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Calling all Innovators
by Amos Ochieng 14 Oct '13

14 Oct '13

Calling all Innovators: Win Your Share of $150 000 USD Thru the Innovation Prize for Africa. Deadline: 31 October 2013Mujawamariya Pauline<http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=92861497&goback=%2Egde_877757_membe…> Program Director, Innovation Prize for Africa; African Innovation Foundation (AIF) The Innovation Prize for Africa (www.innovationprizeforafrica.org) is on a quest to find and support the innovators and entrepreneurs who have come up with the best solutions to Africa’s everyday challenges. We look for innovations in five priority areas: • Agriculture/agribusiness • Environment, Energy and Water • Health and Wellbeing • Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) • Manufacturing and Service Industry Learn more about the IPA and spread the word about this unique approach to driving development for Africans by Africans. We believe that the best way to predict the future is to create it. Don’t wait – Apply online today! BE A PART OF THE FUTURE WE INNOVATE! -- Amos Ochieng | Programmes Officer Kenya Community Media Network (KCOMNET) Shalom House - Dagoretti Corner, Nairobi, KENYA Tel: 254 0202379949, Mobile: +254 729355 550 Skype: amos.ochieng, Twitter: @ochiengamos

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Internet Freedom under siege world wide...But Kenya considered to have total Internet Freedom
by Ali Hussein 14 Oct '13

14 Oct '13

Listers Over the last year there has been concerted efforts to curb Internet Freedoms and the number one reason behind this is 'National Security'. Many countries have regressed. However according to the Business Daily, which sites various sources, Kenya remains an island of freedom when it comes to the Internet. '...Of the 14 African countries included in the sample, only Kenya and South Africa were considered to have complete Internet freedom.' I believe this has come to pass because of forward thinking Government officials in the ICT space and vocal non governmental players like KICTANET. What we must ensure is that we assist the government to enable the balance between national security and personal freedoms to continue. http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Internet-freedom-under-threat/-/539546/2… Ali Hussein +254 0770 906375 / 0713 601113 "Kujikwaa si kuanguka, bali ni kwenda mbele" (To stumble is not to fall but a sign of going forward) - Swahili Proverb Sent from my iPad

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Fw: Africa Union Convention
by Network of non- formal Educational institutions 14 Oct '13

14 Oct '13

Dear All I met Marcela at the All Voices Count Meeting at ihub on Friday and I asked her to send the document below for your input. You can contact her Jane On Monday, October 14, 2013 10:53 AM, Marcela Sinda <marcelasinda(a)gmail.com> wrote: Dear Jane, The African Union has prepared a final draft of an AU Convention on Cyber security (“the AUCC”). The AUCC is scheduled for final passage at an AU meeting in January 2014. After extensive discussions with various Kenyan stakeholders from industry, academia, and NGOs, we (Strathmore - Centre for Intellectual Property) have identified numerous provisions in the AUCC that, if passed by the AU and ratified by Kenya, will have substantial negative effects on the Kenyan online economy and social culture. A few of the more problematic examples are: 1. The AUCC significantly restricts freedom of expression in violation of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 by prohibiting individuals from expressing ideas and theories on religion and ethnicity. 2. The AUCC requires governments to have in place a mechanism for cyber forensic investigations into online criminal activity. This includes appointment of investigativejudges with almostunlimited power to require seizure and analysis of digital and physical evidence. Most African governments currently lack legislative and technical capability to satisfy such a legal requirement, and the likelihood of misuse is high. 3. The AUCC criminalizes all unsolicited electronic communications. No government or intergovernmental treaty in the world has had success in doing this; it is completely impractical and will draw wide criticism for selective enforcement or lack of enforcement. 4. The AUCC requires that a person or a corporate organization engaging in electronic financial transactions (e.g., M-Pesa or OLX users) provide full identity information, including PIN and address information. This requirement is costly and risky, and it remains unclear how such data will be protected and how confidentiality will be maintained. Finally,preparation of the AUCC involved little or no consultation with non-government stakeholders. Major industry stakeholders have expressed serious misgivings to us about the scope and practicality of the AUCC. Most industry stakeholders, however, remain completely unaware even of the existence of the draft AUCC.Oppose passage of the AUCC in its current form here http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/262/148/817/ PS: We would like to have organization endorse this movement by allowing us to use their logo. We have among others, Google, iHub, iLab Africa and CIPIT at Strathmore. Regards, Marcela Sinda | Project Management | M: (+254) 727 987 907 S: sinda.marcela T: SindaMM

