July 2010 - KICTANet

Kenyan minister calls for dumping alert
by alice 26 Jul '10

26 Jul '10

*Kenyan minister calls for dumping alert* > > > BY EVELYNE NJOROGE > Updated 1 hours 23 minutes ago > *NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 26 - African ICT regulators have been urged to be > more stringent in vetting equipment that gets into the continent as > one way of dealing with electronic waste.* > > > > Information Minister Samuel Poghisio said on Monday this was one of > the sustainable ways that should be adopted to ensure that Africa is > not used as a dumping ground for e-waste. > > "One way of dealing with this problem is by strengthening our national > regulatory bodies to bar the entry of sub-standard equipment into our > markets," he said. > > The demand for ICT technology in the continent - driven mainly by the > need to keep up with the rest of the world - has seen electronic waste > rise to unprecedented levels as developed countries move to dispose > off their obsolete equipment to Africa. > > Old computers, mobile phone handsets and now television sets (as the > world prepares to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting) are > some of the electronic gadgets that are increasingly finding their way > into the African market. > > The issue is further compounded by the fact that many African > countries do not have legislation to manage the waste which has both > environmental and health implications. Despite this threat, however, > not much focus is being given to this issue. > > "In the last 10 years, African governments have been preoccupied with > the issue of universal access but this aspiration is yet to be > realised. Given the high sales of cheap mobile handsets, their short > life span and the customers' desire to keep up with the latest trendy > handsets, this problem will remain with us for a long time," the > minister regretted. > > Kenya, through an organisation called 'Computer for Schools Kenya', > has however devised a way of managing this problem mainly through > recycling old computers. This involves extracting reusable parts from > the machines and using them to assemble 'new' computers which are then > distributed to schools at a fee. > > Mr Poghisio spoke during an International Telecommunication Union > (ITU) workshop on the provision of quality telecommunication services > in a safe environment where participants heard that mobile operators > in the continent are yet to meet the minimum threshold of quality of > service. > > "This could be partly ascribed to high rates of service subscription, > which have exerted pressure on the mobile network resources of service > providers," he said. > > He however pointed out that this calls for regulators to sensitise > consumers on the best ways to take advantage of the competitive > environment in the telecommunications sector to get value for their money. > > ... > > http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/Kenyabusiness/Kenyan-minister-calls-for… > > ___

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ICANN Meetings Fellowship Programme: Application Round Opens for Cartagena Meeting Fellowships]
by alice 26 Jul '10

26 Jul '10

*Application Round Opens for Cartagena Meeting Fellowships* Program ensures global representation at ICANN’s International Public Meetings 22 July 2010 *MARINA DEL REY, Calif.*: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has launched the 11th round of the Fellowship program applications for its 39th International Public Meeting to be held Cartagena, Columbia on 5-10 December 2010. Over the last 10 meetings, the Fellowship program has proven to be a successful method of capacity building for the ICANN community, making sure global voices are heard in the wide variety of public forums that it holds. As CEO Rod Beckstrom said when addressing the Russian Internet Governance Forum in Moscow last May, /“The Internet is a work in progress. It feeds and grows off ideas, and new ideas greatly affect its direction. Its most influential contributors are those who can see the possibilities that others don’t. And the most powerful are those whose ideas trigger the imagination of others.”/ We see the Fellowship program playing a major role in bringing those great ideas and idea makers into the Internet community. Priority in selection is given to applicants who are current residents of developing and least developed nations and interested in participating in ICANN and its supporting organizations, such as the Governmental Advisory Committee, the Country Code Names Supporting Organization, the At-Large and the Generic Names Supporting Organization. The Fellowship program will assist in covering airfare, hotel and a stipend. Recipients will be expected to actively participate in and contribute to ICANN processes. As always, registration for ICANN’s meetings is free for anyone wanting to attend. *Applications for the meeting in Cartagena will be accepted from now until 1200 PDT (UTC -7) on 1 September 2010. More information, as well as a link to the application for a fellowship, is available online at: https://forms.icann.org/fellowship/applications/icann39/ or email at fellowships(a)icann.org <mailto:fellowships@icann.org>* *What Is ICANN?* To reach another person on the Internet you have to type an address into your computer - a name or a number. That address has to be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN coordinates these unique identifiers across the world. Without that coordination we wouldn't have one global Internet. ICANN was formed in 1998. It is a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation with participants from all over the world dedicated to keeping the Internet secure, stable and interoperable. It promotes competition and develops policy on the Internet’s unique identifiers. ICANN doesn’t control content on the Internet. It cannot stop spam and it doesn’t deal with access to the Internet. But through its coordination role of the Internet’s naming system, it does have an important impact on the expansion and evolution of the Internet.

