March 2013 - KICTANet

Re: [kictanet] Our Response to Systematic ICT Systems Failure at IEBC
by Sam Aguyo 12 Mar '13

12 Mar '13

Edith, an audit can be done, but what happens when one is found calpable? Bankers, have - KBA, Lawyers - Law Society, Doctors, Engineers, these bodies have teeth and can deregister a member, therefore feared. ICT have the highest number of registered loose organisations addressing different objectives, does it mean there is no common factor or the rapid developments in the ICT sector is too desruptive, does it mean ICT is just a tool and remains one like a tractor to ploughing however you can have an association for drivers? Sam Aguyo ------------------------------ On Tue, Mar 12, 2013 4:35 PM AST (Arabian) Edith Adera wrote: >Harry, > >Not sure you were in Kenya or buried your head in the sand! > >It's a fact that the system did not work and IEBC had to revert to the manual system as reported by the Chair of the IEBC on TV. > >We need to learn to tell the truth as a country and confront our issues. Someone suggested on this list, can't remember who, that as an ICT industry an audit should be carried out so we know what went wrong and learn for the future. > >Why do we always turn to the easy targets....tribalism, partisan interests etc when hard questions are asked? > >Edith > >From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.ca@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Harry Delano >Sent: March 12, 2013 3:22 PM >To: Edith Adera >Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >Subject: [kictanet] Our Response to Systematic ICT Systems Failure at IEBC > > >Aye..! > >Could someone please aver what the furor was all about on this list when systems failed at IEBC last week. I thought it was so that >we could address systemic issues in that part of the election process..? Please someone correct me, but I seem to be settling on >this conclusion that we collectively only raise hue and cry when the system(s) are perceived to be working against "us", or not in >"our" interests - whichever side of divide each one of us sits. Once they serve 'our' interests, we quickly move on.. So where is >posterity in all this..? A pattern emerges where well calculated intellectual arguments everywhere nowadays, that thinly veil and >mask the real motives in us. We completely bury our heads in the ground and deny that we have deeply rooted issues that stem >from tribe, class etc and as a result, we are caught up in this vicious cycle that we cannot seem to free ourselves from and which >clouds our entire vision as a nation. Who will free us, if we do not take initiative ourselves..? How and when will we as a nation >confront this 'monster' head on, by first of all acknowledging it exists. Then moving to deal with it. Can this list be at the forefront >of it..? > >If so, let's start now.. > >Harry

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Safaricom
by Edith Adera 12 Mar '13

12 Mar '13

Listers, It just occurred to me to ask if anyone knows whether you can convert airtime to mpesa money and effect a transfer via mpesa? If not, has Safaricom thought of this innovation? Edith

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how positive can foreign media be?
by Evans Ikua 12 Mar '13

12 Mar '13

Wow, this is a gem from Time: "At this election, with a new 2010 constitution, and a new electoral body with a new — though not glitch-free — electronic voting system, Kenyans’ determination to hold a peaceful election has been palpable. *The popular mood has also been notably anti-Western. Foreign diplomats have been warned of blood-curdling revenge should they interfere in the poll*. *Foreign journalists have been publicly ridiculed and denounced as prejudiced if they predicted chaos and disaster.* And a central message of most candidates’ campaigns was strident, patriotic self-determination." Read more: http://world.time.com/2013/03/09/kenyas-election-what-uhuru-kenyattas-victo… -- *---------------------------------------------------- Kind Regards, Evans Ikua,*

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IEBC: Failure from the top!
by Odhiambo Washington 12 Mar '13

12 Mar '13

Well, it just looks like the failures of this man, Hassan Ahmed Isaack, were foreseen. Two articles by Sarah Elderkin and by Miguna Miguna appear to paint the picture of "failure from the start - and from the top" Miguna-Miguna: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-56375/iiec-chair-isaack-does-not-des… Sarah Elderkin: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-108148/iebc-must-fix-results-transmi… Back to my rusty cocoon. -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler.

