July 2023 - KICTANet

Re: [kictanet] New Cabinet - Wish List ?
by Barrack Otieno 18 Jul '24

18 Jul '24

Listers, This is indeed good news. We have a lot of hope in Mucheru and Victor Kyalo industry veterans who have indeed worked their way through the trenches. Most importantly we hope to see the return of a multi stakeholder form of engagement in the sector which we have been yearning for in a while. I think as a sector we might need to prepare a wish list for our new leaders and most importantly commit to work with them towards achieving their mandate. The reshuffle is timely still it comes at the end of the year and will allow us to start 2016 on a new slate. Thank you Best Regards On 11/24/15, GG via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > +1 Grace. > > Sending them positive energy! And glad that the two were among the KICTANet > founders. > Rgds. > > --- Original Message --- > > From: "Grace Mutung'u (Bomu) via kictanet" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Sent: 24 November 2015 22:35 > To: ggithaiga(a)hotmail.com > Cc: "Grace Mutung'u (Bomu)" <nmutungu(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] New Cabinet > > One of the issues (I think issue no.3) in the President's speech was > accessibility of leaders to wananchi. With Joe and Kyalo I think we shall > have better ears. > > Congratulations! > > May they pass the vetting. > > Regards, > On 24 Nov 2015 21:29, "Evans Ikua via kictanet" < > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > >> @Ngigi you are right. But in the current dispensation, a CS is still >> expected to be a technocrat, as opposed to the days of yore when minister >> was politician. So they will both be at home in their respective >> positions. >> Especially Victor as the accounting officer with his many years in >> government. That's the right position. >> >> Evans >> On Nov 24, 2015 9:17 PM, "Waithaka Ngigi" <ngigi(a)at.co.ke> wrote: >> >>> Evans, >>> >>> Joe Mucheru & Victor Kyalo are old hands in. KE ICT. Both have been >>> entrepreneurs and then at some point moved on to various ventures. So we >>> shouldn't go wrong ‎with either. >>> >>> However, what's the better fit? Mucheru at CS, Victor at PS or the other >>> way round? Victor CS, Mucheru PS? >>> >>> Waithaka Ngigi >>> >>> Alliance Technologies >>> www.at.co.ke >>> *From: *Evans Ikua via kictanet >>> *Sent: *Tuesday, November 24, 2015 8:50 PM >>> *To: *Ngigi Waithaka >>> *Reply To: *KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >>> *Cc: *Evans Ikua >>> *Subject: *Re: [kictanet] New Cabinet >>> >>> Congrats Hon Joe! That's a great choice for the ICT industry. Well out >>> H.E. >>> >>> Ikua >>> On Nov 24, 2015 8:45 PM, "waudo siganga via kictanet" < >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >>> >>>> Congratulations to Joe Mucheru! >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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/ikua.evans%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/nmutungu%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. >> > -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254-20-2498789 Skype: barrack.otieno http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/

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Re: eCitizen is Down
by Paul Magacha 06 Feb '24

06 Feb '24

https://youtu.be/-AylX4C4YKc Sent from my iPhone > On 27 Jul 2023, at 18:36, David Indeje via KICTANet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >

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Deception and exploitation : How Worldcoin recruited its first million test users
by Mwendwa Kivuva 12 Sep '23

