August 2010 - KICTANet

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/ --------------------------------------

5 4

Fwd: Africa domain?
by Brian Munyao Longwe 19 Aug '10

19 Aug '10

For those concerned, please note that contrary to claims made at the EA IGF last week, Ms. Sophia Bekele does NOT have the endorsement of the AU. Please refer to the attached. Regards, Brian --------------------------------------- Dear Colleagues and Friends, Attached find the letter sent to Ms. Sophia regarding her continuous assertion for DOT-Africa and I think it’s very clear. Moreover, find attached also report & declaration of the last CITMC held from 3-7 August 2010 in Abuja and you can find a clear recommendation about DOT-Africa. Regards * ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * *Mr. Esam M. Abulkhirat (MSc)* Senior ICT Policy Officer Dep. Human Resources Science & Technology African Union Commission P.O.Box 3243 Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA Mobile: +251 911 22 70 26 Abulkhirate(a)Africa-Union.Org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "All Things Are Difficult Before They Are Easy" ------------------------------ *From:* Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com> *To:* Esam Abulkhirat <aldhina(a)yahoo.com> *Cc:* Dandjinou Pierre <pdandjinou(a)gmail.com>; Cecilia Mamelodi < cmamelodi(a)sadc.int>; Edmund Katiti <EKatiti(a)eafricacommission.org>; Mouhamet Diop <mouhamet(a)gmail.com>; Vika <president(a)aftld.org>; aliebah(a)yahoo.com; TTamrat(a)uneca.org; Adiel A. Akplogan <adiel(a)afrinic.net>; Anne-Rachel Inné < annerachel(a)gmail.com>; alice wanjira <wanjiraalice(a)gmail.com> *Sent:* Wed, August 18, 2010 1:35:39 PM *Subject:* Africa domain? Is it true that AU has consented/endorsed Sophia Bekele's push for this? I know that she is a very controversial figure and has made wild claims of support in the past. Apparently this issue came up last week at the East African IGF in Uganda - she was there and tried to claim legitimacy but ended up being outrightly rejected and received a "dressing up" from most of the delegates there.... http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35837:a… Please comment? Regards, Brian -- Brian Munyao Longwe e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com cell: + 254 722 518 744 blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com

7 9

Fwd: information on .africa and the lies surrounding an individual's push
by Brian Munyao Longwe 19 Aug '10

