May 2011 - KICTANet

Stingy solution to cable vandalism
by robert yawe 04 May '11

04 May '11

Hi, I was reading through the CIO May issue and came across and interesting article on the roll out of metro fibre optic cable in South Africa. i3 Africa is rolling out their national fibre optic cable through the sewerage system, this should increase the cost of hiring vandals to sabotage the competitors network, this could be a new revenue stream for our local authorities. Regards "One man's waste pipe is another's data pipe" Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

2 1

Fwd: Kenyan Contestant Athman Ali wins World Bank's Apps for Development Award
by Paul Kukubo ICT Board 04 May '11

04 May '11

Listers Please see below an email from the world bank. The message is clear.. Sent from my iPad Begin forwarded message: > From: pwarutere(a)worldbank.org > Date: 29 April 2011 13:54:14 GMT+03:00 > Cc: kmuthembwa(a)worldbank.org > Subject: Kenyan Contestant Athman Ali wins World Bank's Apps for Development Award > > Dear Colleague: > > This is great news for Kenya. Read the story of innovation by Athman Ali, a Kenyan, who was one of the winners of the World Bank's Apps for Development competition. He is featured on the World Bank Kenya website: > http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/KENYAEXTN/0,,m… > > Athman received his award from World Bank President Robert Zoellick during this years' Spring meetings in Washington DC earlier this month. > > You can also watch Athman explaining the innovation here: http://vimeo.com/22414610. > > Regards, > > Peter > ------------------------------- > Peter Warutere > AFRSC-World Bank > Hill Park, Upper Hill Road > PO Box 30577 – Nairobi, Kenya > Tel +254-20-322-6444;+254-722-524472 > Dama: 5368+6444 > The World Bank in Kenya > www.worldbank.org/ke > The World Bank in Africa > www.worldbank.org/afr > Learn more about our: > <50400274.jpg> > Join the conversation: > <50156809.jpg><50038916.jpg><50480734.gif><50133214.jpg><50149169.jpg> >

2 1

Fw: [Skunkworks] TRENDY DESKTOP - HOW KENYANS TWEET: THE TOP TWITTERCLIENTS
by alice＠apc.org 03 May '11

03 May '11

Very interesting study. Alice -----Original Message----- From: Jacob Ayienda <jacobayienda(a)gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces(a)lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 3 May 2011 21:28:37 To: <Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke> Subject: [Skunkworks] TRENDY DESKTOP - HOW KENYANS TWEET: THE TOP TWITTER CLIENTS TRENDY DESKTOP - HOW KENYANS TWEET: THE TOP TWITTER CLIENTS I looked at 15,000 tweets randomly collected at different intervals over the past month(April) and found several ways in which kenyans interact with the Twitter. These is a follow up to a previous analysis. Again, I used the Twittter API to monitor public feeds from the Kenyan locality. The tweets were randomly collected throughout the month (April) using Trendy Desktop. The results are attached as images. http://twitpic.com/4sffft What is most significant is the rise of fluppy (m.fluppy.me) an open source mobile web client with Snaptu previously the most popular falling sharply as well as twitter. What is most interesting is that over 80% of Kenyans tweet from their mobiles. Also included is an analysis of how different users interact with twitter http://twitpic.com/4rw7dz http://twitpic.com/4rvzlh http://twitpic.com/4rvwrc http://twitpic.com/4rufvh http://twitpic.com/4ruff4 http://twitpic.com/4ruejw http://twitpic.com/4rkzh2 http://twitpic.com/4rkxv3 http://twitpic.com/4rkx0v http:\\www.twitter.com\trendydesktop

2 1

You're invited to "Prince 2 Foundation and Practitioner...
by Harry Hare 03 May '11

03 May '11

I though this might be of interest to some of you. Cheers Harry Event: Prince 2 Foundation and Practitioner Training Date: Monday, May 23, 2011 Friday, May 27, 2011 Location: eDevelopment House, 604 Limuru Road, Old Muthaiga Nairobi Kenya Hosted By: Organizer object

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Governance debates Online - Using ICT to fight graft
by Edith Adera 03 May '11

