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Re: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses
by Bill Kagai 01 Jul '09

01 Jul '09

Tim, et al, Am overcome by acute nostalgia when FOSS is mentioned because we chased policy agenda from the Economic Commission of Africa in Addis to Tunis via Geneva in the corridors of International Telecommunication Union under the auspices of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) between 2004-2006. But the lesson that made me finally see the light was triggered by the post election violence in January 2008 when a company am associated with was contracted by NPWJ and KNCHR to document evidence. Browse through the attached pdf document, you will realize there is actually no crisis in technology deployed and that it does not matter what technology is deployed during crisis. An ICC judge Benard Lavigne, now a prosecutor in Toulouse used this database and told us it was miles ahead of what they use at ICC. Am also waiting for my day with the prosecutor albeit for totally different reasons that could also fatten my wallet in due course....(life is good). Bill On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 5:02 PM, Mwololo Tim<timwololo(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Dr. Ndemo, > > I hear you loud and clear. I know the debate can be quite heated for many > reasons. It would be nice to have the procurement rules and any other > instrument of government to be silent on this issue. I only wish the people > were neutral! > > Sang has a very important point, which may need a guided discussion. > > Mwololo > > > On 7/1/09, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: >> >> Prof. Waema, >> A good policy levels the play ground. What each party (Proprietary or >> OSS) does should not concern policy. That is why we need the procurement >> rules change to give everybody an equal chance. >> >> >> Ndemo. >> >> >> >> >> >> > Bwana Sang, >> > >> > You have a point. We do not have strong OSS champions, especially in the >> > public sector - at least not as powerful as the evangilists for >> > proprietary >> > software. This situation is not helped by a non-committal policy. Let me >> > chew over how we can change things. >> > >> > Mwololo >> > >> > >> > On 6/30/09, Barnabas K. Sang <bksang(a)education.go.ke> wrote: >> >> >> >> Tim, >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> I agree with you to some extent, that we all need revision of the >> >> current >> >> ICT Policy to accommodate the key issues Kenya currently is focusing >> >> on. >> >> On >> >> OSS, I still doubt capacity of “*OSS Champions*” on the issue having >> >> observed in the past one year, how an opportunity to have 210 secondary >> >> schools each equipped with 25 PCs and use both proprietary software and >> >> OSS >> >> (Funds provided for) progressed. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> To date, no OSS proponents have brought any concept on how MOE can >> >> facilitate the adoption and use of OSS. There are some brilliant OSS >> >> solutions, particularly supporting teaching and learning (animated >> >> content >> >> -> good for illustrations of difficult concepts in some subjects) and >> >> development of content for use by all education and training >> >> stakeholders >> >> (teachers, students, parents and researchers). >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> I would like to acknowledge existence of sufficient leadership (policy >> >> and >> >> managers) to support modernization of education (ICT integration to >> >> teaching >> >> and learning). We may not have all necessary capacity yet for >> >> decision-makers to guide the process, but in partnership with all >> >> stakeholders, I believe OSS will definitely find a niche in the whole >> >> ICT >> >> integration exercise being spearheaded by MOE. Perhaps people like >> >> yourself >> >> and others in this network, could enlightened us on how OSS could be >> >> part of >> >> ICT integration efforts at an early stage as possible. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Kind Regards >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> B. K. Sang >> >> >> >> >>

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Re: [kictanet] shaping history - the revolution of the fibre
by Walubengo J 01 Jul '09

01 Jul '09

good qtn MM. In some forums, they are saying the President was duped again - and officially opened another "blank". We need to know when or if this new pipe is now pumping packets/data. And I dont think such data falls under the (in?) famous " Official secrecy Act"... walu. --- On Fri, 6/26/09, Muriuki Mureithi <mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke> wrote: From: Muriuki Mureithi <mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke> Subject: [kictanet] shaping history - the revolution of the fibre To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Friday, June 26, 2009, 4:40 PM Hi history was made on 12th June when the fibre landed - and it threatens to open up the region like the railway did in 1900's... Special congrats to Dr Bitange Ndemo and all those who contributed to this revolution . the ict terrain will never be the same again -EVER the next step is the light and the byte. when will the first byte land here on the fibre? cheers Muriuki Mureithi _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com

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[Fwd: [ISOC] Now accepting applications [ISOC Fellowship to the IETF]]
by alice 01 Jul '09

01 Jul '09

Dear Colleagues, The Internet Society has announced that it is seeking applications for the next round of the ISOC Fellowship to the IETF program. The program offers engineers from developing countries fellowships that fund the cost of attending an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) meeting. As you know, the IETF is the Internet's premier standards-making body, responsible for the development of protocols used in IP-based networks. IETF participants represent an international community of network designers, operators, vendors, and researchers involved in the technical operation of the Internet and the continuing evolution of Internet architecture. Fellowships will be awarded through a competitive application process. The Internet Society is currently accepting fellowship applications for the next two IETF meetings: * IETF 76 being held in Hiroshima, Japan, 8-13 November 2009 * IETF 77 being held in Anaheim, USA, 21-26 March 2010 Up to six fellowships will be awarded for each IETF meeting. Full details on the ISOC Fellowship to the IETF, including how to apply, are located on the ISOC website at : http://www.isoc.org/educpillar/fellowship Fellowship applications for both IETF meetings are due by 31 July 2009. The Internet Society formally launched the ISOC Fellowship to the IETF program in January 2007 after successfully piloting the program during 2006 at IETF 66 in Montreal and IETF 67 in San Diego. Forty seven individuals from 29 countries have participated in the program since its inception. I encourage you to pass information about this program to individuals involved in your regional operators' groups that have a keen interest in the Internet standardisation activities of the IETF. You also may consider being a reference for the applicant. If you have questions, please do not hesiate to contact Connie Kendig <kendig(a)isoc.org> or Mirjam Kuehne <mir(a)isoc.org>. Kind Regards, Connie J Kendig ISOC _______________________________________________ Isoc-members-announce mailing list Isoc-members-announce(a)elists.isoc.org http://elists.isoc.org/mailman/listinfo/isoc-members-announce

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Re: [kictanet] Fw: RE: One subject, varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses
by John Kariuki 30 Jun '09