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Re: [kictanet] how positive can foreign media be?
by Warigia Bowman 12 Mar '13

12 Mar '13

Brian, Plus one (+1) ndugu Wenzangu, I am all for complete press freedom and I think I was outspoken about censorship on this very list before this election. Now that the election is over is certainly a legitimate time for us to uncover corruption and bad behavior. However, there is no need for the foreign press to focus obsessively on the 6 police persons who were killed, or that the winner is in front of the ICC. A selection from my (usually beloved) *New York Times* from this morning. Mr. Kenyatta, who has been accused by prosecutors at the International Criminal Court in The Hague of bankrolling death squads during Kenya’s last election crisis, cleared the 50 percent threshold and avoided a runoff by the thinnest of margins, about 8,000 votes out of 12 million, or .07 percent. >From my perspective as a "foreigner" with very strong Kenyan ties and roots, I think about 40 people should be in the Hague, and am dissapointed that only five or so are there! Al Jazeera and the Times can do a better job of reporting on this election, I think. Kind regards, Warigia On Mon, Mar 11, 2013 at 4:11 PM, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com>wrote: > FYI > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com> > Date: Mon, Mar 11, 2013 at 11:47 PM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] how positive can foreign media be? > To: Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > > Dear All, > > First and foremost let me go on record here (I have already done so > elsewhere) and congratulate/thank the local media for their part in > ensuring a peaceful election. > > As for the International media - I think that the tirade against them by > Kenyans is an indictment against the (foreign) fourth estate. > > The local media already went through their indictment in 2008 - and this > time round voluntarily opted to adhere to a code of conduct and certain > protocols. > > One example was not airing live any press statements by political parties > or aspirants and subjecting any such footage to strict vetting according to > the standards voluntarily adopted. The fact that international media aired > many of these press statements where their local counterparts did not is > (sufficient?) grounds for the sharp criticism launched against (all of) > them by Kenyans. > > Andrea - by now you should know that being a member of the fourth estate > means that you are right in there with the good, the bad and the ugly and > it is only one measuring stick that is used for all of you, so if enough of > you fall short - that is the measure that will be used for all. Pole sana > for your feeling under attack, this is exactly how local media who did not > propagate hate speech in 2007/2008 felt. > > Nevertheless, it is clear that the point that Kenyans made has sunk home > because there has been a clear change in the tone and language of pieces > coming from the foreign media. > > Power to the people! > > Best regards, > > Brian > > On Mon, Mar 11, 2013 at 10:47 PM, Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> wrote: > >> Andrea >> >> I know it may not be a popular thing to say right now but I agree with >> you entirely. Let's not throw the baby with the bath water. >> >> I personally was very disappointed with the lack of creativity and use of >> data to extrapolate, analyze and give intelligent synopsis of what was >> happening. I felt let down by the fact that the information was there but >> none of the mainstream local media used it to give us more than what the >> IEBC was giving us on their screen. I found it particularly dumbfounding >> when we started counting the votes again when we had reached almost >> 4million votes. That was an opportunity for a good narrative that Kenyans >> needed to hear. But no..we focused so much on the message of peace (not >> that I am against peace) that we forgot that the whole process had to be so >> much above board as to render anyone who questioned the results seem like a >> joke. Unfortunately we lost that opportunity. >> >> Now we have another opportunity to stress test our new constitution and >> institutions. This may be a silver lining that God has given us so let >> those who are dissatisfied with the results have their day in court without >> them being vilified as being unpatriotic. >> >> My pesa nane.. >> >> Ali Hussein >> >> +254 773/713 601113 >> >> "The future belongs to him who knows how to