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KENYA POWER - The Answer to Universal Connectivity for all?
by Ali Hussein 14 Oct '13

14 Oct '13

Listers KenyaPower earned Kshs 1 billion last year through leasing dark fibre to telcos. A nice little side business. Does Kenya Power have the capacity and bandwidth (pun intended) to execute this widely? A Senior Manager is on record saying:- “If we were to reach 2 million homes and charge only Sh500 per house, this would be Sh50 billion per month. So, that is where the potential is,” Kenya Power’s chief manager for information technology and telecommunications, Samuel Ndirangu, said. The power distributor’s acting managing director said the firm is now focusing on expanding and leasing fibre optic to its client list in a bid to diversify revenues. Question: I have absolutely no problem with Kenya Power 'dabbling' in Internet service provision. I would however caution this new 'focus' on connectivity when only 20% of Kenyans have access to electricity in the main centres and less than 10% n some rural areas. Unless of course we are starting to see the emergence of what this list has all along advocated:- the consolidation of fibre optic cable across the country with all players having a stake in the role out to ensure cheaper and widely more accessible high speed internet connectivity. If this is the case the I'm all for it... http://www.nation.co.ke/business/Kenya-Power-to-lay-to-fibre-optic-cables-t… Ali Hussein +254 0770 906375 / 0713 601113 "Kujikwaa si kuanguka, bali ni kwenda mbele" (To stumble is not to fall but a sign of going forward) - Swahili Proverb Sent from my iPad

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Company Registration Devolved?
by Bernard Kioko [Bernsoft Group] 14 Oct '13

14 Oct '13

Does anyone here know if there are any plans to devolve the company registry to say county level..

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Re: [kictanet] KENYA POWER - The Answer to Universal Connectivity
by James Mbugua 13 Oct '13

