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Re: [kictanet] OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE ALREADY LOADED WITH EMADDO
by charles nduati 12 Feb '07

12 Feb '07

Hi Sang, I thank you for congratulating us on the emaddo, I want to inform you all that being a research institution, by year end certain parts will be really manufactured in kenya. Above all, we already have school management software , library and e- learning open source softwares we can buddle together with maddo for schools. Just place your emaddo order with us and see Charles CHARLES N. NDUATI BUSINESS MANAGER JKUAT ENTERPRISES LTD JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY JUJA MAIN CAMPUS, THIKA P. O. BOX 79324-00200 NAIROBI, KENYA TEL: 254-067-52420 OR 254-067-52711 FAX: 254-067-52438 MOBILE:254-722728815 EMIAL:charlesnduati2002@yahoo.co.uk www.jkuat.ac.ke ----- Original Message ---- From: Mr. Barnabas Sang <bksang(a)education.go.ke> To: charlesnduati2002(a)yahoo.co.uk Sent: Thursday, 8 February, 2007 1:02:50 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] adopt a school Alex, I totally agree with you considering that only 35% of secondary schools do not have commercial power, the rest should be e-enabled. Approximately 10% of the Primary Schools do have electricity. Comprehensive Secondary Education ICT Strategy (Sub-set of National ICT Strategy for Education and Training Developed in 2005 under the Kenya Education Sector Support Programme - KESSP) can be developed through multi-stakeholder forum like the one Walu moderated on the OFC (critical for much wanted connectivity for education institutions). Regards B.K.S. ----- Original Message ----- From: Alex Gakuru To: bksang(a)education.go.ke Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 11:49 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] adopt a school I thank and really encourage everyone helping to make the Internet for Everyone a reality in Kenya. Collectively, it appears we may actually make National ICT policy target of all secondary to have access to the internet in 2 years and 10 months (by 2010). Nice job Walu, at least no keyboards or monitors got smashed:-) Alex "Mr. Barnabas Sang" <bksang(a)education.go.ke> wrote: Muthoni, Thanks for the highlights on FOSS/FLOSS, which the education sector have been following for the last three years. During the last one year, we have been evaluating and inquiring for proponents of FOSS/FLOSS to come forth with a concrete proposal that will ensure government get a solution that will provide the features and advantages you have highlighted (perhaps another call made here). By the way, for the 142 Schools to be equipped by March, all bidders are expected (mandatory feature) to have dual boot to both Open Source OS (Ubuntu or equivalent) and Windows OS. The challenge is that we are yet to see bidders with enough capacity to handle this kind of deployment in our schools. There is lots of potential on FOSS/FLOSS. Statistic in Europe and Asia indicate to us the direction education institutions are taking in order to ensure TCO and ROI on ICT in education investments are justified. I got a CD from your stand in the ongoing ICT for Development Expo which is quite informative (productwise). Missing though is the e-learning platforms like moodle, which could interest enterprises and institutions of higher learning. Otherwise, Thanks, will take note of your advice on issues you've touched. Kind regards Sang ----- Original Message ----- From: Dorcas Muthoni To: bksang(a)education.go.ke Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 8:35 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] adopt a school I believe that Free and Open Source Software (FOSS/FLOSS) can a play significant role on the software acquisition frontier, capacity building, security (no viruses) and CUTTING COSTS. We surely do not need discounts on software to make e-centers/ digital schools a reality. Muthoni On 2/7/07, Mr. Barnabas Sang <bksang(a)education.go.ke> wrote: Numbers are no longer an issue taking into consideration the current momentum of e-leaders in our amidst: Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centers - 29,500 Primary Schools - 19,890 Secondary Schools - 4,125 Tertiary - 3,200 ICT as an means.... The challenge is to increased access to Secondary Education which currently stand at 60% transition (i.e. percentage of class eight graduates to Secondary education). Big question then is, Does ICT provide answers to such an issue? Yes.... Thus need for prioritization of ICTs targeting Secondary Schools and Community Learning Centers to allow youth out of formal schooling to access Secondary Education. Research also indicates that PC presence in schools, especially in Primary, have some influence on grade performance (sciences and mathematics). Primary schools with ICT infrastructure can benefit from huge knowledge-base and variety of digital content (largely Universal) available. For digital villages and e-schools to succeed, the following have to be prioritized: Content: appropriate content which supplements or complement current curriculum. Thanks to Mr. Sammy Kirui (Telkom) for identifying this need in ICT for Development Expo speech. This is the number one case: Without appropriate content, ICT becomes a luxury and hence no school management committees