August 2013 - KICTANet

'The Next 50' - Barcamp Nairobi 2013 - Sat 24 Aug
by Josiah Mugambi 20 Aug '13

20 Aug '13

Hi listers, BarCamp Nairobi 2013 will be held on Saturday, 24th August, 2013 from 8 am. The event will be co-hosted by the iHub, the Nailab, m:lab East Africa and SkunkWorks at the Bishop Magua Centre on Ngong Road. *The theme for Barcamp Nairobi 2013 is ‘The Next 50’. We aim to get the conversation going on where tech in Kenya will be in the next 50 years. As Kenya celebrates 50 years of independence this year, we have the unique and enviable opportunity to dream and contemplate what the next 50 years should look like and what role technology will play. As thinkers, technologists in various sectors, and citizens of this country we can begin the process of visualizing the future and shaping it.* * * *Challenges such as access to healthcare, quality and equitable education, food security have their answers in technology and the possibilities are endless. There will come a time in the next 50 years when these issues will be non-issues so to speak. What will that future look like? What technologies will be pervasive? How will people interact and how will lives be affected and improved?* Come to Barcamp Nairobi 2013. Let us begin the conservation. The event is free to attend. Please register here<https://barcampnbo2013.eventbrite.com/> . -- Josiah Mugambi

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Kenya Open Data (KODI) article in Foreign Policy]
by Grace Githaiga 19 Aug '13

19 Aug '13

On July 8, 2011, President Mwai Kibaki officially launched the Kenya Open Data Initiative at a public event attended by more than 3,000 people. The new Internet portal compiled previously scattered or hard-to-access government information and made it available to the public for free. Kenya launched its initiative at a time when a number of countries were also putting government information online. The United States led the global open data movement, launching its site in 2009. Britain’s official data site went online a year later. Within three years, 31 countries — including Australia, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Moldova, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay — had created similar portals. Multilateral organizations embraced the concept as well; The World Bank inaugurated its own open data website in 2010. Read on. http://www.africahot.com/en/2013/08/17/bridging-kenyas-data-divide-by-rushd…

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Re: [kictanet] Laptop project: Pre-bid Conference
by Ray Keller 19 Aug '13

19 Aug '13

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/ktn/video/watch/2000068926/-government-sets-… This video talks about three points: a) Bidders want to extend the timeline: Why would government like to extend the timeline? Will they still meet the delivery timeline? How many laptops per minute one would manufacture to meet the delivery timeline of two months after award of the contract? Do they have existing inventory of exactly same specs? b) Bidders would like the government to test the solution: Is there a specific procedure that government(MOE) will use to test the offered solution in real situation before paying so much money? I think that it's important to get the laptop, software and content piloted in real schools/situation before we spend 14.7 Billion Ksh tax payer money. Why is this step skipped? Is it not important? I also read an article that government refused to give benefit to the youth under this transaction claiming that it's an international tender. Members? Thoughts? Ray Keller On Fri, Aug 16, 2013 at 3:12 AM, Grace Githaiga <ggithaiga(a)hotmail.com>wrote: > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHjrghroGiU#at=40 > > _______________________________________________ > 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/raykeller8%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. >

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AIRTEL REIGNITES TARIFF WARS
by James Mbugua 19 Aug '13

19 Aug '13

Listers It looks like Airtel have used the lowering of interconnection (MTR) rates by CCK to restart the tariff wars. They have introduced a promo tariff for Sh2/- per minute across all networks. I wonder how the other operators will respond. I thought one of their recent business moves was wise amidst many baffling ones but I'm not sure where to place this one. James

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New authority to improve efficiency in ICT industry
by philip＠cskonline.org 19 Aug '13

19 Aug '13

ICTA now takes over the roles and resources previously held by the ICT Board of Kenya, the e-Government Directorate and the Government Information and Technology Services (GITS).

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Identity.go.ke Hacked
by Victor Kapiyo 19 Aug '13

19 Aug '13

Dear Listers, The hackers have struck again. Seems identity.go.ke has fell victim to the Indonesian hacker team. [image: Inline images 1] Victor Kapiyo, LL.B ==================================================== *“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude” Zig Ziglar *

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 75, Issue 79
by Michael Bullut 19 Aug '13