13 Oct '13

for all? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="===============1847396083==" --===============1847396083== Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=Apple-Mail-D77426E2-1700-4F46-9CE2-777C95B7F64A --Apple-Mail-D77426E2-1700-4F46-9CE2-777C95B7F64A Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Ali This is a long term prospect. Currently what Kenya Power is doing is connecting its branches and sub branches. This is after connecting its sub stations. This coupled with its GIS system now allows for the design of lines to new customer premises to be done remotely without having to visit the place. The other thing is that this fiber allows for automation of the grid to allow for quick identification and isolation of outages. Hence you don't have to switch off an entire area to find the fault. The rollout to branches is done with 48 cores. KPLC only needs 2 pairs leaving the rest available for leasing. >From the branches for purposes of monitoring service to the customers the fiber could be extended to homes providing the opportunity for provision of other services. This can be done at a considerably cheaper cost than laying fiber in the ground. However KPLC's core mandate remains distribution and retail of electricity so fiber remains in "other income" category. James Sent from my Windows Phone From: Ali Hussein Sent: =E2=80=8E10/=E2=80=8E13/=E2=80=8E2013 7:00 AM To: jgmbugua(a)gmail.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] KENYA POWER - The Answer to Universal Connectivity for all? Listers KenyaPower earned Kshs 1 billion last year through leasing dark fibre to te= lcos. A nice little side business. Does Kenya Power have the capacity and bandwidth (pun intended) to execute = this widely? A Senior Manager is on record saying:- =E2=80=9CIf we were to reach 2 million homes and charge only Sh500 per hous= e, this would be Sh50 billion per month. So, that is where the potential is= ,=E2=80=9D Kenya Power=E2=80=99s chief manager for information technology a= nd telecommunications, Samuel Ndirangu, said. The power distributor=E2=80=99s acting managing director said the firm is n= ow focusing on expanding and leasing fibre optic to its client list in a bi= d to diversify revenues. Question: I have absolutely no problem with Kenya Power 'dabbling' in Inter= net service provision. I would however caution this new 'focus' on connecti= vity when only 20% of Kenyans have access to electricity in the main centre= s and less than 10% n some rural areas.=20 Unless of course we are starting to see the emergence of what this list has= all along advocated:- the consolidation of fibre optic cable across the co= untry with all players having a stake in the role out to ensure cheaper and= widely more accessible high speed internet connectivity. If this is the ca= se the I'm all for it... http://www.nation.co.ke/business/Kenya-Power-to-lay-to-fibre-optic-cables-t= o-boost-revenue/-/996/2028888/-/fdmanpz/-/index.html Ali Hussein +254 0770 906375 / 0713 601113 "Kujikwaa si kuanguka, bali ni kwenda mbele" (To stumble is not to fall but= a sign of going forward) - Swahili Proverb Sent from my iPad --Apple-Mail-D77426E2-1700-4F46-9CE2-777C95B7F64A Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <HTML><HEAD> <META content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dutf-8" http-equiv=3DContent-Type></HE= AD> <BODY> <DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,sans-serif">Ali<BR><BR>= This is a long term prospect. Currently what Kenya Power is doing is connec= ting its branches and sub branches. This is after connecting its sub statio= ns.<BR><BR>This coupled with its GIS system now allows for the design of li= nes to new customer premises to be done remotely without having to visit th= e place.<BR><BR>The other thing is that this fiber allows for automation of= the grid to allow for quick identification and isolation of outages. Hence= you don't have to switch off an entire area to find the fault.<BR><BR>The = rollout to branches is done with 48 cores. KPLC only needs 2 pairs leaving = the rest available for leasing.<BR><BR>From the branches for purposes of mo= nitoring service to the customers the fiber could be extended to homes prov= iding the opportunity for provision of other services.<BR><BR>This can be d= one at a considerably cheaper cost than laying fiber in the ground.<BR><BR>= However KPLC's core mandate remains distribution and retail of electricity = so fiber remains in "other income" category.<BR><BR>James <BR><BR>Sent from= my Windows Phone</DIV></DIV> <DIV dir=3Dltr> <HR> <SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,sans-serif; FONT-WEIGH= T: bold">From: </SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,= sans-serif"><A href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">Ali Hussein</A></SPAN><BR>= <SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,sans-serif; FONT-WEIGH= T: bold">Sent: </SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,= sans-serif">=E2=80=8E10/=E2=80=8E13/=E2=80=8E2013 7:00 AM</SPAN><BR><SPAN s= tyle=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,sans-serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold= ">To: </SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,sans-seri= f"><A href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">jgmbugua(a)gmail.com</A></SPAN><BR><= SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,sans-serif; FONT-WEIGHT= : bold">Cc: </SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,san= s-serif"><A href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">KICTAnet ICT Poli= cy Discussions</A></SPAN><BR><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: C= alibri,sans-serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject: </SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-S= IZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,sans-serif">[kictanet] KENYA POWER - The An= swer to Universal Connectivity for all?