names that are shortened, basically. Where’s the equivalent of that in Arabic?” he said. He said ICANN might be able to introduce generic domain names in international scripts by the end of this year, but the approval process made dates hard to forecast.

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Ksh 300, Million grant to promote the development of local digital content and, software applications.
by alice 23 Aug '10

23 Aug '10

The Kenya ICT Board is pleased to announce the launch of a Ksh 300 Million grant to promote the development of local digital content and software applications. The process kicked off with a ‘call for proposals’ in today’s Daily Nation newspaper. The main purpose of this grant is to propel the emergent lucrative but yet underexploited local content industry to growth. The grant which targets the local content developers including software developers, film, animation, advertising, publishing, gaming and education professionals and all content creators, will provide the funding required for the development of quality applications relevant to the Kenya government and private sector. Digital content, a major contributor and driver of economic growth in developed countries, can be broadly categorized as content accessed from electronic devices like personal computers, game consoles, mobile phones and digital TV. The internet offers the most common form of distribution of digital content. Digital content can include anything from internet based marketing, gaming, online education content and services. Worldwide, digital content activities are transforming traditional industry structures and business models. Local examples include mobile payment systems like M-Pesa and Pesa Pal and government e-services like online PIN registration. Thus the digital content industry has vast potential as a major contributor to our economy and society through employment creation, capital investment and export earnings, provision of skills and capabilities to traditional as well as new and emerging industry sectors. At the same time it is also significant as a means of expressing Kenya’s unique cultural identity. With over 3.4 million users of the internet in Kenya, research indicates that the importance of the internet outstrips those of several key developed countries. Even so, the latent demand for local content is underlined by the fact that surveys show that lack of local content is the main reason many Kenyans shy away from accessing the internet. On the launch of the grant facility, the CEO, Kenya ICT Board Paul Kukubo, commented, “We are pleased that we are launching this grant at a time that the ICT industry is growing and access to the internet all over the country has vastly improved. The future for content industry is bright. Talent, creativity and skills are key drivers of competitiveness in the content sector and we expect that this grant will enable Kenyans everywhere to develop world class locally relevant content and get this industry to rapidly match the lucrative opportunities for talented content developers in developed nations.” Kenyan content developers have already demonstrated their ability to be innovative, creative and entrepreneurial in their creation of content that is relevant to our people. The increase in locally developed software applications, websites, films and animation has been extraordinary over the past few years. However, despite evidence of commercial potential, it is not currently competitive in attracting funds and investment capital. This content grant will give content creators in the country a chance to demonstrate their talent, in both the artistic, social and business environment and propel investor confidence in the sector in the long term. Speaking at the press conference, the Deputy CEO, Victor Kyalo commented, “It is important that with the landing of the fiber optic cables that we as a country produce local digital content, not just ‘access’ other peoples content. It is very positive that Kenyans embrace and appreciate ICTs, but more important is that there are more Kenyan made e-Products available in the market. We want this grant to motivate the local content creators and software developers to originate, create, and adapt quality content that the country needs .We intend this content grant to be a driver for the long term development of content and recognize that private and public sector need to pool resources to meet the capacity challenges this lucrative sector faces.” The Government attaches high priority to addressing skills shortages because of the threat they pose to productivity and economic growth. To address this, the Kenya ICT Board has a number of initiatives purposed to build skills in the ICT sector. Among these are a Centre of Excellence for the BPO sector, an incubation program for software developers and a software certification standard that will give international accreditation and competitiveness to our local developers. Additionally, the board is creating organic growth within the ICT sector by training entrepreneurs (over 1000 already trained) to run digital villages all over the country. All these coupled with the improved infrastructure, has put Kenya in the forefront of potentially explosive growth in the content and software development sub-sector. About the grant The content grant is divided into two major sections: US$1.5Million for private sector applications and US$2.5M for government applications. The latter will be used to propel the utilization of ICTs to improve government service delivery . The government has in the past few years firmly embraced ICT to become more efficient and responsive in the delivery of its public service - from processing ID cards, driving licenses, registration of companies, revenue collection and currently, the digitization of records at the Ministry of Lands and the judiciary, with more government departments to follow. This is all in line with Kenya’s vision of becoming a globally competitive and prosperous nation with a high quality of life by 2030. The private sector grant of US$1.5M is open to firms and individuals to develop applications that would be of benefit to the general public or improve the delivery of existing private sector services. The first round of grant allocation will award a maximum of US$ 50,000 per firms and US$ 10,000 for individuals. The Kenya ICT Board expects to make at least one call for application per year over the next three years. The content funded by this grant will build capacity within the ICT sector create efficiencies, build social capital, increase utilization of ICTs by local communities and demonstrate to the world, Kenya’s talent for creation of digital content. Key dates Call for proposals: June 2, 2010 Deadline for proposals: July 19, 2010 Successfully grantees announced: 15 August, 2010 Disbursement of grant money: October 2010 http://wanjiku.co.ke/ --------------------------------------

