May 2017 - KICTANet

AI - What's now, what's new and what's next
by Ali Hussein 05 May '17

05 May '17

Listers This may be interesting for some of you. Artificial intelligence (AI) is already becoming entrenched in many facets of everyday life, and is being tapped for a growing array of core business applications, including predicting market and customer behavior, automating repetitive tasks and providing alerts when things go awry. As technology becomes more sophisticated, the use of AI will continue to grow quickly in the coming years. See attached for more detailed reading. Courtesy of IBM. *Ali Hussein* *Principal* *Hussein & Associates* Tel: +254 713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing, Chiromo Road, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya. Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with.

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Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] May 10: deadline for ICANN 60 fellowship application
by Bob Omondi 04 May '17

04 May '17

ENGLISH: This is just a reminder. Please read the text below FRANCAIS: Ceci est un rappel. Lire le texte plus bas. Thanks/Merci -- Yaovi Atohoun Stakeholder Engagement & Operations Manager – Africa Tel. +229 66015649/ 97891228 / 65209067 www.icann.org *From: *Yaovi Atohoun <yaovi.atohoun(a)icann.org> *Date: *Friday, March 31, 2017 at 7:59 AM *To: *AfrICANN Community List <africann(a)afrinic.net> *Subject: *ICANN 60 fellowship application period open ENGLISH: *ICANN 60 takes place from 28 October – 03 November 2017 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates* - Application Round close: 10 May, 2017 - Selected Fellows announcement: 21 July 2017 Please read more at https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2-2017-03-29-en *FRANCAIS* *La 60 ème réunion de l’ICANN aura lieu du 28 Octobre au 03 Novembre 2017 à Abu Dhabi aux Emirats Arabe Unis* - Fin de la période de soumission des demandes de bourse : 10 mai 2017 - Publication de la liste des candidats sélectionnés le 21 Juillet 2017 Plus d’information à https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2-2017-03-29-en Thanks/Merci -- Yaovi Atohoun Stakeholder Engagement & Operations Manager – Africa Tel. +229 97891228 / 65209067 www.icann.org _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/africann

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You're invited to AfChix TechWomen Summit (Saturday, May 27, 2017)
by Dorcas Muthoni 04 May '17

04 May '17

BACKGROUND AfChix is a network of African Women in Technology registered as non-profit in Kenya. AfChix originated in 2004 as Linux Chix Africa and has over the years evolved to what is now AfChix. We create opportunities and platforms for nurturing women in technology so they succeed in their careers. We also address the pipeline issues related to limited women taking up academic programmes in computer science and related fields. We conduct career guidance seminars and events targeting high school girls and encourage them to take up STEM subjects. We use our mailing lists, website and social media platforms to demystify computer science and information technology – with a goal of increasing the number of women in these important sectors. AfChix has a membership across the African continent and is represented in Northern, Southern, Eastern, Central and Western Africa. Since 2007, AfChix has collaborated with the African Network Operators Group (AFNOG), Internet Society (ISOC) and Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC) to hold the AFNOG Chix series to train African Women Engineers in intensive Unix System Administration and Networking. OBJECTIVES OF THE SUMMIT The AfChix TechWomen Summit is planned alongside the 2017 AFNOG Events that will lead up to the Africa Internet Summit conference (AIS’17) in Nairobi, Kenya. The objectives of the AfChix TechWomen Summit are: 1. Provide a platform for African Women in Technology to learn from each other through the various summit sessions 2. Provide opportunities for network and inspiration for African Women in Technology 3. Strengthen the AfChix Network through increased visibility of AfChix’s work and programs TARGET PARTICIPANTS 1. Women already working in the Information Technology, Computer Science and related sectors 2. Women entrepreneurs who are aligning technology in the businesses 3. Female university or college students undertaking Information Technology, Computer Science courses 4. Young girls in high school who would like to learn more about careers in Information Technology, Computer Science HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EVENT - Panel Sessions - Guest Presentation - Speed Mentoring - An evening cocktail event for networking HOW TO PARTICIPATE Please register here (Registration is Free): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/afchix-techwomen-summit-tickets-34276609261 OUR PARTNERS 1. AfChix <http://www.afchix.org/> 2. AFRINIC <https://www.afrinic.net/> 3. Africa Network Operators Group (AFNOG) <https://afnog.org/> 4. Internet Society (ISOC) <http://www.internetsociety.org/> 5. Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC) <https://www.nsrc.org/> 6. Anita Borg Institute (ABI) <https://anitaborg.org/> 7. Africa Internet Summit (AIS) <https://internetsummitafrica.org/> SUMMIT DETAILS <https://anitaborg.org/> Venue: Boma Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya Hall Name: Room, Ndovu. Date: 27th May 2017 CONTACT DETAILS If you have questions, please contact: Miss Lillian Achom. AfChix Program Coordinator Email: lillian.achom(a)afchix.org -- Muthoni -------------------------------------------- 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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Fwd: [Internet Policy] Join us at World Press Freedom Day this week!
by Barrack Otieno 03 May '17

