- KICTANet - KICTANet

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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Re: [kictanet] Day 12 of 12 -- BPO Discussions, Wrapping Up
by Walubengo J 17 Jun '09

17 Jun '09

Thanx Nyaki for being a tremendous co-moderator and between you and Mwende, I now know I can retire comfortably. As for institutional overlaps u describe below - we just need to borrow from Rwanda. Create an oversight body like RITA (Rwanda Info Technology Authority) that will have a broad cordinating role over all the others (KICTBoard, Min Ed, eGov, GITS, etc) that have anything ICT. walu. --- On Tue, 6/16/09, Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: [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> > Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 9:06 AM > > > > > -- > Day 12 of 12- BPO Discussions, > Wrapping Up --After > extremely interesting discussions yesterday, where I > summarized once or twice > during the day, we would like to bring the BPO discussion > to a close. It was > very interesting to see that many of you were concerned > that the media is > portraying Kenya negatively and this could (or maybe was) > affecting some of the > decisions of potential investors. Some in the media > fraternity responded that > they really must report what is there and that their > priority is Kenyans not > foreigners first. As one said “…bottomline- the media > can’t just be improvised > to promote the interests of the business and capitalist > class. There are the > rest of us citizens whose welfare, life and worries too > must be reported”. > > Thank > you to all of you who have actively participated both > online and offline > (directly to the moderators sometimes) during the last 12 > days. To recap, we > have covered the following themes: > > The policy, legal > and institutional frameworks for > BPO sector Subsidies accorded > to BPO sector Human Capacity > Issues Youth and > Gender IssuesStrengths, > Challenges and niches for Kenya as a BPO > destination > > As > we wrap up today I believe we could have done more justice > to the institutional > framework issue. More specifically I draw from the > conclusion of the > institutional framework summary and the question: > > > In > conclusion for Kenya, it > can be observed that there is an overlap between KenInvest > and the Kenya ICT > Board when it comes to promotion of Kenya as an investment > destination to > potential investors. There could be other overlaps as well. > For example, both > KICTB and MoHEST are planning for technology/BPO parks. > This is likely to lead > to duplication of effort, differences in the messages > communicated to stakeholders > and confusion on the part of investors with respect to whom > to deal with, > amongst other problems. In addition, there is need to > coordinate between ICT > Board, KenInvest, EPC and MoEST. The big question is: Who > will perform the > coordination? Finally, the Monitoring > and Evaluation (M&E) Directorate in the Ministry of > Planning has never been > devolved into the ministries and public enterprises. > Whether it is a > consequence of this lack of devolution or not, the M&E > capacity of the > Ministry of Information and Communications, Kenya ICT Board > and all the other > institutions highlighted earlier is weak. At the same time, > the institutional > framework for Vision 2030 is in the > formation stages > and, > even if it were to develop strong M&E capabilities, it > may not be able to > marshal enough power to ensure corrective action is taken > by the concerned > institutions in a timely manner. > > This draws me to > the discussion question: What needs to be done > to > improve/strengthen the institutional framework in order for > the BPO and outsourcing > sector to play its planned role in the Kenyan > economy? > > Let us discuss this > today and any other gnawing > issues in all the thematic areas as we wrap up. > > Best, > > Nyaki > > > > > > > > -----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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Re: [kictanet] Institutional framework
by Betty Ogange 16 Jun '09

