- KICTANet - KICTANet

eGov in Action?
by Harry Harry 10 Jun '06

10 Jun '06

Dear Colleagues, Today I was pleasantly surprised when from the “conform” of my home office, download a passport renewal application form from the department of Immigration website (HYPERLINK "http://www.immigration.go.ke/kenyan_ppt.php"http://www.immigration.go.ke/ke nyan_ppt.php) . The Department has a fairly useful site that guides visitors on how to apply for various travel and immigration documents including Visas and Passes. My further request to for the site to enable visitors to actually fill the forms online! This would have saved me another KSh 3000 to courier the forms to Nairobi from Dar es Salaam. All the same, this is a good start. For that I would like to register my heartfelt congratulations to all those involved in this initiative. Harry -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.3/360 - Release Date: 6/9/2006

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US House rejects Net neutrality rules
by Wainaina Mungai 10 Jun '06

10 Jun '06

--- Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. > -------Original Message------- > From: Maja Andjelkovic <mandjelkovic(a)iisd.ca> > Subject: [wsisyouth] US House rejects Net neutrality rules > Sent: 09 Jun '06 16:47 > > House rejects Net neutrality rules > By Declan McCullagh > Staff Writer, CNET News.com > > The U.S. House of Representatives definitively rejected the concept of > Net neutrality on Thursday, dealing a bitter blow to Internet companies > like Amazon.com, eBay and Google that had engaged in a last-minute > lobbying campaign to support it. > > By a 269-152 vote that fell largely along party lines, the House > Republican leadership mustered enough votes to reject a Democrat-backed > amendment that would have enshrined stiff Net neutrality regulations > into federal law and prevented broadband providers from treating some > Internet sites differently from others. > > http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6081882.html > >

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Wananchi Appoints new CEO
by Joseph Mucheru 09 Jun '06

09 Jun '06

Wananchi Online has finally merged with ISP Kenya and The Board of Directors reports the following changes to its structure as well as changes to the management structure, as the company prepares for its intended Initial Public Offering. Njeri Rionge steps down as CEO at the end of June 2006, but remains on the Board of Directors. Mr. James Gachui remains the Chairman of the board, while Sandeep Mangat and Hamish Govani join Njeri Rionge, Joseph Kamau and Subash Handa as Directors on the board. There will be further changes to the board as the Company continues to enhance its Corporate Governance structures which will be announced in due course. Joseph Mucheru, the Strategy and Business Development Director and Co- founder is now the acting CEO. He is also the current Chairman of the Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK) and has been instrumental in providing strategic input in ICT policy and regulations both at Wananchi Online and the Industry as a whole. Sandeep Mangat and Hamish Govani, who were executive Directors of ISP Kenya, join Wananchi Online as the Corporate Sales Director and Projects Director, respectively and both bring a wealth of industry experience on Internet based communications for Corporates to compliment the current retail solutions provided by Wananchi Online. Wananchi Online continues to enhance its Corporate brand, products and services, business processes and continued innovative technologies to deliver customer satisfaction to its clients. The Board of Directors Wananchi Online Limited

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EASSY Declaration signed by Southern and Eastern Africa Ministers
by Alice Wanjira 09 Jun '06