wait." - Russian Proverb >> >> Sent from my iPad >> >> On Mar 11, 2013, at 9:52 PM, Andrea Bohnstedt < >> andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com> wrote: >> >> Maybe Kenya would have been important enough anyway to cover the >> elections? And I know of many Kenyans who also stocked up on food as well >> (when they haven't left the country) - you just needed to spend a bit of >> time in supermarket queues before the elections to see that it was a very >> solid mix of everyone who lives here. >> >> Any Kenyan would rightly take offense with being wholesale painted as >> tribal murderers based on 1,500 people having died in 2007/early 08. But >> what you do is turn around and do exactly the same thing to 'foreign >> media'. >> >> Yes, there were completely idiotic, wrong, stereotypical articles, and >> they should be ridiculed every single one. But there were also many >> competent, insightful, sober pieces. And there are many members of the >> international who don't just swoop in for elections, but actually live >> here. Maybe we can judge them one by one rather than condemning all of them >> wholesale? >> >> In this forum, it will probably be a tricky argument to make that some of >> the international media actually still (soberly, factually) reported where >> the local media just shut up. So I won't make it. >> >> And in the meantime, I hope that everyone who's so irritated with the >> international media will apply the same amount of scrutiny and criticism to >> the local media and the corruption inside that system. >> >> >> >> >> >> On 11 March 2013 20:18, Warigia Bowman <warigia(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> Personally, I am feeling very angry at the foreign media. Thanks Evans >>> for this shocking ridiculousness. we need to expose them! >>> >>> I wrote this yesterday. >>> >>> >>> http://digitaldemocracykenya.blogspot.com/2013/03/feeling-frustrated-with-c… >>> >>> On Mon, Mar 11, 2013 at 5:30 AM, Evans Ikua <ikua.evans(a)gmail.com>wrote: >>> >>>> Wow, this is a gem from Time: >>>> >>>> >>>> "At this election, with a new 2010 constitution, and a new electoral >>>> body with a new — though not glitch-free — electronic voting system, >>>> Kenyans’ determination to hold a peaceful election has been palpable. *The >>>> popular mood has also been notably anti-Western. Foreign diplomats >>>> have been warned of blood-curdling revenge should they interfere in the poll >>>> *. *Foreign journalists have been publicly ridiculed and denounced as >>>> prejudiced if they predicted chaos and disaster.* And a central >>>> message of most candidates’ campaigns was strident, patriotic >>>> self-determination." >>>> >>>> Read more: >>>> http://world.time.com/2013/03/09/kenyas-election-what-uhuru-kenyattas-victo… >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> *---------------------------------------------------- >>>> Kind Regards, >>>> Evans Ikua,* >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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/warigia%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. >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Dr. Warigia Bowman >>> Assistant Professor >>> Clinton School of Public Service >>> University of Arkansas >>> wbowman(a)clintonschool.uasys.edu >>> http://democratizingegypt.blogspot.com >>> ------------------------------------------------- >>> View my research on my SSRN Author page: >>> http://ssrn.com/author=1479660 >>> -------------------------------------------------- >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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/andrea.bohnstedt%40ra… >>> >>> 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. >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> Andrea Bohnstedt <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/andreabohnstedt> >> Publisher >> >> www.ratio-magazine.com >> www.africa-assets.com >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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. >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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/blongwe%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. >> > > > -- Dr. Warigia Bowman Assistant Professor Clinton School of Public Service University of Arkansas wbowman(a)clintonschool.uasys.edu http://democratizingegypt.blogspot.com ------------------------------------------------- View my research on my SSRN Author page: http://ssrn.com/author=1479660 --------------------------------------------------

