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M-PESA charges go up! Effects of taxation on telecoms and fintech.
by Mwendwa Kivuva 01 Aug '23

01 Aug '23

Safaricom PLC and other mobile money operators have reviewed their charges after the enactment of the Finance Act 2023. M-PESA mobile transfer charges have gone up from 12% to 15%. At the same time, the excise duty rate for call, SMS, and Internet has gone down from 20% to 15%. Is Financial inclusion in danger? Will users go back to the cash economy? As we fiddle with taxation in the digital space, is there cost-benefit analysis advising these decisions? Best Regards, ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwendwa-kivuva

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eCitizen is Down
by Victor Kapiyo 27 Jul '23

27 Jul '23

The eCitizen portal has been down since yesterday. I haven't seen any official communication explaining the downtime. Anyone knows why? IMHO, a critical site like it should have 99.9% uptime and any downtime should be communicated. Or could it be that our friends from Mulot wish to collect and keep the convenience fees. Regards, Victor

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Election Integrity in Kenya: Countering Misinformation for a Strong Democracy
by Neema MASITSA 27 Jul '23

27 Jul '23

Dear Listers, Discover the critical role technology plays in safeguarding democracy during Kenya's elections. Uncover the multi-faced approach and key policy recommendations to combat misinformation and empower citizens in this must-read blog! Click here: https://tinyurl.com/35r3wkyy

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Update: Kenya's Cyber Diplomacy at the UN (Policy Brief)
by David Indeje 27 Jul '23

27 Jul '23

[image: Policy Brief.jpg] Dear Listers, Last year, KICTANet made a statement during the Third Substantive Session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies 2021-2025, UN Headquarters, New York. Our statement "Open-Ended Working Group on Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies 2021-2025" was read by Ms Grace Githaiga, Convenor, KICTANet, which can be found here https://bit.ly/3SVW03u . Today, we share our policy brief, which: "Looks at the relevant cyber diplomacy developments within the UN with a focus on Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security, which concluded its work in March 2021. It provides an introduction to the power dynamics that sets the stage and deciphers Kenya’s positioning within the field of nations." The link to download is https://bit.ly/3SVW03u -- *Kind Regards,* *David Indeje* *KICTANet Communications *_____________________________________ +254 (0) 711 385 945 | +254 (0) 734 024 856 KICTANet portals KICTANet.or.ke <https://kictanet.or.ke/> | Twitter <https://twitter.com/kictanet> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/company/18428106/admin/> | Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/>

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Fwd: COMPLAINT AGAINST MKOPA
by James Mbugua 26 Jul '23

26 Jul '23

Listers, Someone here complained about MKOPA failing or ignoring to unlock a phone after the payment was made. I shared the CAK contact here and they responded to it as a complaint. See below and action for your client/friend. Good day, JG ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Bramuel K. Nguya <bnguya(a)cak.go.ke> Date: Wed, Jul 26, 2023 at 10:42 AM Subject: COMPLAINT AGAINST MKOPA To: jgmbugua <jgmbugua(a)gmail.com> Cc: Adano W. Roba <aroba(a)cak.go.ke>, Boniface M. Makongo < bmmakongo(a)cak.go.ke>, Boniface Kamiti <bkamiti(a)cak.go.ke>, John K. Daina < jkdaina(a)cak.go.ke> Dear James, Reference is made to your complaint lodged with the Authority against M-KOPA, regarding their failure to unlock a mobile phone purchased on credit, after receiving the full payment for the phone. To facilitate the investigation, kindly share with us the following evidence: 1. A copy of the agreement with M-KOPA containing the terms of payment and the obligations of M-KOPA upon receiving full payment; 2. Payment receipts, M-PESA messages or any other evidence of all the payments made to M-KOPA for the mobile phone; 3. A copy of the warranty issued for the phone; and 3. Evidence of correspondence with M-KOPA regarding their failure to unlock the phone. Kindly provide the requested evidence within seven (7) days of this email and not later than 2nd August, 2023. Regards, Bramuel Nguya, Consumer Protection Department, Competition Authority of Kenya. Telephone: 254-020-2628233 Direct line: 254-20-2779000 Website: www.cak.go.ke Email: info(a)cak.go.ke <https://competition.cak.go.ke:444/>

