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Re: [kictanet] Cellphone Types - Chinese case
by dmakali＠yahoo.com 26 Mar '08

26 Mar '08

Elijah, stop the hype. I bought that nokia N95 u r talking about and threw it away after two days. The thing was vibrating in my ears wen I pick calls and radiating my entire head! It was a cheap health hazard I boughtfor 25k! The original is 65k plus. Obviously there is gud chinese technology but on phones, am yet to see. Don't become a conduit for cheap hazardous goods. D Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device -----Original Message----- From: Elijah Kombo <komboelijah(a)yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:10:59 To:kaziafrika@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: Cellphone Types - Chinese case I planned to start selling chinese phones as i have good deals with a Chinese company. Infact i am set to start very very soon. Companies like Nokia have given some chinese companies to assemle the phones uisng very cheap materials. I bought N95 phone sometime last year at only 350 usd while its going at approximately 85k in Kenya. I have a sample of several chinese phones whihc have been tested and approved by all standards. If you also watch CNN Richard Quest programme - the guys shows how China products are way ahead. Its not in order to buy something which doesnt have a name or brand! I presume such do not come with guarantee. Remember too that that any gadget has got some effect on human body as the pro........i can recall that in chemistry. Even the ordinary nokia 3310 we normally use has got dangeraous radio activityy. I attended a seminar in Singapore where they demonstrated 2 eggs left with an active phone overnight - found cooked in the morning (ready to chew). Basically, we can contain side effects by buying or having anti radiation..... Go chinese............please don disqualify them from the market. And anyone needing to have a sample price list and models can talk to me - of course i might not reveal the source cos i dont want compe..... Kombo Elijah ----- Original Message ---- From: James K. Kamau <jimkamau(a)gmail.com> To: kaziafrika(a)googlegroups.com Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 4:45:39 PM Subject: Re: Cellphone Types - Chinese case Hi pple, My friend bought a chinese phone...which had no "name"! The phone had : 1. Blue-tooth, 2. Infra-red, 3. Huge memory,external memory, 4. Camera with a zoom, 5. TWIN sim both operational, 6. radio and a 7.TV <http://7.tv/> ...with active local channels,KTN,KBC,NTV...! The fones are all-over Nairobi for KSHs.13,000 only! The big question is...How safe are they...especially on radio-activity! We need to be careful.... On 3/26/08, eric maina <iz_cartmanz(a)yahoo.com <mailto:iz_cartmanz@yahoo.com> > wrote: Hey Robert, I am one of the silent guys in the group but Man you are one in a million. thanks alot n God above is going to bless U 4 ur great for ur good ideas especially 4 coming up with this group. you spoke of Chinese phones which have an effect on the hearing capability? please can you may be give the models of the ones that your friends are using coz at least if anyone has any of them we can try n do something about it, or else even use alternative options eg bluetooth headsts for receiving the calls??? how comes the phones are getting to users hands. this is so serious and thanks alot for everything you do, have done n will ever do. may it be a blessing. Robert Alai <alai.robert(a)gmail.com <mailto:alai.robert@gmail.com> > wrote: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Becky Kem <beckygrs(a)yahoo.com <mailto:beckygrs@yahoo.com> > Date: Mar 26, 2008 3:30 PM Subject: Cellphone Survey To: alai.robert(a)gmail.com <mailto:alai.robert@gmail.com> Hi Welcome to our survey section at Sambaza Group. Survey data is extremely helpful in allowing us to create the best programs possible to aid the communities we work in. This particular survey is about cellphone use in Kenya. You have been invited by Sambaza Group to take this survey if you live in Kenya, please click on the link below and answer the following questions. All answers will be electronically submitted to Sambaza Group. The survey is completely anonymous but will help us serve better the communities we work with. The link: http://www.sambazagroup.com/survey <http://www.sambazagroup.com/survey> Thank you for your support and valuable information. Please feel free to forward it to your friends and other cellphone users. Yours Sincerely Javier Ogembo ---------------- Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51438/*http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs> ---------------- Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51734/*http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/c…> ---------------- Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51734/*http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/c…> --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ YOU ARE IN KAZI AFRIKA GROUP UNSUBSCRIBE: kaziafrika-unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/kaziafrika?hl=en www.kazi-africa.com FOR A VERY PEACEFUL KENYA -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

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Fwd: Urgent meeting of SC 34 Mirror Committee
by Dorcas Muthoni 26 Mar '08

26 Mar '08

*Attention: All those interested in attending the OOXML Technical Committee Meeting at KEBS tomorrow. *General Manager - Standards Development Division will address the meeting A call from KEBS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As a result of the meeting held on 2008-03-19 on the final vote by Kenya on DIS 29500, and the mail I circulated on Thursday 2008-03-20, several issues have arisen which the KEBS management would like to clarify to members before transmitting the vote to ITTF. This message is therefore to invite you to a meeting tomorrow Thursday, 2008-03-27 at 0900 hrs at KEBS headquarters, where General Manager - Standards Development Division will make a few issues clear. Please arrange to attend.

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Fwd: Opportunity for Learning / IT Professional
by Patrick Mburu 26 Mar '08

26 Mar '08

Thank you for the responses coming through; I apologise to re-send the message on here, however, if you could fill out the attached form and re-send this to me, this would be highly appreciated; Kind Regards, Patrick ----- Original Message ----- *From:* Patrick Mburu <patrick.mburu(a)gmail.com> *To:* Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke> *Sent:* Tuesday, March 25, 2008 6:35 PM *Subject:* Looming opportunity for Learning / IT Professional Dear Colleagues, There is an opportunity that is urgently required for those of us in the business of Learning + Development / E-Learning / IT Project Management arena; Unfortunately i am engaged in a similar activity and cannot take on the task; Do you know anyone who fits on the below profile? The assignment will be in Rome, Italy on a short term contract with one of the UN Bodies *Brief:* Project Management Experience with Training background, to work on Global Needs Assessment programme; Must have elearning content design / implementation experience and is familiar with Learning Management systems as this will be the platform that all of the above will be linked to. If you know of someone, please send CV's through to me; Thanks in advance. Patrick Mburu

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26 March 2008: The world's first Document Freedom Day
by Dorcas Muthoni 26 Mar '08

26 Mar '08

Today is Document Freedom Day: Roughly 200 teams from more than 60 countries worldwide are organising local activities to raise awareness for Document Freedom and Open Standards. In a world where records are increasingly kept in electronic form, Open Standards are crucial for valuable information to outlive the application in which it was initially generated. The question of Document Freedom has severe repercussions for freedom of choice, competition, markets and the sovereignty of countries and their governments. More can be found at: http://www.documentfreedom.org/Open_Standards -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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[Fwd: [AfriNIC-rpd] AfriNIC-8/AfNOG2008: Registration is now open]
by alice 25 Mar '08

25 Mar '08

Dear all FYI -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [AfriNIC-rpd] AfriNIC-8/AfNOG2008: Registration is now open Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:37:30 +0200 From: radha(a)afrinic.net <radha(a)afrinic.net> Reply-To: AfriNIC Resource Policy Discussion List <rpd(a)afrinic.net> To: undisclosed-recipients:; [*Apologies for any duplicate mails*] Dear Colleagues, AfriNIC invites you to attend the 8th AfriNIC Open Policy Meeting which will be held in conjunction with AfNOG 2008 from 24 May to 06 June 2008 in Rabat, Morocco. AfriNIC Meetings are open to everyone and provide an excellent opportunity to take part in Internet policy discussions in the African region. Workshop and Meeting ----------------------- The Workshop and all Tutorials will be held at the EMI (Mohammadia Engineering Institute) from 24 May - 2 June 2008. All meetings from 3 - 6 June will be held at the Golden Tulip Farah Hotel. For more details, please see http://www.afrinic.net/meeting/afrinic-8/index.htm AfriNIC-8/AfNOG2008 Registration ----------------------------------- Online Meeting Registration is now open. Please visit: http://www.afrinic.net/meeting/afrinic-8/registration.htm AfriNIC fellowship --------------------- The fellowship programme is reserved for representatives from small organisations actively involved in Internet Operations or ICT Policies in their respective countries and the community and who can positively and actively contribute to IP address management awareness in the AfriNIC region of service. If you are interested in applying for an AfriNIC fellowship, please visit the fellowship section at http://www.afrinic.net/meeting/afrinic-8/index.htm The deadline for applications is 15 April, 2008. Sponsorship opportunities ---------------------------- Sponsoring an AfriNIC meeting will provide you with a range of opportunities to expose your organisation to the African Internet community. If your organisation is interested in participating in the sponsoring of AfriNIC-8, please visit the sponsorship section at http://www.afrinic.net/meeting/afrinic-8/index.htm Visa information ------------------- Some meeting attendees may require a visa to visit Morocco. For your invitation letter, please send the following details (name as on passport, passport no, date of issue and expiry, nationality) to invit-ltt(a)afrinic.net. Please feel free to contact our Meeting Team at meeting(a)afrinic.net for any query or assistance. We look forward to seeing you in Rabat. Regards, AfriNIC Meeting Team See you at AfriNIC-8, Rabat, Morocco, 31 May - 06 June, 2008 _______________________________________________ rpd mailing list rpd(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/rpd

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Looming opportunity for Learning / IT Professional
by Patrick Mburu 25 Mar '08

25 Mar '08

Dear Colleagues, There is an opportunity that is urgently required for those of us in the business of Learning + Development / E-Learning / IT Project Management arena; Unfortunately i am engaged in a similar activity and cannot take on the task; Do you know anyone who fits on the below profile? The assignment will be in Rome, Italy on a short term contract with one of the UN Bodies *Brief:* Project Management Experience with Training background, to work on Global Needs Assessment programme; Must have elearning content design / implementation experience and is familiar with Learning Management systems as this will be the platform that all of the above will be linked to. If you know of someone, please send CV's through to me; Thanks in advance. Patrick Mburu

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ATTN: ICT BOARD MEMBER/S IN THIS LIST( SayNo to OOXML)
by Judy Okite 25 Mar '08

25 Mar '08

Dear Colleagues, I have been deeply grieved by the silence that has surrounded,this matter...How do we talk about growth and development in ICT,if we do not talk about software? A few questions that I have for the Board and a response will be highly appreciated: 1.what steps have the ICT BOARD taken in regard to the matter,on the link below. http://www.noooxml.org/ having in mind that it is less than a week...to final decision 2.What is Kenya's,position? More voice to this reason http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20080312151954507 Kind Regards, -- Judy Ann Okite, +254-721237507,+254-734252336 P.O. BOX 2228 00100, NAIROBI,KENYA. 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. ' Martin Luther King, Jr.

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OOXML Meeting
by Dorcas Muthoni 25 Mar '08

25 Mar '08

*Date:* 27th March 2008 *Venue:* KEBS, Popo Road, Off Mombasa Road *Time:* 9.00am *Who can attend: *People concerned about the standard ( for or against, to understand) *Main events at the meeting: * The final position of Kenya with regard to the OOXML standard will be agreed. -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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Re: [kictanet] OOXML: Why Kenya Should Vote NO
by Dorcas Muthoni 25 Mar '08

25 Mar '08

Thanks Eunice, Coming from the ICT Board, i believe it would be nice to share your comments with the list. On Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 3:59 PM, Eunice Mueni Kariuki < eunicekariuki(a)ict.go.ke> wrote: > This is excellent interms of educating the public on matters of ICT > especially those that affect thier daily ICT lives directly or indirectly. > I am sure many will agree with you and is indeed inline with the mandate of the ICT Board. > However, in the last topic (Why Kenya should say No) > - point no. 3 - I am not convinced that microsoft has what it takes to do > what you say they did. I am also not convinced that those responsible for > forming that committee would fall for this implied trick. Indeed it would be > sad and they should not be in office. > I will refer you to the committee to investigate its composition. KEBS should give you a list of the membership. It was an issue then and it is till now. > > On point no. 4, it would have been helpful if you provided details of > actual propriatory rights. > There is lots of information on this; A quick reference is http://www.noooxml.org/patents. Otherwise I am confused because your email implies that Microsoft also > compromised the ISO body to approve OOXML as a parallel standard! > I just stated things as they are. Its many times that Microsoft has been found to go about things in a skewed manner. A case in point is for example the signing of MOUs with government ministries in pursuit of their business interests. This already happened in Kenya with th Ministry of Education and i hope the ICT board will objectively look at this matter. Muthoni If this were the case then that body does not deserve that office > Just Keeping an open mind.. > > > Eunice > On Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 1:23 PM, Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > > > *What is an Office Document Standard* > > > > A standard file format that would allow office documents such as > > spreadsheets and word processing files to be opened by applications from > > different vendors. > > > > *Why Open Standards > > > > *Creating an open office file format suggests that documents created in > > an application that supports that file format could be opened in other > > applications that support it as well. E.g. A document written using > > OpenOffice for example, could be opened in Ms Office without affecting the > > layout or formatting. > > > > With an open standard; > > > > - You can choose any operating system or application and still be > > able to read and edit all your old documents e.g. whether it is > > Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Unix. > > - You can collaborate with others regardless of which software > > they are using e.g. whether it is LotusNotes, OpenOffice, Ms > > Office, StarOffice, GoogleApps . > > - You can use any software of your choice to exchange documents > > within your organization, with your clients, partners, government and > > everyone else. > > > > The goal of an open standard is to free corporate data from proprietary > > file formats so they can be accessed for years to come no matter what office > > software a company or government is using. Companies and governments are > > currently saving data in proprietary file formats, such as those written in > > Microsoft's Office software (.doc, .xls, .ppt, and lately .docx, .xlsx, > > .pptx), and locking themselves into using that software indefinitely. > > > > A relative example is, we all develop our websites and expect to > > successfully access them using various browser software (Mozilla Firefox, > > Netscape, Safari, Internet Explorer etc). We successfully manage to do this > > because of HTML, XML and Browser open standardization. > > > > The same should happen for office documents and hence definition of open > > document standards. > > > > *What is ODF* > > > > ODF(OpenDocument Format) an ISO standard created with the aim to provide > > an open XML-based document file format for office applications to be used > > for documents containing text, spreadsheets, charts, and graphical elements. > > ODF is defined via an open and transparent process at OASIS ( The > > Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards) > > and has been approved unanimously by the International Organization for > > Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission > > (IEC) as an international standard in May 2006. Instead of trying to > > reinvent the wheel ODF reuses established standards like HTML, SVG, XSL, > > SMIL, XLink, XForms, MathML, and Dublin Core. > > > > ODF leaves space for all present and future vendors do implement it and > > makes sure that end users won't suffer from any sort of vendor lock-in. In > > contrast to earlier used binary formats which were cryptic and difficult to > > process, ODF's use of XML makes accessing the document content simple. > > > > ODF guarantees long-term viability. The OASIS ODF TC, the OASIS ODF > > Adoption TC, and the ODF Alliance include members from Adobe, BBC, EDS, EMC, > > GNOME, Google, IBM, Intel, KDE, Novell, Oracle, Red Hat, Software AG and Sun > > Microsystems. Since June 2006 the ODF Alliance has already more than 300 > > members. > > > > *What is OOXML* > > > > A format proposed by Microsoft that comes closest to ODF in function, > > but it fails the test for an Open Standard in various ways, including an > > unclear legal status as well as inclusion of and reference to proprietary > > technologies. It has all signs of a vendor-specific format that only > > Microsoft will be able to implement completely. > > > > Microsoft, which dominates the office software market with its Office > > suite, is a member of OASIS and was fully aware of the technical > > committee that came up with ODF. However, they opted to make Ms Office 2007 heavily > > reliant on XML and also initiated a parallel technical committee to develop > > a standard file format the MS OOXML. > > > > Ms Office 2007 *does not* support ODF. What Microsoft has done is to > > push MS OOXML through a fast track process to have the standard certified by > > ISO. The standard is being reviewed by technical committees (TC) formed > > through national standards bodies. The TCs pass a vote through a ballot > > process. The ballot resolutions are then forwarded to ISO, if the outcome is > > greater support for MS OOXML, then the standard will be passed. > > > > > > *Why should we reject a proprietary standard like OOXML > > > > * > > > > 1. We live in a digital age where paper documents increasingly get > > replaced by electronic records. We may even see the day we no longer use > > paper and pen to keep records. In this situation long-term data becomes > > critical. This is especially the case for legal contracts and government > > documents which stay valid and relevant over decades, or even centuries. > > Just like there were many vendors supplying paper and pens through out the > > history, and not a single one, so do these formats and applications which > > are used to make them need to be vendor independent. That is the only > > guanrantee of long-term access to data, even if companies disappear, change > > their strategies or dramatically raise their prices. > > 2. The Kenyan technical committee (hosted by KEBS) reviewing the > > MS OOXML standard was inappropriately constituted and is highly imbalanced. > > Microsoft recommended business partners to this committee and the first vote > > returned a yes resolution because of this imbalance. On March 19th 2008, the > > committee passed an Abstain resolution which Microsoft is now strongly > > appealing against. > > 3. Further, the MS OOXML standard is defined in 6,000+ pages and > > with the fast track process, it is barely possible to review the standard > > comprehensively. This standard must be reviewed via the regular standard > > process. > > 4. MS OOXML is a proposed parallel standard without a > > justification. > > 5. *OOXML has patent issues* > > > > For all those with questions, feel free to ask. > > > > -- > > Muthoni > > > > My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ > > -------------------------------------------- > > Mahatma Gandhi once said:- > > > > First they ignore you, > > Then they laugh at you, > > Then they fight you, > > AND THEN YOU WIN!!! > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: eunicekariuki(a)ict.go.ke > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eunicekariuki%40ict.go… > > > > > > > -- > We have moved to CCK. > > Eunice Mueni Kariuki > Kenya ICT Board > Nairobi, Kenya > > alternative address. eunice.kariuki(a)hotmail.go.ke -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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OOXML: Why Kenya Should Vote NO
by Dorcas Muthoni 25 Mar '08

25 Mar '08

*What is an Office Document Standard* A standard file format that would allow office documents such as spreadsheets and word processing files to be opened by applications from different vendors. *Why Open Standards * Creating an open office file format suggests that documents created in an application that supports that file format could be opened in other applications that support it as well. E.g. A document written using OpenOffice for example, could be opened in Ms Office without affecting the layout or formatting. With an open standard; - You can choose any operating system or application and still be able to read and edit all your old documents e.g. whether it is Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Unix. - You can collaborate with others regardless of which software they are using e.g. whether it is LotusNotes, OpenOffice, Ms Office, StarOffice, GoogleApps . - You can use any software of your choice to exchange documents within your organization, with your clients, partners, government and everyone else. The goal of an open standard is to free corporate data from proprietary file formats so they can be accessed for years to come no matter what office software a company or government is using. Companies and governments are currently saving data in proprietary file formats, such as those written in Microsoft's Office software (.doc, .xls, .ppt, and lately .docx, .xlsx, .pptx), and locking themselves into using that software indefinitely. A relative example is, we all develop our websites and expect to successfully access them using various browser software (Mozilla Firefox, Netscape, Safari, Internet Explorer etc). We successfully manage to do this because of HTML, XML and Browser open standardization. The same should happen for office documents and hence definition of open document standards. *What is ODF* ODF(OpenDocument Format) an ISO standard created with the aim to provide an open XML-based document file format for office applications to be used for documents containing text, spreadsheets, charts, and graphical elements. ODF is defined via an open and transparent process at OASIS ( The Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards) and has been approved unanimously by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) as an international standard in May 2006. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel ODF reuses established standards like HTML, SVG, XSL, SMIL, XLink, XForms, MathML, and Dublin Core. ODF leaves space for all present and future vendors do implement it and makes sure that end users won't suffer from any sort of vendor lock-in. In contrast to earlier used binary formats which were cryptic and difficult to process, ODF's use of XML makes accessing the document content simple. ODF guarantees long-term viability. The OASIS ODF TC, the OASIS ODF Adoption TC, and the ODF Alliance include members from Adobe, BBC, EDS, EMC, GNOME, Google, IBM, Intel, KDE, Novell, Oracle, Red Hat, Software AG and Sun Microsystems. Since June 2006 the ODF Alliance has already more than 300 members. *What is OOXML* A format proposed by Microsoft that comes closest to ODF in function, but it fails the test for an Open Standard in various ways, including an unclear legal status as well as inclusion of and reference to proprietary technologies. It has all signs of a vendor-specific format that only Microsoft will be able to implement completely. Microsoft, which dominates the office software market with its Office suite, is a member of OASIS and was fully aware of the technical committee that came up with ODF. However, they opted to make Ms Office 2007 heavily reliant on XML and also initiated a parallel technical committee to develop a standard file format the MS OOXML. Ms Office 2007 *does not* support ODF. What Microsoft has done is to push MS OOXML through a fast track process to have the standard certified by ISO. The standard is being reviewed by technical committees (TC) formed through national standards bodies. The TCs pass a vote through a ballot process. The ballot resolutions are then forwarded to ISO, if the outcome is greater support for MS OOXML, then the standard will be passed. *Why should we reject a proprietary standard like OOXML * 1. We live in a digital age where paper documents increasingly get replaced by electronic records. We may even see the day we no longer use paper and pen to keep records. In this situation long-term data becomes critical. This is especially the case for legal contracts and government documents which stay valid and relevant over decades, or even centuries. Just like there were many vendors supplying paper and pens through out the history, and not a single one, so do these formats and applications which are used to make them need to be vendor independent. That is the only guanrantee of long-term access to data, even if companies disappear, change their strategies or dramatically raise their prices. 2. The Kenyan technical committee (hosted by KEBS) reviewing the MS OOXML standard was inappropriately constituted and is highly imbalanced. Microsoft recommended business partners to this committee and the first vote returned a yes resolution because of this imbalance. On March 19th 2008, the committee passed an Abstain resolution which Microsoft is now strongly appealing against. 3. Further, the MS OOXML standard is defined in 6,000+ pages and with the fast track process, it is barely possible to review the standard comprehensively. This standard must be reviewed via the regular standard process. 4. MS OOXML is a proposed parallel standard without a justification. 5. *OOXML has patent issues* For all those with questions, feel free to ask. -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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e-Learning Training opportunities
by Gakiria 25 Mar '08

25 Mar '08

Dear All, Attached is a call for nominations to inWEnt regional training courses on e-Learning organized by the Namibia Open Learning Network. Please circulate to your networks in East Africa. Regards Andrew

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Re: [kictanet] Just A Thought!
by David Makali 25 Mar '08

25 Mar '08

Folks, I think the person who offered that job of 8k should be congratulated. S/he is an entrepreneur. Jobs are offered to willing takers and i suppose as we go on an on here, there are already applicants or the slots have already been filled. I don't understand what this whole saga is about: how many of you ventilating on this offer pay your house helps that amount? Yet they most likely work more hours? And guards? Maurice is spot on: pay has to be relative to the income generated. Its take it or leave it. That is not to advocate prejudice or injustice; its being pragmatic in today's world. Lets move on. David --- Maurice Barasa <barazam(a)gmail.com> wrote: > The 8K/month is really low considering the high cost > of living we experience in Kenya. Maybe we can try > and advice the Cyber guy and others who may be in > this forum that have plans to start by considering > the numbers they operate on. > > As stated the Cyber has 8 computer and its open 12.5 > hours. This means that if the cyber has all the > eight computer being paid for at an average of 7 Hrs > a day coz not guaranteed that the computers will be > running all thro, then the computers will earn a > monthly average of KES 80640 (running for an average > of 24 days a month X 8 hrs/day * 60KES/hr since > assumed the Christian lady will be allowed a Sunday > off and they charge 1KES/Min.) and then assumed > there are other things like printing and > photocopying >KES10000 making it a total of 90K > Subtracting the costs before salary, say rent, ISP > charges.... assuming its 40K (advice if wrong), > meaning the net is around 50K, > > What would be the expected salary for the attendant > considering that the owner also needs to make some > profit? > > > Have a thoughtful day, > > Maurice > > > From: catherine ongoro > Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 10:29 AM > To: kaziafrika(a)googlegroups.com > Subject: Re: Just A Thought! > > > Hi all, > I disagree with Dan. The problem wasn't with the > phrase which in my view is very o.k. The problem is > with the specs that is christian (what about > qualified Kenyans from one of the very many > religious followings we have in Kenya?)and the 12.5 > working hrs for Kes. 8,000.00. > > Catherine. > > > dan chira <danchira2004(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Hello Wanakazi, > > If you read the original email, the guy's opening > remarks were: > > "sambaza the following slot. There are hundreds of > able people who qualify and yet they don't have > access to internet, so people should speak of this > vacancies with their friends who don't have access > to Internet. Most of the online applicants I have > come across are people who have options, either they > want to switch jobs etc and so the real needy person > is locked away. So guys be kind to involve those > guys who even can't access Kaziafrica... > > > I think most of the people who acted emotionally > didnt understand the phrase, and they went ahead to > "lock" other people a vancacy that can change their > lifes! > > Just a thought!!! > > Danny > > -- > Real Men Fear God! > See No Evil,Hear No Evil,Say No Evil. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. > > > > > _______________ "If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster." -- Isaac Asimo, Columbian Author and Scientist _______________ PO Box 3234 00200 Nairobi, Kenya cell: +254 722 517 540 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ YOU ARE IN KAZI AFRIKA GROUP UNSUBSCRIBE: kaziafrika-unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/kaziafrika?hl=en www.kazi-africa.com FOR A VERY PEACEFUL KENYA -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

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Kenya in dilemma over transfer of Teams shares to private investors
by Alex Gakuru 25 Mar '08

25 Mar '08

Smell something fishy.... <snip> The history of the opening up of the telecommunications sector is littered with cases of manipulation of privatisation to allow insiders and connected operatives to acquire shares they have not paid for. To date, the true owners of an entity by the name Mobitelea Ventures Ltd that indirectly owns a 10 per cent stake in the countrys first ever GSM mobile phone operator, Safaricom Ltd, remains unknown. The investor was procured under the old and opaque privatisation regime. In the case of Teams, the government last year procured 12 investors who will be allotted shares when the cable goes into operation. Although most of the companies allotted shares are well-known telecommunication companies, a number are nevertheless names that dont resonate. The lions share of the company has been allocated to Safaricom Ltd a 20 per cent stake. In the second category are Econet Wireless Kenya Ltd (10 per cent), France Telecom (10 per cent), Kenya Data Networks (10 per cent), Wananchi Telecom Ltd (10 per cent), Telkom Kenya (10 per cent), Jamii Telecom (3.75 per cent) and Gilat Satcom (1.25 per cent). The last category are names that are not too well-known, including an entity by the name Equip Ltd (1.25 per cent), Internet Research (1.25 per cent) and Inhand Ltd (1.25 per cent). The government will retain a 20 per cent stake in the company. Under the present arrangement, the chosen investors must pay 5 per cent of the projects funding requirement of $110 million, which will be put in an escrow account at Standard Chartered Bank of Kenya Ltd. The balance of what they are expected to pay is to be remitted when the parties consummate both a share-subscription agreement and a shareholders agreement in April. Contrary to the general impression, Etisalat of the UAE has no direct shareholding in Teams. What it has signed with the government is a construction and maintenance agreement and a supply contract. Whichever way one looks at it, these investors must be laughing all the way to the bank, having clinched a very sweet deal indeed. Major telecommunications operators and consumers of bandwidth whose names do not appear on the investors list may find it difficult to compete. The investors will be acquiring shares of the asset at the nominal value of $110 million, but its market price is bound to hit the roof once the company starts commercial operations. In a sense, the Teams model runs contrary to the conventional model of funding what is known as consortium cables where entities come together to fund a proportion of development cost and share the construction risk, and are allocated capacity depending on their commitment at all these stages. In this case, it is the Kenya government that has paid for the feasibility studies as well as the cost of the marine survey and engaging Standard Chartered Bank as the financial arrangers to the project. The government is the one carrying the construction risk of the project, meaning that if construction is delayed right now, it is the one that will bear the extra cost burden. With a new privatisation regime having taken effect in January, and the process of transferring the shares to private entities still outstanding, the Treasury must now make a decision on the route to take. According to the Act, all privatisation transactions must be handled according to the new law. Upon coming into operation of the Act, the commission shall take over the implementation and management of any ongoing process leading to a privatisation, says section 52 of the Privatisation Act. However, the same law also says that a privatisation process that is ongoing should not be reversed to the detriment of any party..... <http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/News/news170320081.htm> ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

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Re: [kictanet] WHO OWNS MOBITELEA ?
by dmakali＠yahoo.com 24 Mar '08

24 Mar '08

Absolutely. We can't allow this to pass! No way. Gideon, moi, marsham and biwott must pay up or surrender mobitelea shares to the public. Even if the judiciary is weak, this grand fraud is too much. Nor shud it escape even with a grand coalition. David Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device -----Original Message----- From: "Robert Alai" <alai.robert(a)gmail.com> Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:16:01 To:"Kazi Africa" <Kaziafrika(a)googlegroups.com> Subject: WHO OWNS MOBITELEA ? Wanakazi The misterious Mobitelea owner is going to make a whooping 10 billion for just a corrupt deal they did with Moi. Now we must really know more about Mobitelea and not putting the matter in the open is just not going to work. Read more on http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=117&posted=1#post117 <http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=117&posted=1#post117> Robert --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ YOU ARE IN KAZI AFRIKA GROUP UNSUBSCRIBE: kaziafrika-unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/kaziafrika?hl=en www.kazi-africa.com FOR A VERY PEACEFUL KENYA -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

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"The Conversation": Book-Video on HIV/AIDS Disclosure Seeks Feedback/Info
by Janet Feldman 23 Mar '08

23 Mar '08

Hello. I'm writing a book and doing a video documentary on the subject of "The Conversation" that everyone with HIV has when they disclose their HIV status. I'm looking for people from every race and background, including those that are HIV negative, but have had "The Conversation" with HIV positive people. Please let your voice be heard by visiting our website - www.theHIVconversation.com You can learn more about the book, the author, who benefits, read stories of others who have already become a part of the project, and obtain the Questionnaire. Thank you for your assistance and I look forward to hearing your voice in your story about disclosure. Sebastian TheHIVConversation(a)gmail.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ YOU ARE IN KAZI AFRIKA GROUP UNSUBSCRIBE: kaziafrika-unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/kaziafrika?hl=en www.kazi-africa.com FOR A VERY PEACEFUL KENYA -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

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Fwd: [Idlelo2] FOSS & Business
by Judy Okite 22 Mar '08

22 Mar '08

FYI Kind Regards, ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Dapo Ladimeji <dapo(a)ladimeji.co.uk> Date: Mar 22, 2008 3:04 AM Subject: [Idlelo2] FOSS & Business To: council(a)fossfa.net Cc: IDLELO <idlelo2(a)fossfa.net>, Fossfa <council(a)fossfa.net> Hi Folks Two matters: Firstly - hope you guys who went to Idlelo3 had a good time. (I would have loved to come but no ticket!.) Secondly - I have been researching FOSS in business and the market has really changed from the last time I looked. There are now several production ready FOSS erp solutions suitable for small and medium sized businesses. This could be real boon both for medium sized African businesses and for local African developers/consultants. I attach a review article from University of Vienna (2006) - only that I should add that much has even improved since its publication. The quality is such that I can readily recommend these solutions to my clients in the UK. (What a difference a few years can make!) If anyone has any comments let me know. regards Dapo

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Ghetto FM (Nairobi Kenya): Voice for Peace Needs Help to Spread its Messages
by Janet Feldman 21 Mar '08

21 Mar '08

Dear Friends, Last fall, a letter circulated asking for donations (funds and equipment) for Ghetto FM, a project of the development nonprofit, SIDAREC (www.sidarec.org) which works with youth and adults in depressed areas of Nairobi. Since that time, Ghetto FM has been an invaluable ally of the peace process in Kenya. Below please note some of their outstanding activities. Ghetto FM is still very much in need of funds, equipment, training, and other resources in kind, in fact anything helpful to advance the peace process. If anyone can donate, please contact George Onyango at geogias(a)yahoo.com or george(a)sidarec.or.ke. With greatest thanks and all best wishes, Janet Feldman (KAIPPG International, kaippg(a)earthlink.net) Ghetto FM (SIDAREC's radio project): What we did is to use Ghetto FM to gauge the mood of the people and at the same time asking well-wishers to contribute. People have managed to contribute various items like clothes and food, while SIDAREC has donated drugs and asked for help from volunteer doctors for treating people. We have been having peace meetings within the affected slums. We have had them since the violence erupted. These meetings have been successful because of Ghetto FM. Through the station, we have been able to mobilize assistance to the displaced, coordinated meetings between various communities, and preached peace and reconciliation. What has excited me most is the fact that we have our own people, from the areas where we operate, as presenters. These are people who have never went to college to learn journalism. What we did is just to give them an in-house training for a month, and that was it. Looking at some of the programs that they came up with, one will be tempted to think you are dealing with professionals. Therefore any support to help improve Ghetto FM will be a boost to the youth working with the station. In one meeting, we managed to bring in the Provincial Administration. One of our suggestions to the Provincial administration is to help integrate people. This means that any group who wants assistance from the government must show that other community members are involved. In other words, it must show diversity. George Onyango Project Administrator Slums Information Development & Resource Centres (SIDAREC) P.O.BOX 9687 00300 TEL.+254-20-246961/247356 MOBILE:+254-721986320 NAIROBI,KENYA. E-mail: george(a)sidarec.or.ke Website: www.sidarec.org Skype: george.onyango --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ YOU ARE IN KAZI AFRIKA GROUP UNSUBSCRIBE: kaziafrika-unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/kaziafrika?hl=en www.kazi-africa.com FOR A VERY PEACEFUL KENYA -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

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Ghetto FM (Nairobi Kenya): Voice for Peace Needs Help to Spread its Messages
by Janet Feldman 21 Mar '08

21 Mar '08

Dear Friends, Last fall, a letter circulated asking for donations (funds and equipment) for Ghetto FM, a project of the development nonprofit, SIDAREC (www.sidarec.org) which works with youth and adults in depressed areas of Nairobi. Since that time, Ghetto FM has been an invaluable ally of the peace process in Kenya. Below please note some of their outstanding activities. Ghetto FM is still very much in need of funds, equipment, training, and other resources in kind, in fact anything helpful to advance the peace process. If anyone can donate, please contact George Onyango at geogias(a)yahoo.com or george(a)sidarec.or.ke. With greatest thanks and all best wishes, Janet Feldman (KAIPPG International, kaippg(a)earthlink.net) Ghetto FM (SIDAREC's radio project): What we did is to use Ghetto FM to gauge the mood of the people and at the same time asking well-wishers to contribute. People have managed to contribute various items like clothes and food, while SIDAREC has donated drugs and asked for help from volunteer doctors for treating people. We have been having peace meetings within the affected slums. We have had them since the violence erupted. These meetings have been successful because of Ghetto FM. Through the station, we have been able to mobilize assistance to the displaced, coordinated meetings between various communities, and preached peace and reconciliation. What has excited me most is the fact that we have our own people, from the areas where we operate, as presenters. These are people who have never went to college to learn journalism. What we did is just to give them an in-house training for a month, and that was it. Looking at some of the programs that they came up with, one will be tempted to think you are dealing with professionals. Therefore any support to help improve Ghetto FM will be a boost to the youth working with the station. In one meeting, we managed to bring in the Provincial Administration. One of our suggestions to the Provincial administration is to help integrate people. This means that any group who wants assistance from the government must show that other community members are involved. In other words, it must show diversity. George Onyango Project Administrator Slums Information Development & Resource Centres (SIDAREC) P.O.BOX 9687 00300 TEL.+254-20-246961/247356 MOBILE:+254-721986320 NAIROBI,KENYA. E-mail: george(a)sidarec.or.ke Website: www.sidarec.org Skype: george.onyango

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Fwd: [Idlelo2] Urgent Release - FOSSFA urges African governments to paticipate more effectively in Open Standards Debate
by Judy Okite 21 Mar '08

21 Mar '08

FYI Kind Regards, ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Nnenna <nne75(a)yahoo.com> Date: Mar 21, 2008 4:50 AM Subject: [Idlelo2] Urgent Release - FOSSFA urges African governments to paticipate more effectively in Open Standards Debate To: Fossfa <council(a)fossfa.net>, FAYE Ibrahima <fayiboul(a)yahoo.fr>, fsylla(a)gmail.com, Ken Lohento <klohento(a)panos-ao.org> Cc: ACSIS <africa(a)wsis-cs.org>, IDLELO <idlelo2(a)fossfa.net>, Edward Yeboah < edwardy(a)aiti-kace.com.gh>, Samer Azmy <samer.azmy(a)gmail.com> Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOSSFA URGES AFRICAN GOVERNMENTS TO PARTICIPATE MORE EFFECTIVELY IN THE DEBATE ON OPEN STANDARDS FOSSFA calls on African governments and Standards bodies to participate more effectively in the global debate on Open Standards by encouraging public involvement in the debate at the national level. DAKAR, SENEGAL – (March 20, 2008) The Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) today called on African governments and Standards bodies to participate more effectively in the global debate on Open Standards, especially the Open Office Extended Markup Language (OOXML) standard. Following a five-day conference in Dakar, Senegal, with a theme, "Making the Knowledge Economy Work for Africa", participants agreed that open standards allow for interoperability (e.g. software packages from various sources can work together), promote innovation and economic growth, and help users avoid being locked-in to proprietary solutions. FOSSFA encourages African governments to facilitate the debate on Open Standards, and involve national experts in decisions regarding technology standards. The organization also urged African governments to seek a collective African voice prior to taking positions on Open Standards issues. Recalling that the last Ballot Re-count Meeting had very little representation from Africa, and that African countries voted in the affirmative without thorough and more inclusive discussions on the issues, FOSSFA strongly calls for more active public engagement of the issues in the future. Further, FOSSFA believes that governments should pay particular attention to procurement practices, especially software agreements between it and software companies. In this regard, FOSSFA noted that the practice of binding a sovereign country to agreements based on non-disclosable memorandums of understanding is not open, contravenes the principles and values of transparency in public procurement, and must be stopped. FOSSFA is closely following the open standards debate in Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe which have the right to vote in a decision on OOXML on March 29, 2008. FOSSFA strongly urges those of them that voted "YES" in the past to abstain in the next voting session to allow for greater national and continent-wide debate on the issue. ABOUT FOSSFA FOSSFA is the premier African FOSS organization, and was founded under the auspices of the Bamako Bureau of the African Information Society Initiative within the mandate given by African Governments in 1995 to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The Vision of FOSSFA is to promote the use of FOSS and the FOSS model in African development, and the organization supports the integration of FOSS in national policies. FOSSFA also coordinates, promotes, and adds value to African FOSS initiatives, creativity, industry, expertise, efforts and activities at all levels. FOSSFA partners with development organizations who share these goals towards a participatory and gender-mainstreamed sustainable development and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals in Africa. FOSSFA is governed by a Council elected during Idlelo, from which the Executive is chosen. FOSSFA members may be individuals, organizations, development agencies or government FOSS bureaus. The South African Minister of Public Service and Administration, Ms Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi is a FOSSFA present Patron. CONTACT: secretariat(a)fossfa.net nnenna(a)opensource.org www.fossfa.net www.idlelo.org ### ------------------------------ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51438/*http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs> _______________________________________________ Idlelo2 mailing list Idlelo2(a)fossfa.net http://mailman.dst.gov.za/mailman/listinfo/idlelo2 -- Judy Ann Okite, +254-721237507,+254-734252336 P.O. BOX 2228 00100, NAIROBI,KENYA. 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. ' Martin Luther King, Jr.