30 Jun '09

Tim, Please look at the ICT Policy of 2006 again and you will find that it is not silent on Open Source Software. I am sure other listers can confirm this. Eng. J.N. Kariuki. --- On Tue, 30/6/09, Mwololo Tim <timwololo(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: Mwololo Tim <timwololo(a)gmail.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fw: RE: One subject, varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses To: ngethe.kariuki2007(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Tuesday, 30 June, 2009, 6:02 AM Listers, Our 2006 national ICT policy is silent on open source software (OSS). As we think of a review of this policy, which according to me is due due to a number of issues (Vision 2030, BPO, and many other developments), we should think seriously about a section on OSS policy. tim mwololo On 6/29/09, Evans Ikua <ikua(a)lpakenya.org> wrote: There is also Camara Kenya (the local office of camara.ie) that has done tremendous work in the area of putting hardware in schools, both Primary and Secondary, installing open source software, supporting them, and training the teachers. This in a short period of time. Their work has mainly been in the coast region but they are also getting into the hinterland. They have about 150 volunteers from Ireland who have just come in and they will conduct trainings for about a month. They have equipped schools in the whole of Lamu island, and many schools at the coast. They are achieving much more by using FOSS as a computer installed with Linux gives much more to a student as opposed to one installed with Windows. Because they are not spending a penny on software licenses, they are able to supply like twice the number of PCs than if they were to have the schools buy licenses. Ikua -- Evans Ikua Linux Professional Association of Kenya Tel: +254-20-2250381, Cell: +254-722 955 831 Eagle House, 2nd Floor Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House www.lpakenya.org Quoting Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com>: forwarded--- On Thu, 6/25/09, Emmanuel Khisa <emmanuel.khisa(a)kadet.co.ke> wrote: From: Emmanuel Khisa <emmanuel.khisa(a)kadet.co.ke> Subject: RE: [kictanet] One subject,varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses To: "'Walubengo J'" <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> Date: Thursday, June 25, 2009, 10:11 AM And Project Discovery Kenya has been able to train more that 200 primary school teachers over the last five years in conjunction with Institute of Software technologies...I also know that similar training went on in Yala Division last April for Primary school teachers in the division organised by the Computers for Schools. On the subject of lack of adequate professors, I will leave that to Academicians and those keen on interrogating academics, I however would like the ICT training to move from over concentration with the academics and more to the more handson...more like incubator based learning approach...While the Far East economies have good universities, they still put more premium on handson skills...It is sad that even our graduate engineers let alone IT graduates (who by the way take a lot of flack) cannot invent or think outside the box...I mean no invention ever comes out of these highly restricted courses yet only a select few universities dare to venture into... The answer in my opinion lies in building skills that are more practical and focussed on creating entrepreneural opportunities. Rgds, Manu "New opinions are always suspected and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common." P Before printing, think about the Environment and your responsibilities -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+emmanuel.khisa=kadet.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Walubengo J Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 8:41 AM To: emmanuel.khisa(a)kadet.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] One subject,varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses I agree that something is happening within the High-School teaching fraternity. Last April, Multimedia University College trained 80 high school headteachers from Samburu and I think Transmara Districts, giving them basic ICT skills...am aware Strathmore University, IAT etc also do such trainings regularly...It may not be enough, but its definitely a good kick in the right direction. As for the University Level IT faculty staff. Unfortunately the statistics are likely to be true. You can count the number of IT Professors in this country on your three fingers ;-) walu. --- On Wed, 6/24/09, Barnabas K. Sang <bksang(a)education.go.ke> wrote: From: Barnabas K. Sang <bksang(a)education.go.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 11:32 PM Betty, Thanks for your response on the article mentioned below. Will go through it and perhaps respond on key issues raised, which ICT in Education has already done or planned. I hope it will minimize fears all of us have or may be persuaded to think all is totally misplaced and lost. ?ICT Integration? is currently Ministry of Education focus, and steps already put in place are expected to make Kenya improve both teaching and learning environment, with better education ?products? across all levels. Kind regards B. K. Sang From: kictanet-bounces+bksang=education.go.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Betty Ogange Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 4:31 PM To: Barnabas K. Sang Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses Hallo David, Last week there was furore in this forum about media misrepresentation of the Kenyan situation. The article that you make reference to in today?s Standard (24.06.09) may be accurate in the areas that you have highlighted. However, I wish to take issue with a few points raised in the article. http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316 ?Unlike other academic fields, very little has been done to train most teachers in ICT skills. Currently, no primary teacher training college offers comprehensive pre-service training in information technology.? Anyone with a modest interest in education in Kenya would not miss something as obvious as a subject in the national curriculum when reporting in a national daily. Prior to the year 2004, a few colleges had ICT skills courses for pre-service teachers based on in-house curricula that were independently developed by each college. The Primary Teacher Education (PTE) ICT curriculum developed by the Kenya Institute of Education has been in force since the year 2004 and ICT is taught as a compulsory subject in all primary teacher training colleges. It is examined internally at the end of the first year and all students must pass in the subject, among other subjects, in order to proceed to second year. There are several implementation hitches in this programme arising from the fact that ICT is being taught as a discrete subject in the curriculum and has yet to be mainstreamed in the other subjects in the PTE curriculum. The debate around ICT- pedagogy integration in education and how to operationalise it right from curriculum development to classroom level implementation continues in the education circles. ?In-service training is often provided by trainers who are just barely literate in computers? In my knowledge, this has happened especially in instances when some hardware providers ?dangle? teacher training as an additional offer to the institution. TTCs used to hire ICT technicians to teach the course, but in the last 2 years, the Teacher Service Commission has posted trained lecturers of ICT to a number of TTCs. There have also been some highly professional training offered to college lecturers by Microsoft (in conjunction with the Institute of Advanced Technology - IAT) and the Kenya Technical Teachers College. Computers for Schools Kenya and the Nepad e-schools teacher training programmes have also reached teachers in selected secondary schools. Lack of co-ordination (as with the rest of the ICT initiatives in Kenya ), lack of clear training targets and time-lines have compromised continuity and impact of some of these training programmes. ?The entire ICT education is in tatters? An interesting analogy there. But I see a sector that is struggling with what some scholars in educational reform have called an ?implementation dip? ? that for a number of reasons things normally tend to get worse before they can get better. There are lots of difficulties in implementing large scale ICT initiatives in the education sector world over. In our country, there have been positive efforts by the Ministry of Education, the KIE and a number of stakeholders in education, and these do count. On the other hand, there has been the tendency (by education leaders) towards elaborate policy documents, ?ICT networks? and trust funds whose mandates remain indeterminate. All these need to be researched and accurately presented. Accurate reporting by the media and objective analysis of both the positives and difficulties are important in helping the public target their attention and effort. Besides the inaccuracies, the use of expressions such as ?in tatters? ?the situation is bad?, ?alarmed professionals? ?obsolete hardware? to describe ICT in education in Kenya sounds to me fairly sensational. Betty --- On Wed, 6/24/09, David Otwoma <otwomad(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: David Otwoma <otwomad(a)gmail.com> Subject: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses To: ogange(a)yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 9:32 AM .....universities offer many degrees but their quality and market demand differ...... Although nearly all universities offer degrees, only the University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and Strathmore have Master?s programmes and only UON and Jkuat teach at doctoral level. There is a diminishing number of staff with PhDs in ICT departments. According to Prof Rodrigues, UoN has the highest number of full-time lecturers with PhDs in ICT that stands at eight of 18, while Jkuat has three of six, which is the same number for Strathmore. Kenyatta University has nine full-time but none of them have a PhD or an equivalent qualification, while none of the Kabarak?s eight lecturers have a PhD. Two of six of United States International University has doctoral degrees. Many lecturers have no experience as ICT professionals as engineers, software developers or in the emerging area of computer and network security. See http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316& for full story -- David Otwoma, Chief Science Secretary, National Council for Science and Technology, Utalii House 9th Floor, Mobile tel: +254 722 141771, Office tel: +254 (0)20 2346915, P. O. Box 5687 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya email: otwomad(a)gmail.com & otwoma(a)ncst.go.ke www.ncst.go.ke -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: ogange(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ogange%40yahoo.com -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: emmanuel.khisa(a)kadet.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/emmanuel.khisa%40kadet. co.ke _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: timwololo(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.com -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: ngethe.kariuki2007(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ngethe.kariuki2007%40y…

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BPO Study Stakeholder's Workshop: REMINDER
by munyiva ngea 30 Jun '09

30 Jun '09

Dear Listeners, Please remember that the BPO Study titled 'Development of a Business Process Outsourcing Industry in Kenya: Critical Success Factors',that was funded by the International Development Research Centre(IDRC)and conducted by The School of Computing and Informatics, University of Nairobi, in collaboration with the Kenya BPO & Contact Centre Society and the Kenya ICT Board ,will be holding a stakeholder's workshop tomorrow *Wednesday 1st July at Kenyatta International Conference Center(KICC) from 8.30 am to 1.00 pm.* Please email your confirmation of attendance to: munyiva(a)uonbi.ac.ke <http://mail.uonbi.ac.ke/src/compose.php?send_to=munyiva%40uonbi.ac.ke>. We look forward to interacting and exchanging ideas with you at the workshop. Please find attached the program for the event. Yours Faithfully, Ms. Munyiva Ngea, Project Assistant On behalf of: Prof. Timothy Mwololo Waema BPO Research Project Team Leader

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One subject, varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses
by David Otwoma 29 Jun '09

29 Jun '09

.....universities offer many degrees but their quality and market demand differ...... Although nearly all universities offer degrees, only the University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and Strathmore have Master’s programmes and only UON and Jkuat teach at doctoral level. There is a diminishing number of staff with PhDs in ICT departments. According to Prof Rodrigues, UoN has the highest number of full-time lecturers with PhDs in ICT that stands at eight of 18, while Jkuat has three of six, which is the same number for Strathmore. Kenyatta University has nine full-time but none of them have a PhD or an equivalent qualification, while none of the Kabarak’s eight lecturers have a PhD. Two of six of United States International University has doctoral degrees. Many lecturers have no experience as ICT professionals as engineers, software developers or in the emerging area of computer and network security. See http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316&<http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316> for full story -- David Otwoma, Chief Science Secretary, National Council for Science and Technology, Utalii House 9th Floor, Mobile tel: +254 722 141771, Office tel: +254 (0)20 2346915, P. O. Box 5687 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya email: otwomad(a)gmail.com & otwoma(a)ncst.go.ke www.ncst.go.ke

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shaping history - the revolution of the fibre
by Muriuki Mureithi 26 Jun '09

26 Jun '09

Hi history was made on 12th June when the fibre landed - and it threatens to open up the region like the railway did in 1900's... Special congrats to Dr Bitange Ndemo and all those who contributed to this revolution . the ict terrain will never be the same again -EVER the next step is the light and the byte. when will the first byte land here on the fibre? cheers Muriuki Mureithi

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Financial Times story on pirates disrupting broadband and north-south tensions in Sudan
by Peres Were 25 Jun '09

