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Uganda: ICT Sector Brought in Sh256b in 2007
by Harry Hare 18 Jan '08

18 Jan '08

Interesting figures here from Uganda, unfortunately no comparison was made (or at least the journalist did not capture it) with 2006 figures to measure the growth in the past 12 months. What is interesting is that ICT has contributed to 9% of the GDP! Any such measurement from CCK? Harry ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ New Vision (Kampala) 17 January 2008 Posted to the web 18 January 2008 David Muwanga Kampala THE information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector attracted projects worth sh256b ($150m) last year, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), has announced. "Investment in the sector for the year 2007 was estimated at $150m and its contribution to the gross domestic product is approximately 9%," Patrick Masambu, the head of UCC, said on Monday. Masambu was speaking at a function where MTN, uganda telecom and Celtel handed in a combined contribution of sh5.1b to the rural communication development the fund. The telecom operators give a conditional 1% of their annual gross earnings to fund. Masambu explained that more than 300,000 jobs were created directly and indirectly. "This is an increase of one hundred times following the restructuring of the sector and this is likely to increase as a result of the new service providers recruitment drive as well as indirect employment," he said. He disclosed that over 20 companies had been licensed to provide voice telephony and data services. "A wide range of modern postal products including easy mail track and trace, electronic money transfer are now available in the market and the public should utilise them," Masambu said. He said the customer base had also grown from 50,000 in 1998 to 4.7m, representing a tele-density of about 16%. Masambu, however, warned of several challenges the fund faces, including infrastructure limitations in rural areas and insecurity. African eDevelopment Resource Centre 3rd Floor, Nelleon Place Raphta Road, Westlands PO Box 49475 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Cel +254 725 650044 Land +254 20 4453445 www.africanedevelopment.org *********************************************************** February 2008 Capacity Building Opportunities VSAT Field Engineering: 5-8 Records Management: 13-15 Fiber Optics: 26-29 Book Now, Limited spaces available

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[Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Q&A with SEACOM President]
by alice 17 Jan '08

17 Jan '08

Hi all FYI -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] Q&A with SEACOM President Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:39:47 +0100 (CET) From: Wairagala Wakabi <wakabi(a)cipesa.org> Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> References: <478EEA7B.7040702(a)apc.org> <FB0CFC3EE5CB18438CE7E5D638A91B8082084F(a)SFCMAIL01.safaricom.net> <2526.217.113.73.239.1200565276.squirrel(a)mail.cipesa.org> Q&A with SEACOM President Construction of the13,700 km Sea Cable System (SEACOM, www.seacom.mu) is underway and expected to reach completion by June 2009. The cable will comprise of two fibre pairs, connecting South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Kenya to India and Egypt, with an option for connectivity into the UAE and Djibouti. Fibre-for-Africa (www.fibreforafrica.net) spoke to SEACOM Ltd. president Brian Herlihy. Excerpts: Q. Who are the partners in SEACOM and how much are they investing in the network? A. SEACOM has publicly announced its investors, it is 75% African owned with Agha Khan Economic Development Group (IPS) out of East Africa, Venfin, Convergence Partners and Shanduka group from South Africa. The remaining 25% is owned by Herakles Telecom, our New York based development company. Herakles management is also the management of Sithe Global (developer and investor of the Bujagali Hydro in Uganda) and Global Alumina, a $4.5 billion alumina refinery in Guinea. Q. What do you envisage will be the prices for SEACOMs bandwidth? A. SEACOMs pricing is the equivalent of $100 to $170 per Mb/s per month. Q. In what ways will SEACOM be competitive compared to other fibre initiatives in the region, such as TEAMS and EASSy? A. SEACOM is the only cable offering a PoP to PoP solution for Europe and Asia. I believe this is a large advantage and the purchase of onward capacity is a difficult process. SEACOM understands that TEAMS has very competitive pricing to Fujairah. SEACOM believes that its pricing to Europe is more competitive than EASSys pricing to Sudan. Q. How will SEACOM assure affordability of services, and how has it been responsive to NEPADs calls for Open Access? A. SEACOM has structured each landing point as an open access unit. This has been accomplished in two formats. First, the capital cost of the landing stations is a sunk cost for SEACOM, in other words SEACOM does not seek to recover the investment costs of the landing station through co-location fees. Secondly, each landing station is built with an additional building whereby customers can put their own equipment at the cable station. SEACOM has published its prices through many different forums. The pricing is an 80% discount over current satellite charges and is the only cable offering capacity directly from a PoP (Point of Presence) in Nairobi to a PoP in Europe or India without the requirement to purchase onward capacity. Q. Would you say the fact that SEACOM is not a local company in the countries where it is going to land fibre places it at a disadvantage compared to pother cable systems such as EASSy and TEAMS? A. Depending on each countrys regulatory regime, SEACOM has either established a local entity to operate the cable or partnered with an existing cable. SEACOM will bring experienced operators to the cable to ensure that the local entities maintain world class quality service. Q. What are your comments to the assertion that it is not viable for the eastern coast of Africa to have three competing cables? Do you see a need for the cables to cooperate in some areas rather than duplicate everything? A. The current capacity demand on the East Coast of Africa is very small. However, we believe that the future demand will experience exponential growth. Having said the three competing systems would create a large over-supply which could create a short term glut. Q. What is Herakles Telecom and where does it operate from? A. Herakles Telecom is a development company set in New York. The management is the same management that works with Sithe Global (www.sitheglobal.com) and Global Alumina (www.globalalumina.com) Q. There has been talk that Herakles staff were involved in the Africa One project which did not materialise, and that they collected money from African telecom, which money has purportedly not been refunded. How true is this, and how could it affect SEACOMs operations? A. I have noted the slander towards myself and JP (Jean Pierre de Leu) out of Kenya. I can confirm that both of us worked and spent many years with Africa ONE for the hope that this project would go forward. However, neither of us were principals of this project and left the project from 2002. It was our understanding that the only countries that made a deposit were Eritrea and Mauritania. We understand that the sales person for Eritrea was able to help that money be returned. It should be noted that the Africa ONE name was sold by AT&T to a private investment group in 1998 and it was this group who was responsible for that money ¬ JP and myself have nothing to do with this entity. Since Africa (2002) I have worked as a developer on over $5 billion of projects in Africa, each of which have excellent reputations and large impacts in their respective countries, including Bujagali in Uganda. - wakabi(a)cipesa.org --- _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

