January 2012 - KICTANet

JOB OPPORTUNITY: APC seeks African ICT policy for advocacy coordinator
by Alice Munyua 26 Jan '12

26 Jan '12

Greetings everyone, please disseminate among your networks. JOB OPPORTUNITY: APC seeks African ICT policy for advocacy coordinator APC is looking for someone with extensive experience in the ICT policy field in Africa, strong networking and outreach skills and experience and expertise in advocacy, research, capacity building and strategic communications. Read more about the position and the qualifications we are looking for: http://www.apc.org/en/node/13704/. Bonjour à tous, Veuillez circuler: OFFRE D'EMPLOI: Coordinateur/trice de plaidoyer des politiques des TIC en Afrique APC cherche quelqu'un avec beaucoup d'expérience dans les politiques des TIC en Afrique, qui sait réseauter et qui a de l'expérience en plaidoyer, recherche, renforcement des capacités et les communications stratégiques. Pour plus de détails sur le poste et les qualifications nécessaires, veuillez visiter http://www.apc.org/fr/node/13705/. Thank you, Merci, Lisa Cyr Communications, Media and Promotions Associate Adjointe aux communications, médias et promotions Equipo de comunicación Skype/yahoo: lisac_apc www.apc.org _____________________________ www.facebook.com/APCNews, @APC_News www.facebook.com/APCNoticias, @APCNoticias www.facebook.com/APCNouvelles, @APCNouvelles

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ICT publications
by Francis Hook 25 Jan '12

25 Jan '12

http://cio-inverted.blogspot.com/2012/01/walk-talk.html An interesting point of view on ICT publishing, esp when aimed at C-levels (and I have oft wondered about this also esp in view of some local publications). If I may pull a quote out of this piece: "Take any IT publication (physical or electronic), irrespective of the target audience (CIO, IT Managers, channel partners, broad-based audience), the editorial or one of the cover stories is always about what the CIO should be doing to stay relevant to the business. The underlying theme is always about business before IT. But after the preaching is done, back to business as usual, do you know about the new 64 core server or the next crossover device with zillion pixel screen ?" :-) I'm sure that quote resonates with many local IT managers/directors/CIOs.... Its sad to note that most publications are cluttered with what seem like news stories or features, but are really advertorial type of material or hastily re-worded and inserted press releases where publishers failed to secure adverts...tut tut! Quite frankly there is no reason why we cannot have content like ITWeb (www.itweb.co.za) or TechCentral, where issues are examined broadly and independently, without pandering to the whims of ICT advertisers. Having said that, I should admit there are a few Kenya blogs that provide pretty good content - Francis Hook +254 733 504561

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Start-ups graduating from Nailab
by Sam Gichuru 25 Jan '12