03 May '11

Alice/Bwana Ndemo, I can't agree with you more that ICTs can make a difference in addressing poor governance. Alice you raise a critical issue about digital disparity while Bwana Ndemo points to convergence of all ICT medium to allow all to participate including via sms which can help reduce this disparity. The greatest challenge is to converge all media and also incorporate multilingual capability...people must be able to express themselves in the langauge they are comfortable in. With AgendaYetu platform we attempted this - I must say it's not easy! So I join Bwana Ndemo in challenging the techies to come up with a fully converged mulitlingual platform that will mobilize ALL Kenyans to fight graft! and demand for governance reforms and monitor implementation of Agenda 4. See attached some interesting research findings of work IDRC funded on how Kenyans are using ICTs in the governance field (within the context of Agenda 4). It includes what their thoughts are on how ICTs can be used to fight corruption. This research was done after the post - election violence and just before the promulgation of the constitution in 2010. Read the section on "what did we find" after you've quickly perused the background of the study. So, I believe it's possible to mobilize Kenyans around a platform to fight corruption. which agency is ready to take the lead? Edith ________________ Edith Ofwona Adera Senior Program Specialist ICT4D Program and Climate Change & Water 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:eadera@idrc.or.ke> | www.idrc.ca<http://www.idrc.ca/> | www.crdi.ca<http://www.crdi.ca/> ________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Alice Munyua [alice(a)apc.org] Sent: 02 May 2011 21:26 To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Governance debates Online - Using ICT to fight graft Agree a great idea. As social media enables participation access, collaboration and even transparency and has great potential to enhance governance processes by way of facilitating participation from broad based stakeholders/constituencies. Some of the features can be used/applied to many aspects of governance, including feedback on anti corruption initiatives, maintaining participation, direct involvement in policy processes, deliberations, etc. However, there are some fundamental limitations we must keep in mind and deal with. To begin with, the disparity in internet access with social media services still reflects an education and/or class bias. Additionally, folks tend to join most networks as a means to an end, for example joining some lists knowing that they are more likely to get the ear of the service provider and/or government and this over reliance would in the long run ends up undermining efforts that require commitment and follow through, for those who have been members of this list will bear witness to this particularly when it comes to policy processes. So are social networks the magic bullet to participation? I also tend to think that social media sites have not really been developed for governance in the way we may be thinking, for example face book has a person cap, further, most of these sites were designed in ways to encourage participation to serve advertising revenue so perhaps we would need our very talented developers/skunks etc to begin to think about developing Social media platforms suited to our governance, anti corruption etc needs. A good example remains ushaidi. Best Alice This is actually a brilliant idea. Especially aggregating information on Social Media platforms. We already have some companies (e.g. www.gotissuez.com<http://www.gotissuez.com>) who report on such matters (corruption, poor service etc). We additionally have social media monitoring platforms that would be able to get random information on twitter about certain topics (e.g. you can monitor what people say about brand X or brand Y), many companies are already this sort of thing in place as it offers feedback on both the negative and positive aspects (many times, what is being done right is ignored). Additionally, consistent feedback that there is a problem in a particular area will point the anti corruption agencies in the right direction. Many companies use this information to monitor brand equity and customer complaints. It's just an issue of doing the same thing for the government... On Fri, Apr 29, 2011 at 8:05 PM, <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke<mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke>> wrote: Lusters, I spent most of the day at KIA with other colleagues, civil society, religious groups and KEPSA to discuss strategies for fighting corruption. It was evident that as we get closer to election, the level of corruption goes up (read sugar). There was a sense of frustration that we are not making much progress. There was a dim of hope in the sense that where we have automated, revenues are up and less corruption. It was also clear that we (civil service) had sufficient delegated authority to significantly change the future of our nation. In areas where social media has been put to use, up to 60% of graft can be detected even before it is concluded. If we scale up the use of social media, a senior KACC official tells me that they would gladly embrace it. In this list we have many smart people. I need suggestions how we can integrate SMS, Twitter, Facebook and any other tool to assist in the fight against this scourge. In my considered view, the anwser lies in technology. However, One of the presenters said that the western method of fighting corruption through courts could be the problem. If you recall in 2008 at the height of the post election crisis in Mombasa, one businessman did not have to go to court to recover his goods opting to see a witch doctor. Any views would be highly appreciated. Regards Ndemo. > FYI > > ----- Forwarded Message ---- > From: Agenda Yetu <admin(a)agendayetu.org<mailto:admin@agendayetu.org>> > To: eadera(a)idrc.or.ke<mailto:eadera@idrc.or.ke> > Sent: Wed, April 27, 2011 1:05:41 PM > Subject: High Cost of Living in Kenya > > Is the government doing enough to deal with the spiraling cost of living > in Kenya? > > Visit www.agendayetu.org<http://www.agendayetu.org><http://www.agendayetu.org> to take part in the > discussion; and opinion poll; on â€œThe spiraling cost of living in > Kenyaâ€ . > > Change Kenya â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦. Be the Voice > > Join the AgendaYetu Facebook page: > http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Agenda-Yetu/149981608349201<http://www.facebook.com/home.php#%21/pages/Agenda-Yetu/149981608349201> > > Follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/agendayetu<http://twitter.com/#%21/agendayetu> > > Agendayetu Blog: http://www.agendayetu.org/blog/ > > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > 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<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and > development. > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. ---------------------------------------------- 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<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/pkariuki%40gmail.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. -- With Regards, Phares Kariuki | T: +254 720 406 093 | E: pkariuki(a)gmail.com<mailto:pkariuki@gmail.com> | Twitter: kaboro | Skype: kariukiphares | B: http://www.kaboro.com/ | _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alice%40apc.org The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.