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[Fwd: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] [Fwd: Re: [Fwd: Re: SEACOM gets funding boost]]]]
by alice 17 Jan '08

17 Jan '08

From the fibre for Africa list -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] [Fwd: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: SEACOM gets funding boost]] Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:21:16 +0100 (CET) From: Wairagala Wakabi <wakabi(a)cipesa.org> Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> References: <478EEA7B.7040702(a)apc.org> <FB0CFC3EE5CB18438CE7E5D638A91B8082084F(a)SFCMAIL01.safaricom.net> Vitalis, Fibre-for-Africa (www.fibreforafrica.net) today put this issue to Mr Herlihy, president of SEACOM. His response: "I can confirm that both of us worked and spent many years with Africa ONE for the hope that this project would go forward. However, neither of us were principals of this project and left the project from 2002. It was our understanding that the only countries that made a deposit were Eritrea and Mauritania. "We understand that the sales person for Eritrea was able to help that money be returned. It should be noted that the Africa ONE name was sold by AT&T to a private investment group in 1998 and it was this group who was responsible for that money ¬ JP and myself have nothing to do with this entity. Since Africa (2002) I have worked as a developer on over $5 billion of projects in Africa, each of which have excellent reputations and large impacts in their respective countries, including Bujagali in Uganda." Wakabi > If the two men, Jean Pierre de Leu - a resident in Kenya and owner of > Karibunet and Brian Hilehy President of Heracles from SA- were truly > involved in Africa One Project, then they should explain what happened > to the contributions made to the Africa One Project, after it became a > "White Elephant". The defunct KPTC and many other organizations did > contribute to this project but it did not take-off. How can we trust > them now that SEACOM will not go the same direction? And even if Seacom > will be a success story, they should refund the contributions for Africa > One. > > > Vitalis > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: fibre-for-africa-bounces(a)lists.apc.org > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of alice > Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 8:41 AM > To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants > Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] [Fwd: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: SEACOM gets > funding boost]] > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] SEACOM gets > funding boost] > Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 07:16:48 +0300 > From: Victor Maloi <victormaloi3(a)gmail.com> > To: alice <alice(a)apc.org> > CC: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > References: <478E11D0.1070605(a)apc.org> > > > > Wakabi, > You have not addressed the fact that the principals behind Seacom > collected funds from African Telcos and never refunded the money when > the project failed. KPTC now Telcom Kenya indeed paid and never > recovered the funds. Should we embrace these individuals even when they > > stole from our national investments? Please declare your interests too. > > Victor > > > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] SEACOM gets funding boost > Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:31:24 +0100 (CET) > From: Wairagala Wakabi <wakabi(a)cipesa.org > <mailto:[email protected]>> > Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop > Participants > <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > <mailto:[email protected]>> > To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants > <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > <mailto:[email protected]>> > CC: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > <mailto:[email protected]>> > References: < > 3104.217.113.73.239.1195028026.squirrel(a)mail.cipesa.org > <mailto:[email protected]>> > <478CFEF7.1040209(a)apc.org <mailto:[email protected]>> > > > > Alice, > Our understanding is that SEACOM (The Sea Cable System) is a > registered in > Mauritius and owned 25% by Herakles Telecom - the managing partner > for the > cable who is based in New York. > > The other partners: > 1) Industrial Promotion Service of the Aga Khan Foundation (25%); > 2) Venfin (a South African investment holding company with > interests in > IT (25%); > 3) Shanduka Group, a South African investment company (12.5%); > 4) Convergence Partners, a South African Black Economic Empowerment > (BEE) > investment company focusing on the Telecommunications, Media and > Technology (TMT) sector - 12.5%. > > SEACOM says the ownership structure varies for each segment of the > cable, > which ensures local ownership of the cable segments connecting > individual > countries to comply with regulations in those countries. The cable > backbone along the east coast of Africa and to India and Europe is > owned > by SEACOM; while the segments connecting to individual countries are > either 100% (South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, India, France) or > 35% > (Tanzania, Kenya) locally owned. > > Wakabi > > ===== > > Hi all > > > > Out of curiosity, who is SEACOM? rather who are behind SEACOM? > > Anyone conducted due diligence. Any connection to the Africa One > saga? > > > > best > > alice > > > > > > > > Wairagala Wakabi wrote: > >> Netters, > >> Its backers are saying SEACOM will be the only new cable > completed in > >> time > >> to give South Africa the bandwidth needed for the 2010 WC, with > "actual > >> production of the fibreoptic cable and undersea facilities" > starting > >> next > >> week. SA's SNO, NEOTEL, has helped marshal capital from local > financial > >> heavyweights, enabling NEOTEL to be owned 50% by South Africans. > >> > >> Tut Tut... > >> > >> Wakabi > >> > >> > >> Sea cable venture lands big investors > >> > >> By Lesley Stones, Business Day, November 14 2007 > >> > >> AN UNDERSEA cable promising cheap bandwidth for Africa yesterday > finally > >> named its backers, signing up enough well-connected