August 2012 - KICTANet

Upwardly mobile - Kenya?s technology start-up scene is about to take off
by Gideon 30 Aug '12

30 Aug '12

Hi, Its good to see that start ups are becoming the in thing in Kenya, and with the several incubation hubs that have attracted global attention, the young people are able to foster and make their innovations a reality. Its only when we can localize our technologies and content to suit the Kenyan and or African Scenario shall we say that we have finally achieved and arrived, Kenya and indeed East Africa is a force to reckon in the ICT platform and a leading Hub. Gideon. On Thu, Aug 30, 2012 at 10:19 AM, <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 > https://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. Upwardly mobile - Kenya?s technology start-up scene is about > to take off (Davis Onsakia) > 2. Re: Kibaki, Raila meddling stalls CCK actions (Mark Mwangi) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2012 08:06:04 +0300 > From: Davis Onsakia <mautidavis(a)gmail.com> > To: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: [kictanet] Upwardly mobile - Kenya?s technology start-up > scene is about to take off > Message-ID: > < > CA+OPoZ6EvPC2XWcU8jZwDsJZiUdWwkZGX4aczTTyRf+cx3x8Tg(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Dear all, > > A very interesting article about Kenyan's tech space and what the future > portends - > > http://www.economist.com/node/21560912?fsrc=nlw|mgt|8-29-2012|3282875|36370… > > We might have Angry Matatu Drivers next after the success of Angry Birds, > from Kenya :) > > Best Regards, > Davis M Onsakia > "One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the > shore for a very long time." >

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Software Freedom day 2012
by Evans Ikua 30 Aug '12

30 Aug '12

The Software Freedom day 2012 will take place starting tomorrow at the Strathmore University from 8.00 am. Tomorrow we will have the open source developers challenge, with the main event taking place on Saturday, all day. Come and listen to Jon "maddog" Hall talking about how he helped Linus Torvalds carry out his first port of Linux by providing him with infrastructure. -- *---------------------------------------------------- Kind Regards, Evans Ikua,* lanetconsulting.com, lpi-eastafrica.org, ict-innovation.fossfa.net, Skype: @ikuae Cell: +254-722-955831

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An Onslaught on Online Free Speech or the wheels of justice turning?
by Ali Hussein 30 Aug '12

30 Aug '12

Another Blogger charged in a Kenyan court. http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Blogger+denies+charge+of+hacking+airline+mail/… -- *Ali Hussein|Managing Partner* * *Telemedia Africa Azania Technology Group Chaka Court, Argwings Kodhek Road P O Box 14556-00100 Office: +254 737 751409 Cell: +254 773/713 601113 *Nairobi, Kenya* Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo "You generally hear that what a man doesn't know doesn't hurt him, but in business what a man doesn't know does hurt.". - E. St. Elmo Lewis, member, Advertising Hall of Fame

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Upwardly mobile - Kenya’s technology start-up scene is about to take off
by Davis Onsakia 30 Aug '12

30 Aug '12

Dear all, A very interesting article about Kenyan's tech space and what the future portends - http://www.economist.com/node/21560912?fsrc=nlw|mgt|8-29-2012|3282875|36370… We might have Angry Matatu Drivers next after the success of Angry Birds, from Kenya :) Best Regards, Davis M Onsakia "One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time."

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Editorial: Kibaki, Raila must stop meddling in CCK’s work
by Grace Githaiga 29 Aug '12

29 Aug '12

IN SUMMARYIn the past couple of years, the President has intervened in the matter of mobile telephone call costs in a manner that is not only surprising, but also suspect.In the matter of Mobile Termination Rates, he acted in a most unconventional manner -- wading deep into the work of an agency that is more than four levels below his office.The intervention, whatever its merits, has been done in a most irregular manner and in direct contravention of the law that guides the operations of the telecoms sector regulator -- the CCK. High level intervention in the operations and decision-making processes of an independent agency does set a bad precedent.It is not clear why the President chose to use his private secretary to communicate to a State agency. Moreover, to demand that a fresh study of the impact of the new termination rates be done and the report taken to him for consideration amounts to gross violation of the regulator’s mandate.To the best of our knowledge, the CCK has a credible pool of telecoms experts and Mr Kibaki has no expertise in matters telecoms. Neither is Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the frequencies administration matter into which he has waded with similar edicts. http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Opinion+++Analysis/Kibaki+and+Raila+must…