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Czech Regulator halts spectrum bidding because bids were to high
by Dennis Kioko 11 Mar '13

11 Mar '13

In what should be an eye opener and probably a good move to follow, the Czech regulator has halted bidding for 3 spectrum bands after the bidding reached triple what it was targeting. The regulator is afraid that the high pricing will slow network roll outs or make data pricing unaffordable. http://www.mobileworldlive.com/czech-regulator-halts-spectrum-auction-as-bi… I wonder if other regulators look at such. with Regards: blog.denniskioko.com <http://www.denniskioko.com/>

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 70, Issue 94
by Baiju Shah 11 Mar '13

11 Mar '13

Hi Areba, M-Kurt good idea but we will know who voted for whom as there is a digital signature, it is important that it one person right to maintain their privacy, therefore M-Kurt will not be a viable option, there will be polling stations, that will have some kind of booths, electronic ballot papers and a way to confirm you have been to the polling station to vote. The biometric technology deployed was to ensure one person votes and also there are few approaches in profiling the individual, here the civil biometric specification is used, the criminal biometric registers hold a lot more data and and require some heavy processing. The approach on the biometrics was ill implemented as there is not a proper central register, let's ask the IEBC to confirm this, as if there was then you can cast your vote at any polling station within your local area and not only the polling station, here I mean by I am able to cast my vote for Westlands at any of the 4/5 polling stations, this can evenly distribute the crowds, by telling and individual the length of a queue and where the shortest waiting times are, we can be cute in providing this type of Information... Hey the country came to a halt for many days. Coming to the transmission technology, it was not tested and hardened and settled as a technology. Again, when we spoke to IFES we were told that they were being held up by the IEBC. Coming to the national plundering of funds, that only the Financial Reporting Centre team can pin point who is bring in large sums of cash from large companies and take them to task on Antimoney laundering regulation combined with the financial and foreign currency bureaus, we will leave them to do their jobs professionally. Finally, we have also set a precedence that this plundering is allowed in the spirit of public interest, this only happens in Africa and the rest of the world. It is very interesting all claim not to participate in the corrupt practices, in some part of the world they have a set rule of 7% - 8%, here we have what can we get away or the best offer on the table, and result is failed IT system that require a bit more planning and care in implementation, but these guys have had their bonuses and do they care, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The great thing to see it has been a peaceful elections, and that is a great start to the next 50 years..... Thanks Best Regards, Baiju Sent from my iPad On 11 Mar 2013, at 21:31, 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: how positive can foreign media be? (Warigia Bowman) > 2. Re: Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections (Areba) > 3. Re: Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections (Victor bwire) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:18:01 -0500 > From: Warigia Bowman <warigia(a)gmail.com> > To: Evans Ikua <ikua.evans(a)gmail.com> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] how positive can foreign media be? > Message-ID: > <CACeY99RBicafnGSE8QtMcpFunaAYA5Nd2ZcekoD=Xi4Puim+gQ(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > Personally, I am feeling very angry at the foreign media. Thanks Evans for > this shocking ridiculousness. we need to expose them! > > I wrote this yesterday. > > http://digitaldemocracykenya.blogspot.com/2013/03/feeling-frustrated-with-c… > > On Mon, Mar 11, 2013 at 5:30 AM, Evans Ikua <ikua.evans(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> Wow, this is a gem from Time: >> >> >> "At this election, with a new 2010 constitution, and a new electoral body >> with a new ? though not glitch-free ? electronic voting system, Kenyans? >> determination to hold a peaceful election has been palpable. *The popular >> mood has also been notably anti-Western. Foreign diplomats have been >> warned of blood-curdling revenge should they interfere in the poll*. *Foreign >> journalists have been publicly ridiculed and denounced as prejudiced if >> they predicted chaos and disaster.* And a central message of most >> candidates? campaigns was strident, patriotic self-determination." >> >> Read more: >> http://world.time.com/2013/03/09/kenyas-election-what-uhuru-kenyattas-victo… >> >> >> >> -- >> *---------------------------------------------------- >> Kind Regards, >> Evans Ikua,* >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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/warigia%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. >> > > > > -- > Dr. Warigia Bowman > Assistant Professor > Clinton School of Public Service > University of Arkansas > wbowman(a)clintonschool.uasys.edu > http://democratizingegypt.blogspot.com > ------------------------------------------------- > View my research on my SSRN Author page: > http://ssrn.com/author=1479660 > -------------------------------------------------- >

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Has the ICT Sector Failed?
by Edith Adera 11 Mar '13

11 Mar '13

Listers, It is a shame that for the first time in Kenya's history when IT is given a chance to bring credibility and efficiency in the electoral process, ICT has failed SPECTACULARLY! what went wrong? Edith

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Re: [kictanet] [mediaeditors] Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections
by Harry Delano 11 Mar '13

