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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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Smartphones shortage in Kenya as taxman inspects each item
by Mwendwa Kivuva 20 Jul '23

20 Jul '23

Kenyans will pay more for smartphones following KRA move to charge importers duty on value of each imported item as opposed to Ksh200/kg (cargo consolidation). Combined with a weak shilling, stocks of smartphones are running out as prices rise while traders report reduced revenues KRA is calling upon importers of smart phones whose cargo is held at the ports to accelerate the verification of their consignments in a bid to address the shortage that has hit the market. Read more https://nation.africa/kenya/business/smartphones-crisis-looms-as-taxman-tig… -- Best Regards, ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwendwa-kivuva

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Blockchain Technology Boosts Kenya’s Affordable Housing
by David Indeje 20 Jul '23

20 Jul '23

Dear Listers The affordable housing project in Kenya, started by the previous Uhuru administration and accelerated by the current President Ruto’s administration, is a good initiative to fix the broken housing market. However, there is a trust deficit between citizens and government administrations. Mr John Walubengo says to solve that: "Blockchain technology can help by tokenizing housing assets, making them widely available for purchase and allowing investors to own a fraction of the house. This unlocks new funding streams and increases transparency." Do you agree? https://www.kictanet.or.ke/kenyas-affordable-housing-great-idea-poor-execut… -- *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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Re: KICTANet Digest, Vol 185, Issue 40
by June Okal 19 Jul '23

