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Communication Tariffs
by Alex Gakuru 26 Jun '07

26 Jun '07

Hello All, The consumer network has a problem and we are wondering if you may be able to assist. We are aware that consumers do not have tariffs information sufficiently; permanently, readily and freely available and they end up incurring communication costs they could have avoided had that information existed. In addressing this problem, last week we wrote to Safaricom, Celtel and Telkom asking them to provide us with their current comprehensive tariffs to enable us compare contrast and independently and freely advice consumers on the best priced offerings, and on regular basis. We intend(ed) to publish the comparative analysis at a website, print brochures post to mailing list among other dissemination avenues. We copied that email to CCK to observe protocol However, only Safaricom sent us this data(on the same day), but Telkom and Celtel have continue ignoring ou request even declined to reply the email. We requested CCK to assist us but we are yet to receive, if at all, the help. We are further questioning the urgency, need and importance CCK gav to purchasing their shs 50 million call drop monitoring equipment and wondering if really it was no just meant to "assist" consumers stay connected to exorbitant calls cost, considering that when we ask then to help consumers with a simple cost-free support they fail us. We need your ideas on how we can arrest renegade pricing cost in Kenya because it appears those legally tasked to protect consumers are not doing as much as they should. All ideas and suggestion on what we should do are most welcome. Alex Gakuru ICT Consumers Association of Kenya (now refused certificate) ____________________________________________________________________________________ Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles. Visit the Yahoo! Auto Green Center. http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/

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worlds first solar mobile
by Badru Ntege 26 Jun '07

26 Jun '07

Chinese firm claims solar powered mobile http://www.htwchina.com/htwtE/index.jsp

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FW: Shortage of IT staff in SA------------Standard Bank
by Kagwe James 26 Jun '07

26 Jun '07

Please check it out.....Would someone tell them to and recruit in Kenya... ________________________________ Business Day (Johannesburg) 21 June 2007 Posted to the web 21 June 2007 Johannesburg THE Standard Bank is expanding its recruitment campaigns to suck in talent from India because it cannot find enough information technology staff locally. It has up to 100 vacancies to fill instantly and will need 300 recruits by the end of the year, including programmers, project managers and business analysts. Last year it hired 600 IT staff, and its total of 2500 means its in-house IT department eclipses many of SA's specialist IT groups. "The shortage isn't breaking us," says its chief information officer, Jorg Fischer, but he is tired of postponing new IT projects because of a staff shortage. "We want to try to complement our IT shop with Indian resources. We are always looking at the South African market, and we need to look beyond our borders," he says. "It will give me another option for how to solve IT or business issues, instead of saying I don't have the people to do it. I want to make us more flexible and nimble so IT doesn't become a bottleneck in delivering." As some technologies approach the end of their life, the bank will request proposals from Indian companies to maintain and support those applications. That will let the in-house technicians be reassigned to develop new applications to take the bank forward. It should also give them a better career path and more interesting work, so they do not seek brighter prospects elsewhere. The first tenders should be issued in the third or fourth quarter of this year and will target companies including Tata Consulting and Satyam, which already have operations in SA. One example is the testing and integration of new software, which demands a large staff complement. That could be outsourced to Indian workers who could either be brought into SA or could conduct the testing processes remotely. If projects to develop new systems also run into local skills shortages, technicians could be recruited from India. As part of the job description they would be expected to train South Africans working alongside them. No-go areas for outsourcing will be designing the bank's IT architecture, project management and business analysis. The idea was inspired by what is becoming a common practice for financial services organisations in the US and Europe. Although they mainly outsource to cut their costs, the Standard Bank will do it "because we don't have the people and the skills available," Fischer says. He expects many other local firms will follow suit to combat the skills crunch. The number of students studying IT at universities in SA, Europe and the US has decreased for three years, so the skills base is depleting. In comparison, India pumps out about 400000 IT graduates a year. The bank hires many temporary contractors from the personnel provider Paracon, but Paracon has told Fischer it needs another 1000 technicians to fill all the vacancies facing its customers. Its chief financial officer, Mireille Levenstein, says: "We have never been in such a situation where there is so much demand for IT skills, and the supply isn't there." Paracon also looks to India for relief, and is flying in technicians after acquiring 34,6% of India's Nihilent Technologies last year. Growth consultancy Frost & Sullivan analyst Lindsey McDonald says SA's skills shortage is reaching chronic proportions and fuelling the trend for outsourcing. Yet the third-party service providers are also struggling to attract and retain skilled staff. "In order to build a reserve of skilled personnel, service providers should show higher levels of commitment to skills development," she says. A report by the Economic Intelligence Unit shows that India's quality of service and low costs make it the destination of choice for outsourcing application development and management. Countries such as Brazil and Russia are ramping up their outsourcing capabilities to become more attractive to foreign customers, but research by Accenture says the cost benefits and experience to be found in India are often too large to ignore -- -------------------------------------------------------------------- Life's most urgent question is: What are you doing for others? .........Martin Luther King, Jr. -------------------------------------------------------------------- --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "KAZI-AFRICA" group. To post to this group, send email to kaziafrica(a)googlegroups.com To subscribe , send email to kaziafrica-subscribe(a)googlegroups.com To unsubscribe, send email to kaziafrica-unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/kaziafrica?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- ________________________________ No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=43910/*http:/mobile.yahoo.com/mail> with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started. <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=43910/*http:/mobile.yahoo.com/mail>

