August 2011 - KICTANet

Possible Digital Villages Visit Muranga and Embu on Aug 26th
by warigia bowman 21 Aug '11

21 Aug '11

Dear colleagues I would like to do one final viewing of DVs and pashas before I depart to revolutionary Egypt. I have my company's safari van available, so there is plenty of room. *Please let me know if you want to come this Friday, August 26th, 2011.* If you come it would be great if you can pitch in for fuel. I will provide the driver and the vehicle. We will go to Muranga and Embu. Embu Visit Pashas 2. Gicira Wakurira, embu cty, manyatta const, embu town Safaricom Tier 1 1. Eagle sight communications, Ndia const., embu town center 2. Eim computer systems, manyatta const., embu town 3. Kinpost computer center, manyatta const., embu town 4. Kinpost cyber, manyatta const., embu town, morning glory plaza, 1st floor Safaricom Tier 2 2. Doka Heartwood, embu town center, igembe 3. Eaglesight communications, (also tier 1), kigumo, embu town center 5. Eim computer systems (also tier 1), siakago, embu town (safaricom question-why is location info different?) 10. Harry's stationers, Ishiara, embu 11. Scope, Ndia, Embu 12. Klassical dealers, Siakagi, Embu town 13. Matecom, Tigania East, Embu Town Center 14. Netlink data services, igembe, embu town center Muranga Visit > > *ICT Board Pashas*: > > 1) Lucy Kinyanjui, Somewhere in Muranga > > There is also another pasha in Maragua. > > Cheers Rigia >

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Bitange for President? Education
by Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau 21 Aug '11

21 Aug '11

Dakitari, As a player in the education sector, specifically the adult and continuing education sub-sector, I would like to know how you'll make it more relevant to meet the emerging issues. Generally, adult education until recently, was a bouncing ball from one ministry to the other - Culture & Social Services, Labour and Human Resource Develpment, Gender and Children Services etc - that it lost relevance. The rrason as to why adult education fizzled in Kenya in the 1980s was primarily political. Illiterate politicians found themselvees to political offices demotivating the moral of the few adult learners. Today, the sub-sector is placed in the right ministry, MoE and a full Directorate put in place. As a member of a Technical Working Group reviewing the End Decade Assessment of Education For All EFA EDA) there is one thing I can point out, is lack of integratd system of data collection at the field and linking it with the Hea Office. There is a kind of 'closed' access to data that the officer hold, because there is a fear incrimination could be in the offing. ICT is not even part of the system. Adult education officers in the field have little or no basic computer application. How would you make it possible for this to be realized because we are soon going to discard pens and chalks for computers? I'm also dismayed to note that the Education Review Task Force on the theme of ICT, just copy pasted the findings, from some document done in 2009. Becauase it keeeps on pointing that Financial year 09/10 where the government earmaked to provide about 213 school with computers, yet the Task Force was constituted in 2011. Anyway, how will your 'government', using the NOFBI ( or any such platform), make ICT get into the remotest part of Kenya? (This week I'll be in West Pokot for a week-long adult learners week and I'm sure computers are not a priority even at the primary school) The Adult education curriculum (known as Adult Basic Education & Training, ABET 1,2 and 3) doesn't even point at ICT, in details. Thanks Regards, Solomon

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PRESS RELEASE ON DIASPORA VOTING & REGISTRATION
by Shem Ochuodho 21 Aug '11

21 Aug '11

Friends, A statement from the Diaspora Alliance and the G-47 Re Diaspora Voting, Registration and Representation. Please circulate widely. Warm regards, Shem Moderator (Interim)/G-47

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Elimu Portal - typos
by Ory Okolloh 21 Aug '11

21 Aug '11

This is a great initiative by the Ministry of Education, BUT why so many typos all over the website (I'm not even going to touch the poor design) - surely this is sending the wrong kind of message when a website focused on education and teachers has so many errors. E.g. "National Educational Portal for Kenya NEPK.<http://www.elimuportal.net/>This is an initiative for Teachers by Teachers to help educators share *Leaning* Materials, Lesson Plans amongst others to aid in the capacity development amongst Teachers. Teachers can *occasionslly* get *syllubus* updates from this portal and ensure they are practicing using up to date materials" PS Ndemo, any idea can we direct our complaints? Best, Ory

