February 2013 - KICTANet

University of Nairobi Set Top Boxes
by Dennis Kioko 18 Feb '13

18 Feb '13

At the launch of the National ICT Masterplan 2017, Dr. Ndemo mentioned that UoN had come up with a prototype Set Top Box, but had lacked investors to mass manufacture the same. Wouldn't have funds such as the Tandaa Grants and other funds the ICT Board is using to fund developers have come in handy here? Since most of the funds go to software applications, would have been good to fund this project, even if funding would mean that government maintained equity in the venture? -- with Regards: blog.denniskioko.com <http://www.denniskioko.com/>

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Re: [kictanet] Mocality closing down?
by Sam Aguyo 17 Feb '13

17 Feb '13

We need more of James Mwangi and SK Macharia in the local field. These people are game changers in their own rights. Mwangi took banking to the unbankable at the time when multinationals were closing down their branches including the ones they operated ever since i was young. SK a trailblazer showed others that people can make money from media. All these are local success stories. We expect multinationals to bring more money and more jobs, we are wrong unfortunately. We have our own ecosystem which we understand better than anybody else. We have the latitude of starting small learn the ropes and escalate ---------- Sent via Nokia Email ------Original message------ From: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> To: <saguyo(a)yahoo.com> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Sunday, February 17, 2013 3:26:43 PM GMT+0000 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Mocality closing down? It not unusual when a company fails. Indeed start-up mortality rate in Silicon Valley is highest. The questions we must ask are why did it happen? Could they do things differently? What do we learn from this? Any innovation like life will die. Death in enterprise is a certainty unless you understand Shumpeter's theory. In his thinking, he defined an entrepreneur differently and very close to what can be referred to a serial innovator. If you take IBM for example it has changed its core business several times in its 100 year history. When the US discovered a VCR, they did not think it can be a hot product since people liked to watch movies on a big screen. The Japanese had a different idea and one that changed how we watch movies. I have tried to understand why IMOBI closed its business yet their services are in great demand. Some of the answers I am getting include the fact that Africa's returns to investment were below that of developed countries and they wanted to focus where their bread and butter came from. Here again we have the opportunities to look at this from a different angle as Japanese did and succeed. Unfortunately, we may not look into doing a small paper on such failures and seek for new areas. We tend to agree with decisions of close down simply because we do not have the confidence to challenge them and do things differently. I am certain that if we do a bit of research on Mocality, we shall come with a new sustainable enterprise. We must begin to regenerate our enterprises otherwise we shall keep on finding ourselves in the dustbin all the time. We can be a technology leader if we always to try to understand our ecosystem and do things the way we understand them. The Western world dominates the rest of us simply because they investigate every happening even within our environment. Instead of condemning recent failures, let us understand why and what we can learn from that. This is what is referred to as a knowledge society. Ndemo. Sent from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: Gilda Odera <godera(a)skyweb.co.ke> Sender: "kictanet" <kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2013 12:06:10 To: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Mocality closing down? _______________________________________________ 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. _______________________________________________ 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/saguyo%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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Agriculture: Indian farmers said to have made record harvests by planting less, using no herbicides or fertilizers
by Dennis Kioko 17 Feb '13

17 Feb '13

For those of you interested in Agriculture, or perhaps those who are farmers or advise farmers: In a village in India's poorest state, Bihar, farmers are growing world record amounts of rice – with no GM, and no herbicide. Is this one solution to world food shortages? http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2013/feb/16/india-rice-farmers… -- with Regards: blog.denniskioko.com <http://www.denniskioko.com/>

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Re: [kictanet] COFEK: Formalin in Milk
by Dorcas Muthoni 15 Feb '13