12 Sep '23

Worldcoin was founded by Sam Altman, who also founded OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. Worldcoin is an iris biometric cryptocurrency project that has scanned and stored the eyes of millions of people across the world. Apart from invading our shopping malls to harvest eye iris data, I've now seen they are operating from inside supermarkets, most recently from inside Quickmarts in Nairobi. This is an important discussion because Worldcoin has been operating in Kenya for more than a year, collecting biometric iris scans of the uninformed consenting public. We had a discussion here, and it was not clear if the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) had given content for such eternal personally identifiable data to be collected. The privacy implications of Worldcoin collecting biometric iris scans of poor people are significant. 1) The data could be used to track people's movements and activities. Iris scans are unique to each individual and can be used to identify people even if they are wearing disguises. This means that Worldcoin could track poor people's movements, including where they go, who they meet, and what they do. This could be used to target them for marketing or surveillance purposes. 2) The data could be used to discriminate against poor people. Iris scans could be used to deny poor people access to services or opportunities. For example, a bank could use iris scans to deny a loan application from a poor person, or an employer could use iris scans to reject a job application from a poor person. 3) The data could be hacked or stolen. If the data is hacked or stolen, it could be used to commit identity theft or other crimes. This could have a devastating impact on poor people, who may not have the resources to recover from identity theft. 4. Obtaining informed consent is essential when collecting sensitive biometric data. Poor individuals may not fully understand the implications of providing their biometric data or may feel pressured to participate due to their socio-economic situation, potentially leading to uninformed or coerced consent. 5. There's a concern that the initial purpose of collecting biometric data for cryptocurrency verification might evolve into other uses without adequate consent or oversight, leading to function creep and expanded surveillance. Informed consent is a process in which data subjects give permission for something to happen after they have been given and understood all the relevant information about it. Informed consent requires data subjects to understand the purpose of the data collection. This is one of the four elements of informed consent, along with information, comprehension, and voluntariness. There are some concerns about Worldcoin's consent process. 1. The consent form is not clear about what data is being collected. The consent form does not explicitly state that Worldcoin is collecting biometric data, such as iris scans. Instead, the form simply states that Worldcoin is collecting "personal data." This could lead users to believe that they are only giving consent to the collection of non-sensitive personal data, such as their name and address. 2. The consent form is not easy to understand. The consent form is written in complex legal language that is difficult for many people to understand. This could make it difficult for users to understand what they are consenting to. 3. The consent form is not easy to revoke. Once users have given consent to Worldcoin to collect their biometric data, it is difficult to revoke their consent. Users must send a written request to Worldcoin, and the company is not required to delete the data immediately. There is an exciting read from MIT claiming that Worldcoin has built a biometric database from the bodies of the poor using deceptive practices: Read along here https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/04/06/1048981/worldcoin-cryptocurrenc… Which direction should African and global majority countries take in regard to Western companies harvesting personally identifiable data from their citizens? Best Regards, ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwendwa-kivuva

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Beyond Digitization – What Next for Kenya?
by David Indeje 17 Aug '23

17 Aug '23

Dear Listers, This week, Mr John Walubengo discusses the digitization of government services in Kenya, where over 5,000 public sector services have already been digitized and made accessible online. While this provides convenience and cost reduction to citizens, he argues that there is still much room for improvement. The data that could help citizens make important decisions are buried deep in government departmental silos and is not easily accessible. He suggests that the next step for the government should be to focus on data governance and breaking down departmental data silos to make this information more easily accessible to citizens. He looks forward to hearing your feedback on the same. -- *Kind Regards,* *David Indeje* *KICTANet Communications *_____________________________________ +254 (0) 711 385 945 | +254 (0) 734 024 856 KICTANet portals KICTANet.or.ke <https://kictanet.or.ke/> | Twitter <https://twitter.com/kictanet> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/company/18428106/admin/> | Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/>

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M-PESA charges go up! Effects of taxation on telecoms and fintech.
by Mwendwa Kivuva 01 Aug '23

01 Aug '23

Safaricom PLC and other mobile money operators have reviewed their charges after the enactment of the Finance Act 2023. M-PESA mobile transfer charges have gone up from 12% to 15%. At the same time, the excise duty rate for call, SMS, and Internet has gone down from 20% to 15%. Is Financial inclusion in danger? Will users go back to the cash economy? As we fiddle with taxation in the digital space, is there cost-benefit analysis advising these decisions? Best Regards, ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwendwa-kivuva

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eCitizen is Down
by Victor Kapiyo 27 Jul '23

27 Jul '23

The eCitizen portal has been down since yesterday. I haven't seen any official communication explaining the downtime. Anyone knows why? IMHO, a critical site like it should have 99.9% uptime and any downtime should be communicated. Or could it be that our friends from Mulot wish to collect and keep the convenience fees. Regards, Victor

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Election Integrity in Kenya: Countering Misinformation for a Strong Democracy
by Neema MASITSA 27 Jul '23

27 Jul '23

Dear Listers, Discover the critical role technology plays in safeguarding democracy during Kenya's elections. Uncover the multi-faced approach and key policy recommendations to combat misinformation and empower citizens in this must-read blog! Click here: https://tinyurl.com/35r3wkyy

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Update: Kenya's Cyber Diplomacy at the UN (Policy Brief)
by David Indeje 27 Jul '23