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COPYRIGHTS (AND WRONGS)]
by alice 21 Mar '08

21 Mar '08

Dear All Re-thinking copy right laws....interesting developments. best alice http://www.physorg.com/news125154432.html #PhysOrg News search COPYRIGHTS (AND WRONGS) Some of the most important copyright documents ever written are being made available online for the first time, reflecting growing public interest in authorial rights in the wake of the internet revolution. Original papers charting the contributions of thinkers such as Machiavelli, Martin Luther, John Locke, Daniel Defoe, Immanuel Kant, Wordsworth, Balzac and Victor Hugo to the development of copyright law will be available through the Primary Sources on Copyright History Project, which is being launched in London this week. The website, http://www.copyrighthistory.org <http://www.copyrighthistory.org/> , will offer users anywhere in the world the chance to examine more than 10,000 pages of rare legal papers, some of which date back to the invention of the printing press itself. It has been compiled by an international team of lawyers and historians, led by experts from the University of Cambridge and Bournemouth University. Many of the documents, which include writings by some of the greatest scholars of the past 500 years, have until now been stashed away in obscure libraries all over the world. The new digital resource will mean that for the first time anyone who wants to read them can do so at the click of a button. The website's creators say the resource reflects growing public concern about copyright issues raised, in particular, by the advent of the internet revolution. "Copyright law used to be a topic that only affected authors and the industries that exploited their works," Professor Lionel Bently, from the University Cambridge and one of the project's general editors, said. "Today, everyone who uses a computer, operates a web page, accesses online materials, or downloads music from the internet needs to be wary of copyright rules. While in the past copies were made by the exploiters - publishers, broadcasters or the film and record industries - now they are being made by individuals on computers, in their offices or at home." The documents in the collection will be available both as facsimile images and in transcribed and translated formats. The earliest is Johannes of Speyer's monopoly, awarded to the German craftsman by the Venetian Signoria in 1469, and the first known record of a printing privilege granted by a European government. From there, the history of copyright law in Britain, France, Italy, Germany and the United States is traced up to the 1886 Berne Convention - which broke through the national boundaries restricting copyright law. Notable among the British papers is the original parchment copy of the Statute of Anne of 1710, the world's first general copyright law, and a model for much subsequent legislation. The Statute granted authors and their publishers an exclusive term of 14 years (today the duration of copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years). In order to receive copyright protection, all books had to be registered at Stationers' Hall, London, the livery hall of the ancient guild of printers where the digital archive will be formally opened on Wednesday (19 March). Users can also examine Martin Luther's indignant Admonition To The Printers, written in 1525 after one of his manuscripts was stolen by a typesetter, who then reaped the profit of having it printed overseas. The father of Protestantism compares his actions to those of "highwaymen and thieves", adding: "God will see to it that the profit you make on this will just suffice for you to smear your shoes with it!" The archive also features prints and privileges by the German Renaissance artist Albrecht Drer, William Hogarth's intervention that led to the 1735 Engraver's Copyright Act, the philosopher Denis Diderot's letter on behalf of the Paris book trade (1763), and the constitutional clause of the United States (1789) that gave Congress the power to legislate in the fields of patents and copyright in order "to promote the progress of science and the useful arts". The editors hope the digital archive will not just prove useful to scholars and legal historians, but inform legislative debates, such as the Government's current review of exceptions to copyright law, and the push by record company executives to extend the European copyright term in sound recordings from 50 to 95 years. History suggests that legislators should be wary when industrial interests become concerned with the "natural right of authors over the products of their mental labour", as the publishers expressed their argument for the 1710 Statute, and in the subsequent "Battle of the Booksellers". More often than not, this argument has been shown to be a smokescreen for market control. "History provides useful insights into why copyright was thought to be desirable and how it has expanded," said general editor Professor Martin Kretschmer of Bournemouth University. "The primary sources in this collection show that there are many more ways to reconfigure copyright norms than surface in current debate. The regulation of an information society quite urgently needs a wider perspective." The archive can be pre-viewed at http://copyright-project.law.cam.ac.uk <http://copyright-project.law.cam.ac.uk/> . Its permanent web address is: http://www.copyrighthistory.org <http://www.copyrighthistory.org/> . ############################################### Corvallis Action on Globalization (CAG) has been formed to carry forward the energy generated in Seattle at the end of 1999 to generate a grassroots movement. It is our purpose to educate the local and regional community about trade globalization, and, in so doing, to provide a reasoned response to its governmental and business supporters. This list is not moderated, subscription is open, and anything posted by subscribers is mailed to the whole list. Posting is restricted to subscribers. - To SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE to the cag list send email to - majordomo(a)maillist.peak.org <mailto:majordomo@maillist.peak.org> - with the message - subscribe/unsubscribe cag - [No subject is needed.] ======================================= APC Forum is a meeting place for the APC community - people and institutions who are or have been involved in collaboration with APC, and share the APC vision - a world in which all people have easy, equal and affordable access to the creative potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to improve their lives and create more democratic and egalitarian societies. _______________________________________________ apc.forum mailing list apc.forum(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/apc.forum

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[Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] Fellowship Opportunities: AFTLD 2nd African ccTLDs Event, Johannesburg - AfriNIC Community invited ..]
by alice 21 Mar '08

21 Mar '08

AfTLD would like to announce availability of fellowship opportunities to attend AfTLD 2nd African ccTLD event which will be held in Johannesburg from 7th-11th April 200h. Register and apply now : www.aftld.org . ------- About AfTLD 2008 : AfTLD in cooperation with South Africa's Department of Communications “DOC”, AfTLD is organizing the Second African ccTLD event ( Workshops, Training and AfTLD General Assembly meeting in Cape Town, South Africa from7th to 11th of April 2008. AFTLD workshops main objective is to offer advanced DNS training and exchange of best practices between African Country Code Top Level Domain operators/managers. Telecom, ISPs and Governments ICT Agencies, are invited to participate in AfTLD events inorder to be contribute to the process of developing and enhancing a national Internet infrastructure and provide assistance in building a strong local Internet services by promoting and utilizing country’s top level domain . Event Programme : http://www.aftld.org/SA2008/programme.html Previous AfTLD Events : Visit AfTLD 2007 Cairo Page ( materials, AGM Report, Photo Gallery, ..ect ) .. http://www.aftld.org/cairo2007/index.html Best Regards, Mohamed El Bashir VP Communications & Out-Reach AFTLD _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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Fwd: WCIT 2008 Enewsletter Issue # 5
by waudo siganga 20 Mar '08

20 Mar '08

Some colleagues may be interested in attending the upcoming World Congres s on IT: If you cannot view the newsletter page properly, kindly click on [1]http://data.wcit2008.org/wcitdata/newsletter_mar/Newsletter_5_wcit08_s hort.html [2][nl_email_080319_01.jpg] [nl_email_080319_02.jpg] [nl_email_080319_03.jpg] [nl_email_080319_04.jpg] [3][USEMAP:nl_email_080319_05.jpg] [nl_email_080319_06.jpg] [4][USEMAP:nl_email_080319_07.jpg] [5][USEMAP:nl_email_080319_08.jpg] [6][USEMAP:nl_email_080319_09.jpg] [7][USEMAP:nl_email_080319_10.jpg] [8][USEMAP:nl_email_080319_11.jpg] [9][USEMAP:nl_email_080319_12.jpg] [nl_email_080319_13.jpg] [10][USEMAP:nl_email_080319_14.jpg] [11][USEMAP:nl_email_080319_15.jpg] [12][USEMAP:nl_email_080319_16.jpg] [nl_email_080319_17.jpg] [13][USEMAP:nl_email_080319_18.jpg] [nl_email_080319_19.jpg] [14][USEMAP:nl_email_080319_20.jpg] [nl_email_080319_21.jpg] [nl_email_080319_22.jpg] [15][USEMAP:nl_email_080319_23.jpg] [16][USEMAP:nl_email_080319_24.jpg] If you cannot view this page properly, kindly click on [17]http://data.wcit2008.org/wcitdata/newsletter_mar/Newsletter_5 _wcit08_short.html You are receiving this email from the newsletter subscription at www.wcit2008.org If you would like to discontinue receiving emails from WCIT 2008 simply reply to this email with the word unsubscribe in the subject line References 1. http://data.wcit2008.org/wcitdata/newsletter_mar/Newsletter_5_wcit08_short.… 2. http://www.wcit2008.org/ 3. LYNXIMGMAP:file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap0 4. LYNXIMGMAP:file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap1 5. LYNXIMGMAP:file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap5 6. LYNXIMGMAP:file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap2 7. LYNXIMGMAP:file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap3 8. LYNXIMGMAP:file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap10 9. LYNXIMGMAP:file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap4 10. LYNXIMGMAP:file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap6 11. LYNXIMGMAP:file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap11 12. LYNXIMGMAP:file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap7 13. LYNXIMGMAP:file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap8 14. LYNXIMGMAP:file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap9 15. LYNXIMGMAP:file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap13 16. LYNXIMGMAP:file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap12 17. http://data.wcit2008.org/wcitdata/newsletter_mar/Newsletter_5_wcit08_short.… [USEMAP] file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap12 1. http://www.msc.com.my/ 2. http://www.mosti.gov.my/ [USEMAP] file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap13 1. http://www.wcit2008.org/ [USEMAP] file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap9 1. http://m1e.net/c?78111151-MjnTBO6zBYOpE%403175854-tOuigjBTj7RWY [USEMAP] file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap8 1. http://m1e.net/c?78111151-0V1fctuqMpczg%403175854-7X5yaOGA34Lj2 2. http://www.kioskmedia.com.my/ 3. http://www.freenet.com.my/ 4. http://www.sarawak.gov.my/ [USEMAP] file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap7 1. http://m1e.net/c?78111151-0V1fctuqMpczg%403175854-7X5yaOGA34Lj2 [USEMAP] file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap11 1. http://www.witsa.org/ [USEMAP] file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap6 1. http://m1e.net/c?78111151-0V1fctuqMpczg%403175854-7X5yaOGA34Lj2 [USEMAP] file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap4 1. http://m1e.net/c?78111151-MjnTBO6zBYOpE%403175854-tOuigjBTj7RWY [USEMAP] file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap10 1. http://travel.tourism.gov.my/consumer/about/default.asp 2. http://www.tourism.gov.my/ [USEMAP] file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap3 1. http://m1e.net/c?78111151-MjnTBO6zBYOpE%403175854-tOuigjBTj7RWY [USEMAP] file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap2 1. http://m1e.net/c?78111151-VCdzRv1eTdhhs%403175853-a73GqCEzaN3Gc 2. http://m1e.net/c?78111151-SlK1ZH7jWanVY%403175852-Z8P3YUhPZyAu%2e [USEMAP] file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap5 1. http://m1e.net/c?78111151-MjnTBO6zBYOpE%403175854-tOuigjBTj7RWY [USEMAP] file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap1 1. http://m1e.net/c?78111151-C6tKTwa6jL/0E%403175851-wMz.4A62x/B52 2. http://m1e.net/c?78111151-VCdzRv1eTdhhs%403175853-a73GqCEzaN3Gc [USEMAP] file://localhost/tmp/linkstmp/9TOxlZ2Ayd#FPMap0 1. http://m1e.net/c?78111151-aaUOWXvJ9WCxs%403175850-YGOvnEO3vNZU6 -- waudo siganga emailsignet(a)mailcan.com

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Public Servants and blogging
by Al Kags 20 Mar '08

20 Mar '08

http://davepress.net/2008/03/10/public-servants-must-blog/ I just came across the above article and I wonder what the thoughts of this groups. One would imagine beyond the official policy and regulations there is a social impediment to public servants blogging. What would need to happen to get us to a point where we have official public blogs? I also am reminded of an interesting article (below) by the CEO of Sun Microsystems that was published in a Havard Business Review a while back - If you want to Lead, Blog. If You Want to Lead, Blog *by* *Jonathan Schwartz<http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu/hbrol/en/includes/sasearch.jh…> * Many senior executives at Sun, including me, have blogs that can be read by anyone, anywhere in the world. We discuss everything from business strategy to product development to company values. We host open letters from the outside, and we openly respond to them. We talk about our successes—and our mistakes. (If you don't believe me, go to www.blogs.sun.com/roller/page/jonathan?entry=dear_john.) That may seem risky. But it's riskier not to have a blog. Remember when, not long ago, CEOs would ask their assistants to print out their e-mails for them, and they'd dictate responses to be typewritten and sent via snail mail? Where are those leaders now? (The last of my contacts of that breed just retired.) In ten years, most of us will communicate directly with customers, employees, and the broader business community through blogs. For executives, having a blog is not going to be a matter of choice, any more than using e-mail is today. If you're not part of the conversation, others will speak on your behalf—and I'm not talking about your employees. Blogging lets you participate in communities you want to cultivate—whether it's your employees, potential employees, customers, or anyone else—and leverage your corporate culture competitively. Here's a good example: Sun, like every organization, receives e-mails from happy customers lauding one employee or another for good work. The idea came up that we should post these e-mails on a "wall of fame" on our intranet. But we realized that this venue would profoundly limit the number of readers, so someone suggested putting the wall of fame up on my external blog. Immediately, people raised the concern that by identifying our best employees, we'd make them recruitment targets. Well, of course that could happen. But it cuts both ways. The upside is the positive ripple effect on workers' morale and on the public's perception of the company. What's more, my competitors' employees could see what I'm saying about my team and could decide whether I'm more compelling than their own leaders. So rather than being a threat to Sun, blogging about my best employees can build loyalty and be a recruitment tool to boot. How do you get started on a blog? I suggest clearly defining a bloggingstrategy and guidelines. ( Or go ahead and use ours at www.sun.com/aboutsun/media/blogs/policy.html. Just make sure to change the company name.) Then find your voice. Be honest and open. Be respectful of your audiences. Don't treat blogging like advertising—it's not. Use humor. Link to those who interest and influence you. Once you get going, don't micromanage the process. Your legal and corporate communications teams do not have to be involved in every post—after all, they're not involved in every e-mail you send or telephone call you make. Once in a while, you may need to add some clarifying language. (For example, a 14A filing was required for my blog posting about acquisition intentions, just as it would be for many other forms of communication.) But the rule of thumb is simple: Know the guidelines, then let loose. If you 're unclear about your company's policy on something, ask around. Maybe it needs to be more carefully defined. Be sure to listen to feedback and respond to legitimate ideas—from inside and outside. And, most important, write the blog yourself. Authenticity is paramount. Some senior executives hire people to write their blogs. Don'tbother. It's like hiring someone to write your e-mail. It's not going to work. Trust me, your market and your employees are clamoring for executive engagement and insight. They will value and remember your candor. And you'll be surprised by how much you learn from them. Reprint: F0511J

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Malaysia to migrate to the OpenOffice.org open source productivity suite
by Dorcas Muthoni 20 Mar '08

20 Mar '08

Many countries are now saving lots of money and improving balance of trade by adopting Open Source software.. Brazil, Malaysia, South Africa. With the infrastructure/connectivity getting more under control and hardware prices going down tremendously, software will be the next frontier. What is the ICT Board strategy around software issues? I believe this would be a good time for us to begin working out clear strategies around software sub sector. I am curious to know how for example the ICT board will guide a ministry such as the Ministry of Education which apparently has an MOU with Microsoft, the Digital Villages project, Software Development Industry with relation to the outsourcing business opportunities.. Muthoni FYI, URL: http://www.oscc.org.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=189&Itemid… Putrajaya, 19th March 2008 - The Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU), today officially adopts a policy to migrate to the OpenOffice.org open source productivity suite. This is in line with the Malaysian Public Sector Open Source Master Plan, which calls for government agencies to reduce costs, increase freedom of choice and interoperability. >From April 1st, MAMPU will start adopting the OpenDocument Format (ODF), standard for all new documents created. ODF the ISO open standard for electronic documents is also the default format for OpenOffice.org. The agency will also uninstall all copies of Microsoft Office by end of 2008. To ensure a smooth migration, presently over 80 agency staff have been trained by the Open Source Competency Centre (OSCC). Additional staff will then be trained internally by the IT department, which will also provide support for OpenOffice.org. Related Documents: * Polisi Penggunaan OpenOffice.org MAMPU (in Malay) * Mengapa Bertukar Kepada OpenOffice.org (in Malay) -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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Fwd: Crime rate up with cheap telephony in Uganda
by Mike Theuri 20 Mar '08

20 Mar '08

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Chifu <chifu2222(a)gmail.com> Date: Sun, Mar 16, 2008 at 2:01 AM Subject: [DigAfrica] Crime rate up with cheap telephony in Uganda To: DigAfrica(a)yahoogroups.com Crime rate up with cheap telephony Friday, 14th March, 2008 By Arthur Baguma IN Kampala it is easier to buy a mobile phone sim card than to buy chocolate. Sim cards are sold everywhere, even on streets and in taxi parks, and they cost as little as sh1,500, the price of a pineapple. On Thursday, a Saturday Vision reporter was able to buy sim cards from street vendors, alongside other vendors of items such socks, hankies, underwear and roasted coffee beans. The Police say this has led to an increase in phone-mediated crimes such as conning, threatening lives and insulting, which are committed using phones. "A person can buy a sim card just to abuse someone and after that they throw it away," says Simeo Nsubuga, Police spokesman for Kampala. In Kampala alone, Police records about 10 such cases every week, a sharp increase from 2-3 cases a week two years ago. But the majority are not reported. A makerere Uniiversity lecturer received a phone call from someone claiming to be his former student. The caller introduced a `juicy deal', namely an opportunity to sell machine bearings to a mzungu representative of a big oil company. He arranged a meeting between the mzungu and the lecturer, near Entebbe international airport. The mzungu came carrying a huge bag stuffed with cash bundles. He asked for samples of the bearings, which the lecturer brought and he endorsed. Meanwhile, in Kampala Industrial Area, someone was waiting to sell the bearings to the lecturer so he could sell it to the mzungu at 100% profit. But alas, after borrowing millions of shillings and buying the bearings, the lecturer returned to find both the mzungu and the broker gone and their phones switched off. Charity (not real name) almost walked out of her marital home over an anonymous text message. The message alleged that her husband of 10 years was involved in an extra marital affair. The sender signed off as a concerned friend. But when Charity tried to call the number of the `Good Samaritan', most times it was off and when it rang, she would not answer. The sender always claimed Charity's husband was with another woman, until one day, he made the same claim when Charity was with her husband at home. This is when Charity knew it was a hoax. This is just the tip of the iceberg. According to the Police, crimes committed using mobile phones have more than doubled in just two years. In Kampala alone, Police registers 10 such cases every week, yet a bigger number of incidents are not reported. This is an increase from 2-3 cases a week two years ago. These crimes include conning, threatening lives, insulting and blackmail. "A person can buy a SIM card just to abuse someone else and after that, they throw it away," says Simeo Nsubuga, Police spokesman for Kampala. Moreover, because they do not put the SIM card in their day-to-day phones, the Police find it hard to trace them. In some downtown areas, phones cost as little as sh20,000 and SIM cards cost a measly sh1,500. The conmen can, therefore, afford to throw away the phone with its SIM card to avoid being tracked. Worse still, SIM cards can be obtained just anywhere, even in taxi parks, without anyone keeping the buyer's details. This, says the Police, has been one of the main reasons for the increased phone-mediated crime. Many countries, including Germany, Switzerland and the US have legislation that requires pre-paid phone card users to register their identities when purchasing the SIM card. The law requires that telephone operators keep customer identity data and are required by law to make this data available under court order to authorised law enforcement and National Intelligence Center personnel in the respective countries. Phone Companies speak out Mobile phone companies claim that their subscribers are registered, but even under normal registration, the process has flaws which can be beaten. A subscriber is simply told to fill a form with their particulars. One is not asked to produce any identification to cross check the information they avail, after all, it is assumed that one is buying a personal belonging and would want a receipt in his or her genuine names. But Mark Kaheru, utl's public relation's officer, says even when customers are asked to register, some can use fictitious names. Kaheru says utl has received complaints from people with cases related to SIM card abuse. For example, some one getting a message that you have won a prize in a promotion. The message will proceed to indicate that if you are to redeem your prize, send air time to a certain number. "These are conmen men and we always put adverts in papers to warn the public over such cases," says Kaheru. Sheila Kangwagye the MTN Public relations officer says, all their SIM cards have registration forms including those sold on the streets by vendors. A SIM pack usually comes with a registration form. However, Saturday Vision was able to buy and activate a SIM card off the street without registration. Both utl and MTN receive complaints from subscribers who have been victims of phone-mediated crime such as threatening and black mail. But Kangwagye says they help only on court order. "We don't give out details for such queries to our sub-scribers. We only aid in police investigations if the case is of criminal nature." Police Advice The Police advises that any victim of a crime committed through a phone should report the case. Numbers that start with four and five after the first three digits are the most commonly used by con-men. The Police warns the public to be on the look out for anonymous calls and text messages from such numbers. In some cases the Police has foiled attempts to con people through mobile phones and arrested the culprits. According to Nsubuga, the conmen carry out thorough research about your personal life. Some one will call and accurately say things that are relevant to your life. They may mention names of your children or wife before duping you into the transactions. Government policy Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the telecommunications regulatory body says there is no policy per se in respect to regulation and acquisition of SIM cards. UCC says that in countries where acquisition of SIM cards is regulated; it's facilitated by the National identity cards. However, Uganda has no national identity cards. "A national ID is the only reference number that is pegged to a person and all the transactions they operate can be traced through that reference number. It is easy to trace a person," Fred Otunnu, the UCC Corporate Boss says. He adds that in Uganda, the process of regulating SIM cards is hard because it is easy for someone to use multiple IDs in the absence of a national ID. He says Uganda requires a national ID as a starting point with a reference number attached to each person. David Bahati, MP Ndorwa West county in Kabale, calls for urgent legislation. "We have a whole lot of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) bills pending. The Government should come out as soon as possible and make into law the current body of bills on ICT regulations which have not yet been passed," he said. It turns out that in Uganda, the telecommunications sector has grown rapidly without proper legislation. Whereas it is clear that phone companies should have records of their subscribers, there appears to be no law compelling them to do so. In the meantime, phone-mediated crime continues to grow rapidly. http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/616655

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Postel Network Operator's Scholarship 2008
by alice wanjira 19 Mar '08

19 Mar '08

<http://www.nanog.org/postel-scholarship.html> <http://www.nanog.org/postel-scholarship.html> Overview NANOG and ARIN have been been unique and successful cooperative fora for Internet builders in North America and other parts of the world. Senior practitioners from around the world contribute their time to NANOG and ARIN as presenters, teachers and trainers, to produce consistent non-commercial conferences of high-quality. Since 2007, the generosity of an anonymous donor and the administration of the Internet Society, have allowed NANOG and ARIN to provide financial support to a person from a developing country to participate in the October joint NANOG/ARIN meeting. The Postel Network Operator's Scholarship Committee cordially invite suitable applicants to apply for fellowship funding to participate in the October 2008 joint NANOG/ARIN meeting. Target Audience The Postel Network Operator's Scholarship targets personnel from developing countries who are actively involved in Internet development, in any of the following roles: * Engineers (Network Builders) * Operational and Infrastructure Support Personnel * Educators, Teachers, and Trainers Award Package Successful applicants will be provided with transportation to and from the meetings and a reasonable (local host standard) allowance for food and accommodation. In addition all fees for participation in the conferences, tutorials, and social events will be waived. The final grant size is determined according to final costs and available funding, and will be advised to successful applicants. Criteria for Selection The Postel Network Operator's Scholarship Committee will select the fellow according to following criteria. * Membership in the Target Audience listed above * Residency in a developing country * Demonstrated ability to utilize the experiences gained from NANOG/ARIN within their country, region, ... * Evaluation of an abstract of a presentation to be given at the meeting. Applicants from any part of the world will be considered. Fellowship Selection Committee The Fellowship Section Committee is a joint activity of the Steering Committee of NANOG and the Board of Trustees of ARIN. Application for Fellowships The deadline for application is 1 June 2008, and the awardee will be informed by 1 July 2008. To apply for the fellowship please read <http://www.nanog.org/postel-scholarship.html> <http://www.nanog.org/postel-scholarship.html> and submit your application via email to <PostelNOS(a)nanog.org> <PostelNOS(a)nanog.org>. Please be sure to include an abstract, and even possibly some slides, from the presentation you would give at the meetings. Thank you. randy, for the Fellowship Section Committee

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SME-Symposium set for this weekend-Route map
by Jose' 19 Mar '08

19 Mar '08

Hi Florence, I hereby attach the directions to the symposium. Regards, Jose' Florence Etta <feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Hi Jose, Can you please give us directions for the place. Cheers, FE Florence Etta PhD P.O. Box 14285,00800 Westlands-Nairobi, Kenya Tel: Mobile + 254-733-621851 Terrestrial: + 254-20-7121506 Fax/Phone: + 254-20-7125723 Alternative Email:florence.etta@gmail.com ----- Original Message ---- From: Jose' <ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com> To: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, 18 March, 2008 12:12:13 PM Subject: [kictanet] SME-Symposium set for this weekend Greetings all, just a quick reminder to those who are planning to come to the entrepreneurship symposium set for this Saturday 22,March 2008. Venue: Kenya assemblies of God-Bahati Estate Time:from 0800hrs to 1700hrs. Charges:150ksh-(Drinks included) Kentel,I am counting on you!! I see representatives from Ugabytes, Telecentre.org,Google(Brian and Joe),ICT Board,Ministry of Youth and Ministry of Communication,CFSK the list is endless........ Come see how youth are being exposed to loan granters and business consultants. regards, Jose' 0728878744 --------------------------------- Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. --------------------------------- Rise to the challenge for Sport Relief with Yahoo! for Good Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || --------------------------------- Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

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TEAMs to switch into Private Hands
by John Walubengo 19 Mar '08

19 Mar '08

The current issue of The EastAfrican claims that the government submarine fiber project is to be transferred to the initial co-financiers : Safaricom, KDN, Jamii, amongst others. Will the eventual majority shareholders - essentially the private sector - operate the cable on Open Access principles? Specifically, the following questions arise. 1. Will the cable be open for direct connectivity (at the source in MSA) to other future telco players? 2. Will the price of connecting to the international fiber be driven by profit-motives or will it be based on the 'cost-of-operating-the-fiber' basis. 3. What modalities exist for future investors who may wish to own part of the fiber maybe 2 or 5years after the cable is operational- or will this thing be a closed-club to the original financiers once the cable becomes operational? (remember the consortium approach of EASSy?) 4. What are the steps involved in transparently transferring this public resource into private sector? just wondering... walu. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

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Re: [kictanet] TEAMs to switch into Private Hands
by Florence Etta 19 Mar '08

19 Mar '08

Sorry to be picking up on this one now. If I am repeating what someone has already said do forgive me and ignore this post but here goes. Good question Paul. And if this important information is not available how about commissioning a study on "bandwidth utilization by sector" or model something close to it from actual current use so as to project future trends? This could be something the ICT Board might want to pursue? Cheers, FE ----- Original Message ---- From: Paul Kukubo <pkukubo(a)ict.go.ke> To: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, 17 March, 2008 10:46:09 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] TEAMs to switch into Private Hands Kai Is there any public analysis or research on actual bandwidth utilization by sector? i.e.. Agriculture vs say Banking? And web browsing vs. Infrastructure facilitation. Who is using what bandwidth and for what? As we promote outsourcing and ICT industries, the conversation will shift from bandwidth availability to its exploitation by the common mwananchi The ICT board is spending time in many forums explaining this exciting opportunity to ICT business and entrepreuners as it unfolds. We must spread the message that business and entreprenuers must be ready when the cable lands. Regards Paul Kukubo ICT Board Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone provided by Celtel Kenya -----Original Message----- From: "Kai Wulff" <kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke> Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:09:27 To:pkukubo@ict.go.ke Cc:KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] TEAMs to switch into Private Hands Walu, like all other initiatives we have supported, KDN is seeing it as an enabler for the market and our approach is not profit driven (of course we want to recover the investment). There will be more than enough capacity on this cable as on Seacom, so fully redundant connectivity for the market will be the rule! Kai ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Walubengo" <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: <kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 09:07 Subject: [kictanet] TEAMs to switch into Private Hands > The current issue of The EastAfrican claims that the > government submarine fiber project is to be transferred to > the initial co-financiers : Safaricom, KDN, Jamii, amongst > others. > > Will the eventual majority shareholders - essentially the > private sector - operate the cable on Open Access > principles? Specifically, the following questions arise. > > > 1. Will the cable be open for direct connectivity (at the > source in MSA) to other future telco players? > > 2. Will the price of connecting to the international fiber > be driven by profit-motives or will it be based on the > 'cost-of-operating-the-fiber' basis. > > 3. What modalities exist for future investors who may wish > to own part of the fiber maybe 2 or 5years after the cable > is operational- or will this thing be a closed-club to the > original financiers once the cable becomes operational? > (remember the consortium approach of EASSy?) > > 4. What are the steps involved in transparently > transferring this public resource into private sector? > > just wondering... > > walu. > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kai.wulff%40kdn.co.ke > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > > -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: pkukubo(a)ict.go.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/pkukubo%40ict.go.ke _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/feanywhere%40yahoo.co.… ___________________________________________________________ Rise to the challenge for Sport Relief with Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/

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SME-Symposium set for this weekend
by Jose' 18 Mar '08

18 Mar '08

Greetings all, just a quick reminder to those who are planning to come to the entrepreneurship symposium set for this Saturday 22,March 2008. Venue: Kenya assemblies of God-Bahati Estate Time:from 0800hrs to 1700hrs. Charges:150ksh-(Drinks included) Kentel,I am counting on you!! I see representatives from Ugabytes, Telecentre.org,Google(Brian and Joe),ICT Board,Ministry of Youth and Ministry of Communication,CFSK the list is endless........ Come see how youth are being exposed to loan granters and business consultants. regards, Jose' 0728878744 --------------------------------- Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

1 0

Teams vs Flag (KDN?)
by Rebecca Wanjiku 18 Mar '08

18 Mar '08

Sometimes back, KDN was fronting for FLAG. Does it mean that KDN is no longer interested in FLAG? Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ----- Original Message ---- From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 5:20:45 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Local Content vs Submarine Cable. --- robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: >>>As I keep saying the solution is to concentrate on creating local content and keeping local traffic local, let the rest of the world beat a path to us and not the reverse. >>cut>> Yawe, I hear you. Infact 2years ago I was involved in some research that settled almost on your point of view http://www.diplomacy.edu/poolbin.asp?IDPool=127 But with the slight variation that we need BOTH the local content and the submarine cable. Its sort of a chicken and egg problem. Rather than expect one to precede the other, why not initiate both? walu. --- robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > Hi, > > Welcome to the beginning of the end, the cable is going > private and it will remain private exactly as happened in > West Africa. > > Can those of you who where changing your business plans > to reflect lower internet access instead increase the > cost of that component. > > As I keep saying the solution is to concentrate on > creating local content and keeping local traffic local, > let the rest of the world beat a path to us and not the > reverse. > > The article in the Nation last week about outsourcing > confirmed my fears our outsourcing model is a reverse > pyramid as opposed to the rest of the world. Our > outsourcing companies have 30% local provision and 70% > off shore yet the countries we are competing against have > the reverse. > > Time reveals all. > > Robert Yawe > KAY System Technologies Ltd > Phoenix House, 6th Floor > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 > Kenya > > Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Sent: Monday, 17 March, 2008 11:00:02 AM > Subject: [kictanet] TEAMs to switch into Private Hands > > Dear Walubengo, > > > Q: Will the eventual majority shareholders - essentially > the private > sector - operate the cable on Open Access principles? > Specifically, the > following questions arise. > > A: Competition alone will drive the cost low and if that > fails, Government > can intervene using the capacity it holds and if that > fails, the regulator > will have to intervene. > > Q: 1. Will the cable be open for direct connectivity (at > thesource in MSA) > to other future telco players? > > A: Yes indeed. See Q3 responses below. > > Q: 2. Will the price of connecting to the international > fiber be driven by > profit-motives or will it be based on the > 'cost-of-operating-the-fiber' > basis. > > A: Price of connecting to the International fibre remaims > cost of > operating the fibre but retail price will have an element > of profit. What > we shall guard agaist is exploitative prices. > > Q: 3. What modalities exist for future investors who may > wish to own part > of the fiber maybe 2 or 5years after the cable is > operational- or will > this thing be a closed-club to the original financiers > once the cable > becomes operational?(remember the consortium approach of > EASSy?) > > A: The Government of Kenya would continue to dilute its > shares in order to > ensure healthy competion exist. The model therefore is > not a closed shop. > > Q: 4. What are the steps involved in transparently > transferring this > public resource into private sector? > > A: You cannot force anyone to buy into Teams. There are > clear deadlines > by the financial arranger for making commitments. The > Standard Chatered > Bank were procured to make financial arrangements for the > cable. Although > sometimes Media misses the point here and there, it has > done a wonderful > job keeping us on our toes. > > Ndemo. > > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… > > > > > > > > > ___________________________________________________________ > > Rise to the challenge for Sport Relief with Yahoo! For > Good > > http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/> _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/rebeccawanjiku%40yahoo… ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

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The Googlization of Everything ... by Siva Vidyanathan]
by alice wanjira 17 Mar '08

17 Mar '08

How one company is disrupting culture, commerce and commerce ... and why we should worry! This blog, the result of a collaboration between myself and the Institute for the Future of the Book, is dedicated to exploring the process of writing a critical interpretation of the actions and intentions behind the cultural behemoth that is Google, Inc. The book will answer three key questions: What does the world look like through the lens of Google?; How is Google's ubiquity affecting the production and dissemination of knowledge?; and how has the corporation altered the rules and practices that govern other companies, institutions, and states? [more] * * * Hi. Welcome to my book. Hi. Welcome to my new book. Well, it's not a book yet. In fact, it will not be a real book for a long time. As you can tell from the title of this blog, the book will be about Google and all they ways that Google is shaking up the world. Google is a transformative and revolutionary company. I hesitate to use terms like that. We live in an era of hyperbole. So I try my best to discount claims of historical transformation or communicative revolutions. But in the case of Google, I am confident it is both. Now, I am approaching this book as both a fan and a critic. I am in awe of all that Google has done and all it hopes to do. I am also wary of its ambition and power. As I use this site to compose the manuscript (an archaic word that I love too much to discard) for the book The Googlization of Everything, I hope to do so with your help. This is the latest in a series of "open book" experiments hosted and guided by The Institute for the Future of the Book. The Institute has been supportive of my work for years -- long before I became affiliated with it as a fellow and certainly long before we thought up this project together. As with the other projects by Ken Wark and Mitch Stephens, this one will depend on reader criticism and feedback to work right. So this is an appeal for help. If you know something about Google, hip me to it. If you have an observation about how it works or how it affects our lives, write to me about it. On occasion, I will post an open question on this blog. Please help me answer it. I have never tried to write a book this way. Few have. Writing has been a lonely, selfish pursuit for me so far. I tend to wall myself off from the world (and my loved ones) for days at a time in fits and spurts when I get into a writing groove. I don't shave. I order pizza. I grumble. I ignore emails from my mother. I tend to comb through and revise every sentence five or six times (although I am not sure that actually shows up in the quality of my prose). Only when I am sure that I have not embarrassed myself (or when the editor calls to threaten me with a canceled contract – whichever comes first) do I show anyone what I have written. Now, this is not an uncommon process. Closed composition is the default among writers. We go to great lengths to develop trusted networks of readers and other writers with whom we can workshop – or as I prefer to call it because it's what the jazz musicians do, woodshed our work. Well, I am going to do my best to woodshed in public. As I compose bits and pieces of work, I will post them here. They might be very brief bits. They might never make it into the manuscript. But they will be up here for you to rip up or smooth over. That's the thing. For a number of years now I have made my bones in the intellectual world trumpeting the virtues of openness and the values of connectivity. I was an early proponent of applying "open source" models to scholarship, journalism, and lots of other things. And, more to the point: One of my key concerns with Google is that it is a black box. Something that means so much to us reveals so little of itself. So I would be a hypocrite if I wrote this book any other way. This book will not be a black box. Of course, it could get ugly in here. I could make tremendous mistakes. I could shoot something out there that shuts all doors at Google. I could undermine my ultimate market (but I seriously doubt that I could). I could just write myself into a corner. In my next post I will share a rough chapter outline. And I will give some sense of the basic questions and major issues that I hope to tackle in this work. Ok. As Sgt. Phil used to say, "Let's roll. And let's be careful out there." Send me links, questions and ideas: siva [at] googlizationofeverything [dot] com http://www.googlizationofeverything.com/2007/09/hi_welcome_to_my_book.php * * * Like the Mind of God (6 posts) All the World's Information (5 posts) What If Big Ads Don't Work (4 posts) Don't Be Evil (3 posts) Is Google a Library? (15 posts) Challenging Big Media (11 posts) The Dossier (3 posts) Global Google (1 post) Google Earth (no posts) A Public Utility? (7 posts) About this Book (7 post Siva Vaidhyanathan (how do you pronounce that?) Siva Vaidhyanathan I am a cultural historian and media scholar at the University of Virginia. I have written two previous books: Copyrights and Copywrongs: The Rise of Intellectual Property and How it Threatens Creativity (New York University Press, 2001) and The Anarchist in the Library: How the Clash between Freedom and Control is Hacking the Real World and Crashing the System (Basic Books, 2004). Most recently I edited (with Carolyn de la Pena) the collection, Rewiring the Nation: The Place of Technology in American Studies (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007). I've written for many periodicals, including American Scholar, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The New York Times Magazine, MSNBC.COM, Salon.com, openDemocracy.net, Columbia Journalism Review, and The Nation. I also blog at SIVACRACY.NET. After five years as a professional journalist, I earned a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. I've taught at Wesleyan University, the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Columbia University, New York University, and is this fall began as an associate professor of Media Studies and Law at the University of Virginia. I'm also a fellow at the New York Institute for the Humanities and the Institute for the Future of the Book.

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[Fwd: Balancing Act: African Broadcast and Film Markets Report is out now]
by alice 17 Mar '08

17 Mar '08

Dear all Interesting report but for a whopping GBP500/US$1,000....making it out of reach for most. Affordable local content? And it is indeed encouraging that organizations like IDRC taking up the challenge to narrow the knowledge/information gap with initiatives like the BPO Research study. best alice African Broadcast and Film Markets Report's content <http://lists.balancingact-africa.com/t/927/235533/131/0/> Other reports <http://lists.balancingact-africa.com/t/927/235533/2/0/> Consultancy <http://lists.balancingact-africa.com/t/927/235533/58/0/> In a world of converging media, telcos and ISPs are increasingly having to pay attention to what their counterparts in the broadcast and film industry are doing. Africas first genuine triple play offers will be launched shortly and mobile operators and broadcasters are trialling mobile TV. Therefore the world of programme rights and production costs may be a mystery that you will need to know more about. Increasingly, SMS and the Internet are being used as media. To reverse Marshall McLuhans well known phrase: the message is now the medium. There were 4.5 million downloads from Africa of material from the second series of Big Brother. Increasingly, SMS and the Internet are becoming media and will compete for advertising with the broadcast industry: there are shifting patterns for advertising in different media. For anyone interested in how the broadcast and film industry has and will develop and its converge with the telecoms industry, there has been a frustrating lack of data up until now. Balancing Acts African Broadcast and Film Markets, published in association with Intermedia, is over 340 pages long and has 132 charts, 41 tables of statistical data and 12 graphic maps. It is probably the most detailed data source on both industry and audience information for the sector in Africa. The report includes: *Part 1 *provides an analysis of the developing industry (based on a survey of 40 countries) and has the following sections: African industry overview Slow but steady liberalisation: This looks at the state of liberalisation, for radio and TV; the international players in the market; the scale of broadcast advertising; and the battle for Pay-TV subscribers. The beginning of the end for Mr President TV looks at the difficult commercial position of public broadcasters and ways they might get out the trap they are in. Other areas covered include: The costs of local and international programming; Digitilisation and High Definition Slow progress but it is on its way; Africas film industry Low output but big changes afoot; Africa goes triple-play the early pioneers roll-out; The potential market size for Pay Television; Reaching African diaspora audiences competing for eyeballs away from home; and Mobile TV a technology for Africa? *Part 2* looks at Africas rapidly shifting landscape through audience research from 17 key markets: Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Each survey involves a large sample size, and is conducted through face-to-face interview, usually in the home of the respondent. The result is an unusually rich, single source for data on how Africans are interacting with traditional and emerging broadcasters and platforms, new technologies and modes of mass and inter-personal communication. It is sufficiently standardised to allow cross-comparison between countries and trend analysis across the timeframe data has been collected. For the first time, there is now data on SMS and Internet use that enables a sizing of the current market and the basic socio-demographic data to allow a serious examination of the potential future markets. For a full list of the contents: http://www.balancingact-africa.com/broadcast_markets.html <http://lists.balancingact-africa.com/t/927/235533/131/0/> The report is priced as follows: Full price (Africa) GBP500/US$1,000; Full price (Rest of the World) GBP750/US$1,500; Reduced price for universities and NGOs GBP375/US$700. Click below to order: http://www.balancingact-africa.com/profiles/order/order_form.php <http://lists.balancingact-africa.com/t/927/235533/226/0/> You may also want to order one of the following: African Telecoms and Internet Markets Part 1: West Africa African Voice and Data Bandwidth Forecasts (2006-2011) CLICK HERE TO ORDER <http://lists.balancingact-africa.com/t/927/235533/2/0/> M-Money - Finances, Banking and Payments through mobile phones African VoIP Markets * Contact one of our analysts <mailto:info@balancingact-africa.com> Graphic maps showing significant patterns at a glance The report contains essential socio-demographic data with clear metrics for defining levels of affordability. The graphic map above shows the percentage of people able to afford certain kinds of high-value consumer goods in each of the 17 countries covered. The report also includes comparisons of levels of people defined as middle class against levels of television and PC ownership. Tables with up-to-date key industry data The tables and boxes provide data on: satellite, IP-TV and cable subscribers; advertising spend in selected African countries as a percentage of GDP; Top 15 African countries by ad spend and radio and TV ownership; Government broadcasting sources of financing; advertising spend by TV channel in Kenya and Tanzania; outdoor mobile cinema attendance in Kenya, box office and audience attendance for 100 South African films; the DVD and Video market in South Africa by value; diaspora populations and subscriber levels to diaspora services; and countries offering 3G services. Charts illustrating listening viewing habits for leading TV and radio broadcasters The report includes audience data for all 17 countries on: daily audiences for leading TV and radio broadcasters; viewing and listening levels at different times of the day; trust in information provided by leading broadcaster, both radio and television; interest in different types of programming (news, sports, fashion, etc); newspaper readership; media equipment ownership (radio, TV, satellite, PC and mobile); and media equipment used yesterday. All data is cross-comparable across countries and the report contains a pan-African summary and individual sub-regional summaries for East, North, South and West Africa. Use of convergence media (SMS, Mobile TV, IP-TV and Internet) For the first time, the report provides detailed use figures for converged media, both in terms of equipment ownership and use yesterday. Although Internet figures remain low in some countries, a critical mass of users clearly exists in other countries. It tracks the percentage of respondents who use SMS as a source of information and the figures are consistently higher than might be expected. Key statistics overview Each of the 17 audience country profiles has a detailed summary panel providing: socio-demographics; media ownership and daily use; top radio and TV channel by listening or viewing daily and daily Internet use; regulatory bodies; and the approximate number of domestic TV and radio channels.

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Re: [kictanet] TEAMs to switch into Private Hands
by robert yawe 17 Mar '08

17 Mar '08

Hi, Welcome to the beginning of the end, the cable is going private and it will remain private exactly as happened in West Africa. Can those of you who where changing your business plans to reflect lower internet access instead increase the cost of that component. As I keep saying the solution is to concentrate on creating local content and keeping local traffic local, let the rest of the world beat a path to us and not the reverse. The article in the Nation last week about outsourcing confirmed my fears our outsourcing model is a reverse pyramid as opposed to the rest of the world. Our outsourcing companies have 30% local provision and 70% off shore yet the countries we are competing against have the reverse. Time reveals all. Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ----- Original Message ---- From: "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, 17 March, 2008 11:00:02 AM Subject: [kictanet] TEAMs to switch into Private Hands Dear Walubengo, Q: Will the eventual majority shareholders - essentially the private sector - operate the cable on Open Access principles? Specifically, the following questions arise. A: Competition alone will drive the cost low and if that fails, Government can intervene using the capacity it holds and if that fails, the regulator will have to intervene. Q: 1. Will the cable be open for direct connectivity (at thesource in MSA) to other future telco players? A: Yes indeed. See Q3 responses below. Q: 2. Will the price of connecting to the international fiber be driven by profit-motives or will it be based on the 'cost-of-operating-the-fiber' basis. A: Price of connecting to the International fibre remaims cost of operating the fibre but retail price will have an element of profit. What we shall guard agaist is exploitative prices. Q: 3. What modalities exist for future investors who may wish to own part of the fiber maybe 2 or 5years after the cable is operational- or will this thing be a closed-club to the original financiers once the cable becomes operational?(remember the consortium approach of EASSy?) A: The Government of Kenya would continue to dilute its shares in order to ensure healthy competion exist. The model therefore is not a closed shop. Q: 4. What are the steps involved in transparently transferring this public resource into private sector? A: You cannot force anyone to buy into Teams. There are clear deadlines by the financial arranger for making commitments. The Standard Chatered Bank were procured to make financial arrangements for the cable. Although sometimes Media misses the point here and there, it has done a wonderful job keeping us on our toes. Ndemo. ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world" _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… ___________________________________________________________ Rise to the challenge for Sport Relief with Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 10, Issue 12
by godera＠skyweb.co.ke 17 Mar '08

17 Mar '08

Ndegwa and All, I believe some of you may have heard that IDRC here in Nairobi is embarking on a market study that is not limited to Kenyan operations. Edith if you are reading this, can you shed any light on this at this moment or is it premature to talk about it? Gilda Quoting kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke: > Send kictanet mailing list submissions to > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > 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: South African Intelligence Networking on Kenyan BPOSector > (MediaSpeak Africa) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2008 15:50:47 +0300 > From: "MediaSpeak Africa" <mesafric(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] South African Intelligence Networking on > Kenyan BPOSector > To: "Eric Osiakwan" <eric(a)afrispa.org> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Message-ID: > <9007a8bd0803090550k48b2010en75a9f33245c41c50(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Good people, > > Sure we are now talking big like we are supposed to. First, I wish to > support the suggestion that we should involve local players in such > initiatives. At least at the level of partnership so that we can have skills > transfer. > > But we also have to be serious so that what we do not tell the market out > there that we have lions in the parks only for them to come and see domestic > cats. We need to back strategy with infrastructure - which simply means that > we have to invest in the sector if we really want to be in the big league. > Ama? > > Ndegwa > > > On 07/03/2008, Eric Osiakwan <eric(a)afrispa.org> wrote: > > > > Peres, > > > > Better still there are good enough kenyan research enterprises who can do > > this so can we consider giving them a chance. This is with nothing against > > Frost and Sullivan but if u can get the expertise here then give it a > > chance, is the principle. > > > > Eric here > > > > > > On 6 Mar 2008, at 20:22, Peres Were wrote: > > > > > > > > Peres Were > > Dr Ndemo, > > > > Kenya can do this. It is just a matter of obtaining the necessary budget > > to > > engage companies such as Frost and Sullivan, to conduct a Competitor > > Analysis for us. > > > > We at the Kenya BPO & Contact Centre Society are currently working with > > development partners in order to engage reputable international > > organisations that are specialists in research, to carry out such > > intelligence and research that can assist in the growth and development > > of > > the BPO Sector in Kenya. > > > > Regards > > > > Peres Were > > Kenya BPO & Contact Centre Society > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: kictanet-bounces+pwere=cascadegl.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > [mailto:kictanet-bounces <kictanet-bounces>+pwere= > > cascadegl.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf > > Of bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > > Sent: 06 March 2008 19:25 > > To: pwere(a)cascadegl.com > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > Subject: [kictanet] South African Intelligence Networking on Kenyan > > BPOSector > > > > Dear All, > > The article below was picked from Business Wire in SA. My wish is that we > > could one day start such intelligence networking on countries we perceive > > as competitors. > > > > Regards > > > > Ndemo. > > > > > > > > Kenya Calling - The Rise of the Kenyan Call Centre Market > > 372 words > > 5 March 2008 > > 02:38 AM > > Business Wire > > English > > (c) 2008 Business Wire. All Rights Reserved. > > > > > > CAPE TOWN, South Africa - (BUSINESS WIRE) - The ICT group at Frost & > > Sullivan ( http://www.ict.frost.com/ ) is pleased to announce that it will > > be hosting its first quarter analyst briefing on the Kenyan call centre > > market on 13 March 2008 at 2pm GMT / 4pm CAT. > > Kenya is a late-comer to offering call centre services in Africa, however > > the market is set to experience significant growth in the next seven > > years. > > "Kenya is well positioned to become a noteworthy call centre market," > > notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Spiwe Chireka. "The country has > > implemented unique initiatives that, together with the cost attractiveness > > of the market, are likely to see Kenya becoming a formidable participant > > in the global call centre outsourcing arena." > > Highlights of this briefing will include an analysis of the current status > > of the market and the factors expected to fuel growth. The briefing will > > also offer a discussion on the opportunities available to equipment > > vendors and investors. > > The briefing will benefit current and potential market participants, BPO > > industry organisations and call centre equipment and technology suppliers. > > Operators in other markets will also be able to benchmark their market's > > performance and practices against those of the Kenyan market. > > Those interested in participating in this interactive teleconference > > should send an email to Patrick Cairns - Corporate Communications at > > patrick.cairns(a)frost.com with the following information: full name, > > company name, title, telephone number, e-mail address, city, state and > > country. The registration details will be emailed to you upon receipt of > > the above information. > > Frost & Sullivan, the Global Growth Consulting Company, partners with > > clients to accelerate their growth. The company's Growth Partnership > > Services, Growth Consulting and Career Best Practices empower clients to > > create a growth focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements > > effective growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan employs over 45 years of > > experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses > > and the investment community from more than 30 offices on six continents. > > For more information about Frost & Sullivan's Growth Partnerships, visit > > http://www.frost.com . > > Frost & Sullivan Corporate Communications - Africa: Patrick Cairns, +27 83 > > 258 4219 patrick.cairns(a)frost.com > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > > This message has been scanned for viruses and > > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > > believed to be clean. > > --------------------------------------------- > > "easy access to the world" > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: pwere(a)cascadegl.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/pwere%40cascadegl.com > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: eric(a)afrispa.org > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eric%40afrispa.org > > > > > > Eric M.K Osiakwan > > Executive Secretary > > AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) > > Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 > > 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://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ > > Slang: "Tomorrow Now" > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: mesafric(a)gmail.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mesafric%40gmail.com > > > > > > > -- > Stephen Ndegwa Mwangi > Executive Director > MediaSpeak Africa > P. O. Box 18154-00100 > Nairobi GPO > Tel.: +254-20-2098 548 > Cell: +254-724-376 883 > Kenya. >

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TEAMs to switch into Private Hands
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 17 Mar '08