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African Union (AU) Selects the ISOC to Support establishment of Internet Exchange Points across Africa.
by alice＠apc.org 29 Aug '12

29 Aug '12

Great initiative and partnership. Congratulations AUC and ISOC. Best Alice ---------------------------- African Union (AU) Selects the Internet society to Support Establishment of Internet Exchange Points across Africa. Project includes 60 capacity building workshops in 30 countries [Johannesburg, South Africa --23 August 2012] – The Internet Society today announced that it has been selected by the African Union (AU) to conduct community mobilization and technical aspects workshops to support the establishment of Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) in AU Member States as part of the African Internet Exchange System (AXIS) project. The AXIS project aims at keeping Africa’s Internet traffic local to the continent by providing capacity building and technical assistance to facilitate the establishment of National Internet Exchange Points and Regional Internet Exchange Points in Africa. The project is funded by the Euro-Africa Infrastructure Fund and the Government of Luxembourg. The Internet Society is committed to organizing 60 community mobilization and technical aspects workshops in 30 African countries. To this effect, the Internet Society will also contribute its own resources for the implementation of this component of the AXIS project. Currently, much of Africa’s Internet traffic is routed through Internet exchange points external to the African continent. As countries establish their own IXPs, Internet traffic will be routed locally, creating a downward pressure on costs and stimulating growth in and distribution of local Internet content. Through the AXIS project, the interests of the AU and the Internet Society, working with other African Internet organizations such as AfriNIC, AfNOG, and AftLD, will be realized in this collaborative effort to assist in the development of a more locally operated and, hence, more robust and economically accessible pan-African Internet. Moctar Yedaly, Head of Information Society Division, African Union Commission, commented,“Africa is paying overseas carriers to exchange ‘local’ (continental) traffic. This is both a costly as well as an inefficient way of handling inter-country exchange of Internet traffic. Independent analysis has shown that Africa pays over US$600 Million to developed countries every year for inter-African traffic exchange that is carried outside the continent. We are therefore pleased that the African Internet Exchange System project will address this challenge by facilitating optimization of Internet traffic to support intra-continental traffic flows in Africa.” Dawit Bekele, Internet Society Regional Bureau Director for Africa, stated, “We are very excited to be selected by the African Union to support the growth of IXPs throughout Africa. We believe the AXIS project is extremely important to the continued health of the Internet ecosystem in Africa, and building the technical infrastructure and training the people to sustain it are fundamental to extending the Internet in Africa. Partnering with the African Union on the AXIS project is central to the Internet Society’s mission to ensure the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet for the benefit of people everywhere.” The Internet Society has provided technical training in Africa since the early 1990s, and supports the development of human and technical capacity to build reliable and sustainable Internet infrastructure in Africa and around the world. The organization’s African Bureau was started in 2006. With 24 Chapters, the Internet Society African Bureau works to promote capacity building and the responsible development of the Internet throughout Africa. Its principle focus is improving interconnection and traffic exchange within the continent through the implementation of IXPs, network training, and capacity building. Link: http://www.internetsociety.org/news/african-unionau-selects-internet-societ… _

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Re: [kictanet] Kibaki, Raila meddling stalls CCK actions
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 29 Aug '12