19 Jul '23

Dear listers, I am overwhelmed by all the kind messages, calls, texts, emails and comments across platforms. It really is good to be home! Thanks Indeje for sharing this. As you're all aware I'm a (very) proud KICTANetter and a loud advocate of the amazing work we do here as a one stop shop for all stakeholders in the ICT Policy field with such meaningful work recognized locally, regionally and globally. Our intention as an org at ICANN and on my personal behalf, is to remain actively engaged in the community, to continue working collaboratively and to keep building on the amazing foundation that @Bob Ochieng <bob.ochieng(a)icann.org> set up for us. Bob (in his new VVIP role <https://www.icann.org/profiles/284> as Senior Director, New gTLD Subsequent Procedures still at ICANN :) ) and I still remain in Nairobi at our Africa Engagement Center in the CBD, a call/text/tweet/email away. P.s. I was in the inaugural KESIG class <https://www.kictanet.or.ke/kenya-school-of-internet-governance-2016-fellows/> #proudalum :) Kind Regards, June Okal LinkedIn Profile <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/juneokal> www.juneokal.com On Tue, 18 Jul 2023 at 12:46, <kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > Send KICTANet mailing list submissions to > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > > https://mm3-lists.kictanet.or.ke/mm/lists/kictanet.lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > You can reach the person managing the list at > kictanet-owner(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of KICTANet digest..." > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Congratulations Ms June Okal🎉🎉 (sheriff) > 2. Re: Call for Comments for Removal of 30pct local Shareholding for > Foreign ICT Companies > (Linda Wairure) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2023 12:05:32 +0300 > From: sheriff <ambanishariff(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [kictanet] Re: Congratulations Ms June Okal🎉🎉 > To: Kenya's premier ICT Policy engagement platform > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Message-ID: <25668E1B-B711-47AF-88CC-CF9DCEF9F15C(a)hxcore.ol> > Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" > > A message part incompatible with plain text digests has been removed ... > Name: not available > Type: text/html > Size: 4096 bytes > Desc: not available > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2023 12:42:48 +0300 > From: Linda Wairure <lindagichohi(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [kictanet] Re: Call for Comments for Removal of 30pct local > Shareholding for Foreign ICT Companies > To: "Kenya's premier ICT Policy engagement platform" > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Message-ID: > <CAAz4j=Ad= > J09SP8Lm+WYC+KymnwXAQUULtgbo6LcrwNtk789sA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: multipart/alternative; > boundary="00000000000076b8120600bfbd1a" > > Removal of the 30% local shareholding will attract foreign investment, > stimulate economic growth, foster innovation, technological advancement, > promote competition and market efficiency, expand export potential and > access to global markets. > > However, on the cons echoing Mr. Walubengo's sentiments. There are certain > risks to it such as; potential loss of local control and influence over the > ICT sector, decreased incentive for knowledge transfer and skills > development, risk of economic leakage and reduced local economic benefits > and disruption to existing local ICT companies and potential job losses. > > Case Study: > 1. Malaysia Digital replaces Multimedia Super Corridor exempting foreign > companies in certain areas from local ownership requirements. This led to > the boost of foreign investment. > > https://www.mondaq.com/fin-tech/1227186/multimedia-super-corridor-msc-to-ma… > > 2. Singapore's Information Development Authority, business incentives for > foreign investors. However, most of them have local ownership requirements > in order to promote knowledge transfer and foster collaboration with local > entities. The policy aimed to ensure that foreign investors partnered with > local companies, enabling technology and skills transfer to the local > workforce. The IDA closely monitored compliance with the policy and > provided support for companies to meet the requirement. This approach > helped attract foreign investments while promoting local capacity building > and innovation in the ICT sector. > > https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/business-and-tax-incentives-for-foreign-… > https://www.imda.gov.sg/how-we-can-help/smes-go-digital/start-digital > > 3.India's Software Technology Parks (STP) implemented a different approach > by not mandating a specific local shareholding requirement for foreign ICT > companies > > > On Wed, 12 Jul 2023, 13:40 Barrack Otieno via KICTANet, < > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > > > Out of curiosity, has anyone done some research or come across research > on > > the impact of this directive on the ecosystem. Is the ecosystem > extractive > > or beneficial. Can we measure the level of knowledge transfer that such a > > directive has resulted in?, it would be nice to have a debate on the pros > > and cons which can be part of our contribution. > > > > Best Regards > > > > On Wed, Jul 12, 2023 at 1:04 PM Wainaina Mungai via KICTANet < > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > > > >> My comment would be to echo Walubengo's point in April 2023: > >> > >> "The rationale for the 30% rule was simply to ensure foreign investors, > >> especially in the high-tech sector like ICT, would be forced to partner > >> with locals for purposes of knowledge transfer." > >> > >> -- Instead of removing the requirement, improve monitoring and reporting > >> on the tech and knowledge transfer. > >> > >> -- Enhance transparency in operator licencing to minimize the abuse of > >> the requirement. > >> > >> Removing the requirement may mean the local gatekeepers and brokers will > >> achieve their armtwisting without any risk of exposure. > >> > >> My two cents... > >> > >> > >> > >> On Wed, Jul 12, 2023, 12:09 PM David Indeje via KICTANet < > >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > >> > >>> 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/> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> KICTANet mailing list -- kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >>> To unsubscribe send an email to kictanet-leave(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at: > >>> > https://mm3-lists.kictanet.or.ke/mm/lists/kictanet.lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > >>> > >>> Mailing List Posts Online: https://posts.kictanet.or.ke/ > >>> > >>> Twitter: https://twitter.com/KICTANet/ > >>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > >>> Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KICTANet/ > >>> LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kictanet/ > >>> YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbcLVjnPtTGBEeYLGUb2Yow/ > >>> > >>> KICTANet is a multi-stakeholder Think Tank for people and institutions > >>> interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. > >>> KICTANet is a catalyst for reform in the Information and Communication > >>> Technology sector. Its work is guided by four pillars > >>> of Policy Advocacy, Capacity Building, Research, and Stakeholder > >>> Engagement. > >>> > >>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > >>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's > >>> times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or > >>> personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your > >>> wares or qualifications. > >>> > >>> KICTANet - The Power of Communities, is Kenya's premier ICT policy > >>> engagement platform. > >>> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> KICTANet mailing list -- kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >> To unsubscribe send an email to kictanet-leave(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >> Unsubscribe or change your options at: > >> > https://mm3-lists.kictanet.or.ke/mm/lists/kictanet.lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > >> > >> Mailing List Posts Online: https://posts.kictanet.or.ke/ > >> > >> Twitter: https://twitter.com/KICTANet/ > >> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > >> Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KICTANet/ > >> LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kictanet/ > >> YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbcLVjnPtTGBEeYLGUb2Yow/ > >> > >> KICTANet is a multi-stakeholder Think Tank for people and institutions > >> interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. > >> KICTANet is a catalyst for reform in the Information and Communication > >> Technology sector. Its work is guided by four pillars > >> of Policy Advocacy, Capacity Building, Research, and Stakeholder > >> Engagement. > >> > >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > >> online that you follow in real life: respect people's > >> times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or > >> personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your > >> wares or qualifications. > >> > >> KICTANet - The Power of Communities, is Kenya's premier ICT policy > >> engagement platform. > >> > > > > > > -- > > Barrack O. Otieno > > +254721325277 > > +254733206359 > > Skype: barrack.otieno > > PGP ID: 0x2611D86A > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > KICTANet mailing list -- kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > To unsubscribe send an email to kictanet-leave(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > Unsubscribe or change your options at: > > https://mm3-lists.kictanet.or.ke/mm/lists/kictanet.lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > > > > Mailing List Posts Online: https://posts.kictanet.or.ke/ > > > > Twitter: https://twitter.com/KICTANet/ > > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KICTANet/ > > LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kictanet/ > > YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbcLVjnPtTGBEeYLGUb2Yow/ > > > > KICTANet is a multi-stakeholder Think Tank for people and institutions > > interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. > > KICTANet is a catalyst for reform in the Information and Communication > > Technology sector. Its work is guided by four pillars > > of Policy Advocacy, Capacity Building, Research, and Stakeholder > > Engagement. > > > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > > online that you follow in real life: respect people's > > times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or > personalize, > > respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your > > wares or qualifications. > > > > KICTANet - The Power of Communities, is Kenya's premier ICT policy > > engagement platform. > > >