17 Mar '08

Dear Walubengo, Q: Will the eventual majority shareholders - essentially the private sector - operate the cable on Open Access principles? Specifically, the following questions arise. A: Competition alone will drive the cost low and if that fails, Government can intervene using the capacity it holds and if that fails, the regulator will have to intervene. Q: 1. Will the cable be open for direct connectivity (at thesource in MSA) to other future telco players? A: Yes indeed. See Q3 responses below. Q: 2. Will the price of connecting to the international fiber be driven by profit-motives or will it be based on the 'cost-of-operating-the-fiber' basis. A: Price of connecting to the International fibre remaims cost of operating the fibre but retail price will have an element of profit. What we shall guard agaist is exploitative prices. Q: 3. What modalities exist for future investors who may wish to own part of the fiber maybe 2 or 5years after the cable is operational- or will this thing be a closed-club to the original financiers once the cable becomes operational?(remember the consortium approach of EASSy?) A: The Government of Kenya would continue to dilute its shares in order to ensure healthy competion exist. The model therefore is not a closed shop. Q: 4. What are the steps involved in transparently transferring this public resource into private sector? A: You cannot force anyone to buy into Teams. There are clear deadlines by the financial arranger for making commitments. The Standard Chatered Bank were procured to make financial arrangements for the cable. Although sometimes Media misses the point here and there, it has done a wonderful job keeping us on our toes. Ndemo. ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Why Microsoft Swahili Version Failed
by alice 15 Mar '08

15 Mar '08

Kenya: Why Microsoft Swahili Version Failed Business Daily (Nairobi) http://www.bdafrica.com/ <http://www.bdafrica.com/> OPINION 11 March 2008 Posted to the web 11 March 2008 Beatrice Gachenge When Microsoft announced in 2003 that it had launched a Kiswahili version of their Microsoft Office applications, linguists saw it as a big triumph for the language - and a chance to make its speakers have a feel of the emerging technology and in their own language. However, five years later, the roar has turned into a whimper. Microsoft is not forthcoming with answers, but a debate is shaping up on what may have gone wrong. "It failed miserably on the roll out process because Microsoft never pushed the product," says Mr Patrick Opiyo, managing director of Rivotex Kenya, a consulting dealer for Microsoft Technologies, who was then Microsoft's localisation manager. Mr Isaiah Okoth, who was at the time the general manager of Microsoft East Africa, said the new Kiswahili office application, if marketed well, would have allowed many Kiswahili speakers to experience personal computing in their home language. It had taken close to two years to develop the programme at a cost of Sh8 million, drawing linguistic experts from East and Central Africa. The programme was headed by Prof Kulikoyela Kahigi of the University of Dar- es- Salaam. Kiswahili experts translated over 700,000 words in Windows and Office software while close to 70,000 words were translated in the help manuals. The final product was targeted at about 150 million speakers of the language in the world. But three years down the line, analysts now deem the product a major letdown. "Technology should find itself into the language. Microsoft invented words that did not exist to fit the technology, and the problem with this is that people don't understand the Kiswahili used in the Microsoft Office applications, " explains Mr Alex Gakuru, director of ICT Consumer Association. Mr Gakuru told the Business Daily that technology is all about the people and not the gizmos or software; a concept Microsoft failed to consider. Another major issue was the methodology used to develop the application. Peter Mugambi, Dean of Humanities at Kenyatta University, says the project was more of a 'private affair' than an institutional one. In his view, the project did not integrate the wider community and also failed to educate people on the usage of the product either through seminars and workshops. Although the process of changing to Kiswahili version is simple , the software has not been utilised in Kiswahili departments in major universities including Kenyatta University and the University of Nairobi. By simply downloading a Language Interface Pack ( LIP), from the Internet, free of charge, users of genuine versions of Microsoft Office 2003, can localize their interface by installing the LIP. It then turns Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint from English into Kiswahili. The beauty of the product is that one can switch back to the language of choice with ease. "With the Kiswahili LIP, computer users are able to instal a Kiswahili desktop version as a 'skin' on top of existing installations of Windows and standard Microsoft Office applications," said the consulting dealer for Microsoft Technologies. Currently, the Kiswahili LIP is also available to Windows XP. Analysts say the biggest issue that made the hefty exercise a major fiasco was the lack of promotion for the product. University of Nairobi linguist and prolific author, Prof Kithaka wa Mberia, doubts whether he would have known about the project had he not been part of it; casting more doubt if the programme was marketed well. There was also a conflict of policy between open source and proprietorship. Mr Gakuru says the approach Microsoft took was academic instead of looking at the programme as a community based issue, a move that would have resulted to community ownership of the product. "If the company considered making it a community project where the East Africans who were the recipients of the product, then fund it, the ownership aspect would automatically lead to identifying with the product," said the IT analyst. "What is the essence of a good product that people don't know about? At the end of the day, who will use it?" The idea could have been a turning point not only for the East African region but other parts of the world because several years back, it was unthinkable that computer software products and solutions could be made in local languages, of which some risk extinction due to dominance of English and other European languages. There are 100 million Kiswahili-speakers in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and parts of the Horn of Africa, Great Lakes, Malawi, Mozambique and the Indian Ocean islands. Dr Clare Momanyi, a Kiswahili lecturer at Kenyatta University, who was also part of the task force that created the Kiswahili version, blames deep rooted problems and negative attitude of Kenyans towards the language, which they consider inferior to the English language. "Language is developed through communication as well as through the education system. The syllabus does not favour Kiswahili. Little has been done since it was made an examinable subject in 1995 to help Kenyans tie economic gains to Kiswahili," said Dr Momanyi. English, she added was the preferred language to enhance economic activities while Kiswahili on the other hand was viewed as a language for the masses, or the poor. "Kenyans need to wake up and smell the coffee. Kiswahili is gaining international acceptance, with more than 70 universities teaching it in the United States alone. If we do not change our attitude, we shall not go far," says Dr Momanyi. But still, one of the programmes that would have connected people failed to gain foothold in its own turf. She explained that the Kenyans historic background also played a major part in degenerating the liking of the language among Kenyans. While it is the national language, Dr. Momanyi said that there lacked any functions, institutions or policies attached to the growth of Kiswahili. The localization programme is a project under the Microsoft's Local language Program (LLP), which was formally launched by the company in 2004. Copyright C 2008 Business Daily. All rights reserved. **************************** Disclaimer ****************************** Copyright: In accordance with Title 17, United States Code Section 107, this material is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material posted to this list for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Content: The sender does not vouch for the veracity nor the accuracy of the contents of this message, which are the sole responsibility of the copyright owner. Also, the sender does not necessarily agree or disagree with any opinions that are expressed in this message. ********************************************************************** __._,_.___ Messages in this topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/message/6806;_ylc=X3oDMTM0ODc3NGJ1B…> (1) Reply (via web post) <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJwc2RkZWczBF9TAzk3M…> | Start a new topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlM29uZzZvBF9TAzk3M…> Messages <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJlZWhsY2FtBF9TA…> | Links <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJmZjBvc3ZoBF9TAzk3…> | Polls <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJmdXFuMG4zBF9TAzk3…> Dig Africa site welcomes you to join us at

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eDiscussion Report:-Impact of Post-election Violence on ICT organisations
by John Walubengo 14 Mar '08

14 Mar '08

The dawn of the Year 2008 caught many Kenyan organisations unprepared for the unprecedented post-election violence. As the chaos escalated beyond their original domains, KICTAnet felt duty bound to get involved in a small way in the search for peace and mitigating interventions. This Online Discussion was therefore commissioned with the dual purpose of kickstarting positive dialogue about the crisis while sharing experiences and intervention methods being employed by members. The discussion had three key themes:- establishing the challenges posed by the Post-election violence, exploring various mitigating interventions and Quantifying the Impact of the Post-election violence. >>>>snip>>>> The story continues in the attached report. walu. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

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Re: [kictanet] [AfrISPA.Discuss] Head of WTO's oped on telecom in Africa
by Eric Osiakwan 13 Mar '08

13 Mar '08

Dear William, Thanks for bringing this to the fore as it is a welcome development for Lamy to recognise the strides being made in Africa. Haven said that i think it is important for the WTO to reckon that the conditions and terms underwhich the GATS was negotiated and establish have changed, so given that Africa has grown despite the fact that the detailing of the GATS was not favourable to us, can one argue support Lamy's call for "Committing to further open trade in these sectors will be investing in the future". I think it is fair to argue that though the GATS terms has not favoured Africa, some sectors have grown and could do far better if the terms were favourable (or at worse be revisted) and here i dont blame anybody but we as Africans must be better prepared and go to these negotiations to gain more mileage that we have done in the past. Am not a trade expert and i dont profess to be one but i think our country trade negotiators must engage internally with some of the sectoral business fronts and work with them in some of the far reaching negotiations that turn in some ways to undo the efforts of the private sector. Eric here On 12 Mar 2008, at 22:28, William Foster wrote: > by Pascal Lamy, WTO > In the last 10 years Internet use has increased by 1,500 per cent. > Mobile phone subscribers have increased 20 fold and world > teledensity has moved from below 15 per cent to over 60 per cent. > The rapid evolution of the telecommunication sector, both from > regulatory and technological perspective, has brought about lasting > changes to our economies and societies at large and is one reason > that this sector merits our special attention today. > > The dedicated negotiations on basic telecommunications - whose 10th > anniversary we had last month - were born out of an initiative > taken during the final year of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral > Trade Negotiations. > At the time, there was a very real prospect that basic > telecommunications might be carved out of the new agreement then > taking shape, the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). > Very few governments had offered commitments on these services, > deterred by what appeared to be a yawning gap between the openness > of some markets and long-entrenched restrictions to trade in many > others. Though a number of major players were contemplating opening > trade in this sector at the time, these were still surrounded by a > considerable degree of uncertainty. > The momentum has continued since. At present, over 100 WTO Members > have commitments to open markets in some or all telecommunication > services. The commitments normally entitle new entrants to supply > the most essential services, such as fixed and mobile telephony, > Internet and leased-line capacity. > A great many Members have also committed to telecom-specific > regulatory obligations. These market access and regulatory > commitments permit global networks and facilitate the emergence of > global markets for the benefit of all WTO Members, and their > businesses and consumers alike. > Telecommunications are emblematic of the highly integrated nature > of modern economies: while the sector's own economic momentum > depends on the existence of dynamic user industries, world-class > communication links are today a sine qua non for a wide range of > economic activities within services and beyond. > The benefits from opening trade in telecoms cuts across developed > and developing countries. > Relevant Links > Economy, Business and Finance > Capital Flows > ICT and Telecom > Industry and Infrastructure > International Organizations and Africa > Sustainable Development > Trade > Urban Issues and Habitation > In recent years, information and communication technologies have > enabled economies from India to Ireland to develop and rapidly > expand international outsourcing. > Committing to further open trade in these sectors will be investing > in the future. > Lamy is director general, WTO. > > > William Foster, PhD > Faculty Associate > Social and Behavioral Sciences > Arizona State University Polytechnic > http://www.FosterandBrahm.com > 520-440-0807 > wfoster8560 (Skype) > blog: www.oresearch.net > > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 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://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now"

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Road Map to SME Symposium, March 22, 2008
by carthy 13 Mar '08

13 Mar '08

Dear All, Please find attached road map to SME symposium courtesy of Kimathi Information Centre. Carthy --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

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Writing for Change
by Edith Adera 13 Mar '08

13 Mar '08

This resource may be of interest to you and your partners. "Writing for Change" is an interactive, self-learning tool (guide) to effective writing, writing for science and writing for advocacy. It was developed, designed, and published by Fahamu, in collaboration with Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The CD is freely available online at http://www.idrc.ca/IMAGES/books/WFC_English/WFC_English/ In Writing for Change, you will learn the core skills of effective writing, how to write for scientific publication, and how to write for advocacy. Writing for Change will enhance your capacity to write in ways that promote action from your target audience. It is full of practical exercises and examples from the field of international development. A resource centre contains training materials and links to many useful websites. Site maps and a printed users' guide make it simple to follow. Writing for Change will prove useful to researchers, campaigners, scientists, fundraisers, project managers, social activists, and especially trainers in writing and communication skills. Edith

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KENYA ICT FEDERATION - KENYA ICT BOARD LUNCHEON 18/03/2008
by nancy bosire 12 Mar '08

12 Mar '08

Kenya ICT Federation * * 12th March 2008 Dear Members and Partners, RE: KENYA ICT FEDERATION - KENYA ICT BOARD LUNCHEON 18/03/2008 This is to invite you to the second of a series of luncheons that KIF will be organizing in partnership with The Kenya ICT Board. The Luncheon will take place next week on Tuesday, 18th of March 2008. The venue is *THE NAIROBI SAFARI CLUB, LILIAN TOWERS, on University Way *from 12.30pm to 2.30pm. Charges: Ksh. 2,000 for Members and Ksh.3, 000 for non-members. We will have a session on Progress made by KICTB in their strategic plan implementation process (part of the PowerPoint presentation at the first luncheon by Mr. Paul Kukubo) and an update on CEBIT (World´s largest Annual trade show for information and telecommunications technology). The final agenda will be distributed by Thursday end of business. Book early to avoid disappointment (seats will remain reserved for those who had made early bookings and paid in advance). Contact details are below for early reservations and any queries. PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY. Sincerely yours, Nancy Bosire *Secretariat Manager* *Kenya** ICT Federation * *Tel: 020 4440102* *Mobile**: 0721907995* *secretariat(a)kif.or.ke, info(a)kif.or.ke* *http://www.kif.or.ke* <http://www.kif.or.ke/>** "Whatever your mind expects and demands, it will find a way to produce it." - Napoleon Hill

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Yet another chance to have your say: Say No to OOXML
by Judy Okite 11 Mar '08

11 Mar '08

Check out the latest development as concerns this matter.....You have yet another chance...Use it wisely. http://www.noooxml.org/start Kind Regards, -- Judy Ann Okite, +254-721237507,+254-734252336 P.O. BOX 2228 00100, NAIROBI,KENYA. 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. ' Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Verisign's Domain names brief report
by alice 11 Mar '08

11 Mar '08

Dear all Attached Domain Name industry brief from VeriSign best alice _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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[Fwd: [AfriNIC-rpd] Call for Volunteer: 2008 Board election Nomination Committee AFRINIC
by alice 11 Mar '08

11 Mar '08

Dear colleagues, This year, during the upcoming Members Meeting in Morocco, 4th June 2008, we will have the renewal of seats 5 (Central Africa sub-region) and 6 (Indian Ocean sub-region) of the AfriNIC board of Directors. According to our election policy, the election process must be supervised by an Election/nomination committee composed of: o 1 Member appointed by the board (the CEO or one elected from the board - From an non-open seat) o 2 Member volunteers from the community (from two different sub-regions other than the opened seat's one). We are hereby calling for two volunteers to seat on the 2008 nomination committee. If you are interested, please send your details with the following information: Full Name: Full Address: e-mail: to members-contact(a)afrinic.net by 13th March 2008 at 18:00 UTC. Kind regards. ______________________________________________________________________ Adiel A. Akplogan Tel. +230 466 66 16 Chief Executive Officer, AfriNIC Fax: +230 466 67 58 adiel(a)afrinic.net - www.afrinic.net sip: adiel(a)voip.afrinic.net _______________________________________________ rpd mailing list rpd(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/rpd

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FW: search for new Executive Director, Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative (GeSCI)
by Edith Adera 11 Mar '08

11 Mar '08

In case it might be of interest to you or someone you know ... (See attached file: ED profile.doc)

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Re: [kictanet] Fears About Safaricom (was M-PESA for E-Commerce)
by Michael Joseph 09 Mar '08

09 Mar '08

One very important correction - I am apparently a Board Member of the KCCT not CCK. Please correct this. I did not ask for this. We are helping with the ICT development and I guess this is why I was appointed.. It is most unfair to continue to bring up the sms and sms connection to TKL. We refunded all who we charged incorrectly and we explained the lack of connectivity. I think debating issues this way when one can blatantly say things which are misleading does not encourage real debate about real issues. I will say no more on this list Michael Joseph CEO Safaricom Limited BlackBerry powered by Safaricom ----- Original Message ----- From: kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> To: Michael Joseph Cc: skunkworks(a)my.co.ke <skunkworks(a)my.co.ke>; kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Sent: Fri Mar 07 12:17:13 2008 Subject: [kictanet] Fears About Safaricom (was M-PESA for E-Commerce) Indeed Washington you listened and captured my response correctly. However, Michael Joseph has asked a new very worthy question to respond to "Alex: Why are you afraid?" 1. Michael Joseph, among other big Telco faces successfully made baby steps into government and so you will now be getting income and emoluments from taxpayers kitty! Nation cartoonist last year had an "MJ for President" cartoon and in retrospect I wonder how much of a joke that really was. You are now Board member appointed under State Corporations Act through Kenya of Gazette dated Friday, 29 February, 2008. He will be a colleague serving in a Board chaired by his "independent" market regulator CCK. Should not any right thinking person have reasons to be afraid? 2. Today, CCK in Kenya Gazette of 7th March 2008 notice, publishes by two companies ( Cykim Limited and Intelligent Contacts Solutions) applying for the protested VAS license. Why did CCK not wait for the issue to be first resolved before publishing this notice, unless it had already been decided? 3. Current CCK annual report says that the commission received just 17 consumer complaints in their last reporting year of which they were able to resolve only four. Perhaps its only me but, I find 17 complaints statistically abnormal considering the industry had over 10 million mobile phone users and 2.7 million internet users. Would anyone know if CCK were ISO 10002 compliant? I would appreciate that information very much. > > Why is everything we do bad? Just because we are big? We got that way by > > listening to our customers and delivering products and services that > > they wanted and would use. > > 4. There have been very dark clouds over your past path. These include Mobitelea (and others whose fate now hangs in the balance without an opposition and now you in government now...), charging for undelivered services (such as sms) blocking access to other networks' services etc.. I have a couple... The problem is that Safaricom morphed into a scary uncaring giant fish swallowing anything on its way and CCK sits watching. Proposed solution: The continued loss of faith and now confidence in CCK demonstrated through above few examples is sufficiently compelling to warrant its disbandment and to be replaced by another Board made up of persons with consumer, public, wider industry, business, and particularly encouraging to SMEs. A new board that will prove beyond a shadow of doubt that they represent the new Kenya we need where genuine Fair Play is practiced, everyone small and big have access to prosperity. The current CCK Board endorsed Michael Joseph to serve with them.... i.e. Regulator and regulated merged. I shall not be afraid for consumers and myself thereafter. Alex On Fri, Mar 7, 2008 at 8:19 AM, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > > On Fri, Mar 7, 2008 at 6:46 AM, Michael Joseph <MJoseph(a)safaricom.co.ke> > wrote: > > Alex: > > > > Why are you afraid? Bill asked a question and we answered it. We could > > have ignored it but we felt it was good to contribute. We are continuing > > to develop M-Pesa and this functionality has been in development for > > some time. We even see a direct connection to the internet for customers > > to pay on-line just by clicking a link to M-Pesa. > > > > Why is everything we do bad? Just because we are big? We got that way by > > listening to our customers and delivering products and services that > > they wanted and would use. > > > > Regards, > > > > Michael > > > > CEO > > Safaricom Limited > > > > > > > > > > Hello MJ, > > I think you slightly missed the point there. Gakuru is obviously right. It's > only you who may not admit the facts regarding his fears, but I want to > believe his fears are well founded. > I am not playing Alex Gakuru's advocate but what I believe he meant to say > was the fact that Safaricom would not be willing to let entities like the > original poster of this thread to take advantage of a service like M-PESA in > a way that Safaricom would feel is in direct competition with it. > When I initially responded to Harrison Karanja Kairo, the OP, and mentioned > that he could consult with the product's R&D team at Safaricom, I did say, > in my initial response something like "I am not sure they are > allowed/willing to work with you on this as I already see securityissues > coming up". I was expressing the same fears as Alex in a "diplomatic" > manner. Perhaps you can prove me wrong, but what Harrison Karanja had wanted > was something akin to grabbing that magic code that accompies an M-PESA > transaction and use it to validate a transaction. So, if only to prove > Gakuru wrong, could you kindly ask Pauline Vaughan to help the OP (one, > Harrison Karanja) with the necessary advise regarding his query? I don't > think that will be easy for you, as you are likely to let go of something > you see already as a great business product, no? > > Gakuru did not at all say Safaricom is bad. Well, Safaricom is big, for sure > as you say, and since you know it, let me also tell you that it's so big > that it's getting out of control as you are no longer quite capable of > efficiently "listening to the large number of clientele whenever they have > problems". This has come up before during a discussion on outsourcing. So > when you talk of "big", please also consider being "big" in serving the > customers, and potential competitors like Harrison. > > Just my 2 cents, which you can credit to my M-PESA account below:-) > > > > > -- > Best regards, > Odhiambo WASHINGTON, > Nairobi,KE > +254733744121/+254722743223 > _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ > > "Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" > --from a /. post > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alexgakuru.lists%40gma… > > _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: mjoseph(a)safaricom.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mjoseph%40safaricom.co… The information in this email and any attachments is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the named addressee. Emails are susceptible to alteration and their integrity cannot be guaranteed. Safaricom Limited does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this email if the same is found to have been altered or manipulated. The contents and opinions expressed in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Safaricom Limited. Safaricom Limited disclaims any liability to the fullest extent permissible by law for any consequences that may arise from the contents of this email including but not limited to personal opinions, malicious and/or defamatory information and data/codes that may compromise or damage the integrity of the recipient's information technology systems. If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender and immediately delete this email from your system.

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M-PESA for E-Commerce
by H. Karanja Kairo 09 Mar '08

09 Mar '08

I'm trying to use M-PESA for settling online purchases but I haven't yet found a way to do it through a one-step process. My best attempt so far is to: 1. Have someone M-PESA a certain amount to my phone. 2. Ask them to SMS the first 7 characters of the response they receive from M-PESA for verification (this is to get their phone number as M-PESA does not provide this) 3. Credit their online account (identified through their phone number) with the funds. With Kind Regards, Harrison Karanja Kairo * Director * SoftLaw Limited * Genius Executive Centre * 15th Floor View Park Towers * Utalii Lane * Nairobi CBD * Tel: +254-20-342225 This email (including any attachments) is confidential and intended only for the use of the addressee. It may contain information covered by legal, professional or other privilege, which privilege is not lost or waived by reason of mistaken transmission thereof. Any representation or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender and not necessarily those of SoftLaw Limited. If you are not the addressee, please inform the sender immediately and destroy this e-mail

9 13

Fears About Safaricom (was M-PESA for E-Commerce)
by Alex Gakuru 08 Mar '08

08 Mar '08

Indeed Washington you listened and captured my response correctly. However, Michael Joseph has asked a new very worthy question to respond to "Alex: Why are you afraid?" 1. Michael Joseph, among other big Telco faces successfully made baby steps into government and so you will now be getting income and emoluments from taxpayers kitty! Nation cartoonist last year had an "MJ for President" cartoon and in retrospect I wonder how much of a joke that really was. You are now Board member appointed under State Corporations Act through Kenya of Gazette dated Friday, 29 February, 2008. He will be a colleague serving in a Board chaired by his "independent" market regulator CCK. Should not any right thinking person have reasons to be afraid? 2. Today, CCK in Kenya Gazette of 7th March 2008 notice, publishes by two companies ( Cykim Limited and Intelligent Contacts Solutions) applying for the protested VAS license. Why did CCK not wait for the issue to be first resolved before publishing this notice, unless it had already been decided? 3. Current CCK annual report says that the commission received just 17 consumer complaints in their last reporting year of which they were able to resolve only four. Perhaps its only me but, I find 17 complaints statistically abnormal considering the industry had over 10 million mobile phone users and 2.7 million internet users. Would anyone know if CCK were ISO 10002 compliant? I would appreciate that information very much. > > Why is everything we do bad? Just because we are big? We got that way by > > listening to our customers and delivering products and services that > > they wanted and would use. > > 4. There have been very dark clouds over your past path. These include Mobitelea (and others whose fate now hangs in the balance without an opposition and now you in government now...), charging for undelivered services (such as sms) blocking access to other networks' services etc.. I have a couple... The problem is that Safaricom morphed into a scary uncaring giant fish swallowing anything on its way and CCK sits watching. Proposed solution: The continued loss of faith and now confidence in CCK demonstrated through above few examples is sufficiently compelling to warrant its disbandment and to be replaced by another Board made up of persons with consumer, public, wider industry, business, and particularly encouraging to SMEs. A new board that will prove beyond a shadow of doubt that they represent the new Kenya we need where genuine Fair Play is practiced, everyone small and big have access to prosperity. The current CCK Board endorsed Michael Joseph to serve with them.... i.e. Regulator and regulated merged. I shall not be afraid for consumers and myself thereafter. Alex On Fri, Mar 7, 2008 at 8:19 AM, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > > On Fri, Mar 7, 2008 at 6:46 AM, Michael Joseph <MJoseph(a)safaricom.co.ke> > wrote: > > Alex: > > > > Why are you afraid? Bill asked a question and we answered it. We could > > have ignored it but we felt it was good to contribute. We are continuing > > to develop M-Pesa and this functionality has been in development for > > some time. We even see a direct connection to the internet for customers > > to pay on-line just by clicking a link to M-Pesa. > > > > Why is everything we do bad? Just because we are big? We got that way by > > listening to our customers and delivering products and services that > > they wanted and would use. > > > > Regards, > > > > Michael > > > > CEO > > Safaricom Limited > > > > > > > > > > Hello MJ, > > I think you slightly missed the point there. Gakuru is obviously right. It's > only you who may not admit the facts regarding his fears, but I want to > believe his fears are well founded. > I am not playing Alex Gakuru's advocate but what I believe he meant to say > was the fact that Safaricom would not be willing to let entities like the > original poster of this thread to take advantage of a service like M-PESA in > a way that Safaricom would feel is in direct competition with it. > When I initially responded to Harrison Karanja Kairo, the OP, and mentioned > that he could consult with the product's R&D team at Safaricom, I did say, > in my initial response something like "I am not sure they are > allowed/willing to work with you on this as I already see securityissues > coming up". I was expressing the same fears as Alex in a "diplomatic" > manner. Perhaps you can prove me wrong, but what Harrison Karanja had wanted > was something akin to grabbing that magic code that accompies an M-PESA > transaction and use it to validate a transaction. So, if only to prove > Gakuru wrong, could you kindly ask Pauline Vaughan to help the OP (one, > Harrison Karanja) with the necessary advise regarding his query? I don't > think that will be easy for you, as you are likely to let go of something > you see already as a great business product, no? > > Gakuru did not at all say Safaricom is bad. Well, Safaricom is big, for sure > as you say, and since you know it, let me also tell you that it's so big > that it's getting out of control as you are no longer quite capable of > efficiently "listening to the large number of clientele whenever they have > problems". This has come up before during a discussion on outsourcing. So > when you talk of "big", please also consider being "big" in serving the > customers, and potential competitors like Harrison. > > Just my 2 cents, which you can credit to my M-PESA account below:-) > > > > > -- > Best regards, > Odhiambo WASHINGTON, > Nairobi,KE > +254733744121/+254722743223 > _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ > > "Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" > --from a /. post > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alexgakuru.lists%40gma… > >

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application developers.
by Moses Kemibaro 06 Mar '08

06 Mar '08

Dotsavvy is looking for Application Developers with the following competencies: i. 2+ years experience in internet application development. ii. A portfolio of functional personal work that includes the following examples: a. Web sites/pages that utilize database-driven concepts. b. Web sites/pages that demonstrate the ability to work from a project specification. c. Web sites/pages that show implementation of a standardized user interface. iii. Experience with Macromedia, Java, CSS, PERL, Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP (LAMP) is required. iv. Additional experience with AJAX, Ruby on Rails, .NET and others would be a bonus. If you meet these criteria, or know someone who does, please send CVs to jobs(a)dotsavvyafrica.com by the 15th March 2008. Thanks, Moses

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Scholarships for ICT4D Masters in Manchester
by alice 05 Mar '08

05 Mar '08

The one-year MSc ICTs for Development degree focuses on effective > application of ICTs within poor communities. It aims to > create "ICT4D champions" who combine technical competencies in > information systems and project management with an understanding of > development context and practice: > http://www.sed.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses/06237/in > d > ex.asp > > Applicants who have applied, received and accepted a formal offer > by 30 June 2008 will be considered for two scholarship > opportunities. One of these is a full scholarship of £21,000 > available on a competitive basis for applicants from developing > countries to any of IDPM's Masters degrees. One is a partial > fee-waiver scholarship worth £5,500, available exclusively for > developing country applicants to the MSc ICT4D programme. > > Details on other funding sources and on part-time employment > opportunities while studying in Manchester can be found at: > http://www.sed.manchester.ac.uk/idpm/postgraduate/taught/funding/ > > Richard Heeks (richard.heeks(a)manchester.ac.uk) > Development Informatics Group, IDPM, SED, University of Manchester, > UK _______________________________________________ incom-l mailing list incom-l(a)incommunicado.info http://mail.kein.org/mailman/listinfo/incom-l ------- End of forwarded message ------- _______________________________________________ AAW-Network mailing list AAW-Network(a)lists.apcwomen.org http://lists.apcwomen.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aaw-network

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KDN new partner to inject Sh1.4bn for expansion
by Eric Osiakwan 05 Mar '08

05 Mar '08

http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php? option=com_content&task=view&id=6232&Itemid=5847 Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 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://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now"

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proposed new license fees for Application/Content Service Providers
by Marcel Werner 04 Mar '08

04 Mar '08

Attention Colleagues, Are you aware that the Communications Commission of Kenya has issued an important consultative document on the proposed Unified License framework? Comments are welcomed by CCK, due by deadline of 29 February 2008 at close of business. The market segments categorised in the CCK paper Applications Service Providers (ASPs) and Content Service Providers (CSP) (include all Value Added Service (VAS) Providers and Web-based Public Commercial Information Service Providers can provide economic opportunities to Micro and Small Enterprises (SME) as well as Small and Medium Sized companies (MSE). Note that all these services proposedly attract a KES100,000 registration fee + KES100,000 or 0.5% of turn-over charge. That will keep many players out of the market. How many higher education graduates are working to create a niche for themselves in the market? They should be encouraged and supported! The new regulatory framework should not place any obstacles to new investors and market entrants, especially not to SME's. Therefore, the proposedlicense fees for these two categories should be replaced by a general license. Normally, such licensees does not pay license fees but register with the regulatory body and subsequently receive a certificate endorsing their operations in the sector. MARCEL WERNER Kenya ICT Federation

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Re: [kictanet] Fwd: SA Government Goes Open Source
by James Kagwe 03 Mar '08

03 Mar '08

Can someone recommend to me some of the best websites for open-source software? Best Regards, James Kagwe ********************************************************************* Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis Bishops Garden Towers Bishops Road P.O. Box 56445 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: (254) 20 2719933, 2719934, 2714714, 2714715 Fax: (254) 20 2719951 Confidentiality Warning ======================= The contents of this e-mail and any accompanying documentation are confidential and any use thereof, in what ever form, by anyone other than the addressee is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify admin(a)kippra.or.ke and delete it immediately from your system. Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis accepts no responsibility for losses or damage as a result of any viruses and it is your responsibility to check attachments (if any) for viruses. -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=kippra.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=kippra.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Alex Gakuru Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 10:27 AM To: James Kagwe Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: SA Government Goes Open Source Thanks to the policy space already provided. On December 14, the Dutch Government gave a "soft deadline" to all their government agencies to "Adopt FOSS or Explain Why Not?" I'd written a newspaper article on this but, we all know, things happened:( /Alex ------ "Dutch government moves ahead with plans to promote use of open-source software" December 14, 2007 The Dutch government has set a soft deadline of April 2008 for agencies at the national level to adopt open-source software such as free word processing programs and Internet browsers, the Economic Affairs Ministry said Thursday. Under the policy, approved Wednesday, government organizations will still be able to use proprietary software and formats, but will have to justify that decision under the principle of "adopt or explain" why not, ministry spokesman Edwin van Scherrenburg said. Van Scherrenburg said the plan had been approved unanimously at a meeting of two parliamentary commissions Wednesday. ... <http://news.theage.com.au/dutch-government-moves-ahead-with-plans-to-pr omote-use-of-opensource-software/20071214-1gzj.html> --- John Kariuki <ngethe.kariuki2007(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > Dear all, > Good idea. > The ICT Policy contemplated the use of open source > as a component of encouraging growth of local > software industry in order to increase > competition,access,diversity of choice and to enable > users to develop solutions. > > John. > > Gakiria <gakiria(a)gmail.com> wrote: ________________________________________________________________________ ____________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: jkagwe(a)kippra.or.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jkagwe%40kippra.or. ke

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Re: [kictanet] Fwd: SA Government Goes Open Source
by Dorcas Muthoni 03 Mar '08

03 Mar '08

Sure.. great software there too! On Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 1:07 PM, Joseph Mucheru <jmucheru(a)google.com> wrote: > Also http://www.code.google.com :-) > > --Joe Mucheru +254722522135 > Google > Sent from my iPhone > > On Mar 3, 2008, at 12:22 PM, "Dorcas Muthoni" <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > Some great references for open source software; > > <http://sourceforge.net/>http://sourceforge.net/ and > <http://freshmeat.net>http://freshmeat.net > > Both are the largest repositories of open source software. Browse through > categories or search using strings. > > > On Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 11:27 AM, James Kagwe < <jkagwe(a)kippra.or.ke> > jkagwe(a)kippra.or.ke> wrote: > > > Can someone recommend to me some of the best websites for open-source > > software? > > > > Best Regards, > > James Kagwe > > ********************************************************************* > > Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis > > Bishops Garden Towers > > Bishops Road > > P.O. Box 56445 > > Nairobi, Kenya > > Tel: (254) 20 2719933, 2719934, 2714714, 2714715 > > Fax: (254) 20 2719951 > > Confidentiality Warning > > ======================= > > The contents of this e-mail and any accompanying documentation are > > confidential and any use thereof, in what ever form, by anyone other > > than the addressee is strictly prohibited. > > > > If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify > > <admin(a)kippra.or.ke>admin(a)kippra.or.ke and delete it immediately from > > your system. > > Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis accepts no > > responsibility for losses or damage as a result of any viruses and it is > > your responsibility to check attachments (if any) for viruses. > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: kictanet-bounces+jkagwe= <kippra.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > kippra.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=<kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=kippra.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > kippra.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] On > > Behalf Of Alex Gakuru > > Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 10:27 AM > > To: James Kagwe > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: SA Government Goes Open Source > > > > Thanks to the policy space already provided. > > > > On December 14, the Dutch Government gave a "soft > > deadline" to all their government agencies to "Adopt > > FOSS or Explain Why Not?" I'd written a newspaper > > article on this but, we all know, things happened:( > > > > /Alex > > ------ > > > > "Dutch government moves ahead with plans to promote > > use of open-source software" > > December 14, 2007 > > > > The Dutch government has set a soft deadline of April > > 2008 for agencies at the national level to adopt > > open-source software such as free word processing > > programs and Internet browsers, the Economic Affairs > > Ministry said Thursday. > > > > Under the policy, approved Wednesday, government > > organizations will still be able to use proprietary > > software and formats, but will have to justify that > > decision under the principle of "adopt or explain" why > > not, ministry spokesman Edwin van Scherrenburg said. > > > > Van Scherrenburg said the plan had been approved > > unanimously at a meeting of two parliamentary > > commissions Wednesday. > > ... > > > > <<http://news.theage.com.au/dutch-government-moves-ahead-with-plans-to-pr> > > http://news.theage.com.au/dutch-government-moves-ahead-with-plans-to-pr > > omote-use-of-opensource-software/20071214-1gzj.html> > > > > > > --- John Kariuki < <ngethe.kariuki2007(a)yahoo.co.uk> > > ngethe.kariuki2007(a)yahoo.co.uk> > > wrote: > > > > > Dear all, > > > Good idea. > > > The ICT Policy contemplated the use of open source > > > as a component of encouraging growth of local > > > software industry in order to increase > > > competition,access,diversity of choice and to enable > > > users to develop solutions. > > > > > > John. > > > > > > Gakiria < <gakiria(a)gmail.com>gakiria(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________ > > ____________ > > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. > > <http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs>http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: <jkagwe(a)kippra.or.ke>jkagwe(a)kippra.or.ke > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jkagwe%40kippra.or> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jkagwe%40kippra.or. > > ke > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com>dmuthoni(a)gmail.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmuthoni%40gmail.com> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmuthoni%40gmail.com > > > > > > -- > Muthoni > > My Blog: <http://rugongo.blogspot.com/>http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ > -------------------------------------------- > Mahatma Gandhi once said:- > > First they ignore you, > Then they laugh at you, > Then they fight you, > AND THEN YOU WIN!!! > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: <mucheru(a)google.com>mucheru(a)google.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mucheru%40google.com> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mucheru%40google.com > > -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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Fwd: SA Government Goes Open Source
by Gakiria 03 Mar '08

03 Mar '08

Dear All, Came across the info below and thought it might be of interest to us. Regards Andrew ->>> SA Government Goes Open Source>>>>>> Sumayya Ismail and Sapa | Johannesburg, South Africa>>> 27 February 2007 09:32>>> >>> South Africa is joining countries such as Brazil, India and Uganda in >>> implementing open-source software in all government departments -- and >>> getting rid of widely used Microsoft Windows desktop programmes that >>> come with expensive licences. >>> >>> Open-source software can be shared by many users without a need for >>> licences. The actual code can be accessed by anyone to make changes and >>> adapt it to different situations. >>> >>> A Cabinet-approved policy and strategy to implement such software will >>> lower administration costs and enhance local IT skills, Themba Maseko, >>> head of the Government Communication and Information System, said last >>> week. >>> >>> "All new software developed for or by the government will be based on >>> open >>> standards, and government will itself migrate current software to Foss >>> [free and open-source software]," he told a media briefing at >>> Parliament. >>> >>> By April, a project office will be set up by the Department of Science >>> and >>> Technology, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and the >>> State Information Technology Agency to ensure the smooth implementation >>> of >>> the new strategy. >>> >>> Karl Fischer, the government's open-source project manager, says some >>> government departments have already been using open-source software for >>> "back-end" processes such as mail servers. >>> >>> He said the new strategy will place open-source software in all areas of >>> government. From mail servers to desktop applications such as word >>> processors, there will be a move towards Linux-operated open-source >>> software. >>> >>> Petition >>> Last year, Sangonet and other NGOs petitioned the government and >>> Minister >>> of Public Service and Administration Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi to adopt >>> an >>> open-source software policy following a declaration signed at the 2005 >>> Go >>> Open Source conference at the Sandton Convention Centre. >>> >>> The petition was endorsed by the Centre for Policy Studies, the Freedom >>> of >>> Expression Institute and the Institute for Security Studies, among >>> others. >>> >>> It urged the government "to take a stronger, direct leadership role to >>> the >>> benefit of all". The government accounts for more than 50% of the >>> country's ICT use and should set a precedent that favours open source >>> and >>> its underlying principles, it added. >>> >>> "As a developing country, South Africa, along with all the countries on >>> the African continent, needs you and our government to act as agents of >>> positive change in our society and trigger shifts in the ICT market >>> dynamics, in order to favour the supply of local ICT content, support, >>> skills and service providers, and to reduce our long-standing dependence >>> on imports and the negative effects created by this dependence," the >>> petition stated. >>> >>> It further held that in the spirit of broad-based black economic >>> empowerment, the government had a responsibility to implement >>> open-source >>> software and make it easier for other, smaller ICT users to access the >>> hardware and technical skills needed to sustain it. >>> >>> David Barnard, director of Sangonet, says it is possible the petition >>> prompted the government to implement open-source software. However, the >>> decision had been "brewing within government" for a while, he said. >>> >>> Fischer confirms that it was an internal government decision to >>> implement >>> open-source software fully. But, he added: "Obviously we do listen to >>> what >>> [civil society] have to say." >>> >>> Benefits >>> Government personnel will be trained to use the new software at the >>> Meraka >>> Institute's training centres throughout the country. Open-source >>> training >>> materials are also freely available, making them more affordable and >>> accessible to users. >>> >>> Despite these training requirements and other initial costs, Fischer >>> says >>> open-source software will be more affordable in the long term. "Our >>> hardware won't need upgrading Â… but it would have needed upgrading if >>> we >>> switched to Windows Vista. Linux will work out cheaper." >>> >>> The cost of Linux is significantly less than that of the Microsoft >>> licences the government has been paying, he says, although he declined >>> to >>> give the actual cost of the new operating system, as it will only be >>> implemented fully by December this year. >>> >>> "Because the whole open-source community is backing us, we can harness >>> the >>> whole community to help us," Fischer says. "People are very keen to help >>> out where they can Â… and where they can't, we will have to get the >>> necessary skills, and we have the funds for it." >>> >>> Pfungwa Serima, MD of Microsoft South Africa, says the software giant >>> fully supports the standards on which open-source software is based, as >>> it >>> is "in line with our software development strategy in enabling >>> interoperability between software from multiple vendors, thus allowing >>> customers to choose the application for their specific requirements". >>> >>> Judgement reserved >>> Though "on-the ground" institutions and training centres are already set >>> up, Sangonet's Barnard says he will reserve judgement until he sees the >>> initial roll-out plans. "This is a huge opportunity for South Africa to >>> make it work Â… but it may be one of those decisions that were >>> undertaken, >>> but the follow-through is just not there." >>> >>> Fischer says that along with a cut in costs, the open-source strategy >>> will >>> also foster inter-community development, transparency and sharing, and >>> build local skills to enhance and support the new software. "And, >>> instead >>> of giving money away to multinationals, we are keeping it and putting it >>> to use internally." >>> >>> However, Barnard says a major challenge is the lack of public >>> understanding of the principles of open-source software. >>> >>> "The important thing is for people to understand the economic, social >>> and >>> other values we could derive from it Â… and in the bigger mindset is the >>> creation of an information society in the country. [We need] proper >>> understanding Â… the capacity, expertise and political will to do >>> something >>> to implement it." >>> >>> However, the strategy does "look good on paper", he adds, and its >>> implementation will "say to the world that South Africa is -- in a >>> national, political and strategic way -- committed to open source". >>> >>> SAPA. >>> -- >>> >>> >> > >

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Joining Kickanet
by Joyce Joan Wangui 01 Mar '08

01 Mar '08

Hallo there, my name is Joyce Joan Wangui, ICT journalist based in Nairobi.I correspond for an online ICT news agency known as HIGHWAY AFRICA NEWS AGENCY (www.highwayafrica.ru.ac.za) whose headquarters are based in South Africa. Highway Africa is an ICT initiative that brings African journalists and ICT parctitioners to deliberate on ICT developments in the continent. The news agency is published weekly. I am writing to request that i joj the Kictanet group as well as the mailing list. Kindly le me know the criteria and how soon i can join Regards Wangui --------------------------------- Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

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INCEPTION WORKSHOP - ELECTRONIC WASTE PROJECT IN KENYA
by Evelyne Majale 29 Feb '08

29 Feb '08

Dear all This is a reminder of the Inception Workshop - Electronic Waste Management Project that will be held on Monday 03rd March 2008. Venue: Wariara Room, Jacaranda Hotel. Time: 9.00 am to 12.30 pm. Please confirm your attendance for planning purposes. Attached please find the draft Inception Report that will be presented on that day and the final programme. Thanking you in advance. Evelyne

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Determinants of a Digital Divide in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Spatial Econometric Analysis of Cell Phone Coverage, by Piet Buys, Susmita Dasgupta, Tim Thomas, and David Wheeler (February 2008)
by Harry Hare 29 Feb '08

29 Feb '08

Some good research from the World Bank. Harry African eDevelopment Resource Centre 3rd Floor, Nelleon Place Raphta Road, Westlands PO Box 49475 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Cel +254 725 650044 Land +254 20 4453445 www.africanedevelopment.org <http://www.africanedevelopment.org/> My Blogg <http://egov-notes.blogspot.com/> *********************************************************** March 2008 Capacity Building Opportunities Fiber Optics: 3-6 VSAT Field Engineering: 17-19 GIS 26-28 Book Now, Limited spaces available _____ From: Hsladovich(a)worldbank.org [mailto:Hsladovich@worldbank.org] On Behalf Of research(a)worldbank.org Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 8:09 PM Subject: eAlert --> WPS 4516. Determinants of a Digital Divide in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Spatial Econometric Analysis of Cell Phone Coverage, by Piet Buys, Susmita Dasgupta, Tim Thomas, and David Wheeler (February 2008) <http://econ.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=469435&pagePK=641652 36&piPK=64165141&theSitePK=469382> Determinants of a Digital Divide in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Spatial Econometric Analysis of Cell Phone Coverage <http://econ.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pagePK=64165259&theSitePK=4 69372&piPK=64165421&menuPK=64166093&entityID=000158349_20080212114658> Policy Research Working Paper 4516, Piet Buys, Susmita Dasgupta, Tim Thomas, and David Wheeler (February 2008) <http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/IW3P/IB/2008 /02/12/000158349_20080212114658/Rendered/PDF/wps4516.pdf> Download Working Paper (26 pages) Most discussions of the digital divide treat it as a "North-South" issue, but the conventional dichotomy doesn't apply to cell phones in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although almost all Sub-Saharan countries are poor by international standards, they exhibit great disparities in coverage by cell telephone systems. Buys, Dasgupta, Thomas and Wheeler investigate the determinants of these disparities with a spatially-disaggregated model that employs locational information for cell-phone towers across over 990,000 4.6-km grid squares in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using probit techniques, a probability model with adjustments for spatial autocorrelation has been estimated that relates the likelihood of cell-tower location within a grid square to potential market size (proximate population); installation and maintenance cost factors related to accessibility (elevation, slope, distance from a main road, distance from the nearest large city); and national competition policy. Probit estimates indicate strong, significant results for the supply-demand variables, and very strong results for the competition policy index. Simulations based on the econometric results suggest that a generalized improvement in competition policy to a level that currently characterizes the best-performing states in Sub-Saharan Africa could lead to huge improvements in cell-phone area coverage for many states currently with poor policy performance, and an overall coverage increase of nearly 100 percent. <http://econ.worldbank.org/programs/trade> Produced by the <http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/EXTPROGRAMS/EX TIE/0,,menuPK:475531~pagePK:64168176~piPK:64168140~theSitePK:475520,00.html> Sustainable Rural and Urban Development ResearchTeam in Development Research Group ( <http://econ.worldbank.org/programs/trade> http://econ.worldbank.org/programs/rural-urban) ________________ This email was sent using the "bcc" function to various system distribution lists. Our apologies to those who receive multiple copies. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FORWARD