19 Aug '10

Hi all, Just received this. Apparently she has formally been propagating lies about being on the ICANN board etc.... and even put up counterfiet letters on her website - this verges on criminal! What is her interest? Brian ------------------------ Brian, here is some info for you.. she constructed this whole thing on lies. you can judge for yourself. I did not want to spam all but I sent this to a few key people. check this: - there is no African Union Authority!!!! do you really believe that the*Chairman of the AU Commission * will have claimed to write on behalf of a non existent authority and give her a letter in that sense? so maybe she should explain to people why she has a 'weird' letter on her website. Check her website and you will see. - here is an email that tells you how she lies! she actually took me to the ombudsman at ICANN in 2007, complaining that I was preventing her from doing dot africa, copied the whole board at the time --- all her claims were immediately dismissed when I sent the letters and emails to the ombudsman, of the same caliber as the below that she had been sending to regional organisations and bodies. My fault was to have written to all organisations, as the Regional Liaison, to dismiss her claims of ICANN endorsement of dot africa and her being on the board. - she keeps saying ICANN is endorsing dot africa! how can ICANN endorse a TLD?? how can ICANN be judge and party???? she is supposed to have been at the GNSO council and ICANN and understand what she is talking about!!!! she has been in the ICANN process for the past 5 years and still has no idea how all this functions. I let you judge. The woman does not have her wits together I think. Cheers *Sophia Bekele <sophiabekele(a)yahoo.com>* 30/08/2006 01:48 PM Subject Re: Hello <name removed>, I hope your vacation is going well. As per discussion, I thought I would convey someof what is on my plate that may be of mutual interest. Presently, other than my private projects/business interests, I also serve on the board of ICANN, the international internet governance organization. At this stage, I have outlined few projects in addition to an initiative that could quickly put under incubation. Any or all of these could serve as a basis for mutual collaboration. Generally speaking the projects span ICT, public sector governance, regional integration, internet governance etc.. The priority project I mentioned to UN Undersecretary General was that of dot.africa (.Africa) which he expressed great interest. Thus, there will be a need to synergize and align strategies of possible project collaboration. Dot.Africa is an initiative supported by ICANN, that aims at unifying and consolidating the African Information Society and presence within the Internet as distinct from other Continental communities. As such, there now exists dot.EU (.EU), dot.Asia.(.ASIA) and dot.LatinAmerica (.LA) as similar ongoing initiatives. The present paradigm is to halt Africans marginalization in this age of globalization. This is actually one of the goals of NEPAD, which of course is an initiative that is already endorsed b the UN. There are no prices for guessing what would happen if dot.Africa is not also initiated and implemented at the same time that other Continental communities on the net have been put in place. To get this of the ground, it appears from the experiences of the others, a minimum of 13 countries in Africawould have to come on board. The endorsement for UNECA would of course be helpful. This initiative would require a proposal to be distributed to the potential participating countries. UNECA’s help would be crucial in communicating who might wish to participate. Countries that have already have ongoing National policies that relate ICT as a strategic tool for National development would be the primary candidates. Being something that would turn into a Continental initiative, it is rewarding at best for the UNECA to play an active role in this initial stage. As an African representative on ICANN board, I have taken the initiative to coordinate and see the successful implementation of the project. I believe therefore, we should have a meeting to progress this further. I suggest we meet ASAP to get this moving, as time is of essence to the extent that the application for the domain name must be submitted before January 2007. However due to our travel schedules, we should arrange a teleconference meeting that is mutually convenient for all within the next two weeks. Regards, Sophia

6 6

The New Kenya - Teachers Online
by Wamuyu Gatheru 18 Aug '10

18 Aug '10

I think we have a reason to celebrate that represents tangible investments made possible by ending our quarrel with each other (i.e new Constitution) The Safaricom-Equity Bank-Microsoft partnership to provide computers to teachers is in my view a landmark event. I hope the teaching material is made available as software already programmed in and not requiring one to be logged on. This should make it accessible without exhorbitant cost that may be beyond the budget of a public school teacher. This is a great product innovation that should help teachers, across the country, emerge digitally and by extention their students. I hope that the civil servants who are still in the dark ages also take advantage of this offer. This accompanied with hopefully sustainable Zain prices illustrate the real gains of investor confidence as a result of stable politics. regards, Wamuyu