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SIM card registration - anecdotal evidence
by Andrea Bohnstedt 23 Jul '10

23 Jul '10

I wrote this short piece recently, looking at the benefits of SIM card registration (e.g. fighting crime) versus the fact that it's an admin headache. SIM Card Registration: Crime Prevention, Administrative Headache, or Both? <http://www.ratio-magazine.com/201006243475/Kenya/SIM-Card-Registration-Crim…>I have a suspicion that it's going to come down on the side of the admin headache: I went to register my SIM cards yesterday. Safcom's forms have no duplicate, so I basically walked away with no evidence that I had tried to comply with the regulations. I noted down the number on the form, but that's no good if someone loses the form, which appears entirely possible. The lady at the outlet told me that the forms would be passed on to CCK and she 'hoped that the information would be processed.' The 'hope' in that sentence gave me nervous visions of stacks of forms. Like the immigration card stacks at the airport. Zain at least have a duplicate that you can take with you, but no stamp or anything showing that you have really submitted your details. Neither one actually checked the copy of my passport against the details I put down on the form, or just checked the passport copy itself against the passport (I could have probably taken someone else's passport. Or faked the information on it. I could have also just made up my postal and residential address since there's no way of checking this via my passport. Good thing I'm lazy). My colleague reported something similar from her trip to Orange Telkom and another mobile operator outlet: The first outlet she went to didn't insist on seeing her ID (she didn't have a photocopy), and since she just came out of the first operator's outlet, the people at the second one said that she must be ok, and so took her registration form without even asking for the ID. Yes, really. I'm not sure what the provisions are for keeping that new subscriber data base updated, but I do wonder about the accuracy of that data base in the first place. That's without even thinking about data security and the capacity of the police to intervene and follow up in case of any crime. Anecdotal evidence from Tanzania: 'I registered one of my lines with a shopping centre security guard for a TZS500/= facilitation fee. And he made sure I got the duplicate. I can't work out whose interests this exercise benefits, apart from entrepreneurial security men.' Happy Furahiday everyone! Andrea

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mobile tariffs?
by Michael Ouma 23 Jul '10

23 Jul '10

How come Safaricom still charges Kshs 8/min for on-net and Kshs 12/min for off-net calls while the competition has reduced it's rates, with Zain Kenya now charging just Kshs 6/min for off-net calls and Kshs 3/ min for on-net? ...what's the rationale for all these? Michael Ouma Journalist Kenya Tel:+254-725-537823 "Do not go where the path may lead, but go instead where there is no path and leave a trail," - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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FW: Job Vacancy with AVOIR
by Edith Adera 21 Jul '10