16 Jun '09

The document posted in by Sang this morning suggests that as early as 2004 there was a draft ‘policy document’ proposing the formation of the Kenya Information and Communications Technology Authority (KICTA) that would be responsible for 'managing, co-ordinating and regulating' ICT activities in the public sector. The document indicates that KICTA ‘shall be the custodian of all government information and all ICT programmes, and shall be headed by a Director General or Secretary General who will also be the governments Chief Information Officer at the Permanent Secretary Supper Scale level.’ And the document goes on to appropriately define roles and functions. I did have a quick read through and I found no mention of the BPO as an industry (I may have missed it); there is a probability that the subsequent drafts address some of the issues that have arisen in the discussions. KICTA, as defined in this document, sounds like the oversight body that Walu and other listers referred to earlier on. I would like to find out if anyone in the list a) has the final copy of this document (and would be willing to share it;) ) b) is aware of how far its implementation has gone / who is taking responsibility for its implementation. Betty --- On Tue, 6/16/09, Sam Aguyo <saguyo(a)yahoo.com> wrote: From: Sam Aguyo <saguyo(a)yahoo.com> Subject: [kictanet] Institutional framework To: ogange(a)yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 5:21 PM Listners. When we talk of institutional framework in my understanding is not a political office but on office mandated to interface between the BPO and the probable markets, translate the market requirements of those markets to the BPO , communicate effectively and market the value proposition and Kenya's competitiveness as a BPO destination both locally and abroad. This body could be KICTB, Brand Kenya.....! A political office can only be ceremonial and nothing to do with tactical. The political office will only associate with a well cordinated outfit producing products. With not products, very difficult indeed. Sam From: Bildad Kagai <billkagai(a)gmail.com> To: saguyo(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 4:25:31 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Institutional framework 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: saguyo(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/saguyo%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: 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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Community fibre networks - a high level communique on the way forward
by Muriuki Mureithi 16 Jun '09

16 Jun '09

hi all National fibre infrastructure is now prevalent but unfortunately bypassing the rural and the poor. this should not happen and there is a way out. please read the attached communique for a way forward. cheers Muriuki Mureithi

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by Walubengo J 16 Jun '09

16 Jun '09

I agree with Dr. Ndemo et al. One of our greatest weakness is negative energy. And the root cause of this negative energy is tribalism. Our East African citizens (TZ,UG etc) know that Kenyans identify themselves first as being from their tribe, then 2nd as being from their clan and finally as being from their country ( the 'Navumulia' kua mkenya mentality). As noted by others, the sheer capacity of this negative energy will overide any marketing dollars that may be poured out there in "Brand Kenya" initiatives...There must be conscious and deliberate effort to sell Brand Kenya internally. We have to find a way to celebrate our diversity rather than exagerate our differences...This to me should have been one of the pillars in the Vision 2030 because it wont happen overnite. walu. --- On Mon, 6/15/09, Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Monday, June 15, 2009, 12:35 PM > Dakatari, thanks for the > elaboration....I hear you! I hope the media is also reading > this. > > Nyaki > > From: > "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > To: Catherine > Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com>; > kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > Cc: KICTAnet > ICT Policy Discussions > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Sent: Monday, > June 15, 2009 12:16:12 AM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day > 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths andWeaknesses > (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > > > Catherine, some barking dogs are causing untold pain to our > people. Hate against Kenyans in Tanzania is at its > worst. Irrespective who you are, you are refered to as > Mungiki who is after grabbing Tanzanian land. Whom do > you think created this image for our people? > > Mungiki is more of any economic crisis in our country but > our Media has refused to link the two. We lack > analytical depth in our media houses. What you read is > petty fitina. When a media house purpots that > "Cable lands into financial trouble" do you think > such media has the interests of this country at heart? > If they did they should have asked the right questions > before publishing. I do not think they have a clue how > such any article impacts the country negatively. > > The audience of what is published locally is not only > Kenyan people who read it. We must love our country > and stop hoping that someone else will change our > image. The sad part is that all of what has been > read throughout the world are all lies. Some people > reading this may never know that it was not true. > > This what I meant to say that negativity will fail us and > we should check every barking dog. > > Ndemo > > Sent from my BlackBerry® > > -----Original Message----- > From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> > > Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:36:34 > To: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, > Strengths and > Weaknesses (Observations from USA and > UK); and Trends and > Niches > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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Re: [kictanet] Fw: Re: Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths and Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by Luvisia Bakuli 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