can justify ICT in education investment. Will there be some significant change in school performance after investment? Can school retention of students (against dropouts or transfers) be sustained? Will the syllabi be better delivered than is the case now? Capacity building: yes digital content can be in place and infrastructure and all software we need to have envisaged e-institutions. Without training to manage the resources and utilized them, the investment will be run down within no time. Challenges of security (antivirus: experience we are observing in the NEPAD e-Schools), malfunctioning of hardware (physiological differences of our landscape - dust, heat, wind/ power access and physical security) and social threats of Internet introduced in our schools. Definitely, training is key. follow-up training is critical as well. ICT Integration: This is an activity that involves integration of ICT in each subject area, making ICT a media for instruction, tool for delivery and channel for information access. e.g. if you're a biology teacher, we expect you to take students to a computer lab twice a week to teach some topics which require animation for better comprehension. If one teaches Kiswahili, we expect some lesson in "Ngeli na sentensi..." to be done in the lab... using Swahili version of software... This is what will demystify ICT from being a preserve for tech teachers to being a tool for every teacher every student rather than for computer students. ICT Infrastructure access: the Numbers, yes, 30,000 Schools as indicated would require some resources. For an e-school to be effective, assuming two students will share a PC in our schools, a 45 Student stream class would use 25 PCs per lab. If the school is three streams, then you require a minimum of two labs. To have sharing of materials and resources done effectively and efficiently, a LAN is definitely required. National and Regional ICT Support Centers: to act as institutions where issues are resolved as they arise in our e-institutions. Could it be content? Repair? Training follow-up? Replacement etc. Support centre should provide some helpdesk services. Connectivity comes to add value to all interventions, especially when an e-institutions realize they have content that require others to access or they would require access to shared resources in some portal. In some cases, Internet might be supplementary to the above key points. Yes, we know Internet is a resource where the learner and info-seekers would benefit. It still lies with having content (appropriate content and security), capacity building (on sites, portals) and Sustainable connectivity options. Thanks to Kai and others who're sounding an alarm for provision of this treasured resource to our esteem education institutions (for Free!). With launch of various products by service providers in the recent past, it is expected that connectivity will be available in most parts of our country / continent! (CEO Safaricom and CEO Celtel -> ICT for Dev Expo quotes). I will be more observant to see demos of these products in a few e-institutions. Thanks to PS InfoCom and all of you working to make eMado (Madaraka) PC a reality. I hope we have other players thinking on content (especially for e-education/e-learning) for various target groups; that will indeed make the eMado attractive. Kind regards, B. K. Sang ICT Department Ministry of Education P O Box 30040-00100 Nairobi ----- Original Message ----- From: Alex Gakuru To: bksang(a)education.go.ke Cc: David Owino Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 5:51 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] adopt a school Whoaa... 30,000 Kenya schools? Gakuru Kai Wulff <kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke> wrote: Hello, we are willing to ADOPT the connectivity to all the schools for free! Kai ----- Original Message ----- From: Rebecca Wanjiku To: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 15:09 Subject: [kictanet] adopt a school Adopting Schools It all started with "Adopt a light", an ambitious city lighting project. Now, Manu Chandaria, industrialist cum philanthropist wants to apply the same concept in ICTs. Speaking at the ICT for Development Expo opening ceremony on February 7, Chandaria challenged Kenyans to adopt schools and make sure they can access computers. "You can change the face of your village school. Just go there and donate a computer. You can change the face of Kenya," Chandaria said. He also disclosed that he will finance a digital training centre in Mariakani. The centre will be expected to act as a base to establish digital villages in coastal area. One digital village will cost approximately shs 140,000 (USD 2000). ends Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ Get your own web address. Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kai.wulff%40kdn.co.ke _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love (and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bksang%40education.go.ke _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmuthoni%40gmail.com _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bksang%40education.go.ke____… kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com TV dinner still cooling? 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FOI--- how good is it??
by joseph kihanya 12 Feb '07