09 Jun '06

>> EASSY Declaration signed by Southern and Eastern Africa Ministers >> By Chris Kabwato, Highway Africa News Agency >> >> Johannesburg, 7 June 2006. Government ministers from Southern and >> Eastern Africa have signed a declaration on the East Africa >> Submarine System Project known as Eassy. The declaration signed in >> Johannesburg yesterday commits fifteen countries to this project >> which is expected to see the construction of infrastructure to >> ensure cheap broadband access for countries on the eastern side of >> Africa (from Mozambique to Sudan) . The construction of the >> undersea cable is expected to be completed by the first quarter of >> 2008 according to one of the signatories, Kenyan Deputy Minister >> David Were. >> >> At a press conference chaired by Lesothos Minister of >> Communications, Science and Technology, Thomas Thabane, it was >> announced that the ministers had agreed on major areas around the >> implementation of the Eassy project. The represented countries >> were Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, >> Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somali Republic, South Africa, >> Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In a major departure from >> the precedence of the SAFE/SAT-3 which is led by national >> telecommunication companies and is a closed club, the NEPAD e- >> Africa Commission will take the lead in the development of the >> necessary protocol and in the coordination of the project. >> >> The major highlights of the declaration are that it proclaims an >> open access model (meaning anyone can join in as an investor in >> the project); it commits countries to developing and signing a >> protocol on the policy and regulatory framework for the Eassy >> project. In a related development the summit also selected Rwanda >> as the host of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). >> >> Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, South Africas Minister of Communications, >> said the open access model was critical to ensure a level playing >> field and equal access. She commended the signing of the >> declaration calling the second successful project of the e-Africa >> Commission after e-schools project. >> >> Kenyan Deputy Minister of Communications, David Were, said that >> prior to the meeting he had expected fireworks. He blamed the >> media for having created a picture of disharmony between South >> Africa and Kenya. >> >> In response to media questions on the open access model, Dr. Henry >> Chasia, Executive Deputy Chairman of the NEPAD e-Africa >> Commission, stated that all parties that wished to participate in >> the Eassy project would have to be guided by the declaration. His >> statement was in reference to the current situation with the >> monopolistic model of SAT-3 - the satellite and submarine cable >> system serving the western parts of Africa. >> >> The Eassy project is expected to cost 300 million United States >> dollars excluding additional costs of in-country infrastructure. >> According to Casaburri ninety percent of the funding for the >> project will be raised from within the continent with a debt and >> equity portion. It is understood that the World Bank has offered >> 170 million USD towards the project. >> >> The protocol on the regulatory frameworks is scheduled to be >> signed heads of states of participating countries in August this >> year. >> >> ENDS. >> >> >> Highlights of the Eassy Declaration by the 15 Southern and Eastern >> Africa government ministers who met in Johannesburg on 5-6 June 2006: >> >> 1.Resolve to contribute to the harmonious, balanced, equitable and >> sustainable development of our countries by facilitating the >> speedy construction of the regional backbone ICT infrastructure >> network and to facilitate the formation of an entity and/or >> entities to own, maintain and operate the said infrastructure on >> Open Access Principles and generally to achieve the objectives and >> principles set forth in this Declaration; >> >> 2.Note, recognise and appreciate the work that has already been >> carried out to realise the objectives and principles set forth in >> the Preamble, and in particular, to construct the NEPAD ICT >> Broadband Infrastructure Network for Eastern and Southern Africa, >> including the Eassy cable, and to this end direct the NEPAD e- >> Africa Commission, in collaboration with regional economic >> communities (SADC, COMESA, IGAD, EAC), regional regulatory >> associations and the Join Steering Committee to fast track the >> process. >> >> 3.Commit ourselves to take such actions, within our respective >> countries as are necessary to ensure an early approval by our >> Governments of a Protocol on Policy and Regulatory Framework for >> NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure Network for eastern and >> Southern Africa and to arrange for the earliest possible signature >> and ratification of the Protocol as may be applicable. >> >> 4.Affirm our intention to ensure that existing policy and >> regulatory frameworks within our respective countries are >> progressively adopted over time facilitate the realisation of the >> objectives of the proposed Protocol. >> >> (source: www.eafricacommission.org) >> >> Dgroups is a joint initiative of Bellanet, DFID, Hivos, ICA, ICCO, IICD, OneWorld, UNAIDS and World Bank >> --- You are currently subscribed to africtic as: eric(a)afrispa.org >> To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave- >> africtic-610699O(a)dgroups.org > > Eric M.K Osiakwan > Executive Secretary > AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) > Tel: + 233.21.258800 > Fax: + 233.21.258811 > Cell: + 233.244.386792 > Handle: eosiakwan > Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North > Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North > Blog: http://afrispa.skybuilders.com/users/Eric/blog.html > Slang: "Tomorrow Now" > > > > Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://afrispa.skybuilders.com/users/Eric/blog.html Slang: "Tomorrow Now"

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Re: [Kictanet] Possible Software Raid!!
by Wainaina Mungai 02 Jun '06

02 Jun '06

Hi Bill, I do not know if they can rightfully raid premises, but I actually see the BSA move as a positive step in promoting Free and Open Source software solutions. As Dorcas says, the IP owners can legally seek to enforce their rights and since their business model is not sustainable in this market, we simply need to make consumers aware of the alternative solutions. By enforcing their IP rights, BSA members are doing the leg-work for you and creating a ripe opensource market ;-) Rgds, --- Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. > -------Original Message------- > From: Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)kenet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [Kictanet] Possible Software Raid!! > Sent: 02 Jun '06 11:07 > > Hi Bill, > > Well, BSA (http://www.bsa.org/) is a powerful organisation that has been > around and active for a longtime. However, may be their operations have > not been active in Kenya but i think time has come. > > It is perfectly okey for owners of IP licenced under a proprietary > license to appoint "policemen/investigators" to find out who is > infringing on their rights. I overhead last year that the master > software supplier was training our utumishi kwa wote friends on this area. > > But like you and me know, there are alternatives of accessing software > which should be encouraged. > > Free and Open Source Software is the way to go. > > Thanks, > Muthoni > > Bill Kagai wrote: > > > Reference is made to the notices placed in the local dailies on > > June1st 2006 by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) through Iseme, > > Kamau and Maema Advocates. > > > > The Business Software Alliance has taken the liberty to take an > > inventory (in all Kenyan Companies/Organisations) of all the software > > currently installed in the organisations. They further put a caveat > > indicating that failure to comply with the notice can lead to an > > investigation and possible legal action against companies using > > unlicensed or pirated software. > > > > Our company (Circuits & Packets Comunications Ltd) and possibly other > > local companies ARE NOT members of BSA though we have installed > > software in various companies and organisations in Kenya. We also make > > use of Open Source / Linux software that does not require licensing > > and neither is it pirated. > > > > We therefore wish to find out from the ICT fraternity whether: > > > > 1. This advertisement and the threat of failure to comply is legal. > > 2. If software belonging to the companies that are not members of BSA > > should be included in the inventory. > > 3. If BSA whose office contact is given as Iseme, Kamau and Maema > > Advocates has the legal and moral authority to raid companies with a > > lead time of two weeks before the notice expires. > > 4. If Kictanet and other organisations protecting consumer issues can > > directly intervene in this regard before it is too late. > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org