Thanks LK for your observations. You sent the message to me and not the list. I am not sure if you wanted this to appear in public; but I think you made an important contribution that needs to be shared, for you might be speaking for the "silent majority." For that reason, I will whiteout your ID to share your message. You are right, I should have used a better metaphor for IBM than Godfather. Let me try a different one: IBM is like a hawk on the Serengeti. From its vantage point, 20/20 eyesight, and ease of movement it is capable of monitoring what's happening on the vast terrain. So what others in the food chain, e.g. hyenas, have learned to do when the undergrowth is thick and the prey (e. g. antelopes) too fast for them is to look up in the sky for signs of where there is a kill. They have learned that if they follow the hawk they hare sure to have food albeit leftover bones. And if they arrive early enough and are in a large group, they might even chase the lions away and inherit the carcass. Okay that's enough for the metaphor lest we overstretch it. But we might miss the point of the discussion if we focus on who's first, leader or right. I have read articles where IBM failed miserably in its bit to manage outsourcing for the state of Texas and history might teach us a lesson that not all visionaries are good at execution. So our major task might be to find the visionaries and if they are goofy in their execution, ignore their execution but go after the lucrative markets they have identified. I gotta go. It is raining, thundering, and I don't want to be the lightning's conduit to earth. Cheers, Luvisia Bakuli On Mon, 2009-06-15 at 10:07 -0700, LK wrote: > > Truth is IBM is NOT the Godfather of Cloud computing, in fact they are > way behind newz... Look at what Microsoft is already selling to the > federal government, my only objection is that they seem to be after > Stimulus money -- yani fighting the small guys for federal bail out > funds! > > http://www.publicsectorondemand.com/ > > I think Cloud computing for disaster recovery makes sense but like > everyone else I am concerned about data security until they come up > with an encryption that hackers cant get perhaps in the next > lifetime:-) > > > > > --- On Mon, 6/15/09, Luvisia Bakuli <luvisia.bakuli(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > From: Luvisia Bakuli <luvisia.bakuli(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, > Strengths and Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and > Trends and Niches > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Monday, June 15, 2009, 12:35 PM > > Thanks Catherine-- wil stick to the subject line next time. > Had posted > as I rushed out the door in the morning. > > The article that I forwarded addressed trends abd potential > niche > market as defined by IBM. Just like UNESCO leads the way in > social > culturall trends, IBM seems to pick winning markets. Luvisia > Bakuli > > On 6/15/09, Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > Thanks Luvisia, > > > > However, may I request all not to change the subject header > for ease of > > discussions, we will flesh out the relevant content as we go > along. So note > > inside the body of your discussion that you will focus on > niche areas but do > > not change the subject header. > > > > Thanks for your input, very insightful. > > > > Much appreciated, > > > > Nyaki (Moderator jointly with Walu) > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > From: Luvisia Bakuli <luvisia.bakuli(a)gmail.com> > > To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com > > Cc: eMatete(a)gmail.com; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 2:45:19 PM > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Niche Markets > > > > For those looking for niche areas, the following article > might generate > > some ideas. DBL > > > > ____________________ > > > > > > June 15, 2009 > > > > I.B.M. to Help Clients Fight Cost and Complexity > > By STEVE LOHR > > > > > > In 2000, the Linux operating system was a hot technology, > but it had not > > spread much beyond scientists, researchers and computer > programmers. > > Then I.B.M. declared that it would back Linux with > investment, research > > and marketing, and the technology moved swiftly into the > corporate > > mainstream. > > > > The same thing happened with the personal computer in the > early 1980s, > > when I.B.M. endorsed that upstart technology and entered the > market. > > > > Starting this week, I.B.M. is returning to the same > playbook, > > introducing some initial products and services and a roadmap > for its > > stable of corporate and government customers to comfortably > embrace > > cloud computing. > > > > Cloud computing — in which vast stores of information and > processing > > resources can be tapped from afar, over the Internet, using > a personal > > computer, cellphone or other device — holds great promise in > the > > corporate market. The cloud model, analysts say, has the > potential to > > cut the costs, complexity and headaches of technology for > companies and > > government agencies. > > > > Already, Amazon.com, Google and Salesforce.com, among > others, offer > > cloud-based Web services to companies, including e-mail, > computer > > storage and customer management software. But many big > companies and > > government agencies have been reluctant to get on board > because of > > traditional corporate-computing concerns like the security > of