local > investors to > >> guarantee its landing rights in SA. > >> > >> Investment heavyweight Venfin is sinking $75m into the project, > taking a > >> 25% stake in the 15000km cable linking SA to India and Europe. > >> > >> Cyril Ramaphosa's black investment house Shanduka is taking > 12,5%, worth > >> $37,5m. Another 12,5% goes to Convergence Partners, a group of > black > >> investors led by Andile Ngcaba, the chairman of Dimension Data > Africa > >> and > >> a former director-general of the communications department. > Nedbank > >> Capital and Investec will provide financing for the $650m > project. > >> > >> SA's second network operator, Neotel, is pumping in a far more > modest > >> R20m, and using its telecoms licence to guarantee that the cable > can > >> dock > >> in SA. > >> > >> The local ownership is sufficient to ensure that Seacom meets > >> controversial new conditions being drawn up by Communications > Minister > >> Ivy > >> Matsepe-Casaburri, dictating who can land a cable in SA. The > minister is > >> insisting that any cable must be majority owned by African > investors to > >> come ashore. > >> > >> South Africans hold 50% of Seacom, and that rises to 75% African > >> ownership > >> thanks to 25% held by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic > Development's > >> Industrial Promotion Services, a development agency based in > Kenya. > >> > >> The remaining 25% lies with New York's Herakles Telecom, a > development > >> group that has invested $4bn in Africa. > >> > >> Neotel is investing only in the local landing station, but its > licence > >> to > >> operate in SA conferred on it the right to land a cable, said MD > Ajay > >> Pandey. > >> > >> "Our understanding is that the country needs international > capacity, and > >> the way international cable landing protocols have been defined > means we > >> have the opportunity here." > >> > >> Venfin CEO Jannie Durand said Neotel's licence to land a cable > in SA > >> meant > >> everything had been done "legally and correctly". Venfin was > backing > >> Seacom for two reasons, he said: "We are hopefully going to make > a lot > >> of > >> money out of it and SA needs more bandwidth. We want to bring SA > >> affordable bandwidth to the rest of the world." > >> > >> Although the cable will cost $650m, it would be partly funded by > loans > >> as > >> well as equity, allowing Venfin to take 25% for less than the > book value > >> of the project, Durand said. > >> > >> Pandey believes Seacom will be the onlyThe actual production of > the > >> fibreoptic cable and undersea facilities will start next week. > >> > >> The consortium has already invested more than $10m in a marine > survey > >> and > >> engineering of the cable. The actual production of the > fibreoptic cable > >> and undersea facilities will start next week. > >> > >> Seacom will connect Mtunzini in SA to Mumbai in India and > Marseilles in > >> France via Mozambique, Madagascar, Kenya and Tanzania by June > 2009. > >> > >> Terrestrial links will be built to take its bandwidth to > numerous other > >> inland countries. Its capacity of 1,28 terabytes per second is > 10 times > >> the capacity on the existing Sat-3 cable around Africa's west > coast. > >> > >> The consortium has promised that it will charge other voice and > data > >> carriers significantly less for its bandwidth than they pay to > use Sat-3 > >> or satellite services, which should trigger a massive decrease > in the > >> cost > >> of phone calls, internet access and data transmissions for > African > >> consumers and businesses. > >> > >> "Improved access for business and individuals in Africa to > >> communications, > >> broadband services and new technology offerings can improve > lives and > >> help > >> grow the economies of our countries," said Ngcaba, the chairman > of > >> Convergence Partners. "The linking of southern and east Africa > with > >> India > >> and Europe is crucial for enhancing development and trade > between these > >> key regions." > >> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Fibre-for-africa mailing list > >> Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > <mailto:[email protected]> > >> http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > >> > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > <mailto:[email protected]> > > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > <mailto:[email protected]> > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > <http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa> > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <mailto:[email protected]> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: victormaloi3(a)gmail.com > <mailto:[email protected]> > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/victormaloi3%40gmai > l.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > The information in this email and any attachments is confidential and may > be legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the named > addressee. > Emails are susceptible to alteration and their integrity cannot be > guaranteed. Safaricom Limited does not accept legal responsibility for the > contents of this email if the same is found to have been altered or > manipulated. > The contents and opinions expressed in this email are solely those of the > author and do not necessarily represent those of Safaricom Limited. > Safaricom Limited disclaims any liability to the fullest extent > permissible by law for any consequences that may arise from the contents > of this email including but not limited to personal opinions, malicious > and/or defamatory information and data/codes that may compromise or damage > the integrity of the recipient's information technology systems. > If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender and > immediately delete this email from your system. > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa _______________________________________________ secretariat mailing list secretariat(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/secretariat This message was sent to: alice(a)apc.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/secretariat/alice%40apc.org