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Public Statement in Support of the UN High Commissioner's remarks on AI and Human Rights
by Victor Kapiyo 25 Jul '23

25 Jul '23

Dear Listers, As we approach the start of negotiations to agree on a Global Digital Compact <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.un.org/techenvoy/global-digital-co…>, a set of principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all, it is important that organizations who have first-hand experience of both the harms and opportunities that digital technology can bring make sure their voices are heard. The speech by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in his remarks at the High Level Side Event of the 53rd Session of the Human Rights Council <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2023/07/ar…>, was in agreement with AUDRi’s 9 Digital Principles <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://audri.org/&source=gmail-imap&ust=16903…> . In his speech, Volker Türk called for global agreement on regulating AI that is aligned with universal human rights and rule of law frameworks and convened by the United Nations. The High Commissioner emphasizes that the human rights framework “provides an essential foundation that can provide guardrails for efforts to exploit the enormous potential of AI, while preventing and mitigating its enormous risks.” In order to build support for the idea of a human rights-based agreement, individuals and organizations who work in this space are invited to add their signatures to a public statement <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YqImerwouzhGk…> in support of the High Commissioner's remarks. The deadline for signatures is 5pm UTC, Tuesday, 25th July 2023. Regards, *Victor Kapiyo* Partner | *Lawmark Partners LLP* *Nine Planet Apartments, Nairobi | **Web: www.lawmark.co.ke <http://www.lawmark.co.ke/> * ==================================================== *“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude” Zig Ziglar*

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Starlink in Kenya
by Victor Kapiyo 24 Jul '23

24 Jul '23

Starlink is now available in Kenya. How will this technology revolutionize internet access in Kenya? I also note the service doesn't come cheap. https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-4950-98133-13&utm_source=KenyaLaunch Regards, *Victor Kapiyo* Partner | *Lawmark Partners LLP* *Nine Planet Apartments, Nairobi | **Web: www.lawmark.co.ke <http://www.lawmark.co.ke/> * ==================================================== *“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude” Zig Ziglar*

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Summary of discussions on : Customer Losses in Mpesa account
by Neema Mujesia 22 Jul '23

22 Jul '23

Dear Listers, During a recent exchange on the KICTANet mailing list, diverse perspectives were shared concerning the court's verdict and its possible ramifications. For further details on this discussion, kindly refer to the following link: https://tinyurl.com/mrw5yapb During a recent exchange on the KICTANet mailing list, diverse perspectives were shared concerning the court's verdict and its possible ramifications. For further details on this discussion, kindly refer to the following link. De

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Call for Comments for Removal of 30pct local Shareholding for Foreign ICT Companies
by David Indeje 21 Jul '23

21 Jul '23

Dear Listers, Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology has proposed the removal of the 30% local shareholding requirement for foreign ICT companies. The National ICT Policy Guidelines, 2020, gazetted under section 5(4) of the Kenya Information and Communications Act (KICA) (No.2 of 1998), currently requires all licensees to comply with the 30% local shareholding provisions within a 3-year grace period. For more information: State frees Airtel, tech giants from 30pc local stake sale - Business Daily (businessdailyafrica.com) <https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/economy/state-frees-airtel-from-30pc…> -- *Kind Regards,* *David Indeje* *KICTANet Communications *_____________________________________ +254 (0) 711 385 945 | +254 (0) 734 024 856 KICTANet portals KICTANet.or.ke <https://kictanet.or.ke/> | Twitter <https://twitter.com/kictanet> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/company/18428106/admin/> | Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/>

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Taveta Sub-County Shape Files
by Ijaa Oriama 21 Jul '23

21 Jul '23

Hello, Is there anyone on the list who can assist me finding Shapefiles for Taveta Subcounty. Kindly requesting. Regards Meshack

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