data, > > reliability of service and regulatory compliance. > > > > “I.B.M. knows how to do all of those things,” said Frank > Gens, chief > > analyst for IDC, a technology research firm. “Its strategy > is all about > > making cloud computing safe for enterprise customers.” > > > > Even if I.B.M. succeeds in its bid to make cloud computing > more > > palatable for big corporations, there is no guarantee that > it will be > > the main beneficiary of the trend. After I.B.M. helped > create the PC > > industry, lower-cost competitors ended up dominating the > business. > > > > In the cloud market, I.B.M. plans to take a tailored > approach. The > > hardware and software in its cloud offerings will be meant > for specific > > computing chores. Just as Google runs a computing cloud > optimized for > > Internet search, I.B.M. will make bespoke clouds for > computing workloads > > in business. > > > > Its early cloud entries, to be announced on Monday, follow > that model. > > One set of offerings is focused on streamlining the > technology used by > > corporate software developers and testers, which can consume > 30 percent > > or more of a company’s technology resources. > > > > The second set is virtual desktop services, in which > personal computer > > software, either from Microsoft or open-source alternatives, > is run on > > remote servers and piped to simple desktop machines equipped > with > > screens and keyboards. I.B.M. found in tests with clients > that such > > virtual PCs, with little desktop processing or storage, can > use 70 > > percent less power than conventional PCs and reduce > technical support > > costs by up to 40 percent,. > > > > Both the software development and desktop services are being > offered as > > an integrated bundle of hardware and software for a cloud > running inside > > a corporate or government data center, or as a cloud service > hosted in > > an I.B.M. data center. > > > > Other offerings are planned, I.B.M. executives said, > including clouds > > fine-tuned for data storage, and clouds for business > analytics, which is > > software that analyzes data for patterns of customer > behavior, market > > trends and other potentially valuable information. > > > > I.B.M. calls its approach of fine-tuning hardware and > software for > > specific jobs “hybrid computing.” And it will open a Hybrid > Computing > > Research lab later this year, inviting industry and > university > > scientists to work cooperatively on new application-specific > designs > > intended to improve performance by 100 to 1,000 times > compared with > > today’s systems. > > > > The fresh look at computer design is being prompted by the > surge in > > Internet data, from social networking to smartphone > applications to > > sensors monitoring food shipments and electrical use. By > 2011, IDC > > estimates, there will be one trillion Internet-connected > devices, up > > from 500 million in 2006. > > > > “This huge explosion of data is driving a movement to design > systems > > around workloads because it is the only way to deliver the > computation > > needed, and it’s far more energy-efficient,” said Kunle > Olukotun, a > > computer scientist at Stanford. > > > > I.B.M. had an initiative, begun in early 2008, called Blue > Cloud, which > > mainly involved adapting its server computers for cloud > technology. Most > > major technology suppliers have cloud-related hardware and > software > > products, including Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems > and Dell. > > But I.B.M., analysts say, is going further by offering > simplified, > > integrated stacks of hardware and software, as well as cloud > services. > > > > I.B.M.’s cloud strategy, the company said, is the > culmination of 100 > > prototype projects with companies and government agencies > over the last > > year, and its research partnership with Google. > > > > “The information technology infrastructure is under stress > already, and > > the data flood is just accelerating,” said Samuel J. > Palmisano, I.B.M.’s > > chief executive. “We’ve decided that how you solve that > starts by > > organizing technology around the workload.” > > > > One of I.B.M.’s test beds for cloud computing has been the > Interior > > Department’s National Business Center, a service center that > handles > > payroll, human relations, financial reporting, contracting > services and > > other computing tasks for dozens of federal agencies. The > center runs > > two large data centers, one in Northern Virginia and another > outside > > Denver. > > > > Douglas J. Bourgeois, the center’s director, said he is > introducing > > several cloud-style applications over the next nine months > including > > Web-based training, and staffing and recruitment software. > And in tests > > with financial and procurement software, the cloud-computing > environment > > has delivered efficiencies of 40 to 60 percent in > productivity and power > > consumption, he said. > > > > “For us, like other data centers, the volume of data > continues to > > explode,” Mr. Bourgeois said. “We want to solve some of > those problems > > with cloud computing, so we don’t have to build another $20 > million data > > center.” > > > > > > Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizaslider%40yahoo.com > > > > > > > > > > -- > Sent from my mobile device > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: lkimani(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lkimani% > 40yahoo.com >