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With friends like these ... understanding Facebook
by alice 17 Jan '08

17 Jan '08

With friends like these ... Face book has 59 million users - and 2 million new ones join each week. But you won't catch Tom Hodgkinson volunteering his personal information - not now that he knows the politics of the people behind the social networking site Tom Hodgkinson The Guardian, Monday January 14 2008 http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/jan/14/facebook --

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[Fwd: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] SEACOM gets funding boost]
by alice 17 Jan '08

17 Jan '08

FYI -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] SEACOM gets funding boost Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:31:24 +0100 (CET) From: Wairagala Wakabi <wakabi(a)cipesa.org> Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> CC: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke> References: <3104.217.113.73.239.1195028026.squirrel(a)mail.cipesa.org> <478CFEF7.1040209(a)apc.org> Alice, Our understanding is that SEACOM (The Sea Cable System) is a registered in Mauritius and owned 25% by Herakles Telecom - the managing partner for the cable who is based in New York. The other partners: 1) Industrial Promotion Service of the Aga Khan Foundation (25%); 2) Venfin (a South African investment holding company with interests in IT (25%); 3) Shanduka Group, a South African investment company (12.5%); 4) Convergence Partners, a South African Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) investment company focusing on the Telecommunications, Media and Technology (TMT) sector - 12.5%. SEACOM says the ownership structure varies for each segment of the cable, which ensures local ownership of the cable segments connecting individual countries to comply with regulations in those countries. The cable backbone along the east coast of Africa and to India and Europe is owned by SEACOM; while the segments connecting to individual countries are either 100% (South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, India, France) or 35% (Tanzania, Kenya) locally owned. Wakabi ===== > Hi all > > Out of curiosity, who is SEACOM? rather who are behind SEACOM? > Anyone conducted due diligence. Any connection to the Africa One saga? > > best > alice > > > > Wairagala Wakabi wrote: >> Netters, >> Its backers are saying SEACOM will be the only new cable completed in >> time >> to give South Africa the bandwidth needed for the 2010 WC, with "actual >> production of the fibreoptic cable and undersea facilities" starting >> next >> week. SA's SNO, NEOTEL, has helped marshal capital from local financial >> heavyweights, enabling NEOTEL to be owned 50% by South Africans. >> >> Tut Tut... >> >> Wakabi >> >> >> Sea cable venture lands big investors >> >> By Lesley Stones, Business Day, November 14 2007 >> >> AN UNDERSEA cable promising cheap bandwidth for Africa yesterday finally >> named its backers, signing up enough well-connected local investors to >> guarantee its landing rights in SA. >> >> Investment heavyweight Venfin is sinking $75m into the project, taking a >> 25% stake in the 15000km cable linking SA to India and Europe. >> >> Cyril Ramaphosas black investment house Shanduka is taking 12,5%, worth >> $37,5m. Another 12,5% goes to Convergence Partners, a group of black >> investors led by Andile Ngcaba, the chairman of Dimension Data Africa >> and >> a former director-general of the communications department. Nedbank >> Capital and Investec will provide financing for the $650m project. >> >> SAs second network operator, Neotel, is pumping in a far more modest >> R20m, and using its telecoms licence to guarantee that the cable can >> dock >> in SA. >> >> The local ownership is sufficient to ensure that Seacom meets >> controversial new conditions being drawn up by Communications Minister >> Ivy >> Matsepe-Casaburri, dictating who can land a cable in SA. The minister is >> insisting that any cable must be majority owned by African investors to >> come ashore. >> >> South Africans hold 50% of Seacom, and that rises to 75% African >> ownership >> thanks to 25% held by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Developments >> Industrial Promotion Services, a development agency based in Kenya. >> >> The remaining 25% lies with New Yorks Herakles Telecom, a development >> group that has invested $4bn in Africa. >> >> Neotel is investing only in the local landing station, but its licence >> to >> operate in SA conferred on it the right to land a cable, said MD Ajay >> Pandey. >> >> Our understanding is that the country needs international capacity, and >> the way international cable landing protocols have been defined means we >> have the opportunity here. >> >> Venfin CEO Jannie Durand said Neotels licence to land a cable in SA >> meant >> everything had been done legally and correctly. Venfin was backing >> Seacom for two reasons, he said: We are hopefully going to make a lot >> of >> money out of it and SA needs more bandwidth. We want to bring SA >> affordable bandwidth to the rest of the world. >> >> Although the cable will cost $650m, it would be partly funded by loans >> as >> well as equity, allowing Venfin to take 25% for less than the book value >> of the project, Durand said. >> >> Pandey believes Seacom will be the onlyThe actual production of the >> fibreoptic cable and undersea facilities will start next week. >> >> The consortium has already invested more than $10m in a marine survey >> and >> engineering of the cable. The actual production of the fibreoptic cable >> and undersea facilities will start next week. >> >> Seacom will connect Mtunzini in SA to Mumbai in India and Marseilles in >> France via Mozambique, Madagascar, Kenya and Tanzania by June 2009. >> >> Terrestrial links will be built to take its bandwidth to numerous other >> inland countries. Its capacity of 1,28 terabytes per second is 10 times >> the capacity on the existing Sat-3 cable around Africas west coast. >> >> The consortium has promised that it will charge other voice and data >> carriers significantly less for its bandwidth than they pay to use Sat-3 >> or satellite services, which should trigger a massive decrease in the >> cost >> of phone calls, internet access and data transmissions for African >> consumers and businesses. >> >> Improved access for business and individuals in Africa to >> communications, >> broadband services and new technology offerings can improve lives and >> help >> grow the economies of our countries, said Ngcaba, the chairman of >> Convergence Partners. The linking of southern and east Africa with >> India >> and Europe is crucial for enhancing development and trade between these >> key regions. >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Fibre-for-africa mailing list >> Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org >> http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

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[Fwd: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] [Fwd: Re: [Fwd: Re: SEACOM gets funding boost]]]
by alice 17 Jan '08