1 0

Re: [kictanet] ICDL - I apologise(RESTRICTED ACCESS)
by robert yawe 18 Aug '10

18 Aug '10

Hi Walu, It is good to know that there is a push to resolve this issue. My proposal would be to have the software developed by a private entity which would then do a revenue share with KASNEB whose main resistance is based on a fear of loosing their traditional income streams which is examination fees. Lets look at raising angle funds for anyone who can come up with an online testing software that can equal or even rival the likes of smartforce, ICT-Board does not have the capacity to handle such an undertaking as they are more of a procurement agency. Dr. Ndemo, we seriously need to enforce legislation otherwise all we shall keep loosing our edge as an outsourcing destination. Maybe having the issue of ICT proficiency should be spearheaded by the Ministry of Youth who I believe are now responsible for the village polytechnics. As higher education has dropped the ball on this one. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ________________________________ From: Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke; Paul Kukubo <pkukubo(a)ict.go.ke>; robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Sent: Sat, 31 July, 2010 9:50:08 Subject: Fw: ICDL - I apologise(RESTRICTED ACCESS) Ndemo, Paul, Yawe I do sit on a sub-committee of the KASNEB board and for the last 9mths we were tasked to create (replicate) a local version of ICDL. This sub-committee completed its task by way of reviewing the ICDL course outlines with a view to including kenyan contexts. Further the sub-committee recommended the creation (software development) of an electronic testing platform (again along the lines of ICDL) where the exam is booked, administered and marked electronically. Such a software would cost money, software engineering skills and time. But that is NOT the problem since I believe the "skunk-works" can do this type of software if given the money and the time. The biggest challenge has been what I would call (soft-resistance) from the KASNEB full-board in going forward with this project. Whereas the CEO (relatively ICT savvy) wants to go full blast with the project, the (older) members of the Board correctly realise that such an electronic examination system would totally disrupt their existing manual examining model that they have been accustomed to over the last 40yrs that KASNEB has existed...(hence the resistance to change) And so here comes my proposal...get funding from Kenya ICT Board, get software engineers from skunkworks to do the electronic examination system, and get KASNEB to "adopt" this e-system to administer their local "ICDL" type of examinations...this way we knock down the resistance to change barrier from the older KASNEB board members - who may actually embrace the system once they see a workable model.... Furthermore, the electronic examination system would pay for itself within a year from the money thousands of potential students would pay to sit the exam (IAT has 3,000 ICDL candidates per year, MMU has about 400, not counting Computer pride and others, you have a potential market of 5,000 candidates to sit this local exam at even half the price ICDL (ksh3,500) is asking for... any takers? walu. --- On Fri, 7/30/10, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: >From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> >Subject: Re: [kictanet] ICDL - I apologise >To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com >Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >Date: Friday, July 30, 2010, 3:03 PM > > >Robert, >We are still fighting the resistance from the colleges. There must be >some examining body to ensure that the sylabbus is covered and the student >can make good use of the training. Unfortunately, in this country we want >to make money at the expense of our unsuspecting sisters and brothers. > > >Regards > > >Ndemo. > > > > >> 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 >> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------- >> This message has been scanned for viruses and >> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is >> believed to be clean. >> --------------------------------------------- >> "easy access to the world" >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke >> > > > >---------------------------------------------- >This message has been scanned for viruses and >dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is >believed to be clean. >--------------------------------------------- >"easy access to the world" > > >_______________________________________________ >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 >

3 3

Philip Adar
by Okech 18 Aug '10

18 Aug '10

Dear Alice, Please add Philip o. Adar to the kicktanet discuasion list. Philip Adar is the Bid Manager, Business Market department of Telkom Kenya. His email address is philip.adar(a)gmail.com Regards, Okech JMMy blog

1 0

ICTs Strengthening Democratic Governance in Kenya
by Edith Adera 17 Aug '10

17 Aug '10

This position might be of interest http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_68604.shtml Development of an IT platform to monitor the election process in Kenya ("an eye on 2012) For your information, IDRC is supporting an online platform (still under development) to monitor implementation of agenda 4 - visit www.agendayetu.org<http://www.agendayetu.org> . We have worked with our very own Eng. Rege to launch this. It is our desire that the views expressed will not end up in the cyberworld, but will be synthesized and channelled to the respective agenda 4 institutions and parliament. Eng. Rege will be central in facilitating these linkages. Kenyans must be engaged in shaping our common future. Your suggestions to stimulate and improve the site are welcome! As I said, it's workin progress. Regards Edith ________________ Edith Ofwona Adera Senior Program Specialist ICT4D Program International Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches pour le développement international Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa Tel: +254202713160 | Fax/Téléc: +254202711063 | Skype: edithadera eadera(a)idrc.or.ke<mailto:[email protected]> | www.idrc.ca<http://www.idrc.ca/> | www.crdi.ca<http://www.crdi.ca/> [https://email.idrc.or.ke/owa/attachment.ashx?id=RgAAAAANayfd3%2b2VQYZo%2flc…]