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Re: [kictanet] proposed new license fees for Application/Content Service Providers
by Marcel Werner 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

Dear Colleagues, There is no decision yet at CCK, only proposals. The Consultation Paper is making suggestions for these license fees. There are no decisions by CCK on this yet, as we are being consulted. My advice would be: put your opinion(s) in writing and have these delivered by 29 February, close of business, by way of petitioning the CCK. Kenya ICT Federation will also make a submission by to the CCK before deadline. I'm certain the CCK value your views. Do communicate! Once a new regulation is passed, it will be more difficult to change it. Best regards, Marcel Werner Kenya ICT Federation 2008/2/28, Marcel Werner <marcelcwerner(a)gmail.com>: > > Dear Colleagues, > > There is no decision yet at CCK, only proposals. > > The Consultation Paper is making suggestions for these license fees. There > are no decisions by CCK on this yet, as we are being consulted. My advice > would be: put your opinion(s) in writing and have these delivered by 29 > February, close of business, by way of petitioning the CCK. Kenya ICT > Federation will also make a submission by to the CCK before deadline. I'm > certain the CCK value your views. Do communicate! > > Once a new regulation is passed, it will be more difficult to change it. > > Best regards, > Marcel Werner > Kenya ICT Federation > > 2008/2/28, Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com>: > > > > I second Mercer on this. > > > > On Wed, Feb 27, 2008 at 9:43 PM, Marcel Werner <marcelcwerner(a)gmail.com> > > wrote: > > > > > Attention Colleagues, > > > > > > Are you aware that the Communications Commission of Kenya has issued > > > an important consultative document on the proposed Unified License > > > framework? Comments are welcomed by CCK, due by deadline of 29 February 2008 > > > at close of business. > > > > > > The market segments categorised in the CCK paper Applications Service > > > Providers (ASPs) and Content Service Providers (CSP) (include all Value > > > Added Service (VAS) Providers and Web-based Public Commercial Information > > > Service Providers can provide economic opportunities to Micro and Small > > > Enterprises (SME) as well as Small and Medium Sized companies (MSE). Note > > > that all these services proposedly attract a KES100,000 registration fee + > > > KES100,000 or 0.5% of turn-over charge. That will keep many players > > > out of the market. How many higher education graduates are working to > > > create a niche for themselves in the market? They should be encouraged and > > > supported! > > > > > > > > > The new regulatory framework should not place any obstacles to new > > > investors and market entrants, especially not to SME's. Therefore, the > > > proposed license fees for these two categories should be replaced by a > > > general license. Normally, such licensees does not pay license fees > > > but register with the regulatory body and subsequently receive a certificate > > > endorsing their operations in the sector. > > > > > > MARCEL WERNER > > > Kenya ICT Federation > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > kictanet mailing list > > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > > > This message was sent to: dmuthoni(a)gmail.com > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmuthoni%40gmail.com > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Muthoni > > > > My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ > > -------------------------------------------- > > Mahatma Gandhi once said:- > > > > First they ignore you, > > Then they laugh at you, > > Then they fight you, > > AND THEN YOU WIN!!! > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: marcelcwerner(a)gmail.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/marcelcwerner%40gmail.… > > > > > > > -- > MARCEL > > please send any business mail to: > marcelwerner(a)innovation-africa.net > -- MARCEL please send any business mail to: marcelwerner(a)innovation-africa.net

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Re: [kictanet] proposed new license fees for Application/Content Service Providers
by Marcel Werner 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

2008/2/28, Marcel Werner <marcelcwerner(a)gmail.com>: > > Dear Colleagues, > > There is no decision yet at CCK, only proposals. > > The Consultation Paper is making suggestions for these license fees. There > are no decisions by CCK on this yet, as we are being consulted. My advice > would be: put your opinion(s) in writing and have these delivered by 29 > February, close of business, by way of petitioning the CCK. Kenya ICT > Federation will also make a submission by to the CCK before deadline. I'm > certain the CCK value your views. Do communicate! > > Once a new regulation is passed, it will be more difficult to change it. > > Best regards, > Marcel Werner > Kenya ICT Federation > > 2008/2/28, Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com>: > > > > I second Mercer on this. > > > > On Wed, Feb 27, 2008 at 9:43 PM, Marcel Werner <marcelcwerner(a)gmail.com> > > wrote: > > > > > Attention Colleagues, > > > > > > Are you aware that the Communications Commission of Kenya has issued > > > an important consultative document on the proposed Unified License > > > framework? Comments are welcomed by CCK, due by deadline of 29 February 2008 > > > at close of business. > > > > > > The market segments categorised in the CCK paper Applications Service > > > Providers (ASPs) and Content Service Providers (CSP) (include all Value > > > Added Service (VAS) Providers and Web-based Public Commercial Information > > > Service Providers can provide economic opportunities to Micro and Small > > > Enterprises (SME) as well as Small and Medium Sized companies (MSE). Note > > > that all these services proposedly attract a KES100,000 registration fee + > > > KES100,000 or 0.5% of turn-over charge. That will keep many players > > > out of the market. How many higher education graduates are working to > > > create a niche for themselves in the market? They should be encouraged and > > > supported! > > > > > > > > > The new regulatory framework should not place any obstacles to new > > > investors and market entrants, especially not to SME's. Therefore, the > > > proposed license fees for these two categories should be replaced by a > > > general license. Normally, such licensees does not pay license fees > > > but register with the regulatory body and subsequently receive a certificate > > > endorsing their operations in the sector. > > > > > > MARCEL WERNER > > > Kenya ICT Federation > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > kictanet mailing list > > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > > > This message was sent to: dmuthoni(a)gmail.com > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmuthoni%40gmail.com > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Muthoni > > > > My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ > > -------------------------------------------- > > Mahatma Gandhi once said:- > > > > First they ignore you, > > Then they laugh at you, > > Then they fight you, > > AND THEN YOU WIN!!! > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: marcelcwerner(a)gmail.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/marcelcwerner%40gmail.… > > > > > > > -- > MARCEL > > please send any business mail to: > marcelwerner(a)innovation-africa.net > -- MARCEL please send any business mail to: marcelwerner(a)innovation-africa.net

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[Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] Internet Governance: ICANN, Security And Nation States]
by alice 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

Hi All Despite our current troubles we still hope that ICANN will choose Kenya to celebrate its birthday at the ICANN Africa meeting scheduled for November 2008. Note dates for this years IGF have changed. Now taking place in December. alice -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] Internet Governance: ICANN, Security And Nation States Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 20:48:23 +0100 From: Anne-Rachel Inné <annerachel(a)gmail.com> Reply-To: africann(a)afrinic.net To: africann(a)afrinic.net Intellectual Property Watch 28 January 2008 Internet Governance: ICANN, Security And Nation States By Monika Ermert for /Intellectual Property Watch/ The future of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will remain an important topic in Internet governance in 2008, the tenth anniversary of the private global coordination body for Internet addresses and domain names. Yet Internet governance experts also expect security in its different facets to be on the rise in Internet governance debates and point to the further growing interest of nation states in exercising their sovereign governance rights in cyberspace. And it is increasingly the case that governance of the Internet can affect access to online content. The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) <http://www.intgovforum.org/index.htm> organised by the United Nations - which in December will hold its third gathering in New Delhi - likely will see more issues related to cybercriminality, anonymity and privacy, said Jeanette Hofmann, researcher at the Centre for Analysis of Risk and Regulation at the London School of Economics, and at the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung, and member of the IGF Advisory Group. New ICANN Board Chairman Peter Dengate Thrush announced a "busy year" <http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-03jan08.htm> and a "birthday party" to take place at the annual meeting of ICANN, which will be held not in the United States but in Africa in November 2008. The location for the birthday party may be seen as a small symbol for ICANN's emphasis on its declared internationality. It has been the United States' privileged position in ICANN and root server oversight that gave the primary original impulse for the Internet governance debate that has evolved so much over the past few years. Weakening US Influence over Internet? More and more governments have called for change in the oversight structure for this tiny yet core part of the Internet and will call for that again in the newly launched consultation of the US Commerce Department National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on "The Continued Transition of the Technical Coordination and Management of the Internet's Domain Name and Addressing System." The consultation (deadline for statements 15 February) is part of the midterm review of the "Joint Project Agreement (JPA)" - the current agreement that binds ICANN to US government oversight - and may allow the full privatisation of domain name system (DNS) coordination after 2009. ICANN posted its comment to the NTIA in January, declaring: "The JPA is not longer necessary. Concluding it is the next step in transition of the coordination of the domain name system to the private sector." ICANN's Board wrote to NTIA official Suzanne Sene and said the JPA had been a necessary instrument in ICANN's formative years. "But now," the board said, "the JPA contributes to a misperception that the DNS is managed and overseen on a daily basis by the US government. Ending the JPA will provide long-term stability and security for a model that works." The Board underlined that the JPA would not affect the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) contract that allows the US administration to check on changes in the root zone, the heart of the DNS. The incoming US administration could withdraw from ICANN oversight, yet control over changes in the root zone, where vital information on the Internet address system is kept, might be too sensitive for any US administration. In fact, the US keeps arguing that it has to ensure the stability and security of the system that underlies a billion-dollar economy and has long become a key critical infrastructure. "The whole issue of security is drawing more and more attention, not only from nation states, but also from civil society," said Hofmann. The relationship between surveillance and privacy, data protection and transparency remains to be clearly worked out, she added. Identity management and authentication mechanisms rose much higher on the Internet governance agenda last year, and are expected to continue to do so, Hofmann said. Fight for IP Rights Intellectual property issues are in some aspects also intermingled with security. Whether the registries for country-code domains (such as .uk for the United Kingdom) should be granted special rights over new country-code-oriented top-level domain address zones, and be able to ask to be allocated the right to manage these zones via a fast track procedure, is one of ICANN's questions in this regard. Observers warn against possible domain islands under strict state control. At least some observers have followed anxiously developments in Russia where some in the administration have been reported to have shown interest in walling off the "Russian Internet." ICANN has accepted that there is a strong demand for ccTLDs in native scripts from a number of countries like China and several Arabic states and a special working group has started talks about the possible fast track procedure. But ICANN Chair Dengate Thrush spoke of a single procedure for all new top-level domains coming up. The introduction of new TLDs is a major issue for ICANN this year. Meanwhile, the longstanding fight over how personal data of individual domain name holders should be published in the so-called Whois databases of domain name registries and registrars might calm down, Hofmann said. ICANN staff finalised the procedure for dealing with exemptions for registries and registrars from jurisdictions with strong privacy regulation. Even if the United States keeps pushing for open Whois, registries and registrars from other countries can point to the need to adhere to their own national laws. Yet according to a representative for the registrars in ICANN's Generic Name Supporting Council it is not that easy at all. It was all but clear what registries and registrars had to present to be eligible for the exemptions as the procedure reads that only a lawsuit or administrative procedure against them allowed to apply for exceptional treatment. Also, settlements of disputes over ownership of domain names will continue to be important at ICANN and at the World Intellectual Property Organization. Debate over Governance Structure Changes may also come in 2008 to the institutional structure of Internet governance debates, Hofmann said. While the IGF was established as a focal point for the wider Internet governance debate - and ICANN will be kept under observation - she felt that there was a shift of a lot of discussion to intergovernmental institutions, back from self-governing bodies like the Internet Engineering Task Force (a peer standardisation body for all Internet protocol-related standards) to the UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The ITU has, for example, become more involved in security issues, last year announcing a global cybersecurity agenda <http://www.itu.int/osg/csd/cybersecurity/gca/> after years of rivalry with ICANN. More structural manoeuvring on who does what in Internet governance is expected this year, according to Wolfgang Kleinwächter, special advisor to the IGF Chair Nitin Desai. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has invited UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon to give a keynote at its June meeting on the "Future of the Internet Economy" <http://www.oecd.org/site/0,3407,en_21571361_38415463_1_1_1_1_1,00.html>, and Kleinwächter said this could be used by Ban for positioning of the UN in Internet governance. /Monika Ermert may be reached at info(a)ip-watch.ch <mailto:info@ip-watch.ch>./ _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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Re: [kictanet] Kenya loses the ICANN meeting scheduled for November2008
by Leonard Mware 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

The day we will realize that our 'hardware' is basically the same (Mzungu, Jaluo, Kikuyu, Kamba, and Luhya etc 'hardware') and that the 'software' we pack is the problem, then we will respect one another. The 'software' we pack is basically programmed by the environment we live in hence we need to teach our children to respect fellow human beings regardless of tribe or race. The kind of environment we live, that is, at home, office and with our friends (the company we keep) greatly affect our attitude and behaviour towards others. Yes, Walu, we can make a difference if we start with ourselves! L ----- Original Message ---- From: "Wanjira, Alice Munyua" <wanjira(a)cck.go.ke> To: mleonardo(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 8:14:10 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya loses the ICANN meeting scheduled for November2008 Walu and all And its not just the ICANN meeting, we have lost UPU among many others. alice -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+wanjira=cck.go.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke on behalf of John Walubengo Sent: Wed 27/02/2008 19:56 To: Wanjira, Alice Munyua Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya loses the ICANN meeting scheduled for November2008 Hey all, Apologies for having to resurrect this post. I had not appreciated the full impact of Kenya missing out on the above opportunity until after I attended the recent Internet Governance Forum (IGF) preparatory meeting in GVA. I was totally overwhelmed by the dissapointment felt by all delegates, but especially the AFRICAN delegates who had voted for Kenya to hold the above conference. The lose was definately more AFRICAN than KENYAN. How ironic! It pains me to note that as other nations and states are fighting about partitioning and sharing the Internet (the ultimate resource) we are still busy fighting about and partitioning "ancestral" land. I want to be the first one to stand accused for having surrendered my country to a small group of politicians who seem determined to drive the remaining little sense of our nationhood out of our minds. And I want also want to remind each of us, that it is time reclaim our right to be Kenyan - the Pride of Africa? Each of us must take up this challenge in their own little way (use your business, networks, friends on both sides, influence, whatever) in order to pull us away from that point of no return. Sorry Alice i now this is not ICT but I just didnt know how important Kenya was until i stepped out of it after Dec 31st 2007 and really needed to ventilate abit. walu. --- waudo siganga <emailsignet(a)mailcan.com> wrote: > I concur with your suggestions Njeri. It's unfortunate to > lose > hosting the ICANN meeting in November but let's try and > make the > best of it. > > Kind Regards, > Waudo > On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:59:52 +0300, "Njeri Rionge" > <njeri.rionge@igniteco > nsulting.co.ke> said: > > Colleagues, > Kenya needs to get the decisions around the National > Coalition > or whatever the solution agreed upon as soon as > possible. > ICANN is limited on planning time as regards managing > the > possible insecurity of holding a meeting in a location > where > security is a concern for the larger internet > community. In > fact this should be said the other way, we cannot > (ICANN) risk > having a meeting in a location where the internet > community > will not attend, due to the current status which today > seems > not clear since the media itself has now been quiet on > the > possible security issue, although indicates a possible > forward > improvement which is not indicative of stability etc. > ICANN > public meetings are very critical in engaging > participants > from an Internationalization perspective. Therefore, > the > decision for the cancellation was based on the turn of > events > that took place in Kenyan. > So, like Alice I am hopeful that we can at list host > the 10th > Anniversary Internet party which can possibly be held > away > from the actual ICANN conference and broadcasted to the > rest > of the world from Kenya, although they are no > guarantees. This > is harder to do and in fact affects budgets etc. > This said, the party was all planned for the Kenya > meeting > this November 2008. Which currently has been scheduled > to > happen in another unannounced location. I am hoping > that a > country in the Sub Sahara will put in a bid quickly > enough, > otherwise we will hold the meeting in a location that > has > already held this meeting before.... > Njeri, > On 2/5/08 8:35 AM, "alice" <alice(a)apc.org> wrote: > > Hi All > > > > Despite our current troubles we still hope that > ICANN will > choose Kenya > > to celebrate its birthday at the ICANN Africa meeting > scheduled for > > November 2008. > > Note dates for this years IGF have changed. Now > taking place > in December. > > > > alice > > > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > > Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] Internet Governance: > ICANN, > Security And > > Nation States > > Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 20:48:23 +0100 > > From: Anne-Rachel Inné <annerachel(a)gmail.com> > > Reply-To: africann(a)afrinic.net > > To: africann(a)afrinic.net > > > > > > > > Intellectual Property Watch > > > > > > 28 January 2008 > > > > > > Internet Governance: ICANN, Security And Nation > States > > > > By Monika Ermert for /Intellectual Property Watch/ > > The future of the Internet Corporation for Assigned > Names > and Numbers > > (ICANN) will remain an important topic in Internet > governance in 2008, > > the tenth anniversary of the private global > coordination > body for > > Internet addresses and domain names. > > > > Yet Internet governance experts also expect security > in its > different > > facets to be on the rise in Internet governance > debates and > point to the > > further growing interest of nation states in > exercising > their sovereign > > governance rights in cyberspace. And it is > increasingly the > case that > > governance of the Internet can affect access to > online > content. > > > > The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) > > [1]<http://www.intgovforum.org/index.htm> organised > by the > United Nations - > > which in December will hold its third gathering in > New Delhi > - likely > > will see more issues related to cybercriminality, > anonymity > and privacy, > > said Jeanette Hofmann, researcher at the Centre for > Analysis > of Risk and > > Regulation at the London School of Economics, and at > the > > Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung, and > member > of the IGF > > Advisory Group. > > > > New ICANN Board Chairman Peter Dengate Thrush > announced a > "busy year" > > > > [2]<http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-03jan08.ht > m> and a > > "birthday party" to take place at the annual meeting > of > ICANN, which > > will be held not in the United States but in Africa > in > November 2008. > > The location for the birthday party may be seen as a > small > symbol for > > ICANN's emphasis on its declared internationality. It > has > been the > > United States' privileged position in ICANN and root > server > oversight > > that gave the primary original impulse for the > Internet > governance > > debate that has evolved so much over the past few > years. > > > > Weakening US Influence over Internet? > > > > More and more governments have called for change in > the > oversight > > structure for this tiny yet core part of the Internet > and > will call for > > that again in the newly launched consultation of the > US > Commerce > > Department National Telecommunications and > Information > Administration > > (NTIA) on "The Continued Transition of the Technical > Coordination and > > Management of the Internet's Domain Name and > Addressing > System." > > > > The consultation (deadline for statements 15 > February) is > part of the > > midterm review of the "Joint Project Agreement (JPA)" > - the > current > === message truncated ===> _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: wanjira(a)cck.go.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wanjira%40cck.go.ke -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: mleonardo(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mleonardo%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

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AfDB YPP - with link
by Harry Hare 27 Feb '08

27 Feb '08

Dear All, Not sure there are any young professionals in this forum to take advantage of this opportunity. If not, probably we could pass this on. Please note the deadline for application (March 15th 2008) http://www.afdb.org/portal/page?_pageid=473,970775 <http://www.afdb.org/portal/page?_pageid=473,970775&_dad=portal&_schema=PORT AL> &_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL Regards Harry African eDevelopment Resource Centre 3rd Floor, Nelleon Place Raphta Road, Westlands PO Box 49475 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Cel +254 725 650044 Land +254 20 4453445 www.africanedevelopment.org <http://www.africanedevelopment.org/> My Blogg <http://egov-notes.blogspot.com/> *********************************************************** February 2008 Capacity Building Opportunities VSAT Field Engineering: 5-8 Records Management: 13-15 Fiber Optics: 26-29 Book Now, Limited spaces available

2 1

Re: [kictanet] Synchronizing Time Locally - NTP.KENIC.OR.KE
by Eric Osiakwan 27 Feb '08

27 Feb '08

Loud Applause.............KENIC ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Vincent Ngundi <vincent(a)kenic.or.ke> Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:55:47 +0300 >Dear All, > >FYI. > >In 2005, KENIC in line with its mandate to promote ICT's in the >Kenya, set up a GPS enabled NTP Server, ntp.kenic.or.ke, at the Kenya >Internet eXchange Point (KIXP) to provide date and time integrity for >computers. Most service providers have implemented time >synchronization on their systems utilizing network time servers >located in foreign countries. However, the time synchronization >services are not extended to their clients due to unreliable >connectivity and prohibitive costs associated with international >links. Consequently, most of their clients are oblivious of the >services' existence. > >Implementation of NTP services for the local Internet community >utilizes the Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, and is >expected to retain 0.5% of the current Internet traffic (NTP traffic) >locally therefore enabling the service providers to extend the NTP >services to their clients. Organizational expenses saved from >operational failures and data losses due to time inconsistencies >would be impossible to estimate. Consequently, date and time >integrity and accuracy on computerised data information is essential >for computer forensics procedures. The increased local content >traffic is essential in promoting the development local content and >local hosting and ensuring the operational stability of the Internet >in Kenya. > >Some of the organisations utilizing the local NTP services include >some Government bodies, ISP's, banks, corporates, and some >educational institutions. > >The local NTP server is synchronized to at least 5 satellites at any >one time thus making it the most accurate time source in the country. >Instructions on how to configure NTP services on various operating >systems can be found at: http://www.kenic.or.ke/index.php? >option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=87 > >Kind Regards, > >----------------- >Vincent Ngundi >Administrative Manager >KENIC - The Kenya Network Information Center >http://www.kenic.or.ke >vincent(a)kenic.or.ke >[T] +254 20 4450057/8 >[F] +254 20 4450087 > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >This message was sent to: eric(a)afrispa.org >Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eric%40afrispa.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://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now" --

2 1

AfDB YPP
by Harry Hare 27 Feb '08

27 Feb '08

Dear All, Not sure there are any young professionals in this forum to take advantage of this opportunity. If not, probably we could pass this on. Please note the deadline for application (March 15th 2008) Regards Harry African eDevelopment Resource Centre 3rd Floor, Nelleon Place Raphta Road, Westlands PO Box 49475 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Cel +254 725 650044 Land +254 20 4453445 www.africanedevelopment.org <http://www.africanedevelopment.org/> My Blogg <http://egov-notes.blogspot.com/> *********************************************************** February 2008 Capacity Building Opportunities VSAT Field Engineering: 5-8 Records Management: 13-15 Fiber Optics: 26-29 Book Now, Limited spaces available

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Synchronizing Time Locally - NTP.KENIC.OR.KE
by Vincent Ngundi 27 Feb '08

27 Feb '08

Dear All, FYI. In 2005, KENIC in line with its mandate to promote ICT's in the Kenya, set up a GPS enabled NTP Server, ntp.kenic.or.ke, at the Kenya Internet eXchange Point (KIXP) to provide date and time integrity for computers. Most service providers have implemented time synchronization on their systems utilizing network time servers located in foreign countries. However, the time synchronization services are not extended to their clients due to unreliable connectivity and prohibitive costs associated with international links. Consequently, most of their clients are oblivious of the services' existence. Implementation of NTP services for the local Internet community utilizes the Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, and is expected to retain 0.5% of the current Internet traffic (NTP traffic) locally therefore enabling the service providers to extend the NTP services to their clients. Organizational expenses saved from operational failures and data losses due to time inconsistencies would be impossible to estimate. Consequently, date and time integrity and accuracy on computerised data information is essential for computer forensics procedures. The increased local content traffic is essential in promoting the development local content and local hosting and ensuring the operational stability of the Internet in Kenya. Some of the organisations utilizing the local NTP services include some Government bodies, ISP's, banks, corporates, and some educational institutions. The local NTP server is synchronized to at least 5 satellites at any one time thus making it the most accurate time source in the country. Instructions on how to configure NTP services on various operating systems can be found at: http://www.kenic.or.ke/index.php? option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=87 Kind Regards, ----------------- Vincent Ngundi Administrative Manager KENIC - The Kenya Network Information Center http://www.kenic.or.ke vincent(a)kenic.or.ke [T] +254 20 4450057/8 [F] +254 20 4450087

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Mobile phone threat
by Dorcas Muthoni 26 Feb '08

26 Feb '08

Extreme threats ..... The Taleban have threatened to blow up telephone masts across Afghanistan unless mobile phone companies agree to switch off their signals at night.* * They say that US and other foreign troops are using the signals to track down insurgents http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7262519.stm -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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Fwd: [AfrISPA.Discuss] Course at Arizona State University on "The Internet in Africa"
by Eric Osiakwan 26 Feb '08

26 Feb '08

Begin forwarded message: > From: William Foster <wfoster8560(a)yahoo.com> > Date: 25 February 2008 22:26:15 GMT+03:00 > To: AfISPA <discuss(a)afrispa.org> > Cc: Patience Akpan-Obong <pakpan2004(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: [AfrISPA.Discuss] Course at Arizona State University on > "The Internet in Africa" > Reply-To: Discuss(a)afrispa.org > > For those of you interested in doing international sociology > research, I would like to ask you to consider taking my "Internet > in Africa" course that will be offered in the summer of 2008. Eric > Osiakwan and I will co-teach the class. > > The main deliverable will be a country study of Internet/cell phone > diffusion in a specific African country of your choice. > > My experience is that there are enough resources on the Internet > which when supplemented with Internet based interviews can be used > to do high quality original work that is of a publishable quality. > > The online course will be offered twice in both the first and > second summer sessions: > > Internet in Africa, Soc 194-1005 Line number 46695 > Summer 1, June 2-July 4 > > Internet in Africa, Soc 194-1007 Line number 46626 > Summer 2, July 7-Aug. 8 > > I would appreciate it if you would pass this along > to who might be interested. I can be reached at > wfoster8560(a)yahoo.com > or by phone at 1-520-440-0807. > > ********* > Getting course credit at Arizona State University > · All registration can be done online: > > Registrar’s Website --- http:// > students.asu.edu/registration > > · Apply online and pay online for application to ASU > > · Apply as Unclassified Admission > > - For Summer School Class, they > can be admitted for one class. > > · Admission to ASU > > · Pay Out of State Tuition > > Fees are at: > http://www.asu.edu/summer/summer_tf/ > > · Register for class > > · After grades are posted , request ASU transcripts be sent > to your University. > > > > William Foster, PhD > Faculty Associate > Social and Behavioral Sciences > Arizona State University Polytechnic > http://www.FosterandBrahm.com > 520-440-0807 > wfoster8560 (Skype) > > Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! > Search. Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 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://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now"

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Kimathi Information Centre Symposium Program of the day March 22, 2008.
by Jose' 25 Feb '08

25 Feb '08

Greetings, Kindly find attached newsletter,program and poster for the upcoming Small medium Enterprise symposium organized by Kimathi Information Centre.We look forward to see you all there in support of Emerging Enterprise Regards, Jose' 0728878744. Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || --------------------------------- Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

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INCEPTION WORKSHOP OF THE ELECTRONICE WASTE PROJECT IN KENYA
by Evelyne Majale 25 Feb '08

25 Feb '08

Dear all Further to the introduction meeting of the E-waste Project in Kenya held on 27/11/2007, Kictanet is pleased to invite you to the Inception Workshop to be held at Jacaranda Hotel on Monday, 03rd March 2008. Please find attached the invitation letter and tentative programme. Evelyne

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Are we a media state?
by Alex Gakuru 25 Feb '08

25 Feb '08

Let's face it, we are all afraid of the media projecting us badly. As the saying goes the media "makes or kills". That is tremendous power either ways depending on how it is used. Their pen can kill or make things happen. But "the media" is not a homogeneous thing. Like every other sector of society it has good people, questionable people and crooks as well. When I proposed that respective media houses conduct own audits, the media council another, and the government to do the final task force, it was on the premise that we all accepted that "the media" played a very big role in the events that led to the sorry of Kenya. We were looking at fixing the problem so that it never again happens in Kenya. I still stand by my statement. It is saddening to read that the media council has gone ahead to form not an audit but "a task force". And that they point to towards claiming that the government does not have the mandate to form a task force. In self-support, sections of the same media float suspicions "what is the ministry up to?" then reporting "media control is a tool traditionally used by oppressive governments" and editorials... If even MPs in clash-torn areas turn to and ask government for protection in their own areas, is it right for the media not to recognise that "for-common good" government always must always be recognised as the supreme authority on the the state? Is the media exempt from all forms of external audit? If this is the case, then we may as well come to terms that we moved to a "media state", just like exists "police states", dictators etc etc and in that scenario the media controls even all its critisms and would not be any different from past "news" critical e.g. to police etc for conducting internal closed investigations. Trust in their honesty delivery of news to consumers becomes questionable and one is left never to trust all news. Consumers need a media they can trust their information. A media open governance scrutiny the always help us hold government open and accountable. The government look after all of us, including the media and I recognize government as the final power over society's welfare. If we fail to collectively correct recent mistakes then "media resources" might also well be included in the ongoing peace talks because daily information consumers mind and opinion control is the most powerful national asset. Regards, Alex Gakuru ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

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Mutua/Media Council beef all about superiority
by Rebecca Wanjiku 23 Feb '08

23 Feb '08

Media audit was a great idea. It would have been good to have a clearer picture of how the media performed. I was waiting to see which media house will be indicted. It did not matter who is doing it, at least we would have had a process in place, capable of being improved on in future. But the credibility of such a process seems to be dark. Why? its about superiority, nothing to do with the media audit read the full post - beckyit.blogspot.com Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

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Online Outsourcing
by robert yawe 22 Feb '08

22 Feb '08

Hi, I think we are in serious trouble as IT fellows unless we get our act together. I have been looking for someone to develop what I would call a simple SMS solution. All the local programmers I have approached have been asking for an arm and a leg and even when I agreed to their terms they have been unable to deliver. A few days ago I was lamenting to a colleague about my dilemma, his solution, go to www.elance.com or www.odesk.com. If this is the fuuture of programming engagements then we seriously need to rethink our careers. The consoling factor is that its not only IT people who will be affected its all so called white collar jobs. Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Inbox. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html

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India Losing it's Attraction as Offshore R & D option?
by brian 21 Feb '08

21 Feb '08

This should be v. interesting for us as we gear up for the "offshoring" onslaught..... Question is: What do we need to do to be ready to pitch for the kind of R&D investments that India has benefited from? - good bandwidth? (imminent) - fairly priced labour force (done) - R&D skills (errmmhh - anyone?) - conducive investment policy (somewhat) - stable political environment (oh dear...) anything else? Brian ps. for Alex ;-) http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/080220/technology/india_economy_technology_r… ---------------------------- Tue Feb 19, 10:45 PM BANGALORE, India (AFP) - India used to be seen as the perfect offshore research and development hub for global firms seeking to tap its low-cost and supposedly vast engineering talent pool to devise products for world markets. ADVERTISEMENT Companies including Microsoft, IBM, Intel, AMD, Google, Motorola, Yahoo!, Cisco and Siemens have opened R and D centres in India, drawn by payroll costs that were once a quarter of those in the US and Europe. But the cost advantage is fading and engineers trained in basic research are harder to find, reducing India's appeal, says Zinnov, a consultancy that advises overseas firms on R and D issues. "Some companies witnessed a 20 percent rise last year in the cost of running their R and D operations in India," Zinnov chief executive Pari Natarajan said in an interview. "If this trend continues, the cost advantage of doing R and D in India compared to the US will go away," he said, predicting a shakeout in the R and D offshoring market. India is home to 594 R and D facilities set up by overseas firms that invested a combined 5.83 billion dollars, according to Zinnov. Rising costs and a shortage of skilled workers have also hurt other industries -- from software to retailing -- in an economy that has expanded at an annual average of 8.6 percent over the past four years. But the R and D offshoring market has received scant attention. "Costs are going up all over, and we are also facing a shortage of shop floor workers," said Anjun Roy, economist at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. "There is a need to improve skill sets in a lot of areas." Like software makers, R and D centres whose expenses are incurred mainly in rupees were hurt by a more than 12 percent rise last year in the value of the Indian unit against the dollar. Wages jumped about 15 percent as companies fought to hire and retain hard-to-find engineers skilled in research. India turns out more than half a million engineers every year, but institutions do not train them in basic research, limiting the available talent pool to no more than 100,000 people, said Natarajan. The shortage may set back the ambitious expansion plans announced by companies such as networking giant Cisco, which said in October that it plans to triple its headcount in India to 10,000 in three years. "It's going to be very difficult for companies which have very aggressive hiring targets," Natarajan said. "It's almost impossible to hire unless you compromise on the quality of talent." Cisco, which plans to use India to develop products for customers in emerging markets, has opened 170 academies across the country and is training 8,600 students to overcome the talent crunch, human resources executive Leo Scrivener said. "We are aware that a large pool of technical specialists and business solutions experts can't be readily hired from the market," Scrivener told AFP. Cisco has benefited from its R and D facility in India that has generated 110 US patents, with another 400 pending with the US Patents and Trademark Office. Hundreds of patents have been filed by other research facilities based in the country. Half the work on an Intel wonder chip, a fingernail-sized device unveiled last year that offers supercomputer performance, was done by its India research centre. Despite the problems facing R and D, Zinnov predicts that investment in existing facilities by large global companies capable of riding out rising costs, and with the infrastructure to train fresh graduates, will drive India as an offshore R and D destination. That will pump up the R and D market by an annual average of 23 percent until 2012, even as per-employee cost in India increases by a yearly 13.3 percent. Smaller facilities may have to shut shop or sell out while investment in new R and D centres will likely dry up as part of a looming consolidation, said Natarajan.

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on sovereignty, peace talks and the "Responsibility To Protect" (R2P)
by saidimu apale 21 Feb '08

21 Feb '08

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/20/opinion/edcohen.php ("A Change to Believe in") An intriguing article exploring current (fading?) notions of sovereignty ("that state sovereignty - the unfettered power of a state within its own jurisdiction - was the inviolable basis of international law"), to evolving ideas about sovereignty and international law ("R2P formalized the notion that when a state proves unable or unwilling to protect its people, and crimes against humanity are perpetrated, the international community has an obligation to intervene - if necessary, and as a last resort, with military force"). Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsibility_to_protect) has a good overview. Makes for interesting reading in light of the brouhaha over the peace talks. Regards, Saidi ------- A Change to Believe In by Roger Cohen Fidel Castro has quit after a half-century in power. An African-American has become a serious contender for the U.S. presidency, winning a 10th consecutive victory over his rival for the Democratic nomination. A new European state, Kosovo, has been born. And that’s just in the last week. Communist dictators don’t quit. Blacks don’t have broad U.S. electoral appeal. European borders don’t shift without bloodshed. History has been upended. Change, as Barack Obama would put it, is something you can believe in. After the cold war’s end, and close to one million dead in the genocides of Bosnia (1992) and Rwanda (1994), and the digitally-induced dissolution of barriers and distances and hierarchies, some governments thought everything could remain the same. They thought wrong, and not just in Havana and Pyongyang. They believed that in the age of globalization the principles of the Treaties of Westphalia, dating back to 1648, would be enough. In places like Moscow and Beijing and Belgrade, they clung to the idea that state sovereignty — the unfettered power of a state within its own jurisdiction — was the inviolable basis of international law. Boris Tadic, the Serbian president, took this line at the United Nations this week, insisting that Kosovo’s independence ”annuls international law, tramples upon justice and enthrones injustice.” He’s wrong. Let’s set aside the fact that Kosovo held one of the eight seats in the rotating presidency of a defunct state, Yugoslavia, and other holders of those federal seats from Slovenia to Bosnia to Macedonia all become independent. At a deeper level, the story of little Kosovo is the story of changing notions of sovereignty and international law. After the above-mentioned genocides, one perpetrated by the late Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia, both revealing a U.N. Security Council too divided to stop mass slaughter, NATO circumvented the council in 1999. It waged war for the first time to prevent Milosevic doing his worst again in Kosovo. The war, in the words of Thomas Weiss, a political scientist at the City University of New York, ”had legitimacy even if its legality was questioned.” This legitimacy stemmed from an evolving consensus that, as Tony Blair once put it, ”acts of genocide can never be a purely internal matter.” Sovereignty, after Bosnia, after Rwanda, in a globalized world, was more than authority over territory and people. It was also responsibility. When that responsibility to protect was flouted, when a government abused the basic rights of its citizens through slaughter or ethnic cleansing, sovereignty could in effect be suspended. As Kofi Annan, the former U.N. secretary general, put it: ”State sovereignty, in its most basic sense, is being redefined.” For Annan, as Weiss has noted, ”Human rights transcended narrow claims of state sovereignty.” Which brings us to ”R2P.” That’s not a rock band or a chemical compound. In 2005, the World Summit adopted the ”responsibility to protect,” known by that acronym. R2P formalized the notion that when a state proves unable or unwilling to protect its people, and crimes against humanity are perpetrated, the international community has an obligation to intervene — if necessary, and as a last resort, with military force. Member states declared that, with Security Council approval, they were prepared "to take collective action in a timely and decisive manner" when "national authorities manifestly fail to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity." An independent Kosovo, recognized by major Western powers, is in effect the first major fruit of the ideas behind R2P. It could not have happened if the rights of human beings were not catching up at last with the rights of states. Appropriately, Kosovo’s emergence coincided with the establishment in New York of the Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect, directed by Weiss. Backed by the Canadian, British and Dutch governments, among others, and with support from Ban Ki Moon, Annan’s successor, the organization’s mission is the spread of R2P principles. They need bolstering. The Iraq war has revived a 21st century sovereignty fetish exploited by Sudan to stall U.N. efforts to stop genocide in Darfur, where the government has failed utterly in its ”responsibility to protect” without provoking "timely and decisive" international action. Interventionism is increasingly seen in the Middle East and Africa as a camouflage for Western interests. But I believe the tide will eventually turn. R2P will be a reference. It is part of what Lawrence Weschler has called ”the decades-long, at times maddeningly halting, vexed, and compromised effort to expand the territory of law itself.” The ”territory of law” is now also the universal territory on which human life is protected. Westphalian principles meet R2P. An R2P generation is coming. The prizing open of the world is slow work, but from Kosovo to Cuba it continues. -----------

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Row Erupts Over Financing of Teams Cable Deal
by Dorcas Muthoni 21 Feb '08

21 Feb '08

We all want the best for TEAMS. Any Comments ?? ........... the $80 million East African Marine System project - popularly known as Teams - under which the government is to construct a 1,500-kilometre submarine cable between Mombasa and Fujaira in the United Arab Emirates, continues to be dogged by controversy. A new row has erupted over the manner in which the financing of the cable has been arranged. Apparently, the government had delayed in meeting the conditions agreed by the contractors, Messrs Alacatel Lucent of France, which was awarded the tender to build the cable in October last year. ...More >> http://allafrica.com/stories/200802191072.html?viewall=1 -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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[Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] Judge Shuts Down Web Site Specializing in Leaks --- This is pretty interesting!]
by alice 20 Feb '08

20 Feb '08

February 20, 2008 Judge Shuts Down Web Site Specializing in Leaks By ADAM LIPTAK and BRAD STONE http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/20/us/20wiki.html?_r=1&ref=technology&oref=s… In a move that legal experts said could present a major test of First Amendment rights in the Internet era, a federal judge in San Francisco on Friday ordered the disabling of a Web site devoted to disclosing confidential information. The site, Wikileaks.org, invites people to post leaked materials with the goal of discouraging "unethical behavior" by corporations and governments. It has posted documents said to show the rules of engagement for American troops in Iraq, a military manual for the operation of the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and other evidence of what it has called corporate waste and wrongdoing. The case in San Francisco was brought by a Cayman Islands bank, Julius Baer Bank and Trust. In court papers, the bank said that "a disgruntled ex-employee who has engaged in a harassment and terror campaign" provided stolen documents to Wikileaks in violation of a confidentiality agreement and banking laws. According to Wikileaks, "the documents allegedly reveal secret Julius Baer trust structures used for asset hiding, money laundering and tax evasion." On Friday, Judge Jeffrey S. White of Federal District Court in San Francisco granted a permanent injunction ordering Dynadot, the site's domain name registrar, to disable the Wikileaks.org domain name. The order had the effect of locking the front door to the site — a largely ineffectual action that kept back doors to the site, and several copies of it, available to sophisticated Web users who knew where to look. Domain registrars like Dynadot, Register.com and GoDaddy .com provide domain names — the Web addresses users type into browsers — to Web site operators for a monthly fee. Judge White ordered Dynadot to disable the Wikileaks.org address and "lock" it to prevent the organization from transferring the name to another registrar. The feebleness of the action suggests that the bank, and the judge, did not understand how the domain system works, or how quickly Web communities will move to counter actions they see as hostile to free speech online. The site itself could still be accessed at its Internet Protocol address (http://88.80.13.160/) — the unique number that specifies a Web site's location on the Internet. Wikileaks also maintained "mirror sites," or copies usually produced to ensure against failures and this kind of legal action. Some sites were registered in Belgium (http://wikileaks.be/) Germany (http://wikileaks.de) and the Christmas Islands (http://wikileaks.cx) through domain registrars other than Dynadot, and so were not affected by the injunction. Fans of the site and its mission rushed to publicize those alternate addresses this week. They have also distributed copies of the bank information on their own sites and via peer-to-peer file sharing networks. In a separate order, also issued on Friday, Judge White ordered Wikileaks to stop distributing the bank documents. The second order, which the judge called an amended temporary restraining order, did not refer to the permanent injunction but may have been an effort to narrow it. Lawyers for the bank and Dynadot did not respond to requests for comment. Judge White has scheduled a hearing in the case for Feb. 29. In a statement on its site, Wikileaks compared Judge White's orders to ones eventually overturned by the United States Supreme Court in the Pentagon Papers case in 1971. In that case, the federal government sought to enjoin publication by The New York Times and The Washington Post of a secret history of the Vietnam War. "The Wikileaks injunction is the equivalent of forcing The Times's printers to print blank pages and its power company to turn off press power," the site said, referring to the order that sought to disable the entire site. The site said it was founded by dissidents in China and journalists, mathematicians and computer specialists in the United States, Taiwan, Europe, Australia and South Africa. Its goal, it said, is to develop "an uncensorable Wikipedia for untraceable mass document leaking and analysis." Judge White's order disabling the entire site "is clearly not constitutional," said David Ardia, the director of the Citizen Media Law Project at Harvard Law School. "There is no justification under the First Amendment for shutting down an entire Web site." The narrower order, forbidding the dissemination of the disputed documents, is a more classic prior restraint on publication. Such orders are disfavored under the First Amendment and almost never survive appellate scrutiny. Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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Small medium Size Symposium -March 22, 2008-Mentors (Ms.Nyokabi)
by Jose' 19 Feb '08

19 Feb '08

Greetings, As the symposium draws closer,more professionals are comming on board on the mentorship clinic tent that will see enterpreneurs get new direction this comming year. below find Ms.Nyokabi's profile who has maximised on marketing. FORTUNE/STATE DEPARTMENT INTERNATIONAL WOMEN LEADERS MENTORING PARTNERSHIP At the International level Ms Nyokabi, the MSS CEOs extraordinary entrepreneurship and business acumen saw her selected by the US State Department to represent Kenya in a U.S. Government-sponsored program dubbed the Fortune/State Department International Women Leaders Mentoring Partnership. This business leadership & mentoring program running from April 29th through May 27th 2007, placed selected emerging businesswomen from the global arena in a mentoring program with Fortune's most acclaimed women leaders in the business world. Ms Nyokabi had the privilege of training under the mentorship of one of Americas most powerful women; Ms. Kathleen Vaughan who is an Executive Vice President at Wells Fargo where she leads one of the many financial services companies for the fortune 500 bank. Wells Fargo is among the 5 top banks in the USA and is the only triple AAA rated bank. The mentorship also provided opportunity to engage with Senators Hilary Clinton and Kay Hutchinson together with Elaine Chao, Secretary, US Department of Labor. Ms Nyokabi further maximized on this important visit to the US to attend a Situational Leadership Conference at the Wells Fargo Conference Centre in San Francisco from 18 to 19th May 2007 designed and developed by Ken Blanchard, the American leadership guru at which she was the only delegate from Africa. The experience therefore gives our business an appreciation of the unique standards of excellence such top-tier business organizations want to achieve and sustain in Africa --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

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Being charged to play radio!?
by nancy bosire 19 Feb '08

19 Feb '08

Hi All, There are people going round asking for a fee of Ksh.1950 so as to allow any one to play music in public e.g companies.. anybody else aware of this? apparently this was on TV yesterday (i did not catch news or had a chance to read the paper). my questions.. which body enacted this? CCK or the ministry of Info Comm ( Hon. Bitange?) is there a site that has the info on how this will work? deadlines, the rates etc etc who will regulate this? -- Sincerely yours, Secretariat Manager Kenya ICT Federation Tel: 020 4440102 Mobile: 0721907995 secretariat(a)kif.or.ke, info(a)kif.or.ke http://www.kif.or.ke "Whatever your mind expects and demands, it will find a way to produce it." - Napoleon Hill Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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[Fwd: Re: OHH POLE???-Didn't look like.]
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 18 Feb '08