17 Jan '08

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] [Fwd: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: SEACOM gets funding boost]] Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:49:21 +0300 From: Vitalis Olunga <VOlunga(a)Safaricom.co.ke> Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> References: <478EEA7B.7040702(a)apc.org> If the two men, Jean Pierre de Leu - a resident in Kenya and owner of Karibunet and Brian Hilehy President of Heracles from SA- were truly involved in Africa One Project, then they should explain what happened to the contributions made to the Africa One Project, after it became a "White Elephant". The defunct KPTC and many other organizations did contribute to this project but it did not take-off. How can we trust them now that SEACOM will not go the same direction? And even if Seacom will be a success story, they should refund the contributions for Africa One. Vitalis -----Original Message----- From: fibre-for-africa-bounces(a)lists.apc.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of alice Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 8:41 AM To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] [Fwd: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: SEACOM gets funding boost]] -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] SEACOM gets funding boost] Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 07:16:48 +0300 From: Victor Maloi <victormaloi3(a)gmail.com> To: alice <alice(a)apc.org> CC: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> References: <478E11D0.1070605(a)apc.org> Wakabi, You have not addressed the fact that the principals behind Seacom collected funds from African Telcos and never refunded the money when the project failed. KPTC now Telcom Kenya indeed paid and never recovered the funds. Should we embrace these individuals even when they stole from our national investments? Please declare your interests too. Victor -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] SEACOM gets funding boost Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:31:24 +0100 (CET) From: Wairagala Wakabi <wakabi(a)cipesa.org <mailto:[email protected]>> Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org <mailto:[email protected]>> To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org <mailto:[email protected]>> CC: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke <mailto:[email protected]>> References: < 3104.217.113.73.239.1195028026.squirrel(a)mail.cipesa.org <mailto:[email protected]>> <478CFEF7.1040209(a)apc.org <mailto:[email protected]>> Alice, Our understanding is that SEACOM (The Sea Cable System) is a registered in Mauritius and owned 25% by Herakles Telecom - the managing partner for the cable who is based in New York. The other partners: 1) Industrial Promotion Service of the Aga Khan Foundation (25%); 2) Venfin (a South African investment holding company with interests in IT (25%); 3) Shanduka Group, a South African investment company (12.5%); 4) Convergence Partners, a South African Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) investment company focusing on the Telecommunications, Media and Technology (TMT) sector - 12.5%. SEACOM says the ownership structure varies for each segment of the cable, which ensures local ownership of the cable segments connecting individual countries to comply with regulations in those countries. The cable backbone along the east coast of Africa and to India and Europe is owned by SEACOM; while the segments connecting to individual countries are either 100% (South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, India, France) or 35% (Tanzania, Kenya) locally owned. Wakabi ===== > Hi all > > Out of curiosity, who is SEACOM? rather who are behind SEACOM? > Anyone conducted due diligence. Any connection to the Africa One saga? > > best > alice > > > > Wairagala Wakabi wrote: >> Netters, >> Its backers are saying SEACOM will be the only new cable completed in >> time >> to give South Africa the bandwidth needed for the 2010 WC, with "actual >> production of the fibreoptic cable and undersea facilities" starting >> next >> week. SA's SNO, NEOTEL, has helped marshal capital from local financial >> heavyweights, enabling NEOTEL to be owned 50% by South Africans. >> >> Tut Tut... >> >> Wakabi >> >> >> Sea cable venture lands big investors >> >> By Lesley Stones, Business Day, November 14 2007 >> >> AN UNDERSEA cable promising cheap bandwidth for Africa yesterday finally >> named its backers, signing up enough well-connected local investors to >> guarantee its landing rights in SA. >> >> Investment heavyweight Venfin is sinking $75m into the project, taking a >> 25% stake in the 15000km cable linking SA to India and Europe. >> >> Cyril Ramaphosa's black investment house Shanduka is taking 12,5%, worth >> $37,5m. Another 12,5% goes to Convergence Partners, a group of black >> investors led by Andile Ngcaba, the chairman of Dimension Data Africa >> and >> a former director-general of the communications department. Nedbank >> Capital and Investec will provide financing for the $650m project. >> >> SA's second network operator, Neotel, is pumping in a far more modest >> R20m, and using its telecoms licence to guarantee that the cable can >> dock >> in SA. >> >> The local ownership is sufficient to ensure that Seacom meets >> controversial new conditions being drawn up by Communications Minister >> Ivy >> Matsepe-Casaburri, dictating who can land a cable in SA. The minister is >> insisting that any cable must be majority owned by African investors to >> come ashore. >> >> South Africans hold 50% of Seacom, and that rises to 75% African >> ownership >> thanks to 25% held by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development's >> Industrial Promotion Services, a development agency based in Kenya. >> >> The remaining 25% lies with New York's Herakles Telecom, a development >> group that has invested $4bn in Africa. >> >> Neotel is investing only in the local landing station, but its licence >> to >> operate in SA conferred on it the right to land a cable, said MD Ajay >> Pandey. >> >> "Our understanding is that the country needs international capacity, and >> the way international cable landing protocols have been defined means we >> have the opportunity here." >> >> Venfin CEO Jannie Durand said Neotel's licence to land a cable in SA >> meant >> everything had been done "legally and correctly". Venfin was backing >> Seacom for two reasons, he said: "We are hopefully going to make a lot >> of >> money out of it and SA needs more bandwidth. We want to bring SA >> affordable bandwidth to the rest of the world." >> >> Although the cable will cost $650m, it would be partly funded by loans >> as >> well as equity, allowing Venfin to take 25% for less than the book value >> of the project, Durand said. >> >> Pandey believes Seacom will be the onlyThe actual production of the >> fibreoptic cable and undersea facilities will start next week. >> >> The consortium has already invested more than $10m in a marine survey >> and >> engineering of the cable. The actual production of the fibreoptic cable >> and undersea facilities will start next week. >> >> Seacom will connect Mtunzini in SA to Mumbai in India and Marseilles in >> France via Mozambique, Madagascar, Kenya and Tanzania by June 2009. >> >> Terrestrial links will be built to take its bandwidth to numerous other >> inland countries. Its capacity of 1,28 terabytes per second is 10 times >> the capacity on the existing Sat-3 cable around Africa's west coast. >> >> The consortium has promised that it will charge other voice and data >> carriers significantly less for its bandwidth than they pay to use Sat-3 >> or satellite services, which should trigger a massive decrease in the >> cost >> of phone calls, internet access and data transmissions for African >> consumers and businesses. >> >> "Improved access for business and individuals in Africa to >> communications, >> broadband services and new technology offerings can improve lives and >> help >> grow the economies of our countries," said Ngcaba, the chairman of >> Convergence Partners. "The linking of southern and east Africa with >> India >> and Europe is crucial for enhancing development and trade between these >> key regions." >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Fibre-for-africa mailing list >> Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org <mailto:[email protected]> >> http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org <mailto:[email protected]> > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org <mailto:[email protected]> http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa <http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa> _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <mailto:[email protected]> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: victormaloi3(a)gmail.com <mailto:[email protected]> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/victormaloi3%40gmai l.com _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa The information in this email and any attachments is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the named addressee. Emails are susceptible to alteration and their integrity cannot be guaranteed. Safaricom Limited does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this email if the same is found to have been altered or manipulated. The contents and opinions expressed in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Safaricom Limited. Safaricom Limited disclaims any liability to the fullest extent permissible by law for any consequences that may arise from the contents of this email including but not limited to personal opinions, malicious and/or defamatory information and data/codes that may compromise or damage the integrity of the recipient's information technology systems. If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender and immediately delete this email from your system. _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