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, StrengthsandWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

Dear David, No one wants to stop Media from reporting what is happening. Our media must move from incident reporting to providing analytical reports that can help us grow. Yes Government has challenges. Media too is not without challenges. The discussions here are calling for us to take individual responsibilities to change this country. A single editor can change that which can harm our collective being. If the manager at Mbs airport took his responsibility seriously, he could have even borrowed a generator. Our collective failure emanates from our individual lazyness and careless attention to responsibility. This is why I still want to state that it is imperative for us to separate Kenya from personality (our individual failures). On Mungiki, you know very well it is not the country Kenya that created them. It is generally our individual failures that has brought the problem. When a family continues to have children even when they cannot afford, they contribute to the problem. When someone corruptly misuses public resources, he/she contributes to the problem. Media should then get to the root cause of the problem by indetifying individual failures. Only then we can provide a comprehensive solution. Is it for nothing that China had to create a one child policy? Regards Ndemo. > I wonder, does the media report for outsiders or kenyans who need the info > to make decisions in their daily lives? We live right here and the media > has a duty to report reality not make-believe propaganda for foreign > investors. Government shud fix the corruption, insecurity, infrastructure > etc to create an environment for investment not plead with the media to > abdicate its obligation to report accurately. If it did that it would be > an accomplice in deception. No need burying our heads in the sand for > short term gain. > I have been to many countries and nothing tells me the kenyan media is > crazy, save for common professional shortcomings. If govt functioned half > as much as the media in the pursuit of greater kenya, we wud be far! > Last nite hundreds of pepole, me included, were stranded at moi airport in > msa because there were no lights on the runway so no planes could land or > take off. > I dont know how many pple missed their connecting international flights > but that does more damage to investor confidence than crime reports. I > read those everywhere i go but not about airports that have no lights. And > that takes just a generator. Or is that among the unspecified services > that the mysterious 1.5b in the budget will cater for? Long shot. > Bottomline- the media cant just be improvised to promote the interests of > the business and capitalist class. There is the rest of us citizens whose > welfare, life and worries too must be reported. Besides, it will be the > same media that will be whipped for keeping quiet when things were going > wrong. Remember the election fiasco? Yes, better blame the media now > rather than later for not warning of the danger lurking in our midst. Dont > beseech the media to join in the collective national amnesia and deception > of the world. Ask the govt to deal with the issues. > > David > Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device > > -----Original Message----- > From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > > Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:37:06 > To: <dmakali(a)yahoo.com> > Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions'<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths > andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > > > Listers, > Please take a moment and see what is on-line from our papers today and > understand what I am trying to say. You cannot convince even our people > in the diaspora to invest in Kenya. Compare that with what SA has on the > web from their papers. They have managed their violence especially on > foreingners well even as it continues. We are showing machetes to > investors without critical analysis and how we see the future of our > country. > > The few potential investors I met this morning are distgusted with what > they see. Allow me to request my brother Linus who is on this list to > remove the picture please. > > > Ndemo. > > > > > > >> Dr. Ndemo, >> >> I stopped watching news in the local media a while back. Too much >> negative >> stuff affecting the peace and tranquility I expect in my home. >> >> There is a lot of crime in S.A. yet the country is geared to host the >> World >> Cup come next year. How are they working to make it a success? >> >> I support you fully. It is high time we Kenyans started to think >> nationally >> as a nation. To look at the positives. We live in a real world and >> things >> will not always be perfect in any country, Kenya included. >> Therefore we should promote the positive aspects of Kenya first before >> we >> can expect outsiders to support us. >> >> >> Sammy Buruchara >> CEO NairobiNet Ltd >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: kictanet-bounces+sammy=opensystems.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> [mailto:[email protected]] >> On >> Behalf Of bitange(a)jambo.co.ke >> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 12:11 PM >> To: sammy(a)opensystems.co.ke >> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths >> andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches >> >> Prof. >> We should understand the impact of internet better. Our papers are >> on-line and they contribute the greatest content out there. A >> potential >> investor trying to surf the net, gets mostly negative information. I >> am >> not against our media but they could do better in setting the agenda. >> A >> few examples may help here. >> >> It is not only Kenya that has suffered the youth bulge. This is >> something >> that has affected countries world over. The US suffered in the 1930's >> leading the country to get rid of the problem by investing heavily on >> public works and the war. In China they put much of their people into >> labour intensive public works (roads, energy, ICTs ets). While they >> did >> this they also suffered a