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Fw: [Afr-ictpol-adv] Victory! FastLane wins right to compete against Jambonet
by alice＠apc.org 02 Jun '06

02 Jun '06

> Dear all, > > The ISP industry in Kenya is in elation at the successful appeal against > CCK's decision not to grant FastLane a license to compete against Telkom > Kenya's Jambonet. > > In a landmark ruling which will probably shape the future of Kenya and the > wider region's communications industries, the Communications Appeals > Tribunal directed that FastLane be issued the license immediately. > > The most important aspect of the ruling was not the granting of the > license > - but rather the fact that the Tribunal stated clearly that CCK as a > Commission was to ignore any policy guidelines of a specific nature coming > from the Ministry as the Act was clear that CCK was to give "due regard to > policy guidelines of a general nature". > > This means that CCK's independence as a regulator has been re-emphasised > and > underlined. > > Here is the story from the East African Standard. > > We will be posting the ruling in it's entirety on the FastLane website in > the course of the day. > > Regards, > > Brian longwe > ISPKenya/FastLane > > > > ------------------------------------------ > (From East African Standard) > Jambonet rival wins appeal > By Athman Amran > > Communications Appeals Tribunal yesterday struck down a decision by the > Communications Commission of Kenya to deny a second independent Internet > service provider (ISP) an operating license. > > Tribunal chairman Justice (Rtd) Majid Cockar consequently ruled that Fast > Lane Limited be granted a licence to compete with Telkom Kenya's Jumbonet. > > Cockar made the ruling public at Telcom House, Nairobi in the company of > two > members of the tribunal Dr. Meoli Kashorda and Jotham Amisi. Fast Lane, > which is a conglomerate of seven ISPs, appealed to the tribunal after CCK > denied it a licence claiming that Internet Backbone Service provision was > subject to an exclusivity clause granted to TelKom Kenya .The company > first > applied for a licence to operate an Internet backbone service on December > 12, 2002. > > On February 11, 2003 ,Fast Lane submitted its business plan and technical > description to enable CCK to process the application. But on March 4, 2004 > CCK wrote to the firm communicating its decision to reject the > application. > > In its appeal Fast Lane, through lawyer Daniel McVicker, argued that the > decision of CCK to grant an exclusive license to TelKom Kenya for the > provision of Internet backbone services was without legal foundation and > in > breach of the Telecommunications Act. The appellant argued that there was > no > express provision in the Act for the granting of an exclusive licence to > Telkom.The lawyer also argued that the said policy was an adoption of the > statement of policy guidelines issued by the Minister for Transport and > Communication. > > The commission on its part argued that granting of monopoly was not > prohibited by any provision of the Act. > > In his judgment Cockar said the proper course for the CCK would have been > to > consider the exclusivity clause inserted in the approved market structure > as > ultra vires to the Act and proceeded to use its discretion within the > parameters of the policy guidelines. "There are other legal ways of > keeping > national interest in the fore-front without in the process breaching the > mandatory provisions of the Act," Cockar said. > > > > > -- > Brian Longwe > CellFon: +254 733 518744 > "Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future." Yoda > >

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FW: [swopnet] East Africa-Research Methodology & Proposal Writing Workshop - Closing Date: 11 June 2006
by Harry Harry 02 Jun '06

