December 2013 - KICTANet

Community frequencies
by robert yawe 05 Dec '13

05 Dec '13

Hi Listers, I recently met a group of Russian developers who have a GSM base station that sells at a tenth of the mainstream ones as it is based on open source technology. The product could have a massive impact on many of Kenya's far-flung communities as it would allow them to set up community based communication networks especially where the ARPU is too low for the commercial operators to venture. For this to work we need to provide a license free GSM frequency such as the 2.5 ghz that is used for data networks, do you know if there is such a provision in the CCK regulations? 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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Postal Corporation Closing Outlets - regurgitated
by robert yawe 05 Dec '13

05 Dec '13

Hi, Yesterday PCK launched their payment platform which allows me to regurgitate a post, below, that I did in 2010 when I started my public campaign to be appointed the PMG. At the launch a clear statement was made on how the government will use the PCK infrastructure to deliver its services to the public a position that was many a times reiterated by Dr. Kate Getao the ICT Secretary, her strategy unlike many of the others seems like it will come to pass. The PASHA, Digital Village and most of the other initiatives have all fallen by the wayside and the one that was ever going to be sustainable has emerged victorious, which raises the question of what has changed in the last 100 days? 1. Dr. Ndemo is no longer in charge of the Information ministry (even though the former minister Hon. Pogisho was prominent at the PCK launch) 2. Mr. Paul Kukubo left the KICT Board 3. KICT Board to be placed under the e-Government docket 4. A digital focused President has taken up the reigns 5. A realisation by those in government that PCK is more than stamps Regards ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> To: Kictanet Mail list <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Friday, 11 June 2010, 10:54 Subject: Postal Corporation Closing Outlets Hi, It is with shock that I read about the closing of some of the post offices around the country by Postal Corporation. This is an indication of a management that has no vision or ambition maybe as a result of using the corporation as a retirement centre. With us trying to achieve universal access, http://www.cck.go.ke/services/universal_access/downloads/FinalUAreport.pdf, shutting down post offices is a step in the wrong direction. It is unfortunate that we have heard no reaction to this issue from the ministry of information, CCK or even Kenya ICTBoard. It is time Postal corporation was run by someone who understands the transitioning of the role of the postal corporation in the digital age, to me they are the perfect platform for rolling out digital villages, outsorucing service and e-commerce. This will avoid the appointment of executives who are more interested in the supply of fuel, tyres and insurance as opposed to moving the organisations to new heights. Implementation of e-mail to mail systems would reduce the costs of transport incurred by PCK which makes up over 60% of their operational costs. Unfortunately most of those who have been appointed to the post of post master general have no appreciation of the role of the postal services in the development of the nation. Do not listen to the myopic stories about the death of the postal service because of e-mail, facebok and twitter as you and I know that a physical item can never be delivered electronically. I believe the appointment of the next post master general and by extension the chief executive of the Kenya ICTBoard and CCK need to include vetting and recommendations from the private sector with clearly defined performance indicators. 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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NIGERIA HAS DONE IT in 2 YEARS!
by Edith Adera 05 Dec '13

05 Dec '13

Listers, Nigerian Agriculture Minister, Dr Akinwumi Adesina (former VP of AGRA), has been named Forbes African Person of the Year for his reforms to the country's farming sector. He has made use of ICTs to transform how inputs are procured, cutting out corrupt deals, and shifting mindsets towards agriculture as a business. Very transformative indeed! In Kenya, we need to move away from politics, roll up sleeves and work! http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/12/02/akinwumi-adesina-awarded-forbes-a…

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Kenya, bracing for $23 million in online fraud, to support African cybercrime pact - See more at: http://www.computerworld.com.sg/tech/industries/kenya-bracing-for-23-million-in-online-fraud-to-support-african-cybercrime-pact/#sthash.ONpQU4Nk.dpuf
by Grace Githaiga 05 Dec '13

05 Dec '13

Amid revelations that Kenya could lose up to US$23 million this year through cybercrime, the Kenyan government has announced its support for the ratification of the African Union (AU) convention on the establishment of a credible legal framework for cybersecurity in Africa. According to cybercrime statistics released by Fred Matiangi, the Kenyan cabinet secretary for information and communication technology (ICT), the banking industry is the most affected by cybercrime. - For more see http://www.computerworld.com.sg/tech/industries/kenya-bracing-for-23-millio…

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IDLELO 6 2014 Conference - Call For Papers
by John Matogo 04 Dec '13