2 1

PRESS STATEMENT BY SAFARICOM ON MOBILE NUMBER PORTABILITY
by Michael Ouma 03 May '11

03 May '11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASETUESDAY MAY 3RD 2011 PRESS STATEMENT BY SAFARICOM ON MOBILE NUMBER PORTABILITY It has been about one month since the Kenyan mobile telephony market started implementing Mobile Number Portability (MNP) and as we embark on the second month of implementing this important process, we as telecom industry leaders wish to make a number of pertinent observations. 1. We wish to thank industry regulator Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) for its patience and professionalism in handling the implementation of MNP thus far. Even where there have been teething problems, as was widely expected, the CCK has shown leadership through its consultative approach to seeking solutions. A good example of this is the regular troubleshooting meetings held between the CCK, industry players and Porting Access who are the administrators of the process. In addition and following publicized complaints about the technical hitches affecting the uptake of MNP, the CCK initiated an audit process between Safaricom, Bharti-Airtel and Porting Access to establish the cause of SMS failures to the Porting Access data base. We appeal to the CCK to resist all attempts by some operators to derail the on-going audit process by engaging in media side-shows and to complete this crucial exercise and to make its findings public. 2. We remind the public that MNP was implemented in Kenya after a single week of technical testing. This is against a global benchmark of at least 6 to 8 weeks of testing time necessary to guarantee the robustness of all inter-linking systems and dependencies. Naturally, the numerous teething problems we are seeing now were to be expected. As late as this morning, we have received communication from Porting Access BV that they were having technical challenges based on what they cite to be unstable connectivity from their end, which challenges are affecting the ability of ALL operators in the Kenyan space to successfully implement some of the day to day actions related to the MNP process. 3. We are disturbed by a certain emerging trend in the implementation of MNP in Kenya so far, which we feel constrained to bring to the public attention. While it was always understood that the successful implementation of MNP greatly hinges upon the goodwill and mutual co-operation of all operators, the regulator and Porting Access, it is emerging that the actual experience is quite different. Safaricom is inclined to believe, based on available evidence, that Porting Access, which acts as the custodian of the porting database, has abdicated its role as a neutral clearing house for the MNP process in Kenya by actively batting from the corner of a single operator: Bharti-Airtel completely against the letter and spirit of the multi-lateral contract signed between the operators. We strongly object to the impression created, by Bharti-Airtel and indeed by some commission-hunters, that the single measure of the success or otherwise of MNP in Kenya, ishow many subscribers port from other operators to Bharti-Airtel. Anecdotal evidence, which we have gathered and shared with CCK, points to an active collaboration between Bharti-Airtel and Porting Access on the timing and intensity of their attacks against Safaricom. The content and tonality of their messaging since this process began shares more than coincidental similarity. As recently as last week, we are privy to information that on Thursday 28th April both entities used a single venue for separate press conferences within minutes of each other while only one of the parties paid in full for the venue. 4. Safaricom takes great exception to the content of the message which has consistently been published by Porting Access and a certain Mr. Patrick Musimba, who has been speaking on its behalf. Mr. Musimba has taken to making a slew of unsubstantiated allegations against Safaricom and its officials regarding the implementation of MNP, and in the process upending and circumventing the audit process that was agreed to on 26th April 2011 by CCK, Safaricom, Bharti-Airtel and Porting Access. 5. Contrary to the impression that Porting Access are trying to create Safaricom is a Kenyan company, supporting a huge local stakeholder base and social economic ecosystem that includes over 740,000 individual Kenyan shareholders and the Government of Kenya (by extension all Kenyans), it employs over 3,000 direct employees, thousands of dealers and M-PESA agents. We shall do all in our power to protect their interests and the overall reputation of Safaricom which has been painstakingly built over the years. Consequently, Safaricom has today instructed its lawyers to institute legal proceedings against Porting Access and the person of Mr. Musimba for what we believe are acts of defamation and the tort of economic sabotage against Safaricom Limited, this legal action will be vigorously pursued to its logical end. We have also appealed to the CCK to urgently review the role of Porting XS BV of Netherlands and specifically its local partner Porting Access in the administration of MNP as we believe they have lost the moral and legal legitimacy to position themselves as an honest and impartial broker of the porting process. Signed: NZIOKA WAITA Director-Corporate Affairs SAFARICOM LIMITED 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

1 0

Extortion sms
by Peter K. Kenduiywo 03 May '11

03 May '11

I wonder if there will soon be a law requiring all phone users to be registered. I have just received this sms on my phone. "I 've been hired to get rid of ur life,4 the reason I dn't know ,4 more information mpesa 10,000 if wish go and report but take care, thanks" How's one supposed to react knowing this is most likely an unregistered number? I'm only praying this a random extortionist!