02 Jun '06

FYI -----Original Message----- From: Andrew C. Kajeguka [mailto:akajeguka@nimr.or.tz] Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 4:01 PM To: Sharing With Other People Network Subject: [swopnet] East Africa-Research Methodology & Proposal Writing Workshop - Closing Date: 11 June 2006 Dear colleagues, This is to inform you that National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) through the project called Malaria Research Coordination and Promotion through MIM (MALCOPROMIM) is organizing its 2nd scientific workshop on Research Methodology/Proposal writing to be held on 19-30 June 2006 in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania. The workshop aims at bringing together young talented East African scientists working in HIV/AIDS or malaria fields to undergo intensive 12 days workshop. The workshop will use hands on methods to enable each selected participant to use Health Information Systems skills to develop fundable proposal on important Malaria or HIV/AIDS research topic. Full sponsorship will be provided to selected but limited number of participants. We recommend applications should be sent by Email to malcopromim(a)nimr.or.tz Please refer to NIMR website: www.nimr.or.tz for more details about the workshop and how to send the application. All applications must be received by June 11th 2006 Please circualte this email to East African young scientists working in Malaria or HIV/AIDS fields. For Secretariat, MALCOPROMIM Project, National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Tel: +255 22 2121400 Fax: +255 22 2121360 Email: malcopromim(a)nimr.or.tz -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.7.3/350 - Release Date: 5/28/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.7.3/350 - Release Date: 5/28/2006

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Possible Software Raid!!
by Bill Kagai 02 Jun '06

02 Jun '06

Reference is made to the notices placed in the local dailies on June1st 2006 by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) through Iseme, Kamau and Maema Advocates. The Business Software Alliance has taken the liberty to take an inventory (in all Kenyan Companies/Organisations) of all the software currently installed in the organisations. They further put a caveat indicating that failure to comply with the notice can lead to an investigation and possible legal action against companies using unlicensed or pirated software. Our company (Circuits & Packets Comunications Ltd) and possibly other local companies ARE NOT members of BSA though we have installed software in various companies and organisations in Kenya. We also make use of Open Source / Linux software that does not require licensing and neither is it pirated. We therefore wish to find out from the ICT fraternity whether: 1. This advertisement and the threat of failure to comply is legal. 2. If software belonging to the companies that are not members of BSA should be included in the inventory. 3. If BSA whose office contact is given as Iseme, Kamau and Maema Advocates has the legal and moral authority to raid companies with a lead time of two weeks before the notice expires. 4. If Kictanet and other organisations protecting consumer issues can directly intervene in this regard before it is too late. -- -- With Kind Regards, Bildad Kagai MD - Circuits & Packets Communications Ltd Content & Training Partner - JKUAT E-Government Academy Suite B2, Tetu Apartments, State House Avenue P. O. Box 20311 - 00200 Nairobi, Kenya Tel. 254 20 2728332 Fax. 254 20 2726965 Cell. 254 722 379409 URL. www.circuitspackets.co.ke URL. egov.jkuat.ac.ke

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About the Business Software Alliance (BSA)
by Bill Kagai 02 Jun '06

02 Jun '06

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Software_Alliance Overview Robert Holleyman is its current president and CEO, the BSA employs a team of over 100 lawyers and investigators, which it uses to prosecute "thousands of cases a year" in conjunction with local law enforcement. The majority of these cases are reported to BSA either through one of its 65 piracy telephone hotlines, or through online report forms. After receiving a tip, BSA then sends the companies a note with an implicit threat of a forthcoming software licensing audit. If the BSA finds cases of software piracy, it assesses heavy monetary penalties. Some companies have switched to free software after having to pay such large fines (see [1], paragraph 7). BSA has not been reported to support Free Software Foundation or other free software groups in their actions of copyright enforcement. They do support software patents. [edit] Critique BSA has been heavily criticised for its aggressive tactics in forcing small businesses to allow BSA members onto their premises for audits, and for its presumption of guilt until an audit proves one innocent. It is also worthy of note that BSA is an organization founded in the USA, and is currently without official status in most European countries. They're also well known for lobbying for ENISA, the European Network and Information Security Agency, a suggested network security establishment that would operate within EU. See [2] and [3]. According to a Mother Jones (magazine) article[4], the BSA discovered in 1995 that Antel, the Uruguayan national telephone company, had pirated $100,000 worth of Microsoft, Novell, and Symantec software. The BSA's lawyers in Uruguay quickly filed suit, but dropped the suit in 1997 when Antel signed a "special agreement" with Microsoft to replace all of its software with Microsoft products. This has led to accusations that the BSA is a front for Microsoft, with its other members being enlisted purely to disguise Microsoft's dominant role. -- -- With Kind Regards, Bildad Kagai MD - Circuits & Packets Communications Ltd Content & Training Partner - JKUAT E-Government Academy Suite B2, Tetu Apartments, State House Avenue P. O. Box 20311 - 00200 Nairobi, Kenya Tel. 254 20 2728332 Fax. 254 20 2726965 Cell. 254 722 379409 URL. www.circuitspackets.co.ke URL. egov.jkuat.ac.ke

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new subscription
by Andrew Limo 02 Jun '06

02 Jun '06

Kindly bring Judith Sembelle of IT department Agricultural Development Corporation on the discussion forum. sembelle(a)yahoo.co.uk --------------------------------- Be a chatter box. Enjoy free PC-to-PC calls with Yahoo! Messenger with Voice.

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