25 Jan '12

Hi, Its been 256 days since we did our soft launch at the Nailab, in the next 30 days we will graduate our first batch of start-ups (5) , this companies come to the nailab with idea/s and today they are generating revenue from their products, received seed funding and are creating job opportunities, we could not have done this without your support. This are 3 of the 7 companies incubated currently at the Nailab. *Ghafla* (http://www.ghafla.co.ke/news) - Formally Kenyan Lyrics is an entertainment portal, Mr Majani is a very convincing founder and he had promises to make that he has kept since he received incubation from nailab, in the last 6 months he has struggled with branding, business model, co-founder challenges but has come out fighting and today Ghafla has employed 3 people in the last 5 months and secured a couple of millions in seed funding. *My Order *(http://wezatele.com/)- A simple concept turn into a distribution system by Hilda and Kitonyi, Myorder was the funky sexy product that we used at the Nailab to Order for beverages from Petes Coffee, very simple and work liked magic, today MyOrder has Angel Funding enabling the team to work full time on the product, My-order has secured contracts and is in negotiations with 2 Major local companies and 2 Multinationals for an enterprise distribution platforms. *Vive Visuals *(http://vivevisuals.com/) - When they first come in, they wanted to start a 3D animation training studio, we convinced them they could do what we today call "motion graphics" and might make a living out of it, if you attended the launch you will remember the video recorded at the nailab balcony was their first attempt - today they have contracts worth over $35000, and they still do 3D animation training on Saturdays at the nailab - see their videos here http://vimeo.com/user8730246/videos As the first accelerator (Incubator) in Kenya, Nailab is also a start-up and is very grateful to all the mentors and friends who provide advice, guidance and moral support, thank you once again and looking forward to a greater 2012. Warm Regards, ------------------------ Sam Gichuru twitter: | @samgichuru <http://twitter.com/samgichuru> Blog: | www.samgichuru.com Facebook: | Sam.g <http://sam.g/>ichuru<http://www.facebook.com/sam.gichuru> Co-founder/ Director /Nailab Incubation -------------------- On Mon, May 9, 2011 at 5:53 PM, Samuel Gichuru <gichuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > Hi, > > If you are a startup or wanted to start one with a strong component in > ICT, then you need to visit the Nailab on Thursday this week, at 5:30 - The > Nailab is having its soft launch that is only a sneak preview. The NaiLab > program is designed to be a fertile soil for aspiring entrepreneurs we > intend to provide the physical and knowledge space where business minded > teams grow intelligent companies. You get a chance to create, co-create, > learn, experiment and grow and hence support your freedom to do what you > are destined to do. > > NaiLab is the incubator , where ICT meets the rest of the economy and > society. > > You are welcome, only limited tickets 80, so you need to grab one on here > - http://bit.ly/l6CONu - follow us on twitter @thenailab to get updates, > we will live-stream the event for those not available or if you miss a > ticket and provide a harshtag on the given day. > > For more information Contact: > > Sam Gichuru > > > Warm Regards, > ------------------------ > Samuel Gichuru > > twitter: | @samgichuru <http://twitter.com/samgichuru> > Blog: | www.samgichuru.com > Facebook: | Sam.gichuru <http://www.facebook.com/sam.gichuru> > Skype: Sam.gichuru > Cellphone: | 0722-730565 > > 020 2696530/0724 366993 > Website: www.nailab.co.ke > > > > > -- Warm Regards, ------------------------ Sam Gichuru twitter: | @samgichuru <http://twitter.com/samgichuru> Blog: | www.samgichuru.com Facebook: | Sam.gichuru <http://www.facebook.com/sam.gichuru> Skype: Sam.gichuru Cellphone: | +254-722-730565 Co-founder/ Director /Nailab Incubation Location: | Nairobi Website: | www.nailab.co.ke twitter: | @thenailab

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Kenya ICT Board kicks off business plan training at Strathmore
by Paul Kukubo 25 Jan '12

25 Jan '12

*Kenya ICT Board kicks off business plan training at Strathmore *** Business strategy training for the Tandaa Digital Content Grant shortlisted applicants is underway at Strathmore University. The training, which runs in batches from January 23 - February 3, 2012, seeks to impart business knowledge to shortlisted candidates from last year's Tandaa Digital Content Grant Call for Proposals. Understanding how to write a business plan, price products and develop a market penetration plan are some of the important business strategies that all entrepreneurs must understand. But for many founders of start-up companies in Kenya, opportunities to take courses to learn business strategy are few and far between. Time constraints for busy business owners and the high cost of quality business courses hinder many new entrepreneurs from taking such classes. But the value is undeniable, as participants at the Business Plan training sponsored by the Kenya ICT Board discovered. "I've learnt a lot," says Graham Muhunga of SMSVoices, "Having a good idea doesn't mean you'll make money. I'm learning to think differently about our business." Muhunga, who represents one of the companies that was shortlisted for the Tandaa Digital Content Grant, finds that one of the valuable things he has learnt is the importance of research and correctly identifying the industry their business is actually in. "Our courses are designed to be interactive and hands-on," says Dr Monica Kerrett, Program Director for the project at Strathmore. "Participants are encouraged to talk about their business idea as a core part of the curriculum. It has been refreshing to hear the participants share challenges and give each other tips and feedback." The Kenya ICT Board announced the top 150 applicants to the Tandaa Digital Content Grant Call for Proposals in September 2011. This is the second round of granting the Kenya ICT Board is offering to fund development of digital content and services in Kenya. The Call for Proposals for the second round of the Digital Content Grant focused on ideas for solutions that use web and mobile technology. After selecting the top ideas, the Kenya ICT Board is now exposing the entrepreneurs to essential business strategies to help them design their business plans. After submitting complete business plans, a maximum of 40 finalists will be selected to receive grants of up to $50,000 each to develop their digital content products. "In the first round of the Tandaa Grant we received many good ideas from passionate entrepreneurs," explains Kaburo Kobia, Project Manager for Local Digital Content at the Kenya ICT Board, "But for many, the business side of the proposals were not as strong." In response to the challenges applicants had with developing business plans, the Kenya ICT Board introduced the training component to the Grant Call for Proposal process. The Kenya ICT Board hopes that the training will not only increase the quality of proposals received but have a lasting impact on the applicants and equip them with skills they need to successfully grow their business. ends Paul Kukubo Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board PO Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya 12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960 Fax: +254 20 2211962 website: www.ict.go.ke local content project: www.tandaa.co.ke, www.facebook.com/tandaakenya twitter:@tandaaKENYA BPO Project: www. doitinkenya.co.ke Digital Villages Project: www.pasha.co.ke personal contacts _______________ Cell: + 254 717 180001 skype: kukubopaul googletalk: pkukubo personal blog: www.paulkukubo.co.ke personal twitter: @pkukubo ____________________ Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment