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School of Computing & Informatics (UoN) Open Day 23rd July
by Mwololo Tim 02 Aug '10

02 Aug '10

Dear all, Sorry for any cross-posting. Welcome all. tm Dear All, The School of Computing and Informatics, University of Nairobi will hold its annual ICT Open Day on Friday, 23rd July 2010 from 10am to 2pm. This event is an initiative of the School's students to showcase ICT projects developed as part of their project work throughout the year and has been successfully held for the past ten years. Theme: ICT Innovations for a Better Future Date: Friday 23rd July 2010 Venue: Chiromo Campus Time: 10 am – 2 pm It is our pleasure to invite you to join us during this occasion and learn more about the School and its activities. Visit our website: http://sci.uonbi.ac.ke Christopher A Moturi Deputy Director School of Computing and Informatics

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Announcement: Unix System Administration Workshop For Eastern and Central Africa Women Engineers
by Dorcas Muthoni 01 Aug '10

01 Aug '10

Dear Colleagues, *Unix System Administration Workshop For Eastern and Central Africa Women Engineers, Nairobi, Kenya (11th - 15th October, 2010)* *Background* The African Network Operators Group (AfNOG ‚ http://www.afnog.org ) invites women engineers from Eastern and Central Africa to participate in an intensive Unix System Administration workshop. *Workshop goals and outline* *Overall objective*: After attending this track, students will be able to install, upgrade, secure and competently manage the Unix operating system on standard PC hardware, and use it to provide essential Internet services on a network. It is aimed at students who are technically competent but may have had little or no prior exposure to the Unix environment. In addition they will be taught concepts such as: # Basic Internet Protocols and how they work # Some basic Internet services and how they function, including DNS, Web, SSH and E-mail # Designing installations for long-term scalability of services *Who should apply:* All Eastern and Central African women engineers, software developers and systems administrators with a desire to get Unix Administration skills. Due to funding availability, priority will be given to applicants from the following countries: *Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Gabon, Chad, Republic of the Congo, DR Congo and São Tomé and Príncipe* *Prerequisites:* Experience in managing PCs and installing software (such as installing the 'Windows' operating system), but not necessarily Unix. Some prior Unix/Linux experience would be of great benefit. *Language* Language of instruction will be English. *Application procedure* Complete the application form attached and return it to: * afnogchix2010(a)afnog.org * Please ensure that you submit your application in time and fully completed. Selections will be on a competitive basis. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. *Application deadline* The applications close on *30th August 2010*. Applications received after this date will not be considered. *For more information:* Email: afnogchix2010(a)afnog.org

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ICDL - I apologise
by robert yawe 01 Aug '10

01 Aug '10

Hi, I would like to apologise to Dr. Ndemo for giving the impression that his team had not done their homework when they recommended that ICDL be the official computer proficiency certification. As is said it is only after you have walked in a man's shoes can you then criticise him, I recently looked at a training manual from one of the local computer colleges that was 10 pages long and covered word, excel, powerpoint, access, frontpage and IE. The exam for each subject was done after 1 day of training, in the case of word it included mailmerge. Each application was covered on less than 2 pages and the entire course takes 10 days, Dr. Ndemo the sooner you can operationalise the ICDL issue the sooner students will stop loosing money to quacks and we shall return to the point of making computer users truly IT proficient. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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Required: Java Mobile Applications Developers
by Tuma Barua 30 Jul '10