high rate of crime. This is how the Al >> Capones >> came up. Italy has had a mafia crisis over a long period of time but >> the >> media there did not only focus on crime. They suggested economic >> solutions that have helped reduce crime in the south go down. When we >> write about mungiki, we should also suggest a way forward. We must >> also >> create hope for our people because we are all responsible for what >> happens >> in our land. >> >> The recent US elections were all about hope that things will change. >> Look >> at the Uhuru Budget. It was a budget of hope. But read our yesterday >> papers. While one Media house attempted to create hope. The other >> focused on hopelessness - "the devil is in the details" - yet for once >> we >> were united in hope for our future. I had expected many positive >> headlines out of the budget but I was disappointed. This is a budget >> we >> should have leveraged to create a new Kenya. A Kenya where we all have >> hope. It gave us our much a waited new constitution. That we can >> devolve >> our resources based on the districts. That we may not need to dismantle >> a >> constitution that has relatively served us well for more than 40 years. >> That we may need only Parliament to amend only the governance aspects >> of >> our constitution as many civilized countries do. This where media had >> a >> chance to set the agenda for this country but they have yet again >> wasted >> the opportunity. It is not too late for them to bring hope. The >> Vision >> 2030 can be achieved if we all agree that it will bring the desired >> change. >> >> I am glad we deviated a little but this discussion will shape our >> future >> policies. Where we all respect one another. >> >> Regards >> >> >> Ndemo. >> >> >>> Dr. Ndemo, >>> >>> You have captured very well the problem with us Kenyans. At the same >>> time, >>> it is important to acknowledge that we have very many people who are >>> positive and are doing very good things for this country. But they are >>> drowned by the bad elements amongst us. However, things will not >>> change >>> if >>> we do not make a deliberate change intervention. According to me, it >>> will >>> be >>> almost impossible to achieve V2030 with this attitude. We must >>> change.I >>> strongly believe that there is a 4th pillar that V2030 >>> conceptualization >>> missed - NATIONAL COHESION. It is what is required to move forward and >>> fulfil the other plans. We could therefore argue that we need to sell >>> Kenya >>> to Kenyans before we go out to foreigners. Otherwise all the positive >>> messages that will be put out there in selling Kenya to investors by >>> whoever >>> (assuming we can get this right in the first instance) will soon be >>> negated >>> by the bad attitudes that you speak of. And who said Kenya must be >>> developed >>> by outsiders? >>> >>> I hope I have not sounded like a barking dog. >>> >>> tim mwololo >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 12:16 AM, <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: >>> >>>> Catherine, some barking dogs are causing untold pain to our people. >>>> Hate >>>> against Kenyans in Tanzania is at its worst. Irrespective who you >>>> are, >>>> you >>>> are refered to as Mungiki who is after grabbing Tanzanian land. Whom >>>> do >>>> you >>>> think created this image for our people? >>>> >>>> Mungiki is more of any economic crisis in our country but our Media >>>> has >>>> refused to link the two. We lack analytical depth in our media >>>> houses. >>>> What you read is petty fitina. When a media house purpots that >>>> "Cable >>>> lands into financial trouble" do you think such media has the >>>> interests >>>> of >>>> this country at heart? If they did they should have asked the right >>>> questions before publishing. I do not think they have a clue how >>>> such >>>> any >>>> article impacts the country negatively. >>>> >>>> The audience of what is published locally is not only Kenyan people >>>> who >>>> read it. We must love our country and stop hoping that someone else >>>> will >>>> change our image. The sad part is that all of what has been read >>>> throughout >>>> the world are all lies. Some people reading this may never know that >>>> it >>>> was >>>> not true. >>>> >>>> This what I meant to say that negativity will fail us and we should >>>> check >>>> every barking dog. >>>> >>>> Ndemo >>>> >>>> Sent from my BlackBerryR >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> >>>> >>>> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:36:34 >>>> To: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> >>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths >>>> and >>>> Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and >>>> Niches >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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 >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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 >>>> >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------- >>> This message has been scanned for viruses and >>> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is >>> believed to be clean. >>> --------------------------------------------- >>> "easy access to the world" >>> >>> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------- >> This message has been scanned for viruses and >> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is >> believed to be clean. >> --------------------------------------------- >> "easy access to the world" >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: sammy(a)opensystems.co.ke >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/sammy%40opensystems.co. >> ke >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------- >> This message has been scanned for viruses and >> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is >> believed to be clean. >> --------------------------------------------- >> "easy access to the world" >> >> > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: dmakali(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmakali%40yahoo.com > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Re: [kictanet] Media Reports
by Luvisia Bakuli 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