18 Feb '08

Dear All, This is unwarranted (below)attack and does not help us to develop a nation called Kenya. ---------------------------- Original Message ---------------------------- Subject: Re: OHH POLE???-Didn't look like. From: "Robert Alai" <alai.robert(a)gmail.com> Date: Sat, February 16, 2008 8:12 am To: "John Walubengo" <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> Cc: "alice" <alice(a)apc.org> "Washington Odhiambo" <odhiambo(a)gmail.com> "eve kictanet" <evelyne(a)kictanet.or.ke> "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> -------------------------------------------------------------------------- John respect when people are being forcibly circumcised. I worked in the forces and from our own intelligence Kibaki is arming the Kikuyus for a major offensive now. We have pictures and facts about this and videos of confessions. Kenya cant and wont be the same with the kind of attitude which Bitange is creating while we know that people aare being killed for not being Kikuyus. I dont have two months in forums John. I run kaziafrika fforum which has more than 5700 active members. I run jamboforums.com which iss the public watchdog for Tanzania and has 5 million hits in one month. Jamboforum is credited with revealing the Richmond scandal, Buzwagi scandal, BOT scandal, and many others. I have experiece of 6 years in UN hostile zones including and not limited to DRC, Rwanda, Burundi and Mozambique. Guys dont lick the ass of people like Bitange just because they are PSs. I personnaly wrote to my former boss who is Ban Ki Moon and sent the pics and also copied the humanitarian head who is Holmes. I believe that Kibaki and his cohorts like Ndemo are buying time to butcher Kenyans. All routes in Nairobi which matatus operat in have now see the ressurgence of Mungikis in the name of touts. These people are preparing to strike. I have witnessed in one of the routes Mungikis slashing people with razor blades. It a new attack which is ccoming up. People are now being attacked wwith razor blades and not Pangas as before. Guys lets be serrious lakini tafadhalini tusilambe tako la Ndemo. Alai On Fri, Feb 15, 2008 at 4:06 PM, John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > Robert, > > I dont know you. You dont know me, but probably by virtue > of being a moderator of the KICTAnet list I have had to > endure your 'tantrums'. I actually dont know how all this > started but all I can say is that I see you are hurting and > probably you should avoid writing/posting until you get > your cool. > > Anger is a bad partner when combined with the written word. > Infact the things you say are easily forgotten but those > you write remain forever. In my brief online life, I have > learnt never to scribble when am worked up. What I do is > to scribble, save it and review the content 12hrs later. > Most of the times, I make changes that pass the same > message in a more diplomatic and positive manner. > > And that's really what the KICTAnet list is asking of > members. Diplomacy. Try to say things with respect just as > you would in real life. > > walu. > --- Robert Alai <alai.robert(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > Alice > > > > So thats what they taught you in school? Thats what you > > do at CCK? Hey you > > are simle failure to Kenyans. You believe in solving a > > problem by running > > away from it? Let me teach you abou lists and forums. I > > see your Masters > > degree is not coming handy here. > > > > Alai > > > > On Fri, Feb 15, 2008 at 8:35 AM, Robert Alai > > <alai.robert(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > Alice > > > > > > Did it touch you? Who again did you warn. Do you see > > like you are cutting > > > my oxygen when you ban me? Ban, kwani? If Wainaina > > brings politics know that > > > I will answer him politically and threats from you or > > Ndemo wont scare me. > > > Kenyans know the truth and thinking that ogre mentality > > will scare me from > > > saying what it is as it is then you are in for a > > suprise. By the way how > > > important is KICTANET? > > > > > > Alice, you are just behaving like Michuki who was > > Bitange's boss. Thinking > > > that killing the messenger will stop people from > > getting the truth. Hell NO. > > > KTN and Standard are more stronger than ever and with > > or without government > > > lincenses we watch it in Kisumu through sattelite. > > > > > > Shame on you and your stooge, Ndemo. > > > > > > Alai > > > unedited > > > > > > On Fri, Feb 15, 2008 at 8:27 AM, alice <alice(a)apc.org> > > wrote: > > > > > > > Dear Robert... > > > > > > > > This is a warning to you. Respect KICTAnet mailing > > list rules especially > > > > these ones: > > > > > > > > *WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE > > LISTSERV?** *The > > > > listserv should *not* be used at this time for > > personal > > > > advertising of services or the advertisement of > > services available > > > > from someone else. Please do *not* send updates > > of your addresses > > > > or other personal contact details to the > > listserv. Greetings to > > > > your friends, etc only flood mailboxes and > > should *not *be done > > > > through the listserv. Gender inappropriate or > > other references > > > > that may be offensive to some groups or > > individuals should not be > > > > posted, of course. > > > > * *Mailing list manners you must mind*: Don't send > > rude, political, > > > > tribal and offensive e-mails or postings. * Be > > polite - virtual > > > > members are real not a cyberspace dunderheads > > with no feelings.* > > > > Watch your words - We can't see your face, and > > the emotions in > > > > words can get misinterpreted.* Kick the bad > > language - People are > > > > listening.* Laws are laws - What's real in the > > real world are the > > > > same in cyberspace. Be ethical in your posting, > > don't lie, > > > > plagiarize, or deliberately do harm to another > > KICTANet forum user. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > if you repeat these offences we shall ban you from > > this list. > > > > > > > > regards > > > > > > > > alice munyua > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > > > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya: The Media is > > Not Innocent > > > > Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:51:59 +0300 > > > > From: Robert Alai <alai.robert(a)gmail.com> > > > > To: alice(a)apc.org > > > > CC: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > > > References: > > > > > > > <fb2c60220802130416x356f9e9ap82debaf42c1e8407(a)mail.gmail.com> > > > > <453375.42402.qm(a)web36201.mail.mud.yahoo.com> > > > > > > > <21ca13ee0802130755if502766jfafb1e0376853656(a)mail.gmail.com> > > > > > > > <fb2c60220802140803l3b7d322meef08c0bcd42964c(a)mail.gmail.com> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Wainaina > > > > This is funny. On one hand you are describing how > > KTN/Standard did > > > > incite the public and ignore the fact that All Royal > > Media outlets > > > > including RamogiFM, Kameme, and KBC have gone to > > become Kikuyu > > > > chauvinist and not ready to protect the interest of > > Kenya. On another > > > > hand you claim ho the current Kenyan problem is > > political. *THE PROBLEM > > > > IS NOT POLITICAL BUT ETHNIC. *I have just come from a > > tour which took me > > > > from Tigoni, Juja, Nyeri, Naivasha, Eldoret, Kisumu, > > Yala and Busia. I > > > > travelled with the IDPs and listened and cried of > > what I heard. Kenyans > > > > are being denied their rights because they are not > > Kikuyu. I have the > > > > word of MPs and confirmed with IOM that the > > government explicitly > > > > informed the Redcross and IOM not to serve some > > communities. I have > > > > horror tales of women whose husbands were hacked with > > pangas inside > > > > Tigoni police station and the police couldnt save > > because they are not > > > > Kikuyu. I have talked to Abbas of IOM of how > > different Redcross is > > > > treating IDPs. kikuyu IDPs are treated with all care > > and others ignored. > > > > I personally snatched blankets from Pamela who is the > > regional redcross > > > > manager in Kisumu when she refused to give them to > > mothers and chidren I > > > > transported from tigoni and naivasha. I brought 17 > > buses and called > > > > redcross and informed them of my mission. I had a > > meeting with Dr Simiyu > > > > and Abbas Guled and they agreed to prepare the > > ground. After a whole day > > > > travel I got redcross not ready and when they saw the > > buses is when they > > > > started cutting the mbogas and meat. We handed over 4 > > children whose > > > > mother was admitted to Agha khan with serious illness > > and redcross took > > > > the children to a police station in Siaya. > > > > Kenyan problem is tribal and not political. We cannot > > have one tribe > > > > running roughshod and even the religious leaders from > > Kikuyu preaching > > > > the Kikuyu superiority. We cannot have one tribe > > killing and maiming > > > > Kenyans while claiming there is a genocide against > > Kikuyus. No Kikuyu > > > > was killed in Kisumu. Infact they were protected and > > even I have Mwangi, > > > > and Kuria who are my friends living and working in > > Kisumu even now when > > > > they cant work anywhere else. But Kibaki is ordering > > NGOs not to serve > > > > non Kikuyus. Kikuyus enjoy greater access to loans > > and even humanitarian > > > > assistance. Go to Kondele in Kisumu where the Kikuyu > > IDPs are housed. > > > > You will find that there is a bigger difference with > > Moi stadium where > > > > redcross dont want to even put basic facilities > > forcing the local > > > > community in Kisumu to house the IDPs at St Stephens. > > > > kenyans, these theories of Bitange and Wainaina only > > works for the few > > > > they serve. Bitange was key in selling 51percent > > shares of Telkom Kenya > > > > to the french consortium at 26 Billion Ksh. Before > > that the government > > > > cleared a debt of 69 billion. if 51% shares were sold > > at 26 it menas > > > > that Telkom Kenya was just worht 52 Billion. Why > > settle a debt of 69 > > > > billion? What is the mathematics here? telkom Kenya > > was worthless? Shame > > > > on you Bitange. Only people who dont know your inner > > dealings will > > > === message truncated === > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. > http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > -- --------------------------------- www.kazi-africa.com polls2007.blogspot.com ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world" ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Is Big Brother watching us?
by Miano Njoka 18 Feb '08

18 Feb '08

A while back, the government announced that it would prosecute anyone sending hate messages via SMS. Safaricom's CEO mentioned in a post to this list that they were working on a filtering system to stop hate messages, pornography, etc. Are these actions right? Is Big Brother (in George Orwell's 1984) watching us? I guess valid arguments can be made both for and against the government invading its citizens privacy in the interest of national security, what I'd like to know is, are these actions legal? Are there laws in Kenya to protect the right to privacy? Are communication companies bound by law to protect their customers information? Are these laws, if any, enforced? Miano Njoka.

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The Truth about Telkom
by Victor Maloi 18 Feb '08

18 Feb '08

The truth about Telkom I worked for Telkom Kenya, I know Telkom's problems from the 1980's, I knew Telkom players but last week's e-mail in this forum directed at Dr. Bitange Ndemo regarding Telkom (see the last paras of the e-mail) was purely a smear campaign. I have not met Ndemo in person but the day I meet him, I will hug him for playing part in saving this National asset. Throughout the 1980's my cousins from the Rift Valley blundered the giant telco. Nine thousand of their kin with barely standard seven certificates were employed to hang around corridors. At one point there were ten tea girls in the MD's office. Managers built magnificent real estate properties in Nairobi using the resources from Telkom. The state corporation owed everybody including KRA and employee pension fund. At one time KRA was owed 30 billion. When Alai implies that the Government used 69 billion to restructure then sold 51% of the corporation for 26 billion as rip off, he only shows us how naïve he is. Did he expect the French to retire the debts? In my view this Alai man is being used to cover up things in Telkom. Remember in the run up to the election ODM opposed the sale. Now the truth has come out. My cousins did not want anybody to unravel the blunder of public resources they had stolen. They used some of this resource to oil the ODM campaign. This the same money the Kauleis are using to pay militias in the Rift Valley. For sometime now my cousins tightly kept the secrets at Telkom and were jittery when one of theirs Munsonic was bundled out and later Kirei. To date these cousins of mine still hold the corporation at ransom having created small companies with long term contracts with the corporation. The link between these people and Alai's people was clearly articulated in a rift valley FM station by a Mr. Sang. He called the Luos the "Bridge" the Kikuyu the "weeds" the Kisiis and Luhyias "madoadoa". The Bridge was to be used to bring them to the Promised Land. The one in which most us were dubbed that we were part of the larger Kalenjin. Today we suffer in Transmara where the Kalenjin are threatening to take even our local leadership. You guess what happened to the weeds and madoadoas. This brings me to a conclusion that Alai is not alone although he may me working foolishly not knowing that he is being used as a stepping stone. We eagerly await for the Truth Commission to bring all this out before we start attacking people who may not have been party to the destruction of Telkom and other state corporations. Victor Alai's e-mail Wainaina This is funny. On one hand you are describing how KTN/Standard did incite the public and ignore the fact that All Royal Media outlets including RamogiFM, Kameme, and KBC have gone to become Kikuyu chauvinist and not ready to protect the interest of Kenya. On another hand you claim ho the current Kenyan problem is political. *THE PROBLEM IS NOT POLITICAL BUT ETHNIC. *I have just come from a tour which took me from Tigoni, Juja, Nyeri, Naivasha, Eldoret, Kisumu, Yala and Busia. I travelled with the IDPs and listened and cried of what I heard. Kenyans are being denied their rights because they are not Kikuyu. I have the word of MPs and confirmed with IOM that the government explicitly informed the Redcross and IOM not to serve some communities. I have horror tales of women whose husbands were hacked with pangas inside Tigoni police station and the police couldnt save because they are not Kikuyu. I have talked to Abbas of IOM of how different Redcross is treating IDPs. kikuyu IDPs are treated with all care and others ignored. I personally snatched blankets from Pamela who is the regional redcross manager in Kisumu when she refused to give them to mothers and chidren I transported from tigoni and naivasha. I brought 17 buses and called redcross and informed them of my mission. I had a meeting with Dr Simiyu and Abbas Guled and they agreed to prepare the ground. After a whole day travel I got redcross not ready and when they saw the buses is when they started cutting the mbogas and meat. We handed over 4 children whose mother was admitted to Agha khan with serious illness and redcross took the children to a police station in Siaya. Kenyan problem is tribal and not political. We cannot have one tribe running roughshod and even the religious leaders from Kikuyu preaching the Kikuyu superiority. We cannot have one tribe killing and maiming Kenyans while claiming there is a genocide against Kikuyus. No Kikuyu was killed in Kisumu. Infact they were protected and even I have Mwangi, and Kuria who are my friends living and working in Kisumu even now when they cant work anywhere else. But Kibaki is ordering NGOs not to serve non Kikuyus. Kikuyus enjoy greater access to loans and even humanitarian assistance. Go to Kondele in Kisumu where the Kikuyu IDPs are housed. You will find that there is a bigger difference with Moi stadium where redcross dont want to even put basic facilities forcing the local community in Kisumu to house the IDPs at St Stephens. kenyans, these theories of Bitange and Wainaina only works for the few they serve. Bitange was key in selling 51percent shares of Telkom Kenya to the french consortium at 26 Billion Ksh. Before that the government cleared a debt of 69 billion. if 51% shares were sold at 26 it menas that Telkom Kenya was just worht 52 Billion. Why settle a debt of 69 billion? What is the mathematics here? telkom Kenya was worthless? Shame on you Bitange. Only people who dont know your inner dealings will respect what you say. You really like to please masters and never acts proffesionaly. Alai

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Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic Cables
by Eric Osiakwan 17 Feb '08

17 Feb '08

Nothing against all the big guns establishing in Kenya but what about a long term objective of building our own version of Akamai,googles, Limelights etc. Dont forget the real winners in the knowledge era are those who produce their own not use others. So our long term objective should be to have our own alongside others because it is a free market economy. Eric here ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Michuki Mwangi <michuki(a)swiftkenya.com> Reply-To: michuki(a)swiftkenya.com Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:14:04 +0300 > > >bitange(a)jambo.co.ke wrote: >> Good news is that Etisalat (our partners in Teams) in conjunction with >> Akamai are building an Internet Point of Presence (POP) in Fujaira thus >> eliminating long distance needs for Internet in this region. > >The long term objective should be to have the likes of Akamai, Limelight >and google collocating their nodes in Kenya. This will essentially keep >at least 50% of our Internet traffic local. > >Regards, > >Michuki. > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >This message was sent to: eric(a)afrispa.org >Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eric%40afrispa.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://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now" --

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Kenya: The Media is Not Innocent
by alice 16 Feb '08

16 Feb '08

http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=41049 KENYA: The Media Is Not Innocent Kwamboka Oyaro *NAIROBI, Feb 2 (IPS) - The media was partly blamed for the Rwandan genocide 14 years ago which left nearly one million people dead in 100 days. "Kill the Inkotanyi [cockroaches]!" a local radio station urged its listeners at the time. * "30 Days in Words and Pictures: Media Response in Kenya During the Election Crisis" -- a workshop organised here last week by California-based media advocacy group Internews -- enabled media professionals to conduct a "self-audit" of the role local media played in the post-election violence. The audit revealed that media -- especially vernacular radio stations -- might be partly to blame for the on-going violence sparked off by the announcement of Mwai Kibaki as winner of the Dec. 27 elections. The violence has reportedly claimed over 1,000 lives and displaced some 250,000 people since the December election. David Ochami, a commissioner with the Media Council of Kenya, told IPS that long before the elections were held, vernacular radio stations had ignited ethnic consciousness among the listeners "making them support leaders from their own tribe and harbour bad feelings about people from other communities." "The ethnic hate our radio station was propagating about those from outside the community was unbelievable. I can’t repeat any of those expressions at this forum," said a journalist with a vernacular radio station. "The unfortunate thing is we let these callers speak vile and laughed about it." "We took sides in the issue and we became subjective, forgetting our professional tenet of objectivity and neutrality. In fact, this polarization was so bad in the newsrooms that some broadcast journalists refused to cover or read news that wasn’t favourable to the candidate or party they supported," said a journalist. In fact, leading up to the elections the local media conveyed inflammatory campaign messages as advertisers’ announcements. "Both print and broadcast media put money ahead of responsibility by accepting and conveying paid-for hate material," Mildred Baraza, a Nairobi- based journalist told IPS. "This could have incited the audience, and when they got a chance they avenged as a result of the pre-election messages," she said. Redemtor Atieno, another Nairobi-based journalist who also helped to organise the workshop, is confident that the media’s biased reporting contributed to the mayhem in the country. "Professionalism was thrown to the dogs as tribe and partisanship carried the day. We failed our audience by conveying interests of politicians without questioning the impact of our stories," Atieno told IPS. Participants at the workshop also blamed media owners for playing a major role in encouraging the violence. "They had vested interests in either camp of the political divide," a reporter with Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) said, adding that he and his colleagues wanted to tell the real story but they couldn’t because the stories could portray the government in a bad light. "We had beautiful clips and stories from the field, but we went back to the newsroom knowing that the story would never be used," he said. Even privately owned media owners who backed different political parties had a hand in the stories that were carried. If it was about the party they supported, they exaggerated the story and generally depicted the opponents in negative ways. "The media organizations refrained from telling the world the truth about what was happening," Ochami told IPS. "There has been a tendency of portraying the Kenyan crisis as a problem between two ethnic groups -- where one [Kibaki’s Kikuyu] is victimized by another [opposition leader Raila Odinga’s Luo]. Any other story on the contrary is downplayed or ignored," Ochami explained. There are those who believe the media is innocent and the violence currently rocking the country was bound to happen anyway -- that historical economic inequalities among the Kenyan communities had to boil over at some point in time. "The public vented long bottled-up anger. It was meant to explode whether the media encouraged it or not," said a journalist at the workshop. "Many people voted last year for change and it was a protest vote against years of inequalities. When they realized this would not happen when Kibaki was declared winner, they exploded." Mitch Odera the moderator of the workshop and media consultant said one of the causes of Kenya’s unrest is the immaturity of its democracy. "There hasn’t been competitive democracy in our country. That is our problem," Odera told the participants at the workshop. The government was also blamed for the chaos because it slapped a blanket ban on live broadcasters soon after violence broke out in the country. "The ban did not extend to international media including the Internet which many Kenyans accessed and spread the word. This led to skewed information and hence panic and more destruction and deaths," said one journalist from the electronic media. The Editors Guild -- an organization of editors from all media organizations -- went to court this week to challenge the ban on broadcasters. Participants at the workshop also heard the first hand experiences of journalists who covered the post election violence. Practioners complained about threats to their lives and complained that they felt segregated from the rest of the country. As the workshop was taking place participants were well aware that several political writers and analysts had received death threats for writing stories that were viewed as unfavourable towards the government. (END/2008)

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Re: [kictanet] Media
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 15 Feb '08

15 Feb '08

Dear Ms. Karretts-Makau, Perhaps I should start by thanking you and Edith. In all honesty, we want an evaluation that will attract ownership from all stakeholders. That is why we want distinguished members of the media fraternity plus a few others from organizations with high moral ground to conduct it. A lot has been writen in this forum but it is only you two who bothered to provide some guidelines. We shall ensure that the committee gets your comments and hopefully at the end of it all, we'll all be happy. Asante sana and have a great weekend. > I trust then that we can leave it in your capable hands to at least ensure > that the task force consider that structure and the format of the > questions > and that they reflect international standards in evaluation procedures. > > Permit me to reiterate Edith's comments: > > > âThe four internationally recognized evaluation standards: > > 1. Utility - who are the intended users? The evaluation should serve > the information needs of intended users, who should be defined from > the > outset. > 2. Feasibility - it should be realistic, prudent, diplomatic and > frugal. > 3. Propriety - it should be conducted legally, ethically and with due > regard for the welfare of those involved in the evaluation, as well as > those affected by its results. > 4. Accuracy - it will reveal and convey technically adequate > information about the features that determine the worth or merit of > the > subject being evaluated. > > Lastly, the purpose would need to be clear is it? "on improving rather > than > on proving, on understanding rather than on reporting, and on creating > knowledge for action/policy change rather than on taking > credit/punishing." > > > On 15/2/08 4:55 PM, "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: > >> The format of the questions will be decided by the task force. >> >> Ndemo >> >> >> Sent from my BlackBerryÂ® >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Monica Kerretts-Makau <mkmakau(a)yahoo.co.uk> >> >> Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:02:07 >> To:<bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> >> Cc:'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' <kict ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Re: [kictanet] Media
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 15 Feb '08

15 Feb '08

Edith, I have taken your views. The Task Force will collate the widest variety of views of both the producers of media content and the consumers i.e. the practitioners of journalism and the reading, viewing and listening public. It will also take into account the findings and recommendations of other independent audits of media conduct and content placed in the public domain, including the views of Kenyas worldwide Diaspora. The purpose of the study is to assit the Government come up with an appropriate policy intervention. At the Editors' forum on this subject, Government was criticised for lack of clear ploicy on Information. I promised a comprehensive review of the ICT Policy which was largely focused on the new media. We are in this together throughout because I intend to involve stakeholders in coming up with a well informed comprehensive policy framework. I must admit here that in the past I have enjoyed the discourse in this forum but if we turn it into a name-calling arena, then in my view let Government be Government and activism be what it is. We have a wonderful opportunity to change the ways things have always been done. Ndemo. > Dr Ndemo, > > It appears that you're not open to suggestions as much as you seem to ask > for suggestions from your last communication. > > In other words, I'm suggesting that the purpose of the study and how the > results would be applied be included as part of the TOR. I don't see where > I'm being critical. > > Kind regards > > -----Original Message----- > From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke [mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke] > Sent: 14 February 2008 18:06 > To: Edith Adera > Cc: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke; 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' > Subject: RE: [kictanet] Media > > Dear Edith, > I can only work within my boundaries. The Clergy have made their > apologies and practically pre-empted detailed findings as to how they > behaved. The review of politicians is ongoing and are faced with a > possibility of constitutional and legal changes. Some investigative > journalist may find it interesting to put all these efforts into > perspective. > > Rather than criticise, please make recommendations. I would not be > participating in this forum if I did not want stakeholder views. The > semantics have nothing to do with the objectives of the exercise. We > simply want to make informed policy decisions. We are not ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: Kenya: The Media is Not Innocent]
by Bill Kagai 15 Feb '08

15 Feb '08

Hello Robert, Having googled you and realising that you have been attached at the Kigoma Logistics Base with the UN Mission in Congo, I would tend to believe that your experience has taught you processes of handling such a matters diplomatically rather than 'venting' at the wrong persons. Your accounts deserve a story and would encourage you to visit the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights to write statements. The Commission has over 40 officers in the field currently collecting evidence and am sure they would be pleased to listen to you and the victims of the violence so as to build a full picture that will eventually point to where the buck stops. http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143981924&cid=4&PHPSESSID=b1d4f0299b4ea… Bill

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Re: [kictanet] Media
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 15 Feb '08

15 Feb '08

Dear Edith, I can only work within my boundaries. The Clergy have made their apologies and practically pre-empted detailed findings as to how they behaved. The review of politicians is ongoing and are faced with a possibility of constitutional and legal changes. Some investigative journalist may find it interesting to put all these efforts into perspective. Rather than criticise, please make recommendations. I would not be participating in this forum if I did not want stakeholder views. The semantics have nothing to do with the objectives of the exercise. We simply want to make informed policy decisions. We are not Policing anybody here. The police will or may have already moved on those who broke the law. Ndemo. > Dr Ndemo, > > The wording of the TOR appears more of "an inquiry into" rather than what > has been the subject of discussion - "evaluation of". Again, the main > purpose of this "something" including how the results will be used need to > be spelt out from the outset. It's not included in the TOR. > > An integrated approach to examining the issues, in my view, would be more > helpful than specifically targeting the media per se....as the study would > appear to have pre-empted the findings without allow an objective and > holistic assessment of what occurred taken into consideration what I > called > "key boundary partners". Is there room to change the approach? > > Edith > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke [mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke] > Sent: 14 February 2008 13:39 > To: Edith Adera > Cc: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke; 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' > Subject: RE: [kictanet] Media > > Dear Edith, > History is always a good teacher. When Rwanda had a political crisis, > some FM station worsened the situation. In our case, no one denies the > fact that we were in a crisis towards the end of December. It was > desperate and we too desperate measures. No one can say what would have > happened if we let media inflame passions of our people. Further you very > well know that media was liberalized withou putting a legal framework in > place. We for example have no regulatory mechanism for electronic media. > We are the least regulated (electronic media) country in the World. This > is not good for a developing country like ours. > > Media h ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: Kenya: The Media is Not Innocent]
by Robert Alai 15 Feb '08

15 Feb '08

Alice Did it touch you? Who again did you warn. Do you see like you are cutting my oxygen when you ban me? Ban, kwani? If Wainaina brings politics know that I will answer him politically and threats from you or Ndemo wont scare me. Kenyans know the truth and thinking that ogre mentality will scare me from saying what it is as it is then you are in for a suprise. By the way how important is KICTANET? Alice, you are just behaving like Michuki who was Bitange's boss. Thinking that killing the messenger will stop people from getting the truth. Hell NO. KTN and Standard are more stronger than ever and with or without government lincenses we watch it in Kisumu through sattelite. Shame on you and your stooge, Ndemo. Alai unedited On Fri, Feb 15, 2008 at 8:27 AM, alice <alice(a)apc.org> wrote: > Dear Robert... > > This is a warning to you. Respect KICTAnet mailing list rules especially > these ones: > > *WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE LISTSERV?** *The > listserv should *not* be used at this time for personal > advertising of services or the advertisement of services available > from someone else. Please do *not* send updates of your addresses > or other personal contact details to the listserv. Greetings to > your friends, etc only flood mailboxes and should *not *be done > through the listserv. Gender inappropriate or other references > that may be offensive to some groups or individuals should not be > posted, of course. > * *Mailing list manners you must mind*: Don't send rude, political, > tribal and offensive e-mails or postings. * Be polite - virtual > members are real not a cyberspace dunderheads with no feelings.* > Watch your words - We can't see your face, and the emotions in > words can get misinterpreted.* Kick the bad language - People are > listening.* Laws are laws - What's real in the real world are the > same in cyberspace. Be ethical in your posting, don't lie, > plagiarize, or deliberately do harm to another KICTANet forum user. > > > > > if you repeat these offences we shall ban you from this list. > > regards > > alice munyua > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya: The Media is Not Innocent > Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:51:59 +0300 > From: Robert Alai <alai.robert(a)gmail.com> > To: alice(a)apc.org > CC: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > References: > <fb2c60220802130416x356f9e9ap82debaf42c1e8407(a)mail.gmail.com> > <453375.42402.qm(a)web36201.mail.mud.yahoo.com> > <21ca13ee0802130755if502766jfafb1e0376853656(a)mail.gmail.com> > <fb2c60220802140803l3b7d322meef08c0bcd42964c(a)mail.gmail.com> > > > > Wainaina > This is funny. On one hand you are describing how KTN/Standard did > incite the public and ignore the fact that All Royal Media outlets > including RamogiFM, Kameme, and KBC have gone to become Kikuyu > chauvinist and not ready to protect the interest of Kenya. On another > hand you claim ho the current Kenyan problem is political. *THE PROBLEM > IS NOT POLITICAL BUT ETHNIC. *I have just come from a tour which took me > from Tigoni, Juja, Nyeri, Naivasha, Eldoret, Kisumu, Yala and Busia. I > travelled with the IDPs and listened and cried of what I heard. Kenyans > are being denied their rights because they are not Kikuyu. I have the > word of MPs and confirmed with IOM that the government explicitly > informed the Redcross and IOM not to serve some communities. I have > horror tales of women whose husbands were hacked with pangas inside > Tigoni police station and the police couldnt save because they are not > Kikuyu. I have talked to Abbas of IOM of how different Redcross is > treating IDPs. kikuyu IDPs are treated with all care and others ignored. > I personally snatched blankets from Pamela who is the regional redcross > manager in Kisumu when she refused to give them to mothers and chidren I > transported from tigoni and naivasha. I brought 17 buses and called > redcross and informed them of my mission. I had a meeting with Dr Simiyu > and Abbas Guled and they agreed to prepare the ground. After a whole day > travel I got redcross not ready and when they saw the buses is when they > started cutting the mbogas and meat. We handed over 4 children whose > mother was admitted to Agha khan with serious illness and redcross took > the children to a police station in Siaya. > Kenyan problem is tribal and not political. We cannot have one tribe > running roughshod and even the religious leaders from Kikuyu preaching > the Kikuyu superiority. We cannot have one tribe killing and maiming > Kenyans while claiming there is a genocide against Kikuyus. No Kikuyu > was killed in Kisumu. Infact they were protected and even I have Mwangi, > and Kuria who are my friends living and working in Kisumu even now when > they cant work anywhere else. But Kibaki is ordering NGOs not to serve > non Kikuyus. Kikuyus enjoy greater access to loans and even humanitarian > assistance. Go to Kondele in Kisumu where the Kikuyu IDPs are housed. > You will find that there is a bigger difference with Moi stadium where > redcross dont want to even put basic facilities forcing the local > community in Kisumu to house the IDPs at St Stephens. > kenyans, these theories of Bitange and Wainaina only works for the few > they serve. Bitange was key in selling 51percent shares of Telkom Kenya > to the french consortium at 26 Billion Ksh. Before that the government > cleared a debt of 69 billion. if 51% shares were sold at 26 it menas > that Telkom Kenya was just worht 52 Billion. Why settle a debt of 69 > billion? What is the mathematics here? telkom Kenya was worthless? Shame > on you Bitange. Only people who dont know your inner dealings will > respect what you say. You really like to please masters and never acts > proffesionaly. > Alai > > On Thu, Feb 14, 2008 at 7:03 PM, Wainaina Mungai > <wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org <mailto:wainaina@madeinkenya.org>> wrote: > > I believe Waruru has raised an important question especially as > relates to .....should Media houses be partisan? or must Media > houses remain neutral independent of the preference of their owners? > > My take is that Media is too critical as a part of society that it > must not be partisan. We call the Press the "Fourth Estate" and we > should make the press non-partisan just as we require the judiciary > or other statutory bodies to be non-partisan even though the > individuals running those institutions may be free to support > different political leanings. > > Dear Alai, let's all admit we have erred no matter what party or > ideology we support. The political bias of the media is the problem > we turn our focus to as it has brought us to the crisis we find > ourselves in. My example of KTN/Standard also pointed out that other > media houses (the same that you mentioned), have to deal with the > fact that they are perceived as partisan in favour of the > establishment. I also chose to deflect the debate to "way forward". > Please let us not trivialise it as a matter of tribal chauvinism coz > we will lose sight of the issues at hand. Let's work together for a > win-win solution. > > I would like to venture into analysing the role of SMS and the > Internet but that would divert my atention from the unsolved problem > of a Media that can destroy Kenya if left untempered. > > > On 2/13/08, *Robert Alai* <alai.robert(a)gmail.com > <mailto:alai.robert@gmail.com>> wrote: > > Kenyans and Friends of Kenya > The Media shuldnt have media council. The media must go the way > of the SA broadcast complaints commision which must be > independent of the media and the gvernment. And guys and > especially Wainaina. Please dont bring the PNU vs ODM politics > in this forum. We are going to that direction and it wont help > us. Lets all know that KTN has a duty to inform people just the > way Royal Media and KBC and the Kameme 24 has been sending > Kikuyu enthnic chauvinism in our ears. We have situations in > this country where even Redcross and IOM have been called and > informed by the government not to transport some IDPs. Please > know that Kenya cant be in an imagined peace state. And peace > exist only where justice is. Even if Raila and Kibaki agrees > know that thre will be no peace without the people's right > protected. > Alai > > On Feb 13, 2008 2:49 PM, Kanja Waruru <kanjawaruru(a)yahoo.com > <mailto:kanjawaruru@yahoo.com>> wrote: > > hi all, > i like mungai's line of thought and i would like to > contribute an additional point. > > for media houses to be transparent during elections > the media council should insist that each media house > state their position's publicly and declare the > parties/presidential candidates that they > support/endorse or if they intend to remain neutral > and independent. > > this way the public will be making informed decision > when they tune/buy into a particular media. > Kanja > > > > > --- Wainaina Mungai <wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org > <mailto:wainaina@madeinkenya.org>> wrote: > > > Allow me to re-deflect the issue away from a > > specific media house and state > > the following as a way forward: > > > > 1. Journalists must work with all Kenyans to make > > the press free from undue > > influence from Media Owners. Press Freedom will not > > be achieved until we > > liberate the journalists from the editorial biases > > of the media owners. > > > > 2. Editors must be held responsible when media > > houses publish/broadcast in > > an unethical manner. For this to hold, we must > > ensure that the media owners > > are not the 'final' editors. > > > > 3. Journalists/reporters have developed a culture of > > accepting inducements > > in order to edit stories as requested. This must be > > treated as a crime due > > to the privileges society accords the press. > > > > 4. Media houses must employ and retrain qualified > > and ethical staff. There > > must be standards that ensure professionalism. > > Engineers, Doctors and others > > submit to standards that the media continues to > > dodge. > > > > 5. Kenya needs a Media Council "with teeth"...that > > will be a watchdog that > > acts in the interest of the public not as a > > affiliate lobby for Media > > Owners. > > > > The verdict should be a clear message to all of us > > in the media circles. > > It's time to look inwards and liberate the > > profession of journalism from the > > businessmen who own the media houses. > > > > Wainaina > > > > > > > > > > On 2/13/08, Wainaina Mungai > > <wainaina.mungai(a)gmail.com > <mailto:wainaina.mungai@gmail.com>> wrote: > > > > > > Thanks Farida, > > > > > > We should not consider the presence of lessos in > > ballot boxes in Kajiado > > > or Kamukunji as evidence that your story was true. > > The pre-marking or > > > ballots and the lesso story are what would be > > considered mutually exclusive > > > events. The use of lessos as indicator of accuracy > > is at the very least > > > speculative. The fact that [it is possible] for an > > election to be stolen > > > does not mean that and election [will be] stolen. > > > > > > For KTN/Standard, the more direct issues as you > > vouch for the integrity of > > > your story would be: > > > > > > 1. Did you have [evidence] that the ballot boxes > > were stuffed with > > > pre-marked ballot papers? or were you speculating > > because someone came > > > forward as a "witness"? > > > > > > > > > 2. Do you believe that the killings of the > > Administration Police in Nyanza > > > were a direct result of the story you authorised? > > If so, what have you done > > > to at least console the families of the bereaved > > policemen? > > > > > > > > > 3. Did you have evidence that the Citi Hoppa buses > > that were carrying APs > > > to various parts of the country were meant to be > > used for a rigging mission? > > > and would you consider that your story was > > responsible for the burning of > > > Citi Hoppa buses? > > > > > > > > > Most voters know that ballot boxes are checked > > before the start of voting > > > and sealed infront of witnesses (agents, ECK > > officials etc). It is > > > therefore unlikely that rigging would only take > > place is unless there is an > > > elaborate conspiracy involving [all] > > officials/agents at a polling station. > > > > > > Overall, the "vibes" KTN/Standard fraternity must > > contend with is not that > > > they are a model of "free press" but that it is > > biased against the > > > government or pro-ODM. The vibes stations such as > > Royal Media, Kameme and > > > KBC contend with is that they have given Kenyans > > reason to be seen as > > > pro-government/PNU. Those are the issues the press > > must address honestly and > > > not hide behind tags and clichés such as 'press > > freedom' and 'muzzling the > > > press'. > > > > > > NOTE: I work for a competing media house but that > > is not my motivation for > > > the issues i have raised on KTN/Standard. I > > respect journalists for the > > > effort that goes into writing even the simplest > > story. However, I am aware > > > that media houses and journalists have continued > > to allow their political > > > and other biases to influence the way they report > > stories. > > > > > > Wainaina > > > > > > On Feb 14, 2008 12:09 AM, Farida Karoney > > <fkaroney(a)ktnkenya.com <mailto:fkaroney@ktnkenya.com>> > wrote: > > > > > > > Wainaina > > > > I personally authorised the story you are > > blaming KTN for and can vouch > > > > for the integrity of that report any time. If > > indeed you believe it is not > > > > possible to steal an election, how come that > > ballot boxes were found with > > > > lessos, and election materials in some polling > > stations? > > > > > > > > We cannot resolve explosive issues by hiding or > > supressing the truth, > > > > and no one is trying to exonerate the press. Let > > us not pretend that we do > > > > not know why we are where we are, it is > > definately not because of KTN or the > > > > Standard Group. > > > > > > > > And it is certainly not an academic excercise, > > afterall most of us do > > > > not have another place to call home except > > Kenya. Believe me, any Country > > > > which calls itself democratic must be able to > > live with a free press, no > > > > matter how much of a nuisance it is. > > > > > > > > By all means industry players need mechanisms to > > promote responsible > > > > behaviour in the media but aggression against > > media houses in light of the > > > > current political crisis is in my opinion > > misplaced. > > > > > > > > regards > > > > Farida > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > *From:* Wainaina Mungai > > <wainaina.mungai(a)gmail.com <mailto: > wainaina.mungai(a)gmail.com>> > > > > *To:* fkaroney(a)ktnkenya.com <mailto: > fkaroney(a)ktnkenya.com> > > > > *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > <mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>> > > > > *Sent:* Tuesday, February 12, 2008 9:53 PM > > > > *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Kenya: The Media is > > Not Innocent > > > > > > > > Like Dorcas, I am not surprised that the media > > has for the umpteenth > > > > time, failed to take responsibility for their > > role. Allow me to cut to the > > > > chase on how the media fueled the conflict. > > > > > > > > The issue of "self regulation" has come up as > > journalists remind us how > > > > effective they were during the election period. > > I would like to know what > > > > the Media Council would say about KTN/Standard > > Group having published and > > > > aired sensational stories of a very unlikely > > vote rigging two or so days > > > > before the election day. Editors must have known > > that it is no longer > > > > possible to stuff ballot boxes prior to the > > voting day and get away with it. > > > > That unsubstantiated story led to the death of > > five Administrative > > > > Policemen. How would KTN/Standard Group justify > > the deaths of the APs > > > > especially because the accuracy of that rigging > > story > === message truncated ===> > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > <mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: kanjawaruru(a)yahoo.com > <mailto:kanjawaruru@yahoo.com> > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kanjawaruru%40yahoo.com > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > <mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: alai.robert(a)gmail.com > <mailto:alai.robert@gmail.com> > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alai.robert%40gmail.com > > > > > -- > --------------------------------- > www.kazi-africa.com <http://www.kazi-africa.com/> > polls2007.blogspot.com <http://polls2007.blogspot.com/> > ---------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org > <mailto:wainaina@madeinkenya.org> > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya… > > > > > -- > Made in Kenya Network > P. O. Box 72031 - 00200 > Nairobi. Kenya > Tel: +254-20-780669 > Cel: +254-722-811171 > www.madeinkenya.org <http://www.madeinkenya.org/> > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: alai.robert(a)gmail.com > <mailto:alai.robert@gmail.com> > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alai.robert%40gmail.com > > > > > -- > --------------------------------- > www.kazi-africa.com <http://www.kazi-africa.com> > polls2007.blogspot.com <http://polls2007.blogspot.com> > ---------------------------------- > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: alice(a)apc.org > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alice%40apc.org > > > -- --------------------------------- www.kazi-africa.com polls2007.blogspot.com ----------------------------------

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Re: [kictanet] Media
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 14 Feb '08

14 Feb '08

Dear Edith, History is always a good teacher. When Rwanda had a political crisis, some FM station worsened the situation. In our case, no one denies the fact that we were in a crisis towards the end of December. It was desperate and we too desperate measures. No one can say what would have happened if we let media inflame passions of our people. Further you very well know that media was liberalized withou putting a legal framework in place. We for example have no regulatory mechanism for electronic media. We are the least regulated (electronic media) country in the World. This is not good for a developing country like ours. Media has taken advantage of the vacum and if you recall last year we lost a case against a leading media house when we tried to stop them from airing movies of adult nature during prime time. There is no problem showing reality. However, jounalistic principals and ethics must be observed. You watched the whole episode of twin towers and inspite the fact that many people died, you did not see a single body. I rather not delve into the bribery issue which is a reflection of our society and must be dealt with by all. Why can't we be the leading light in this endeavour? Our hypothesis on the fourth estate is that its important role in society is serously threatened by multiple factors including tribalism, lack of ethics, poor training, poor pay etc. Below please find the proposed TOR for the Tast force. I would appreatiate it if you added that which we may have omitted. 1. To inquire into the role of, and make recommendations about, the conduct, performance and professionalism (or lack thereof) of the media sector prior, during and post the 10th General Election 2. To inquire into the role of, and make recommendations about, vernacular FM radio broadcasting during the same period and their contribution to, and or complicity in the preparations for violence, the conduct of violence and its aftermath 3. To inquire into, and make recommendations about, the impact and dynamics of media ownership vis a vis the 10th General Election 4. To inquire into, and make recommendations about, the employment criteria and the working conditions of journalists vis a vis their commitment to professional standards and conduct as contained in the Code of Conduct of Journalism in Kenya 5. To inquire into, and make recommendations about, the education and training of journalists and the training institutions that certify journalists as professionals 6. To inquire into, and make recommendations about, the training of journalists as regards the coverage of national democratic events such as general elections and referenda 7. To inquire into, and make recommendations about the impact of the phenomena of opinion polling and political advertising on media content and conduct 8. To inquire into, and make recommendations about, the role of foreign correspondents and news agencies during the 10th General Election 9. To inquire into and make recommendations about the accreditation of journalists both local and international. Ndemo. ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Suggestion for Academic Trips (Coastal Region)...
by Michael Kipsang Bullut 14 Feb '08

14 Feb '08

Greetings, I need your help. My colleagues and I are undertaking our final semester in campus and our course requirements recommend that we go for an academic trip. The destination isn't confined to any specific area and this year we'll be visiting the coastal region to study the I.T. infrastructure in place. My request is whether you're acquainted with any organizations that have established I.T. departments or a colleague/associate who's conscious of the same. Feel free to pass on my e-mail address (the one given below) to any organization that doesn't mind in being paid a visit by final year I.T. students. You can also furnish me with their contacts so that I can get in touch with them directly. Thank you and looking forward to hearing from you. Warm regards, Michael. P.S. Please get in touch with me through: kipsangb(a)iconnect.co.ke -- "To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wildflower...hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour..." ~ William Blakeg. --

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Fw: Auditing the Media
by Florence Etta 14 Feb '08