15 Feb '13

Very unfortunate indeed, Stephen has now resulted to a war with me off list. See below and judge for yourself what COFEK is most likely to be about. On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 10:45 PM, stephen Mutoro <smutoro(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > Thanks Dorcas, > > I wasn't too sure I ought to reply to you further. But after seeing the > post below, I decided I should as follows; > > You may wish to over-stretch your argument in the manner you want and for > reasons best known to yourself. As far as we are concerned, we have no > apologies for calling yours a "hear-say". From your initial email - you > simply attended "several presentations" where it was mentioned, that is it! > You thereafter have no idea in what way, proportions, by whom and from > which part of the country the dangerous offense that has potential to bring > down a whole industry is concerned. Perhaps you over-rated us that you > equally failed to report the issue first to the milk regulator - KDB. > Unfortunately you decided this is the only basis you can judge our > competence. While I wouldn't cast aspersions on you, the way you did on > Cofek, I can simply say this - if you have no confidence in us, we respect > your right to your debatable opinion. > > Allow us our opinion too - that like Meshack Emakunat puts it (in a more > diplomatic way), Cofek and I will not act on alarmist hear-says which only > condemn without solutions. We are not about grabbing newspaper headlines > with unproven allegations. The list of such allegations are countless i.e > that butchers use the same formalin to preserve unsold meat. All that could > be true. But unless they are proven by competent authorities, they will > remain sensational non-sense. What a consumer body does as we are already > doing - is not to suggest to consumers what is recommended. Why? If you > condemned company x making brand y milk, that company x will simply switch > to brand z which would be the same as what would have been condemned! > > Finally, if you don't mind, subscribe to the "Consumer Pride" mailing > list, coming soon, when will announce a joint Consumer Dialogue Forum with > the Kenya Dairy Board on milk safety. You can, if still interested attend > and put your question straight to your real target. Thanks again, > > Regards, > Stephen > > > ------------------------------ > *From:* meshack emakunat <memakunat(a)yahoo.com> > *To:* smutoro(a)yahoo.com > *Cc:* Meshack <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > *Sent:* Sunday, February 10, 2013 9:20 PM > *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] COFEK: Formalin in Milk > > Am sure most food scientist present in the list will find it amusing that > milk processors are adding formalin in milk for the purposes of > preservation.considering all the approved milk preservasion process like > packaging homoniginazation and pasturrization process that milk processors > invest in. Such accusation can damage a whole industry and its > dependents(farmers employees and other beneficiaries. I only wish that you > clarify which milk processors considering that there are many dozens of > milk processors from licenced to local unlicensed. Example we have kcc, > brookside,sameer and on the other hand distribution from farmer to > consumer(direct to consumer) without the value addition process which are > more likely to be the culprits ( maziwa ya ngombe) unlike. (Maziwa ya > packet) processed milk > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android > > ------------------------------ > * From: * Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com>; > * To: * <memakunat(a)yahoo.com>; > * Cc: * KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; > * Subject: * Re: [kictanet] COFEK: Formalin in Milk > * Sent: * Wed, Feb 6, 2013 7:32:47 PM > > Dear Stephen, > > I feel sorry about your reply below to me. > > To be very honest with you, a lot of Kenyan consumers would respect you > (person and COFEK at large) more if you focused on dealing with such issues > and not passing the buck to consumers who send you alerts. > > I am actually very amazed that you refer to my consumer alert as a > "hear-say". > > Stephen, i really do wish COFEK the best. I am afraid, if you not have a > credible consumer protection strategy, COFEK may indirectly/directly lead > to consumer sabotage. > > NB: I have never communicated with COFEK on Facebook but only on email and > addressed to yourself. > > Muthoni > > > On Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 5:48 PM, stephen Mutoro <smutoro(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > I am sure we did reply to you. My office says that there was a reply and > especially on our Facebook page. Sorry if we didn't. But I am sure you will > appreciate that we can only do as much as our capacity can allow > considering we have no own laboratory; we are not funded by the taxpayer > and that we cannot act on hear-says. I wish you appreciated that this was > immediately on our website and lots of sensitization achieved > http://www.cofek.co.ke/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1124:mi…, such issues are continuous as we held a Consumer Dialogue Forum on > food additive at InterContinental on September 12 and that issue was in my > remarks. The Chief Public Health Officer Dr Ombacho discounted the fears > and pledged investigations. Hope it suffices. Regards > > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com> > *To:* smutoro(a)yahoo.com > *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > *Sent:* Tuesday, February 5, 2013 3:42 PM > *Subject:* [kictanet] COFEK: Formalin in Milk > > I know milk has nothing to do with ICT but i shared this concern with > COFEK and they ignored it. Which consumers or issues do COFEK prefer to > deal with? Just asking for those saying they act for the public...... > > *See more below.. > * > > *Summary*: > > ======================================================================================================= > Dear Stephen, > > I have attended several presentations that have indicated that many milk > processing companies in Kenya are using formalin to preserve milk sold to > consumers. > > Formalin is a chemical normally used to preserve dead bodies. Formalin has > many negative impacts on human health. If it becomes part of food, it turns > into formic acid in human body and increases acidity level. More intake of > formalin can cause breathing problems, coma and even death. > > US Environment Protection Agency and International Agency for Research on > Cancer count formalin as one of the cancer-causing agents. > > Can COFEK try and investigate this. > > With so many deaths being reported from cancer and every urban dweller > entirely dependent on milk from the shops right from early childhood, we > are very exposed if this is actually true. > > Stephen, please advice if you shall investigate this further and protect > the consumer. > > I am sure you are also consuming these products every day. > > Regards, > Muthoni > > > ======================================================================================================= > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: *Dorcas Muthoni* <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com> > Date: Fri, Sep 7, 2012 at 3:24 PM > Subject: Re: Formalin in Milk > To: hotline(a)cofek.co.ke > Cc: jack juma <jack(a)cofek.co.ke>, Theresia Watowa <theresia(a)cofek.co.ke> > > > Sorry, what else do you want to know? This last line is not clear. > > > On Fri, Sep 7, 2012 at 9:50 AM, Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) < > hotline(a)cofek.co.ke> wrote: > > ** > Ok but can we know who you please > Sent from my BlackBerry® > ------------------------------ > *From: * Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com> > *Date: *Fri, 7 Sep 2012 09:39:53 +0300 > *To: *<hotline(a)cofek.co.ke> > *Cc: *jack juma<jack(a)cofek.co.ke>; Theresia Watowa<theresia(a)cofek.co.ke> > *Subject: *Re: Formalin in Milk > > Stephen, > > I don't have evidence but Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) and KEBS > should be able to provide accountability because the milk producers are all > showing the KEBS logo for quality. > > I am a layman in this, just very concerned about because presentations are > coming from health and nutrition experts talking about this. > > Please try and see what you can do for the consumer. > > Many thanks, > Muthoni > > On Fri, Sep 7, 2012 at 9:30 AM, Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) < > hotline(a)cofek.co.ke> wrote: > > ** > It is being acted upon although you never provided any facts and > supporting evidence > Sent from my BlackBerry® > ------------------------------ > *From: * Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com> > *Date: *Fri, 7 Sep 2012 09:27:10 +0300 > *To: *<hotline(a)cofek.co.ke> > *Cc: *<stephen(a)cofek.co.ke> > *Subject: *Re: Formalin in Milk > > Dear Stephen, > > I thought COFEK would acknowledge receipt if this email and say whether is > an area you will look into or not. > > Regards, > Muthoni > > On Fri, Aug 31, 2012 at 12:33 PM, Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com>wrote: > > Dear Stephen, > > I have attended several presentations that have indicated that many milk > processing companies in Kenya are using formalin to preserve milk sold to > consumers. > > Formalin is a chemical normally used to preserve dead bodies. Formalin has > many negative impacts on human health. If it becomes part of food, it turns > into formic acid in human body and increases acidity level. More intake of > formalin can cause breathing problems, coma and even death. > > US Environment Protection Agency and International Agency for Research on > Cancer count formalin as one of the cancer-causing agents. > > Can COFEK try and investigate this. > > With so many deaths being reported from cancer and every urban dweller > entirely dependent on milk from the shops right from early childhood, we > are very exposed if this is actually true. > > Stephen, please advice if you shall investigate this further and protect > the consumer. > > I am sure you are also consuming these products every day. > > Regards, > Muthoni > > > > > -- > 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!!! > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/smutoro%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. > > > > > -- > 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!!! > > _______________________________________________ > 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/smutoro%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. > > -- 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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The Post Office Fiasco Shows Why America Is Doomed - Lessons for Posta and Kenya?
by Ali Hussein 15 Feb '13