12 Feb '07

Dear Becky, Indeed you are right. The Right/ Freedom debate is one that rages in legal circles.We may not settle it here, unfortunately, save to say that a consensus should emerge on whether it should be stated / and implemented as a right( preferable- and in keeping with its basic tenet- than as a a freedoom.it really sometimes is just sematics as freedoms and rights are subject to exceptions-due to the cometiting nature of other rights/freedomse.g. right to expression versus right to reputation. Civil and political rights also get precedence in most jurisdictions over social and economic rights. Access clauses/ implementation AND Costs are issues too that indeed need to be tackled.See Day 3 / Principle 6 On a serious side of FOI see... http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foi/story/0,,1170196,00.html Any more views...?Anyone? Kihanya ----- Original Message ---- From: Rebecca Wanjiku <rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com> To: kihanyajn(a)yahoo.com Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 1:16:45 PM Subject: [kictanet] FOI--- how good is it?? Kihanya, thanks for the background, some thoughts on some of the questions raised, Right to verses freedom I think it should be freedom of information because in legal terms, the two terms are different. Though am not a lawyer, I read about the positive rights (right to) and the negative rights (freedoms) Now, governments are quick to obey the negative rights as opposed to positive rights. For instance, we can all go and demonstrate about our freedom from torture or detention without trial and the government will easily heed to our demands, (I guess so) But what about other recognized rights like the right to water? Can the government be compelled to honour our right to water, i think the main objective of the FOI should be to protect e-government and accountability but the bill talks about charging a minimal fee to those accessing information, what will happen to those people out of town, it talks about photocopying and perusal charges, but what about provision of such information in electronic format, do we still pay?? and will it serve the overall objective?? Thats my take on it Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ Don't be flakey. Get Yahoo! Mail for Mobile and always stay connected to friends. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kihanyajn%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. http://new.mail.yahoo.com