25 Jun '09

Story below is in the Financial Times.... Somali pirates blamed for broadband delay* *By Barney Jopson in Nairobi * *459 words* *25 June 2009* *(c) 2009 The Financial Times Limited.* Somali pirates have claimed a new victim by disrupting the laying of an undersea fibre optic cable that has promised to end east Africa's isolation as the last region of the world not connected to the global broadband network. The managers of Seacom, a $600m project owned by private investors, said on Wednesday that its cable would not come into service until July 23 - nearly a month later than planned - because pirate activity off the coast of Somalia had delayed the work of its cable-laying contractor. Tyco Telecommunications, the contractor and part of Tyco Electronics, was forced to suspend its cable-laying around the Horn of Africa so it could revise its security plans and beef up protection for its ships following the latest surge in pirate activity in April and May. Piracy from Somalia has been on the rise since last August, resulting in dozens of ships and hundreds and crew members being taken hostage, millions of dollars in ransoms, and severe disruption to commercial shipping. Wednesday's announcement from Seacom marked the first time the pirates have disrupted east Africa's faltering efforts to end its dependence on satellite internet links, which are slow, unreliable and often prohibitively expensive. Brian Herlihy, chief executive of Seacom, which is based in Mauritius, said he was "frustrated" by what he called the "pirate-induced delay". He and Tyco would not comment on whether they had received specific information that Tyco ships were on a pirate hit list. So far no cable-laying ships have been attacked, but the ships contracted by Seacom were huge - needing to carry up to 6,000km of fibre optic cable - and vulnerable to pirate attack because they moved so slowly. "Cable-laying ships would be prime targets," said Pottengal Mukundan, director of the International Maritime Bureau in London. "They're very slow when they're laying the cables and they really can't get away." Maritime experts said some ships using the waters off Somalia had beefed up anti-pirate security by employing armed guards from private security companies while others had hired armed patrol boats to escort them. Tyco declined to comment on its security procedures. Mr Herlihy said the laying of the cable, which will connect the east Africa portion of Seacom to Mumbai, had been completed in the past few days. The delay had not been announced until the job was finished to avoid putting the ships in further danger. The Seacom cable will link South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia to India and Europe. A separate project led by the Kenyan government called Teams will connect Kenya to the United Arab Emirates. * West redoubles efforts to keep Sudan peace* *By Barney Jopson in Nairobi and Daniel Dombey in Washington * *670 words* *25 June 2009* *(c) 2009 The Financial Times Limited* The US and its western allies have embarked on a surge of diplomatic activity in an effort to prevent the long civil war between north and south Sudan from reigniting. Fighting between southern rebels and successive Khartoum regimes stretched over five decades and in its second phase caused an estimated 2m deaths. It ended with the 2005 deal, the comprehensive peace agreement, that the then Bush administration saw as one of its proudest foreign policy achievements. But there is rising concern that the deal could fall apart because Khartoum's commitment to it has been patchy, several key implementation deadlines have been missed and the semi-autonomous southern government says it is rearming in readiness for a possible war for independence. An international meeting held by the Obama administration in Washington this week sought to renew commitment to the deal, which gave the mainly Christian south partial autonomy from the Arab-led north and promised a referendum on southern independence in 2011. "It's not hard to see the path toward an escalation and collision, we all know the dangers," John Kerry, chairman of the senate foreign relations committee told the representatives of 33 countries and organisations who came to the event. The meeting included the National Congress party, which forms the core of president Omar al-Bashir's Khartoum regime, and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, the rulers of the south who as rebels were fighting for a fairer share of wealth and power. In a statement on Tuesday all the participants reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the peace deal "in good faith and in a timely fashion", including the referendum on self-determination that should occur no later than January 9 2011. The north and the south also agreed to accept as binding an arbitration ruling due next month on where their border cuts through the oil-rich Abyei region. But many analysts remain doubtful that the deal can be put back on track. "Khartoum has no desire to implement the CPA and has shown an impressive capacity to undermine it," said Robert Muggah, research director of the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey. The current regime could be pushed out of power if free and fair elections were held as envisaged and it could lose access to the lucrative oil fields of the south if the region's people vote to secede in 2011, he said. Privately many western diplomats say that their countries paid insufficient attention to the risk of the north-south war reigniting, partly because of the much greater focus on the separate Darfur conflict. They also acknowledge that they have limited leverage over Khartoum and place hopes on pressure from China, which is alarmed by the prospect of its multi-million dollar investments in Sudan's oil industry being damaged by another war. Liu Guijin, China's special envoy to Sudan, attended the meeting in Washington. Sudan has already delayed parliamentary and presidential elections until next year. Washington fears such delays could reduce confidence in the south that the independence referendum itself will be held on time or at all. "We only have 164 days until the national election in February of 2010, and we only have 403 working days until the referenda in January 2011, so time is urgent," Scott Gration, president Barack Obama's personal envoy to Sudan, told the conference. Mr Muggah said that the inexperienced and under-resourced government of the south was committed to the CPA and had "everything to lose" if it was not implemented. "But it has comparatively little capacity to execute key aspects of the agreement, much less deliver equitable governance and protection for southerners." Last week Yasir Arman, deputy secretary-general of the SPLM, accused Khartoum of arming militias that have been involved in a surge of inter-ethnic fighting in borders areas of the south this year, a charge the north denies. ----- End forwarded message ----- with best regards, barney* Somali pirates blamed for broadband delay* *By Barney Jopson in Nairobi * *459 words* *25 June 2009* *(c) 2009 The Financial Times Limited.* Somali pirates have claimed a new victim by disrupting the laying of an undersea fibre optic cable that has promised to end east Africa's isolation as the last region of the world not connected to the global broadband network. The managers of Seacom, a $600m project owned by private investors, said on Wednesday that its cable would not come into service until July 23 - nearly a month later than planned - because pirate activity off the coast of Somalia had delayed the work of its cable-laying contractor. Tyco Telecommunications, the contractor and part of Tyco Electronics, was forced to suspend its cable-laying around the Horn of Africa so it could revise its security plans and beef up protection for its ships following the latest surge in pirate activity in April and May. Piracy from Somalia has been on the rise since last August, resulting in dozens of ships and hundreds and crew members being taken hostage, millions of dollars in ransoms, and severe disruption to commercial shipping. Wednesday's announcement from Seacom marked the first time the pirates have disrupted east Africa's faltering efforts to end its dependence on satellite internet links, which are slow, unreliable and often prohibitively expensive. Brian Herlihy, chief executive of Seacom, which is based in Mauritius, said he was "frustrated" by what he called the "pirate-induced delay". He and Tyco would not comment on whether they had received specific information that Tyco ships were on a pirate hit list. So far no cable-laying ships have been attacked, but the ships contracted by Seacom were huge - needing to carry up to 6,000km of fibre optic cable - and vulnerable to pirate attack because they moved so slowly. "Cable-laying ships would be prime targets," said Pottengal Mukundan, director of the International Maritime Bureau in London. "They're very slow when they're laying the cables and they really can't get away." Maritime experts said some ships using the waters off Somalia had beefed up anti-pirate security by employing armed guards from private security companies while others had hired armed patrol boats to escort them. Tyco declined to comment on its security procedures. Mr Herlihy said the laying of the cable, which will connect the east Africa portion of Seacom to Mumbai, had been completed in the past few days. The delay had not been announced until the job was finished to avoid putting the ships in further danger. The Seacom cable will link South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia to India and Europe. A separate project led by the Kenyan government called Teams will connect Kenya to the United Arab Emirates. * West redoubles efforts to keep Sudan peace* *By Barney Jopson in Nairobi and Daniel Dombey in Washington * *670 words* *25 June 2009* *(c) 2009 The Financial Times Limited* The US and its western allies have embarked on a surge of diplomatic activity in an effort to prevent the long civil war between north and south Sudan from reigniting. Fighting between southern rebels and successive Khartoum regimes stretched over five decades and in its second phase caused an estimated 2m deaths. It ended with the 2005 deal, the comprehensive peace agreement, that the then Bush administration saw as one of its proudest foreign policy achievements. But there is rising concern that the deal could fall apart because Khartoum's commitment to it has been patchy, several key implementation deadlines have been missed and the semi-autonomous southern government says it is rearming in readiness for a possible war for independence. An international meeting held by the Obama administration in Washington this week sought to renew commitment to the deal, which gave the mainly Christian south partial autonomy from the Arab-led north and promised a referendum on southern independence in 2011. "It's not hard to see the path toward an escalation and collision, we all know the dangers," John Kerry, chairman of the senate foreign relations committee told the representatives of 33 countries and organisations who came to the event. The meeting included the National Congress party, which forms the core of president Omar al-Bashir's Khartoum regime, and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, the rulers of the south who as rebels were fighting for a fairer share of wealth and power. In a statement on Tuesday all the participants reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the peace deal "in good faith and in a timely fashion", including the referendum on self-determination that should occur no later than January 9 2011. The north and the south also agreed to accept as binding an arbitration ruling due next month on where their border cuts through the oil-rich Abyei region. But many analysts remain doubtful that the deal can be put back on track. "Khartoum has no desire to implement the CPA and has shown an impressive capacity to undermine it," said Robert Muggah, research director of the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey. The current regime could be pushed out of power if free and fair elections were held as envisaged and it could lose access to the lucrative oil fields of the south if the region's people vote to secede in 2011, he said. Privately many western diplomats say that their countries paid insufficient attention to the risk of the north-south war reigniting, partly because of the much greater focus on the separate Darfur conflict. They also acknowledge that they have limited leverage over Khartoum and place hopes on pressure from China, which is alarmed by the prospect of its multi-million dollar investments in Sudan's oil industry being damaged by another war. Liu Guijin, China's special envoy to Sudan, attended the meeting in Washington. Sudan has already delayed parliamentary and presidential elections until next year. Washington fears such delays could reduce confidence in the south that the independence referendum itself will be held on time or at all. "We only have 164 days until the national election in February of 2010, and we only have 403 working days until the referenda in January 2011, so time is urgent," Scott Gration, president Barack Obama's personal envoy to Sudan, told the conference. Mr Muggah said that the inexperienced and under-resourced government of the south was committed to the CPA and had "everything to lose" if it was not implemented. "But it has comparatively little capacity to execute key aspects of the agreement, much less deliver equitable governance and protection for southerners." Last week Yasir Arman, deputy secretary-general of the SPLM, accused Khartoum of arming militias that have been involved in a surge of inter-ethnic fighting in borders areas of the south this year, a charge the north denies.