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FW: Investment Opportunities Talk- Saturday 26th January 2008
by Bill Kagai 17 Jan '08

17 Jan '08

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Patrick Kariuki <pkariuki(a)genesis.co.ke> Date: Jan 16, 2008 1:53 PM The Kenya Association of Investment Groups together with our partners would like to invite you and your group members to participate in an Investment Opportunity Session. Date: Saturday 26th January, 2008 Time: 8:30am -1.00pm Venue: AMREF Headquarters This informative session will begin with a talk on "Investing in Uncertain times" by James Mworia (CFA, CPA(K), Advocate and member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants with 8 years Investment Management Experience ) Followed by presentations on forthcoming investment opportunities in Resolution Health and MediaCorp. Charges: Ksh 500(Members) Ksh 1000( Non-Members) There are limited spaces available by advance booking. To reserve your place please call 3517967 or email admin(a)kaig.org We look forward to seeing you. The Kenya Association of Investment Groups P. O Box 48525 - 00200 Nairobi, Kenya. Tel 020 3517967 Email : admin(a)kaig.org -- Bildad Kagai MD - MediaCorp Limited Nairobi Stock Exchange [NSE] - Authorised Information Vendor Suite B2 Tetu Apartments StateHouse Avenue P. O. Box 20311-00200 Tel. 254 20 272 8332 Fax. Rendered Obsolete URL. www.mediacorpafrica.com --

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Re: [kictanet] [Fibre-for-africa] SEACOM gets funding boost
by alice 16 Jan '08

16 Jan '08

Hi all Out of curiosity, who is SEACOM? rather who are behind SEACOM? Anyone conducted due diligence. Any connection to the Africa One saga? best alice Wairagala Wakabi wrote: > Netters, > Its backers are saying SEACOM will be the only new cable completed in time > to give South Africa the bandwidth needed for the 2010 WC, with "actual > production of the fibreoptic cable and undersea facilities" starting next > week. SA's SNO, NEOTEL, has helped marshal capital from local financial > heavyweights, enabling NEOTEL to be owned 50% by South Africans. > > Tut Tut... > > Wakabi > > > Sea cable venture lands big investors > > By Lesley Stones, Business Day, November 14 2007 > > AN UNDERSEA cable promising cheap bandwidth for Africa yesterday finally > named its backers, signing up enough well-connected local investors to > guarantee its landing rights in SA. > > Investment heavyweight Venfin is sinking $75m into the project, taking a > 25% stake in the 15000km cable linking SA to India and Europe. > > Cyril Ramaphosa’s black investment house Shanduka is taking 12,5%, worth > $37,5m. Another 12,5% goes to Convergence Partners, a group of black > investors led by Andile Ngcaba, the chairman of Dimension Data Africa and > a former director-general of the communications department. Nedbank > Capital and Investec will provide financing for the $650m project. > > SA’s second network operator, Neotel, is pumping in a far more modest > R20m, and using its telecoms licence to guarantee that the cable can dock > in SA. > > The local ownership is sufficient to ensure that Seacom meets > controversial new conditions being drawn up by Communications Minister Ivy > Matsepe-Casaburri, dictating who can land a cable in SA. The minister is > insisting that any cable must be majority owned by African investors to > come ashore. > > South Africans hold 50% of Seacom, and that rises to 75% African ownership > thanks to 25% held by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development’s > Industrial Promotion Services, a development agency based in Kenya. > > The remaining 25% lies with New York’s Herakles Telecom, a development > group that has invested $4bn in Africa. > > Neotel is investing only in the local landing station, but its licence to > operate in SA conferred on it the right to land a cable, said MD Ajay > Pandey. > > “Our understanding is that the country needs international capacity, and > the way international cable landing protocols have been defined means we > have the opportunity here.” > > Venfin CEO Jannie Durand said Neotel’s licence to land a cable in SA meant > everything had been done “legally and correctly”. Venfin was backing > Seacom for two reasons, he said: “We are hopefully going to make a lot of > money out of it and SA needs more bandwidth. We want to bring SA > affordable bandwidth to the rest of the world.” > > Although the cable will cost $650m, it would be partly funded by loans as > well as equity, allowing Venfin to take 25% for less than the book value > of the project, Durand said. > > Pandey believes Seacom will be the onlyThe actual production of the > fibreoptic cable and undersea facilities will start next week. > > The consortium has already invested more than $10m in a marine survey and > engineering of the cable. The actual production of the fibreoptic cable > and undersea facilities will start next week. > > Seacom will connect Mtunzini in SA to Mumbai in India and Marseilles in > France via Mozambique, Madagascar, Kenya and Tanzania by June 2009. > > Terrestrial links will be built to take its bandwidth to numerous other > inland countries. Its capacity of 1,28 terabytes per second is 10 times > the capacity on the existing Sat-3 cable around Africa’s west coast. > > The consortium has promised that it will charge other voice and data > carriers significantly less for its bandwidth than they pay to use Sat-3 > or satellite services, which should trigger a massive decrease in the cost > of phone calls, internet access and data transmissions for African > consumers and businesses. > > “Improved access for business and individuals in Africa to communications, > broadband services and new technology offerings can improve lives and help > grow the economies of our countries,” said Ngcaba, the chairman of > Convergence Partners. “The linking of southern and east Africa with India > and Europe is crucial for enhancing development and trade between these > key regions.” > > > > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > >

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Online courtesy- dont misuse this forum!!!!
by Rebecca Wanjiku 14 Jan '08

14 Jan '08

Dear Yawe, I am sure my name has given me away too but I dont care much about that. Suffice it to say that this is not a forum for bar talk and that kind of stuff. This is a place for serious discussions. I am sure this kind of responses can make people to unsubscribe from this list, or make others start defending their political stand. For the years I have been a member of this list, I am sure Kictanet accommodates everybody irrespective of race, ethnic background or levels of development. This is a list with people beyond Kenya, who are interested in ICT policy and other attendant issues. If everybody came to narrate such stories online, I wonder what we will do during our free time when we are supposed to engage in idle talk. Let us restrict this kind of talk to political rallies and local pubs and let this forum be for serious ICT discussions. We must see beyond some of these things. If you have any bone to pick with my contribution please reply to me directly and not to the list. Walubengo has published guidelines on posting, I am sure he will be kind enough to re-post them just to remind ourselves how to conduct online discussions. Best regards Becky Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ----- Original Message ---- From: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> To: Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com>; ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 8:26:09 AM Subject: Re: [ke-internetusers] Election process fiasco Hi Alex, If your name is a definite give away and I would have been more surprised if your contribution was any different. Do not create a storm in a tea cub, the Kikuyu should head the adage "with great power comes great responsibility". By not uplifting the livelihood of your neighbours in Eldoret, Kisumu and Kuresoi you failed in your responsibility. Yes, you are your brothers keeper do not escape your right. Taking us back to the days of your tribes existence as gatherers (sorry they still are) you are trying to justify your abdicated responsibility. Teach your pastoral and fishing neigbours how to better their lives and this problem will solve itself. Take Raila's hand and show him how by taking EA Spectre and the Molasses plant public is the way of the future instead of selling everything to Trans Century. Teach Ruto that education is the land of the future, his mentor ruled us for 24 years longer than Kenyatta ruled yet Gatundu is still better off than Sacho. It is time the Kikuyu accepted that they have misused their God given right to enrich yourselves and frustrate those you are responsible for. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Sent: Tuesday, 8 January, 2008 9:30:09 PM Subject: Re: [ke-internetusers] Election process fiasco Greetings Robert, Let break it down! You mean every Kikuyu carries a "land thief" label on their forehead? Terrible thieves of indigenous lands they should all be. Hey, what am I saying? You live and your office is in Nairobi right? And Nairobi is a maasai name. oops! Then we are occupying indigenous maasai land and we should all vacate and go back to our ancestral homes to avoid massai rungus and spears. Step 1 Kalenjin head back to Rift Valley, Luo back to Luo-Nyanza, Kikuyus to Central Kenya, Arabs, Waswahili back to the coast, Taita... etc etc.. all 42 communities ( or should I use tribes?) Step 2 Before we unpack those sufurias, beddings, and bags and city life computers and modems. History says pssst! Look over here! Sorry Bantus, the Nigeria-Cameroon- Congo forest is where you belong you only came here 5,000 years ago (3000 BC) <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantu#Origins> And you Nilotics get up further north to the Sudan, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilotic) Cushitics back to the arab-asia origins. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Asiatic_languages> Step 3 If you noticed above Nilotics include Maa-speaking peoples who earlier chased you and me from their Nairobi. etc.. etc.. Step 4 Nearly forgot, Indians please the British only brought you here to construct Her/His Majesty's EAR and you have over-stayed. Get packing thank you very much for your labours. BTW, White Kenyans remember Europe is where your ancestors are? Everyone is going back home where they belongs. ok! Step 5 If there are any Americans- Kenyans you go home as well. This is a hard one because once you get there, you then retrace where you came from because Native Americans claim that land. Australians the Aborigine wan their land back. Spanish Mexicans the Aztecs want back their land etc etc Step 6 Kenya's permanent solution to the Eldoret "problem" as per Yawe has triggered an unprecedented global migration crisis and succeeded in removing everyone from Kenya. In other works, there is no Kenya because Kenya was an artificial invention of some British adventurers who have all been compelled to go back home. Finally, Everybody is now safely back in their home land and permanent peace prevails all over the world? BTW regarding, "Evelyn brought out an interesting issue, can we digitize the land ownership patterns so that we can easily identify prospective problem zones before they flare up," I believe she must have been making reference to a KDN's business proposal because she works there and it's her job to look for new business. She's unlikely to share it with potential competitors on the list, at least I wouldn't:) Nice debate, hit me! Enjoy! Alex On Jan 8, 2008 8:04 PM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > Hi Alex, > > We know the genesis of the problems in Eldoret and whichever way the > election went the killings and displacements there would still have taken > place. Stop bombarding God with insincere prayers, we pray together only to > walk out of the judge and return to our tribal cocoons. > > The history and progression of the tensions in Eldoret are well known and > documented, it had nothing to do with the election results but Ruto > finishing off what he begun in 1992 - 1997. Remember is the one of the only > known participant in a cabinet meeting who was not a minister. > > Give the land back to the Kalenjin it was taken away from them by the > settlers but returned to the Kikuyu. If you want my added opinion if you > decide to eat a frog eat a fat juicy one, if the Kikuyu's really want to > remain in Eldoret let them make sure they have uninterrupted tracts of not > less than 100 acres and stop promising your sons and daughters that they > will inherit the land lets move to the new age, knowledge. > > Evelyn brought out an interesting issue, can we digitize the land ownership > patterns so that we can easily identify prospective problem zones before > they flare up. > > Lets stop useless rhetoric and apply our knowledge and skills to better run > this country, stop using 