03 May '17

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Nicolas Seidler <seidler(a)isoc.org> Date: Wed, 3 May 2017 07:41:28 +0000 Subject: [Internet Policy] Join us at World Press Freedom Day this week! To: "internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org" <internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org> Hi everyone, A free and independent press, including online, is a pillar of vibrant societies. Yet, its future is in jeopardy. Press freedom is declining <https://rsf.org/en/2017-world-press-freedom-index-tipping-point> across the world, as surveillance of journalists and violations of the confidentiality of sources become more common. Reporters are often victims of government orders to shut down media websites or blogs in the name of national security or public order. Journalists and their sources are taking enormous risks right now in making sure crucial stories get told. In today's environment, where trust in online information is at an all-time low, we need free, safe and independent journalists more than ever. This is why, as the Internet Society participates in World Press Freedom Day <http://en.unesco.org/wpfd> (WPFD) in Indonesia on 3-4 May, we are calling on governments to support encryption <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/5909451ce4b084f59b49fe04#> rather than seeing it as a threat, and on all journalists to use encryption to protect their research, their communications, their sources, and themselves. ISOC’s Senior Director for Global Internet Policy, Constance Bommelaer, has been invited to draft with other stakeholders the Jakarta Declaration <http://en.unesco.org/world-press-freedom-day-2017/jakarta-declaration>. Based on our input, the Declaration should encourage the deployment of encryption to ensure trust online and to support the safety of journalists and the confidentiality of their sources. This is an important and positive signal to the international community. We believe everyone has a role to play to make the Internet more trusted and secure. Here is what you can do: * Read and share Constance Bommelaer’s piece on the importance of encryption for journalists <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/5909451ce4b084f59b49fe04#> * Secure your data: EFF <https://ssd.eff.org/en/playlist/journalist-move>, CPJ <https://www.cpj.org/reports/2012/04/journalist-security-guide.php> and RSF <https://rsf.org/en/online-survival-kit> offer security tips for journalists and non-journalists to secure their communications * Watch our Twitter feed <https://twitter.com/internetsociety> and retweet any and all calls to action for the week. You can use the hashtags #pressfreedom and #WPFD2017 * Participate in World Press Freedom Day celebrations around the world <https://en.unesco.org/datasets/event/27484/map> * Tune in <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX00NGuAJHNV1MVCVPEeKRQ> on May 4, 2:15 pm (UTC+7) to see Constance on UNESCO’s panel on a Universal Internet <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX00NGuAJHNV1MVCVPEeKRQ> As we celebrate World Press Freedom Day, we must remember that rebuilding trust in the news is a complex and long process and we each have a role to play. Encryption can be one of the steps towards a brighter future for a free and independent press. Nicolas Seidler Senior Policy Advisor Internet Society seidler(a)isoc.org -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Policy Brief - Mobile Data Plans in Kenya - Quantifying Women’s Access to the Digital World
by Berhan Taye Gemeda 03 May '17