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AITEC East Africa: Low cost broadband - Summit focussing on local content innovation.
by Fatma Bashir 25 Jun '09

25 Jun '09

This might be of interest ----- Original Message ----- *From:* Sholto Moroney<sholtom(a)aitecafrica.com> *To:* 'Helen Moroney' <helenm(a)aitecafrica.com> *Sent:* Thursday, June 25, 2009 12:55 PM *Subject:* AITEC East Africa: Low cost broadband - Summit focussing on local content innovation. Dear Colleague, The East African Region is on the brink of access to plentiful, low-cost broadband. News of the undersea cable-laying progress reaches us on a daily basis. The arrival of this dramatically increased capacity will change the way that East Africans access and use the Internet. And riding this wave of dramatic expansion in infrastructure, the ICT sector must now address the challenge of locally developed content that is relevant to local interests and needs. Who is going to develop this new content? What will it look like? Who will use it, and how? What opportunities are there to enhance community development and stimulate business? How will entrepreneurs capture the value of the new possibilities? Ignite Consulting, in conjunction with AITEC East Africa, is pleased to host an exciting event that will help answer some of these questions. The event, a highly participatory “Summit” focusing on local content innovation, will engage participants in dialogue and action planning. In this Summit, participants will: - Engage in high-level dialogue with their peers on innovation. - Explore and understand the web content needs of business and local communities throughout Kenya. - Discover the common positive themes that drive the need for local content. - Collaboratively discuss actionable ideas to serve local content needs. - Design plans for implementation and follow-through. Thought-leaders, community leaders and entrepreneurs, business leaders, ICT specialists, development partners, social change professionals, youth and rural leaders are invited to participate, contribute and learn from the interactive sessions over two days. Please join us for this exciting and unique experience. Please reply to this e-mail if you would like to receive a registration form. Yours sincerely, Sholto Moroney *Administrative Assistant* *AITEC Africa* Tel: +44 (0)1480 880774 Fax: +44 (0)1480 880765 Email: sholtom(a)aitecafrica.com www.aitecafrica.com *UPCOMING EVENTS:** **l** CCK 10th Anniversary Celebrations: Forum and Expo,** **Nairobi**, 15-17 July 2009 **l** AITEC Mozambique ICT Convention, **Maputo**, 17-18 September 2009 **l** East African Fibre Summit, **Nairobi**, 22-23 September 2009 **l** Customer Service & Contact Centre, **Lagos**,** 14-15 October 2009 **l** ComBIT, **Lagos**, 4-6 November 2009 **l** Outsourcing & Contact Centre East Africa, **Nairobi**, 11-13 November 2009*** AITEC Africa is the trading name of AITEC Conferences Limited registered in England and Wales. Company registration number: 4698475 This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have mistakenly received this e-mail and delete it from your system. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. Warning: Although reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure no viruses are present in this email, no responsibility for any loss or damage arising from the use of this email or attachments is accepted.

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Re: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses
by Betty Ogange 25 Jun '09

25 Jun '09

Hallo David, Last week there was furore in this forum about media misrepresentation of the Kenyan situation. The article that you make reference to in today’s Standard (24.06.09) may be accurate in the areas that you have highlighted. However, I wish to take issue with a few points raised in the article. http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316 ‘Unlike other academic fields, very little has been done to train most teachers in ICT skills. Currently, no primary teacher training college offers comprehensive pre-service training in information technology.’ Anyone with a modest interest in education in Kenya would not miss something as obvious as a subject in the national curriculum when reporting in a national daily. Prior to the year 2004, a few colleges had ICT skills courses for pre-service teachers based on in-house curricula that were independently developed by each college. The Primary Teacher Education (PTE) ICT curriculum developed by the Kenya Institute of Education has been in force since the year 2004 and ICT is taught as a compulsory subject in all primary teacher training colleges. It is examined internally at the end of the first year and all students must pass in the subject, among other subjects, in order to proceed to second year. There are several implementation hitches in this programme arising from the fact that ICT is being taught as a discrete subject in the curriculum and has yet to be mainstreamed in the other subjects in the PTE curriculum. The debate around ICT- pedagogy integration in education and how to operationalise it right from curriculum development to classroom level implementation continues in the education circles. ‘In-service training is often provided by trainers who are just barely literate in computers’ In my knowledge, this has happened especially in instances when some hardware providers ‘dangle’ teacher training as an additional offer to the institution. TTCs used to hire ICT technicians to teach the course, but in the last 2 years, the Teacher Service Commission has posted trained lecturers of ICT to a number of TTCs. There have also been some highly professional training offered to college lecturers by Microsoft (in conjunction with the Institute of Advanced Technology - IAT) and the Kenya Technical Teachers College. Computers for Schools Kenya and the Nepad e-schools teacher training programmes have also reached teachers in selected secondary schools. Lack of co-ordination (as with the rest of the ICT initiatives in Kenya ), lack of clear training targets and time-lines have compromised continuity and impact of some of these training programmes. ‘The entire ICT education is in tatters’ An interesting analogy there. But I see a sector that is struggling with what some scholars in educational reform have called an ‘implementation dip’ – that for a number of reasons things normally tend to get worse before they can get better. There are lots of difficulties in implementing large scale ICT initiatives in the education sector world over. In our country, there have been positive efforts by the Ministry of Education, the KIE and a number of stakeholders in education, and these do count. On the other hand, there has been the tendency (by education leaders) towards elaborate policy documents, ‘ICT networks’ and trust funds whose mandates remain indeterminate. All these need to be researched and accurately presented. Accurate reporting by the media and objective analysis of both the positives and difficulties are important in helping the public target their attention and effort. Besides the inaccuracies, the use of expressions such as ‘in tatters’ ‘the situation is bad’, ‘alarmed professionals’ ‘obsolete hardware’ to describe ICT in education in Kenya sounds to me fairly sensational. Betty --- On Wed, 6/24/09, David Otwoma <otwomad(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: David Otwoma <otwomad(a)gmail.com> Subject: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses To: ogange(a)yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 9:32 AM .....universities offer many degrees but their quality and market demand differ...... Although nearly all universities offer degrees, only the University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and Strathmore have Master’s programmes and only UON and Jkuat teach at doctoral level. There is a diminishing number of staff with PhDs in ICT departments. According to Prof Rodrigues, UoN has the highest number of full-time lecturers with PhDs in ICT that stands at eight of 18, while Jkuat has three of six, which is the same number for Strathmore. Kenyatta University has nine full-time but none of them have a PhD or an equivalent qualification, while none of the Kabarak’s eight lecturers have a PhD. Two of six of United States International University has doctoral degrees. Many lecturers have no experience as ICT professionals as engineers, software developers or in the emerging area of computer and network security. See http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316& for full story -- David Otwoma, Chief Science Secretary, National Council for Science and Technology, Utalii House 9th Floor, Mobile tel: +254 722 141771, Office tel: +254 (0)20 2346915, P. O. Box 5687 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya email: otwomad(a)gmail.com & otwoma(a)ncst.go.ke www.ncst.go.ke -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: ogange(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ogange%40yahoo.com

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Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Sea Pirates delay SEACOM launch
by Muriuki Mureithi 25 Jun '09

25 Jun '09

FYI ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Abi <abi.jagun(a)gmail.com> To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> Sent: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:47:13 +0300 (EAT) Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] Sea Pirates delay SEACOM launch Source: http://www.itnewsafrica.com/?p=2815 Sea Pirates delay SEACOM launch June 24, 2009 in Broadband SEACOM_brian2.jpgThe increase in pirate activity during April and May 2009, both in terms of intensity and geographical coverage, necessitated a change in SEACOM’s cable installation plans which resulted in a delay in the ready for service date from 27 June 2009 to 23 July 2009. The planned route required the ship to transit an area of increased pirate activity where other ships had been attacked or seized. The cable deployment in the troublesome waters has since been completed and splicing to connect the section of cable from Mumbai to Africa is expected shortly. Testing of the larger cable system will be finalised shortly thereafter. The cable section from South Africa (Mtunzini) to Kenya (Mombasa), including all south and east African landing stations, has already undergone successful testing. In the meantime, SEACOM is working with its contractor, Tyco Telecommunications, to find ways of accelerating the outstanding works and bring forward the ready for service date ahead of 23 July 2009. Brian Herlihy, SEACOM CEO, said: “Due to sensitivities around piracy issues, their impact on the project timeline was only fully established recently and whilst I am personally truly disappointed by the delay, it was imperative that strong measures be put in place to guarantee the successful completion of the cable system and the safety of the ship and its crews. “This setback should however be seen against the herculean efforts made by the team to see this project come to fruition over an incredibly tight schedule of only 18 months. We remain extremely excited and look forward to witnessing the huge difference that affordable, high quality and plentiful bandwidth will have throughout eastern and southern 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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Re: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses
by Walubengo J 25 Jun '09