27 Jul '23

[image: Policy Brief.jpg] Dear Listers, Last year, KICTANet made a statement during the Third Substantive Session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies 2021-2025, UN Headquarters, New York. Our statement "Open-Ended Working Group on Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies 2021-2025" was read by Ms Grace Githaiga, Convenor, KICTANet, which can be found here https://bit.ly/3SVW03u . Today, we share our policy brief, which: "Looks at the relevant cyber diplomacy developments within the UN with a focus on Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security, which concluded its work in March 2021. It provides an introduction to the power dynamics that sets the stage and deciphers Kenya’s positioning within the field of nations." The link to download is https://bit.ly/3SVW03u -- *Kind Regards,* *David Indeje* *KICTANet Communications *_____________________________________ +254 (0) 711 385 945 | +254 (0) 734 024 856 KICTANet portals KICTANet.or.ke <https://kictanet.or.ke/> | Twitter <https://twitter.com/kictanet> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/company/18428106/admin/> | Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/>

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Fwd: COMPLAINT AGAINST MKOPA
by James Mbugua 26 Jul '23

26 Jul '23

Listers, Someone here complained about MKOPA failing or ignoring to unlock a phone after the payment was made. I shared the CAK contact here and they responded to it as a complaint. See below and action for your client/friend. Good day, JG ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Bramuel K. Nguya <bnguya(a)cak.go.ke> Date: Wed, Jul 26, 2023 at 10:42 AM Subject: COMPLAINT AGAINST MKOPA To: jgmbugua <jgmbugua(a)gmail.com> Cc: Adano W. Roba <aroba(a)cak.go.ke>, Boniface M. Makongo < bmmakongo(a)cak.go.ke>, Boniface Kamiti <bkamiti(a)cak.go.ke>, John K. Daina < jkdaina(a)cak.go.ke> Dear James, Reference is made to your complaint lodged with the Authority against M-KOPA, regarding their failure to unlock a mobile phone purchased on credit, after receiving the full payment for the phone. To facilitate the investigation, kindly share with us the following evidence: 1. A copy of the agreement with M-KOPA containing the terms of payment and the obligations of M-KOPA upon receiving full payment; 2. Payment receipts, M-PESA messages or any other evidence of all the payments made to M-KOPA for the mobile phone; 3. A copy of the warranty issued for the phone; and 3. Evidence of correspondence with M-KOPA regarding their failure to unlock the phone. Kindly provide the requested evidence within seven (7) days of this email and not later than 2nd August, 2023. Regards, Bramuel Nguya, Consumer Protection Department, Competition Authority of Kenya. Telephone: 254-020-2628233 Direct line: 254-20-2779000 Website: www.cak.go.ke Email: info(a)cak.go.ke <https://competition.cak.go.ke:444/>

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Public Statement in Support of the UN High Commissioner's remarks on AI and Human Rights
by Victor Kapiyo 25 Jul '23

25 Jul '23

Dear Listers, As we approach the start of negotiations to agree on a Global Digital Compact <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.un.org/techenvoy/global-digital-co…>, a set of principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all, it is important that organizations who have first-hand experience of both the harms and opportunities that digital technology can bring make sure their voices are heard. The speech by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in his remarks at the High Level Side Event of the 53rd Session of the Human Rights Council <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2023/07/ar…>, was in agreement with AUDRi’s 9 Digital Principles <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://audri.org/&source=gmail-imap&ust=16903…> . In his speech, Volker Türk called for global agreement on regulating AI that is aligned with universal human rights and rule of law frameworks and convened by the United Nations. The High Commissioner emphasizes that the human rights framework “provides an essential foundation that can provide guardrails for efforts to exploit the enormous potential of AI, while preventing and mitigating its enormous risks.” In order to build support for the idea of a human rights-based agreement, individuals and organizations who work in this space are invited to add their signatures to a public statement <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YqImerwouzhGk…> in support of the High Commissioner's remarks. The deadline for signatures is 5pm UTC, Tuesday, 25th July 2023. Regards, *Victor Kapiyo* Partner | *Lawmark Partners LLP* *Nine Planet Apartments, Nairobi | **Web: www.lawmark.co.ke <http://www.lawmark.co.ke/> * ==================================================== *“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude” Zig Ziglar*

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