14 Feb '08

Hi all, I have been following this very interesting debate. Harry says in response to David that:- neither the Government nor the Media Council should do this audit. David had suggested:- 'Our suggestion remains, let MCK do the audit, otherwise we'll be accused of creating institutions just to kill them'. In my humble opinion there could be two or even more audits but at least one would NEED to be commissioned but not necessarily done by the MCK. If it is commissioined by the MCK with government backing (and conducted as Harry suggests by independent and credible researchers/professionals) this presupposes that it (the audit) will recieve its (MCK) complete and unalloyed support so that the findings and possibly recommendations, when they do come out, would hopefully get fair reception and possibly use. It is possible also even for KICTANET on behalf of the ICT community to seek support to commission an audit as well. This one could be stilted towards handhelds so that the full extent of the implication and use of these tools could be attempted and future scenarios constructed for the preservation and maintenance of both individual and collective rights and public order using these tools. Cheers, FE Florence Etta PhD P.O. Box 14285,00800 Westlands-Nairobi, Kenya Tel: Mobile + 254-733-621851 Terrestrial: + 254-20-7121506 Fax/Phone: + 254-20-7125723 Alternative Email:florence.etta@gmail.com ----- Original Message ---- From: Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org> To: florence.etta(a)gmail.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, 13 February, 2008 4:49:43 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic Cables David, neither the Government nor the Media Council should do this audit. It should be done by an independent research organization. The media council just like the ECK and other institutions have been too politicized to be objective and credible. Regards Harry African eDevelopment Resource Centre 3rd Floor, Nelleon Place Raphta Road, Westlands PO Box 49475 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Cel +254 725 650044 Land +254 20 4453445 www.africanedevelopment.org *********************************************************** February 2008 Capacity Building Opportunities VSAT Field Engineering: 5-8 Records Management: 13-15 Fiber Optics: 26-29 Book Now, Limited spaces available From: kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of David Aduda Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 10:44 AM To: harry(a)africanedevelopment.org Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic Cables Dear colleagues, Having followed the debate on the media audit, I'm convinced there is consensus that it's important that we review how the media handled the elections, before, during and after. That is perfectly in order. What's alarming is the insistence that the government should do it, whereas there is an organisation, the Media Council, whose mandate includes checking how the media operates with a view to protect the producers and consumers of news.We've expressed our views as media practitioners about our disdain for a governmental audit and Dr Bitange knows about that. Our suggestion remains, let MCK do the audit, otherwise we'll be accused of creating institutions just to kill them. But it must be noted vilifying the media won't do when all of us know where the problem lies. It's human to take an easy route out of a crisis. The ministry of Information and Communications must not fall into that trap. Finally, I associate myself with a view expressed earlier by one contributor, namely, moderation in this discourse. David Aduda Nation Media Group ---------- From: kictanet-bounces+daduda=nation.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke on behalf of bitange(a)jambo.co.ke Reply To: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 5:36 PM To: David Aduda Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic Cables We are working towards that. We need private sector to push these developments. Government is not good in business. We can only intervene to facilitate especially the small enterprises. Ndemo Sent from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: "Eric Osiakwan" <eric(a)afrispa.org> Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:22:38 To:bitange@jambo.co.ke Cc:KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic Cables Nothing against all the big guns establishing in Kenya but what about a long term objective of building our own version of Akamai,googles, Limelights etc. Dont forget the real winners in the knowledge era are those who produce their own not use others. So our long term objective should be to have our own alongside others because it is a free market economy. Eric here ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Michuki Mwangi <michuki(a)swiftkenya.com> Reply-To: michuki(a)swiftkenya.com Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:14:04 +0300 > > >bitange(a)jambo.co.ke wrote: >> Good news is that Etisalat (our partners in Teams) in conjunction with >> Akamai are building an Internet Point of Presence (POP) in Fujaira thus >> eliminating long distance needs for Internet in this region. > >The long term objective should be to have the likes of Akamai, Limelight >and google collocating their nodes in Kenya . This will essentially keep >at least 50% of our Internet traffic local. > >Regards, > >Michuki. > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >This message was sent to: eric(a)afrispa.org >Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eric%40afrispa.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://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now" -- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world" _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: daduda(a)nation.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/daduda%40nation.co.ke DISCLAIMER: The information contained in or accompanying this e-mail is intended for the use of the stated recipient only. It may contain confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information. No confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission. If you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all copies of it from your system, destroy any hard copies of it and notify the sender. You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute, print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended recipient. Any views or opinions presented herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Nation Media Group. To get all breaking news alerts send the word BREAK to 6667 or visit http://www.nationmedia.com/wap to read news on your mobile phone. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: florence.etta(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/florence.etta%40gmail.… Support the World Aids Awareness campaign this month with Yahoo! for Good ___________________________________________________________ Support the World Aids Awareness campaign this month with Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/

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[Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Keeping it all straight]
by alice 14 Feb '08

14 Feb '08

Dear all FYI -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] Keeping it all straight Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:40:25 +0200 From: Steve Song <ssong.lists(a)gmail.com> Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> To: fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org Greetings, In the wake of the cable cuts, few would argue that there are too many African cable initiatives but there certainly enough to make it difficult to keep it all straight. I created a short page listing the various cables and their key investors at http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/african-undersea-cables/ and a map of some of the initiatives at http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/african-undersea-cables-map/ If anyone has maps or even rough diagrams of Uhurunet or Infraco's initiatives, I would be grateful to be able to add it to the map. Also, if anyone can point me to more information on Flag's Next Generation Network (NGN) or the Main One initiative, I would be very interested to hear about it. Thanks... Steve P.S. I see today that VSNL (now rebranded as Tata Communications) have announced a 50 million dollar investment in Seacom (http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=146025) Only two weeks ago, there was news announcing their investment in EASSy (http://www.telecomtiger.com/fullstory.aspx?storyid=527) In the wake of flagging profits, they are obviously betting a lot on Africa. _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

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Re: [kictanet] Develop the LOCAL Outsourcing Market
by Kwach 14 Feb '08

14 Feb '08

Fellow Contributors, Firstly I am impressed by the contributions that have been made in this discussion forum and I must commend Marcel for kicking off this timely discussion in the first place. Kenya is a beautiful country with a determined and hard working people. If there is one thing we Kenyans ask is an equal opportunity and we shall excel. If you talk to any economist they will tell you that the future is in the service industry more so for a country like Kenya that is neither gifted in mineral riches nor expansive arable land (Kenya is primarily 70% desert however with the remaining 30% we are able to become one of the global leaders in floriculture and tea production). The sad thing is that the world markets have changed and become increasingly competitive. Service industries worldwide more so in the IT Outsourcing space compete very aggressively for the market opportunities that present themselves. And those opportunities that have already been bagged are protected jealously. Unfortunately when it comes to the IT industry the trend that is emerging is not pretty. Blue chip companies, government departments and parastatals have for a while adopted a strategy that has not been conducive in nurturing this industry. The sad thing is where they seem to have a silent conspiracy in only seeking international players for the major IT projects. Talk of Chinese Government IT Loans/Grants complete with planeloads of Chinese Engineers and technicians who swarm in and out without passing on any skills leaving us with pretty much mis-directed/unused investment once the project is implemented aren't misplaced. Almost all of these institutions continue running non-core back office activities that should be outsourced. The "smarter" ones that should outsource are sure take their business offshore. Yes this is true. It is an open secret that if you were to pick up a phone in EABL, the pride of Kenyan Manufacturing, and dialed IT help desk you would end up talking to a person sitting in Bangalore India. It's not that I have anything against the good people of Bangalore, my issue is that by farming out this work to Bangalore and not giving local companies a chance to undertake the work locally we are actually exporting jobs. We are taking jobs that were previously there and shipping them to India. The very least Mr. Gerald Mahinda should have done was to engage local entities to carry out this work and require them to partner with international firms to so as to ensure that the necessary skills are brought to this market. A very good example of this is the proposed IPO for Safaricom, some of the world's leading investment banks partnered entered into consortiums led by local entities to carry out the investment advisory work. It took a concerted government policy to ensure that this happened; otherwise local Investment Banks would have had no chance in the world to win that work. The Kenya BPO & Contact Centre Society (KBPOCCS) says very little about growing local BPO outsource work. Is this not on your agenda? It seems that we are focussing (hastily) more on closing international outsource work even before you build and deepen your local capabilities and capacity, not forgetting experience. Do you also think that it is feasible/advisable to only depend on work from off-shore, when we know of the many other challenges that we face e.g. bandwidth availability and even when available, the quality of this bandwidth? Fortunately not all is lost, one major player (Safaricom) announced plans sometime mid-last year thereabouts to outsource part of their customer care. Has the KPPOCCS motivated for this work to be awarded to a local service provider OR are we going to see this work being awarded to an off-shore operation? Did they ever award this work? Safaricom made a clear indication that it is interested in engaging local entities to carry out this work. However given that this process has gone quiet I pray they have not sold us down the river and awarded the business to some Indian or Philipino or even South African company. My point is the international clients we are trying to woe into farming out their work to Kenya will check us out thoroughly and if they see that the big players in this market are not giving their business to their fellow Kenyans why should they? Similarly, Barclays Bank is another major player where the CEO is on record for declaring he was looking to establishing a large Contact Center in Kenya which could serve other Barclays operations across the globe (I think he said something like up to a 10,000 Seat contact center would be established! Can you imagine that? No one knows whether he was misquoted). He lamented the poor telecommunications infrastructure and our unpreparedness (probably skills, technology, work ethic, culture etc -wise) for such work. I think that the best strategy to adopt is for KPPOCCS in conjunction with the Kenya ICT Board and the Ministry of ICT to lobby hard for these kinds of declared outsource opportunities and bring them to fruition. Neglecting local outsource opportunities is like giving these potential outsourcers a "carte blanche" option to look externally for service providers. This way, many potential jobs are lost not forgetting the foreign exchange that is exported with the jobs! I read in the newspapers yesterday that the "World Bank has released funds to support Kenyan Call Centres". The entire article was based on mostly subsidising the cost of international bandwidth. In effect the money being lent to us for this is all being remitted out to bandwidth providers who in a way put a premium to the bandwidth that they supply us. Isn't this money better utilised now to actually help "incubate" the budding BPO/Contact Center businesses by strengthening their skill capabilities, technology capacities, etc.with seed capital. It is clear that only the few established players and those yet to establish but with deep pockets to set up big, will reap the benefits of this bandwidth subsidy. These are the reasons that I will throw the gauntlet to the Honorable Minister Samuel Poghisio, Bwana PS Dr. Ndemo, CEO of ICTBoard Mr. Paul Kukubo etc, please be vigilant, do not rest. Fight for this fledgling industry, there are many low lying fruits such as Call centers for organizations such as Safaricom, Kenya Police, GoK etc which you can lobby and encourage to be outsourced to local entities that will give the local industry the critical mass that will enable it grow and compete very well in the international arena. I rest my passionate plea! ----------------------------------------------------------------- Akich D. Kwach Director - Research & Operations ARCHWAY Technology Mobile:+254 722 742155 Tel: +254 20 4778026 e-mail: <mailto:kwach@archway-productions.com> kwach(a)archway-productions.com www.archway-productions.com <http://www.archway-productions.com/> *** Market & Social Research for Development ***

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Media
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 14 Feb '08

14 Feb '08

Dear David, Thank you for supporting the baseline review of Media. The purpose of the study is to provide baseline data to improve on our media policy. You must admit that this is the first time in the history of this country that the Government is consulting stakeholders on its intentions to improve the sector. We have involved Media Council from day one. It is the MC that would provide the sectretarial services. It is the Media Council that would recommend names to the task force. It is the Media Council that we are using as a bridge to improve the conditions of journalists in this country. We need an objective study that is done by independent minded Kenyans. It is not prudent however to have current employees of media houses to serve in the task force. Unfortunately, most members of the MC fall in that category. That leaves us with Media Academics,special interest groups, retired media personalities to do the study. There is nothing in our sleeves against media and I think by now you should have known that we are only interested in developing a vibrant Media in this country. The study is important because we feel that there are multiple reasons why Media behaved the way they did. We cannot simply blame Tribalism. We have all gone to school and know very well know that Journalists were taking bribes. From many studies in media, we can speculate on reasons why they were easily bribed as mainly poor pay. Bribes cloud objectivity and eventually what we see is nothing but incitement. There are more other factors that we need the task force to establish. We have sent the TOR for the study to MC and I think it is upon them now to consult the wider stakeholder before we move forward. It is our responsibility to ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes we have made again. From the policy perspective, the study is a must if we have to address the problems in the Media. We need to make informed decisions. Bitange Ndemo. > Dear colleagues, > > Having followed the debate on the media audit, I'm convinced there is > consensus that it's important that we review how the media handled the > elections, before, during and after. That is perfectly in order. What's > alarming is the insistence that the government should do it, whereas there > is an organisation, the Media Council, whose mandate includes checking how > the media operates with a view to protect the%2 ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Re: [kictanet] Develop the LOCAL Outsourcing Market
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 14 Feb '08

14 Feb '08

Dear Kwach, Thanks for your thoughts. Fortunately, we have been thinking along the same lines. There are a number of locally outsourced jobs that ICT board need to develop. We have the leads and already started working towards realizing our objectives. Digitalization of Government records starts soon. This too shall boost local outsourcing. I am pretty sure that all the infrastructure projects will be complete by next year. Our challenge is to develop entrepreneurs. We have opportnumites especially in developing local content but this is not being exploited. It is ipmperative that we work towards developing especially youth to take advantage of these opportnities. Ndemo. > Fellow Contributors, > > > > Firstly I am impressed by the contributions that have been made in this > discussion forum and I must commend Marcel for kicking off this timely > discussion in the first place. Kenya is a beautiful country with a > determined and hard working people. If there is one thing we Kenyans ask > is > an equal opportunity and we shall excel. If you talk to any economist they > will tell you that the future is in the service industry more so for a > country like Kenya that is neither gifted in mineral riches nor expansive > arable land (Kenya is primarily 70% desert however with the remaining 30% > we > are able to become one of the global leaders in floriculture and tea > production). The sad thing is that the world markets have changed and > become increasingly competitive. Service industries worldwide more so in > the > IT Outsourcing space compete very aggressively for the market > opportunities > that present themselves. And those opportunities that have already been > bagged are protected jealously. > > > > Unfortunately when it comes to the IT industry the trend that is emerging > is > not pretty. Blue chip companies, government departments and parastatals > have > for a while adopted a strategy that has not been conducive in nurturing > this > industry. The sad thing is where they seem to have a silent conspiracy in > only seeking international players for the major IT projects. Talk of > Chinese Government IT Loans/Grants complete with planeloads of Chinese > Engineers and technicians who swarm in and out without passing on any > skills > leaving us with pretty much mis-directed/unused investment once the > project > is implemen ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic Cables
by David Aduda 13 Feb '08

13 Feb '08

Dear colleagues, Having followed the debate on the media audit, I'm convinced there is consensus that it's important that we review how the media handled the elections, before, during and after. That is perfectly in order. What's alarming is the insistence that the government should do it, whereas there is an organisation, the Media Council, whose mandate includes checking how the media operates with a view to protect the producers and consumers of news.We've expressed our views as media practitioners about our disdain for a governmental audit and Dr Bitange knows about that. Our suggestion remains, let MCK do the audit, otherwise we'll be accused of creating institutions just to kill them. But it must be noted vilifying the media won't do when all of us know where the problem lies. It's human to take an easy route out of a crisis. The ministry of Information and Communications must not fall into that trap. Finally, I associate myself with a view expressed earlier by one contributor, namely, moderation in this discourse. David Aduda Nation Media Group > ---------- > From: kictanet-bounces+daduda=nation.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke on behalf of bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > Reply To: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 5:36 PM > To: David Aduda > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic Cables > > We are working towards that. We need private sector to push these developments. Government is not good in business. We can only intervene to facilitate especially the small enterprises. > > Ndemo > > > Sent from my BlackBerry® > > -----Original Message----- > From: "Eric Osiakwan" <eric(a)afrispa.org> > > Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:22:38 > To:bitange@jambo.co.ke > Cc:KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic Cables > > > Nothing against all the big guns establishing in Kenya but what about a long term objective > of building our own version of Akamai,googles, Limelights etc. > > Dont forget the real winners in the knowledge era are those who produce their own not use > others. So our long term objective should be to have our own alongside others because it is > a free market economy. > > Eric here > > > ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- > From: Michuki Mwangi <michuki(a)swiftkenya.com> > Reply-To: michuki(a)swiftkenya.com > Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:14:04 +0300 > > > > > > >bitange(a)jambo.co.ke wrote: > >> Good news is that Etisalat (our partners in Teams) in conjunction with > >> Akamai are building an Internet Point of Presence (POP) in Fujaira thus > >> eliminating long distance needs for Internet in this region. > > > >The long term objective should be to have the likes of Akamai, Limelight > >and google collocating their nodes in Kenya. This will essentially keep > >at least 50% of our Internet traffic local. > > > >Regards, > > > >Michuki. > > > >_______________________________________________ > >kictanet mailing list > >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > >This message was sent to: eric(a)afrispa.org > >Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eric%40afrispa.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://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ > Slang: "Tomorrow Now" > -- > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke> > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: daduda(a)nation.co.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/daduda%40nation.co.ke > > DISCLAIMER: The information contained in or accompanying this e-mail is intended for the use of the stated recipient only. It may contain confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information. No confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission. If you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all copies of it from your system, destroy any hard copies of it and notify the sender. You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute, print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended recipient. Any views or opinions presented herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Nation Media Group. To get all breaking news alerts send the word BREAK to 6667 or visit http://www.nationmedia.com/wap to read news on your mobile phone.

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FALSE MESSAGE
by MediaSpeak Africa 13 Feb '08

13 Feb '08

Please note that I have not asked to be removed from the mailing list. I do not understand how that came to you. Best, -- Stephen Ndegwa Mwangi Executive Director MediaSpeak Africa P. O. Box 18154-00100 Nairobi GPO Tel.: +254-20-2712309 Cell: +254-724-376 883 Kenya.

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KICTANet mailing list rules
by alice 13 Feb '08

13 Feb '08

Some instructions on using the KICTANet mailing list and other virtual forums for new folks and others need a reminder/refresher: * *TO SEND A NEW MESSAGE*: Simply address an email to *kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke * * *TO REPLY TO A MESSAGE SENT BY SOMEONE ELSE*: Please *do NOT hit "reply to sender".* While you may think the message is going only to sender, it comes for release to all the entire list serve, which generally is not your intent! To reply only to the sender, cut and paste in the address line the sender's email address. If you do want your reply to go to all members of the reservists then by all means use the "Reply to all". * *WHAT KINDS OF MESSAGES ARE APPROPRIATE? *The listserv is appropriately used for discussion, raising questions, responding to issues on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) policy, regulation, practice, research, posting notices of ICT related events, discussions, job vacancies, sharing a review of a news articles, papers, reports, or an upcoming conference or workshop that you think will be of broad interest, asking if others know of ICT related resources on a particular topic, commenting on a discussion thread, and the like. * *WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE LISTSERV?** *The listserv should *not* be used at this time for personal advertising of services or the advertisement of services available from someone else. Please do *not* send updates of your addresses or other personal contact details to the listserv. Greetings to your friends, etc only flood mailboxes and should *not *be done through the listserv. Gender inappropriate or other references that may be offensive to some groups or individuals should not be posted, of course. * *Mailing list manners you must mind*: Don’t send rude, political, tribal and offensive e-mails or postings. * Be polite - virtual members are real not a cyberspace dunderheads with no feelings.* Watch your words - We can’t see your face, and the emotions in words can get misinterpreted.* Kick the bad language - People are listening.* Laws are laws - What’s real in the real world are the same in cyberspace. Be ethical in your posting, don't lie, plagiarize, or deliberately do harm to another KICTANet forum user. * *WHAT DO I DO IF MY EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGES? *If any of your personal contact details change, please send an email to: evelyne(a)kictanet.or.ke or jwalu(a)yahoo.com or alice(a)apc.org * *HOW ABOUT IF MY TITLE OR BUSINESS ADDRESS CHANGES?* Same as above best regards alice

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Re: [kictanet] Karuaphobia
by robert yawe 13 Feb '08

13 Feb '08

Dorcas, I know I could sometimes be abrasive but I do not think that is reason for anyone to get abusive. Lets respect each other online in the same way you would be civil if we where having a face to face discussion. It is also wrong to go off line on an online issue. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Sent: Monday, 28 January, 2008 12:11:33 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Karuaphobia Excuse me, i usually do not have time for such character! I am definitely not interested in continuing any conversation with you. I was not interviewing you. Do not write to me again. On Jan 26, 2008 3:33 PM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Did you read my mail or is this an automated response? Please read the message, it appears below and tell me what part of the message was derogatory to women? I respect Karua more than you ever will so please stop reacting as such action is what has got has where we are. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Friday, 25 January, 2008 3:17:21 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Karuaphobia Robert, Please DO NOT use derogatory language against Hon. Martha Karua. She a sign of women leadership which is characteristically lacking in this country. Could you please apologize to the women of this country. Men have significantly failed us in leadership in this country and we cannot afford to have anyone undermining women of resolve. -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!! On Jan 25, 2008 9:16 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk > wrote: Hi, I missed Hon. Martha Karua's interview on BBC HardTalk with Clay so I tried looking for a recording on the net. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008qqjx It is interesting that it is not available, could this be a case of censorship or is BBC also suffering from KauraPhobia? Regards PS. Self censorship is the worst form of fear Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: dmuthoni(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmuthoni%40gmail.com -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… Support the World Aids Awareness campaign this month with Yahoo! for Good -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!! __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail - a smarter inbox http://uk.mail.yahoo.com

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[Fwd: News Alert: Senate Votes to Broaden Government's Spying Powers]...phone companies now have legal protection
by alice 13 Feb '08

13 Feb '08

Breaking News Alert The New York Times Tuesday, February 12, 2008 -- 5:55 PM ET ----- Senate Votes to Broaden Government's Spying Powers By a vote of 68 to 29, the Senate gave final approval to a bill that expands the government's spying powers and gives legal protection to phone companies that cooperated in President Bush's warrantless eavesdropping program. Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/?emc=na ----- Visit our mobile site for the latest news: http://m.nytimes.com ----- NYTimes.com 620 Eighth Ave. New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company

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Bandwidth Subsidy to go live March 15th
by Al Kags 12 Feb '08

12 Feb '08

In an interview with Mark Okuttah of Business Daily, the Deputy CEO, Programmes of the Kenya ICT Board, Dr. Victor Kyalo announced that the Board would start disbursement on March 15th. Full story: http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5796&Item…

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Re: [kictanet] Develop the LOCAL outsourcing market
by robert yawe 12 Feb '08

12 Feb '08

Hi Mr. Kukubo, If I am not mistaken the ICT board is actually a government entity and thus aren't you abdicating your responsibility on this issue of government outsourcing? I raised what I believe is a pertinent issue, that the government needs to setup a central contact point. It is frustrating to have to call 3 ministries when looking for information. The site kenya.go.ke is a very good initiative and I hope the board can work towards providing us with a single contact telephone number that we can use to contact all wings and agencies of the government. It is interesting that except KRA none of the other government offices have an ISDN service. "Think global act local" Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Paul Kukubo <pkukubo(a)ict.go.ke> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: secretariat(a)kif.or.ke; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, 11 February, 2008 6:07:44 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Develop the LOCAL outsourcing market Marcel Thanks for this email and I am glad that you have flagged two important issues. 1. Outsourcing creats jobs 2. Local outsourcing is critical. One would have to agree that the biggest potential source of outsource jobs in Kenya is the Corporate Sector and the Government. Both are not really big outsourcers at the moment. None of them is doing large outsourcing of customer service (through call centres) or data processing. The Kenya ICT Board believes that local outsourcing is what will give this industry momentum. I will therefore follow on the local opportunities you mention specifically in your email in order to establish what we can do as a board to support the industry. Here we need KIF's partnership to establish where this actual opportunities lie and to speak to the decision makers in the context of a private public partnership. Incidentally, I have spoken to the CEO at KEPSA to agree a date in March when the board will to meet with the larger corporations to understand their outsourcing strategies if any and to help encourage them to look at local companies favourably. We need to know whether decision makers feel there are challenges to this participation by local firms. The campaign to outsource work locally has our support. It is part of our strategy. One would have to agree that there are many reasons for the Kenya Governement to consider developing outsourcing. By unbundling service delivery, Government can deliver services better to citizens. As part of our strategy, the board is building a case for a formal governnment approach to outsourcing. This is one of the ways to create self sufficiency and jobs in the economy.When we present our strategic plan to the industry in March, we shall detail this. My challenge to the IT enabled services sector, (which includes Outsourcing, software development, systems support etc ) is that we also have to build strong businesses and partner with world class firms where it helps. My experience in the sector is that there is lots of work out there, but alot if it is actually outsourced offshore. We dont want a situation where the Board goes out building the case for outsourcing and we get in what is relatively low value work, only for the higher value work locally to be offshored. They way to mitigate this is to build strong local business lobbies (as we are doing through KIF etc), to be aggressive in partnering to deliver to contracts and to develop local skills. As the board, we have a mandate to ensure outsourcing is developed and people are employed in the process. As the outsourcing sector is also suffering due to Kenya's reputation currently, one of the mitigating actions is to build local outsourcing. On 2/11/08, Marcel Werner <marcelcwerner(a)gmail.com> wrote: We are encouraged by the developments in the BPO Sector. The recent meeting between Kenya BPO & Contact Center Society and the ICT Board revealed steps in the right direction as regards engagement by local entities and more specifically, Government, in taking the lead in outsourcing. The positive engagement between the BPO Society and The Ministry of Special Projects in establishing a call/contact center facility for the easy access by the displaced and other dis-enfranchised Kenyans following the recent sad events is a commendable effort. I am informed that the Kenya Police was severely constrained and could hardly cope with the numerous distress calls that it received because of inadequate technological systems. They may also similarly be looking to enhance their capability. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is a healthy practice and common business sense that helps improve efficiency. Farming out non-mission-critical tasks to specialised service providers creates jobs. Not only if the client is off-shore, but also if the client is local and now more focused on its core business, thereby becoming more competitive and cost-effective. We have not seen much evidence that we are scouting around at home for BPO opportunities, more urgent now that the country's international image has taken a beating during the past few weeks. Those locally based companies that have capabilities to offer BPO services should be given more support, also from locally based clients. This is good for the economy, and good for the BPO industry. Positive steps being taken by the Kenya ICT Board in promoting Kenya as an Outsource destination should be fully supported. More should also be done by the local business that should equally be encouraged to outsource. Some, like Safaricom, had made some indications towards outsourcing and nobody knows where this process ended. The Kenya ICT Board, The Ministry of ICT and other ICT Sector Associations should be urged to lobby for such opportunities to be given to local BPO Operators, not only because it enables job creation in these hard times, but also because it helps establish a local competence and capability that we need before we embark on the international leg of selling Kenya as an outsource destination. What are the industry players doing in encouraging this? Over to you…. Marcel Werner, chairman Kenya ICT Federation - www.kif.or.ke please send any office correspondence to: marcelwerner(a)innovation-africa.net _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: pkukubo(a)ict.go.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/pkukubo%40ict.go.ke -- Paul Kukubo Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board PO Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Teleposta Towers 10th Floor Tel direct: +254 20 2089062/251152 Fax: +254 20 315147 Cell: + 254 733 739488 website: www.ict.go.ke -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… ___________________________________________________________ Support the World Aids Awareness campaign this month with Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/

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Alari to be honored at Highway Africa 2008
by Rebecca Wanjiku 12 Feb '08

12 Feb '08

This year, the annual Highway Africa conference will be dedicated to the memory of the late Alari Alare. We are writing his story and would like to know how he touched your lives. Please email me a paragraph or two about him and his contribution to the ICT sector. This will be published in September during the conference. best regards, Becky Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

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Fibre Optic Cables
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 12 Feb '08

12 Feb '08

Dear All, Below find a Wall Street Journal article on Fibre Optic. We have made significant progress in Teams. Having met all the requirements, work is to start anytime now and finished a head of any cable to our region. The Good news is that Etisalat (our partners in Teams) in conjunction with Akamai are building an Internet Point of Presence (POP) in Fujaira thus eliminating long distance needs for Internet in this region. For telephony, Etisalat have given Teams unbeatable prices in their e-cable and IMEWE to Europe. Ndemo. Internet Logjams Spur Cable Boom --- Outages in Mideast Expose Global Need For Fast Fiber Lines By Christopher Rhoads 2024 words 8 February 2008 The Wall Street Journal A1 English (Copyright (c) 2008, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.) Seven years after a telecom boom and bust created a glut of fiber optical cable and destroyed $2 trillion in stock-market wealth, another building binge is on. Over the past 18 months, more than a dozen telecom companies have begun laying billions of dollars worth of undersea fiber cable. The projects this time connect areas largely bypassed a decade ago: the emerging economies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East, as well as isolated places such as Greenland. The buildup comes as four cable outages in the Middle East -- two off the Mediterranean coast of Egypt and two in the Persian Gulf -- recently disrupted Internet connections across the region and as far away as India. The cuts throttled Egypt's connections outside the country by 70%, hampering international banks and curtailing trading on the country's stock exchange. India, whose huge outsourcing industry depends on the Internet, lost half its capacity. The kinks threw into stark relief the importance of these elaborate cable connections -- and their vulnerability. The likely result: Even more fiber building, as increasingly Internet-dependent companies and nations in the region seek reliable connections. Long-haul fiber is the conduit of globalization. Even in a "wireless" era, it is this physical labyrinth of cables that now carries the bulk of Internet, wireless and fixed-line traffic. Fiber has eclipsed satellite technology as the main means of long-distance communication -- enabling interaction between the world's businesses, governments and economies. The recent cable outages "prove the point that we sh

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develop the LOCAL outsourcing market
by Marcel Werner 12 Feb '08

12 Feb '08

We are encouraged by the developments in the BPO Sector. The recent meeting between Kenya BPO & Contact Center Society and the ICT Board revealed steps in the right direction as regards engagement by local entities and more specifically, Government, in taking the lead in outsourcing. The positive engagement between the BPO Society and The Ministry of Special Projects in establishing a call/contact center facility for the easy access by the displaced and other dis-enfranchised Kenyans following the recent sad events is a commendable effort. I am informed that the Kenya Police was severely constrained and could hardly cope with the numerous distress calls that it received because of inadequate technological systems. They may also similarly be looking to enhance their capability. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is a healthy practice and common business sense that helps improve efficiency. Farming out non-mission-critical tasks to specialised service providers creates jobs. Not only if the client is off-shore, but also if the client is local and now more focused on its core business, thereby becoming more competitive and cost-effective. We have not seen much evidence that we are scouting around at home for BPO opportunities, more urgent now that the country's international image has taken a beating during the past few weeks. Those locally based companies that have capabilities to offer BPO services should be given more support, also from locally based clients. This is good for the economy, and good for the BPO industry. Positive steps being taken by the Kenya ICT Board in promoting Kenya as an Outsource destination should be fully supported. More should also be done by the local business that should equally be encouraged to outsource. Some, like Safaricom, had made some indications towards outsourcing and nobody knows where this process ended. The Kenya ICT Board, The Ministry of ICT and other ICT Sector Associations should be urged to lobby for such opportunities to be given to local BPO Operators, not only because it enables job creation in these hard times, but also because it helps establish a local competence and capability that we need before we embark on the international leg of selling Kenya as an outsource destination. What are the industry players doing in encouraging this? Over to you…. Marcel Werner, chairman Kenya ICT Federation - www.kif.or.ke please send any office correspondence to: marcelwerner(a)innovation-africa.net

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Small Medium Size Symposium-Role Players Profiles (Pete Ondeng)
by Jose' 11 Feb '08

11 Feb '08

Pete Ondeng is the Africa regional Director for the Millennium Promise Alliance,a New York based,international development Goals(MDG's) Between 2005 and 2005,Pete was the CEO of the Eastern Africa Secretarait of the new partnership for Africa's Development(NEPAD)Sometime later,he proceeded by a successful three-year stint as Executive director of Faulu Kenya,currently one of East Africa's fastest growing micro finance institution. Pete is widely known as a motivational speaker,trainer and,until the end of 2006,the host of the most popular weekly prime time television program called "money Matters". We are humbled to have Mr.Pete Ondeng to join us a one of the key role players in our symposium to reach out to the SME's and give them skills on how to start small successful businesses.You cannot afford to join us for this symposium. Regards, Jose' 0728878744 --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

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Develop the LOCAL outsourcing market
by Marcel Werner 11 Feb '08

11 Feb '08

We are encouraged by the developments in the BPO Sector. The recent meeting between Kenya BPO & Contact Center Society and the ICT Board revealed steps in the right direction as regards engagement by local entities and more specifically, Government, in taking the lead in outsourcing. The positive engagement between the BPO Society and The Ministry of Special Projects in establishing a call/contact center facility for the easy access by the displaced and other dis-enfranchised Kenyans following the recent sad events is a commendable effort. I am informed that the Kenya Police was severely constrained and could hardly cope with the numerous distress calls that it received because of inadequate technological systems. They may also similarly be looking to enhance their capability. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is a healthy practice and common business sense that helps improve efficiency. Farming out non-mission-critical tasks to specialised service providers creates jobs. Not only if the client is off-shore, but also if the client is local and now more focused on its core business, thereby becoming more competitive and cost-effective. We have not seen much evidence that we are scouting around at home for BPO opportunities, more urgent now that the country's international image has taken a beating during the past few weeks. Those locally based companies that have capabilities to offer BPO services should be given more support, also from locally based clients. This is good for the economy, and good for the BPO industry. Positive steps being taken by the Kenya ICT Board in promoting Kenya as an Outsource destination should be fully supported. More should also be done by the local business that should equally be encouraged to outsource. Some, like Safaricom, had made some indications towards outsourcing and nobody knows where this process ended. The Kenya ICT Board, The Ministry of ICT and other ICT Sector Associations should be urged to lobby for such opportunities to be given to local BPO Operators, not only because it enables job creation in these hard times, but also because it helps establish a local competence and capability that we need before we embark on the international leg of selling Kenya as an outsource destination. What are the industry players doing in encouraging this? Over to you…. Marcel Werner, chairman Kenya ICT Federation - www.kif.or.ke please send any office correspondence to: marcelwerner(a)innovation-africa.net

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Online University Education, an opportunity from the post election fiasco
by robert yawe 10 Feb '08

10 Feb '08

Online University Education, an opportunity from the post election fiasco After reading the articles in the Sunday Nation about the problems being experienced by Universities due to the post election violence I remembered the following saying; "If life serves you lemons, make lemonade" The post election violence will definitely have a major effect on all sectors of education, but I believe there is a quicker fix for the universities in the form of applied technology. We all know that 90% of the content of a university lecture is exactly that, a lecture, this makes it an ideal candidate for audio conferencing with expansion into video conferencing. Masinde Muliro, Moi, Egerton and Kabarak should look into providing their lectures virtually. Telkom, Safaricom and Celtel have a country wide network all we therefore need is a audio/video conferencing bridge installed so that students can listen to the lecture from wherever they are, questions can initially be sent via sms and assignments e-mailed or even posted via snail mail (fine this might not be leading edge technology but I am working on a short leash here). Exams (CAT's, mice and lobsters) well here is a chance to carry them out online just like is done with TOEFL, SAT and PAT the exams required for entry to American universities, not forgetting those microsoft and Cisco exams many of us have done. We also will need to push the lecturers to provide their material in form of computer based training (CBT) format. Here is the catch are we as IT experts, gurus and nugus ready to take up the challenge? are we ready to work cheap, fast and furious? can we stand up and be counted. The post election violence has created a problem, lets use this as an opportunity to deliver a leading edge solution. Now if only the government had concentrated on the terrestrial fiber to the district we would be discussing a different issue. We are ready to take on this challenge, who else out there is game? Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail - a smarter inbox http://uk.mail.yahoo.com

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Small Medium Enterprise Symposium-March 22,2008
by Jose' 09 Feb '08

09 Feb '08

Small Medium Enterprise symposiums are programs that Kimathi Information Centre offers every year. The participants are introduced on ways that will make their small businesses have sound capability of growing positively by using computers as a tool to catalyze this process. This particular series focuses on emerging businesses with the theme; Emerging People, Emerging Markets, Emerging Technologies Among the key role players that will make this day a success will involve various practitioners who support Small Medium Enterprise they include; Kenya Youth Business Trust(KYBT) Equity Bank Ministry Of Youth Ministry Of Information and Technology Computers For Schools Kenya Mentors Business consultants. Small Medium Enterprise businesses lack an important growth ingredient which is lack of mentorship and exposure to business people, markets and technologies. This symposium acts as a catalyst to bring about sustainability in their business model. During the morning session, we shall have the opening remarks by Mr. Tom Musili who is the Executive Director of Computer For Schools Kenya then later on, we shall have three role players pick up topics that will go around; How to write business plans Business ethics and importance of networking The role of mentors. In the afternoon session, we shall have the mentorship clinic plus the exhibition whereby, the participants will have a chance to mingle with professional mentors from all walks of specialization. This will also bring alive the theme where entrepreneurs will emerge with new partnerships, get to network plus embrace new technologies that revolve around computers. We call for your participation that will make the Small Medium Enterprise (SME) breakthrough. Having your participation in the mentorship tent will go along way in support to Emerging enterprise. --------------------------------- Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

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Is KRA ready for e-commerce
by robert yawe 08 Feb '08

08 Feb '08

Hi, I previously raised the issue of KRA's Lnad Rent Checker which does not work, still doesn't, this time I went to the KRA site to try and raise a complete so I clicked on the e-mail address of the staff responsible contact address is displayed as Fidelis.Mulei(a)kra.go.ke but when the mail was sent the e-mail address was Andrew.Okello(a)kra.go.ke. That should be fine, but the mail bounces with a recipient unknown message. I think KRA needs to apply their diligence in collecting taxes to maintaining their web site. Imagine if you mailed your tax return on the date of the deadline, I am a Kenyan so do not held this against me, just to realise the following morning that the e-mail address that KRA advertised in the press was actually the wrong one. Regards __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail - a smarter inbox http://uk.mail.yahoo.com

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[Fwd: [governance] Summer School on Internet Governance] call for application
by alice 08 Feb '08

08 Feb '08

Call for Application 2nd Summer School on Internet Governance (SSIG) Meissen, July 25 - August, 31, 2007 <http://www.norid.no/> <http://www.eurid.eu/> <http://www.dotasia.org/> The Internet, with more than 1.2 billion users worldwide, is the most important infrastructure of the information age. The Internet influences policies, economics and cultures on the global as well as on the local level. Internet related issues like security and stability, freedom of expression, privacy, eCommerce, new market opportunities, protection of intellectual property, fight against cybercrime, development, digital divide and others getting higher and higher priorities on the national and international political agenda. To reach the UN Millenium Development Goals (MDG) until 2015 the Internet is a crucial tool. For some experts Internet Governance will become as important as it is climate change today. Do you want to understand, how and by whom the Internet is governed and what the issues are which have made Internet Governance as one of the new global conflicts of the diplomacy of the 21st century? Do you want to know what the political, economic, social and legal implications of Internet Governance are and what is behind ICANN, RIRs, ccTLDs, gTLDs, iDNs, IPv6, IGF, WGIG and WSIS ? Do want to get more detailed information on how technical Internet Standards, Protocols and Codes, how the Domain Name System and the IP Address Space or the Domain Name market is evolving? Than you should apply for the "2008 Summer School on Internet Governance" (SSIG). The 2008 Summer School offers a unique multidisciplinary high level 50 hours academic programme both for graduate students and young academics as well as for junior professionals from private sector, government and civil society. The programme is a well balanced mixture of theoretical lectures with world leading academics as well as practical presentations from well known experts working directly in the technical community, the market or in policy. It offers also opportunities for interactive communication with faculty members and among the fellows themselves by the daily evening programme of students presentations. Members of the 2008 Faculty include, inter alia Prof. Olga Cavalli, University of Buenos Aires Bertrand de la Chapelle, Envoy of the Information Society, French Foreign Ministry Avria Doria, Lulea Technology University, Chair of ICANNs GNSO Council Dr. William Drake, Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies, Geneva Philipp Grabensee, Chairman of the Board of Afilias Ltd., Dublin Ayesha Hassan, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Paris Markus Kummer, Executive Secretary of the Internet Governance Forum, (TBC) Prof. Milton Mueller, School of Information Studies, Syracuse University, N.Y. Michael Niebel, European Commission, Member of ICANNs GAC, Brussels Prof. Jonathan Zittrain, Oxford Internet Institute (TBC) The Faculty is chaired by Prof. Wolfgang Kleinwächter, University of Aarhus The 2008 Summer School on Internet Governance (SSIG) takes place in the St. Afra Monastery of the "Evangelische Akademie Meissen" in Germany, a historic place, where the father of the German enlightenment, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, went to school. Meissen is a 1000 years old small city, famous for its "Meissen China", its very dry white wine and its old fortress, gothic churches and historic wine cellars from July 25 - July 31, 2008. It is a 30 minutes train ride from Dresden Airport, which connected by six daily shuttles to Munich and Frankfurt. The Summer School on Internet Governance (SSIG) is organized by the University of Aarhus and the Medienstadt Leipzig e.V., a recognized "At Large Structure" (ALS) under ICANN Bylaws. It is sponsored by five TLD Registries, among them as Golden Sponsor DENIC (.de), as Silver Sponsor UNINETT (.no) and SIDN (.nl) and as Bronze Sponsor EURID (.eu) and DotAsia (.asia). Additionally UNESCO, Diplo Foundation, GIGANET, ENOM, Afilias, Dotberlin and others have partnered with the Summer School. The fee of 1.000.00 EUR (plus 19% VAT) includes, next to the full lecture programme * six nights accommodation in single guest rooms of the academy, * breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee and snacks & wine at the daily night sessions, * one evening reception in the Meissen Procellanmanufactory, * a gala dinner in the historic wine-restaurant "Vinzenz Richter", * sightseeing events, * free WiFi access and * all teaching material. There is a special fee for students of 500.00 EUR (plus 19% VAT). There is also an opportunity to apply for support from the fellowship programme which is still under development. Students will get a certificate at the end of the Summer School. Detailed information, including the Draft Programme and the electronic "Application Form" as well as comments from 2007 Summer School Fellows can be found under www.euro-ssig.eu <http://www.euro-ssig.eu/> If you are interested in the Summer School on Internet Governance (SSIG), please send Applications until May 31, 2008 by using the electronic form on the website or contacting directly Sandra Hoferichter (info(a)hoferichter.eu) the Secretary of the Summer School or Prof. Wolfgang Kleinwächter (wolfgang(a)imv.au.dk) chair of the 2008 Faculty. Members of the 2008 Programme Committee Prof. Wolfgang Kleinwächter, University of Aarhus (Chair); Dr. William J. Drake, Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies Geneva; Prof. Milton Mueller, Syracuse University; Avria Doria, Lulea Technology University; Bart Vastenburg, SIDN; Giovanni Seppia, EURID; Sabine Dolderer, DENIC; Philipp Grabensee, Afilias; Axel Plathe, UNESCO ____________________________________________________________ You received this message as a subscriber on the list: governance(a)lists.cpsr.org To be removed from the list, send any message to: governance-unsubscribe(a)lists.cpsr.org For all list information and functions, see: http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance

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ICANN 31st International Public Meeting in New Delhi Next Week
by alice 08 Feb '08

08 Feb '08

ICANN 31st International Public Meeting in New Delhi Next Week India, Asia represent future of the changing face of the Internet 7 February 2008 NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers will open its 31st International Public Meeting on 11 February 2008 in New Delhi, India, a country and a region certain to be a the forefront of the waves of changes coming to the Internet. "India and Asia are at the heart of the Internet's future — a future that ICANN is working on as we speak," said Peter Dengate Thrush, ICANN's Board Chairman. "Internet penetration in India is at just over five percent and growing fast — considering that one per cent is 11 million people coming online. ICANN's work on Internationalized Domain Names and new top-level domains has the potential to reach out to rest of India and begin remaking the Internet as people connect in their own languages and scripts." Some highlights of the 31 st ICANN Meeting include: A Public Discussion of the Midterm Review of ICANN's Joint Project Agreement with the U.S. Government and ICANN's goal of continued transition of its role to the private sector; A Workshop on Progress on the Fast-Track Process to find a way to represent territory identifications in local languages as country-code top-level domains as quickly as possible in the areas of highest need; A workshop on ICANN's planning for what happens if a Registrar were to cease operating; A workshop on the pioneering work being done on IDNs in Indian Languages and Scripts; The signing of the fifth and final Regional At-Large Organization memorandum of understanding — this one for the Asia-Pacific Region — creating the formal structure for ICANN to obtain input into its policy processes from Internet users; An open and public ICANN Board Meeting. "It's fitting and exciting for ICANN to hold this meeting in India. This nation is the fastest growing IT hub in the world and at the foundation is the single, globally interoperable Internet coordinated by ICANN," added Dr Paul Twomey, ICANN's President and CEO. "ICANN and the Internet Community will be discussing the issues that will help the Internet expand to the next billion users — new top level domains and the ability to use scripts like Devanagari and Tamil after the dot in a domain name." These international public meetings are the ICANN model in action — bottom-up, consensus-driven discussions that help ensure the domain name system is coordinated rather than controlled. The New Delhi meeting is the first of the three public ICANN meetings in 2008. These meetings are crucial because ICANN's polices are created through a bottom-up, transparent process involving Internet Community. The complete schedule for ICANN's 31st meeting, as well as links to webcast sessions and our public participation website, can be found at: http://delhi.icann.org/ -30- About ICANN: ICANN is responsible for the global coordination of the Internet's system of unique identifiers like domain names (like .org, .museum and country codes like .uk) and the addresses used in a variety of Internet protocols that help computers reach each other over the Internet. Careful management of these resources is vital to the Internet's operation, so ICANN's global stakeholders meet regularly to develop policies that ensure the Internet's ongoing security and stability. ICANN is an internationally organized, public benefit non-profit company. For more information please visit: www.icann.org <http://www.icann.org/> . Media Contacts: Jason Keenan Media Adviser, ICANN Ph: +1 310 382 4004 E: jason.keenan(a)icann.org <mailto:jason.keenan@icann.org> International: Andrew Robertson Edelman ( London) Ph: +44 7921 588 770 E: andrew.robertson(a)edelman.com <mailto:andrew.robertson@edelman.com> ---

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Is KRA ready for e-commerce
by robert yawe 07 Feb '08

07 Feb '08

Yet again the Kenyan government is unable to show true dedication to implementing ICT. After my problem with sending an e-mail to KRA yesterday I decided to revert to our traditional means of communication, the telephone. I called the number listed for the party who could answer my query and instead of getting a human answer or at least an IVR the system sent my call directly to a message on hold system which proceeded to tell me about what KRA does. After staying on hold while listening to the pre-recorded message I gave up and disconnected. Ndemo and Co, we are talking about providing outsourcing services for foreign companies yet we have not even tried to outsource the largest local provider of services the Government. How difficult is it for KRA to setup a call center which we can call and get instant assitance, how do we expect to provide quality service to outsiders yet we do not have a culture of providing quality service to our own people. And better still this would not require a marine cable to land. Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, 6 February, 2008 10:02:22 AM Subject: [kictanet] Is KRA ready for e-commerce Hi, I previously raised the issue of KRA's Lnad Rent Checker which does not work, still doesn't, this time I went to the KRA site to try and raise a complete so I clicked on the e-mail address of the staff responsible contact address is displayed as Fidelis.Mulei(a)kra.go.ke but when the mail was sent the e-mail address was Andrew.Okello(a)kra.go.ke. That should be fine, but the mail bounces with a recipient unknown message. I think KRA needs to apply their diligence in collecting taxes to maintaining their web site. Imagine if you mailed your tax return on the date of the deadline, I am a Kenyan so do not held this against me, just to realise the following morning that the e-mail address that KRA advertised in the press was actually the wrong one. Regards Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail - a smarter inbox http://uk.mail.yahoo.com