The media need to report both the good and the ugly news. Our wish that they focus more on positive stories than negative ones may not help the country in the long run. I think the anger voiced on the list at the current media stories about Mungiki's menace in Central Province is misdirected. Real people are dieing in those villages and we cannot wish that those deaths were not reported. Rather let's pressurize the Minister and PS in charge of internal security, the Administration Police, Police, Paramilitary (GSU), CID, Special Branch, etc to contain this menace. These government officials should be made to account for these deaths –I think we need direct our anger and questions at these people not the media. Bakuli

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths and Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by Luvisia Bakuli 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

Thanks Catherine-- wil stick to the subject line next time. Had posted as I rushed out the door in the morning. The article that I forwarded addressed trends abd potential niche market as defined by IBM. Just like UNESCO leads the way in social culturall trends, IBM seems to pick winning markets. Luvisia Bakuli On 6/15/09, Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > Thanks Luvisia, > > However, may I request all not to change the subject header for ease of > discussions, we will flesh out the relevant content as we go along. So note > inside the body of your discussion that you will focus on niche areas but do > not change the subject header. > > Thanks for your input, very insightful. > > Much appreciated, > > Nyaki (Moderator jointly with Walu) > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Luvisia Bakuli <luvisia.bakuli(a)gmail.com> > To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com > Cc: eMatete(a)gmail.com; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 2:45:19 PM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Niche Markets > > For those looking for niche areas, the following article might generate > some ideas. DBL > > ____________________ > > > June 15, 2009 > > I.B.M. to Help Clients Fight Cost and Complexity > By STEVE LOHR > > > In 2000, the Linux operating system was a hot technology, but it had not > spread much beyond scientists, researchers and computer programmers. > Then I.B.M. declared that it would back Linux with investment, research > and marketing, and the technology moved swiftly into the corporate > mainstream. > > The same thing happened with the personal computer in the early 1980s, > when I.B.M. endorsed that upstart technology and entered the market. > > Starting this week, I.B.M. is returning to the same playbook, > introducing some initial products and services and a roadmap for its > stable of corporate and government customers to comfortably embrace > cloud computing. > > Cloud computing — in which vast stores of information and processing > resources can be tapped from afar, over the Internet, using a personal > computer, cellphone or other device — holds great promise in the > corporate market. The cloud model, analysts say, has the potential to > cut the costs, complexity and headaches of technology for companies and > government agencies. > > Already, Amazon.com, Google and Salesforce.com, among others, offer > cloud-based Web services to companies, including e-mail, computer > storage and customer management software. But many big companies and > government agencies have been reluctant to get on board because of > traditional corporate-computing concerns like the security of data, > reliability of service and regulatory compliance. > > “I.B.M. knows how to do all of those things,” said Frank Gens, chief > analyst for IDC, a technology research firm. “Its strategy is all about > making cloud computing safe for enterprise customers.” > > Even if I.B.M. succeeds in its bid to make cloud computing more > palatable for big corporations, there is no guarantee that it will be > the main beneficiary of the trend. After I.B.M. helped create the PC > industry, lower-cost competitors ended up dominating the business. > > In the cloud market, I.B.M. plans to take a tailored approach. The > hardware and software in its cloud offerings will be meant for specific > computing chores. Just as Google runs a computing cloud optimized for > Internet search, I.B.M. will make bespoke clouds for computing workloads > in business. > > Its early cloud entries, to be announced on Monday, follow that model. > One set of offerings is focused on streamlining the technology used by > corporate software developers and testers, which can consume 30 percent > or more of a company’s technology resources. > > The second set is virtual desktop services, in which personal computer > software, either from Microsoft or open-source alternatives, is run on > remote servers and piped to simple desktop machines equipped with > screens and keyboards. I.B.M. found in tests with clients that such > virtual PCs, with little desktop processing or