18th century solutions for 22nd century problems. > There are enough busy bodies dealing with the now and here of this crisis we > need a group to look 20 years ahead to make sure that the child born in > Eldoret, Nyeri or Kisumu today does not revert to the solutions of todays 20 > year old. > > Alex, I refuse to be pulled into a discussion that I cannot provide a > workable solution that is within my skill set. Ask me for a techie solution > to a problem then I am in my forte. > > Regards > > > > Robert Yawe > KAY System Technologies Ltd > Phoenix House, 6th Floor > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 > KEnya > > Tel: +254722511225 > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Alex Gakuru <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> > To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> > Cc: ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> > Sent: Tuesday, 8 January, 2008 12:58:48 PM > Subject: Re: [ke-internetusers] Election process fiasco > > Robert: > > Firstly, I am not opposed to your expressed opinion but only calling > on prioritisation of issues. We are lucky to be alive and in our > offices typing away our diverse polls opinions and offering our best > efforts in solving problems facing our suffering brothers and sisters. > > But could we at this moment in time focus all our energies on > solidifying returning peace and calm. Hard-line political positions, > polls details, allegations or insinuations will neither console those > that lost their loved ones, destroyed homes, property, and > livelihoods. Accusations will not console fellow Kenyans and relatives > since spending every night in the cold not because they committed any > crime. > > Let us all try a very difficult thing, forgiveness. Anger is easily > inflames and spread whereas honest forgiveness is such a difficult > thing for us to do. But why should we all forgive in the first place? > some may ask. > > I believe forgiveness should not be to please the aggressor, not to > gain political mileage, settle political scores, or improve ones > public image. We should not forgive to appear righteous to appease > our religious leaders, cultural traditions, or our families. > > We should forgive so that we save own selves from self-ruin. Save our > futures from burdens of pain and grief. To break free chains of > carrying burdens of hatred for the rest of our lives. For our > conscience, hearts and minds to be unpolluted, pure and clear. To > appreciate and focus on the beauty, value and to actualise sanctity of > life every moment that we live. And to become soldiers of life, love, > kindness, and fairness fellow beings. > > What possibly could ever justify one taking the life of another? I > simply could never find words strong enough to condemn such. > > Therefore, my friend, let is not tire ourselves with politicians power > self-interests when many are undergoing trauma. At this moment in > time politicians interests bother me the least. Time will tell and I > hope 10 years todays, this country will look back at this as the > darkest cloud ever to have passed over our country. > > Alex > > On Jan 8, 2008 11:52 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > > > Happy new year to you all and I pray that you are all well. > > > > It is shocking that in this day and age we can actually have the kind of > > electoral fiasco that has been visited on us by the ECK and Co as well as > > the political parties. > > > > This draconian problem reared its head when the Orange house was broken > into > > and the computers stolen. Hon.Nyongo's statement indicated that the > > objective was to steal the member register. If I needed to steal the > > register which from his comments was in electronic form what was the need > of > > taking off with the computer. Has he ever heard of flash disks, > external > > hard dis drives and CD/DVD writers. Technology allows me to steal his > data > > without him every knowing. > > > > After this issue Kivuiti dismissed the SMS service that had been made > > available by Telkom to enable voters confirm their details. He even went > to > > the extent of saying he does not know how to send an SMS. As the IT > > fraternity in the country can we really escape blame for this fiasco? > > > > The next time was when I saw Hon. Ruto standing at KICC and screaming > > himself hoarse over the forms 16 & 16A that had not been received. It > seems > > he might be using a Nokia 1018 mobile phone (he actually uses a Nokia N > > series). > > > > Was it so difficult for the opposition to provide each of their agents > with > > a camera equipped mobile phone that they would have used to to take > pictures > > of the form and also record the returning officer announcing the results. > > This would then have been easily sent to party head quarters. > > > > There are 210 or so constituencies in the country and the mobile phones I > am > > talking about cost about 10,000/- each do the math. > > > > I ask am I the only Kenyan who is aware of such technology or is this > entire > > fiasco a stage managed process. Even the EU observer teams came equipped > as > > if it was the 12th Century after which they proceeded to make unsupported > > statements about the result that further inflamed bloodshed. > > > > Maybe its a techie thing to keep in our glass houses and refuse to add > value > > to a process and only send around message (this one included) after the > > fact. > > > > It is re-assuring when we remember the Florida fiasco but this not > > withstanding do we really have a moral standing to point fingers about the > > election results? > > > > What will be our contribution to stopping this from being repeated in > > future? > > > > Regards > > > > Remember Matiba and his video cameras during the good old days of > mulolongo > > voting? > > > > Robert Yawe > > KAY System Technologies Ltd > > Phoenix House, 6th Floor > > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 > > KEnya > > > > Tel: +254722511225 > > > > > > ________________________________ > > Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox. > > > > ________________________________ > > Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox. > > _______________________________________________ > > ke-internetusers mailing list > > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox. > _______________________________________________ > ke-internetusers mailing list > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > > Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

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Citi Group Forecast on Kenya Economy
by Bill Kagai 14 Jan '08

14 Jan '08

Attached -- Bildad Kagai MD - MediaCorp Limited Nairobi Stock Exchange [NSE] - Authorised Information Vendor Suite B2 Tetu Apartments StateHouse Avenue P. O. Box 20311-00200 Tel. 254 20 272 8332 Fax. Rendered Obsolete URL. www.mediacorpafrica.com --

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