February 2011 - KICTANet

Is Safaricom disintegrating
by robert yawe 23 Feb '11

23 Feb '11

Hi listers,ea Its not a good idea to type multiple emails at the same time, I sent out the right email with the wrong heading. Here is the correct posting for the subject header I have had an interesting 2 or so weeks dealing with the post Micheal Joseph Safaricom. During his reign MJ took an interest in what was being said about the company, at least on this list which I strongly believe is representative of the tech savvy population. Why do I use a strong word like disintegrate well because before Safaricom went on its acquisition spree I had a single contact number to report all my issues with Safaricom but today I have over 5 numbers that I need to call to get a semblance of assistance, of the 5 or so numbers only one is toll free the others are chargeable calls. Sometime back I raised this issue, that is yet to be resolved, in relation to my WiMax connection which is a service offered by Safaricom Business whose customer support number is 0722-002222. In addition the number is only operational between 8:30am and 5:30 pm, but this might be an indication of when I have expected to have problems with the service. Reminds me of my first boss who once told me that I was dis-organised by falling sick in the middle of the week. I can remember a time when calling 999 got you access to all emergency services does the demise of this single contact actually have something to do with Safaricom not being able to provide a single number for customer care? The situation gets worse every day, I requested Safaricom to deliver my WiMax post paid invoice together with that for our post paid voice lines, I was shocked to be informed that this is not possible as the two services, read organisations are separate and therefore my request could not be honoured. Here I quote the response from Safaricom Business "The billing for the Wimax account is done separately from the other post paid accounts hence, the two cannot be merged" More recently my WiMax antennae was pointed to a new base station but after working for 2 days it needed to be re-pointed to the original base station because the person who made the change did not complete the internal paper work. Yesterday I had another interesting experience when my 3G devices where unable to access my servers hosted right here in the country yet I could reach international sites. I reported the issue to Safaricom Business support line at about 8:30 am after which the circus begun, I received calls from no less than 5 different people all requiring me to repeat my problem, I would have expected it was captured during my initial call? After 6 hours of trying to convince me that the problem was localised to me, I had tested the connection using 3 different 3G devices, they finally confirmed that they where having an issue on their network. At one point one of the engineers, Safaricom does not employ technicians, asks the URL I am saying I cannot reach then tells me that from where she it it accessible. I would have expected that Safaricom would have a test bench to simulate some of this issues. They need to be able to also categorise clients based on a predetermined skill level. It is so painful going through the switch off modem. ping DNS steps that I have recently relegated the 1st level of support calling to my 13 year old son. My experiences with Safaricom since I took up addition services from them namely fixed wireless (WiMax) and domain hosting the number of telephone numbers for Safaricom support have gone from 2 (voice & mpesa) to 15. This is just 3 short of the ones I have for Telkom/Orange which range from the numbers of the line plant staff (those who carry ladders or sit in the road side cabinets), the 3 support numbers (100, 121 & 122). A few numbers each for the Network Operations Center, Kenstream, ADSL, broadband, Jambonet and EvDo just to be able to effectively support my clients who are on the various services. To put an icing on the cake I at one time had to have the Managing Directors on speed dial from Cheserem to Kirui, the Orange fellows are not as accessible which might explain the organisations lackluster performance. Safaricom is becoming what KP&TC and Telkom were as a monopoly big, blotted and unresponsive, it is my sincere hope that we shall not get to the bottom of that precipice as if we do it will mean that the time has come for some of us to go and breed egg laying chickens, which might actually be to the benefit of the industry. If there is still someone out there from Safaricom listening this is the wrong time for the organisation to be disintegrating if you expect to provide a complete suite of products and services. As solution providers we had started filling like we had a partner who would work with us to deliver leading edge solutions well we shall continue to hope and pray that that day will come, soon. Regards PS. If private sector has a problem with offering a single point of contact can we really expect it of the government? Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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Composition of CSTD Working Group on the IGF
by waudo siganga 23 Feb '11

23 Feb '11

Dear Colleagues, For those following the IGF process, UNCTAD has announced the composition of the Working Group on improvements to the IGF [1]http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=5813&lang=1 Dr. Jimson Olufuye from WITSA will be representing the Africa business community in the Group. On another note the IGF secretariat is reminding all to send in proposals regarding the program for Nairobi. Please do something, unless we want to have a big meeting in Nairobi with no program. We need comments on the format and content of the program. Contributions can be sent to the IGF mailbox at [2]igf(a)unog.ch, the deadline for submission is 7 February 2011. Kind Regards, Waudo References 1. http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=5813&lang=1 2. file://localhost/mail/?MLS=MR-**f4103020u70770*;MSS=;SMB-CF=4103020;SMR-PT=;SMR-UM=f4103020u70770;UDm=119;Ust=22b35bb4!b53341a5;MSignal=MC-FN*U-1*igf%40unog.ch

