October 2013 - KICTANet

Uganda has the cheapest Broadband Internet in E-Africa.
by Walubengo J 19 Oct '13

19 Oct '13

Folks,(apologies for cross-posting) This comes as a suprise. One would have thought Kenya and TZ by virtue of "owning" the International Internet conne Submarine connectivity/Gatewyas at Mombasa and Dar respectively, they would offer the cheapest Internet costs. But according to the latest 2013 ITU report that has been tracking and measuring affordability of internet, UG is ranked no 139, TZ at no 143 and Kenya at no 149 globally in terms of affordability. Cost of broadband internet in Kenya is put at 49% of the Gross National Income(GNI) compared to .UG at 32%. Put differently it costs an average Kenyan half(50%) his salary to connect to a broadband internet link. In SA it is about 4% of their GNI. Those who can withstand the statistics/readings can pull the Executive Report at http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/publications/mis2013/MIS20… @ CS Matiang'i - this could be part of your bedtime reading collection :-) walu.

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Re: [kictanet] KENYA POWER - The Answer to Universal Connectivity for all?
by Matunda Nyanchama 18 Oct '13

18 Oct '13

Friends I like cheap bandwidth; and all Kenyans (actually all global citizens) need affordable bandwidth; some say it is a human right. I must assume that KPLC, Safaricom, Telkom Kenya, .... that are all laying fibre, have done their business plans/models to justify the spending. I cannot second guess them. Competition is also good as shown from the cost of airtime that has fallen progressively, making it affordable for more and more people; and making piles of money for the companies. It is good for the economy and the nation. We need regulation that allows access of infrastructure of one provider to others, provided there is agreement on charges. We shouldn't go the way of banks (anyone from CBK here?) where one cannot reach their accounts from ATMs of some banks! ... One thing I would love to hear (perhaps from our economists) the cumulative costs of providing services. For instance for telecoms get a per unit spend : add all cost elements (people, infrastructure, facilities, equipment, ...) divided by the number of users/subscribers. Compare this with similar charges in other countries ... I am not sure what the data will tell. It will have a story, inferences ... And may also raise questions such as: as a nation, would we have better spent the money elsewhere? Or: we need to spend more as we are spending too little given priorities. Over to you! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, CISSP; mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com; Twitter: nmatunda; Skype: okiambe ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Manage your ICT risks! We are the experts you need! The trusted partners you deserve! Call: +1-888-587-1150 (Canada) +254-20-267-0743 (Kenya) or info(a)aganoconsulting.com Licensed by Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The best revenge is massive success" - Frank Sinatra----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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@iBizAfrica Open Day/Demo Day on Wednesday 23rd October from 2pm to 6pm
by John Matogo 18 Oct '13

18 Oct '13

Dear colleagues. @iBizAfrica is the business incubator at Strathmore University, located on the 5th floor of the Student Centre building. We invite you to come and visit the young entrepreneurs that are based here at the incubator and see some of the exciting business ventures they are involved in. We now have over 70 individuals in about 33 projects working at the Incubator on various projects. We welcome you to come by on 23rd October between 2pm and 6pm to see some of the work the entrepreneurs are involved in and learn more about the Incubation process. Register your participation on the Open Day by clicking on this link http://ibizafricaopenday.eventbrite.com/ More information about the business incubator is available here: www.ibizafrica.co.ke We look forward to seeing you then. Regards, John Matogo Manager Incubation Centre, @iBizAfrica Strathmore University P.O. Box 59857-00200 Nairobi, KENYA Tel: +254 070 303 4280 (direct line) Personal Mobile:+254 722 813 533 Skype: jmatogo Twitter: @jmatogo LinkedIn: http://tinyurl.com/avcn7qu Web: www.strathmore.edu and http://www.ibizafrica.co.ke/ -- Note: All emails sent from Strathmore University are subject to Strathmore's Email Terms & Conditions. Please click here<http://www.strathmore.edu/aboutus.php?id=184>to read the policy. "Visit our Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/StrathmoreUniversity>Page and Twitter <https://twitter.com/StrathU>Account".