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Re: [kictanet] DDOS attack on Root Servers
by Kagwe James 12 Feb '07

12 Feb '07

Just thought it's not wise to broadcast information about physical location for root servers. May trigger physically attacks. Just a thought......... Regards, James Kagwe -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=aforbes.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=aforbes.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Nick Wambugu Sent: Friday, February 09, 2007 1:09 PM To: Kagwe James Subject: Re: [kictanet] DDOS attack on Root Servers Thanks Mich, the information is quite good as security is one of the major concern nowadays. Also to informs guys that we got these servers hosted at KIXP/TESPOK. Thanks, Nick. On Fri, 2007-02-09 at 10:50 +0300, Michuki Mwangi wrote: > FYI, > > Communiqué from RIPE about massive DDos attack again root servers that > happened on 6th Feb 2007: > > http://www.ripe.net/news/global-root-server.html > > In the press: > > http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/INTERNET_ATTACKS?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=H… > > It is worth noting that Kenya is host to two Root Servers namely F-Root > and J-Root in addition to serving .COM,.NET and .KE Root zones locally. > In essence adding resilience to the local Internet infrastructure and > making it independent of the external disruptions. > > Best regards, > -- All what I can is what i can and do..... God give I strength.... _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jkagwe%40aforbes.co.ke

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FOI and journalists
by Rebecca Wanjiku 12 Feb '07

12 Feb '07

It may be presumed that the main object of the FOI was to improve accountability and flow of information as well as answer critics who have complained about govt red tape and lack of information from the govt. Govt spokesperson Alfred Mutua will also tout it as a remedy to those journalists peddling rumours and defending themselves by saying govt officials were not available for comment or could not release the information But a cursory glance at the bill will reveal that it does not make special exemptions for journalists who in many cases need this government information. For instance, the bill provides that requests for information shall be dealt with within 15 days and if 30 days lapse without any response, then it shall be deemed the info was denied. How many newspapers can wait for 15 days before publishing a story or verifying derived from investigative work?? Are there any journalists in the house???? Can you champion your cause??? Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Need Mail bonding? Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396546091

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Online Discussion on the Draft Freedom of Information Policy by INFOCOM - JANUARY 2007
by joseph kihanya 12 Feb '07

12 Feb '07

Dear all, I have been requested to moderate the discussion on the above policy document. I have drawn greatly from previous discussions and especially from the OFC provsioning one that ended last week. I trust I will be up to it as we all shall. The ground rules shall remain as those appertaining to the list discussions. Please submit all your views. A draft programme of the 5 day discussion is attached. The second attachment in relation to a case in point makes interesting reading.It is drawn from a course offered by Oxford University. Day one (1) begins hereunder. ************************************************************************************************************************ Draft Freedom of Information (FOI) Policy Review and thematic analysis. Day 1. Background Info What is FOI? Freedom of information is a fundamental right that the United Nations in a resolution in 1946 declared to be the touchstone of all freedoms. It is a right that is not to be found standing on its own under international law. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 subsumes the right under the right of freedom of expression. Freedom of expression also inclused the right to receive and impart information. The International Covennant on Civil and Political Rights also subsumes the right under the right to freedom of expression. The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights recognises the right as free standing. Kenya is party to all three (3) of the sited international law documents. The Kenyan Constitution at section 79 also subsumes the right under the right to free expression. The rejected draft Constitution for the first time recognised the right as free standing and would have required that FOI law be passed within six (6)months of the adoption/coming into force of the new constitution. Only THREE (3) countries in Africa have an FOI legislation. South Africa, Uganda and Angola. Nigeria or Kenya may become the FOURTH allowing success of pending parliamentary procedures. African and Commonwealth governments have collectively and separately agreed on principles of FOI laws.See www.humanrightsinitiative.org It is generally a right of any individual to access information held by government. Is it a right? Why Access? Why freedom? There are many terms used in relation to this. Freedom of Information Right to Know Right of Access to information Right to information They are referring to the same thing and the important point is that they can be interchanged but require that one be selected for use in a particular jurisdiction for consistency. Which one should Kenya Use? The Moderator will use FOI in this first mail. How would FOI help in a country like Kenya? Arguments exist for and against FOI laws. Arguments for. I. It makes government more accountable. II. Increases public participation. III. Promotes human rights. IV. Allows for good decision making V. Protects privacy VI. Makes private companies more accountable. VII. Promotes health VIII. Strengthens the economy IX. Protects the environment What are the arguments against FOI? A case in point ? (To be provided by moderator - see attachment) Useful websites on FOI? www.unhcr.ch www.humanrightsinitiative.org www.foiadvocates.net www.freedominfo.org www.cfoi.org.uk What are the principles of FOI Laws? What do they mean essentially? Who has agreed to these principles? Should Kenya agree to these principles? Does the policy agree with these principles? Contributions based on these headings are welcome. PRINCIPLE 1. Maximum disclosure PRINCIPLE 2. Obligation to publish PRINCIPLE 3. Promotion of open government PRINCIPLE 4. Limited scope of exceptions PRINCIPLE 5. Processes to facilitate access PRINCIPLE 6. Costs PRINCIPLE 7. Open meetings PRINCIPLE 8. Disclosure takes precedence PRINCIPLE 9. Protection for whistleblowers What are / should be the Objectives FOI Legislation? Vision Does this capture the intent of the right/ freedom optimally? Mission Does this optimally capture the implementation/purpose of the right/ freedom? Introduction (Entrenching Openness?) Do the introductions in the following paragraphs reflect this? How should they read? Paragraphs 1.1 1.2. 1.3 1.4. 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 3.1.1 3.1.2 3.2.1 3.2.2 3.2.3. ********************************************************************************************************************** LETS GO! Joseph Kihanya ____________________________________________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. http://new.mail.yahoo.com