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 51, Issue 139
by Ory Okolloh 21 Aug '11

21 Aug '11

Thanks all, I'm in great company! And it looks like Elimu Portal is down - hopefully the typos are being fixed: http://elimuportal.net/ Ory On Sat, Aug 20, 2011 at 1:24 PM, <kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>wrote: > Send kictanet mailing list submissions to > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > You can reach the person managing the list at > kictanet-owner(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of kictanet digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Elimu Portal - typos (Zachary Ochieng) > 2. Forbes 20 youngest power women in Africa (Grace Mutung'u (Bomu)) > 3. Re: Forbes 20 youngest power women in Africa (warigia bowman) > 4. Re: Forbes 20 youngest power women in Africa (warigia bowman) > 5. Re: Forbes 20 youngest power women in Africa (Josiah Mugambi) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2011 02:20:51 -0700 (PDT) > From: Zachary Ochieng <zzachmbir(a)yahoo.com> > To: warigia bowman <warigia(a)aucegypt.edu> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Elimu Portal - typos > Message-ID: > <1313832051.16357.YahooMailClassic(a)web130111.mail.mud.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > With this kind of content, it is little wonder that some of the graduates > our institutions continue to churn out can hardly construct a sentence in > either English or fluent Kiswahili. > Zach. > > Be the change you want to see in the world > > Zachary Ochieng > Editor/Journalist > Cell: +254 726 473 388 > Blog: http://ochiengzach.blogspot.com > Twitter: @OchiengZach > > > --- On Sat, 20/8/11, warigia bowman <warigia(a)aucegypt.edu> wrote: > > From: warigia bowman <warigia(a)aucegypt.edu> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Elimu Portal - typos > To: zzachmbir(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Saturday, 20 August, 2011, 17:46 > > Ory > > Thank you for pointing this out. We really need better quality control on > some of these GoK initatives. > > The errors are LOL! if they were not so totally tragic . . . This should go > on one of those Epic Fail sites. > > > Rigia > > On Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 5:30 PM, Ory Okolloh <ookolloh(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > This is a great initiative by the Ministry of Education, BUT why so many > typos all over the website (I'm not even going to touch the poor design) - > surely this is sending the wrong kind of message when a website focused on > education and teachers has so many errors. > > > > E.g. "National Educational Portal for Kenya NEPK. > This is an initiative for Teachers by Teachers to help educators share > Leaning Materials, Lesson Plans amongst others to aid in the capacity > development amongst Teachers. Teachers can occasionslly get syllubus > updates from this portal and ensure they are practicing using up to date > materials" > > PS Ndemo, any idea can we direct our complaints? > > > Best, > > Ory > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)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/warigia%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. > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)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/zzachmbir%40yahoo.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. >

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Forbes 20 youngest power women in Africa
by Grace Mutung'u (Bomu) 20 Aug '11

20 Aug '11

The 20 youngest power women in Africa are in technology, economy and business. And one of them is even here on the list! http://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2011/08/18/the-20-youngest-power… -- Grace L.N. Mutung'u (Bomu) Kenya Skype: gracebomu Twitter: GraceMutung'u (Bomu)

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East African Organization Receives International Library Award
by Alice Munyua 20 Aug '11