19 Aug '13

Has the government considered installing SSL certificates on ALL their websites (as a rule of thumb)? On 19 August 2013 11:23, <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: New authority to improve efficiency in ICT industry > (Mark Mwangi) > 2. Re: New authority to improve efficiency in ICT industry > (S.M. Muraya) > 3. Identity.go.ke Hacked (Victor Kapiyo) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 10:39:02 +0300 > From: Mark Mwangi <mwangy(a)gmail.com> > To: James Mbugua <jgmbugua(a)gmail.com> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] New authority to improve efficiency in ICT > industry > Message-ID: > <CAH5fjcijiTHYu=L3Z0-mMiFRNp_KO-FwskZiVKFW2_4-JjS= > SA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Why must we recycle the same old names? No offence to their expertise and > decades of experience but must we entrust the same players with our IT > strategies? > > > On Mon, Aug 19, 2013 at 10:27 AM, James Mbugua <jgmbugua(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > Who will be the Director-General? Dr. Ndemo is certainly a good bet. > Louis > > Otieno of Microsoft is another. Dr. Shem Ochuodho. Stephen Kiptiness..... > > > > > > On Mon, Aug 19, 2013 at 10:07 AM, <philip(a)cskonline.org> wrote: > > > >> ICTA now takes over the roles and resources previously held by the ICT > >> Board of Kenya, the e-Government Directorate and the Government > >> Information and Technology Services (GITS). > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> 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/jgmbugua%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. > >> > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mwangy%40gmail.com > > > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and > development. > > > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and > bandwidth, > > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > > > > > > -- > Regards, > > Mark Mwangi > > markmwangi.me.ke >

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Identity.go.ke Hacked
by Gideon 19 Aug '13

19 Aug '13

Kapiyo, The hackers have struck again. > > Seems identity.go.ke has fell victim to the Indonesian hacker team. > > May be the government needs to looks at the security of its domains urgently. Its very important that they are secured and not fall victim frequently to hacks. Regards Rop > > > Victor Kapiyo, LL.B > > ==================================================== > *?Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude? Zig > Ziglar > * >

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Re: [kictanet] KENYA POWER TO 'EXIT' RURAL ELECTRIFICATION MARKET - A CASE OF THE TAIL WAGING THE DOG?
by meshack emakunat 19 Aug '13