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final report
by Rebecca Wanjiku 25 Jun '07

25 Jun '07

following the report summary released earlier on the CCK internet study, here is the full report, (annexed) hope it will make good reading, regards becky Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows. Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.

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Techdirt: Net Neutrality Debate Again Descends Into Shouting, Farce
by Alex Gakuru 24 Jun '07

24 Jun '07

[farber] http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20070622/093628.shtml from the par-for-the-course dept Net neutrality is a complex issue, but as tends to happen with most things these days, it gets boiled down into easily consumable, though not wholly accurate, ideological soundbites from both sides. And even when people try to have an open, even-keeled discourse about the issue, they still run into problems explaining things well. For the most part, debate on net neutrality has glossed over the fundamental, but perhaps less incendiary issues, and been characterized by intellectual dishonesty and propagandizing from activist groups on both sides. It was hardly surprising, then, to read about a panel at the Supernova conference descending into a shouting match between a Commerce Department official (ie the "anti-regulation" guy) and "pro-net neutrality" supporters in the audience. Really, it's an apt characterization of the whole debate: a bunch of yelling, very little exchange of useful information, and nobody really moves from their previously established ideology. All this means is that, in the end, it's very unlikely for the right, or even a good, solution to emerge. Instead, it will just come down to whichever side can muster the most political clout -- which is pretty much how things have gone in telecom regulation anyway ---------------------------------------------------------- WWWhatsup NYC http://pinstand.com - http://punkcast.com ---------------------------------------------------------- [Reading Provocative Comment No 4 at http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20070622/093628.shtml] # by Stu on Jun 23rd, 2007 @ 8:29am "political clout -- which is pretty much how things have gone in telecom regulation anyway." The problem is that political clout has become a function of money, rather than votes. It's much too difficult to replace an incumbent elected politician - also a function of money. Just listen to the news reporting about elections - it's all about the money. Out goes legislation for the common good - in comes legislation for big money interests. "The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it comes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism - ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or any controlling private power." Franklin D. Roosevelt ____________________________________________________________________________________ Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games. http://get.games.yahoo.com/proddesc?gamekey=monopolyherenow

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Call for Papers-2nd Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
by John Walubengo 22 Jun '07

22 Jun '07

For those wishing to contribute towards the 2nd IGF meeting in Rio de Janeiro on 12 - 15 November 2007. Plse checkout http://www.intgovforum.org/ walu. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games. http://get.games.yahoo.com/proddesc?gamekey=monopolyherenow

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Kibaki names ombudsman to hear complaints
by Alex Gakuru 22 Jun '07