</SPAN><BR><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML><= html><head><meta http-equiv=3D"content-type" content=3D"text/html; charset= =3Dutf-8"></head><body dir=3D"auto"><div><span style=3D"-webkit-text-size-a= djust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Listers</span></div= ><div><span style=3D"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba= (255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style=3D"-webkit-text-size= -adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">KenyaPower earned= Kshs 1 billion last year through leasing dark fibre to telcos. A nice litt= le side business.</span></div><div><span style=3D"-webkit-text-size-adjust:= auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><sp= an style=3D"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255= , 255, 0);">Does Kenya Power have the capacity and bandwidth (pun intended)= to execute this widely? A Senior Manager is on record saying:-</span></div= ><div><br></div><div><div><p style=3D"margin: 0px 0px 15.600000000000001px;= "><span style=3D"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">=E2=80=9CIf we = were to reach 2 million homes and charge only Sh500 per house, this would b= e Sh50 billion per month. So, that is where the potential is,=E2=80=9D Keny= a Power=E2=80=99s chief manager for information technology and telecommunic= ations, Samuel Ndirangu, said.</span></p></div><div><p style=3D"margin: 0px= 0px 15.600000000000001px;"><span style=3D"background-color: rgba(255, 255,= 255, 0);">The power distributor=E2=80=99s acting managing director said th= e firm is now focusing on expanding and leasing fibre optic to its client l= ist in a bid to diversify revenues.</span></p><p style=3D"margin: 0px 0px 1= 5.600000000000001px;"><span style=3D"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, = 0);">Question: I have absolutely no problem with Kenya Power 'dabbling' in = Internet service provision. I would however caution this new 'focus' on con= nectivity when only 20% of Kenyans have access to electricity in the main c= entres and less than 10% n some rural areas. </span></p><p style=3D"ma= rgin: 0px 0px 15.600000000000001px;"><span style=3D"background-color: rgba(= 255, 255, 255, 0);">Unless of course we are starting to see the emergence o= f what this list has all along advocated:- the consolidation of fibre optic= cable across the country with all players having a stake in the role out t= o ensure cheaper and widely more accessible high speed internet connectivit= y. If this is the case the I'm all for it...</span></p></div></div><div><sp= an style=3D"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255= , 255, 0);"><a href=3D"http://www.nation.co.ke/business/Kenya-Power-to-lay-= to-fibre-optic-cables-to-boost-revenue/-/996/2028888/-/fdmanpz/-/index.html= ">http://www.nation.co.ke/business/Kenya-Power-to-lay-to-fibre-optic-cables= -to-boost-revenue/-/996/2028888/-/fdmanpz/-/index.html</a></span><br><br><d= iv style=3D"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style=3D"-webkit-tap-hig= hlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); -webkit-composition-fill-color: r= gba(175, 192, 227, 0.231373);">Ali Hussein</span></div><div style=3D"-webki= t-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></div><div style=3D"-webkit-text-size-adjust= : auto; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; -webkit-tap-highlight-co= lor: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, = 192, 227, 0.231373);">+254 0770 906375 / 0713 601113</div><div style=3D"-we= bkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style=3D"-webkit-tap-highlight-color: r= gba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 2= 27, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469= ); "><br></span></div><div style=3D"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span = style=3D"-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-c= omposition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-f= rame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">"Kujikwaa si kuanguka, bali ni = kwenda mbele" (To stumble is not to fall but a sign of going forward) - Swa= hili Proverb</span></div><div style=3D"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br= ></div><span style=3D"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Sent from my iPad</s= pan></div></body></html> --Apple-Mail-D77426E2-1700-4F46-9CE2-777C95B7F64A-- --===============1847396083== Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jgmbugua%40gmail.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. --===============1847396083==--