11 Mar '13

Aye..! Methinks we can treat the media stance this time around, a natural reflex in response to the horrifying aftermath dating 5 years ago. The same media was variously negatively cited as playing a prominent role then. While we can criticize media for any other shortcomings, I suppose we can applaud their huge role in preaching peace run-up, through, and after this campaign. Perhaps they overdid it, and did not strike a balance between keeping the peace, and objective reporting. Am least qualified to judge. Having said that, at times I really marvel at how fast we forget critical issues on this list. In fact they literally slip through our fingers. Just last week we agreed to do a post audit of the failed technology process of this election. Are we still going to seek some answers to understand and possibly remedy what happened..? Bwana Ps, where do we start...? Meanwhile, lets entrust the legal framework to deal with the other aspects arising, that are beyond us.. Just me, HarryEdith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.ca> wrote:A+ From: David Makali [mailto:dmakali@yahoo.com] Sent: March 11, 2013 5:18 PM To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [mediaeditors] [kictanet] Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections I disagree: This boils down to the role of the media in a democratic society. Is it to abet the erosion of rights or to promote transparency and the expression of the popular will of the people? i see people on this forum trying to tweak the responsbiility of the media to their selfish interests - peace, investment and other pr concerns. those whose rights have been trampled by a fraudulent election are portrayed as a distraction in the grinding mill of our oh-so-good democracy and pretended peace. their protests are being pooh-poohed as anti-peace. i would rather not be part of this peace and tranquility bandwagon and stare the hard facts in the face. i would rather opt for the painful truth and justice path. it is the route to long lasting peace and democracy. it is the rationalisation of injustice and wrongdoing that breeds dictatorship and oppression. we must decline the popular excuses at every election that we are young and maturing, that in the interest of peace, we gloss over our failures and move on. this time, let us get it right. there should be no violence, but neither should threats of incitement be used against those who pursue their rights or the truth. the media has an obligation not just to give voice to those who are aggrieved but to go out on a limb to establish the veracity of their grievances. they cannot abdicate that responsibility as they have so far done on the pretext of keeping the peace. a sleeping press is not good even for peace. no. - makali _______________ "If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster." — Isaac Asimo, Columbian Author and Scientist _______________ PO Box 3234 00200 Nairobi, Kenya cell: +254 722 517 540 From: Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.ca> To: dmakali(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum <mediaeditors(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, March 11, 2013 4:51 PM Subject: Re: [mediaeditors] [kictanet] Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections Eric et al, Suppressed opinions can be worse! I happened to witness, first-hand, the Ghanaian campaigns and read about the elections; and the comments from Kenya’s IEBC chair, who was an observer, about how they were conducted, how the media gave the citizens the space to air views even when things did not work including during the challenging of the elections. You know and can attest to the fact that Ghanaians are NOT the lot to silence (your Nigerian brothers are even more vocal). Ghanaians speak their minds and air their views freely. A Ghanaian once told me “when it comes to politics, every Ghanaian is a political analyst; when it comes to football, every Ghanaian is a football commentator”…you can’t silence them. Why do you want us to be different? Don’t talk about Post-election violence, as Ghana has gone through worse. My point, why did we have this effect of silencing voices? What are the implications of the deafening silence from the citizenry? Edith From: Eric Osiakwan [mailto:ericosiakwan@me.com] Sent: March 11, 2013 12:37 PM To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections Edith hello: Sometimes, it is better not to say nothing or pretend to be stupid for life to go on than to speak (demand your right) and end up with "violence" and life retrogresses - just saying..... I think you Kenyans should really commend yourselves, you have raised the bar on electoral conduct and peaceful outcomes no matter how long it takes -- the level of maturity exhibited by the average Wananchi is awesome. I saw first hand the level of investment that went into this election by government, media, parties etc and by all means those investments must pay off -- democracy is an expensive enterprise. Something just hit me, Nigeria elected a 55year old President and Ghana followed suit by electing a 54year old and now you Kenyans have elected a 51year old -- the youngest President if am not wrong (i stand corrected) and i have noting against the older folks but i think this is significant.... Edith, in other words what am saying is, dont beat yourself too hard, Nigeria invested in a voters register that did not turn out well but their elections was scored above board, Ghana invested in biometrics for our last elections and it did not work out well but we scored above board and Kenya has done same, raising the bar. Offcourse we need to do introspection and better the processes and systems for the future, starting now. For now, am just excited for Africa, we would fix this continent of ours and make it the best place for generations to come #AfricaIsInMotion. Good day and great week, ya all. Eric here On 11 Mar 2013, at 08:34, Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.ca> wrote: Listers, For the 2007 elections, Bwana Ndemo is on record here (KICTANET) condemning the role of the media in fueling the violence. In 2013, the media played a different role. If you now reflect back – deep and hard – it occurred to me that the over-rated, over-hyped, over-done "call for peace" was actually a "tool of oppression"!! Why do I say this? Many a Kenyans found themselves speechless and voiceless….you were not given a chance to speak your mind, to question, to freely air your opinions or liberally reflect on the going ons. You were promptly slapped with the "peace call” which immediately silenced you! Why should I feel silenced by “a call for peace”? Our national anthem talks of “peace and liberty”, what happened to “liberty” during this period? Most Kenyans locked themselves in their houses, scared stiff of the unknown. Reflecting back it was truly a "silence tool". In my view, what is going on in Kenya is God’s birth of a NEW KENYA. It is NOT (and I repeat NOT) about THE WINNER or THE LOSERS (Do NOT get me wrong – I don’t mind about that). It is about laying a NEW FOUNDATION for Kenya that is built on TRUTH (RIGHTEOUSNESS) and JUSTICE, especially during this Jubilee period (50 years of our existence as a nation as we enter into the next 50 years – the next Jubilee). From now on, and as our national anthem aptly states, JUSTICE will truly be our SHIELD and DEFENDER. Sustainable peace (not FALSE PEACE) is built on the foundations of TRUTH (righteousness) and JUSTICE. Reflective Edith Quote: I should like to be able to love my country and still love justice (Albert Camus) _______________________________________________ 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/ericosiakwan%40me.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. Eric M.K Osiakwan +233244386792 _______________________________________________ mediaeditors mailing list mediaeditors(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/mediaeditors This message was sent to: dmakali(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/mediaeditors/dmakali%40yahoo.c…