20 Aug '11

Congratulations James and your team at ALIN for this well deserved award ---------------------------------- *East African Organization Receives International Library Award For Creating Knowledge Centers in Rural Areas* /$1 million Access to Learning Award recognizes Arid Lands Information Network for providing access to information and technology in hard-to-reach communities/ SEATTLE – The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today presented its 2011 Access to Learning Award of $1 million to the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN), which provides knowledge and information through a variety of innovative channels in remote communities throughout Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Members of these communities use the technology and other tools at ALIN’s Knowledge Centers to gain information to improve their health, increase their incomes, and better their lives. Microsoft, a partner of the foundation in its efforts to help public libraries connect people with relevant technology and skills, will provide ALIN with a donation of over US$270,000 worth of software and technology training curriculum to help the organization serve the local community. ALIN’s 12 Knowledge Centers—known as Maarifa Centers—focus on providing practical information, particularly in the area of agricultural development. The vast majority of people in these regions are small-scale farmers who need information about issues such as drought, pests, and finding markets for their crops. The centers offer information geared toward the communities’ specific needs. “We understand that each community we serve is different, and each individual we serve is different,” said James Nguo, director of ALIN. “Some communities need information about water harvesting, while others are dealing with a particular kind of pest. We’ve also found that while some people have taken to the computers and technology, others prefer live demonstrations or lectures in their native language.” In addition to providing agricultural information to farmers, Maarifa Centers address health issues such as HIV/AIDS and malaria, ways to improve people’s daily lives such as how to create an energy efficient biogas stove, and administrative requirements such as applying for an official identity card or getting tax exempt status. Some people have used the centers to create groups for the disabled, earn advanced degrees online, or create thriving small businesses. “Thousands of people in these remote communities of Eastern Africa are improving their lives through the information available at these centers,” said Deborah Jacobs, director of the Global Libraries initiative for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, at an award ceremony in San Juan, Puerto Rico. “All knowledge workers can learn from this inventive model of delivering targeted, customized information.” All Maarifa Centers offer free access to computers and the Internet and provide free training in how to use them. Because there is only one paid staff member at each center, ALIN relies on volunteer facilitators to help provide core services. These volunteers receive training in a variety of key areas, including computer skills, good farming practices, treatment of medical conditions, and communications skills, which they use to educate others in their communities. For example, ALIN and the staff of the Kyuso Maarifa Center formed a group of seven farmers to participate in a pilot project that sent them to other parts of the country where they could learn techniques to deal with their extremely dry, arid climate. When the farmers returned to Kyuso, they implemented those techniques and were able to significantly improve their yields. The farmers worked with the staff of the Maarifa Center to pass these innovations on to others, through demonstrations, field days, videos, podcasts, and articles in ALIN’s Baobab magazine. One community pastor even preached about the new techniques in church. “From Baobab and from the information here in our Maarifa Center, I got to know about water harvesting. I came to know more about good agricultural practices from other areas,” said Ali Hassan Mulei, one of the seven farmers who participated in the pilot project. “During the dry seasons you get nothing from the farm. But I prepare the land during the dry season. I get some cash from my business, go to the farm, make terraces, make structures for water harvesting, and I wait for the rainy season to come.” The foundation's annual Access to Learning Award recognizes the innovative efforts of libraries and similar organizations outside the United States in providing free access to computers and the Internet. It is awarded by the foundation’s Global Libraries initiative, which works to open the world of knowledge, information, and opportunity to help improve the lives of millions of people. ALIN will use its award to expand its network of Knowledge Centers, upgrade its hardware and software, increase the number of computers available to its users, and expand on the training and education provided to its community knowledge facilitators. ALIN also hopes to create an innovation center to advance ideas in information and communication technology. ### *Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation* Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. Learn more at www.gatesfoundation.org <http://gatesfoundation.pr-optout.com/Url.aspx?521304x191481x599596> or join the conversation at Facebook <http://gatesfoundation.pr-optout.com/Url.aspx?521304x191480x79744> and Twitter <http://gatesfoundation.pr-optout.com/Url.aspx?521304x191479x272675>. For high resolution images and broadcast quality footage, please visit www.gatesfoundation.org/press-room/Pages/news-market.aspx <http://gatesfoundation.pr-optout.com/Url.aspx?521304x191478x465604>. *Contact:* Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Phone: +1.206.709.3400 E-mail: media(a)gatesfoundation.org <mailto:media@gatesfoundation.org> If you would rather not receive future communications from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, let us know by clicking here. <http://gatesfoundation.pr-optout.com/OptOut.aspx?521304x19839x63493x1x39718…> Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, PO Box 23350, Seattle, WA 98102 United States

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Fwd: [ISOC_KE] ISOC Meeting: Live Now
by Barrack Otieno 19 Aug '11