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Re: [kictanet] Is Safaricom disintegrating
by robert yawe 23 Feb '11

23 Feb '11

Hi listers,ea Its not a good idea to type multiple emails at the same time, I sent out the right email with the wrong heading. Here is the correct posting for the subject header I have had an interesting 2 or so weeks dealing with the post Micheal Joseph Safaricom. During his reign MJ took an interest in what was being said about the company, at least on this list which I strongly believe is representative of the tech savvy population. Why do I use a strong word like disintegrate well because before Safaricom went on its acquisition spree I had a single contact number to report all my issues with Safaricom but today I have over 5 numbers that I need to call to get a semblance of assistance, of the 5 or so numbers only one is toll free the others are chargeable calls. Sometime back I raised this issue, that is yet to be resolved, in relation to my WiMax connection which is a service offered by Safaricom Business whose customer support number is 0722-002222. In addition the number is only operational between 8:30am and 5:30 pm, but this might be an indication of when I have expected to have problems with the service. Reminds me of my first boss who once told me that I was dis-organised by falling sick in the middle of the week. I can remember a time when calling 999 got you access to all emergency services does the demise of this single contact actually have something to do with Safaricom not being able to provide a single number for customer care? The situation gets worse every day, I requested Safaricom to deliver my WiMax post paid invoice together with that for our post paid voice lines, I was shocked to be informed that this is not possible as the two services, read organisations are separate and therefore my request could not be honoured. Here I quote the response from Safaricom Business "The billing for the Wimax account is done separately from the other post paid accounts hence, the two cannot be merged" More recently my WiMax antennae was pointed to a new base station but after working for 2 days it needed to be re-pointed to the original base station because the person who made the change did not complete the internal paper work. Yesterday I had another interesting experience when my 3G devices where unable to access my servers hosted right here in the country yet I could reach international sites. I reported the issue to Safaricom Business support line at about 8:30 am after which the circus begun, I received calls from no less than 5 different people all requiring me to repeat my problem, I would have expected it was captured during my initial call? After 6 hours of trying to convince me that the problem was localised to me, I had tested the connection using 3 different 3G devices, they finally confirmed that they where having an issue on their network. At one point one of the engineers, Safaricom does not employ technicians, asks the URL I am saying I cannot reach then tells me that from where she it it accessible. I would have expected that Safaricom would have a test bench to simulate some of this issues. They need to be able to also categorise clients based on a predetermined skill level. It is so painful going through the switch off modem. ping DNS steps that I have recently relegated the 1st level of support calling to my 13 year old son. My experiences with Safaricom since I took up addition services from them namely fixed wireless (WiMax) and domain hosting the number of telephone numbers for Safaricom support have gone from 2 (voice & mpesa) to 15. This is just 3 short of the ones I have for Telkom/Orange which range from the numbers of the line plant staff (those who carry ladders or sit in the road side cabinets), the 3 support numbers (100, 121 & 122). A few numbers each for the Network Operations Center, Kenstream, ADSL, broadband, Jambonet and EvDo just to be able to effectively support my clients who are on the various services. To put an icing on the cake I at one time had to have the Managing Directors on speed dial from Cheserem to Kirui, the Orange fellows are not as accessible which might explain the organisations lackluster performance. Safaricom is becoming what KP&TC and Telkom were as a monopoly big, blotted and unresponsive, it is my sincere hope that we shall not get to the bottom of that precipice as if we do it will mean that the time has come for some of us to go and breed egg laying chickens, which might actually be to the benefit of the industry. If there is still someone out there from Safaricom listening this is the wrong time for the organisation to be disintegrating if you expect to provide a complete suite of products and services. As solution providers we had started filling like we had a partner who would work with us to deliver leading edge solutions well we shall continue to hope and pray that that day will come, soon. Regards PS. If private sector has a problem with offering a single point of contact can we really expect it of the government? 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] Poverty & Education: e-discussion
by Mwololo Tim 23 Feb '11