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Fw: Fwd: Making All Voices Count invitation
by Network of non- formal Educational institutions 12 Oct '13

12 Oct '13

Dear All You may have missed the event stated below that was held at Ihub yesterday. Visit www.makingallvoicescount.org to apply for funding Jane ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Kevin Mwachiro <kmwachiro(a)hivos.or.ke> Date: Thu, Oct 10, 2013 at 2:27 PM Subject: Making All Voices Count invitation To: elimudm(a)gmail.com Dear Jane, I hope you are well. I would like to bring to your attention an event that is taking place tomorrow at the iHub that is co-ordinated by USAID, DFID, Open Society, Omidyar Network and SIDA. Making All Voice Count (MAVC) is $ 55 million fund to support innovation, expansion and research into new ways that will enable the ‘mwananchi’ and government to interact. Hivos will act as the manager of the fund. We would like to invite you to the Making All Voices Count Open for Business(OfB) event at the iHub on Ngong Road Bishop Magua House 4th Floor on Friday October 11, 2013 from 1400-1800hrs. The MAVC Open for Business event is an opportunity to inform NGOs, media, government officials, technology organizations and individuals about MAVC grand challenge. We would be grateful if you are able to attend the event. Please feel free to contact, Mendi Njonjo (mnjonjo(a)hivos.or.ke) for more information. Regards. Kevin Mwachiro Communications Officer - East Africa Hivos - Humanist Institute for Co-operation with Developing Countries T: +254-725-451729 or +254-789-451729 M: +254-721-605744 www.east-africa.hivos.org