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Re: [kictanet] Has the ICT Sector Failed?
by n_macharia＠yahoo.co.uk 11 Mar '13

11 Mar '13

Listers do We recall this!? Electronic Voting Systems in Africa ICT Africa Writer February 26, 2013 With the help of Google and mobile phone companies in Kenya, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is implementing an electronic voting system. The commission has come up with a plan that will guarantee election transparency and quick delivery of election results. "Results from each of the polling stations will be transmitted to three counting centres, using the Electronic Results Transmission (ERT) platform. With rapid delivery of results, suspicion of results tempering will hopefully be put to rest." After Kenya has pioneered this form of voting system in Africa, we hope other countries in Africa, including Zimbabwe, will follow their steps. We have always maintained that Africa should be able to by-pass some technologies and adapt the latest and most appropriate applications for our unique situations. We should not be held back from pioneering new voting technologies just because they may not be widely adapted in the developed world. And this why we need to investigate what happened. Its no wonder the process is suspect. The objective as captured in "election transparency and quick transmissiopn of results" was guaranteed...who is fooling who? Nancy ------Original Message------ To: Gilda Odera To: kictanet Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Has the ICT Sector Failed? Sent: Mar 7, 2013 10:01 AM This is a case of unethical behaviour! As professionals we know the key requirements of this sort of a system interms of design and deployment, hence what and how to test(reliability, security, accuracy, scalability, performance and concurrency). In the IEBC case, the minimum expected would have been sufficient planning for integration and testing with reliable test cases and test data. From the start, this did not happen! What shuld we expect out of WYSIWYG) what you see is what you get)! Lets not blame technology when defeated in harnessing its power. The BVR did not work in some polling stations, some laptops lost power and its then that staff started looking for sockets and cables.. then no sockets... If this is replicated at the tallying centres national or county levels, what has technology to do with this? This country has stamped its mark on the world map as the centre of many technovations In my opinion, IEBC failed to adequately prepare. Various tests including, stress test, performance tests, path tests, load/traffic tests etc were not performed to a satisfactory level. The ICT staff performed simulations (black box) testng of a very rudimentary nature. The best we could with water now under the bridge is to do a post term begining with requirements specification all the way to implementation, system conversion strategy and alignment. The process needs to be driven by user centered philosophy and participatory in approach to address key stakes. This is my reflection. Nancy ------Original Message------ From: Gilda Odera Sender: kictanet To: MS Nancy Macharıa Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Has the ICT Sector Failed? Sent: Mar 6, 2013 3:56 PM Listers, My view is that we cannot keep refusing to perfect what we do. No doubt that systems fail but it is a terribly lame excuse considering that the article in The Star confirms that the prior tests failed. Why did they proceed to use a problematic system? We must learn to accept where we fail if we are to improve I future. How else do other democracies vote electronically if we are excusing ourselves that systems fail? It is because they plan, plan, plan and test, test, test way beforehand to ensure all is well and all back-ups will work. Remember we are still going to have elections in 5 years time so let us face the truth and discuss here what should or should never happen again. Regards, Gilda Odera On Mar 6, 2013, at 10:20 AM, Agosta Liko <agostal(a)gmail.com> wrote: Roland The governance experts are saying - lack of governance The networking experts are saying - lets get better VPNS The server experts are saying - we should have used HP or SUN or IBM The database experts are concerned Oracle was used (Open Source Guys would want MySQL) Software Developers - why use language X and not you Software Testers - want more testing Everyone is pitching their wares ... no one is sure what happened ....... ... and the job is over this week :) On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 10:00 AM, Roland Omoresemi <roland(a)tezzasolutions.com> wrote: Can we really blame ICT when the true culprit appears to be the lack of proper testing of the systems in play? IEBC could have performance tested (both load and stress) their systems to see how they would react under varying loads. The tools and human resources were right there in Kenya but it is obvious we failed to apply them to help create a different result than what we currently face. What we are witnessing is a classic case of what happens when we fail to adequately test our applications. Our non-conformance cost skyrockets...IEBC now has to worry about the cost of doing damage control on the biggest stage ever when it could have spent a fraction of the same cost to perform load or str Sent from my BlackBerry®

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