30 Jul '10

Hi, One of my clients - GEDA Limited has open positions for Java Mobile Applications Developers and seeks to fill them. See below for the advert. *Kindly refer GEDA to anyone meeting the requirement and is interested and available*. ========================================= GEDA Limited is a Systems Integrator focusing on Networks, MultiMedia, and Security Solutions. We are a licensed Telecommunications Contractor and Application Service Provider. GEDA is seeking to fill various positions in her Mobile Application Development projects portifolio. We are looking for Java Mobile Applications Developers. The developers will be working out of the office (e.g. Freelance, part-time) and will be paid on Volume and Value or Quality of work done. The developers must have previous experience in developing Java applications for mobile phones and will be tested to ensure the same. The remuneration package is very attractive and negotiable. Those interested can e-mail to info(a)geda.co.ke. They should attache their CV/Resume/Profiles and all necessary and relevant documentations to the application. All applications must be submitted on or before August 6th, 2010. GEDA Limited, Soin Arcade, 3rd Floor, Westlands Road Telephone: +254 20 444 1900 www.geda.co.ke

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Reminder - African Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF), 11-12 August 2010
by Michuki Mwangi 30 Jul '10

30 Jul '10

Reminder to Register and Attend! Spaces are limited! African Peering and Interconnection Forum: Unlocking Africa’s Regional Interconnection 11-12 August 2010 - Sarova Panafric Hotel - Nairobi, Kenya Registration is free. Event information, provisional agenda, visa information, and registration available at: http://www.isoc.org/isoc/conferences/africanforum2010/ About the Event The Africa Peering and Interconnection Forum: Unlocking Africa’s Regional Interconnection will address the key Interconnection opportunities and challenges in Africa and provide participants with global and regional insights on maximising regional opportunities. In addition to unique opportunities to learn from international and regional experts, the event will seek to foster a robust discussion on cross-border interconnection approaches and challenges by encouraging participate by a range key players such as; infrastructure providers, Service Providers, IXPs and regulators. International and regional speakers include: Bill Norton (DrPeering.net) Kurtis Lindqvist (NetNod, Euro-IX), Mike Jensen, Mike Blanche (Google), Nishal Gorbudhan (AfriNIC), Jonny Martin (Packet Clearing House), SEACOM, an update on the New Partnership for African Development's (NEPAD) regional broadband infrastructure plan, and many others! Agenda Themes • The Peering vs Transit Economics • Peering and Interconnection Strategies for Operators • Interconnection the Cross-Border Policy and Regulatory Challenges • A Guide to Peering and Interconnection Contracts and Negotiations • Africa Peering and interconnection Opportunities: The Transition from National ISPs to Regional Carriers • Interconnection and the Content Equation This event is organised by the Internet Society as a non-profit event, in partnership with local hosts TESPOK, the Telecommunications Service Provisions Association of Kenya. Event sponsors include Google and Orange, with additional support from NetNOD, Ams-IX and DE-CIX. Regards, Michuki Mwangi ISOC Regional Development Manager - Africa Email: mwangi(a)isoc.org Tel: +254-733-570705

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Required: Java Mobile Applications Developers.
by Tuma Barua 30 Jul '10

30 Jul '10

Hi, One of my clients - GEDA Limited has open positions for Java Mobile Applications Developers and seeks to fill them. See below for the advert. Kindly refer GEDA to anyone meeting the requirements and is interested and available. ========================================= GEDA Limited is a Systems Integrator focusing on Networks, MultiMedia, and Security Solutions. We are a licensed Telecommunications Contractor and Application Service Provider. GEDA is seeking to fill various positions in her Mobile Application Development projects portifolio. We are looking for *Java Mobile Applications Developers*. The developers will be working out of the office (e.g. Freelance, part-time) and will be paid on Volume and Value or Quality of work done. The developers must have previous experience in developing Java applications for mobile phones and will be tested to ensure the same. The remuneration package is very attractive and negotiable. Those interested can *e-mail to **info(a)geda.co.ke* <info(a)geda.co.ke>. They should attache their CV/Resume/Profiles and all necessary and relevant documentations to the application. All applications must be submitted *on or before August 6th, 2010*. GEDA Limited, Soin Arcade, 3rd Floor, Westlands Road Telephone: +254 20 444 1900 www.geda.co.ke ======================================= Thank you.

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