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Re: [kictanet] Idlelo2 Digest, Vol 13, Issue 7
by Judy Okite 10 Feb '07

10 Feb '07

Prof. Derek, I do share in your grief!! Bottom line,we cannot afford to despise our "humble begginings"(M$)but that does not mean that we remain there? is it about the money? or the software ? if M$ can afford to pay guys to make noise,then we can change that to reality with action......You get all this with FOSS: the firewalls-free, Webservers-free, databases-free, Openoffice-free, so much FREE and it is more secure operating system not that it is just free and yet,For those who need support,then they can buy Foss Enterprise softwares (much cheaper)and get the support......besides why buy a clone worth Ksh 21,000 and and a licence worth the same amount.....how does this work for a common mwananchi? How do I afford all this? at this rate we will NEVER be able to fight PIRACY. For all the kenyan FOSS user's we may have to setup a forum and air out our experiences and state why guys need to see this REALITY!! and stop using FOSS under the table..................e.g for the locally assembled systems' plse let's insist on Dual boot(M$ & Linux),It could be a start........... A request to the PS : Before the government of Kenya,makes any decision on software's,can both sides of the coin be given an opportunity?? I am not shunning M$,its just that I cannot afford it,I cannot customise it.....etc Kind Regards, On 2/8/07, idlelo2-request(a)fossfa.net <idlelo2-request(a)fossfa.net> wrote: > > Send Idlelo2 mailing list submissions to > idlelo2(a)fossfa.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://mailman.dst.gov.za/mailman/listinfo/idlelo2 > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > idlelo2-request(a)fossfa.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > idlelo2-owner(a)fossfa.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Idlelo2 digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Permanant Secretary of Kenya speaks about negotiating for > cheaper development tools (John Walubengo) > 2. Re: Permanent Secretary of Kenya speaks about negotiating > forcheaper development tools (PROF. HENRY M. THAIRU) > 3. Re: Permanant Secretary of Kenya speaks about negotiating for > cheaper development tools (Jonah Munyua) > 4. Re: Permanant Secretary of Kenya speaks about negotiating for > cheaper development tools (Dorcas Muthoni) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2007 01:59:30 -0800 (PST) > From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Idlelo2] Permanant Secretary of Kenya speaks about > negotiating for cheaper development tools > To: dkeats(a)uwc.ac.za, Idlelo <idlelo2(a)fossfa.net> > Message-ID: <442956.64301.qm(a)web56604.mail.re3.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > Derek, > > my take on this is two-fold: > 1. FOSS does lack the might(economic, political, marketing, > etc) to demonstrate its huge benefit. > 2. FOSS need not mean 'NOT MICROSOFT'. > > I wish to further comment on point 2. in that the current > realities in KE and most of the world really is that the > desk-top is largely M$ and we shouldn't really mourn too > much about that - after all, it does pay the bills for a > large number Kenyans who have created careers around M$. > > A preferred strategy to deal with the omni-present M$ would > be one whereby we are co-existing but with a long-term view > to become omni-present. And this brings us back to FOSS > limitations - point 1 above- we just don't have the dollar > might to pull it off. > > Currently, a lot is happening in .KE regarding ICTs. And > in most cases, including this morning's Grand Opening > Ceremony of the ICT Expo at Kenyatta Int. Conf. Center, M$ > sits on th e high-table. Why? because we in FOSS seem to > lack the might and probably the incentives to pull strings > at high-levels...M$ has the budget to do it. FOSS doesn't > and at the end of the day, it is all about $$. > > Using this might M$ is set to burn their costly OS on every > PC that the Kenya Govt is set to assemble for Computers in > Kenyan schools. Where's Open-source in this long-term > game-plan? I did hint to the Project Manager's about OS on > these computers, but hey, you need more than hints, you > need a sustained, almost full-time job of pushing the > idea/agenda. I believe M$ has a clear budget to pay their > people to sing their tune, on a sustainable basis. We > don't. > > Finally, I would repeat: I prefer FOSS, but if M$ comes > along I can use it as well. At least upto and when FOSS > does wake up in a sustained, coherent way. And I think the > PS Min of Info has to work with what is visible, sustained > and available. M$ in .KE is simply being more visible than > FOSS and we have had to work with it in a co-existent sort > of a way... > > walu. > > --- Derek Keats <dkeats(a)uwc.ac.za> wrote: > > > > > I am writing this from the 1st International Conference > > in Computer > > Science and Informatics (COSCIT 2007), in Nairobi Kenya. > > In the opening > > session, Dr. B. Ndemo, Permanant Secretary in the Kenyan > > Ministry of > > Information & Communication, gave a speech about ICT in > > Kenya. He spent > > quite a bit of time talking about negotiating a deal with > > Microsoft to > > make their software cheaper for Kenyans, including > > developer tools so > > that Kenyans could become software developers. The local > > Microsoft > > representative was in the audience, naturally. Members of > > the Microsoft > > "technical officer" team follow politicians and policy > > makers around > > like flies follow sick dogs. She left when the Permanant > > Secretary left. > > Apparently, a meeting of many of the computer scientists > > in Kenya was > > not important enough for her; certainly not as important > > as being > > visible to the Permanant Secretary. > > > > When the Permanant Secretary made this pronouncement > > about these > > negotiations, completely ignoring all that is happening > > in Kenya with > > respect to FOSS, I was shocked and saddened. I wanted to > > ask why waste > > time removing impediments to creating Kenyan software > > developers, when > > with FOSS we can start immediately. There is nothing to > > negotiate, the > > tools are as good or better than the tools for Windows, > > and there are no > > barriers to innovation. Java, C, C++, C# Python, .NET, > > PHP, BASIC, and > > most other environments are available on GNU/Linux. Why > > do Kenyans need > > to waste their money getting permission from Microsoft to > > use these > > languages for training software developers? This mystery > > that is only > > explainable by the constant lobbying pressure from the > > "technical > > officers" and their like. There is absolutely no rational > > basis for it. > > > > The minister is implicitly saying that it is right for > > Kenya to pay > > money to Microsoft and create a long-term dependence on > > them, thus using > > the Kenyan taxpayer's money to create development > > opportunities in > > Redmond Washington, an area of the world that really > > needs dollars from > > Kenya. It is clear that Dr. Ndemo does not understand > > that innovation > > happens faster when barriers are as few as they can > > reasonably be. With > > Free Software, this is the case. With propriteary tools, > > barriers have > > to be negotiated, and this limits and inhibits > > innovation. > > > > I wanted to show the Permanant Secretary my Ubuntu > > desktop, equipped > > with Free Software development tools for which I need > > neither permission > > nor to pay license fees to use, and which I can use > > immediately, no > > negotiation required. The Permanant Secretary clearly > > just doesn't get > > it. Unfortunately, the session did not have a question > > peroid, and he > > left along with the Microsoft lap dog (er, I mean > > representative) before > > I could use my own keynote space to show him what Free > > Software can do. > > > > So Kenyans active in FOSS, you have a responsibility, > > this man is in > > need of some educating. Please make an appointment, go > > see him. Show him > > what you are accomplishing with software Freedom. We need > > to find a way > > to balance the lobbying power of Microsoft, so that truth > > and logic have > > a reasonable chance of prevailing. > > > > cheers > > Derek > > > > > All Email originating from UWC is covered by disclaimer > > > http://www.uwc.ac.za/portal/uwc2006/content/mail_disclaimer/index.htm > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Idlelo2 mailing list > > Idlelo2(a)fossfa.net > > http://mailman.dst.gov.za/mailman/listinfo/idlelo2 > > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. > http://new.mail.yahoo.com > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2007 19:00:16 +0300 > From: "PROF. HENRY M. THAIRU" <hmthairu(a)wananchi.com> > Subject: Re: [Idlelo2] Permanent Secretary of Kenya speaks about > negotiating forcheaper development tools > To: <dkeats(a)uwc.ac.za>, "'Idlelo'" <idlelo2(a)fossfa.net> > Message-ID: <003201c74ad1$223b9960$0600010a@prof> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1250" > > Dear Derek. > It is good to hear your very clear voice again. We are impressing on the > PS > on the importance of FOSS. Nobody needs permission to use these tools. > Thank > you for this letter. > Henry Thairu > > -----Original Message----- > From: idlelo2-bounces+hmthairu=wananchi.com(a)fossfa.net > [mailto:idlelo2-bounces+hmthairu=wananchi.com@fossfa.net] On Behalf Of > Derek > Keats > Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 9:44 AM > To: Idlelo > Subject: [Idlelo2] Permanant Secretary of Kenya speaks about negotiating > forcheaper development tools > > > I am writing this from the 1st International Conference in Computer > Science and Informatics (COSCIT 2007), in Nairobi Kenya. In the opening > session, Dr. B. Ndemo, Permanant Secretary in the Kenyan Ministry of > Information & Communication, gave a speech about ICT in Kenya. He spent > quite a bit of time talking about negotiating a deal with Microsoft to > make their software cheaper for Kenyans, including developer tools so > that Kenyans could become software developers. The local Microsoft > representative was in the audience, naturally. Members of the Microsoft > "technical officer" team follow politicians and policy makers around > like flies follow sick dogs. She left when the Permanant Secretary left. > Apparently, a meeting of many of the computer scientists in Kenya was > not important enough for her; certainly not as important as being > visible to the Permanant Secretary. > > When the Permanant Secretary made this pronouncement about these > negotiations, completely ignoring all that is happening in Kenya with > respect to FOSS, I was shocked and saddened. I wanted to ask why waste > time removing impediments to creating Kenyan software developers, when > with FOSS we can start immediately. There is nothing to negotiate, the > tools are as good or better than the tools for Windows, and there are no > barriers to innovation. Java, C, C++, C# Python, .NET, PHP, BASIC, and > most other environments are available on GNU/Linux. Why do Kenyans need > to waste their money getting permission from Microsoft to use these > languages for training software developers? This mystery that is only > explainable by the constant lobbying pressure from the "technical > officers" and their like. There is absolutely no rational basis for it. > > The minister is implicitly saying that it is right for Kenya to pay > money to Microsoft and create a long-term dependence on them, thus using > the Kenyan taxpayer's money to create development opportunities in > Redmond Washington, an area of the world that really needs dollars from > Kenya. It is clear that Dr. Ndemo does not understand that innovation > happens faster when barriers are as few as they can reasonably be. With > Free Software, this is the case. With propriteary tools, barriers have > to be negotiated, and this limits and inhibits innovation. > > I wanted to show the Permanant Secretary my Ubuntu desktop, equipped > with Free Software development tools for which I need neither permission > nor to pay license fees to use, and which I can use immediately, no > negotiation required. The Permanant Secretary clearly just doesn't get > it. Unfortunately, the session did not have a question peroid, and he > left along with the Microsoft lap dog (er, I mean representative) before > I could use my own keynote space to show him what Free Software can do. > > So Kenyans active in FOSS, you have a responsibility, this man is in > need of some educating. Please make an appointment, go see him. Show him > what you are accomplishing with software Freedom. We need to find a way > to balance the lobbying power of Microsoft, so that truth and logic have > a reasonable chance of prevailing. > > cheers > Derek > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.29/673 - Release Date: 2/6/2007 > 5:52 PM > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.29/673 - Release Date: 2/6/2007 > 5:52 PM > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2007 08:30:59 -0800 (PST) > From: Jonah Munyua <jonah_bits(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Idlelo2] Permanant Secretary of Kenya speaks about > negotiating for cheaper development tools > To: idlelo2(a)fossfa.net > Message-ID: <946250.46064.qm(a)web35301.mail.mud.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Derek, > > I am saddened by the Permanent Secretary's proclamation. It is evident > that Microsoft has been stalking and hijacking all ICT events in Kenya. To > them what matters is not what the stakeholders have to say rather what the > government says and thats why the representative left as soon as the PS made > his speech. > > Being a software developer using FOSS i understand the revolution that it > can bring to this country and the developing world at large. Microsoft > Products require expensive PC's to run them. I thus see no logic in trying > to get Microsoft to lower the cost of their Softwares as there will still be > the inhibiting cost of acquiring the PC's. > > It is unfortunate that even the local universities are not taking FOSS > with the seriousness it requires. Computer literacy courses in Kenya are > geared towards Microsoft products and thus the current scenario where very > few users know that they can use FOSS to achieve what they can on MS > products. > > The government is putting unnecessary effort and collaboration with MS to > fight piracy of MS products. To me these efforts should be geared towards > the promotion of FOSS. > > I wish that these sentiments from the PS will serve as a calling to all > FOSS users and advocates in Kenya to intensify the campaign for FOSS in > Kenya. > > Regards > > > --------------------------------- > Finding fabulous fares is fun. > Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and > hotel bargains. >