22 Jun '07

[Complaint No.1 ICT Consumer Protection. we shall surely turn up as soon as they assume office] Story by NATION Reporter Publication Date: 6/22/2007 President Kibaki yesterday appointed an ombudsman to deal with public complaints. The Public Complaints Standing Committee will be chaired by Mr James Simani, an advocate of the High Court of Kenya. The President also appointed Mr Peter Migwi Karingu, Ms Grace Barbara Ngele Madoka and Ms Nafisa Abdirahman Abass as members of the committee. The appointments will run for three years. Mr Karingu and Ms Madoka are advocates of the High Court of Kenya while Ms Abass is a holder of Masters of Business Administration (MBA). A Kenya Gazette notice issued later said the committee will have a chairman appointed by the President and a vice-chairman by the committee. It shall also have not more that three members appointed by the President following recommendations from Justice minister. It shall also have a director appointed by the minister and who shall be its secretary. The committee is required to promote alternative dispute resolution through mediation. It is further mandated to publish quarterly reports on complaints received and action taken. The committee is answerable to the President and could use previous investigation reports in its work. The establishment of the public complaints committee is geared towards enhancing good governance, management and administration in public institutions, a statement from the Presidential Press Service said. The functions of the committee include receiving, registering, sorting, classifying and documenting all complaints against public officials in ministries, parastatals, statutory bodies and other public institutions, it added. In some jurisdictions, including West Australian State, the ombudsman is referred to as the Parliamentary Commissioner. http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=2&ne… ____________________________________________________________________________________ Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when. http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/222

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promoting the ccTLDs
by Rebecca Wanjiku 22 Jun '07

22 Jun '07

while its good to have a .ea, i think in the intervening period we can promote the .ke, .tz etc i have met people who think that having a .ke domain restricts you to kenya or you are not seen as "modern" enough some have .biz, .net and see it as more "global" than .ke in my opinion, if people appreciate their ccTLDs, then they will not need much convincing when the new regional ones come up.. for instance, the .tz is free yet their registration is not much, if there is no proper awareness, then we might have all the domains and still the uptake is low, yes people in the industry will understand, but we need others to on the same page, regards Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: I had specified "Top Level Domain" Sponsorship" but you see they threw me to ccTLDs. Figured this would assist as foundation for relevant Kiswahili content. Could there be other Kiswahili speakers interested we run with it next year? Michuki Mwangi <michuki(a)kenic.or.ke> wrote: Did you request for a .SWA ccTLD or a .SWA TLD?. There is no open window for sponsored TLD's submission. I think this will probably open up in 2008. Regards, Alex Gakuru wrote: > After I requested to sponsor .swa for Kiswahili speaking community of > interest, ICANN/IANA 18 May 2007 reply referred me to ccTLDs as follows: > > ---snip--- > Please see the following for information on how new country code top-level > domains (ccTLDs) are created: > > http://www.iana.org/cctld/cctld-establishment-procedures-19mar03.htm > > > Best regards, > > Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) > ---snip--- > > Michuki is quite right on "The process will require intense collaboration > from the community and its stakeholders to be successful." > > Alex > */ > Michuki Mwangi /* wrote: > > Bill et al, > > Bill Kagai wrote: > > > > Michuki...I therefore see [.eac] as an aggressive business strategy > > complimenting [.ke], [.tz] etc and not as competition. > > > > Competition is healthy, it is an instigator of creativity and innovation > and i welcome such incentives. For your information, there are > interested parties evaluating submissions to ICANN for a TLD for Africa > i.e .africa. Hence this will make the African scene alot more > interesting in my opinion. > > Any addition into the Root zone outside the ccTLD category will be > considered under the Sponsored/Unsponsored TLD category. There are > procedures to this as evidenced in the following URL: > > http://www.icann.org/tlds/new-tld-application-instructions-15aug00.htm > > ICANN has published guidelines for applying for a TLD under the > following URL and i would wish to invite the members to read through > this document. > > http://www.icann.org/tlds/application-process-03aug00.htm > > > Alice...If KICTANET knows some influential people at the East Africa > > Community Secretariat in Arusha, maybe they can help get things into > > second gear with ICANN?? > > > > ICANN will not just insert a TLD in the Root zone. The process will > require intense collaboration from the community and its stakeholders to > be successful. The case studies for .asia and .eu are well documented on > their webiste www.dotasia.com and www.doteu.com - also from the ICANN > website. It will be interesting to have the community read through their > experiences in order to have a deeper understanding of the issues faced > in the process. > > I would recommend a start of by identifying the need for the regional > TLD (i think we have interest based on this threads), then convening a > regional working group that is inclusive of stakeholders to drive the > process to its logical conclusion. > > Notably resources are critical in the process as it somewhat tends to > drag on in trying to ensure inclusion of all stakeholders. More of the > social engineering than the technical. > > Its is however possible to achieve this and we should probably aim for > the next ICANN window on TLD applications - which i think happens ever 4 > years. > > Regards, > -- > Michuki Mwangi > KENIC > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Get the Yahoo! toolbar and be alerted to new email > wherever > you're surfing. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > 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/michuki%40kenic.or.ke -- Michuki Mwangi KENIC _______________________________________________ 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 --------------------------------- Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who knows. Yahoo! Answers - Check it out. _______________________________________________ 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/rebeccawanjiku%40yahoo.com Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Get the free Yahoo! toolbar and rest assured with the added security of spyware protection.