21 Jul '10

http://www.ict-innovation.fossfa.net/blog/%5Buser-raw%5D/vacancy-network-ma… FOSSFA, InWEnt and AVOIR are pleased to announce the vacancy for the "MIP Network Manager". In order to qualify software developers and enable the creation of innovative local FOSS solutions, a mentored internship programme in software development will be implemented, matching persons interested in improving their programming skills with suitable mentors guiding them through the coding of specific software projects relevant to local African contexts. For the first phase of this Mentored Internship Programme from October 2010 till March 2011 nine universities from the AVOIR network will be participating. TERM The initial contract will be from 1 September 2010 - 30 June 2011, but may be renewed for a second phase. During the first two months the position will require full time engagement. However, following this phase it will be possible to perform the tasks on a part-time basis. APPLICATION Interested candidates should send their CV as well as an application letter as soon as possible, to Mr. George Nyambuya, Programme Manager ict@innovation (george.nyambuya[at]inwent.co.za), with copy to Petra Hagemann, Programme Coordination ict@innovation (petra.hagemann[at]inwent.org) Last date of application: August 8th, 2010 OVERVIEW OF TASKS The TOR for the position of manager for this internship programme (MIP Network Manager) includes the following main components: Preparation of internship programme: - Supporting Host Organisation Coordinators in identifying and matching interns, projects and mentors as well as networking with the local IT industries - Development of an educational concept and internship curricula - Compiling possible additional activities for interns and creating linkages between other AVOIR and ict@innovation activities - Creating an overview of local FOSS Industries and projects Implementation of internship programme: - Supervision of Intern and Mentor cooperation and monitoring of activities, - Assure regular exchange within and between the different groups and stakeholders - Creating linkages with international partners and similar schemes, - Actively contributing to the AVOIR and ict@innovation community through mailing list activities, writing news stories and marketing of programme Evaluation and follow-up to internship programme: - Evaluating the programme and design improved programme components - Designing an internship alumni programme, - Supporting further exchange via an online community of practice of FOSS developers The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR), including a detailed job description, qualification criteria, and application procedures, for this position can be downloaded as a PDF here, als well as the, as well as the time line for this position. We look forward to receiving your application!

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Internet Policy Survey in Kenya
by Barrack Otieno 20 Jul '10

20 Jul '10

Dear Colleagues, There is an ongoing regional survey on Internet Policy, some of you may have come across this on other lists but just in case you did not kindly spare a few minutes and fill it, as the saying goes Information is power, we alll stand to benefit from this resource, you may access the questionaire through the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QYTXSNZ. -- Barrack O. Otieno +41767892272 Skype: barrack.otieno

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Fwd: Open Position at AfriNIC
by Adiel A. Akplogan 19 Jul '10

19 Jul '10

You may be interested. - a. Begin forwarded message: > From: AfriNIC HR Team <hr(a)afrinic.net> > Date: July 18, 2010 21:50:22 PM GMT+04:00 > To: announce(a)afrinic.net, members(a)afrinic.net > Subject: Open Position at AfriNIC > > [*** Apologies for duplicate e-mails ***] > > Dear Colleagues, > > We wish to inform you that we have a vacancy for the position of > Communications Area Manager at AfriNIC. > > This position will be based at our headquarters in Mauritius. > > Do not hesitate to visit http://www.afrinic.net/job/ for more > information or contact us at hr(a)afrinic.net. > > Sincerely > > AfriNIC HR team. > www.afrinic.net/job/ > WE VALUE YOUR COMPETENCIES & YOUR COMMITMENT

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Kenya IGF 2010, Discussions :Day 8 of 8 Summary
by Barrack Otieno 17 Jul '10

17 Jul '10

Dear Listers, Today we conclude 8 days of interesting discourse on Internet Governance issues in Kenya. As mentioned by some contributors in earlier posts, being a new area, there is a great need for capacity building and awareness to ensure that the country is able to reap the benefits of the new info-economy. We would like to invite listers who might not have had the chance to make their posts to do so under the respective subject lines in the next two days before compilation of the final report that will be presented during the face to face discussions scheduled for the end of this month. In a nutshell we explored the following areas: 1. Internet Governance rationale - What is internet governance and why internet governance at this point in time. 2. Infrastructure issues: Unified Licensing., Fibre Optic cable 3. Critical Internet Resources 4. Management of the dot KE cctld 5. IPv6 6. ecrimes, privacy, data security. Despite the limited time frame the discussion was exciting, i am sure the many that followed the debate silently would not their heads in agreement. Today and tomorrow will be dedicated to exploring other areas that might of interest in so far Internet Governance in Kenya is concerned one of them being cloud computing was which pointed out by Dr. Waudo Siganga. Thank you -- Barrack O. Otieno +41767892272 Skype: barrack.otieno