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Fwd: Funded D.Phil opportunity on healthcare and devolution in Keny
by Warigia Bowman 11 Oct '13

11 Oct '13

Dear All, Please see the following opportunity for doctoral research on the impact of devolution on healthcare in Kenya below. Please circulate to anyone who might be interested. Thanks Nic *Global Health Priorities: The implementation and impact on health service delivery of rapid devolution within the Kenyan health system* Project Overview Devolution from highly centralised health care systems to sub-nationally managed service delivery arrangements under local government control is a health system model being adopted by a number of low-income countries. In principle devolving both power and responsibility to policy makers and managers who might be more accountable to local populations may improve local priority setting, health service quality and health system responsiveness. However, there are significant challenges in managing this process, in creating the right policy frameworks to enable it and in monitoring health system effects in the interests of improving overall service delivery and equity. Kenya has embarked on a rapid process of devolution to 47 new administrative units (counties). These county administrations will assume responsibility for health service delivery spanning prevention and promotion to provision of secondary and even tertiary care. Taking advantage of long term partnerships that exist in Kenya where a large team of researchers examines health service delivery, financing and governance, an opportunity exists to examine the implementation and impact on health service delivery of the rapid devolution within Kenya’s health system. Complementing these health system insights there will be an opportunity to draw on the strengths of Oxford’s African Studies Centre where researchers have considerable expertise in the field of comparative politics with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa (including Kenya) and the processes of democratization. Methodological approaches could span policy analysis and examination of how policy in action is shaped by key contextual factors and actors. Alternatively organisational or management research approaches could be used to examine devolution from the perspective of key service providers expected to maintain or improve services as policy is enacted. Training Opportunities Time will be spent exploring political and organisational theories and frameworks and understanding the political and policy implementation process in Kenya that will help support empiric work on the impact of devolution within Kenya’s health system. It is expected that additional collaborative links with research teams in Kenya and South Africa will inform the development of this work. The candidate will likely spend at least 12 months working with research teams in Kenya to collect primary data. Funding1) NDM Doctoral Prize Studentships The NDM Doctoral Prize Studentships<http://www.ndm.ox.ac.uk/ndm-prize-studentships>are fully-funded 4 year awards that are open to outstanding students of *any nationality* without restriction. This is our flagship programme and it is advertised each autumn for students who want to start the following October. *The closing date for applications is 10 January 2014*. Interviews will take place on 29 and 30 January 2014. 2) Other funded programmes It is also possible to become a DPhil student in the department through admittance via other funded programmes<http://www.ndm.ox.ac.uk/other-funded-programmes>, including the CSC-NDM studentships<http://www.ndm.ox.ac.uk/csc-ndm-studentships> . 3) Direct Applications Exceptionally, students can also approach individual supervisors directly at other times during the year. If you are not applying for a funded programme, you will need to have funds for the University fees<http://www.ox.ac.uk/feesandfunding/fees/information/universityrates/>and your living costs. The selection criteria remain the same as for funded programmes. More information is available on our Direct Applications<http://www.ndm.ox.ac.uk/direct-applications>page. *Supervisors include* Prof Mike English<http://www.ndm.ox.ac.uk/principal-investigators/researcher/mike-english>Tropical MedicineOxford UniversityDr Catherine (Sassy) Molyneux<http://www.ndm.ox.ac.uk/principal-investigators/researcher/catherine-sassy-…> Tropical MedicineOxford UniversityDr Nic CheesemanAfrican Studies CentreUniversity of OxfordProf Winnie YipBlavatnik School of Public Policy Oxford University For more information see: http://www.ndm.ox.ac.uk/doctoral-projects/project/ global-health-priorities-the-implementation-and-impact-on- health-service-delivery-of-rapid-devolution-within-the-kenyan-health-system -- Dr. Warigia Bowman Assistant Professor Clinton School of Public Service University of Arkansas wbowman(a)clintonschool.uasys.edu http://digitaldemocracykenya.blogspot.com<http://democratizingegypt.blogspot.com> ------------------------------------------------- View my research on my SSRN Author page: http://ssrn.com/author=1479660 -------------------------------------------------- -- Dr. Warigia Bowman Assistant Professor Clinton School of Public Service University of Arkansas wbowman(a)clintonschool.uasys.edu ------------------------------------------------- View my research on my SSRN Author page: http://ssrn.com/author=1479660 --------------------------------------------------