03 May '17

Dear Listers, Kindly see below a summary policy brief that examines which mobile data plans people use in Kenya drafted by the Alliance for Affordable Internet <http://a4ai.org/>. The full draft of the policy brief is also linked at the end of the summary. Our results indicate that there are a few significant policy implications. We kindly ask you to review the policy brief linked below and leave your comments and suggestions and/or send comments directly to me @ berhan.taye(a)webfoundation.org by 12 May 2017. Thank you very much in advance for your comments and feedback. --- *Mobile Data Plans in Kenya - Quantifying Women’s Access to the Digital World * In this policy brief, we explore the level of Internet access Kenyan women and men have via their mobile phones. Using a quota sampling approach, we administered a set of mobile phone-based surveys to 500 female and 500 male Kenyans that use the Internet on their cell phones.[1] We classify mobile data bundles offered by Safaricom, Airtel Kenya, and Orange Kenya as full-cost, service specific, and zero-rated data packages.[2] Our result indicates that *women, in general, are more likely to use full-cost data bundles and pay the full advertised amount for their data than men *(when controlling for age, education, employment, and other factors) - 74% of Kenyan women use full-cost plans, while only 67% of men use the same package. However, *even though women prefer to pay for the advertised price of a data plan, they buy the smallest data bundles when compared to men*.[3] For instance, 35% of women buy 150MB of data, spending less than 199Ksh weekly, while only 24.7% of men resort to the cheapest data bundles. Women also tend to buy 350MB and 1024MB more frequently.[4] However, men categorically buy data bundles that are larger than 1GB when compared to women. This finding is a significant indicator of the limited spending power of Kenyan women and their ability to purchase mobile data packages and connect to the digital world. Moreover, we also find that the reverse is true for service-specific and zero-rated data plans: *more men prefer to use service-specific and zero-rated services than women.*[5] 15% and 2.8% of men use service-specific and zero-rated data bundles while only 4.4% and 1% of women use these bundles, respectively. This result indicates that men are more likely to use cheaper and subsidized data packages that offer access to a few websites and apps. This is possibly because in some cases (e.g., sports tv data bundles) the services appeal more to men. In sum, we postulate that these findings have a few policy implications: first, our analysis raises questions about why there should be different patterns in mobile data consumption between men and women. To better understand this it is essential that the Communications Authority of Kenya mandates operators and its institutions to gender disaggregate the data they publish. Second, seeing that women can only afford to buy the smallest data bundles, it is essential that we pursue policy and regulatory reform to lower industry cost structures which can help improve affordability for all. Lastly, to the extent where service-specific and zero-rated programs are allowed under the Kenyan laws and related net neutrality principles, the content of service-specific and zero-rated programs should better target the needs of both women and men. For more details, please refer to the draft full policy brief here <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C_wAlfHwgoaIURrp3DR_oBs3sd0FKRsxSeWn_MJ…> . ------------------------------ [1] We used mobile phone Internet users as our primary focus because 99% of Internet subscriptions are via mobile phones in Kenya <http://www.ca.go.ke/images/downloads/PUBLICATIONS/ANNUALREPORTS/Annual%20Re…>. Surveys were carried out between January-March 2016. [2] Full-cost data bundle customers pay the full advertised amount for a data bundle and can access the entire content of the web; Service specific subscribers pay a cheaper or subsidized price and access very limited websites and apps like Facebook and Whatsapp; Zero-rated data plans are free, and the content is limited to zero--rated websites like Wikipedia and Facebook Zero. [3] The data bundles offered by the MNOs range from 150MB to 6144MB and cost between 199Ksh and 10,000Ksh. [4] Data bundles that women buy more than men are all data packages provided by Safaricom. [5] When holding age, education, employment, and other factors at a constant, this finding still holds true. *--* *Berhan Taye * Ford-Mozilla Open Web Fellow @btayeg <http://twitter.com/btayeg>

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 119, Issue 85
by DRAKE 02 May '17