25 Jun '09

I agree that something is happening within the High-School teaching fraternity. Last April, Multimedia University College trained 80 high school headteachers from Samburu and I think Transmara Districts, giving them basic ICT skills...am aware Strathmore University, IAT etc also do such trainings regularly...It may not be enough, but its definitely a good kick in the right direction. As for the University Level IT faculty staff. Unfortunately the statistics are likely to be true. You can count the number of IT Professors in this country on your three fingers ;-) walu. --- On Wed, 6/24/09, Barnabas K. Sang <bksang(a)education.go.ke> wrote: > From: Barnabas K. Sang <bksang(a)education.go.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT courses > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 11:32 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Betty, > > > > Thanks for your response on the article > mentioned below. Will go > through it and perhaps respond on key issues raised, which > ICT in Education has > already done or planned. I hope it will minimize fears all > of us have or may be > persuaded to think all is totally misplaced and lost. > > > > > “ICT Integration” is currently Ministry > of Education focus, and > steps already put in place are expected to make Kenya > improve both teaching and > learning environment, with better education ‘products’ > across all levels. > > > > Kind regards > > > > B. K. Sang > > > > > > > > From: > kictanet-bounces+bksang=education.go.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:[email protected]] > On > Behalf Of Betty Ogange > > Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 4:31 PM > > To: Barnabas K. Sang > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality > - We lack an > accreditation system for ICT courses > > > > > > > > > Hallo David, > Last week there was furore in this forum > about media > misrepresentation of the Kenyan situation. The article > that you make > reference to in today’s Standard (24.06.09) may be > accurate in the areas that > you have highlighted. However, I wish to take issue with > a few points raised > in the article. http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316 > > ‘Unlike other academic fields, very > little has been done > to train most teachers in ICT skills. Currently, no > primary teacher training > college offers comprehensive pre-service training in > information technology.’ > > Anyone with a modest interest in education in > Kenya would not > miss something as obvious as a subject in the national > curriculum when reporting > in a national daily. Prior to the year 2004, a few > colleges had ICT skills > courses for pre-service teachers based on in-house > curricula that were > independently developed by each college. The Primary > Teacher Education (PTE) > ICT curriculum developed by the Kenya Institute of > Education has been in > force since the year 2004 and ICT is taught as a > compulsory subject in all > primary teacher training colleges. It is examined > internally at the end of > the first year and all students must pass in the subject, > among other > subjects, in order to proceed to second year. There are > several > implementation hitches in this programme arising from the > fact that ICT is > being taught as a discrete subject in the curriculum and > has yet to be > mainstreamed in the other subjects in the PTE curriculum. > The debate around > ICT- pedagogy integration in education and how to > operationalise it right > from curriculum development to classroom level > implementation continues in > the education circles. > > ‘In-service training is often > provided by trainers who > are just barely literate in > computers’ > > In my knowledge, this has happened especially > in instances when > some hardware providers ‘dangle’ teacher training as > an additional offer to > the institution. TTCs used to hire ICT technicians to > teach the course, but > in the last 2 years, the Teacher Service Commission has > posted trained > lecturers of ICT to a number of TTCs. There have also > been some highly > professional training offered to college lecturers by > Microsoft (in > conjunction with the Institute of Advanced Technology - > IAT) and the Kenya > Technical Teachers College. Computers for Schools Kenya > and the Nepad > e-schools teacher training programmes have also reached > teachers in selected > secondary schools. Lack of co-ordination (as with the > rest of the ICT > initiatives in Kenya ), lack of clear training targets > and time-lines have > compromised continuity and impact of some of these > training programmes. > > ‘The > entire ICT education is in tatters’ > An interesting analogy there. But I see a > sector that is struggling > with what some scholars in educational reform have called > an ‘implementation > dip’ – that for a number of reasons things normally > tend to get worse before > they can get better. There are lots of difficulties in > implementing large > scale ICT initiatives in the education sector world over. > In our country, > there have been positive efforts by the Ministry of > Education, the KIE and a > number of stakeholders in education, and these do count. > On the other hand, > there has been the tendency (by education leaders) > towards elaborate policy > documents, ‘ICT networks’ and trust funds whose > mandates remain > indeterminate. All these need to be researched and > accurately presented. > > Accurate reporting by the media and objective > analysis of both > the positives and difficulties are important in helping > the public target > their attention and effort. Besides the inaccuracies, the > use of expressions > such as ‘in tatters’ ‘the situation is bad’, > ‘alarmed professionals’ > ‘obsolete hardware’ to describe ICT in education in > Kenya sounds to me fairly > sensational. > > Betty > > > > > > --- On Wed, 6/24/09, David Otwoma > <otwomad(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > > > From: David Otwoma <otwomad(a)gmail.com> > > Subject: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We > lack an accreditation > system for ICT courses > > To: ogange(a)yahoo.com > > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 9:32 AM > > > .....universities > offer many degrees but their quality and market demand > differ...... > > > > > > Although > nearly all universities offer degrees, only the > University of Nairobi, Jomo > Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and > Strathmore have > Master’s programmes and only UON and Jkuat teach at > doctoral level. > > > There > is a diminishing number of staff with PhDs in ICT > departments. According to > Prof Rodrigues, UoN has the highest number of full-time > lecturers with PhDs > in ICT that stands at eight of 18, while Jkuat has three > of six, which is the > same number for Strathmore. > > > Kenyatta > University has nine full-time but none of them have a PhD > or an equivalent > qualification, while none of the Kabarak’s eight > lecturers have a PhD. Two of > six of United States International University has > doctoral degrees. > > > Many > lecturers have no experience as ICT professionals as > engineers, software > developers or in the emerging area of computer and > network security. > > > > > > See http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316& > for full story > > > > > > -- > > David Otwoma, > > Chief Science Secretary, > > National Council for Science and Technology, > > Utalii House 9th Floor, > > Mobile tel: +254 722 141771, > > Office tel: +254 (0)20 2346915, > > P. O. Box 5687 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya > > email: otwomad(a)gmail.com & otwoma(a)ncst.go.ke > > www.ncst.go.ke > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: ogange(a)yahoo.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ogange%40yahoo.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >

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ICANN 35 - Sydney Security briefing on conflicker worm
by alice＠apc.org 23 Jun '09

23 Jun '09

ICANN Meeting in Sydney had a security briefing on the Conficker Worm by D. Piscitello, please visit: http://syd.icann.org/files/meetings/sydney2009/presentation-alac-piscitello… best alice

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2009 East Africa Internet Governance Forum (EAIGF), Nairobi, Kenya, 7th-9th September 2009
by Vincent Ngundi 22 Jun '09

22 Jun '09

2009 East Africa Internet Governance Forum (EAIGF): Advancing the Internet Governance Debate in East Africa ³Thinking Globally; Acting Locally² The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) <http://www.kictanet.or.ke/> , the Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC) <http://www.kenic.or.ke/> in collaboration with other organisations are pleased to invite you to the second East African Internet Governance Forum (EA-IGF 2009) to be held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya, from 7th to 9th September 2009. The 2009 EA-IGF is a follow up to the inaugural EA-IGF that was held in November 2008 in Nairobi, which aimed at catalysing the Internet governance debate in the East African sub region. With the increased access to broadband infrastructure in the East Africa region and the continued spread of sophisticated mobile services, understanding and addressing Internet policy issues has become a priority. The national and regional EA-IGF¹s will help prepare East African stakeholders to address the opportunities, strengths and challenges that arise, as well as ensuring that they have a voice in shaping Internet policy decisions at the global level. This year¹s EAIGF therefore seeks to continue to strengthen the national and regional dialogues on Internet Governance as well as; * Increase awareness of Internet Governance issues, including but not limited to local content and cyber; * continue to develop capacity and skills of various stakeholders and build regional consensus on IG issues; and, * Begin to discuss the development of a regional East African Communication policy, among others. The outcomes of the EAIGF will be submitted to the East Africa Regulatory, Postal and Telecommunications Organization (EARPTO), the African Parliamentary Knowledge Network (APKN), the East African Community, as well as, the fourth UN Internet Governance Forum taking place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, in November 2009. Further, the 2009 EAIGF will set the stage for the 37th ICANN meeting to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, in March 2010. For planning purposes, please register for the meeting at http://www.eaigf.or.ke or send an email to meeting(a)eaigf.or.ke confirming your attendance. Kind Regards, ----------- Vincent Ngundi Administrative Manager KENIC - The Kenya Network Information Centre http://www.kenic.or.ke vincent(a)kenic.or.ke [T] +254 20 4450057/8 [C] +254 20 2398036 [M] +254 733 790073 [F] +254 20 4450087 ³dot KE for Every Name in Kenya!² -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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TechSoup Kenya - Reducing the ICT Cost in the Kenya NGO Sector
by alice＠apc.org 22 Jun '09