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Kimathi Information Centre reaches out again
by Jose' 21 Jun '07

21 Jun '07

With the rescent symposium that was held on 24th March 2007,Kimathi Information Centre had purposed to follow up on the delegates who had participated in the symposium. Having invited Ministry of youth,Kenya Women Finance Trust,Faulu Kenya,IFC and Edith Adera of IDRC we saw up to 185 youth delegates attend the March 24th symposium and listen to the speakers on how to be ICT empowered. Thanks to Cyberschool who lent us a projector on the Sunday 17th June 2007 and we were able to gather up to 51 youths who were eager to tell us how the symposium was beneficial to them and how they have been able to network professionally. Kimathi Information Centre made a presentation on how one can grow your enterprise one step at at time,how to prepare business proposals and grant proposals.Having made sure all participants had email adresses from the previous symposium,we enrolled them into the kimathi Information Centre mailing list using the yahoo groups.Thanks to KICTANET mailing list effective idea.Through this mailing list Jobs shall be advertised,workshops announced and anything that the youth need to communicate to each other addressed. Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss an email again! Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/

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Alexander Forbes Financial Services (EA) Limited donates computers
by Jose' 21 Jun '07

21 Jun '07

Through the Kictanet forum,Mr.James Kagwe of Alexander Forbes came into contact with Kimathi Information Centre "DIGITAL VILLAGE" and has been following the organizational performance with great interest. Mr.Kagwe wrote an email and suggested that he would love to donate some few working computers to the centre to be used for training and bridging the digital divide as is always evidently stressed at the centre. The main core activity of the centre is not only to bridge the digital gap by training but also ensuring that the whole community gets a glimpse on how computers will ease their daily lives and enhance there business productivity. Four working computers were donated on Monday 18Th,June,2007.We purpose to use them for training.On the ground we had 13 computers for which 12 are being used to train 12 students per two hours.Now we shall increase the number to 16 students per two hours. Mr.James Kagwe has emphasized on the PPP(Public Private Partnership) that Dr.Bitange Ndemo always emphasizes apron.The four computers donated will be serviced at the computers for Schools Kenya(CFSK) if they get to break down. We cannot forget to mention our mentor Ms.Edith Adera of IDRC who has worked tirelessly to see us(K.I.C) to the position we are in today.Having networked us to Kictanet-Ms.Alice,Ministry of Information-Dr.Bitange Ndemo and Computers for schools-Mr.Tom Musili.Just to mention a few. With this thank you very much Mr.James Kagwe for reaching out to our vision of "BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE THROUGH ICT" Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ____________________________________________________________________________________ Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_tools.html

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