04 Dec '13

Dear colleagues. The 2014 Idlelo 6 Planning Committee is now accepting proposals for papers and presentations at the IDLELO 6 Conference. The Conference will be held at Strathmore University, Nairobi Kenya from the 24th to 28th March 2014. The theme for conference is "Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) for Development". Submissions are invited under the following broad topics: - Open Innovation - Open Government - Open Development - Open Data - Open Leadership - Open Standards/Open Hardware - FOSS Technologies - Open Education Resources - FOSS for Education - Security & FOSS - Interoperability - FOSS for SMEs - FOSS for entertainment - FOSS and Intellectual Property - FOSS in the public sector - F OSS and Entrepreneurship Key Dates: - Abstract ( Maximum 500 words): 31st December 2013 - 1st Draft Papers: 24th January 2013 - Final papers: 28th February 2013 Send submissions t o: papers(a)idlelo.net More information about the conference and submission details can be found at www.idlelo.net 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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Enterprise Management Software
by Edith Adera 04 Dec '13

04 Dec '13

Listers, Does anyone has a rough estimate, in Dollars, of the price of a modern enterprise software to run full operations of a University? Kindly send me the info directly. Thanks Edith

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Native Ads: The debate and how regulators and industry are collaborating to define this new medium
by Ali Hussein 04 Dec '13

04 Dec '13

Listers From a policy formulation perspective and examples of how private sector, NGOs and Government can collaborate to ensure consumer interest, best practice and industry growth are aligned this is a good example. http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/iab-sorts-out-native-ahead-ftc-worksh… Ali Hussein +254 0770 906375 / 0713 601113 "I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein Sent from my iPad

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Is CCK right to require firms to host websites locally?
by Ali Hussein 03 Dec '13

03 Dec '13

This story is refusing to die...I'm sure aggravated by CCKs silence on this.. Wambua, can you at please tell us the DG was misquoted? Walu puts it nicely here.. http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/-require-firms-to-host-websites-loc… Ali Hussein +254 0770 906375 / 0713 601113 "I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein Sent from my iPad

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Fwd: Laptops for 2014 class 1 entrants
by Gilda Odera 03 Dec '13

03 Dec '13

Regards, Gilda Odera Begin forwarded message: > From: Gilda Odera <godera(a)skyweb.co.ke> > Date: April 10, 2013 12:02:14 PM GMT+03:00 > To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Laptops for 2014 class 1 entrants > > Listers, > > My recommendation is that this project should start from Form 1. Reasons: > > 1. We need to generate interest and start building that capacity base ASAP. Waiting for the standard ones to finish school is way too long. > 2. Given the tight budgets the country is currently facing in implementing the constitution, it is wiser to work with less numbers yet still achieve the desired outcome as things settle down over the next five years. > 3. Once successful in high schools, the project can be rolled to primary schools. By then, results of giving the high school students laptops will be evident and there should be sufficient budgets to roll both. > > In my view, capacity building is urgent in the ICT industry and therefore this noble idea should prioritise those who are bound to start innovating and harnessing their skills- which really are high school students. > My two cents. > > Regards, > > Gilda Odera > > On Apr 10, 2013, at 9:55 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > >> Another reason why the laptop project is the future >> >> http://pandodaily.com/2013/04/05/ten-websites-that-teach-coding-and-a-bunch… >> >> regards >> >> >> Robert Yawe >> KAY System Technologies Ltd >> Phoenix House, 6th Floor >> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 >> Kenya >> >> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 >> From: Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> >> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk >> Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> Sent: Wednesday, 10 April 2013, 8:40 >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Laptops for 2014 class 1 entrants >> >> >> @Yawe, >> >> I was on travel (not to SA :-) but caught up with our two new Principals. Great speeches. But if there's someone already in the new Presidents kitchen cabinet plse pass the following news. Just drop the laptop business or at least modify it because of the following reasons. >> >> 1. Curriculum. >> Ok. So the kids have laptops next year. What to do with them? Play games, watch porn? In other words do we have an IT curriculum for these youngsters or we believe they will automatically become Bill Gates once we throw gadgets at them.? >> >> 2. IT Teachers. >> Assuming we cobble together some curriculum before next year. How soon can we get out primary teachers upto speed on the same? Do we have a ToT program in place. ToT= Training of Trainers for the non-academics. >> >> 3. Examinations. >> It is known that Kenyans learn ONLY when it is examinable. Indeed teachers make space in their timetables if they know the unit is examinable. Otherwise you can as well do your IT lessons at home as your hobby since the lesson will NOT be scheduled at the expense of say Mathematics which is examinable. So is the KNEC ready with this exam? >> >> 4. Security/Theft. >> If folks can still IEBC laptops from secure strongrooms, what about laptops hanging either in staffrooms or on standard 1 pupils? What about a poor parent who opts to trade in the laptop in favour of cash to use for other purposes? This is not far fetched since even the largely successful Wezesha Laptop initiative were University students got subsidized Laptops and quite a number sold them off at market price. >> >> 5. Maintenance\Disposal program. >> Usually laptops are rarely maintained. Just dump them after 3-4yrs. So we need to think efficient disposal mechanism for 1million+ gadgets across rural and urban Kenya. Worse still those Kids will now be in standard 4 and so our buget for laptops will double -both for Sdt1s and the Std4s. >> >> But I have a simple solution for our new digital President. Just traget Form1s and perharps forget Laptops and adopt Networked >> PCs. The ecosytem described above is more mature to take on this great idea. Our Primary schools will just drain this initiative with little returns to the taxpayer. >> >> walu. >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 7:56 AM AST (Arabian) robert yawe wrote: >> >> >Hi, >> > >> >I like the confirmation by the President - sworn and his deputy on the issue of laptops for class 1 students from next year, it is commendable and quite easily achievable but as ICT experts are laptops the ideal items or would low power touchscreen tablets be more practical and appropriate? However .com that the two principles are I suspect that they might not be up to speed on devices. >> > >> >Here again for the umpteenth time the opportunity for us to become relevant presents itself, shall we take action or sit back to carry out a forensic analysis when only 80% of the students get the devices? >> > >> >Regards >> > >> >PS. A new dispensation, a new dedication and new vigor >> > >> > >> > >> >Robert Yawe >> >KAY System Technologies Ltd >> >Phoenix House, 6th Floor >> >P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 >> >Kenya >> > >> > >> >Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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/godera%40skyweb.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.