15 Feb '13

Listers An interesting article on where the Postal Services are going..the way of the Dinosaur? The United States Postal Service has made a perfectly sensible decision. In light of the move by most Americans to electronic mail and online bill pay, it will no longer deliver the post on Saturdays. The volume of mail has plummeted over the past five years, and the service is deep in the red. Taking Saturdays off will save it about $2 billion a year. It's a smart move. But the way it came about is a portent of doom. Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/post-office-shows-why-america-is-doomed-2013… What lessons for Africa in general and Kenya in particular? Ali Hussein CEO | 3mice interactive media Ltd Principal | Telemedia Africa Ltd +254 773/713 601113 "The future belongs to him who knows how to wait." - Russian Proverb Sent from my iPad

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Vacancy in the CCK Board
by Davis Onsakia 15 Feb '13

15 Feb '13

FYI There is a vacancy at CCK Board. Interested candidates may apply to the PS at ps(a)information.go.ke Qualification: At least a first degree and a clear understanding of consumer issues in ICT. Many on this list I believe qualify. #InThePapers 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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Kenyan Senate: Why not in Konza?
by S.M. Muraya 14 Feb '13

14 Feb '13

The Kenyan Senate is to be developed for KES 6B in Nairobi? Why not in Konza? What plans are there for county teleconferencing & e-voting facilities? This, for .KE Senators who cannot travel to Nairobi (or Konza?) to participate in debates/discussions electronically. Note, this also provides electronic records of debates :)

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Kenya ICT Masterplan to be launched tomorrow
by Grace Githaiga 14 Feb '13

14 Feb '13

The Kenya ICT Board is set to launch Kenya’s four year ICT master plan. It projects that by 2017: 1. Every citizen, resident, home and institution will be connected through a countrywide robust, accessible and affordable ICT infrastructure. 2. Kenya will become the leading ICT HUB in Africa attracting leading global players and generating globally respected local entrepreneurship and innovation. 3. Public Services will be available to all citizens through ICT and ICT will enable a truly open and efficient Government delivering meaningful value to citizens. 4. Kenya will be a Knowledge Based Economy. All Kenyans will be able to use ICT to improve their knowledge, businesses and livelihood. ICT will contribute greatly to Kenya’s economic growth. http://www.wanjiku.co.ke/2013/02/kenya-ict-masterplan-to-be-launched-tomorr…

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Re: [kictanet] #KEDebate13
by Harry Delano 13 Feb '13

13 Feb '13

Alice Best, I was lurking in the shadows until I took note that the landmark debate in question has not been given 'kipao mbele' here. If I could raise 'hue and cry', that ICT wasn't given the due mileage in that debate, then we could sensitize candidates before the next one that, this is a driver of the current and future economy. Meanwhile, just noticed all the well articulated positions had little or non to borrow from the debate we had a while back here quizzing Dr. Ndemo as a 'future' candidate. If you ask me, the aspirants would benefit a lot from his insights that he widely shared here. Maybe at a consultancy fee..? Just me.. Harry Alice Munyua <alice(a)apc.org> wrote: >Kudos to the media for organising our first ever presidential debate. It >was an important milestone. Very interesting, dealt with real issues >and was also quite entertaining. > > >Best >Alice > > > > > > >-- > > >_______________________________________________ >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/harry%40comtelsys.co.… > >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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Fw: [AfrEA] JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR AfrEA SECRETARIAT ACCRA, GHANA [1 Attachment]
by Florence Etta 13 Feb '13

13 Feb '13

FYI & wide circulation pls Florence Etta Gender Research & Evaluation Consultant Alternative Email: florence.etta(a)gmail.com Skype: Fetta2010 Tel: +1 917-873-1224 ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Adiza Ouando <adouando(a)gmail.com> To: afrea group <AfrEA(a)yahoogroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, 13 February 2013, 9:30 Subject: [AfrEA] JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR AfrEA SECRETARIAT ACCRA, GHANA [1 Attachment] [Attachment(s) from Adiza Ouando included below] Adiza Lamien Ouando AfrEA Secretary -- Independent Consultant Evaluator of Development Projects and Programmes Civil Service Administrator ----------------------------- BP 1609 Bamako, Mali TEL: Landline +(223) 20 79 81 02 . CEL:+(223) 73 38 49 17 +(223) 65 97 24 00 E-mail: adouando(a)gmail.com alo(a)afribonemali.net Skype: adizaouando __._,_.___Attachment(s) from Adiza Ouando 1 of 1 File(s) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR advert Final Version -afrea board- 13-2-2013.pdf Reply via web post Reply to sender Reply to group Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (1) Recent Activity: * New Members 3 Visit Your Group Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use • Send us Feedback . __,_._,___

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