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Congratulations Ms June Okal🎉🎉
by David Indeje 19 Jul '23

19 Jul '23

Dear Listers, Join us in congratulating one of our own, Ms June Okal who has been appointed Senior Manager, Stakeholder Engagement, Africa ICANN. She was among the second Cohort of the Kenya School of Internet Governance. Overtime, she has been sharing her with us and being a voice in the internet governance space, make her mark through invaluable contribution. Through her own words, this is what she shared of her journey to ICANN https://www.juneokal.com/post/leaving-harvard-moving-back-to-nairobi-and-jo…

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M-KOPA Phone Refuses Unlock After Finishing Payment
by Peter Osotsi 16 Jul '23

16 Jul '23

Dear listers; An M-Kopa client contacted me in April 2023 regarding a phone she had faithfully paid for 34,000/- over a period of time (3yrs) but once she completed paying for it they are unable to unlock the phone. Since March it's been a game of ping pong. They eventually suggested she visits some shop in Westlands where she is supposed to pay for her device to be unlocked. I am looking at the best way to address this since I still believe M-KOPA should not charge a client any more money once the payment for the device has been done. Once a device has been fully paid for I believe they should unconditionally unlock the device without further cost to the client. They are saying the device is out of warranty which is 365 days and any payments out of this period means if the device refuses to unlock you pay for it. Kindly advise before I escalate this consumer abuse.further. Anyone in the list from the above company can contact me off list so that we can resolve this issue amicably.

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10th Angel Fair Africa STD
by Eric M K Osiakwan 16 Jul '23

16 Jul '23

https://kenyanwallstreet.com/10th-angel-fair-africa-my-unconventional-path-… - SAVE THE DATE 4 the 10th annual Angel Fair Africa from November 29th to December 1st in East London, South Africa Eric here Sent from my iPhone

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Uganda to impose tax on foreign digital companies
by Mwendwa Kivuva 13 Jul '23

13 Jul '23

The Parliament of Uganda has imposed new law that imposes a 5 percent tax on the income earned in the country by foreign digital companies offering services such as data, online gaming, accessing and downloading digital content, and data warehousing. Affected companies include Meta, Twitter, Uber, Netflix, Amazon, and Google. Read more https://nation.africa/kenya/business/technology/uganda-passes-law-imposing-… Have these countries been enjoying a free ride on emerging markets? What are the consequences of the new taxes by countries in Africa? Should the digital companies be paying taxes in jurisdictions where they operate? How are the value or the taxes arrived at and how is compliance enforced? -- Best Regards, ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwendwa-kivuva

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New guidelines on Open data Open data for AI: what now?
by Gachungi, Lydia 12 Jul '23

12 Jul '23

UNESCO is pleased to share with you the latest guidelines on Open Data. It can now be accessed on UNESDOC<https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000385841.locale=en>. The aim of these guidelines is to apprise Member States of the value of open data, and to outline how data are curated and opened. These guidelines specify concrete steps that Member States can take to open their data in three phases - Prepare, Open, Follow-up. If you are interested in piloting the use of the guidelines in countries, please contact Bhanu Neupane (b.neupane(a)unesco.org<mailto:b.neupane@unesco.org>) Lydia Gachungi Regional Adviser on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists Addis Ababa Liaison Office to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa/ National Office for Ethiopia. Niger Building, 1st Floor (ECA Compound) PO Box 1177 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Office Tel: +251 115443786 Mobile No: +251 945505333/ + 254722803724 Email:.l.gachungi@unesco.org https://en.unesco.org/fieldoffice/addisababa/ @LGachungi / @UNESCO_Addis [cid:image002.jpg@01D9B4D0.D9933200]

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