02 May '17

Morning Fellow Listers, In reference to the .Ke Domain Costs conversation, our response as DRAKE is 1. Pricing (Toilem) In 2014, the call for a price drop that had reigned since the beggining of .KE was ended with a resolution to cut prices. The only caveat to the conversation was an increase in domain numbers to the 105,000 target which is feasible for normal operations at our registry. We stand at 67,972 domains https://registry.kenic.or.ke/statistics.jsp Our commitment as DRAKE is to rally registrars to push that number to and beyond the 105,000 mark triggering a review back to Kshs 500+VAT for renewals. Modalities of this were shared during our DRAKE AGM last week and I urge both registrars and ICT stakeholders to subscribe to our mailing list for updates - http://bit.ly/2oT9ySV 2. .KE's 30Billion Ecosystem (Ali) In line with the National Broadband stratergy, we've formulated a work plan that will create a Kshs 30B ecosystem and employing 10,000 ICT professionals over the next 5 years. The current .KE ecosystem is estimated at Kshs 2B creating an average 600 jobs/annum It's not perfect but we are constantly engaging partners to help us grow this conversation. More on this conversation will be communicated in either Q3/Q4 Looking forward to working together towards making .KE the internet ecosystem for Africa Kind Regards Kariba Moko - DRAKE Chairman On 28 April 2017 at 20:12, <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: Is It Time to Break Up Google? (Mark Kipyegon) > 2. Re: .Ke Domain Costs (Toilem Godwin) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2017 09:24:34 +0000 > From: Mark Kipyegon <mkipyegon(a)outlook.com> > To: "kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Is It Time to Break Up Google? > Message-ID: > <DB5PR03MB11897CB345B9230AD9FC7C54B9130@DB5PR03MB1189. > eurprd03.prod.outlook.com> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > In defence of Google, the number of services they have developed to > support their core business are quite simply top of their class. The likes > of Gmail, the Chrome browser, Google Maps and Google search itself have few > if any comparable competitors. > > Why should innovation be punished? > > On 28 Apr 2017, at 11:55, "kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke" < > kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > > > > > Listers, > > > > https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/22/opinion/sunday/is-it- > time-to-break-up-google.html?_r=0 > > > > Here we go, again.... > > > > It seems these *BIG* issues have been and will continue being with us > for a > > long while. > > > > Before @Ali shoots back, this is a different debate from the Risk > > Management one, although they have certain areas where they intersect. > > > > I quite think the closing words are very appropriate... > > > > > > *"...Woodrow Wilson was right when he said in 1913, ?If monopoly > persists, > > monopoly will always sit at the helm of the government.? We ignore his > > words at our peril....* > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2017 20:06:49 +0300 > From: Toilem Godwin <toilemgodwin(a)gmail.com> > To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] .Ke Domain Costs > Message-ID: > <CAHg_bSjbQOKC6wfrACaaJY_kPSzT1ybZH_yeBS4OpUBJU6jb9w@ > mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Dear Listers, > > What is DRAKE's take on this? haven't seen any comment from them on this > issue. > > Being a Registrars Association in Kenya was expecting maybe an explanation > on how this was arrived at. > > To KeNIC what has led to the frastic change in pricing and why change only > Renewal. > > On Apr 28, 2017 09:58, "Brian Nyali via kictanet" < > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > > > Dear Waudo, > > > > The number of total domains stands at 68,062. > > The breakdown is as below: > > > > > > CO.KE 63144 > > > > OR.KE 2027 > > > > SC.KE 999 > > > > AC.KE 766 > > > > GO.KE 384 > > > > ME.KE 341 > > > > NE.KE 200 > > > > INFO.KE 153 > > > > MOBI.KE 48 > > > > Kind regards, > > Brian M. Nyali. > > brian(a)kenic.or.ke > > > > ------------------------------ > > *From: *"waudo siganga via kictanet" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > *To: *"Brian Nyali" <brian(a)kenic.or.ke> > > *Cc: *"waudo siganga" <emailsignet(a)mailcan.com>, "Josh Kinoti" < > > jkinoti(a)gmail.com> > > *Sent: *Thursday, 27 April, 2017 18:10:57 > > *Subject: *Re: [kictanet] .Ke Domain Costs > > > > What are the current registration numbers for .ke? > > > > W. > > > > > > On Thu, Apr 27, 2017, at 01:06 PM, Ali Hussein via kictanet wrote: > > > > I'm not surprised by this turn of events. > > > > A little bird told me that the reason behind this change of strategy is > > simply that Registrars haven't met jointly agreed set targets and hence > > putting KeNIC in an untenable situation. KeNIC is a critical public > > resource and it's incumbent on the industry to support its growth. > > > > I've always been against growth by price reduction. Especially in the > > ccTLD Domain Name Space. The largest ccTLDs include .uk, .co and .de and > > it's never been about pricing. > > > > Back to the drawing board KeNIC and Drake? > > > > Ali Hussein > > Principal > > Hussein & Associates > > +254 0713 601113 > > > > > > Twitter: @AliHKassim > > > > Skype: abu-jomo > > > > LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim > > "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a > > habit." ~ Aristotle > > > > > > Sent from my iPad > > > > On 26 Apr 2017, at 8:09 PM, Odhiambo Washington via kictanet < > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > > > > > > https://eacdirectory.co.ke/ke-renewal-price-change.php > > > > On 25 April 2017 at 22:50, Josh Kinoti via kictanet < > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > > > > Seen communication that Kenic had revised pricing for domains upwards. > > > > Has the registry abandoned the campaign to make the .ke pricing > > competitive? > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > > mailman/options/kictanet/odhiambo%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. > > > > > > > > -- > > Best regards, > > Odhiambo WASHINGTON, > > Nairobi,KE > > +254 7 3200 0004/+254 7 2274 3223 > > "Oh, the cruft." > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > > mailman/options/kictanet/info%40campusciti.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 > > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > > mailman/options/kictanet/emailsignet%40mailcan.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 > > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > > mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40kenic.or.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 > > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > > mailman/options/kictanet/toilemgodwin%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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Risks to Safaricom outstrip mere business - we should be concerned
by Grace Githaiga 02 May '17