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Fwd: [plans] Input sought on ICANN budget and operating plan
by waudo siganga 07 Feb '08

07 Feb '08

-- waudo siganga emailsignet(a)mailcan.com ----- Original message ----- From: "BC Secretariat" <secretariat(a)bizconst.org> To: "BC list" <bclist(a)bizconst.org> Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 06:15:29 +0100 Subject: [plans] Input sought on ICANN budget and operating plan Your opportunity to provide input -- collectively, and individually -- on ICANN's budget and operating plan for the next three fiscal years has begun. A public comment email list will be opened on the "Initial Operating Plan and Budget Framework" <[1]http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-2-04feb08.htm>, and it will be discussed in Delhi at a workshop on Wednesday, 13 February from 16:30 - 17:30. Additionally, ICANN's COO, CFO, and I will be available to discuss the overall proposals, and elements directly related to Policy Development, with constituencies in Delhi and via conference calls afterwards. Please email me Glen to schedule a discussion. As I noted previously, a new approach has been taken this year to allow more time for community consultation and to provide a three year projection for ICANN's operating plan and budget. The process was launched four months earlier this year with the posting of initial proposals to jump-start discussions at the Delhi meeting. The proposed budget and operating plan is based on the June 2008 - July 2011 Strategic Plan <[2]http://www.icann.org/strategic-plan/>, on which public comment was sought last year, and on the current operating plan and department budgets. A series of consultations and a public comment period will be held through March (approximately), and then staff will incorporate the input, as appropriate, and a proposed Operating Plan and Budget will be available for further public comment until mid-May (approximately). The Board is scheduled to consider and vote on the Operating Plan and Budget in June. ICANN's next fiscal year begins on 1 July 2008. Please take time to review these initial proposals and provide your input. Items that may be of particular interest to the GNSO include: - A revenue budget for FY09 of about $61MM. This assumes modest transaction growth, contractually planned increases in Registry fees, and factors in the proposal of the elimination of ICANN fee refunds during the AGP. - Increases in the new gTLD and IDN projects from a base cost of about $3.7MM in FY08 to almost $14.3MM. This includes expenses to complete the policy implementation elements, and the start-up expenses for going into operation. In the three-year projection model, total expenses go down by almost $5MM in FY2010 as these start-up expenses are no longer needed. - Increases in other initiatives from about $13.1MM to about $19.9MM, including compliance activities, registrant protection, infrastructure, and security. The deliverables are shown in the operating plan. - Increases to complete organizational reviews and implement organizational improvements, including funding operational and structural changes to the GNSO. - Increases in Policy Development support over the next three fiscal years, including funds to retain expert analysis to inform key policy discussions, and provide additional secretariat support to SOs, constituencies and Advisory Committees. Again, the intent is provide a rough draft to engage the community in meaningful budget and operating plan discussions that will help us produce a draft plans for further comment. I look forward to seeing those of you who will be in Delhi. Regards, Denise -- Denise Michel ICANN VP, Policy [3]denise.michel(a)icann.org References 1. http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-2-04feb08.htm 2. http://www.icann.org/strategic-plan/ 3. mailto:denise.michel@icann.org

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Alari's mass today @ 2.30
by Rebecca Wanjiku 07 Feb '08

07 Feb '08

Hi, The mass is today at 2.30 Holy family Basillica For those who did not know...Alari and his siblings were orphans, having lost their parents some years ago. As far back as I can remember, Alari has been the father and mother of his siblings. With this in mind there are two different groups in Nairobi (that I am aware of ) that are raising funds for his burial and for the upkeep of the siblings he has left behind. There is an ongoing fundraising here at The Standard Group from colleagues and the company itself and another one which i mentioned in an earlier email that involves friends, family etc. I think a bank account may be set up for donations for the upkeep of the siblings. Once this is confirmed we will let you know so that those who wish to make personal donations may do so. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

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Public Comments Requested on DNS Stability: The Effect of New gTLDs on the Internet Domain Name System]
by alice 07 Feb '08

07 Feb '08

Public Comments Requested on DNS Stability: The Effect of New gTLDs on the Internet Domain Name System 6 February 2008 *DNS Stability: The Effect of New Generic Top Level Domains on the Internet Domain Name System <http://www.icann.org/topics/dns-stability-draft-paper-06feb08.pdf> [PDF, 53K] * The ICANN community has recently completed a policy development process regarding the introduction of new generic top-level domains (gTLDs). This effort took place within ICANN's Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) (see http://gnso.icann.org/) and resulted in a set of recommendations (see http://gnso.icann.org/issues/new-gtlds/pdp-dec05-fr-parta-08aug07.htm#_Toc4…) to guide ICANN in introducing new gTLDs to the namespace. In its recommendations, the GNSO concluded that "ICANN must implement a process that allows the introduction of new top-level domains," and called for a procedure respecting the principles of fairness, transparency and non-discrimination. In preparing for the expected implementation of the gTLD policy recommendations, staff is conducting some review and analysis of the technical issues involved in this development. The addition of gTLDs to the namespace is an expansion of the DNS on a potentially large scale, to include many more names at the top level. One of the policy recommendations developed in relation to the introduction of new gTLDs included the requirement that "Strings must not cause any technical instability." ICANN is publishing this paper to solicit informed input on the technical issues relevant to the addition of new gTLDs, and to provide transparency toward how it will interpret and implement this recommendation. The goal is a clear set of rules that will be available to potential new gTLD applicants; so that it is known from the outset what tests will be applied to each application. ICANN is seeking feedback on the proposed approach as a step in its implementation planning for the introduction of new gTLDs. Comments may be submitted to new-gtlds-dns-stability(a)icann.org <mailto:new-gtlds-dns-stability@icann.org> by March 7 2008. Comments can be viewed at http://forum.icann.org/lists/new-gtlds-dns-stability/. For more information about the New gTLD Program, please go to http://www.icann.org/topics/new-gtld-program.htm. -- Anne-Rachel Inne _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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Open Positions at AfriNIC
by brian 07 Feb '08

07 Feb '08

Dear Colleagues, The following positions are opened at AfriNIC: 1. Finance and Administration Area Manager http://www.afrinic.net/job/jobs2008/afjob_cfo200802_Advert.htm 2. Technical Operations Area Manager http://www.afrinic.net/job/jobs2008/afjob_cto200801_Advert.htm Both positions will be based at our headquarters in Mauritius. For any further queries, do not hesitate to contact us on jobs(a)afrinic.net. Kind Regards, Kiran Cunniah Executive Assistant AfriNIC

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Implementation of a Unified Licensing Framework & New, Market Structure
by alice 07 Feb '08

07 Feb '08

For the full document please see: http://www.cck.go.ke/current_consultations/ Implementation of a Unified Licensing Framework & New Market Structure 1. Preamble In 2004 the Commission announced its intention to implement a unified licensing framework as a mechanism of harnessing the emerging technological opportunities as well as address the attendant regulatory challenges. The intention came about as a result of the realisation that technological convergence within the ICT sub-sector had rendered the long held technological oriented licensing approach untenable. Consequently the Commission adopted the principle of technology neutrality in the licensing framework and allowed any form of communications infrastructure to be used to provide any type of communications service that it is technically capable of providing including VoIP. The Commission further adopted in principle a unified licensing and regulatory model with the following as the main segments of the future market structure: • Network Facilities Provider (NFP) – who shall own and operate any form of communications infrastructure (based on satellite, terrestrial, mobile or fixed) • Applications Service Provider (ASP) – to provide all forms of services to end users using the network services of a facilities provider • Contents Services Provider (CSP) – to provide contents services such as broadcast (TV& Radio) material, and other information services and data processing services etc. Having taken this important matter through the initial consultation phase, the Commission has drawn up a new market structure herewith attached as Annex 1 as well as develop a set of principles and guidelines which it intents to use in the implementation of this new framework. The said principles and guidelines are presented in section 2a below. The Commission envisages that the implementation of this framework shall have a positive impact and draw benefits to the existing operators, consumers as well as the whole economy at large. 2. Consultation Process The 1st phase of the consultative process on this important subject matter was carried out both within the industry as well as with other stakeholders. Analysis of the responses received as well as the Commission’s views is presented in Annex 2 & Annex 3. see http://www.cck.go.ke/current_consultations/ The Commission now wishes to invite comments/contributions on the proposed market structure as well as the said set of principles and guidelines ( http://www.cck.go.ke/current_consultations/) on the subject matter. Respondents are required to ensure that their written submissions reach the Commission on or before 29th February 2008.

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Internet Mzee? DNS Turns 25
by brian 07 Feb '08

07 Feb '08

DNS - no not a musician (DNA or DNG whatever) - Domain Name Service - turned 25 last week. http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/nsm/2008/0204nsm2.html?nlhtnsm=ts_0… Internet inazeeka ama ni mimi? Mblayo

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ICT Africa Updates
by Robert Alai 07 Feb '08

07 Feb '08

<http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=1155828&r=1154781&t=934038918&l=1&d=89263801&u=h…> [image: proinv]<http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=1155828&r=1154781&t=934038918&l=1&d=89263802&u=h…> [image: banner]<http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=1155828&r=1154781&t=934038918&l=1&d=89263796&u=h…> [image: nclogo]<http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=1155828&r=1154781&t=934038918&l=1&d=89263801&u=h…> http://ictafrica.nepadcouncil.org<http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=1155828&r=1154781&t=934038918&l=1&d=89263796&u=h…> Industry Exhibition One of the focal points of NOVATECH - The ICT Market Place is an exhibition hall. Vendors can take advantage of the participation of about 350 high level delegates, including company executives, government leaders, representatives of continental organizations and research & academic Institutions. For more details please point your browser to http://ictafrica.nepadcouncil.org/exhibitions.html<http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=1155828&r=1154781&t=934038918&l=1&d=89263798&u=h…> Conference Agenda at a Glance - Click for Preliminary Research and Tutorial Program<http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=1155828&r=1154781&t=934038918&l=1&d=89263797&u=h…> Tuesday, 12th February 2008 15:00 to 18:00 Early registration at the UNECA Conference Centre Wednesday, 13th February 2008 08:00 to 09:30 Registration core period 10:00 to 11:00 Opening Ceremony 11:00 to 11:30 Coffee Break sponsored by 11:30 to 13:00 Plenary session 1: "ICT Market in East Africa and the Indian Ocean: Trends, opportunities and challenges" 13:00 to 14:30 Lunch Break sponsored by 14:30 to 15:00 Presentation of the Matchmaking System for the B2B Meetings 15:00 to 16:30 Plenary session 2: "Regional integration and international co-operation for ICT deployment: Current situation, needs and key conditions" 16:30 to 17:00 Coffee Break sponsored by 17:00 to 18:30 Plenary session 3: "Financing ICT Projects: Possible ways and means" 18:30 to 20:00 ICT Company presentations (1) ICT Company presentations (2) ICT Research & academic presentations (3) 21:00 Opening Dinner sponsored by Thursday, 14th February 2008 08:30 to 10:00 Workshop 1: "ICT Skills, Training and Awareness: Critical success factors" Workshop 2: "Network Infrastructure Technologies: Pre-requisites for progress" Internet Connectivity A 10:00 to 10:30 Coffee Break sponsored by 10:30 to 12:30 One-to-one business meetings Wireless Networks A Internet Connectivity B 12:30 to 14:00 Lunch Break sponsored by 14:00 to 15:30 Workshop 3: "e-Applications: Expanding opportunities - ePALS" Workshop 4: "Mobile and Wireless Communication Technologies: Trends and future - SWANsat" Fibre Optics/Wireline Networks A 15:30 to 16:00 Coffee Break sponsored by 16:00 to 19:00 One-to-one business meetings Tutorials A Tutorials B 19:00 to 20:00 ICT related thematic presentations (4) ICT Companies' Success Stories (5) TBD 21:00 Dinner sponsored by Friday, 15th February 2008 08:30 to 10:00 Workshop 5: "Outsourcing: How to match demand and supply?" Workshop 6: "Institutional and regulatory framework for ICT development: How to create a conducive environment" Wireless Networks B 10:00 to 10:30 Coffee Break sponsored by One-to-one business meetings Fibre Optics/Wireline Networks B ICT Solutions A 12:30 to 14:00 Lunch Break sponsored by 14:00 to 15:30 One-to-one business meetings Tutorials C ICT Solutions B 15:30 to 16:00 Coffee Break sponsored by 16:00 to 18:00 Closing Ceremony – ICT in the EAIO Region: A route paved with opportunities 19:00 Closing Cocktail [image: jcb]<http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=1155828&r=1154781&t=934038918&l=1&d=89263800&u=h…> [image: image2]<http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=1155828&r=1154781&t=934038918&l=1&d=89263799&u=h…> [image: jcb] <http://http%7C/www.developingtelecomms.com> For more information, contact: Clarissa Dhliwayo cdhliwayo(a)nepadcouncil.org +1-607-857-2456 Pamela Odero podero(a)nepadcouncil.org +254 722 829 438 You are subscribed as alai.robert(a)gmail.com. To unsubscribe please click here<http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=1155828&r=1154781&t=934038918&l=6&ea=alai.robert…> . <http://www.campaigner.com/?testdrive_1> -- --------------------------------- www.kazi-africa.com polls2007.blogspot.com ----------------------------------

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Problems with Five Undersea Fiber Optic Cables
by brian 06 Feb '08

06 Feb '08

Problems with Five Undersea Fiber Optic Cables February 6th, 2008 Via: Mena Report: http://www.menareport.com/en/business/221875 A total of five cables being operated by two submarine cable operators have been damaged with a fault in each. These are SeaMeWe-4 (South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe-4) near Penang, Malaysia, the FLAG Europe-Asia near Alexandria, FLAG near the Dubai coast, FALCON near Bandar Abbas in Iran and SeaMeWe-4, also near Alexandria.

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End of Discussion-Impact of Post-Election Violence on ICT organisation
by John Walubengo 06 Feb '08

06 Feb '08

On behalf of the KICTAnet Secretariat, I wish to thank all those who spared the time and effort to contribute in last weeks discussion. The contributions are being compiled into a report for distribution within two weeks. Thanks alot and we hope you can be available for other discussions on contemporary national, regional and internatioal ICT issues affecting our community. Keep the Faith and Hope alive, walu. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

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[Fwd: Re: Kenya: The Media is Not Innocent]
by alice 06 Feb '08

06 Feb '08

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya: The Media is Not Innocent Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2008 12:15:12 +0300 (EAT) From: Silverscreen Pictures <ssp(a)silverscreen.co.ke> To: alice <alice(a)apc.org> I totally agree on the fact that the Media was culpable in inciting people to violence. Specifically Vernacular stations which were sadly set up on the premise of "propagating and posturing a community's position and interests". This is in total regard of the fact that any region in this country, is a melting pot of the varied communities that form the Kenyan nation. Even some of the mainstream FM stations, their inclination was obvious, leading to their lack of objectivity in their broadcasts. Some of the Newspaper columnists, depending on what communities they belonged, subjectively belaboured the virtues of their kinsmen or affiliates, and at times showing the kind of infatuation and Hero worship these writers carried to pen their stories/columns. We know there is a strong lobby from the Media Owners that resist any suggestion or policy that calls for regulations, however harmless to democracy. REMEMBER THE MINISTERIAL DIRECTIVE IN 2003 CALLING FOR A MERE 20% LOCAL CONTENT?????. I have no prescriptions, but I sadly think that if we are not careful, we may be creating a MEDIA MONSTER, If the tenets and principles of responsible and objective journalism are not embraced. Ingolo ----- Original Message ----- From: "alice" <alice(a)apc.org> To: ssp(a)silverscreen.co.ke Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, February 4, 2008 10:58:54 PM (GMT+0300) Asia/Kuwait Subject: [kictanet] Kenya: The Media is Not Innocent http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=41049 KENYA: The Media Is Not Innocent Kwamboka Oyaro *NAIROBI, Feb 2 (IPS) - The media was partly blamed for the Rwandan genocide 14 years ago which left nearly one million people dead in 100 days. "Kill the Inkotanyi [cockroaches]!" a local radio station urged its listeners at the time. * "30 Days in Words and Pictures: Media Response in Kenya During the Election Crisis" -- a workshop organised here last week by California-based media advocacy group Internews -- enabled media professionals to conduct a "self-audit" of the role local media played in the post-election violence. The audit revealed that media -- especially vernacular radio stations -- might be partly to blame for the on-going violence sparked off by the announcement of Mwai Kibaki as winner of the Dec. 27 elections. The violence has reportedly claimed over 1,000 lives and displaced some 250,000 people since the December election. David Ochami, a commissioner with the Media Council of Kenya, told IPS that long before the elections were held, vernacular radio stations had ignited ethnic consciousness among the listeners "making them support leaders from their own tribe and harbour bad feelings about people from other communities." "The ethnic hate our radio station was propagating about those from outside the community was unbelievable. I can’t repeat any of those expressions at this forum," said a journalist with a vernacular radio station. "The unfortunate thing is we let these callers speak vile and laughed about it." "We took sides in the issue and we became subjective, forgetting our professional tenet of objectivity and neutrality. In fact, this polarization was so bad in the newsrooms that some broadcast journalists refused to cover or read news that wasn’t favourable to the candidate or party they supported," said a journalist. In fact, leading up to the elections the local media conveyed inflammatory campaign messages as advertisers’ announcements. "Both print and broadcast media put money ahead of responsibility by accepting and conveying paid-for hate material," Mildred Baraza, a Nairobi- based journalist told IPS. "This could have incited the audience, and when they got a chance they avenged as a result of the pre-election messages," she said. Redemtor Atieno, another Nairobi-based journalist who also helped to organise the workshop, is confident that the media’s biased reporting contributed to the mayhem in the country. "Professionalism was thrown to the dogs as tribe and partisanship carried the day. We failed our audience by conveying interests of politicians without questioning the impact of our stories," Atieno told IPS. Participants at the workshop also blamed media owners for playing a major role in encouraging the violence. "They had vested interests in either camp of the political divide," a reporter with Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) said, adding that he and his colleagues wanted to tell the real story but they couldn’t because the stories could portray the government in a bad light. "We had beautiful clips and stories from the field, but we went back to the newsroom knowing that the story would never be used," he said. Even privately owned media owners who backed different political parties had a hand in the stories that were carried. If it was about the party they supported, they exaggerated the story and generally depicted the opponents in negative ways. "The media organizations refrained from telling the world the truth about what was happening," Ochami told IPS. "There has been a tendency of portraying the Kenyan crisis as a problem between two ethnic groups -- where one [Kibaki’s Kikuyu] is victimized by another [opposition leader Raila Odinga’s Luo]. Any other story on the contrary is downplayed or ignored," Ochami explained. There are those who believe the media is innocent and the violence currently rocking the country was bound to happen anyway -- that historical economic inequalities among the Kenyan communities had to boil over at some point in time. "The public vented long bottled-up anger. It was meant to explode whether the media encouraged it or not," said a journalist at the workshop. "Many people voted last year for change and it was a protest vote against years of inequalities. When they realized this would not happen when Kibaki was declared winner, they exploded." Mitch Odera the moderator of the workshop and media consultant said one of the causes of Kenya’s unrest is the immaturity of its democracy. "There hasn’t been competitive democracy in our country. That is our problem," Odera told the participants at the workshop. The government was also blamed for the chaos because it slapped a blanket ban on live broadcasters soon after violence broke out in the country. "The ban did not extend to international media including the Internet which many Kenyans accessed and spread the word. This led to skewed information and hence panic and more destruction and deaths," said one journalist from the electronic media. The Editors Guild -- an organization of editors from all media organizations -- went to court this week to challenge the ban on broadcasters. Participants at the workshop also heard the first hand experiences of journalists who covered the post election violence. Practioners complained about threats to their lives and complained that they felt segregated from the rest of the country. As the workshop was taking place participants were well aware that several political writers and analysts had received death threats for writing stories that were viewed as unfavourable towards the government. (END/2008) _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: ssp(a)silverscreen.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ssp%40silverscreen.co.…

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FW: Internet Governance Capacity Building Programme 2008
by Wanjira, Alice Munyua 06 Feb '08

06 Feb '08

-----Original Message----- From: Njiraini, Mwende Sent: Fri 01/02/2008 17:08 To: Wanjira, Alice Munyua Subject: Internet Governance Capacity Building Programme 2008 Call for Applications Internet Governance Capacity Building Programme 2008 DiploFoundation is currently accepting applications for the 2008 Internet Governance Capacity Building Training Programme (IG CBP). This online programme is designed to improve Internet governance (IG) related knowledge and skills for participants mainly from developing countries. The Programme also facilitates community-building among individuals with different national, cultural, and professional backgrounds. The Programme The programme offers 120 places for young professionals from diverse stakeholder backgrounds in IG-related fields and is open to individuals from around the world. The programme is conducted entirely online. The programme includes three phases, which take place over eight months during 2008: I. The online training phase consists of § an 8-week long Foundation Course, introducing IG policy, process, and actors, and covering 5 thematic baskets: Infrastructure and Standardisation Basket, Legal Basket, Economic Basket, Socio-Cultural Basket, Development Basket; § two 4-week long modules of the Advanced Course, covering two advanced topics chosen by each participant from: e-Commerce, e-Voting, Intellectual Property Rights, Infrastructure and Economic Models of Interconnectivity, Privacy, and Security. Learning activities take place in an online classroom and include the analysis of course materials, interactive group discussions using a variety of communication tools, assignments, and exams. Successful participants will receive a certificate of completion of the programme. II. The online policy research phase is an optional 3-month period of supervised, collaborative online work focused on IG policy issues of highest relevance to developing countries, and is closely linked to training activities. III. The policy immersion phase includes capacity-building fellowships awarded to a number of successful participants in the programme, such as internships with partner organisations and attendance at IG-related meetings, including the Internet Governance Forum later in the year. Languages Programme materials and platform are fully in English. Besides English-speaking groups, several bilingual groups will be formed for the foundation course, having English as the primary language, and either Arabic, French, Portuguese, or Spanish as the secondary language for communication and interaction. Target Audience The training programme seeks applications from the following categories of individuals from both developed and developing countries: § officials in government ministries and departments dealing with IG-related issues (e.g., telecommunications, education, foreign affairs, justice); § postgraduate students and researchers in the IG field (e.g., in telecommunications, electrical engineering, law, economics, development studies); § civil society activists in the IG field; § journalists covering IG issues; § individuals in Internet-business fields (e.g., ISPs, software developers). Participants from developing countries are eligible to receive full scholarship support for the foundation course, while for the advanced phase, a number of scholarships will be offered to the most successful participants. Timeline § 3 March-29 April 2008 - Foundation Course on Internet Governance § 5 May-29 June 2008 - Advanced Course on Internet Governance § September-November 2008 - Policy Research Phase (optional) § July 2008 through 2009 - Policy Immersion (fellowships) Fee 1) Foundation course Applicants from developing countries: full scholarships are available for all selected applicants to cover the course tuition. Applicants from developed* countries: Euro 550. 2) Advanced course Applicants from developing countries: Euro 150. A number of scholarships will be offered to the most successful participants of the foundation course from developing countries. Applicants from developed* countries: Euro 400. 3) Research phase Full scholarships are available for all successful participants of the online training phase to cover the research phase tuition. * OECD members <http://www.oecd.org/document/58/0,3343,en_2649_201185_1889402_1_1_1_1,00.ht…> Requirements The applicants are required to have: § Basic awareness and interest in IG issues § Knowledge and/or experience of the multistakeholder approach in international affairs § Fluency in English, as well as fluency in the second language for the applicants to any of bilingual groups § Good writing skills, ability to summarize information and focus on details § Regular access to the Internet (dial-up connection is sufficient) § Minimum of 8 hours commitment per week during the programme § Participation in online consultations (once a week at specified times) Deadline The deadline for applications is 14 February 2008, by midnight UTC/GMT. How to Apply For further information and to apply, please visit: http://www.diplomacy.edu/ig/ <http://www.diplomacy.edu/ig/> Do not hesitate to contact us at ig(a)diplomacy.edu <mailto:ig@diplomacy.edu> . Please circulate widely. Thank you, Mwende Njiraini Engineer II/New Technologies Communications Commission of Tel: 254 - 020 - 4242419/000 P.O Box 14448, Nairobi 00800 Nairobi KENYA Email: njiraini(a)cck.go.ke Website:http://www.cck.go.ke Disclaimer: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use by the individual(s) or entity to whom it is addressed to. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. Additionally, if you have received this email in error please notify the sender immediately by a reply e-mail.

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Fourth Undersea Cable cut in Middle East as Egypt Rules out damage by ships
by brian 04 Feb '08

04 Feb '08

Oh my, this is beginning to look rather serious. Is there any doubt now that there are some strange forces at work? Brian ----------------------------- Via: AFP: Ships are not responsible for damaging undersea internet cables in the Mediterranean, Egypt’s Government says. Two cables were damaged earlier this week in the Mediterranean sea and another off the coast of Dubai, causing widespread disruption to internet and international telephone services in Egypt, Gulf Arab states and South Asia. A fourth cable linking Qatar to the United Arab Emirates was damaged on Sunday causing yet more disruptions, telecommunication provider Qtel said. Egypt’s transport ministry said footage recorded by onshore video cameras of the location of the cables showed no maritime traffic in the area when the cables were damaged. “The ministry’s maritime transport committee reviewed footage covering the period of 12 hours before and 12 hours after the cables were cut and no ships sailed the area,” a statement said. “The area is also marked on maps as a no-go zone and it is therefore ruled out that the damage to the cables was caused by ships.” Earlier reports said that the damage had been caused by ships that had been diverted off their usual route because of bad weather. A repair ship is expected to begin work to fix the two Mediterranean cables on Tuesday.

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Kenya ICT Board launches Public Panels (1 attachment)
by Al Kags 04 Feb '08

04 Feb '08

The Kenya ICT Board yesterday launched the ICT Public Panels, which are special stakeholder forums that are designed to enable the private sector to collaborate with the government through the board to develop Kenya's ICT agenda. Speaking at the Kenya ICT Federation's "State of the Industry" luncheon, the CEO of the Kenya ICT Board, Mr. Paul Kukubo flanked by his two deputy CEOs, Mr. Victor Kyalo (Infrastructure and Programmes) and Ms. Eunice M. Kariuki (Marketing), presented the board's overall strategy, which is now being finalised. [Download it here: http://tinyurl.com/3cvmfo] They invited the wider ICT industry to participate in the validation of the board's strategy, which was presented as well as to contribute to the development of the ICT agenda through the Public Panels. "We feel that the work that we do can only really be productive if we adopt a policy of inclusion and ensure that we carry everyone along," said Paul Kukubo in his presentation. "We want to urge the public through the industry sector groups to participate as keenly in our work." Essentially the Public Panels will be co-convened by industry sector groups, such as the Kenya ICT Federation, the Kenya Business Process Outsourcing and Contact Centre Society (KBPOCC) and others and the board will facilitate their working sessions. The anticipated output of the panels includes policy recommendations, white papers, position papers and actual draft project proposals. The Chairman of the Kenya ICT Federation congratulated the board on the presentation of the strategy saying that it was clear that quite a lot of work had gone into its development. He said that it was a breath of fresh air to see the depth and breadth with which the board was working. "Clearly we are in good hands." DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION: http://tinyurl.com/3cvmfo ALT DOWLOAD PRESENTATION: http://tinyurl.com/25rnqo

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Third Undersea Cable Cut - conspiracy or not?
by brian 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

There are some blogs around the Internet that speculate about these cable cuts. One pretty plausible claim is that the launch of the Iranian Oil Bourse which was planned for this week might be the cause for such a scale of interference as the bourse would have negatively impacted the US dollar. -------- Iran Oil Bourse to deal blow to dollar Fri, 04 Jan 2008 20:45:41 The long-awaited Iranian Oil Bourse, a place for trading oil, petrochemicals and gas in various non-dollar currencies, will soon open. Iran’s Finance Minister Davoud Danesh-Jafari told reporters the bourse will be inaugurated during the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution (February 1-11) at the latest. “All preparations have been made to launch the bourse; it will open during the Ten-Day Dawn (the ceremonies marking the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran),” he said. The Minister had earlier stated that the Oil Bourse is located on the Persian Gulf island of Kish. Some expert opinions hold inauguration of the bourse cold significantly devalue the greenback. --------- Could this be why the 3rd cable cut has effectively removed the Middle East from the internet? ---------- Via: CNN: An undersea cable carrying Internet traffic was cut off the Persian Gulf emirate of Dubai, officials said Friday, the third loss of a line carrying Internet and telephone traffic in three days. Dubai has been hit hard by an Internet outage apparently caused by a cut undersea cable. Ships have been dispatched to repair two undersea cables damaged on Wednesday off Egypt. FLAG Telecom, which owns one of the cables, said repairs were expected to be completed by February 12. France Telecom, part owner of the other cable, said it was uncertain when repairs on it would be repaired. Stephan Beckert, an analyst with TeleGeography, a research company that consults on global Internet issues, said the cables off Egypt were likely damaged by ships’ anchors. The loss of the two Mediterranean cables — FLAG Telecom’s FLAG Europe-Asia cable and SeaMeWe-4, a cable owned by a consortium of more than a dozen telecommunications companies — has snarled Internet and phone traffic from Egypt to India. Officials said Friday it was unclear what caused the damage to FLAG’s FALCON cable about 50 kilometers off Dubai. A repair ship was en route, FLAG said. Eric Schoonover, a senior analyst with TeleGeography, said the FALCON cable is designed on a “ring system,” taking it on a circuit around the Persian Gulf and enabling traffic to be more easily routed around damage. Schoonover said the two cables damaged Wednesday collectively account for as much as three-quarters of the international communications between Europe and the Middle East, so their loss had a much bigger effect.

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Blogger of Mass Destruction - huh(?)
by brian 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

The stakes in the information economy are very high. Even moreso the interests of a sovereign state. A country like the USA takes this so seriously that they conducted the following as a test of their preparedness. Interesting amongst some of the simulations are scenarios where they test their ability to "control" the release of information to the public by the media.... It is good to think about Kenya's preparedness in this context. Brian --------------- Bloggers of Mass Destruction February 2nd, 2008 Via: Daily Herald: It’s the government’s idea of a really bad day: Washington’s Metro trains shut down. Seaport computers in New York go dark. Bloggers reveal locations of railcars with hazardous materials. Airport control towers are disrupted in Philadelphia and Chicago. Overseas, a mysterious liquid is found on London’s subway. And that’s just for starters. Those incidents were among dozens of detailed, mock disasters confronting officials rapid-fire in the U.S. government’s biggest-ever “Cyber Storm” war game, according to hundreds of pages of heavily censored files obtained by The Associated Press. The Homeland Security Department ran the exercise to test the nation’s hacker defenses, with help from the State Department, Pentagon, Justice Department, CIA, National Security Agency and others. The laundry list of fictional catastrophes — which include hundreds of people on “No Fly” lists suddenly arriving at airport ticket counters — is significant because it suggests what kind of real-world trouble keeps people in the White House awake at night. Imagined villains include hackers, bloggers and even reporters. After mock electronic attacks overwhelmed computers at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, an unspecified “major news network” airing reports about the attackers refused to reveal its sources to the government. Other simulated reporters were duped into spreading “believable but misleading” information that worsened fallout by confusing the public and financial markets, according to the government’s files. The $3 million, invitation-only war game simulated what the U.S. described as plausible attacks over five days in February 2006 against the technology industry, transportation lines and energy utilities by anti-globalization hackers. The government is organizing another multimillion-dollar war game, Cyber Storm 2, to take place in early March.

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NOKIA E61i for Sale - Ksh 25, 000 with all accessories and Boxes intact
by Robert Alai 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

You all know Nokia E61 – it's been among the most popular Nokia smartphones ever since it was presented. Its fans have always been divided over it not having a camera. Taking that into account Nokia decided to release an updated version of the handset marked with "i". Besides a camera, the new model features a number of small modifications, or otherwise upgrades, which would again reinstate it as a top-notch smartphone messenger. Now join us on our GSMArena journey which would try to answer a good deal of questions for you… and for us, for that matter. [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> *Nokia E61i official pictures* Key features: - Rich connectivity options - UMTS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, Infrared - Outstanding battery life - 2 megapixel camera - Messenger form factor with a full QWERTY keyboard - Really large 2.8" TFT display - Solid, metallic body - Symbian OS 9.1 S60 3rd Edition UI - microSD memory card slot Main disadvantages: - Hefty weight - No HSDPA support - No secondary camera for video calls - S60 UI doesn't come with Feature Pack 1 Right from the start the Nokia E61 was a successful model that made itself a nice group of dedicated fans. Not having a camera was obviously not a big deal for those guys. Even now in workplaces where information confidentiality is strictly guarded, cameraphones are simply not allowed. The business messenger market though realized that office workers and businessmen need an all-in-one tool that would allow them to work efficiently during the day and to have fun or just relax in the evenings and weekend. So essentially it has come to this that purely business handsets are gradually being equipped with more and more extra features such as a music player, a video player, a camera, etc. The market niche for such devices is fiercely competitive and it seems that our new Nokia has plunged into the deep with some other serious swimmers such as Palm Treo, Blackberry Pearl, Motorola Q, HTC S620, Sony Ericsson M600, Samsung i320, iMate JAQ plus several HP IPAQ products. And if you look at the details, the Nokia E61i is even functionally identical to Nokia E70. [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> *Nokia E61i and Nokia E70: functionally identical but so much different* When we started to review the new Nokia E61i we came up with a couple of key questions that had to be answered in order for this review to be complete and those are: - Is the camera positioning the E61i into another device category? - Is it worth exchanging your vanilla Nokia E61 for it? In the same time the review had to cover all the aspects that we cover in all other reviews – meaning that we should go over all the features of the smartphone in detail. So for those of you that are into smartphones for a long time now and wouldn't want to go through all of this, here is our low down on exactly how the Nokia E61i differs from the vanilla E61. The E61i is thinner than the E61 by a small margin but is 11 cc smaller. The E61i has a better build quality over the E61 and possesses a rather stable and solid body. The keyboard has definitely got a few updates – first, the navigation joystick is replaced with a D-pad, which is a great choice by the way. Then there are two new shortcut keys – the Phonebook and My Own key. The My Own key is a customizable shortcut key that you can use for starting an application of your choice. The keys of the QWERTY keyboard have gotten just a notch smaller, but the space between them has increased. Furthermore their tactile feedback is far better on E61i than on the E61. As a result the ergonomics of the QWERTY keyboard have greatly increased. Software-wise the E61i didn't stay long enough in development so that it can get the Feature Pack 1, that's now available for the S60 user interface. So obviously we would be waiting for other devices to try it on. Nevertheless, the E61i comes with several preinstalled applications that were not available in E61 – the WLAN Wizard, the Search application and the Team Suite. The WLAN wizard is a Wi-Fi network scanner, Search is a global search engine for your handset contents and finally, the Team suite is a more specific application that allows for creating so-called "teams" in order to make mass communication with your colleagues easier. Having those applications is not a big deal, though, as they can be downloaded to your E61, too. The E61i also has newer and more user-friendly Internet calling settings and finally, let's not forget – the new messenger comes with a 2 megapixel camera that can always come in handy for making snapshots of people and places. So what are the answers to the two questions we had, you might ask. Well, for that, our friends, you'll have to bear with us to this review's very end. As far as retail package is concerned, the box contents you should expect are the Nokia HS-5 headset and a data cable. Nothing more to please the eye – but hey, the E-series handsets are all about business. [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> *Nokia E61i retail box contents* Enter the Dragon Being an updated version of the Nokia E61, the Nokia E61i has pretty much the same design as its predecessor. The dimensions are identical too - the Nokia E61i measures 117 x 70 x 13.9 mm and weighs 150 g. You all know Nokia E61 – it's been among the most popular Nokia smartphones ever since it was presented. Its fans have always been divided over it not having a camera. Taking that into account Nokia decided to release an updated version of the handset marked with "i". We are more than pleased with the construction quality of the E61i. The handset didn't produce any creaks during our test, and furthermore it didn't look like those are likely to show up even after months of use. As we already said the body construction and the way parts fit together is something that has improved over E61. [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> *Nokia E61i all over* Well going over the phone you couldn't help but notice the LED in the upper left corner of the front panel. It is in fact an ambient light detector which is used for power optimization. It detects the available ambient light and thus controls whether backlighting or display brightness should be adjusted. It also serves the double purpose of an event light alerting you of different event – a feature that is totally customizable. Next to the LED/sensor, right in the dead center, is the in-call speaker grill. Due to the really wide form factor, it takes some time to get used to position your ear right on the speaker. Unaccustomed to it, during our tests we often tended to go left or right. Next to it is the On/Off key – it's made of white rubber that somehow doesn't follow the metallic design of the handset. [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> *Nokia E61i top part: LED/light sensor and On/Off key* The QWERTY keypad is probably the most exciting thing about a handset with that form factor. It is the single thing that can make or break the pleasure of using the device to its full potential. As you would see later on in the review, the Nokia E61i keyboard manages to impress with a great usability. One can easily notice that there are several design updates over the E61 – all for the better, we might add. You might have noticed that the keyboard of our test unit is in fact not a QWERTY one, but instead a QWERTZ one. The simple reason for that is that it is the German version of E61i – fully localized with the added special characters. [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> *Nokia E61i keyboard: design has changed* The left side of the device features a dual volume key and the voice key. A single press allows you to start an immediate recording of a voice note for example. A longer press takes you to the voice dial/voice command interface. The voice key is pretty well recessed so it isn't probable that you would press it accidentally in your pocket – a flaw that Nokia E61 had. Beside those keys is the loudspeaker grill – the sound it produces is nice – clear and loud. The loudspeaker position is well-thought of, as the sound doesn't get muffled when you put down the handset on its back, as is the case with most current mobile phones. [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> *Left side view: voice key, volume key, loudspeaker* The bottom part of the device features the charger port, the Pop port for connecting the data cable and the headset, as well as the Infrared port. The charger port of the E61i can fit only the latest types of Nokia chargers – the ones with a thinner jack. Unlike N-series handsets the E61i doesn't come with a charger adaptor included which would allow for using the older types of chargers with it. Strangely enough, although we had that type of adapter we couldn't charge the E61i with an older charger. It seems that with this model Nokia has left behind the backwards compatibility we were used to see. The right and top sides of the handset don't accommodate any control elements. [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> *Bottom side view • Right side view • Top side view* When you turn the phone over, you would see that its back is pretty bare. The only element that really catches your eye is the 2 megapixel camera lens. The lens is protected by a silver circular ring. [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> *Nokia E61i back • camera lens* The most of the back is taken by the fully metallic battery cover. Removing it is done with a slide – much like inserting it back on. Note that we say "inserting" – the cover has to be inserted into tracks which allow it to slide all the way to the top. Now it isn't the most comfortable solution we've seen but it surely is among the most secure ones. When you remove the back cover the large Nokia BP-4L Li-Polymer battery is revealed. It has a capacity of the impressive 1500 mAh and is manufacturer-rated to be able to sustain the handset with power for up to 400 h in standby, and for up to 9 h of talk time in GSM-only networks. Our test showed that when used moderately in a UMTS network the E61i was able to offer the impressive six full days with a single charging – and that being the first one for the battery. When we say moderately we mean that the E61i almost never left our office and for those six days we did a total of around 35 minutes of talking, 1 hour of Bluetoothing, 30 minutes of WLAN web browsing, 2 hours of listening to music, 40 minutes of playing video, taking several dozens of pictures, and a lot of fiddling with the phone. So just to sum up for you – it is a nice mark for Nokia's latest messenger smartphone. [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> *Removing the back panel • memory card slot • 1500 mAh battery • SIM card bed* Although being rather wide, the Nokia E61i feels pretty much comfortable when held in hand. If you try to work with it single-handedly and if you are dexterous enough to hold it in your right hand and to navigate with your thumb, you mind find that the left soft keys are a bit too far for you to press accurately. If you have bigger hands, that surely wouldn't pose any problem. The smartphone leaves an impression of a thin, stable and user-friendly handset – although a side jog dial would have come in handy. [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#> [image: Nokia E61i] <http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-review-142.php#>

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Central Bank Website down? Which one is next?
by Odhiambo Washington 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

Trying to access the Central Bank website at 12:55pm... http://www.centralbank.go.ke/ Error: "Not enough storage is available to complete this operation." I am wondering if they have run out of disk space. -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" --from a /. post

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Alari's Fundraiser
by Harry Hare 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

Dear Colleagues, I have information that friends and well wishers are convening at Tanager Restaurant (Kaunda Street---I think) in the city centre on Thursday 31st January from 6:00pm. Should you need further information please contact Henry Ochieng on 0725 777708. Kindest Regards Harry African eDevelopment Resource Centre 3rd Floor, Nelleon Place Raphta Road, Westlands PO Box 49475 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Cel +254 725 650044 Land +254 20 4453445 www.africanedevelopment.org *********************************************************** February 2008 Capacity Building Opportunities VSAT Field Engineering: 5-8 Records Management: 13-15 Fiber Optics: 26-29 Book Now, Limited spaces available

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Safaricom Down
by Robert Alai 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Hello I have problems Accessing www.safaricom.com. Can someone help. Also I need a webdesigner good in PHP/Joomla and Graphics. Robert

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Day 4 of 5:- Quantifying the Impact of the Post-election Violence
by John Walubengo 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Morning all, Here's part of what I could quickly gather as the possible short-term interventions from some of the posts. 1. Encourage balanced reporting by Media and avoid glorifying destructions, killings 2. Consider Filtering hate mails, messages, websites 3. Corporates going the extra mile (e.g mobile operator becoming banks to ensure service provision...) 4. Ensuring that basic Operator service is maintained particularly in the current environment 5.Create portals that provide linkages between the needy and their potential donors Feel free to add more. But today I invite you to attempt to quantify the loss this chaos continue to wreck on our organisations. What do you think is the the toll per day in terms of lost business opportunity, man-hours, equipment, etc? only 1 day on this theme because tomorrow we finish of this discussion. walu. Quantify the Impact of Post-election violence on ICT organisations (1day) -What is the toll per day in terms of lost business opportunity, man-hours, equipment, etc l Ensure balanced reporting by Media Filtering hate mails, messages, websites Corporates going the extra mile becoming banks Ensuring that Operator service continue Create portals that provide linkages between the needy and the donors Avoid glorifying destructions ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

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Fibre Cut disrupts 70% Internet in India & Egypt
by brian 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

As we prepare to light up TEAMS we had better be thinking about redundancy ...... Brian ---------------------------------- Cut Fiber: Internet Services in India and Egypt Disrupted January 30th, 2008 Via: Reuters: A breakdown in an international undersea cable network badly disrupted Internet links to India and Egypt on Wednesday. Egypt’s Telecommunications Ministry said a communications cable in the Mediterranean was cut, disrupting 70 percent of the country’s Internet network. The ministry said in a statement it was not known how the cable was cut but that services would probably take several days to return to normal. India reported serious disruptions to its services and one Indian Internet service provider linked the problem to the Egyptian outage. “There has been a cable cut on several cable systems in Alexandria, Egypt which has impacted internet connectivity in India,” Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL), an internet service provider, said in a statement. VSNL said its service had been “largely restored” by diverting to another cable. India said it had lost more than half of its capacity. “There has been a 50 to 60 percent cut in bandwidth,” Rajesh Chharia, president of the Internet Service Providers’ Association of India, told Reuters. He told the Headlines Today news channel that a “degraded” service would be activated by Wednesday night, but full restoration will take 10 to 15 days. Chharia said companies, including some of India’s many outsourcing businesses, had been affected.