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Government cancels laptop project tenders
by Grace Githaiga 18 Oct '13

18 Oct '13

http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Government-cancels-tenders-for-laptop-project/…

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Safaricom protests CCK Ratings on quality of service
by Ali Hussein 17 Oct '13

17 Oct '13

Safaricom is headed for a clash with the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) over quality checks that will determine the renewal of its licence next year. The mobile telecoms firm reckons that the regulator’s quality checks — which have labelled Safaricom non-compliant — are erroneous and that an independent assessment has given it a clean bill of health. The telcos are expected to deliver overall performance of at least 80 per cent on eight indicators to be compliant, but Safaricom had the worst score of 50 per cent in the year to June while Airtel was rated at 62.5 per cent. Telkom and Essar both achieved 87.5 per cent. On Wednesday, Safaricom said an independent assessor had given it a score of 87.5 per cent, a rating that is expected to spark a fresh row with the CCK. http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Safaricom-fights-CCK-over… Who do you believe? Safaricom or CCK? From a personal level my take is that CCK is on the right track and need to tighten the screws on QoS across all services in the Telco and ISP space. We have become too comfortable with mediocre service and this is just not on. As an example for the last one year my company has been paying service charges to Orange for several lines which do not work. I have even written to the CEO's office with Zero action. I have written to the CCK complaint hotline with Zero action. The only reason I'm forced to pay every month is because some of those lines are tied to a Pilot line and hence Orange is 'unable' to detach them...surely.. Ali Hussein +254 0770 906375 / 0713 601113 "Kujikwaa si kuanguka, bali ni kwenda mbele" (To stumble is not to fall but a sign of going forward) - Swahili Proverb Sent from my iPad

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PayPal in exchange for MPesa...
by Michael Bullut 17 Oct '13

17 Oct '13

Greetings Listers, Anybody with $20 in their PayPal account they're willing to exchange for Kenya Shillings? *Feel free to contact me directly... * Warm regards, Michael Bullut. --- *Cell:* *+254 723 393 114. **Skype Name:* *Michael Bullut.* ***Twitter:** @Kipsang <http://twitter.com/Kipsang/> * *Blog: http://www.kipsang.com/* *E-mail:* *main(a)kipsang.com* * * *---*

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Fwd: Vacancy for position of Chief Executive Officer of UbuntuNet Alliance
by UbuntuNet Alliance 17 Oct '13

17 Oct '13

Dear Colleagues, A job opportunity at UbuntuNet Alliance as advertised below. The same is available at www.ubuntunet.net. Best wishes, Tiwonge ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: UbuntuNet Alliance <info(a)ubuntunet.net> Date: Wed, Oct 16, 2013 at 5:06 PM Subject: Vacancy for position of Chief Executive Officer of UbuntuNet Alliance To: nuance(a)lists.ubuntunet.net *VACANCY* *POSITION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER* Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons for the demanding position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UbuntuNet Alliance for Research and Education Networking, which becomes vacant in July 2014. The Alliance, whose Head Office is based in Lilongwe, Malawi, is a regional not-for-profit organization covering Eastern and Southern Africa. Its core functions are to develop and provide affordable high speed connectivity among its member National Research and Education Networks (NRENs – currently 14) and with the rest of the world; to develop and share the knowledge and skills of NREN ICT practitioners; and to lead in research aimed at improving networking infrastructure. The Alliance is governed through the Council of Members and an independent Board selected by the NRENs. It is managed by the Chief Executive Officer who is also a member of, and secretary to, the Board. * Minimum requirements* The ideal candidate will have the following attributes: - Minimum of 5 years high level experience as a manager with discretionary operations and expenditure powers in areas that have very strong relevance to both the technology and business side of research and education networking; - A balanced combination of technical knowledge related to ICT in the research and education environment as well as research and education networking on the one hand, and business and management skills on the other hand; - Experience at regional and international level, including working in multi-cultural, multi-national environments; - A self-motivated and output-oriented person with good leadership and inter-personal skills; - Excellent communication and report writing skills; very good command of the English language, with French and Portuguese as desirable additional languages *Duties and Responsibilities* The duties and responsibilities of the CEO include the following: - Developing and implementing UbuntuNet Alliance’s strategy; - Supporting UbuntuNet Allinace governance processes; - Managing operations; - Planning and implementing staff and general capacity development; - Developing and managing relations with member NRENs; - Developing and sustaining relations with the Research & Education Networks community worldwide; - Developing and sustaining relations with development partners; - Developing and sustaining relations with suppliers. *Terms of employment* This is a full-time contract position for an initial term of 3 to 5 years, renewable by mutual agreement, tenable at the Head Office although the successful applicant may raise the possibility of an alternative work location. The Alliance provides an attractive negotiable salary and benefits to the CEO in accordance with its emoluments structure. * Method of application* Applicants should provide details of all their qualifications, including university degrees as well as management and industry certifications. Shortlisted candidates will be informed about their status by mid-December 2013 with a view to arranging for their interviews between 24th and 31st January 2014. The new CEO will be engaged by 1st July 2014 to allow for an induction and transition period before the expiration of the current CEO’s contract. Applications, including detailed curriculum vitae and three traceable referees, should be submitted in electronic form as pdf files *not later than 20th November 2013* to: The Chairman, CEO Search and Selection Committee UbuntuNet Alliance Secretariat P. O. Box 2550, Lilongwe, Malawi. E-mail: cssc.chair(a)ubuntunet.net with a copy to ceo(a)ubuntunet.net and info(a)ubuntunet.net _______________________________________________ NUANCE mailing list NUANCE(a)lists.ubuntunet.net http://lists.ubuntunet.net/listinfo/nuance -- Tiwonge Msulira Banda, Mobile: +26 58 88 94 07 40 Alt Email: tiwonge(a)banda.name Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18 (KJV)