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 79, Issue 8
by Edwin Onchari 03 Dec '13

03 Dec '13

IMHO, the DG and by extension the new CS lack innovation, otherwise they would have sought of better ways to utilize the corporation's infrastructure - including seeking contributions from this forum. Kind regards, Edwin -----Original Message----- From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2013 12:00 PM To: Edwin Subject: kictanet Digest, Vol 79, Issue 8 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: Postal Corporation Closing Outlets - regurgitated (robert yawe) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 3 Dec 2013 05:03:06 +0000 (GMT) From: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> To: Kictanet Mail list <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Postal Corporation Closing Outlets - regurgitated Message-ID: <1386046986.67555.YahooMailNeo(a)web171701.mail.ir2.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Listers, If anyone of you can get the following link to either the Cabinet Secretary for IC&T Dr. Matiangi and the Posta Master General Dr. Kinara please forward it and hopefully they will realise that closing post office locations and laying off staff is the worst thing they can do for the growth of e-commerce in the region. http://www.bloomberg.com/video/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-amazon-package-oFml8Y tmTsO0dS3yjwPZng.html Regards ? Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 On Wednesday, 31 July 2013, 11:44, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Hi, Yesterday PCK launched their payment platform which allows me to regurgitate a post, below, that I did in 2010 when I started my public campaign to be appointed the PMG. At the launch a clear statement was made on how the government will use the PCK infrastructure to deliver its services to the public a position that was many a times reiterated by Dr. Kate Getao the ICT Secretary, her strategy unlike many of the others seems like it will come to pass.? The PASHA, Digital Village and most of the other initiatives have all fallen by the wayside and the one that was ever going to be sustainable has emerged victorious, which raises the question of what has changed in the last 100 days? ??? 1.? Dr. Ndemo is no longer in charge of the Information ministry (even though the former minister Hon. Pogisho was prominent at the PCK launch) ??? 2.? Mr. Paul Kukubo left the KICT Board ??? 3.? KICT Board to be placed under the e-Government docket ??? 4.? A digital focused President has taken up the reigns ??? 5.? A realisation by those in government that PCK is more than stamps?? Regards ??? ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> To: Kictanet Mail list <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Friday, 11 June 2010, 10:54 Subject: Postal Corporation Closing Outlets Hi, It is with shock that I read about the closing of some of the post offices around the country by?Postal?Corporation. ?This is an indication of a management that has no vision or?ambition?maybe as a result of using the corporation as a retirement centre.? With us trying to achieve universal access, ?http://www.cck.go.ke/services/universal_access/downloads/FinalUAreport.pdf, shutting down post offices is a step in the wrong direction. ?It is unfortunate that we have heard no reaction to this issue from the ministry of information, CCK or even Kenya ICTBoard. ? It is time Postal corporation was run by someone who understands the transitioning of the role of the postal corporation in the digital age, to me they are the perfect platform for rolling out digital villages, outsorucing service and e-commerce. ?This will avoid the appointment of executives who are more interested in the supply of fuel, tyres and insurance as opposed to moving the organisations to new heights. Implementation of e-mail to mail systems would reduce the costs of transport incurred by PCK which makes up over 60% of their operational costs. ?Unfortunately most of those who have been appointed to the post of post master general have no appreciation of the role of the postal services in the development of the nation. Do not listen to the myopic stories about the death of the postal service because of e-mail, facebok and twitter as you and I know that a physical item can never be delivered electronically. I believe the appointment of the next post master general and by extension the chief executive of the Kenya ICTBoard and CCK need to include vetting and recommendations from the private sector with clearly defined performance indicators. ? Regards ?Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 _______________________________________________ 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/robertyawe%40yahoo.co. uk 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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