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adopt a school
by Rebecca Wanjiku 10 Feb '07

10 Feb '07

Adopting Schools It all started with Adopt a light, an ambitious city lighting project. Now, Manu Chandaria, industrialist cum philanthropist wants to apply the same concept in ICTs. Speaking at the ICT for Development Expo opening ceremony on February 7, Chandaria challenged Kenyans to adopt schools and make sure they can access computers. You can change the face of your village school. Just go there and donate a computer. You can change the face of Kenya, Chandaria said. He also disclosed that he will finance a digital training centre in Mariakani. The centre will be expected to act as a base to establish digital villages in coastal area. One digital village will cost approximately shs 140,000 (USD 2000). ends Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Get your own web address. Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business.

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Re: [kictanet] DDOS attack on Root Servers
by Michuki Mwangi 09 Feb '07

09 Feb '07

FYI, Communiqué from RIPE about massive DDos attack again root servers that happened on 6th Feb 2007: http://www.ripe.net/news/global-root-server.html In the press: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/INTERNET_ATTACKS?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=H… It is worth noting that Kenya is host to two Root Servers namely F-Root and J-Root in addition to serving .COM,.NET and .KE Root zones locally. In essence adding resilience to the local Internet infrastructure and making it independent of the external disruptions. Best regards, -- Michuki Mwangi KENIC

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African Lakes - Kenyan Investors and Entrepreneurs are gettign screwed by Telkom South Africa and the self seeking Board of African Lakes's Chairman - David Montgomery
by alice＠apc.org 09 Feb '07

09 Feb '07

(Apologies for cross posting) From: Richard Bell <Richard(a)Bell.co.ke> Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2007 20:01:31 +0300 To: <mucheru(a)wananchi.com> Subject: FW: African Lakes - Kenyan Investors and Entrepreneurs are gettign screwed by Telkom South Africa and the self seeking Board of African Lakes's Chairman - David Montgomery You can send it to anyone else as well. We need as much publicity as we can get. First prize would be a statement from some government department indicating that they don't want South African firms simply marching into Kenya. Could Ndemo help? R -------------------------------------- Subject: African Lakes - Kenyan Investors and Entrepreneurs are getting screwed by Telkom South Africa and the self seeking Board of African Lakes's Chairman - David Montgomery Long time. Anyway we're in the process of getting screwed by Telkom South Africa and the Board of African Lakes. I'm attaching copies of the latest two announcements that went out (the juicy bits are in yellow). I'm also attaching a file that contains an exchange of emails that shows just how unreasonable the company are being (although this on can't be released verbatim since its supposed to be confidential). > http://www.londonstockexchange.co.uk/LSECWS/IFSPages/MarketNewsPopup.aspx?id > 1402054&source=RNS > > http://www.londonstockexchange.co.uk/LSECWS/IFSPages/MarketNewsPopup.aspx?id > 1402307&source=RNS > > Basically we are getting screwed and the only way that we can win now is > to > create sufficient bad publicity for Telkom South Africa that is scares > them > off. > > There follows some more background showing what Telkom South Africa have > been up to in other markets. "Does Kenya really want this thousand pound > bully boy taking over Kenya's Internet Industry?" > > Any chance you can get a piece into next week's East African. I am on > Email, can be called on +254 733 617 186 and up till tomorrow on my UK > Mobile + 44 7772 251 772. am ready to go on the record and am happy to be > quoted. > > Kind Regards, > Richard Bell > > PS. If you are in any doubts about whether the African Lakes' Chairman > David Montgomery is a shyster, just put in a call to Private Eye in > London. > They'll give you chapter and verse > > ======================================= > http://www.tag.org.za/tagad.jpg > > ============================== > http://whenrealitybites.blogspot.com/2007/01/telkom-faces-r2bn-bill-after-la > wsuit.html > > ================================== > > Telkom faces R2bn bill after lawsuit > > November 23, 2006By Thabiso Mochiko Johannesburg > > Telkom faces more than R2 billion in damages and legal fees after it lost > a > five-year legal battle against US-based computer software supplier > Telcordia. Telkom's costs, which have been estimated by Telcordia at > between > R2 billion and R2.5 billion, represent more than 20 percent of this > financial year's annual profit of R9.3 billion. > > > Telkom's shares dropped 3.7 percent to close at R130 yesterday. The Top 40 > index gained 0.38 percent. Telcordia's lawyer, Lennard Cowan, said > yesterday > that the two companies would now start negotiating the settlement, which > would amount to about R2.5 billion, including legal costs. He said the > negotiations were unlikely to be finalised before the end of December. > > > The group executive for legal services, Anton Klopper, said Telkom was > studying the judgment and evaluating "options regarding the protection of > its rights". "The consequence of the judgment is, among other things, that > the parties will return to and continue with the arbitration proceedings > as > they were prior to Telkom's review application to the high court," said > Klopper. He said the arbitrator had made an interim award that only > addressed certain aspects of the case. This had been effectively upheld by > the judgment of the supreme court of appeal. > > > The remainder of the matter would be dealt with at the upcoming > arbitration > proceedings. Two years ago Telkom estimated its contingent liabilities > from > the Telcordia matter to be $47 million (R340 million at yesterday's > exchange > rate). Telkom said in this year's annual report that in the 2001 financial > year, it had written off R119 million of this investment. It incurred > expenditure of R594 million up to March 2002. > > > Cowan said it was not clear whether Telcordia would set up shop again in > South Africa as it had opened a local office specifically for the Telkom > contract. The appeal court's judgment upheld a 2002 decision by an > international arbitrator, but overturned a 2003 judgment by the Pretoria > high court. The battle started five years ago when Telkom cancelled a > contract with Telcordia, claiming that the state-of-the-art software > applications ordered had not been delivered. > > > Telcordia then lodged a case with an international arbitrator, claiming > $130 > million plus interest at a rate of 15.5 percent a year for money > outstanding > and damages. Telkom reacted by making counterclaims against Telcordia > worth > about $331 million, including for a refund of money already paid to the US > company. The appeal court did not uphold this claim. Telcordia received a > partial ruling in September 2002 from an international arbitrator chosen > by > the two companies. The arbitrator accepted Telcordia's interpretation of > the > contract. But Telkom refused to accept this and applied to the Pretoria > high > court to review the judgment and set aside the partial award. In 2003 the > court ruled in favour of Telkom. But Telcordia then took the matter to the > appeal court, which said the high court had dealt with the matter as an > appeal and not a review, and therefore upheld the international court > award. > This meant Telcordia could recover damages from Telkom because it had > breached the agreement. > > > In this year's annual report, Telkom claimed that it had been approached > by > Telcordia's representatives to consider certain settlement proposals. - > With > additional reporting by Sapa > > > ========================================= > Press > > Telkom has also attracted attention for improperly conducting itself in > contract dispute with Telcordia resulting in a decision from the Supreme > Court of Appeal against its favour in which the Judge described Telkoms > legal team as conducting "verbal manipulation". [3] > > On the 19th January 2007, a full page advertisement was taken out in The > Mail and Guardian, a national South African newspaper. Money for the ad > was > donated by dissatisfied South African individuals and businesses. The page > is used as a public outcry, detailing some of the things Telkom has done > in > hopes of bringing more attention to the current situation in South > Africa's > telecoms industry. The effort was organised by the Telecoms Action Group, > TAG > > ------ End of Forwarded Message > >