23 Feb '11

For anyone who might be interested. Rgds. tm On Tue, Feb 22, 2011 at 2:00 AM, Kathleen Diga <kathleen.diga(a)gmail.com>wrote: > Dear friends, > > > I'm helping with this event and could really really use all your support > through FB messages/tweets/blogs. As a fan of technology and > youth/scholar issues, I hope you all can be involved in an United Nations > event in which School of Development Studies (University of KwaZulu-Natal) > is involved and would be pleased to have your participation. UKZN has been > nominated by United Nations Academic Impact for the next two years as one of > ten global hubs to help take forward the governing principle on 'Addressing > Poverty' and Youth. > > > Due to your strong networks and hopefully your interests in Poverty and > Education in the South, we at the School encourage you to contribute to the > e-Discussions (via Facebook!) on Poverty and Education for the week of 2-8 > Mar 2011. We would also be grateful if you could forward this invitation to > other interested networks that you might know, or to others that you think > would have an interest in this topic. > > > > FACEBOOK URL: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/ImpactUN > > > > Basically it is a discussion about issues such as: should there be free > access to tertiary education, what kinds of education incentives ought to be > available by gov't including vocational training, what are strategies to > reverse brain drain (young nationals emigrating abroad) and how can we > ensure local talents are employed. > > > Thanks again for your interest and your help! Let us know what you think > of the UNAI discussion. > > Best regards, > > Kathleen > > > ----------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by * > MailScanner* <http://www.mailscanner.info/>, and is believed t o be clean. > > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED > > The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all > its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality performance > from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality > Management System based on ISO 9001:2008 standard. > > University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/ > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >

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Is Safaricom disintegrating
by robert yawe 22 Feb '11

22 Feb '11

Please lets put this issue to rest we are getting diverted Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ________________________________ From: Andrea Bohnstedt <andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tue, 22 February, 2011 11:21:52 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Calling Rates - Airtel to de-list Celtel Robert, I think it was you who (erroneously ) started talking about Zimbabwe. Then, stock market performance doesn't have anything to do with the percentage of retail/small shareholders as such. Have you had a look at what percentage of shares on the LUSE is held by institutional investors vs retail investors, and done the same for the other stock markets that you list? Like Facebook says: It's complicated. On 22 February 2011 09:14, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Hi, > > >The best performing "stock exchange in Africa" was Zambia as its index rose more >than 12 per cent while the second best monitored by African Alliance was >Botswana (BSE DCI) at 8.3 per cent up and Nigeria (Nig ALSI) rose 7.5 per cent. > > >Year to date, the NSE (Nairobi Stock Exchange" 20-share index was down 16.5 >per cent. At the end of January this year, the index had fallen 0.7 per cent >before this accelerated as the year entered its second month. > > >http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate+News/NSE+loses+as+investors+lo… > > >Sorry to ask McTim, what sources did you base your conclusion that the Zambians >cannot afford to buy shares in any company? > > >Regards > Robert Yawe >KAY System Technologies Ltd >Phoenix House, 6th Floor >P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 >Kenya > > >Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 > > > > > ________________________________ From: McTim <dogwallah(a)gmail.com> >To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> >Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >Sent: Fri, 18 February, 2011 18:05:12 > >Subject: Re: [kictanet] Calling Rates - Airtel to de-list Celtel > > >On Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 5:56 PM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: >> They currently have shares in the company and Airtel wants to buy them off, >> thats why. > >I seriously doubt there are many folk in Zim (or Zambia) that can >afford to buy stock in any company, given the economic reality in Zim. > Corrupt politicians and the kleptocracy, certainly can afford >shares. > >> PS. Do you have an issue with us indigenous mortals? > >Only when they steal from their brothers and sisters with impunity. > >-- >Cheers, > >McTim >"A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A >route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel > > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >This message was sent to: andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com >Unsubscribe or change your options at >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/andrea.bohnstedt%40rat… > > > -- Andrea Bohnstedt Publisher +254 720 960 322 www.ratio-magazine.com Find/post East Africa careers Find/post conferences, workshops, trainings, other business events

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Fw: Sponsorship of very needy brilliant pupils
by J.R. Kirongothi 22 Feb '11