storage, can use 70 > percent less power than conventional PCs and reduce technical support > costs by up to 40 percent,. > > Both the software development and desktop services are being offered as > an integrated bundle of hardware and software for a cloud running inside > a corporate or government data center, or as a cloud service hosted in > an I.B.M. data center. > > Other offerings are planned, I.B.M. executives said, including clouds > fine-tuned for data storage, and clouds for business analytics, which is > software that analyzes data for patterns of customer behavior, market > trends and other potentially valuable information. > > I.B.M. calls its approach of fine-tuning hardware and software for > specific jobs “hybrid computing.” And it will open a Hybrid Computing > Research lab later this year, inviting industry and university > scientists to work cooperatively on new application-specific designs > intended to improve performance by 100 to 1,000 times compared with > today’s systems. > > The fresh look at computer design is being prompted by the surge in > Internet data, from social networking to smartphone applications to > sensors monitoring food shipments and electrical use. By 2011, IDC > estimates, there will be one trillion Internet-connected devices, up > from 500 million in 2006. > > “This huge explosion of data is driving a movement to design systems > around workloads because it is the only way to deliver the computation > needed, and it’s far more energy-efficient,” said Kunle Olukotun, a > computer scientist at Stanford. > > I.B.M. had an initiative, begun in early 2008, called Blue Cloud, which > mainly involved adapting its server computers for cloud technology. Most > major technology suppliers have cloud-related hardware and software > products, including Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems and Dell. > But I.B.M., analysts say, is going further by offering simplified, > integrated stacks of hardware and software, as well as cloud services. > > I.B.M.’s cloud strategy, the company said, is the culmination of 100 > prototype projects with companies and government agencies over the last > year, and its research partnership with Google. > > “The information technology infrastructure is under stress already, and > the data flood is just accelerating,” said Samuel J. Palmisano, I.B.M.’s > chief executive. “We’ve decided that how you solve that starts by > organizing technology around the workload.” > > One of I.B.M.’s test beds for cloud computing has been the Interior > Department’s National Business Center, a service center that handles > payroll, human relations, financial reporting, contracting services and > other computing tasks for dozens of federal agencies. The center runs > two large data centers, one in Northern Virginia and another outside > Denver. > > Douglas J. Bourgeois, the center’s director, said he is introducing > several cloud-style applications over the next nine months including > Web-based training, and staffing and recruitment software. And in tests > with financial and procurement software, the cloud-computing environment > has delivered efficiencies of 40 to 60 percent in productivity and power > consumption, he said. > > “For us, like other data centers, the volume of data continues to > explode,” Mr. Bourgeois said. “We want to solve some of those problems > with cloud computing, so we don’t have to build another $20 million data > center.” > > > Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizaslider%40yahoo.com > > > > -- Sent from my mobile device

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THE STUDENT ENGINEER JOURNAL
by SAMUEL EYINDA M. 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

News in technology and related industries have been often misreported or given a media blackout all the same. Started just as a platform for students at UoN’s school of Engineering to exchange views and log in various student activities, The Student Engineer journal has matured over time and is now ready for the outside world. The journal, in its quest to link the students to the industry and keep them abreast of new technological trends, reports on these trends while profiling personalities and companies who define the ICT and Engineering industries. The journal calls upon all interested persons to be part of it’ success by sending in articles of written papers for publication via the e-mail address; studentengineer(a)ymail.com . you can also use the same e-mail to invite the Editorial board members to relevant events that require exclusive coverage, technological coverage. The journal’s latest edition is available online on the link; http://www.scribd.com/doc/16382459/Student-Engineer-June-2009n The October 2008 edition is also available online at; http://www.scribd.com/full/16376226?access_key=key-xh97xkqll3jot8ennft Use the email address provided to request for a printed copy of the journal’s latest edition. http://edsamich.blogspot.com

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