29 Aug '12

Edith, There is no conspiracy here. Some of these issues are in court and one can easily get into trouble. Ndemo. ------Original Message------ From: Edith Adera To: Bitange Ndemo To: kictanet Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: RE: [kictanet] Kibaki, Raila meddling stalls CCK actions Sent: 29 Aug 2012 14:08 mmm...conspiracy of silence? Should we be a community that cannot question the powers that be? Edith ________________________________________ From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke [bitange(a)jambo.co.ke] Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 1:24 PM To: Edith Adera; kictanet Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kibaki, Raila meddling stalls CCK actions Edith, Let me not comment on this issue. Ndemo. Sent from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.or.ke> Sender: "kictanet" <kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2012 06:06:43 To: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kibaki, Raila meddling stalls CCK actions _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://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. Sent from my BlackBerry®

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The King is Dead...Long Live the King (The Remarkable story of IBM's Mainframe Computer)
by Gideon 29 Aug '12

29 Aug '12

Hi, Like any threatened species that survives, the mainframe evolved. It has been tweaked to master new programming languages, like Java, and new software operating systems, like Linux. In the fast lane of the ICT world, IBM had to find the best way to keep the trademark King alive, The Mainframe had to undergo numerous changes , Such is the world of technology. Thanks. On Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 9:38 AM, <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 > https://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: Counterfeit Eggs and why we must automate produce records > (Mark Mwangi) > 2. Re: The King is Dead...Long Live the King (The Remarkable > story of IBM's Mainframe Computer) (Mark Mwangi) > 3. Re: Counterfeit Eggs and why we must automate produce records > (Mark Mwangi) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:28:46 +0300 > From: Mark Mwangi <mwangy(a)gmail.com> > To: Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Counterfeit Eggs and why we must automate > produce records > Message-ID: > < > CAH5fjchxF2mSCy34+TdaawfdkG5Qig0wrXRd6V+QT6Rh6my+jw(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > This is shocking to say the least. Local markets must be protected. The > story about free markets is hogwash since the countries that preach it the > most do not allow foreign companies to dominate their markets. This reminds > me of the political nightmare that ensued when a Chinese company attempted > to buy an american oil company. And this happened in the 'freest' country > on the planet. > > We must lock down our markets. > > On Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 7:21 AM, Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> wrote: > > > Mark > > > > Not in China. This is an interesting topic on ethics and the profit > > motive. Probably beyond that its criminal. > > > > Dr.Ndemo raises a point that is beyond this though. How have we opened up > > our countries to everything when we should actually be making a case for > > protecting nascent industries from unfair competition? > > > > For example Japan and Korea still protect their motor industries even > > after 20 years; America and the EU still has major subsidies for its > > agricultural sector. And the list goes on as can be seen by cases piling > up > > at the WTO:- > > > > > > > http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_by_country_e.htm#complain… > > > > An interesting fact: Only Egypt and South Africa have cases pending both > > for or against them at the WTO. This begs the question:- > > > > Don't African countries have issues to be resolved at the WTO? Doesn't > > Kenya? Last time I checked we were members... > > > > This issue of fake eggs just brings to the fore the implications both > from > > a health perspective and an economical one the effects of free trade > across > > borders without proper mechanisms to protect citizens and local industry. > > > > Ali Hussein > > > > On Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 4:32 PM, Mark Mwangi <mwangy(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > >> Fake Eggs? how. . .what. . .why would you go to all that > >> effort? wouldn't the real eggs be cheaper? > >> > >> On Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 4:24 PM, <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: > >> > >>> Listers, > >>> When ISO standards were introduced to Kenya, few of us paid attention. > >>> Europe today insists on produce data including the soil type, amount > >>> fertilizer, chemicals aaplied etc. Time has come when we need all > poultry > >>> data. There is evidence that it is far cheaper to produce conterfeit > eggs > >>> than waiting for the checken to lay them. See link below and why we > must > >>> be vigilant. > >>> > >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0US7JEfhsrA > >>> > >>> We need better scanning of all containers coming into this country and > >>> possibly monitor movement of all foreigners who have doggy incomes. > >>> > >>> > >>> Ndemo. > >>> > >>> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> kictanet mailing list > >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >>> > >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at > >>> > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mwangy%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. > >>> > >> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> Regards, > >> > >> Mark Mwangi > >> > >> markmwangi.me.ke > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> kictanet mailing list > >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > >> Unsubscribe or change your options at > >> > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.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. > >> > > > > > > > > -- > > > > *Ali Hussein|Managing Partner* > > > > * > > *Telemedia Africa > > Azania Technology Group > > > > Chaka Court, Argwings Kodhek Road > > > > P O Box 14556-00100 > > > > Office: +254 737 751409 > > > > Cell: +254 773/713 601113 > > > > *Nairobi, Kenya* > > > > > > > > > > > > Twitter: @AliHKassim > > > > Skype: abu-jomo > > > > > > "You generally hear that what a man doesn't know doesn't hurt him, but in > > business what a man doesn't know does hurt.". - E. St. Elmo Lewis, > member, > > Advertising Hall of Fame > > > > > > -- > Regards, > > Mark Mwangi > > markmwangi.me.ke >