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Re: [kictanet] State cancels the Laptop Project tender process?
by Matunda Nyanchama 17 Oct '13

17 Oct '13

Govt should use this to get back to the drawing board and plan this thing systematically, otherwise we may end up with another Anglo Leasing. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, CISSP; mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com; Twitter: nmatunda; Skype: okiambe ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Manage your ICT risks! We are the experts you need! The trusted partners you deserve! Call: +1-888-587-1150 (Canada) +254-20-267-0743 (Kenya) or info(a)aganoconsulting.com Licensed by Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The best revenge is massive success" - Frank Sinatra----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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News Flush: National government to relocate to Konza (pun intended)
by robert yawe 17 Oct '13

17 Oct '13

Hi, Disclaimer: I reserve the right to keep my sources secret It has become clear that we have multiple unresolved issues that have arisen from the devolution of governance of this the most critical has been that of the seat of the national government. For the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church to receive the relevant recognition he had to govern a piece of earth, called the Vatican State, if Washington DC was a state with a governor, who was a Republican, Obama would today find himself homeless. The former situation is what affects the current national government, they are at the mercy of a Governor who could go rogue and shut them down or hold them hostage. This situation makes Dr. Kidero a super Governor as he can attend all National Government and Presidential functions, whether invited or not, that take place in Nairobi. He could also decide to punish any governor who does not toe his line by denying him access to the city and by extension the National Government. Devolution created 47 physical states and one virtual state (National Government) and based on the teachings from "hekaya za abunuwasi" we know what can happen to the owner of the flat that does not have access to the ground. From my sources, who as indicated above shall remain unnamed, the National Government has found a solution to this impasse, relocate to Konza. The process is in high gear and it is said to have been an issue of discussion with the Chinese Government during the presidents recent visit. Konza is to be hived off from 3 different counties and placed under a specially created authority that will oversee all activities that normally would be the responsibility of a county thus creating the 48th county and giving the National Government a physical anchor, with a title deed. It will also mean that parliament and the senate will need to be relocated thus leaving Dr. Kidero and the county parliament with a new home. Statehouse will be treated any of the others spread around the country, even though Dr. Kidero has been eying it as a possible residents. Therefore what this means is that we shall need to wait a little longer for the techno-polis but options abound with Dr. Mutua in Machakos, Kabogo in Kiambu and Ranguma in Kisumu who are also planning to develop technocities. Regards Useful links http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/120128/new-chinese-b… http://techmoran.com/uhuru-kenyatta-asks-china-to-invest-in-kenyas-10-billi… http://mobile.nation.co.ke/business/Sh8bn-dam-to-supply-Konza-city-water/-/… - Konza to be self sufficient in water and power (military strategy) http://vimeo.com/58618218 - This shows the development of a new city to rival Nairobi http://buildesign.co.ke/illegal-structures-mushrooming-around-konza-city/ - 1 10 kilometer security buffer zone http://www.lands.go.ke/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=228&I… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HITEC_City - Who is Konza competing against All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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is MCK too ambition trying to regulate bloggers ...
by Sam Gichuru 17 Oct '13

17 Oct '13

Do our Bloggers need to be regulated or is MCK uninformed and ignorant? Article by Lucy Wachira with opinions from bloggers and bake below. http://140friday.com/bloggers-to-mck-we-are-here-to-stay-start-adapting/ -- 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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