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Is SA Department of Education taking a reasonble step?
by John Kariuki 11 Oct '13

11 Oct '13

Here is an article talking about the South African department of education banning the use of Open Source software in schools. http://www.webaddict.co.za/2013/10/09/south-africa-education-department-ban… John Kariuki

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Fwd: Re: Three days in Nigeria
by Lizette Kraft 11 Oct '13

11 Oct '13

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "Lizette Kraft" <lfkraft(a)gmail.com> Date: 10 Oct 2013 18:34 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Three days in Nigeria To: "John Masiwe" <jmasiwe(a)bluegate.co.ke> Cc: Hello!!!!! Can we not read someones experience and narrative ( Daktari wrote beautifully) without commenting on how or what he should have referred to. Everyone to write and refer as he pleases. What is with the culture of critising when there is no need!!! Please!! On 10 Oct 2013 15:31, "John Masiwe" <jmasiwe(a)bluegate.co.ke> wrote: > Daktari, > > This is good prose. You should seriously consider a platform for this kind > of writing where you weave a narrative with personal observations during > formal engagements. A welcome break from your usual policy-style writing. > As > a parting shot, maybe you should have quoted the more contemporary > Chimamanda Adichie instead of Achebe. :) > > John Masiwe > > -----Original Message----- > From: kictanet > [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Bitange Ndemo > Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2013 11:54 PM > To: jmasiwe(a)bluegate.co.ke > Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Three days in Nigeria > > Three days in Nigeria > Standing outside Abuja Airport in the soaring temperatures you get amazed > on how similar to Kenya Nigeria is. This is Africa's most populous > country. People idling around and women talking animatedly with their > hands akimbo and they are larger than you can see in Kenya. I had missed > the person who was to pick me up. Oga! Those who walked by me remarked. > I assumed it was some greetings to a brother. Colours of their clothing is > similar to ours and perhaps the only difference with Kenya is that more men > wore multi-colour kanzus. Open shoes, Akala type are more prevalent here. > > I walk towards the taxis. They are gentler than I have read in Nigerian > literature. They were honest too with the fare to the cities. I had begun > to settle down and give Nigeria the benefit of doubt but my mind takes me > back to Odili, the narrator in Achebe's 1966 novel, Man of the People. > Also > not forgetting the many stories told about Nigerians. > > For a while I savor the beauty of Abuja scenery. Green everywhere. It > must > be within the rain forest. Land is expanse and untilled. I turn my > attention to my driver Oku Moses. An affable young man perhaps in his > early > 30's. I tell him I am from Kenya and in Abuja for the CTO conference. He > smiles broadly and asked me what I thought of Nigeria as if he had read my > mind. I said so far so good and immediately I divert his train of thought > to football. I tell him Nigeria is the main hindrance to Kenya's quest to > get to World cup. We became friends instantly as he opened up to tell me > more. > > You see that road, he says it leads to nowhere. Corruption is the only > problem here he adds as his tone begin to sound angrier. I calm him down > and tell him it happens all over Africa. The 50 kilometer super highway > from the airport to Abuja is as good as it gets, actually better than > Nairobi Thika highway. The Hotel I am headed to, is called Chelsea, named > after the English league team Chelsea. Oku is a fan of Arsenal another > English league team. He knows all the players. He asks which team I > support and when I tell him none, he then says that is why you will never > go > to world cup. > > At the hotel Oku bids me farewell and hands me his card. Call me he says. > I will show you the best of Nigeria. It is still hot and my room was > steaming with heat. This three star hotel does not have a centralized AC > but I could do with an old cranky stand-alone cooling system. As I cranked > it up, it made more noise that I could not listen to news on TV. > Then suddenly the lights went off - blackout!!. Outside it was raining > heavily. I said Geez this is home but soon some generator boomed just > outside my room to bring light. I wished they had shut it down. > > Dinner time I joined other colleagues, Sonia, Karin, Robert and John for > Dinner. Me and Sonia were the vegetarians and so requested for pasta, the > only vegetarian dish on the menu. Alas! when the food came there was > chicken on pasta instead of tomato. The young waitress tells me she > decided on chicken since there were no tomatoes. After a few exchanges > she seems to remember something and says I can make it vegetarian. Wala! > like magic she comes back with pasta alone. I said thank you but as I > start > to eat, I discover or rather the waitress had forgotten that the base was > chicken and she had only removed the toppings of chicken. She meant well > and wanted to do well but she missed the point. > > As I watched Nigerian channels that evening, I say to myself, Nigeria is > Kenya and Kenya is Nigeria. We were colonized by the British. We attained > independence at about the same time in the 1960s. We have new > constitutions > with devolved powers. Just like Kenya, Nigeria continues to experience > longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although in Kenya's 2008 as in > Nigeria's 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant > irregularities and violence, but both countries are experiencing relative > peace interrupted by the Al-Shabab and Boka Haram respectively. > > On Nigerian TV as in Kenya politicians complain that they need more power > to > states and counties. They seem not to understand that they are the ones > with the power to change legislation and so when they complain, the masses > have no representation. They also need more money yet they are the ones > who > appropriate resources. They complain about soaring crime yet they are the > ones who have the mandate to bring better security legislation. > On the roads, motor bikes ride on the assumption that every motorist should > watch on them. Careless and dangerous like in Kenya. If you admire the > cleanliness of Abuja while driving, you will for sure hit one of them. > Public places including hotels are guarded by armed policemen. > > In my speech at the conference I said I was glad to visit Nigeria, land of > Okonkwo from Umuofia (one of a fictional group of nine villages in > Nigeria, inhabited by the Igbo people). Only a handful of the people in > the audience who knew that I was referring to Achebe's 1958 novel, Things > Fall Apart. Later Funke, a prominent Nigerian businesswoman and friend > tells me that intellectualism died in Nigeria. There was a time in Nigeria > prominent writers were the role model of society. These were the people > who > put our oral history on paper but we decided to chase them away. It is sad > that Achebe had to die in foreign land alone without his people. I tell > Funke, it is so strikingly similar to Kenya that our prominent writers are > getting old and wasted away in foreign lands. > > Haruna is driving me back to the airport. He like Oku is polite but with > much better intellect than an ordinary driver. His grasp of African > matters > is excellent. Out of the blue he tells me, you worked with government. I > tell him yes and I quickly ask him why. No I just wanted to know, he says. > Then he tells me that he is driving a car (VX Land > Cruiser) that he will never afford to buy in his entire life. I note the > ambition in him and tell him that if you know then you are capable of > buying > the car. I am not in government, he says. I tell him you do not need to > be > in government to buy the car. You see I was in government but I still > cannot drive such a thing. He looks at me then he says, it is by choice on > your part. I tipped him $20 and bade him farewell. He was stunned. > > I leave Nigeria with many fond memories. It was three days but enough to > grasp the dreams of other people. Their desires. Their hopes. We are all > the same and hopefully one day we shall change the stigma of corruption by > improving the fortunes of our Africa. God bless Africa. > > > Ndemo. > > > University of Nairobi > Business School, Lower Kabete Campus > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/jmasiwe%40bluegate.co > . > 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. > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus > signature > database 8897 (20131009) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus > signature > database 8900 (20131010) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lfkraft%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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