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Invitation to launch of Elimu TV
by Grace Githaiga 29 Aug '12

29 Aug '12

fyi Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2012 18:47:08 +0200 Subject: Re: Subscribe From: nnfeischools(a)gmail.com To: ggithaiga(a)hotmail.com Ref: Letter of Invitation The Network for Non Formal Educational Institutions (N-NFEI) is a registered organization wish a mission to promote access to basic education to children from poor backgrounds in slums and marginalized areas. The organization has been licensed to operate the first 24 hours Educational Community Free to Air Digital TV by Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) .We shall broadcast primary, secondary and skill based short courses that will see this country transform to high level of literacy and industrialization. The program will target out of school youth and adults as our primary clients and schools as secondary where children can use our platform for revision and more content. Schools can use the platform for better content in science subjects and cases where a school lacks a teacher to teach in a certain subject. The Program will combine TV, Mobile and web learning for comprehensive provision of education for all in Kenya. The TV Station will be referred to as Elimu 24/7 (E-24/7) and will be launched on 13th September 2012 at Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) We would wish to invite you to participate, exhibit or sponsor the event We look forward to your positive response. Yours Faithfully Jane Ngima Muriuki Executive Director

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Re: [kictanet] Talks to resolve row at KENIC
by robert yawe 29 Aug '12

29 Aug '12

I am at the kenic meeting where I thought we would be well represented but as expected there are more kenic board members than kictanet representatives. ------------------------------ On Thu, Aug 23, 2012 23:10 BST Grace Githaiga wrote: > >Talks to resolve row at Internet firm >http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Talks+to+resolve+row+at+Internet+firm… > >The multi-stakeholder institution charged with administering Kenya’s Internet domain .ke, is hoping to iron out differences over its recent restructuring in its annual general meeting on Friday.The meeting, which will be held in Nairobi, brings together registrars, government representatives, Internet businesses and other people interested in the ICT sector.Speaking on Thursday, the organisation’s change manager, Mr Sammy Buruchara, said the forum would provide a good platform for the board of the institution to iron out issues facing the company.“It will give the board of the Kenya Network Information Centre (KeNIC) an opportunity to clear the air over all the allegations arising from the ongoing organisational restructure and create rapport on the way forward,” Mr Buruchara said.The AGM comes at a time when the institution is facing questions from the public over its decision to fire all its employees in what it says is an organisational restructure.A number of board members have also left KeNIC in the past two months.In an email, Information and Communications Permanent Secretary Bitange Ndemo termed the decision to terminate employees’ contracts without consulting stakeholders as drastic and unprocedural.“Even in the Government, firing employees has several steps that must be followed to ensure security of tenure. This came as a surprise, yet we are supposed to be stakeholders. We must all respect the spirit of the Constitution, especially in such a multi-stakeholder agency,” Dr Ndemo said.In reaction, Mr Buruchara, who is on a three-month contract to oversee the execution of an institutional assessment report prepared by ZappKaas Consulting and Training Ltd, said KeNIC is an organisation with a working board and people should stop questioning its decision.Currently, KeNIC is the administrator of over 20,000 domains at the .ke registry.

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