19 Aug '13

Hi Just a thought, how has the stakeholders to supply power to rural areas diversified there resources so that they do not have to rely so much on govern,ent subsidies and offers. Example if they have to supply power to rural areas then they may utilise renewable energy sourcex sucj as wind eneryg solar like what is in turkana. The organisations can help rural folks to install solar energy and that way the only cost will be purchase of equipment and installation. That way they do mot have to deal with below breakeven costs that is recurrent every month and every year. They can also run renewable energy awareness programs in the villages. Btw most rural areas are sunlight intensive. Regards Meshack ------------------------------ On Fri, Aug 16, 2013 12:04 AM PDT Mark Mwangi wrote: >I was not aware that Kenya power is nolonger a monopoly. I apologize for my >ignorance. we cannot however ignore the fact that thy single handedly have >the widest distribution infrastructure as we speak. KETRACO only has >control of the new power lines. I assume that Nairobi is only covered by >Kenya power? > >Even AT&T in its hey day was forced by the government to give service to >unprofitable outposts in the middle of nowhere in the principle that nobody >is left behind. I understand that most of the fees collected by KPLC are >for other organisations but the domination in power distribution remains >and thus the attendant visibility and blame. > >I wonder how counties will handle this. Will Kenya power be split into >local county power companies or will it remain a monolith? I bet some >counties will want to monopolize their dams etc. > > >On Thu, Aug 15, 2013 at 6:37 PM, Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> wrote: > >> James >> >> I appreciate your contribution to this issue. And I suspect that there are >> many invisible barriers to entry that may need to be removed to ensure a >> credible competitor(s) to KP emerge. This is the only way to enthuse energy >> (pun intended) into the sector. >> >> The issue of the counties is a critical component in the energy equation >> and I hope that we will have enough of them who are forward thinking to >> encourage investment in the sector. >> >> Lastly James I cringe when I hear you talk about government institutions >> becoming a roadblock to progress. I'm not a legal specialist but doesn't >> the Government have the powers to call up Eminent Domain statutes to,move >> things for infrastructural investment? >> >> Regards >> >> Ali Hussein >> CEO | 3mice interactive media Ltd >> Principal | Telemedia Africa Ltd >> >> +254 713 601113/ 0770 906375 >> >> "The future belongs to him who knows how to wait." - Russian Proverb >> >> Sent from my iPad >> >> On Aug 15, 2013, at 5:06 PM, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> It is the little foxes like this that will turn Vision 2030 to vision >> 3020. We will can only achieve prosperity when there is equity across the >> country in terms of in terms of Infrastructure and connectivity. >> >> Best Regards >> >> >> >> >> On Thu, Aug 15, 2013 at 4:10 PM, James Mbugua <jgmbugua(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Dennis >> >> One of the things KPLC is looking at is partnering with those counties >> that are ready and proactive; that will provide land for substations and >> wayleaves, the company will partner with them to rapidly scale up expansion >> of connections in these counties. >> >> This is important if you consider that one of the reasons Nairobi's power >> has issues is because a 400KV (High Voltage) line running from Mombasa to >> Nairobi has stalled just outside Nairobi as the likes of KWS refuse to give >> way leaves citing bird migration. >> >> As a result, power from Kipevu III has to be rerouted through Kindaruma >> first and then to Nairobi and this over a lower capacity line meaning more >> power losses. >> >> The line from Ethiopia to Suswa to bring in 400MW is already running into >> issues as some ranchers in Laikipia don't want to give wayleaves. >> >> The power sector is beset by many challenges and cooperation from >> Counties to facilitate faster completion of projects would result in >> overall better access to energy for all. >> >> James >> >> >> On Thu, Aug 15, 2013 at 3:56 PM, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> Great opportunity for Machakos, Kiambu, Muranga counties to partner on >>> distributing power to rural households in these counties. The same can be >>> done by other counties. >>> >>> >>> On Thursday, 15 August 2013, Mark Mwangi wrote: >>> >>> And why not invest the profits? >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Aug 15, 2013 at 2:52 PM, James Mbugua <jgmbugua(a)gmail.com>wrote: >>> >>>> Ali >>>> >>>> Let me weigh in as I represent Kenya Power in Investor Relations. >>>> >>>> I was present at the press conference yesterday and suffice it to >>>> say, Business Daily and Daily Nation grossly misreported the situation. >>>> Read the Standard and People they seemed to have gotten it. >>>> >>>> There are a few things to appreciate about Kenya Power. >>>> >>>> 1. Following the multi-sector working group from across the energy >>>> sector, petroleum industry players and World Bank that was convened in >>>> 2001, its recommendations on the energy policy were subsequently issued as >>>> Sessional Paper No 4. on Energy of 2004. >>>> >>>> 2. Out of this, The Energy Act of 2006 was enacted that brought into >>>> force among other things, the Energy Regulatory Commission, the Geothermal >>>> Development Corporation, the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Ketraco >>>> and the Rural Electrification Authority. >>>> >>>> 3. To shield consumers from the high capital expenditure of rural >>>> expansion, the government formed REA to absorb that cost and leave Kenya >>>> Power to distribute power. >>>> >>>> 4. The Energy Act of 2006 also ended Kenya Power's monopoly on >>>> distribution. So as at now, KPLC is not a monopoly. In fact, the Energy >>>> Regulatory Commission would license anyone who demonstrates both the >>>> technical and financial capacity to be a distributor. All, they have to do >>>> is to sign a power purchase agreement with an Independent Power Producer >>>> and then negotiate a wheel-in charge for transmission to use either Kenya >>>> Power's or Ketraco's lines or if they can, put up their own lines, and then >>>> organize their billing and collections at the other end. >>>> >>>> 5. Rural Electrification is done by REA which has been connecting >>>> centres, hospitals, schools, markets etc while KPLC comes in to metre and >>>> switch on consumers. >>>> >>>> 6. Rural Electricity has always been subsidized by urban consumers. >>>> For anything less than 50KWh, they are charged Sh2/Kwh while the average >>>> cost of a Kwh will come to about Sh4. Nairobi/Urban residents typically pay >>>> around Sh8/Kwh. >>>> >>>> 7. Since 2006, the Kenya Government has not subsidized power at >>>> generation like it used to. Kenya Power purchases the power at cost and has >>>> to subsequently evacuate, transmit and distribute this power at an >>>> additional cost. >>>> >>>> 8. Since 2002 despite the rise in cost of materials from poles, to >>>> cables and transformers, KPLC has not increased the price of connecting >>>> customers until it decided to review that earlier this year. >>>> >>>> 9. In the year 2012 alone, Kenya Power added 307,000 new connections >>>> at a charge it believes is lower than the actual cost of connecting the >>>> consumer. >>>> >>>> 10. Because of the ever expanding network, and you will see from >>>> financial reports that the firm books ever bigger figures for depreciation, >>>> and newer power purchase agreements, it has become necessary for KPLC to >>>> spend more money on maintenance e.g. After connection, it is the company >>>> that repairs vandalized wires, transformers etc. >>>> >>>> 11. Despite this, the government has (a) Not subsidized power which is >>>> being supplied to an ever larger number at lower than cost (b) The >>>> government does not provide guarantees for organizations which are not >>>> wholly government-owned to access loans or bonds. (c) Between 1991-2007 >>>> there was very little investment in the grid as donors had frozen aid; only >>>> until the Energy REcovery Strategy Program and the Kenya Electricity >>>> Expansion Program have we seen significant investment to expand and >>>> strengthen the grid. >>>> >>>> 12. Bear in mind that while constrained as to what it can charge >>>> consumers, selling power in some cases at below cost, KPLC is expected to >>>> source funding for investment either from its squeezed margins or from >>>> financiers without government guarantees while purchasing power at cost and >>>> taking responsibility for vandalism. >>>> >>>> 13. At the end of all this, it has to make its case to shareholders as >>>> to what kind of returns they should expect. >>>> >>>> >>>> James >>>>

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Hacker posts Facebook bug report on Zuckerberg’s wall
by Ali Hussein 19 Aug '13

19 Aug '13

http://rt.com/news/facebook-post-exploit-hacker-zuckerberg Ali Hussein CEO | 3mice interactive media Ltd Principal | Telemedia Africa Ltd +254 713 601113/ 0770 906375 "The future belongs to him who knows how to wait." - Russian Proverb Sent from my iPad

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