1 0

IGF 2011 Host website request for comments and vote
by Alice Munyua 03 May '11

03 May '11

(apologies for cross posting) Dear Colleagues and friends, The Kenya Internet Governance Steering committee is putting final touches on the 2011 IGF host website. We would like to get your comments on the site as well as your vote on the logo. Please visit: http://igf.or.ke/ We expect to close the period for comments and vote on 26th May 2011. Thank you very much for your support Alice Munyua

1 0

Governance debates Online - High Cost of Living in Kenya
by Edith Adera 02 May '11

02 May '11

FYI ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Agenda Yetu <admin(a)agendayetu.org> To: eadera(a)idrc.or.ke Sent: Wed, April 27, 2011 1:05:41 PM Subject: High Cost of Living in Kenya Is the government doing enough to deal with the spiraling cost of living in Kenya? Visit www.agendayetu.org<http://www.agendayetu.org> to take part in the discussion; and opinion poll; on “The spiraling cost of living in Kenya”. Change Kenya …………. Be the Voice Join the AgendaYetu Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Agenda-Yetu/149981608349201 Follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/agendayetu Agendayetu Blog: http://www.agendayetu.org/blog/

4 3

Fwd: [ISOC] Accepting Applications: Internet Society IGF Ambassadors
by Alice Munyua 02 May '11

02 May '11

(Apologies for cross posting) -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [ISOC] Accepting Applications: Internet Society IGF Ambassadors Date: Mon, 2 May 2011 11:46:48 -0400 From: Connie Kendig <kendig(a)isoc.org> To: isoc-members-announce(a)elists.isoc.org Dear Internet Society members; IGF 2011 Ambassadors Programme – Call for Applications The Internet Society is pleased to announce a call for applications to participate in the Internet Society (ISOC) Ambassador programme to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) meeting in Nairobi, Kenya in September 2011. As part of the Internet Society’s Next Generation Leaders programme <http://www.isoc.org/leaders>, the IGF Ambassador programme is designed to involve members in ISOC’s global engagement activities while providing valuable expertise and know-how to the IGF meeting in Nairobi. The Internet Society supports participation of first time Ambassadors as well as returning Ambassadors from Internet Governance Forums in Rio (2007), Hyderabad (2008), Sharm El Sheik (2009), and Vilnius (2010). "Since the Internet Society started the IGF Ambassadors programme in Rio in 2007,” notes Toral Cowieson, Internet Society Senior Director of Internet Leadership Programmes, “the issues have become more complex and the stakes higher. ISOC is committed to fostering rising and future decision-makers at the intersection of policy, technology, and business and our renewal of this programme recognizes that these multi-disciplinary leaders are at the core of the discussion of an open and robust Internet." The IGF 2011 meeting will take place Tuesday 27 through Friday 30 September 2011. Interested individuals should be available to arrive no later than Saturday 24 September. The deadline for applications is Friday, 27 May 2011. The Next Generation Leaders programme, under the patronage of the European Commission for Information Society and Media, blends course work and practical experience to help prepare young professionals (aged from 20 to 40) from around the world to become the next generation of Internet technology, policy, and business leaders. Further details on the Internet Society’s IGF 2011 Ambassador program are available here <http://www.isoc.org/pubpolpillar/igfambassadors/>. For more information, see: • Next Generation Leaders programme <http://www.isoc.org/leaders> • Internet Governance Forum <http://www.intgovforum.org> The Internet Society’s Next Generation Leaders programme is sponsored by Nominet Trust <http://www.nominettrust.org.uk/> and AFNIC <http://www.afnic.fr>. For more information on how to become a Next Generation Leader programme partner, visit http://www.isoc.org/leaders or e-mail leader-sponsor[at]isoc.org. Connie J Kendig Sponsored Programs & Grants Manager Internet Society www.InternetSociety.org <http://www.InternetSociety.org> What will the Internet look like in 10 years? Watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OInTXcZ4HZM For more information: www.internetsociety.org/scenarios <http://www.internetsociety.org/scenarios>

1 0