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One-Day Introductory BCP/DRP
by Matunda Nyanchama 25 Jan '12

25 Jan '12

Friends, You may be interested in the attached that was circulated within the financial services sector. Kenya Institute of Bankers tell me the course is open to all who enroll. See you there. -------------------------- RE: BUSINESS CONTINUITY MANAGEMENT {INTRODUCTORY LEVEL} COURSE: 10TH FEBRUARY, 2012 AT THE NAIROBI SAFARI CLUB Business disruptions can occur either permanently or temporarily at any time due to unpredictable disasters. Such disasters could strike in form of natural disaster (e.g. fire, flood, earthquake, etc) or man-made disaster (e.g. war, strike, riot, civil commotion etc.). Every Bank Management should be prepared by having in place business resumption plans against such occurrences, to ensure continued business operations in the face of disruption. Only businesses that are prepared to face disasters of any kind, in times of crises, are likely to survive. This one day introductory level Business Continuity Management course will expose participants to existing and emerging practices in BCM for purposes of raising resiliency. Participants will learn how to identify and define problems, plan, respond and recover when disasters happen. This course will therefore be of immeasurable benefits to executives and managers responsible for: * Enterprise Risk Management, * Technology Planning Deployment & Management, * Human Resource Management, * Facilities Planning & Management. * ICT Operations Personnel responsible for BCP and DRP. * Officials concerned with Business Continuity & Crisis Management. * Project Managers, * Public Relations * Corporate Communications Managers. Please note that the Kenya Institute of Bankers is registered with the D.I.T. as an approved provider of training services, and Banks/Financial Institutions should submit their applications in reasonable time for the training. Please submit your nominations on the attached forms, so as to reach us by 3rd February, 2012. Yours Sincerely, S.N. Anjichi Executive Director, Kenya Institute of Bankers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, CISSP; mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com; Twitter: nmatunda; Skype: okiambe ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be prepared to face ICT Security failures & know how to respond when they happen! Call: +1-888-587-1150 or info(a)aganoconsulting.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk I have a workstation…" - Anonymous ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you.