22 Jun '09

http://www.techsoupkenya.or.ke The Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT) and the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) have launched TechSoup Kenya, an online technology donation portal aimed at the Kenya NGO sector, on 17 June 2009 in Nairobi, Kenya. TechSoup Kenya aims to assist NGOs by providing software and hardware for very low or discounted fees in conjunction with ICT donor partners, as well as by supporting NGOs to maximise their ICT purchases and infrastructure. It will present Kenya NGOs with an opportunity to access software and other ICT solutions at discounts of up to 95% of the retail value. In order to benefit from TechSoup Kenya, NGOs must be registered with the NGO Coordination Board as a non-profit organisation. For general information about the programme and its restrictions, click here. NGOs interested in ordering software available on TechSoup Kenya should first check their general eligibility here. If an organisation meets these requirements, then check the specific eligibility requirements of our initial donor partners, Microsoft and the International Commission on Workforce Development, here. If you qualify for at least one of these, then register for the programme here . The product catalogue can be viewed here . For more information about TechSoup Kenya, as well as to receive regular updates about new product donations, please contact us on Tel: +254 20 224 7507 or support(a)techsoupkenya.or.ke. To read about the launch of TechSoup Kenya, click here. http://www.techsoupkenya.or.ke To: support(a)techsoupkenya.or.ke Subject: TechSoup Kenya - Reducing the ICT Cost in the Kenya NGO Sector 18 June 2009 Contact TechSoup Kenya Tel: +254 20 224 7507 Fax: +254 20 273 7813 E-mail: support(a)techsoupkenya.or.ke

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Re: [kictanet] Africa: Kenya, South Africa, Tunisia Top Innovation Poll (was Re: Kenya ranked among least peaceful states)
by Gakuru Alex 21 Jun '09

21 Jun '09

Great News. Thanks Adam. I agree with the report. We've been struggling to get this information out all along. But that is all set to change upon fibre optics switch on.. Kenya and Zimbabwe among top 10 Internet users despite relying on satellite http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats1.htm. Alex On Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 8:27 AM, Adam Peake<ajp(a)glocom.ac.jp> wrote: > "Africa: Kenya, South Africa, Tunisia Top Innovation Poll > Sharon Davis > 17 June 2009 > > Kenya, South Africa and Tunisia have emerged as the top innovators of Africa > in a report on the continent's competitiveness launched last week. > > The three countries - which scored highly on ratings of their scientific > capacity - are on a par with such innovative countries as Brazil and India, > according to The Africa Competitiveness Report 2009, produced by the World > Economic Forum, the African Development Bank and the World Bank Africa. > > In a league table that included 33 African countries, and 134 countries > overall, Tunisia ranked thirtieth for innovation factors (and first in > Africa); South Africa thirty-sixth (second) and Kenya fiftieth (third). ..." > > Rest of the article at <http://allafrica.com/stories/200906180622.html> > > Based on the "Africa Competitiveness Report 2009" > <http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Africa%20Competitiveness%20Report…> > (research by World Economic Forum, the African Development Bank and the > World Bank.) Which I have not read, I hope the news article is an accurate > reflection of the report. > > Best, > > Adam > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alexgakuru.lists%40gma… >

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Kenya ranked among least peaceful states
by S.Murigi Muraya 21 Jun '09

21 Jun '09

*Kenya ranked among least peaceful states* http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Company%20Industry/-/539550/611366/-/u9o… Posted Tuesday, June 16 2009 at 00:00 A new global survey has ranked Kenya among the top 40 countries that are least peaceful, a move that looks set to erode the country's standing as an investment destination. The survey by the Institute for Economics and Peace, an Australian non-profit research firm, indicated that Kenya was this year ranked 113 among 144 countries that were surveyed. The report could drive away potential investors returning to Kenya after last year's post-election chaos which shut down most businesses in key towns across the country. The same survey ranked Kenya 91 in 2007 and 119 in 2008. This comes at a time when a number of initiatives including the launch of Brand Kenya, a state corporation charged with building the country's image, have been put in place to woo investors. But the new report by the Australian economists could water down these efforts. Diamond rich Botswana has been ranked as the most peaceful country in Africa followed by Malawi which scored highly after carrying out a peaceful presidential election recently. *Most serene* According to the global survey New Zealand is the most peaceful country in the world. Other countries that are said to be peaceful in Africa include Gabon, Ghana, Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania. The report which ranks Kenya the lowest amongst the traditional three East African states uses 23 indicators to determine the existence or absence of peace, key among them being hostility to foreigners or private property, political instability, respect for human rights, military capability, potential for terrorist attacks and perceptions of criminality in society and relations with neighbouring states. But a local organization Peace and Development Network dismissed the parameters as inadequate to judge a country's levels of peace. "The parameters to use when judging a country's level of peace should include the existence of mechanisms for resolving conflicts within a state, because every country has its own internal conflicts, " said Philip Onguje, the programme officer in charge of human security at Peace and Development Network. Kenya is at a crossroads following post-election violence early last year in which more than 1,000 people were killed with several others displaced from their property.

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Ebrief on 2009 Budget from DCDM
by alice＠apc.org 20 Jun '09

20 Jun '09

Dear all Find attached a brief from DCDM associates on this years budget. best alice

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Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Excellent! Child Online Protection publications
by Gakuru Alex 19 Jun '09

19 Jun '09

I hope "Chukua Hatua" folks at CCK update 'Child Safety and Internet Use' at http://www.cck.go.ke/consumer_fact_sheets/ ? regards, ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> Date: Fri, Jun 19, 2009 at 9:51 AM Subject: [ke-internetusers] Excellent! Child Online Protection publications To: ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Draft Guidelines 1) Draft Guidelines for Children 2) Draft Guidelines for Parents, Guardians and Educators Pdf format 3) Draft Guidelines for Industry Pdf format 4) Draft Guidelines for Policy Makers Pdf format "I welcome the ITU's Child Online Protection Initiative and I urge all States to support it." Ban Ki-moon UN Secretary-General http://www.itu.int/osg/csd/cybersecurity/gca/cop/guidelines/index.html _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers

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Re: [kictanet] Day 12 of 12 -- BPO Discussions, Wrapping Up???
by Walubengo J 19 Jun '09

19 Jun '09

David et al, Ok. for once I dont know what to say. But only recall that when two bulls begin to fight it is the grass that suffers. I dont think this is the kind of "wrapping up" that Nyaki meant when she wrote the above subject line. So maybe the two can agree to meet offline and continue the discussion on if, how and why the money was returned? Unless ofcourse the Listers want that discussion - in which case it must be formally requested, scheduled and moderated. walu. --- On Thu, 6/18/09, David Otwoma <otwomad(a)gmail.com> wrote: > From: David Otwoma <otwomad(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 12 of 12 -- BPO Discussions, Wrapping Up > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>, kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > Date: Thursday, June 18, 2009, 3:38 PM > Dear Dr. Ndemo, > > With all due respect, you appear to lose me > here. > > The partial statement you qoute below comes from http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/-/539552/608168/-/item/1/-/3te68rz/-/ind… > > > As regards, formal apology, please let me know if it > is to be directed to:- > > (a) your person (individual), > > (b) your official capacity, > > (c) organizers of the just ended BPO discussion, > > (d) Kicktanet list owners and listers, > > (e) all the above or more than one of the above. > > The above is without prejudice and as the case(s) may > be will be addressed accordingly. > > Finally, and if your permit, on appropriate forum we > may debate the reasons monies are returned/recalled to > Treasury year in year out. Is it by accident or design? > 2009 its famine. 2008 it was IDPs. ......1999 it was > drought....1991 it was land clashes. Is it by accident or > design? > > > Kind regards, > > David > > > > On Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 2:40 AM, > <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > wrote: > > David, > You very clearly stated "in ICT there seems to be > laxity" where 500 nillion is being returned to > Treasury. The story very clearly states the reason why > Treasury had to reallocate the budget. > > > The motives in your earlier post were not good because you > are in a postion to know better and you should. I actually > expect a formal apology. > > > Ndemo. > > > Sent from my BlackBerry® > > -----Original Message----- > > From: David Otwoma <otwomad(a)gmail.com> > > Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:49:42 > To: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 12 of 12 -- BPO Discussions, > Wrapping Up > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke > > > > > > > -- > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >

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Mobile Tech 4 Social Change Camp & Mobile Boot Camp 2009
by Jessica Colaço 19 Jun '09

19 Jun '09

Hi All, You are cordially invited to: - *Mobile Tech 4 Social Change Camp - 27th of June at Strathmore University: * - The charges are: Students (Strathmore and non-Strathmore): Ksh 500/- Non-Students: Ksh 1,000/- - More details: http://www.strathmore.edu/Events.php?EventID=30 * * - *Mobile Boot Camp 2009 - 9th - 11th of July at Strathmore University: * - The charges are: Students (Strathmore and non-Strathmore): Ksh 700/- Non-Students: Ksh 1,500/- - More details: http://www.strathmore.edu/aboutus.php?id=171 We look forward to seeing you there. Please email me if you have any queries. Best, -- Jessica Colaço