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events and conferences
by Rebecca Wanjiku 08 Feb '07

08 Feb '07

if you have any events left out, please fwd to me, Conferences and events International Outsourcing Conference 28 February - 02 March 2007 Country: Nigeria City: Abuja ICANN meeting, Lisbon, Portugal, March 25-29, 2007 AITEC Uganda Exhibition & Conference 18-20 April 2007 Country: Uganda City: Kampala The African CDMA Forum 23-25 April 2007 Country: South Africa City: Johannesburg AITEC Kenya Exhibition & Conference 08-10 May 2007 Country: Kenya City: Nairobi East African Contact Centre Showcase 24-25 May 2007 Country: Kenya City: Nairobi AITEC Ghana Exhibition & Conference 20-22 June 2007 Country: Ghana City: Accra ICANN Meeting June 26-30, 2007 San Juan, Puerto Rico The African VoIP Forum, East Africa 26-28 June 2007 Country: Kenya City: Nairobi African BPO & Contact Centre Conference, Kenya 24-26 July 2007 Country: Kenya City: Nairobi AITEC Tanzania Exhibition & Conference 08-09 August 2007 Country: Tanzania City: Dar Es Salaam African VoIP Forum, West Africa 22-24 August 2007 Country: Nigeria City: Lagos ACT 8: The African Computing & Telecommunications Summit 04-07 September 2007 Country: South Africa City: Cape Town The African BPO & Contact Centre Conference, Mauritius 26-28 September 2007 Country: Mauritius City: The African Banking Technology Conference 17-19 October 2007 Country: Nigeria City: Lagos The African Satellite & Wireless Broadband Conference, East Africa - 2007 23-25 October 2007 Country: Kenya City: Nairobi The African Satellite & Wireless Broadband Conference, West Africa - 2007 12-14 November 2007 Country: Nigeria City: Lagos The Africa-Europe ICT Summit 16-20 July 2008 Country: United Kingdom City: London Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Finding fabulous fares is fun. Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel bargains. http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097

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