22 Feb '11

Hi all, I received the message below from the director of bran-denschools and thought I can share. Capt(rtd) Jessie R. Kirongothi Deputy Director--MIS KASNEB. KASNEB Towers, Hospital Road, Upper Hill P.O Box 41362 - 00100, Nairobi - Kenya Tel: 254 (020) 2712640 / 2712828 Fax: 254 (020) 2712915 ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Janet Mbaka <janet.mbaka(a)bran-denschools.org> To: kirongothijr(a)yahoo.co.uk; Christina Emenyi <cemenyi(a)yahoo.com>; Edmund Muchemi <muchemieg(a)yahoo.com>; Edu UON <edugygy(a)yahoo.com>; esther.passaris(a)yahoo.com Sent: Sun, January 30, 2011 9:49:56 AM Subject: Sponsorship of very needy brilliant pupils My dear friend, I run a good performing mixed primary school in Naivasha - BRAN-DEN JUNIOR SCHOOL website www.bran-denschools.org. My school is open to self sponsored and donor sponsored brilliant pupils from financially disadvantaged homes. The school is currently sponsoring the education of 5 very needy brilliant pupils from Naivasha 3 of whom will be sitting for their KCPE this year. The profiles of these pupils are attached to this email for your perusal and further action with Gods help. We have 10 applications in our data bank for sponsorship of very needy brilliant pupils from class 5 to class 8.Our school which operates on non-profit basis because of our focus of providing affordableand quality education to all irrespective of the pupils family background is strained in terms of financial resources to sponsor more than the current 5 children who are also a major strain for us. We cater for their feeding, clothig, accomodation, education and books, funds hich mainly come from me as the school director and founder. We humbly request for your intervention and assistance in linking these children with potential donors/sponsors for the education of these children who will be the future leaders of tommorow and who will later make a difference in the lives of others different spheres of life. The feeding, accomodation and education of one child per annum costs Aprox Ksh 60,000.00 ($750), which is also the same estimate for educating a child in a good secondary school in kenya. Lets work together to TRANSFORM more lives and MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the world. All children are born ORIGINALS and my focus is to provide opportunities to the disadvantaged to BE THE ORIGINIALS they are and NOT COPIES through equal education opportunities. Please visit our school website www.bran-denschools.org and see what our history is and what our road map, mission and focus is. Feel free to get in touch with me at any time through the contacts below. Warm regards ----- Janet Mbaka Director Bran-Den Junior School and Computer College P.O.Box 2136 - 20117 Naivasha Tel: 254(717)-655382, 254(738)-138538, 254(020)-2404100 Website: www.bran-denschools.org "The Great thing in this world is not so much where we are but in what direction we are moving" ----- Janet Mbaka Director Bran-Den Junior School and Computer College P.O.Box 2136 - 20117 Naivasha Tel: 254(717)-655382, 254(738)-138538, 254(020)-2404100 Website: www.bran-denschools.org "The Great thing in this world is not so much where we are but in what direction we are moving"

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Fw: PDF Document EOI Re-advertisement_22.02.2011.pdf
by Evelyn Rono 22 Feb '11

22 Feb '11

FYI. Plse circulate to anyone you know who may have interest. Evelyn This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this e-mail by mistake and delete this e-mail from your system. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission. If verification is required please request a hard-copy version.

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How secure is our information in government offices?
by Paul Roy 22 Feb '11

22 Feb '11

Hello, Been watching keenly with grave concern our public institutions falling victims of numerous security attacks. The defacement of government websites has just but opened the eyes of the general public as to how insecure our data and information within these offices are. Unfortunately going beyond defacement of public websites, there are untold stories of viruses, malware, rootkits, Trojans, data breaches, illegal and unauthorized access to information, intrusion, DoS attacks and any more going on. Indeed a simple analysis has proven most government computers and laptops do not have simple line of defense i.e. passwords. In cases where they are passwords, they are shared and are very simple to crack. Further, lack of Information Security policy hampers development of proper security roadmap and strategy. In areas where counter measures have been put in place, the staff lack skills to maintain these systems, and in the long run are incapable of dealing with new emerging threats thus renders the counter measure ineffective. I believe this is due to lack of guidance from government institutions tasked with providing either services or framework policy. Both KICTB and Directorate of e-Government should work together to come up with a quick solution to this persistent issue. As we look at this, it would be good to keep in mind that technology alone cannot solve all incidents related to security. We need to evaluate both people skills and processes in place. In regards to people skills, it would be advisable to engage experienced consultants in the field of Information Security to work together with government to properly skill them. In conclusion I believe this country has some of the best skills currently in the private sector, we need to take a lead role in contributing our knowledge and skills towards improving security in our public sector institutions and Government in general. Paul Roy Owino, CISSP, CISA, CISM, CEH, MCITP. Technology Strategist, Microsoft Corp.

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Shoe Me Bata
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 22 Feb '11

22 Feb '11

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Calling Rates - Airtel to de-list Celtel
by robert yawe 22 Feb '11

22 Feb '11

Airtel are in the process of having Celtel Zimbabwe de-listed from the Zimbabwe stock exchange, this might not seem like much but in reality it is a reflection of Airtels profit sharing strategy. The effect of this action is that the common Zimbabweans will not benefit from the profits of the company even though they will have been generated locally. Instead the government of Mugabe will receive large volumes of money through corporate tax. Lets appreciate the fact that Safaricom at least allows us to share in their profits through dividend as shareholders. 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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