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Day 4 of 10- BPO Discussions, Govt Subsidies
by Walubengo J 18 Jun '09

18 Jun '09

-Dear Listers, I must thank all for your insights over the last few days. I like the challenge that asked whether we are "over-regulating" an emerging market as the "answer" to the question on if we have legal and regulatory gaps. Listers are encouraged to challenge and not just answer the questions. Other arising issues included where we want to play within the BPO Value Chain, the Impact of the Political (in-)stability, the need to map our Data Protection laws to those in the target markets are just but some of the highlights I picked - and by all means this is NOT exhaustive as am still reading through the contributions. But today we need to open the theme on Government subsidies. The Researchers found the S.Africa and India had elaborate subsidy provisions for the sector that included Tax Holidays and Exemptions, Investment Grants to BPO operators, Training Subsidies, One-stop shop for Corporate Company Registrations that could be 100% foreign owned, etc. The Researchers noted the unique Mauritius case which had similar incentives but eventually abolished most of them arguing that they were more beneficial to the Operators than to the Nation. On the Kenyan front - other than the not so succesfull Govt Bandwidth subsidies for Operators, very little in terms of incentives was available to BPO Operators. It was noted that the BPO operators had to be within the EPZ in order to enjoy the subsidies other EPZ corporates operates - the problem being that most BPO operaters exist outside the EPZ area. Whats more, BPO operators had to pay additional charges to be registered by the CCK (Regulator) and should be at least 20% locally owned. Qtn6: What incentives / subsidies should the government provide to BPO operators? What of the clause requiring 20% Local shareholding in foreign companies - is it prohibitive or helpful? Floor is open comments. walu. Encl: Synthesis 2:- Subsidies and Incentives

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FW: News - ELECTION FALLOUT / ACCESS TO INFORMATION Iran's cyber-revolution gets a hand from Canada
by Edith Adera 17 Jun '09

17 Jun '09

============================== http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/world/middleeast/17media.html?ref=middlee… June 17, 2009 U.S. Steps Gingerly Into Tumult in Iran By MARK LANDLER and BRIAN STELTER WASHINGTON - The Obama administration says it has tried to avoid words or deeds that could be portrayed as American meddling in Iran's presidential election and its tumultuous aftermath. Yet on Monday afternoon, a 27-year-old State Department official, Jared Cohen, e-mailed the social-networking site Twitter with an unusual request: delay scheduled maintenance of its global network, which would have cut off service while Iranians were using Twitter to swap information and inform the outside world about the mushrooming protests around Tehran. The request, made to a Twitter co-founder, Jack Dorsey, is yet another new-media milestone: the recognition by the United States government that an Internet blogging service that did not exist four years ago has the potential to change history in an ancient Islamic country. "This was just a call to say: 'It appears Twitter is playing an important role at a crucial time in Iran. Could you keep it going?' " said P.J. Crowley, the assistant secretary of state for public affairs. Twitter complied with the request, saying in a blog post on Monday that it put off the upgrade until late Tuesday afternoon - 1:30 a.m. Wednesday in Tehran - because its partners recognized "the role Twitter is currently playing as an important communication tool in Iran." The network was working normally again by Tuesday evening. The State Department said its request did not amount to meddling. Mr. Cohen, they noted, did not contact Twitter until three days after the vote was held and well after the protests had begun. "This is completely consistent with our national policy," Mr. Crowley said. "We are proponents of freedom of expression. Information should be used as a way to promote freedom of expression." The episode demonstrates the extent to which the administration views social networking as a new arrow in its diplomatic quiver. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton talks regularly about the power of e-diplomacy, particularly in places where the mass media are repressed. Mr. Cohen, a Stanford University graduate who is the youngest member of the State Department's policy planning staff, has been working with Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and other services to harness their reach for diplomatic initiatives in Iraq and elsewhere. Last month, he organized a visit to Baghdad by Mr. Dorsey and other executives from Silicon Valley and New York's equivalent, Silicon Alley. They met with Iraq's deputy prime minister to discuss how to rebuild the country's information network and to sell the virtues of Twitter. Referring to Mir Hussein Moussavi, the main Iranian opposition candidate, Mr. Crowley said, "We watched closely how Moussavi has used Facebook to keep his supporters informed of his activities." Tehran has been buzzing with tweets, the posts of Twitter subscribers, sharing news on rallies, police crackdowns on protesters, and analysis of how the White House is responding to the drama. With the authorities blocking text-messaging on cellphones, Twitter has become a handy alternative for information-hungry Iranians. While Iran has also tried to block Twitter posts, Iranians are skilled at using proxy sites or other methods to circumvent the official barriers. A Twitter account called IranNewsNow sent a message to CNN's Twitter account that read, "don't listen to what iran gov says u can or can't do! You can report the pics/vids coming from Twitter!" An account called StopAhmadi wrote on Tuesday evening, "We need ppl around world helping to raise the issues put pressure on Iranian gvmt." It posted links to pictures from Tehran, including one that showed a man bleeding profusely from his chest, surrounded by protesters. There were also suspicions that some pro-government forces might be using new-media outlets to send out misinformation. One popular opposition site, Persiankiwi, warned its followers on Tuesday to ignore instructions from people with no record of reliable posts. In addition to Twitter, YouTube has been a critical tool to spread videos from Iran when traditional media outlets have had difficulty filming the protests or the ensuing crackdown. One YouTube account, bearing the user name "wwwiranbefreecom," showed disturbing images of police officers beating people in the streets. On Monday, Lara Setrakian, an ABC News journalist, put out a call for video on Twitter, writing, "Please send footage we can't reach!" The BBC's Persian-language television channel said that for a time on Tuesday, it was receiving about five videos a minute from amateurs, even though the channel is largely blocked within Iran. One showed pro-government militia members firing weapons at a rally. "We've been struck by the amount of video and eyewitness testimony," said Jon Williams, the BBC world news editor. "The days when regimes can control the flow of information are over." As new media proliferate, however, traditional journalists are having a harder and harder time. Journalists were told on Tuesday that they could not cover protests without permission. The restrictions "effectively confine journalists to their offices," a spokesman for the BBC said. Still, many ventured out into the streets to witness pro- and antigovernment protests, at considerable risk. At the Laleh Hotel in central Tehran, the Time magazine columnist Joe Klein said, "A number of journalists were coming back from the streets pretty badly beaten." As their visas expired, journalists were looking for any chance to report. Jim Marshall, the last Sky News staff member in Tehran, was barred from reporting, so he went shopping instead and came upon thousands of supporters of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at a rally. "I kept shopping, and they kept demonstrating," he wrote in a blog post. "This was turning into a test of wills. How much longer could I shop without slipping into reporting?" Once he realized he was carrying a notepad in his pocket, he swiftly left the scene. Mark Landler reported from Washington, and Brian Stelter from New York. Richard Pérez-Peña contributed reporting from New York. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Adel El Zaim, PhD Senior Program Specialist / Administrateur de programme principal ICT4D - Acacia Centre de recherches pour le développement international (CRDI) / International Development Research Center (IDRC) aelzaim(a)idrc.org.eg Le Caire, Egypte / Cairo, Egypt http://www.idrc.ca/acacia ________________________________________ From: Laurent Elder [lelder(a)idrc.ca] Sent: June 17, 2009 4:18 PM To: ICT4D-Futures Workspace Subject: FW: News - ELECTION FALLOUT / ACCESS TO INFORMATION Iran's cyber-revolution gets a hand from Canada Apologies for cross-posting, but nice to see our colleagues at ONI/Citizen Lab involved with the recent activities in Iran... PUBLICATION: GLOBE AND MAIL IDN: 091680092 DATE: 2009.06.17 PAGE: A14 (ILLUS) BYLINE: OMAR EL AKKAD AND MATT HARTLEY SECTION: International News EDITION: Metro DATELINE: WORDS: 1194 WORD COUNT: 1275 ________________________________ ELECTION FALLOUT / ACCESS TO INFORMATION Iran's cyber-revolution gets a hand from Canada Psiphon, a censorship avoidance tool created at U of T, has been 'pushing' government-blocked Internet content to Iranian activists ________________________________ OMAR EL AKKAD AND MATT HARTLEY At the heart of the disputed Iranian elections, a group of Canadians is helping Iranian activists gain access to what has become the most precious and tightly controlled commodity in Iran: information. The Canadian researchers behind Psiphon, an online censorship avoidance tool, have begun a massive grassroots campaign to give Iranians access to sites that the Iranian government has gone to great lengths to ban - including Facebook, Iranian opposition sites and international news networks. Psiphon has been "pushing" that content to Iranians, giving them a glimpse of the outside world that has been largely blocked since the elections began. But Psiphon's founders are walking a tightrope in their attempts to empower Iranians, as they try to simultaneously offer activists unfettered access to the Internet and dissuade those same activists from launching cyberattacks on the government institutions that took that access away in the first place. "Thousands of people are arguing for [cyberattacks against government infrastructure]," said Greg Walton, editor of the Information Warfare Monitor and a research fellow at the Citizen Lab in the University of Toronto's Munk Centre, where Psiphon was first developed. "We're concerned that if people launch [denial of service attacks] - the Iranian government is already throttling [down] bandwidth - this may take up the remaining bandwidth." Mr. Walton said some government sites have been defaced and that others had gone down, possibly as a result of cyberattacks. Iran's biggest mass protest since the 1979 Islamic revolution has become a full-fledged global movement, fought on and fuelled by the World Wide Web. The cyber-revolution's epicentre is the microblogging site Twitter. Often disparaged as trivial because of its 140-character limit on posts, the site has proved to be an effective way for activists to post updates on the situation in Iran. Among the thousands of posts popping up are descriptions of government raids and the date and location of planned protests. Indeed, Twitter was supposed to go offline on Monday for prescheduled maintenance. However, the site's founders delayed that shutdown because of "the role Twitter is currently playing as an important communication tool in Iran." Washington officials reportedly also asked Twitter to postpone the maintenance. Without tools such as Psiphon, most Iranians would still be unable to gain access to sites such as Twitter. The censorship avoidance tool essentially links "trusted members" together with members who have access to content, sending it to those who don't, all under the authorities' noses. "When a people has no access to a free press, of course they have to get their words out there," said Jaffer Sheyholislami, an Iranian-born assistant professor of linguistics at Carleton University who has been monitoring the election closely. "As soon as the election results were announced in Tehran, you could tell something was not right from the beginning and you could tell by the fact that the Internet services such as Facebook and many websites were shut down - especially . . . opposition-group websites." One Tweet in particular caught Mr. Sheyholislami's attention. It was sent from Twitter account mousavi1388 (1388 is the year in the Persian calendar), and it read: "We have no national press coverage in Iran, everyone should help spread [Mir-Hossein] Mousavi's message. One Person = One Broadcaster." Without tools such as Twitter and cellular technology, it would be much more difficult for Iranians to get information out of the country, said Jeff Jarvis, associate professor and director of the interactive journalism program at the City University of New York's Graduate School of Journalism. "Once you have access to the Internet, information will flow around the despots," he said. "It is now inevitable. It will be more and less efficient and they'll be more and less smart about trying to stop it, but it will flow around tyranny and that is new and that is an absolute impact." *** THE REVOLUTION WILL BE DIGITIZED The widely disputed Iranian presidential election has spurred the largest wave of civil unrest in that country since the Islamic revolution of 1979. But even as hundreds of thousands take to the streets, a larger revolution is under way in cyberspace, where digital activists have taken to blogs - and, especially, Twitter - to express frustration and provide first-hand reporting. This digital revolution has raised questions about the rules of virtual activism: Cyberwarfare: There's an ongoing debate among online activists about launching Internet-based attacks against Iranian government infrastructure. Attacks such as "denial of service" are easy to launch and can cripple a server. Some argue such attacks are one of the few ways citizens can fight back against a repressive government, while others argue that using up bandwidth to launch such attacks makes it even harder for Iranian citizens to gain access to the Web. Anonymity: Facing serious consequences if caught, many Iranian bloggers are posting anonymously. However, this has made it difficult to tell which bloggers are activists and which accounts are fake. Some bloggers have begun building small communities of trusted sources, but are preferring not to publicize them for fear of putting them at risk. Safety in numbers: Many users around the world have taken one blogger's advice to change their personal information in Twitter such that their hometown appears to be Tehran. The purpose is to make it more difficult for Iranian security personnel monitoring the site to determine which activists are based in the country. Access: Internet service in Iran dropped significantly around the time of the election. However, it is unclear whether that was a result of government tampering or simply a result of massive worldwide interest in Iranian Web content. What is known is that many sites - including opposition websites, social networking hubs and news outlets - are blocked in Iran. Users have begun creating go-arounds that allow Iranians access to these sites. However, it seems that when the address of such a server is made public, it isn't long before it is blocked inside Iran. Omar El Akkad *** What is Psiphon? Developed at the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto's Munk Centre, Psiphon is essentially a tool that allows users to get around content-blocking systems, such as filters that ban users from gaining access to certain websites. First released in late 2006, the tool was designed with a social or political purpose. It is mainly aimed at users in countries with repressive regimes, where Internet usage is highly regulated. Early versions of the software worked on a "trusted member" model - essentially, encrypted information is passed between computers run by known and trusted users in small networks. This model reduces the likelihood that a government agent will be able to infiltrate the network and shut it down. The downside, however, is that networks of trusted users tend to stay small. Psiphon's developers took the software out of the lab in 2008, when they spun it out as a Canadian corporation. In the words of Ron Deibert, vice-president of policy and outreach for Psiphon and director of the Citizen Lab, "We are the first explicitly political company to be spun out of the University of Toronto." Omar El Akkad Dgroups is a joint initiative of Bellanet, DFID, Hivos, ICA, ICCO, IICD, OneWorld, UNAIDS and World Bank --- You are currently subscribed to ict4d-futures as: aelzaim(a)idrc.org.eg To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-ict4d-futures-90963U(a)dgroups.idrc.ca Dgroups is a joint initiative of Bellanet, DFID, Hivos, ICA, ICCO, IICD, OneWorld, UNAIDS and World Bank --- You are currently subscribed to ict4d-futures as: eadera(a)idrc.or.ke To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-ict4d-futures-75952T(a)dgroups.idrc.ca