3 3

2 Long-Range Video Camera's Urgently Required for Juba
by Shem Ochuodho 17 Aug '10

17 Aug '10

Friends, A Senior Officer in GoSS urgently requires 2 long-range Video Cameras DV-CAM 19kg, preferably SONY (or is it SONY-ERICSSON these days?). Would anyone have a lead/be interested? If so, kindly revert via private mail to Eng. Chaplain Baranya baranyaa(a)gmail.com or .baranyajelia(a)yahoo.com. Apologies in advance to those whom this may not concern. Thanks and regards, Shem, Juba __._,_.___

1 0

Reminder: Secure ICT 2010 Conference, September 8-9, 2010
by Evans Kahuthu 17 Aug '10

17 Aug '10

Dear Listers, This is a polite email informing you to register and attend the upcoming Information Communication Technology & Network Security Conference (SecureICT 2010 Conference) Date: Sept 8-9, 2010 Venue: PanAfric Hotel Nairobi Don't miss out on the premier Information Communication Technology & Network Security Conference of the year. Check out the conference program online at http://secureict.co.ke/agenda.aspx and register online at http://secureict.co.ke/registration.aspx The conference begins on sept 8, 2010 with great Keynote Speakers. Dr. Bitange Ndemo- Keynote Address Johnny Long -Google Hacking Johnny spent his career breaking into the world?s most secure facilities as a professional hacker. His insight into the threats your clients face is first hand, and his recommendations come from real-world experience attacking and securing hundreds of Fortune 100 and Government networks and facilities. Dr. Matunda Nyanchama -Information Security Metrics Matunda Nyanchama, Ph.D, CISSP has more than 14 years experience in IT and IT security, corporate, management and academia. He is currently a Principal Consultant & Director at Agano Consulting. He has previously worked in many capacities including Delivery Project Executive (DPE) and Senior Program Manager at IBM Global Services with responsibilities for service delivery for outsourced contracts; and National Delivery Manager of security, privacy and identity consulting. For more information, please visit http://secureict.co.ke Regards, Evans Kahuthu Secure ICT 2010 Conference Coordinator, Phone: +254-710649304,+254-202188830 ekahuthu(a)secureict.co.ke<http://emailmg.webhost4life.com/sqmail/images/blank.png>

1 0

1st National eWaste Conference on 7th September, 2010 at UNEP, Gigiri
by Terry 17 Aug '10

17 Aug '10

Dear All; ICWE Africa in conjunction with Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources (MEMR) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is organizing a one-day National Conference on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE/E-Waste) to be held on Tuesday 7th September 2010 at the UN complex in Gigiri. The conference will also serve as a launching pad for the Ministry of Environment to launch the National e-Waste Guidelines being developed by NEMA and other stakeholders. As a way forward, the conference will also set into motion development of the e-Waste Disposal & Management Regulations formulation. Speakers and participants at the conference will include decision-makers, e-waste experts, and manufacturers of electronic equipments, consumers and information specialists working in international organizations, UN agencies, government ministries, non-governmental organizations and the private sector. The Conference Objectives will be to: a) Identify and map environmental impact of e-waste on Kenya. b) Discuss capacity constraints on disposal of e-waste in Kenya c) Promote multi-stakeholder partnership by involving manufacturers' and private sector in tackling e-waste. d) Recommend policy development framework taking into consideration International best practices e) Identify and discuss positive aspect of e-waste such as job creation. f) Formulate common stand and way forward on e-waste management and disposal in Kenya For more information on the conference please visit: www.ewaste.icwe.co.ke <http://www.ewaste.icwe.co.ke/> . For registration to attend the conference kindly register on: http://ewaste.icwe.co.ke/?page_id=10 . Limited reservations for the conference and confirmation will be on a first-come basis. Looking forward to hearing from you. My regards; Terry Njoroge Accounts Manager ICWE Africa P.O. Box 746-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. <http://www.icwe.co.ke/> www.icwe.co.ke Contacts: 020-234 3961 Cell: 0724 866771

1 0