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Invitation to the 2010 Kenya IGF Meeting Panafric hotel Nairobi 29.07.2010
by Barrack Otieno 16 Jul '10

16 Jul '10

Dear All, The Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC), the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) and other participating organisations wish to invite you to the 2010 Kenya IGF to be held at the Panafric hotel in Nairobi, on the 29th of July 2010 7.00 am to 1:00 Pm The 2010 Kenya IGF is a follow up to the 2009 national IGF and theregional East Africa Intrenet Governance Forum 2009 (EA-IGF2009), as well as preparation for the EA-IGF 2010. The national and the regional forums aim at creating awareness, instituting a consensus building process to develop a common understanding of local IG issues as well as building capacity in order to enable meaningful participation in global Internet policy, governance anddevelopment processes and initiatives. The Kenya IGF will therefore provide Kenyan Internet stakeholders with an opportunity to increase understanding of Internet governance issues and the links with socio-economic, political and cultural development and strengthen the internet governance community of practise evolving in the East Africa region. Further, Kenya has expressed interest in hosting the 2011 global United Nations Intrenet Governnace Forum (UN-IGF) the Kenya and EA IGF will support the goals of the IGF and the continued evolution of the open,multi-stakeholder internet. The outcomes of the K-IGF will be submitted and presented at the 2010 East Africa Internet Governance Forum (EA-IGF 2010) to be held in Kampala,Uganda from the 11th to the 13th of August 2010 and subsequently to the global Internet Governance Forum (IGF) meeting to be held in Vilnius, Lithuania, on 14-17 September 2010. On behalf of all participating organizations, it is my pleasure to invite you to the Kenya IGF. More information can be found on the National IGFwebsite http://www.eaigf.or.ke/nigfs/kigf.html. we hope you will be able to participate as per the attached proposed programme. For planning purposes, kindly send an email to kenya(a)eaigf.or.ke<http://us.mc578.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=kenya@eaigf.or.ke><mailto: kenya(a)eaigf.or.ke<http://us.mc578.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=kenya@eaigf.or.ke> > confirming your attendance. Kind Regards, Joe Kiragu Administrative Manger Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC) kiragu(a)kenic.or.ke<http://us.mc578.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=kiragu@kenic.or.ke> -- Barrack O. Otieno +41767892272 Skype: barrack.otieno

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Kenya IGF 2010, Discussions :Day 7 of 8 Theme:E-Crime, Online Privacy & Data Security- Continuation
by Judy Okite 14 Jul '10

14 Jul '10

Good Morning, As we near, closing these discussions we, feel free to contribute to the former threads by clicking on the correct subject/title. Today we continue with , - a) E-crime- situation in Kenya - b) E- Voting- where Kenya is @ And today we add c) c) Online privacy and data security i) Sim card registration- on the 21st June 2010 the government through CCK(Communication Commission of Kenya) declared it mandatory for all mobile users to register their Sim cards More info: http://www.cck.go.ke/news/2010/news_21june2010.html “The exercise is aimed at safeguarding the public against acts of insecurity, including the wide spread threats posed by terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion, fraud, hate messages, and incitement that are now wide spread throughout the world, “said the Minister for Information and Communication. Currently we have 18million (I stand to be corrected ) mobile users in Kenya, In these forms, one has to give their residential area , their identity card number, their birth information etc… That is a whole lot of data on Kenyans… in short , a grand database! From yesterday’s discussions we saw that currently we have no LAW to guard this database. Q. What will stop the Authority from using my details wrongly? Q. What happens if I don’t register by 31st of July? I will be disconnected? Under what LAW? ii) When I send a SMS to 3007 with an ID card number, it returns with voter details, full names, place of voting and voter card number of the ID card holder, however, 1, the system put in place, does not verify in any way that it’s the real owner of the ID card, that has sent this query? a) Can this data be manipulated? Then what? A question, on top of my head, with all these ongoing, what creates demand for LAW?(if there is anything, like that) Your queries, comments, inputs, corrections are welcome! Kind Regards, -- “To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there.” Kofi Annan

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