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Re: [kictanet] Start-ups graduating from Nailab
by Sam Gichuru 24 Jan '12

24 Jan '12

Thank you Nyatichi, wezatele is a very dynamic startup, the founders are smart and have what it takes, we joke about myorder being concieved at Strathore, innovated at the ihub and finally incubated at the Nailab - goes to show how powerful the ecosystem is within Nairobi for a startup to florish and also what it takes to replicate this in another part of the country. I am sure they will be happy to have you as a customer. On Jan 24, 2012 2:47 PM, <tnyasani(a)kulahappy.com> wrote:

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Misdirected Email
by Njeri Rionge 24 Jan '12

24 Jan '12

We sincerely apologize for the email that you have received which was sent by error. We will resolve internally this issues and ask that you please delete the email. With thanks, -- Njeri Rionge (Ms) Founder & Executive Director http://ke.linkedin.com/pub/njeri-rionge/5/966/760 * 2009 Inductee ICT Hall of Fame Computer Society of Kenya 2009 World Technology Forum Nominee 2011 Featured on Forbes.com* __________________________________ Skype ID: nrionge Personal Website: www.njeri-rionge.com Tel: +254 20 253 2144, 253 2142 (Orange Fixed Plus) Tel: +254 722 522136 (Safaricom Mobile) Tel: +254 773 495022 (Orange Mobile) URL: www.igniteconsulting.co.ke P. O. Box 15568 Nairobi 00100, Kenya ======================================= Related Brands: www.njeri-rionge.com www.insite.co.ke www.ignitelifestyle.com www.businesslounge.co.ke www.dukalangu.com ==========================================

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You Lazy (Intellectual) African Scum!
by Dorcas Muthoni 24 Jan '12

24 Jan '12

A different perspective to poverty.....* * * * *You Lazy (Intellectual) African Scum! > * * * Some excerpts .......* * * * They call the Third World the lazy man’s purview; the sluggishly slothful and languorous prefecture. In this realm people are sleepy, dreamy, torpid, lethargic, and therefore indigent—totally penniless, needy, destitute, poverty-stricken, disfavored, and impoverished.* * .......... “You my friend flying with me and all your kind are lazy,” he said. “When you rest your head on the pillow you don’t dream big. You and other so-called African intellectuals are damn lazy, each one of you. It is you, and not those poor starving people, who is the reason Africa is in such a deplorable state.” .......... “Oh yes it is and I will say it again, you are lazy. Poor and uneducated Africans are the most hardworking people on earth. I saw them in the Lusaka markets and on the street selling merchandise. I saw them in villages toiling away. I saw women on Kafue Road crushing stones for sell and I wept. I said to myself where are the Zambian intellectuals? Are the Zambian engineers so imperceptive they cannot invent a simple stone crusher, or a simple water filter to purify well water for those poor villagers? Are you telling me that after thirty-seven years of independence your university school of engineering has not produced a scientist or an engineer who can make simple small machines for mass use? What is the school there for?” * * ..........* * * * “Wake up you all!” he exclaimed, attracting the attention of nearby passengers. “You should be busy lifting ideas, formulae, recipes, and diagrams from American manufacturing factories and sending them to your own factories. All those research findings and dissertation papers you compile should be your country’s treasure. Why do you think the Asians are a force to reckon with? They stole our ideas and turned them into their own. Look at Japan, China, India, just look at them.”* * *See the full story here : * http://mindofmalaka.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/you-lazy-intellectual-african-… -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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Kenyan TV Stations Online
by Edith Adera 23 Jan '12

23 Jan '12

Listers, For those not in country at this critical time of Kenya's history, does anyone on the list know of any live TV link for any of the local TV stations (that works!!...most are offline)? Pls send me the link if you know. Edith ________________ Edith Ofwona Adera Senior Program Specialist 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/>

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Re: [kictanet] An amendment to the Kenya Information and Communications Act 1998
by Dennis Kioko 23 Jan '12

23 Jan '12

I see np problem with this amendment as the info is only available if you called the person requesting the information. It will reduce nuisance callers hiding their identity. Sent from my Windows Phone ------------------------------ From: Grace Githaiga Sent: 23/01/2012 17:50 To: Dennis Kioko Mbuvi Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] An amendment to the Kenya Information and Communications Act 1998 Listers Just in case you missed this article, Mututho is pushing for an end to caller privacy. Read on. In an amendment to the Kenya Information and Communications Act 1998, Mr Mututho wants to make caller identity information accessible to anyone who seeks such details from a mobile operator. http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Kenyan+MP+pushes+for+end+to+caller+pr… ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is all about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth and rule the World!

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