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Re: [kictanet] Institutional framework
by Walubengo J 17 Jun '09

17 Jun '09

Bill, I know yesterday was the last day of these discussions...but I feel I needed to chip in on the PMs office being the cordinating ICT organ...my take is that it may work btwn now and 2012, and then what next? Remember as much as the PMs office and his cordinating role is in our constitution, I tend to think that by 2012 this may not obtain. Depending on how we rewrite our constitution, the PM office maybe too strong, too weak or simply deleted and either case the ICT cordination role would then be misplaced. There was some KICTAnet breakfast meeting last year where the numerous ICT agents, organisations, assosciations, societies etc were enumurated (over 50!) and I wish Brian/Harry? who was the secretary could share with Listers to appreciate the level of confusion that stalks our ICT landscape in this country. Something needs to be be done to harness and cordinate their good efforts. walu. --- On Tue, 6/16/09, Bildad Kagai <billkagai(a)gmail.com> wrote: > From: Bildad Kagai <billkagai(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Institutional framework > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 5:25 PM > On Jun 16, 2009, at 3:03 PM, godera(a)skyweb.co.ke > wrote: > > > There needs to be a body overseeing all these > ministries. > > It will determine which Ministry will handle which > component (seeing how > > different ministries are doing business parks etc and > duplicating efforts). > > And no, I do not see it having such a high budget. > > It is also called the Prime Minister's Office. Can one of > the outcomes of this discussion be Kictanet to organise a > delegation to his office with a view of requesting him to > assume the vacant position of National ICT Champion to lead > us as our sage in the detente between ICT and Media amongst > other sectors?? > > No need establishing another quango as is being suggested > here when you have a functional office entrenched in the > constitution and read together with the national accord. The > Prime Minister suffices. Sometimes I wonder where some of us > went to school!!! (on a light note). > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >

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Invitation to the BPO Study Stakeholder’s Workshop -1st July 2009
by Walubengo J 17 Jun '09

17 Jun '09

Hey Listers, following your most valuable BPO contributions over the last 2weeks, I wish to extend the invitation below on behalf of the Research Team: walu. +++++++ invite +++++++++++++ Dear KICTANet mailing list members, Re: Invitation to the BPO Study Stakeholder’s Workshop The School of Computing and Informatics, University of Nairobi, in collaboration with the Kenya BPO & Contact Centre Society and the Kenya ICT Board has been conducting a study titled ‘Development of a Business Process Outsourcing Industry in Kenya: Critical Success Factors’. The project is funded by the International Development Research Centre(IDRC) and it’s overall objective is to undertake comprehensive research in the BPO sub-sector in pioneer, emerging and mature markets to provide evidence and a deeper understanding of the imperatives for success in the BPO industry to better inform Kenya’s policy decisions and investment choices. Data collection which comprised of collecting data from USA, South Africa, Kenya, India, Mauritius and UK is complete. The high-level research findings have been discussed in the KICTANET list and the inputs incorporated. The research team would like to share these findings and obtain further input from stakeholders for incorporation into the final document which will contain the policy implications. This will be done at a workshop on Wednesday 1st July 2009 at the KICC from 8.30 am to 1.00 pm. You have been recommended as a key stakeholder and therefore we are inviting you to attend this workshop in order to participate in shaping the future of the BPO industry in Kenya. Lunch will be provided at the end of the meeting. We look forward to interacting and exchanging ideas with you. Please email your confirmation of attendance to: munyiva(a)uonbi.ac.ke. Yours faithfully, Prof. Timothy Mwololo Waema BPO Research Project Team Leader ++++end of invite++++++

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