19 Aug '11

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Paul M <paulitrix(a)gmail.com> Date: Fri, Aug 19, 2011 at 11:48 AM Subject: [ISOC_KE] ISOC Meeting: Live Now To: isoc(a)orion.my.co.ke Dear listers, The ISOC meeting has commenced. We dearly regret the state of our audio. Otherwise you can follow remotely on: https://freetrial.webex.com/freetrial/j.php?ED=152709792&UID=494663702&PW=N… -- :-) Paul M _______________________________________________ isoc mailing list isoc(a)orion.my.co.ke http://orion.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/isoc -- Barrack O. Otieno Afriregister Ltd (Kenya) www.afrire <http://www.afriregister.com>gister.bi, www.afriregister.com<http://www.afriergister.com> <http://www.afriregister.com>ICANN accredited registrar +254721325277 +254-20-2498789 Skype: barrack.otieno

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Uni City Vs. Konza
by robert yawe 18 Aug '11

18 Aug '11

Hi Listers, On Friday I past by Kenyatta University (which for some reason the map at the iHub refers to as Jomo Kenyatta University), I was greeted by a large poster, most likely bigger than the one at Konza, advertising something called the Uni City. I have searched the web but there is scanty if any information, the university web site has even less information about the project than the K24 site. All that is beside the point, I did a quick analysis of such a project and the effect it would have on the Konza. A quick Googleearth search revels that KU has a lot of free land that can accommodate a substantially large city, in addition across the road is a large chunk of land owned by BrookSide which would act very well as an overflow of the developments. The area around KU already has accommodation, they are putting up a large teaching hospital, it is less than 50 kilometres away from JKIA, very close to the soon to be developed airport in Kakuzi, is on a superhighway, is surrounded by good recreation facilities and last but not least is within a university (JKUAT is just up the road and USIU & KCA are down the road). Uni City is the to kill for location for the new Silicon Savannah ready to role out tomorrow, sorry I meant yesterday. The intellectuals, very many in one location, at KU are not doing conferences or touring the world to meet foreign experts but instead are out there in execution mode, hawacheki na watu. If the same concept is replicated at Kabarak, RIAT, Maseno, Moi and others what is the need for Konza? Konza is based on the mainframe approach, the world has gone distributed systems, wireless and cloud why the disconnect? Regards PS. Daktari, maybe the threat you had issued once to turn the site at Konza into a holding ground for KMC may actually come to pass. 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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ISOC Kenya First Meeting Remote Participation Correct Details
by Barrack Otieno 18 Aug '11

18 Aug '11

Members , This is the right information for the online participation. On Thu, Aug 18, 2011 at 12:25 PM, <messenger(a)webex.com> wrote: > > > To invite others to join, copy and paste everything below into your > invitation. > ------------------------------------------------------- > Meeting information > ------------------------------------------------------- > Topic: ISOC Kenya First Meeting > Date: Friday, August 19, 2011 > Time: 10:30 am, Nairobi Time (Nairobi, GMT+03:00) > Meeting Number: 735 242 892 > Meeting Password: isoc > > ------------------------------------------------------- > To start or join the online meeting > ------------------------------------------------------- > Go to > https://freetrial.webex.com/freetrial/j.php?ED=152709792&UID=494663702&PW=N… > > ------------------------------------------------------- > Audio conference information > ------------------------------------------------------- > Call-in toll number (US/Canada): 1-650-429-3300 > > Access code:735 242 892 > > ------------------------------------------------------- > For assistance > ------------------------------------------------------- > 1. Go to https://freetrial.webex.com/freetrial/mc > 2. On the left navigation bar, click "Support". > To update this meeting to your calendar program (for example Microsoft > Outlook), click this link: > > https://freetrial.webex.com/freetrial/j.php?ED=152709792&UID=494663702&ICS=… > > To check whether you have the appropriate players installed for UCF > (Universal Communications Format) rich media files, go to > https://freetrial.webex.com/freetrial/systemdiagnosis.php. > > http://www.webex.com > > CCM:+16504293300x735242892# > > IMPORTANT NOTICE: This WebEx service includes a feature that allows audio > and any documents and other materials exchanged or viewed during the session > to be recorded. You should inform all meeting attendees prior to recording > if you intend to record the meeting. Please note that any such recordings > may be subject to discovery in the event of litigation. > -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254-20-2498789 Skype: barrack.otieno

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