02 May '17

Last week Safaricom, the largest mobile service provider in East and Central Africa, suffered a serious disruption to its services. Myguessabout how Safaricom’s exclusive success story might present a huge risk to the Kenyan economy came to pass. No doubt Safaricom, the mother of the legendary mobile money service M-Pesa, has brought accolades to Kenya, both here and abroad and we hope it continues to do so. http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/walubengo/2274560-3910726-7oojsx/in… [1] Best regards Githaiga, Grace Co-Convenor Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) Twitter:@ggithaiga Tel: 254722701495 Skype: gracegithaiga Alternate email: ggithaiga(a)hotmail.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracegithaiga www.kictanet.or.ke "Change only happens when ordinary people get involved, get engaged and come together to demand it. I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change – but in yours"---Barrack Obama. Links: ------ [1] http://Last week Safaricom, the largest mobile service provider in East and Central Africa, suffered a serious disruption to its services. My guess about how Safaricom’s exclusive success story might present a huge risk to the Kenyan economy came to pass. No doubt Safaricom, the mother of the legendary mobile money service M-Pesa, has brought accolades to Kenya, both here and abroad and we hope it continues to do so.

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Re: [kictanet] Is It Time to Break Up Google?
by Ali Hussein 02 May '17

02 May '17

@Ngigi Interesting article. Though I think its abit shallow. To say Google controls the Digital Ad business is to stretch the truth abit because there are many aspects of this business not just search. And increasingly search is being replaced by Social. As we focus on one company's dominance (Microsoft, IBM etc) we fail to acknowledge the changing aspects of the industry itself. I think the major question we need to ask is this:- Should Google, Facebook and Amazon be declared public utilities? Is advertising as crucial as say communication via telephone, internet and mobile money? I think not. Can we live without search and social media? absolutely. Can we live without communication and the internet? Maybe. We just need to back to the stone age. :-) And closer to home should the Kenya Government declare MPesa a public utility? For us to answer this question we need to transport ourselves back in history when the US Government declared AT&T a public utility. There was a case then for 'approving' a monopoly through a series of government regulatory actions and AT&T's acquisitive strategy. The main case was about *INTEROPERABILITY *(emphasis deliberate). Is there a case now for say pushing towards MPesa being a utility? We cannot understate the impact MPesa has on our lives. Should we then because of this force the Utility Status on MPesa and force Safaricom to open it up to other players? *Ali Hussein* *Principal* *Hussein & Associates* Tel: +254 713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim <http://t.sidekickopen16.com/e1t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7lC8dDMPbW2n0x6l2B9nMJW7t5XYg4…> 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing, Chiromo Road, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya. Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with. On Fri, Apr 28, 2017 at 11:27 AM, Ngigi Waithaka via kictanet < kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > Listers, > > https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/22/opinion/sunday/is-it- > time-to-break-up-google.html?_r=0 > > Here we go, again.... > > It seems these *BIG* issues have been and will continue being with us for > a long while. > > Before @Ali shoots back, this is a different debate from the Risk > Management one, although they have certain areas where they intersect. > > I quite think the closing words are very appropriate... > > > *"...Woodrow Wilson was right when he said in 1913, “If monopoly persists, > monopoly will always sit at the helm of the government.” We ignore his > words at our peril....* > > -- > *Regards,* > > *Wait**haka Ngigi* > Chief Executive Officer | Alliance Technologies | MCK Nairobi Synod > Building > T +254 20 525 0750 |Office Mobile: +254 716 201061 | M +254 737 811 000 > www.at.co.ke > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/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. >

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Request to Participate in a Survey to Identify Growth Drivers for ICT Innovators in Kenya
by Alwala, Rachel 01 May '17

01 May '17

Dear Listers, This is your associate, Rachel. I wish to seek your co-operation in a research that seeks to identify the growth drivers for ICT innovators in Kenya. This survey is part of an academic research for my dissertation as a partial fulfillment of the Masters Degree in Communication Management at the Buckinghamshire New University. I wish to invite innovators on this platform to take part in this study. You will be asked to complete an online questionnaire on the eSURV web site. The confidentiality and anonymity of information from participants is assured as no names are requested. It will take you approximately 20 minutes or less to fill the questionnaire. Your participation in this research is entirely voluntary. I would equally appreciate your reference to other innovators who are not on this platform. Email me if you have any questions/enquiries. To begin the survey, please click the link below: https://eSurv.org?u=Growth_Drivers-Innovators2 Regards, Rachel Alwala

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