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Chronicle of Fiber Cuts
by brian 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

This website provides a scary analysis of the recent fiber cuts as well as a chronicle of past incidents. http://www.dailywireless.org/2008/01/30/oceanic-fiber-cut/ It is becoming clearer that the international submarine fiber game can get very dirty. Our own efforts here in Kenya to get TEAMS going have been plagued with sabotage attempts from 'competing' cable projects....... Brian

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Fwd: Firms Plan Private Placements - Business Daily
by Bill Kagai 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

--------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Stock Detective <stock.detective(a)mediacorp.co.ke> Date: Jan 31, 2008 7:42 AM Subject: Firms Plan Private Placements - Business Daily To: MediaCorp.Research(a)mediacorp.co.ke http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5597&Item… Firms Plan Private Placements Written by Emmanuel Were BUSINESS DAILY January 31, 2008: Resolution Health and MediaCorp plan to sell a stake of their shares to private investors within the year. The private placements will follow closely those of CIC Insurance and SPS, which were to be concluded last year but have been extended to accommodate the interests of investors. The insurance firm will file the placement at the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) having concluded the initial stages of the placement. "We are at a conceptual stage and we will obviously follow CMA requirements," said Peter Nduati, CEO, Resolution Health. Last week, the markets regulator issued a notice reminding companies wanting to raise money from the public to seek its approval. Resolution Health has, however, established investment groups and their members as the target market for the placement, taking a cue from CIC which was selling its share exclusively to co-operative societies and their members. Investment clubs in the country have recently been organised into a credible lobby through the Kenya Association of Investment Groups (KAIG) which now has 30 investment groups and five corporates. Mediacorp, one of the licensed Nairobi Stock Exchange data vendors, shall offer a 20 per cent stake worth Sh20 million, with the minimum amount of application standing at Sh500, 000. It hopes to raise the funds by the end of February 2008. "The funds will enable us set up an agency for stock broking services through a licence acquired from Faida Investment Bank," said Bildad Kagai, CEO, Media Corp limited. The stock broking agency, to be known as, MediaCorp Capital, will offer services in trading of equities and bonds initially to subscribers for its data vending services. It will also have its eyes on the regional market in anticipation of the formation of the East African Stock Exchange by opening four sub regional offices in Mombasa, Kampala, Kigali and Dar-es-Salaam. "We hope to become the leader of financial and stock information in East Africa," said Mr Kagai. In the case of Resolution Health, a Medical Insurance Provider (MIP), it needs to raise it core capital in line with the proposal by the Finance minister in his 2007/08 budget who proposed to increase the paid up capital of General Insurance from Sh100 million to Sh300 million. Resolution Health is looking for a maximum of 50 new share holders willing to part with Sh10 million each, taking its paid up capital to Sh610 million through the private placement. The increase in the capital will come at a time when according to the CEO, Mr Nduati, Resolution Health plans to convert to an insurance company by the end of this year as well as making a foray into the Ugandan market. The Medical Insurance Provider (MIP) whose insurance covers includes paternity, HIV and dental covers has been in the Kenyan market for the past six years. On the other hand MediaCorp began its operations in June 2006 offering subscribers access to the Nairobi Stock Exchange real time trading data via the Internet with a current subscription base of 600 subscribers. Investment groups need to broaden their portfolio to cover risks arising from uncertain times like the ones being experienced in the country presently, said KAIG chairperson Patrick Kariuki. "All investments have different levels of risk but if you hide from risk you hide from returns. Diversity helps reduce exposure to specific risks," he said during a seminar hosted by the two companies for KAIG members. Returns from the equities market have fallen sharply amid the violence set off by the outcome of the presidential election a month ago. Investors in the hard currency market, especially those who had backed the shilling to depreciate, have been the main beneficieries of the prevailing situation. http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5597&Item… -- -- Bildad Kagai MD - MediaCorp Limited Nairobi Stock Exchange [NSE] - Authorised Information Vendor Suite B2 Tetu Apartments StateHouse Avenue P. O. Box 20311-00200 Tel. 254 20 272 8332 Fax. Rendered Obsolete URL. www.mediacorpafrica.com

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Day 1 of 5 - Challenges Posed by Post-Election Violence on ICT Organisations
by John Walubengo 30 Jan '08

30 Jan '08

Greetings all, As mentioned last friday, we need to engage positively around the current crisis stalking our country. One suggested method was that we share experiences, impacts and how we are coping with the challenges occassioned. The overal aim is to enable members to learn from each other while emphasising the impact the crises continues to have on ICT organisations. Today is Day 1 and from the program below. We have 2days to share the challenges posed by the Post Election Violence on ICT organisations. I know quite abit is already shared in the press but no harm done if a brief re-run on our list for the benefit of those who may have missed out. So feel free to speak as (Telco) Operators, Consumers,ICT Service Providers(BPO,ISPs,etc) Media, Academia or all of the above ;-) walu. ~~~~~~~~Full Program~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~Objectives~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Share the Challenges posed by the Post-election Violence on ICT organisations Share current interventions employed to overcome these Challenges Quantify the Impact of Post-election violence on ICT organisations Way forward and conclusions Deliverables. eWorkshop Report containing the deliberations, consensus and action points arising from the online discussions. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Methodology~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Online discussion will be structured along 4 themes, to be discussed across the 5days as follows. Share the Challenges posed by the Post-election Violence on ICT organisations (2days) -Economical, Social, Technical Challenges. Share current interventions employed to overcome these Challenges (1day) -What short-term tactics are you using to work around the challenges -What are your long-term options with regard to the challenges Quantify the Impact of Post-election violence on ICT organisations (1day) -What is the toll per day in terms of lost business opportunity, man-hours, equipment, etc l Way Forward and Conclusions -1day. -what are the lessons learnt? -what can the ICT community do to accelerate 'back-to-normal' situation ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

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Day 3 of 5:-Possible Interventions to overcome the Challenges
by John Walubengo 30 Jan '08

30 Jan '08

Thanx all, it does seem we are getting somewhere in this discussion (even without the worthy services of K. Annaan ;-) Anyway, very interesting and captivating experience from both M Joseph (Safaricom) and Gilda (BPO/ISP). Ofcourse with Edith (IDRC) picking off a tangent from MJoseph contribution that treads the murky area between censorship and freedom. I would imagine that requires a whole new discussion on its own later... Bill (Mediacorp), Alex (Consumers) and Mike E.(Symphony)comments prepare us better for todays discussion. The idea of HR Counseling within organisations is a to me a frank and bold step towards admitting that theres a problem and it is being addressed. The idea of mobile broadcast SMS reminding citizens of their liability in wanton destruction of property is timely. I would add, that probably the TV broadcast should adopt a name and shame approach to this destruction. Methinks at times they broadcast this images with an angle of 'celebrating' the killings and destructions :-0( Anyway, the floor is open your contributions. 1 day only on possible interventions. But feel free to contribute on previous post (just keep correct Subject lines). walu. Share current interventions employed to overcome these Challenges (1day) -What short-term tactics are you using to work around the challenges -What are your long-term options with regard to the challenges ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

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Small Medium Entreprise Symposium in March.
by Jose' 30 Jan '08

30 Jan '08

Kimathi Information Centre P.O BOX 57741-00200 Nairobi Contact People: Carthy Atieno carthy.atieno(a)kimathiinformationcentre.com Jose Njuki-Imwe jose.njuki(a)kimathiinformationcentre.com FOR IMMIDIATE RELEASE Kimathi information Centre in its quarterly year calendar holds symposiums for Small Medium Enterprises that involve networking and exposing entrepreneurs to possible business partners, mentors and loan granters. Last year we brought in up to 187 Small Medium Enterprises with much emphasis on the youth fund. This year our focus is directed to emerging entrepreneurs with the theme; Emerging People, Emerging markets, Emerging technologies. We anticipate bringing about 300 registered Small medium Enterprises, in which 50 businesses will be exhibiting their products. They in return will have an opportunity to network with fellow entrepreneurs by forming new partnerships, getting new businesses and basically enjoying the moment. Small Medium Enterprises have a challenge in keeping track. This is due to high constraints on raising proper capital and lacking mentors to guide them through the process. It with this concern that we introduce a Mentoring Clinic Tent during the one day symposium in which we shall see Professional Jornalists, Lawyers, Bankers, Telecommunication engineers and Entrepreneurs come on board to take part in this Nobel initiative. With this situation in mind, we are asking professionals to get in touch with the event organizers and be part of the mentoring tent team in which we shall give certificates to the list of professionals. We crown the day by listening to the Key note speakers from Kenya Youth Business Trust whose mandate is to give loans to viable SMEs at a reasonable rate. The symposium date will be on the Saturday, 22nd March 2008 at the kenya assemblies Of God-Bahati Estate.(Nairobi) For more information, please contact: José- 0728878744 ngunjirijnr(a)gmail.com Carthy-0724940237 atienocarthy(a)gmail.com --------------------------------- Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

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Weak Mobile Phone Signals
by Alex Gakuru 30 Jan '08

30 Jan '08

A mobile phone signals are very weak around the Upper Hill/Community area. As a result, for example, forced to step out of their offices subscribers at one building parking in that area constantly pace up-and down whenever they receive or have to make calls. Could the network providers check their signal strengths or explain. Or perhaps CCK should send their signal monitoring equipment to ensure service quality is constantly maintained? Are there other areas experiencing this problem? Regards, ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

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REMINDER
by nancy bosire 30 Jan '08

30 Jan '08

Dear Members and Partners, This is to remind you of tomorrows KIF and Kenya ICT Board luncheon at Nairobi Safari Club from 12.30pm to 2.30 pm. Charges are Ksh.2,000 for Members and Ksh.3,000 for Non-members. see you there. -- Sincerely yours, Secretariat Manager Kenya ICT Federation Tel: 020 4440102 Mobile: 0721907995 secretariat(a)kif.or.ke, info(a)kif.or.ke http://www.kif.or.ke Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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Re: [kictanet] Day 2 of 5 - Challenges Posed byPost-ElectionViolence on ICT Organisations
by Edith Adera 30 Jan '08

30 Jan '08

Michael and Walu, Indeed the mood is dampened! Two points: *to Michael - I bought a scratch card this morning that gave me less money than printed on the card! What's happening? * Both of you have raised interesting issues that need further discussions - effects of the ban vs possible censorship of content by Safaricom as indicated by Michael. In a situation of media ban the only "live" coverage is informal networks and under these circumstances sms' come in very handy, so people are able to move "live" news quickly to family, relatives and friends. It worries me to hear Michael taut censorship of sms content. It raises many issues: - is there infringement of personal rights in reading people's sms content to determine which is suitable to censor? - who makes this decision? - should we feel exposed? In addition to discussing these issues, I strongly feel we need to do something practical to support those suffering..... kind regards Edith At / À 14:09 29/01/2008, Michael Joseph wrote / a écrit: >I think we are all trying to deal with the crisis which seems to grow >every day with no-one seemingly concerned enough to stop it. > >With regard to the scratch card prices, the problem was, and is still to >some extent, the disruption of our supply lines due to the violence and >the closing of the banking network for more than 10 days. In a, mostly, >informal economy, the impact of lengthy bank closures has a significant >impact on the economy and is even outlawed in some countries. The >problem is that stocks are kept to a minimum due to cash flow and >security problems. So if there is a minor blip this does lead to >significant shortages. We are looking, as are others, for alternative >solutions to deal with this problem. > >At one point we became a bank and collected billions of shillings in >cash (and stored them in our vaults) from dealers in order to get the >supply process going. > >Fortunately we never experienced severe disruption to our network except >for some areas in Western (where else) due to the inability to get >diesel fuel to some key sites. But the threat was always there. > >The other threat worth mentioning is the ever increasing hostile hate >SMSs which were circulating after the elections and continue to >circulate. We are introducing a filtering system which will hopefully >stop some of them, but we must realize that the communications networks >are vital in times of unrest and if we are forced to close down some >elements to stop these hate messages, the impact could be felt even more >widely and may even introduce panic. We must guard our freedom but we >must also act responsibly to protect that freedom. I know I am preaching >to the choir, and may even encourage some debate, but it is a fine line >in these critical times. > >Regards, > >Michael > >CEO >Safaricom Limited > > >-----Original Message----- >From: kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >[mailto:kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] >On Behalf Of John Walubengo >Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 9:45 AM >To: Michael Joseph >Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 2 of 5 - Challenges Posed >byPost-ElectionViolence on ICT Organisations > >mmhh, looks like very few contributions. I understand the >dampened mood. But really, we have to talk. Unless you >guys want us to bring Koffi Anaan here to make us share... > >Anyway, Thanx Alex, Bill, and Brian for your contributions >so far. I was just thinking at a national level...the >impact so far. >1. Mobile Operators (earlier in the fracas I bought a >scratch card worth 250sh for 500sh, black market rates) >2. BPO projects (whats happening at Kencall and others?) >3. ICT Board (with World Bank threatening to hold back >funds, what happens to the Infrastructure projects that >were to provide Bandwidth to BPOs and Academia?) >4. Media (how are you coping with the live transmission >ban?) >6. ISPs, ASPs, Cybercafes (any impacts) >7. Our members in the region UG, RW (any impacts?) > >Plse talk, we have only four more days to go. It is >refreshing to talk about this things. It is part of the >healing process. > >walu. > >--- Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > Ok, I was silent because Brain Longwe had earlier > > asked that the list be what it was meant to be. Since > > that position has changed, I want to start with > > "funny" joke. We have a saying in this regard. > > > > Have you been one of those who have tried or struggled > > to guess the tribe of the person sending emails to > > mailing lists? Please own up:) Last week we considered > > assessing the psychological consequences the crisis > > was having on consumers with regard to email and blogs > > posts. > > > > It turned out that some tried to "align" their views > > on e-mail senders whom they perceived (or imagined?) > > to be of the same or "friendly" tribes. Our > > conclusion, listers were not tribal, yet the stress, > > politics and media had forced them to seek tribal > > alignments. We were happy to discover that. > > > > Next we discussed tensions at workplace Telkom Kenya > > being our sample. We learnt how badly it had divided > > staff there. We overheard employee conversations! We > > wished companies would hold extra parties to lessen > > tensions at work. I have just noticed a ke-users > > lister has posted a very positive message. Their HR > > department today held an organisation-wide > > counselling session. That was excellent. All companies > > should start similar initiatives. Thanks Saidimu! > > > > > > Terrible for us because when we engaging Telcos and > > ISPs we never ask for okuyu, jang or kale etc tariffs > > or quality of service standards. Our engagement covers > > coast to lake, Turkana to Namanga, Garissa to Busia. > > > > At such moments, Information and Communications > > Consumer protection is more than ever necessary. We > > are battling rights of the people know on one hand, on > > the other we are urging responsibility to accompany > > freedom of expression, fighting against ban on live > > broadcasts also aware of the dangers of misuse, > > against sms sniffing very aware of misinformation > > dangers. > > > > We noted and appreciated the media's own intervention > > early and responsibility but also appreciate the role > > of government to protect everyone. > > > > This thread is on the challenges hence I stop there > > for now to hear others' lest I be accused of > > monopolising on opinion. I will be back;) > > > > Regards, > > > > > > Alex > > > > > > --- John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > > > > > >________________________________________________________________________ >____________ > > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. > > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs > > > > > > >________________________________________________________________________ >____________ >Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. >http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >This message was sent to: mjoseph(a)safaricom.co.ke >Unsubscribe or change your options at >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mjoseph%40safaricom >.co.ke >The information in this email and any attachments is confidential and may >be legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the named addressee. >Emails are susceptible to alteration and their integrity cannot be >guaranteed. Safaricom Limited does not accept legal responsibility for the >contents of this email if the same is found to have been altered or >manipulated. >The contents and opinions expressed in this email are solely those of the >author and do not necessarily represent those of Safaricom Limited. >Safaricom Limited disclaims any liability to the fullest extent >permissible by law for any consequences that may arise from the contents >of this email including but not limited to personal opinions, malicious >and/or defamatory information and data/codes that may compromise or damage >the integrity of the recipient's information technology systems. >If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender and >immediately delete this email from your system. > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >This message was sent to: eadera(a)idrc.or.ke >Unsubscribe or change your options at >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eadera%40idrc.or.ke -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Alari fundraiser
by Rebecca Wanjiku 30 Jan '08

30 Jan '08

Hi Just to let you know Alari Alare's fundraiser will be held tomorrow (Thursday) 6pm at Tanager bar and restaurant. Funeral arrangements will be availed during the fundraising. Please come or send your donations. I am sure Alari touched you in one way or another. -- Regards, Becky ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

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Re: [kictanet] Day 2 of 5 - Challenges Posed byPost-ElectionViolence on ICT Organisations
by Michael Joseph 29 Jan '08

29 Jan '08

Re the scratch card - It is very unusual for that to happen. I would like to have more details about the card if you still have it. On sms we will not be censoring or reading any messages but propose to have a filter that could block messages that contain unacceptable words. Nothing has been decided but the new smsc has this option. We are committed to responsible marketing and this includes setting up systems to block pornography etc. We know this raises important issues and we will consult before deciding anything. Michael Joseph CEO Safaricom Limited BlackBerry powered by Safaricom ----- Original Message ----- From: Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.or.ke> To: Michael Joseph Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tue Jan 29 15:04:41 2008 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 2 of 5 - Challenges Posed byPost-ElectionViolence on ICT Organisations Michael and Walu, Indeed the mood is dampened! Two points: *to Michael - I bought a scratch card this morning that gave me less money than printed on the card! What's happening? * Both of you have raised interesting issues that need further discussions - effects of the ban vs possible censorship of content by Safaricom as indicated by Michael. In a situation of media ban the only "live" coverage is informal networks and under these circumstances sms' come in very handy, so people are able to move "live" news quickly to family, relatives and friends. It worries me to hear Michael taut censorship of sms content. It raises many issues: - is there infringement of personal rights in reading people's sms content to determine which is suitable to censor? - who makes this decision? - should we feel exposed? In addition to discussing these issues, I strongly feel we need to do something practical to support those suffering..... kind regards Edith At / À 14:09 29/01/2008, Michael Joseph wrote / a écrit: >I think we are all trying to deal with the crisis which seems to grow >every day with no-one seemingly concerned enough to stop it. > >With regard to the scratch card prices, the problem was, and is still to >some extent, the disruption of our supply lines due to the violence and >the closing of the banking network for more than 10 days. In a, mostly, >informal economy, the impact of lengthy bank closures has a significant >impact on the economy and is even outlawed in some countries. The >problem is that stocks are kept to a minimum due to cash flow and >security problems. So if there is a minor blip this does lead to >significant shortages. We are looking, as are others, for alternative >solutions to deal with this problem. > >At one point we became a bank and collected billions of shillings in >cash (and stored them in our vaults) from dealers in order to get the >supply process going. > >Fortunately we never experienced severe disruption to our network except >for some areas in Western (where else) due to the inability to get >diesel fuel to some key sites. But the threat was always there. > >The other threat worth mentioning is the ever increasing hostile hate >SMSs which were circulating after the elections and continue to >circulate. We are introducing a filtering system which will hopefully >stop some of them, but we must realize that the communications networks >are vital in times of unrest and if we are forced to close down some >elements to stop these hate messages, the impact could be felt even more >widely and may even introduce panic. We must guard our freedom but we >must also act responsibly to protect that freedom. I know I am preaching >to the choir, and may even encourage some debate, but it is a fine line >in these critical times. > >Regards, > >Michael > >CEO >Safaricom Limited > > >-----Original Message----- >From: kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >[mailto:kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] >On Behalf Of John Walubengo >Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 9:45 AM >To: Michael Joseph >Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 2 of 5 - Challenges Posed >byPost-ElectionViolence on ICT Organisations > >mmhh, looks like very few contributions. I understand the >dampened mood. But really, we have to talk. Unless you >guys want us to bring Koffi Anaan here to make us share... > >Anyway, Thanx Alex, Bill, and Brian for your contributions >so far. I was just thinking at a national level...the >impact so far. >1. Mobile Operators (earlier in the fracas I bought a >scratch card worth 250sh for 500sh, black market rates) >2. BPO projects (whats happening at Kencall and others?) >3. ICT Board (with World Bank threatening to hold back >funds, what happens to the Infrastructure projects that >were to provide Bandwidth to BPOs and Academia?) >4. Media (how are you coping with the live transmission >ban?) >6. ISPs, ASPs, Cybercafes (any impacts) >7. Our members in the region UG, RW (any impacts?) > >Plse talk, we have only four more days to go. It is >refreshing to talk about this things. It is part of the >healing process. > >walu. > >--- Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > Ok, I was silent because Brain Longwe had earlier > > asked that the list be what it was meant to be. Since > > that position has changed, I want to start with > > "funny" joke. We have a saying in this regard. > > > > Have you been one of those who have tried or struggled > > to guess the tribe of the person sending emails to > > mailing lists? Please own up:) Last week we considered > > assessing the psychological consequences the crisis > > was having on consumers with regard to email and blogs > > posts. > > > > It turned out that some tried to "align" their views > > on e-mail senders whom they perceived (or imagined?) > > to be of the same or "friendly" tribes. Our > > conclusion, listers were not tribal, yet the stress, > > politics and media had forced them to seek tribal > > alignments. We were happy to discover that. > > > > Next we discussed tensions at workplace Telkom Kenya > > being our sample. We learnt how badly it had divided > > staff there. We overheard employee conversations! We > > wished companies would hold extra parties to lessen > > tensions at work. I have just noticed a ke-users > > lister has posted a very positive message. Their HR > > department today held an organisation-wide > > counselling session. That was excellent. All companies > > should start similar initiatives. Thanks Saidimu! > > > > > > Terrible for us because when we engaging Telcos and > > ISPs we never ask for okuyu, jang or kale etc tariffs > > or quality of service standards. Our engagement covers > > coast to lake, Turkana to Namanga, Garissa to Busia. > > > > At such moments, Information and Communications > > Consumer protection is more than ever necessary. We > > are battling rights of the people know on one hand, on > > the other we are urging responsibility to accompany > > freedom of expression, fighting against ban on live > > broadcasts also aware of the dangers of misuse, > > against sms sniffing very aware of misinformation > > dangers. > > > > We noted and appreciated the media's own intervention > > early and responsibility but also appreciate the role > > of government to protect everyone. > > > > This thread is on the challenges hence I stop there > > for now to hear others' lest I be accused of > > monopolising on opinion. I will be back;) > > > > Regards, > > > > > > Alex > > > > > > --- John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > > > > > >________________________________________________________________________ >____________ > > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. > > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs > > > > > > >________________________________________________________________________ >____________ >Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. >http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >This message was sent to: mjoseph(a)safaricom.co.ke >Unsubscribe or change your options at >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mjoseph%40safaricom >.co.ke >The information in this email and any attachments is confidential and may >be legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the named addressee. >Emails are susceptible to alteration and their integrity cannot be >guaranteed. Safaricom Limited does not accept legal responsibility for the >contents of this email if the same is found to have been altered or >manipulated. >The contents and opinions expressed in this email are solely those of the >author and do not necessarily represent those of Safaricom Limited. >Safaricom Limited disclaims any liability to the fullest extent >permissible by law for any consequences that may arise from the contents >of this email including but not limited to personal opinions, malicious >and/or defamatory information and data/codes that may compromise or damage >the integrity of the recipient's information technology systems. >If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender and >immediately delete this email from your system. > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >This message was sent to: eadera(a)idrc.or.ke >Unsubscribe or change your options at >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eadera%40idrc.or.ke -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. The information in this email and any attachments is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the named addressee. Emails are susceptible to alteration and their integrity cannot be guaranteed. Safaricom Limited does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this email if the same is found to have been altered or manipulated. The contents and opinions expressed in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Safaricom Limited. Safaricom Limited disclaims any liability to the fullest extent permissible by law for any consequences that may arise from the contents of this email including but not limited to personal opinions, malicious and/or defamatory information and data/codes that may compromise or damage the integrity of the recipient's information technology systems. If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender and immediately delete this email from your system.

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Tribute to Alare
by Paul Kukubo 29 Jan '08

29 Jan '08

A couple of days ago, the ICT community - indeed, Kenya - woke up to the shocking news that one of our own, Alari Alare had passed on. Members of the ICT community will particularly feel the loss of this great man, who was more than a journalist. Many of us especially those of us who have worked in Public Service will fondly remember the terse messages that he would send us saying that the public needed to know what we are doing. He constantly reminded of our responsibility not only to perform but also to inform the public of our work. As the board busies itself crystallising many years of thoughts and ideas from the wider ICT fraternity into concrete action plans in the form of ICT strategic plan, (which is now being finalised) I am very saddened that he has passed on. He input would have been very useful in validating our thinking. When I met members of the ICT Journalists team in December, we spoke about the need to carry along all Kenyans in what we did at the board. I am sure the other members of the ICT Journalists fraternity will maintain the pace. Alari went often well beyond the call duty to find out and demystify for Kenyans what ICT was about and clarify its place in their lives in simple language. I cannot forget the number of interviews when I heard him sardonically commend us for making a good pubic statement, and then ask, "Could you now translate that into normal-speak?" We shall miss Alari Alare. We shall miss his passion and commitment to the cause of ICT. We shall in steadfastly rededicate ourselves to our work and passions in ICT; try to remember what he stood for and what he taught us in the short time we had him: "if people understand what you are on about, people will jump on board." The Kenya ICT Board, on behalf of the ICT Fraternity, wishes to convey its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues, of our friend, Alari Alare and wish him, God's speed. Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone provided by Celtel Kenya

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Alari Alare Passes on...
by John Walubengo 29 Jan '08

29 Jan '08

Just read in today's East African standard (offline edition) that one of our KICTANet members and ICT journalist Alari passed on over the weekend. Some road accident along Mombasa Road. I ask that you observe a miniutes silence in memory of his contribution to the ICT community both online and offline. May God rest his soul in peace. walu. Becky (fellow journalist), plse keep the community uptodate on anything they may do to assist or join his family in this time of mourning. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

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Freedom of Information Training Programme
by Alex Gakuru 29 Jan '08

29 Jan '08

Colleagues; All conflicts , including World Wars, come to an end some day. Therefore, our unfortunate ongoings will end sometime for some reasons one way or the other. I beg your pardon and allow me to briefly divert to a related but a major post-crisis issue. A peaceful future is guaranteed in our society when we "seek to empower the people with the economic, political and social structures that will prevent them from becoming pawns in a system that sees them as numbers, commodities and reservoirs of cheap labour, and violence when needed." Business Daily, 25 January 2008, 'The next movement after embers die out' Freedom of Information is the avenue to lasting peace and fairness for sustained prosperity. The systems for implementation of access to information held by public entities is greatly boosted by modern communication media and instruments (or ICTs). I suppose Reclaiming the future and our national aspirations by engaging ICTs forms the foundation of kictanet? The FOI-net coalition appreciates last year's firm confirmation by Information PS of government support to the enactment of the Freedom of Information law by the parliament. We look to kictanet to support it from policy to operationalisation. Information benefits will be tremendous to all citizens, the media, and businesses alike as they will better plan their economic and social activities from informed vantage points. For example, feelings of being "left-out" of official procurement, sharing of national cake, region development will be minimal if not eliminated. Corruption will be least where such information is readily available to all citizens. Towards building this information society, find below information on upcoming FOI training. There's little time left and sincerely hope the public officials onlist will pass on this information also to legislators and any other persons interested. ----- Training programme being carried out by Public Administration International on the 31st of March to the 4th of April in the U.K. The training is on Freedom of Information: achieving open and transparent government and the following are the programmes objectives: 1. to explore the purpose and key elements of FOI legislation 2. review infrastructure required to implement the legislation successfully 3. identify benefits and risks 4. confront challenges in achieving and maintaining compliance with the legislation 5. develop action plans to take forward initiatives in this area 6. discuss the effectiveness of the legislation from the perspective of the citizen and the media. For more information visit www.public-admin.co.uk ( Please Note: they have other training programmes for those interested.) ----ends---

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Challenges posed by Post-election violence
by godera＠skyweb.co.ke 29 Jan '08

29 Jan '08

John, Let me take this moment to contribute on this very important topic. I happen to wear two hats- an ISP and Call Centre. Saying that we have been affected would be an understatement. I would really not say the situation "is getting out of hand" as Kabenn has said below, it got out of hand weeks ago! Like many other businesses in the ICT sector, the ISPs have not been spared. The unrest in various parts of the country has necessitated the shut-down of several businesses such as cyber cafes and even offices that use the Internet. Revenues flow from such areas have scaled down quite substantially. The outsourcing industry has taken a big hit, especially those of us serving international clients. Some have lost contracts, some have seen suspension of work being sent to Kenya and others have simply lost golden opportunities to run their pilot tests with potential clients who are being very cautious (and we cannot blame them)to send their work to Kenya having seen the news coverage on CNN, BBC and other television stations. It has taken some of us the last 2 and a half years to generate an interest in Kenya as an off-shore outsourcing destination. Just one month ago, this year showed promising growth in the industry. Today we are seeing a totally different scenario unless all this negative headline-making chaos stops. And even then, it may take time. That is just I must admit it feels pretty discouraging seeing all our great efforts going down the drain at this rapid rate. Gilda Odera Managing Director Skyweb Technologies Ltd & Skyweb-Evans Ltd Tel:254-20-2711446/2711760 Fax:254-20-2713934 URL:www.skyweb.co.ke/www.skywebevans.co.ke Quoting kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke: > Send kictanet mailing list submissions to > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > 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: Day 2 of 5 - Challenges Posed by Post-ElectionViolence on > ICT Organisations (Bernard Mwenda) > 2. Re: Alari Alare Passes on... (Eric Osiakwan) > 3. Alari's Fundraiser (Harry Hare) > 4. Re: Day 2 of 5 - Challenges Posed byPost-ElectionViolence on > ICT Organisations (Michael Joseph) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:46:37 +0300 > From: Bernard Mwenda <bmwenda(a)iwayafrica.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 2 of 5 - Challenges Posed by > Post-ElectionViolence on ICT Organisations > To: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Message-ID: > <8F5B649086B43845822600B44C6AC6C201347AA41693(a)mail1.IWAY.LOCAL> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > John, > > I know for a fact that our distributors (ISPs) in kenya have recorded very > low sales for this time of the year compared to previous years. We have also > had some accounts which have been deactivated, mostly from the hospitality > industry. Hotels are the worst hit right now and such we expect very little > business from this sector. I guess we have to live with the situation as is > or alternatively do something about it. > > I think it is time Kenyan professionals from all walks came out and did > something about this. This situation is now getting out of hand. > > Kabenn. > > ________________________________________ > From: kictanet-bounces+bmwenda=iwayafrica.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > [kictanet-bounces+bmwenda=iwayafrica.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of > John Walubengo [jwalu(a)yahoo.com] > Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 9:45 AM > To: Bernard Mwenda > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 2 of 5 - Challenges Posed by > Post-ElectionViolence on ICT Organisations > > mmhh, looks like very few contributions. I understand the > dampened mood. But really, we have to talk. Unless you > guys want us to bring Koffi Anaan here to make us share... > > Anyway, Thanx Alex, Bill, and Brian for your contributions > so far. I was just thinking at a national level...the > impact so far. > 1. Mobile Operators (earlier in the fracas I bought a > scratch card worth 250sh for 500sh, black market rates) > 2. BPO projects (whats happening at Kencall and others?) > 3. ICT Board (with World Bank threatening to hold back > funds, what happens to the Infrastructure projects that > were to provide Bandwidth to BPOs and Academia?) > 4. Media (how are you coping with the live transmission > ban?) > 6. ISPs, ASPs, Cybercafes (any impacts) > 7. Our members in the region UG, RW (any impacts?) > > Plse talk, we have only four more days to go. It is > refreshing to talk about this things. It is part of the > healing process. > > walu. > > --- Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > Ok, I was silent because Brain Longwe had earlier > > asked that the list be what it was meant to be. Since > > that position has changed, I want to start with > > "funny" joke. We have a saying in this regard. > > > > Have you been one of those who have tried or struggled > > to guess the tribe of the person sending emails to > > mailing lists? Please own up:) Last week we considered > > assessing the psychological consequences the crisis > > was having on consumers with regard to email and blogs > > posts. > > > > It turned out that some tried to "align" their views > > on e-mail senders whom they perceived (or imagined?) > > to be of the same or "friendly" tribes. Our > > conclusion, listers were not tribal, yet the stress, > > politics and media had forced them to seek tribal > > alignments. We were happy to discover that. > > > > Next we discussed tensions at workplace Telkom Kenya > > being our sample. We learnt how badly it had divided > > staff there. We overheard employee conversations! We > > wished companies would hold extra parties to lessen > > tensions at work. I have just noticed a ke-users > > lister has posted a very positive message. Their HR > > department today held an organisation-wide > > counselling session. That was excellent. All companies > > should start similar initiatives. Thanks Saidimu! > > > > > > Terrible for us because when we engaging Telcos and > > ISPs we never ask for okuyu, jang or kale etc tariffs > > or quality of service standards. Our engagement covers > > coast to lake, Turkana to Namanga, Garissa to Busia. > > > > At such moments, Information and Communications > > Consumer protection is more than ever necessary. We > > are battling rights of the people know on one hand, on > > the other we are urging responsibility to accompany > > freedom of expression, fighting against ban on live > > broadcasts also aware of the dangers of misuse, > > against sms sniffing very aware of misinformation > > dangers. > > > > We noted and appreciated the media's own intervention > > early and responsibility but also appreciate the role > > of government to protect everyone. > > > > This thread is on the challenges hence I stop there > > for now to hear others' lest I be accused of > > monopolising on opinion. I will be back;) > > > > Regards, > > > > > > Alex > > > > > > --- John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________________________________________ _____ > > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. > > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs > > > > > > > _______________________________________________________________________________ _____ > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: bmwenda(a)iwayafrica.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bmwenda%40iwayafrica.c… > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:38:07 +0300 > From: Eric Osiakwan <eric(a)afrispa.org> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Alari Alare Passes on... > To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Message-ID: <BD0C2FE0-3B36-4E2C-A7C3-73AEAECD2888(a)afrispa.org> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > He left a MARK in TIME and posterity would forever uphold his being > and work.... > > Rest in absolute peace, Brother Alari. > > Eric here > > > On 28 Jan 2008, at 08:28, John Walubengo wrote: > > > Just read in today's East African standard (offline > > edition) that one of our KICTANet members and ICT > > journalist Alari passed on over the weekend. Some road > > accident along Mombasa Road. I ask that you observe a > > miniutes silence in memory of his contribution to the ICT > > community both online and offline. > > > > May God rest his soul in peace. > > > > walu. > > Becky (fellow journalist), plse keep the community uptodate > > on anything they may do to assist or join his family in > > this time of mourning. > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > ______________ > > Be a better friend, newshound, and > > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http:// > > mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: eric(a)afrispa.org > > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > > mailman/options/kictanet/eric%40afrispa.org > > > > Eric M.K Osiakwan > Executive Secretary > AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) > Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 > 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://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ > Slang: "Tomorrow Now" > > > > >

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Re: [kictanet] Karuaphobia
by James Kagwe 29 Jan '08

29 Jan '08

All, Probably we should close the list temporarily until the political temperatures cool down otherwise if we continue like this we may loose a very important tool that have been quite informative and educative. Rgds, James Kagwe -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=kippra.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=kippra.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Edith Adera Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 12:54 PM To: James Kagwe Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Karuaphobia KICTANET List Manager. If this list is not discussing ICT issues, I think it should be closed or order restored. regards At / À 12:32 25/01/2008, Odhiambo Washington wrote / a écrit: >On Jan 25, 2008 11:17 AM, Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > Robert, > > > > Please DO NOT use derogatory language against Hon. Martha Karua. > > > > She a sign of women leadership which is characteristically lacking in this > > country. > > > > Could you please apologize to the women of this country. Men have > > significantly failed us in leadership in this country and we cannot afford > > to have anyone undermining women of resolve. > > > > -- > > Muthoni > > >What was so derogatory about what Bobby said? If there was anything, >then I believe it wasn't intentional. Prepending "phobia" to names in >Kenya has never been derogatory though. It's sort of a culture that >has taken roots in Kenya when there are political inclinations >associated with an individual. >Now, that, to me, is not derogatory. > > >-- >Best regards, >Odhiambo WASHINGTON, >Nairobi,KE >+254733744121/+254722743223 >_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ > >"Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" > --from a /. post > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >This message was sent to: eadera(a)idrc.or.ke >Unsubscribe or change your options at >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eadera%40idrc.or.ke _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: jkagwe(a)kippra.or.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jkagwe%40kippra.or.ke

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Alari Alare Passes on...
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 29 Jan '08

29 Jan '08

Dear All, It used to be that you meet someone to develop somekind of fondness. There were no virtual frinds a few years ago. It has been my wish to meet and argue (the old way) with virtual contributors such as Yawe, Theuri, Alari etc. This was never to be with Alari. Through his views, we got to know him. My condolences to his loved ones. May the Almight God rest his saul in eternal peace. Bitange Ndemo.

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Fwd: NPWJ cooperation with KNCHR
by Bill Kagai 28 Jan '08

28 Jan '08

KNCHR and NPWJ have identified some areas KICTANET can be able to help in their work of data gathering in the field. You can contact me directly of contact Anthony Kuria (KNCHR) or Niccolo Figa Talamanca for any assistance we can offer. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: anthony kuria <akuria(a)knchr.org> Date: Jan 28, 2008 1:00 PM Subject: NPWJ cooperation with KNCHR To: Bill Kagai <billkagai(a)gmail.com> Cc: niccolo(a)figatalamanca.net Bill, As per previous discussions and your links with various influential Kictanet people, we do require donations in kind for: a) Airtime b) Computer terminals (15-20) on loan for two months c) Network cards for Internet Are you able to get us an appointment with Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph? I am proposing we meet some time in your office or at Woodmere to discuss and agree on the final form of the request to Safaricom. Kuria -- -- Bildad Kagai MD - MediaCorp Limited Nairobi Stock Exchange [NSE] - Authorised Information Vendor Suite B2 Tetu Apartments StateHouse Avenue P. O. Box 20311-00200 Tel. 254 20 272 8332 Fax. Rendered Obsolete URL. www.mediacorpafrica.com --

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STATE OF THE INDUSTRY LUNCHEON 31/01/2008 – KENYA ICT FEDERATION - KENYA ICT BOARD
by nancy bosire 28 Jan '08

28 Jan '08

28th January 2008 Dear Members and Partners, RE: STATE OF THE INDUSTRY LUNCHEON 31/01/2008 – KENYA ICT FEDERATION - KENYA ICT BOARD The date for the Luncheon is Thursday, 31st January 2008. The new venue is *THE NAIROBI SAFARI CLUB, LILIAN TOWERS, on University Way *from 12.30pm to 2.30pm. Charges: Ksh. 2,000 for Members and Ksh.3, 000 for non-members. Book early to avoid disappointment (seats will remain reserved for those who had made early bookings and paid in advance). Contact details are below for early reservations and any queries. Attached please find the agenda. PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY. -- Sincerely yours, Secretariat Manager Kenya ICT Federation Tel: 020 4440102 Mobile: 0721907995 secretariat(a)kif.or.ke, info(a)kif.or.ke http://www.kif.or.ke Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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Re: [kictanet] Alari Alare Passes on...
by Rebecca Wanjiku 28 Jan '08

28 Jan '08

Death has done to us what death can do. I do not think Alari ran that blog Muthoni alludes to because if you notice, it links to Nationmedia.com and he worked for Standard. Alari and I held opposing political views which are well know through out Highway Africa coz of one interview we did at SABC but I must say he was always a sober guy in his arguments. He was the chair of Kenya ICT Journalists Association. I am told he was trying to avoid a head on collision with an oncoming "matatu" when he rammed into the back of a trailler will keep you posted with details. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ----- Original Message ---- From: Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com> To: Rebecca Wanjiku <rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com> Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 9:34:57 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Alari Alare Passes on... Morning, Is this the guy who was running polls2007.blogspot.com If he is, sorry but good riddance He used the blog to propagate anti-kikuyu propaganda Keep well. On Jan 28, 2008 8:28 AM, John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Just read in today's East African standard (offline edition) that one of our KICTANet members and ICT journalist Alari passed on over the weekend. Some road accident along Mombasa Road. I ask that you observe a miniutes silence in memory of his contribution to the ICT community both online and offline. May God rest his soul in peace. walu. Becky (fellow journalist), plse keep the community uptodate on anything they may do to assist or join his family in this time of mourning. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: dmuthoni(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmuthoni%40gmail.com -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!! ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

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Open Education Declaration - Let's Support this!
by brian 28 Jan '08

28 Jan '08

FYI - let as many KICTANET members sign as possible? Education resources that are paid for with Public funds should be accessible to the public .... ------------- Please be informed about the Cape Town Declaration which was released last week. See http://www.capetowndeclaration.org/read-the-declaration. http://www.shuttleworthfoundation.org/media-centre/press-releases/cape-town- declaration-calls-open-education . There is a press page at http://www.capetowndeclaration.org/press. The Declaration already bears many signatures and will certainly contribute to raising awareness of the importance of open educational resources. http://www.shuttleworthfoundation.org/media-centre/press-releases/cape-town…

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[Fwd: [At-Large] Fwd: [ttcs] Google May Knee Cap Domain Tasting]
by alice 27 Jan '08

27 Jan '08

FYI ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Dev Teelucksingh <devtee(a)gmail.com> Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:33:08 -0400 Subject: [ttcs] Google May Knee Cap Domain Tasting To: lac-discuss(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org Cc: ttcs(a)yahoogroups.com Google is said to be considering banning newly registered domain names from participating in the Google for Domain Names program, severely hampering the practice of domain tasting. According to Jay Westerdal at Domain Tools, Google would block all domains if they are less then five days old. In Jay's words, "This potential new policy change by Google could stop all Domain Tasting in its tracks." Read rest of article at http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/google-may-knee-cap-domain-tasting/ -- Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com _______________________________________________ ALAC mailing list ALAC(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac_atlarge-lists.icann.org At-Large Official Site: http://www.alac.icann.org ALAC Independent: http://www.icannalac.org

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FYI - Who make better managers?
by robert yawe 26 Jan '08

26 Jan '08

This is an interesting article on who makes better managers and I felt it might best explain the increase in women among top mangement and not by affirmative action but their own effort. Maybe former President Moi knew more than most of us when he rejected the concept on affirmative action, nature has already given women the edge. Its time the male of the species looked for alternative past times, the corporate world is not home anymore. Regards Why companies need female managers By Tim Weber Business editor, BBC News website, in Davos When Helen Fisher speaks, the politically correct members of her audience are likely to flinch. Declaring that she's "definitely not a feminist," the American anthropologist from Rutgers University dissects the differences between men and women. Men are more analytical; women are better long-term planners. Each gender has a different way of falling in love. And the invention of the plough did more to set back gender equality than anything else since. What Ms Fisher says is not psychobabble. She bases her findings on archaeological evidence, MRI brain scans, genetics and large-scale surveys of how men and women behave. And understanding that male and female brains develop and behave differently is important not just if you are in the dating game. It also helps us to hire the right people, improve teamwork and can - to quote part of the title of her talk at the World Economic Forum in Davos - grow a company's bottomline. Once upon a time Double-income families are not an invention of modern times. "In prehistoric times, double-income families were the norm, and women provided 60-80% of the evening meal," says Ms Fisher. But following the invention of the plough and with the resulting need for hard manual labour, the power balance shifted. Only since World War I are women re-entering the workforce and regaining their status in society. But there are much more fundamental differences between men and women, says Ms Fisher, that have been shaped over millennia of evolution. For starters, men and women are thinking differently. Brain scans prove it, as does plenty of other research. On average, women gather more data, consider the context, are intuitive, have a sympathising mind and think more long-term. Ms Fisher calls it "web thinking". Men, on the other hand, are more focused, think linear, focus on rules and the short-term - "step thinking". The culprit Blame testosterone for the difference. From the moment the embryo's brain develops in the mother's womb, high testosterone levels will make you focus on details in later life. Now lift your hand and look at your palm. Is the ring finger longer than your index finger? Then you were the recipient of high levels of testosterone. Chances are that you are an analytical thinker (or very musical), regardless of gender, while a shorter ring finger suggests you have a more sympathising mind. And men tend to grow up on lots of testosterone. You want proof? Research shows that film scripts written by women are more complex and have more ambiguous endings than those written by men. Male doctors focus on the illness and its treatment, while female doctors take a more holistic approach. The long-term thinking of women makes them better investors. It's even true in the bedroom, says Ms Fisher. Men tend to focus more on what they are doing, while women are easily distracted, she says to slightly embarrassed laughter from her audience. And when men get older and their testosterone levels sink, their brain starts to work differently - they become more sympathetic to the plight of others. But why the difference? Well, over the ages men tended to be the hunters and needed to focus. Women, in contrast, had much more diverse tasks, like bringing up children (which Ms Fisher also believes may be the reason why women are better talkers: language is the key tool to control children). The business case So what does all this mean for business leaders? Combine the long-term thinking of women with the short-term focus of men. And bear in mind that different thinking also results in very different behaviour. Men think more in terms of status and rank. Women prefer flat hierarchies. Men can have tunnel vision, women may fail to get to the point. Women find it difficult to counter aggression. When men push back, it earns them the respect of other men. When women apologise, they are not really sorry. For men it's a serious affair, a perceived weakening of their status. Ms Fisher's list goes on and on, but her message is clear. Managers, says Ms Fisher, have to realise that men and women act differently, and that they complement each other. Having only men or women on your team would be like hopping on one foot instead of walking. As the status of women is on the rise again, says Ms Fisher, we "move forward to a lifestyle we had a million years ago". Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/7209353.stm Published: 2008/01/26 00:09:17 GMT © BBC MMVIII Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail - a smarter inbox http://uk.mail.yahoo.com

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Re: [kictanet] Karuaphobia
by robert yawe 26 Jan '08

26 Jan '08

Hi, I ask, if the operators of the Internet gateways decided to install a filter to delete all mail originating from .ke addresses would my raising this issue qualify as an IT issue? BBC is selectively removing content relating to interviews of government friendly people from their web site, you decide whether my query does qualify as an IT issue, if not then I apologise to all but if it is please be man enough and apologize. In a way this should be a wakeup call to us to look into storing content locally otherwise we are at the mercy of the rest of the world who will decide what information we can make available online. Let the ICT policy makers look seriously at this issue, the sooner we setup data centers to make our messages available to the international community the safer for us all. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Steve Kahara <kahara(a)cfsk.org> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Friday, 25 January, 2008 5:03:19 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Karuaphobia KICTANET List Manager. I do conquer with Edith. Lets focus on ICT issues. Warm regards ----- Original Message ----- From: "Edith Adera" <eadera(a)idrc.or.ke> To: "Stephen Kahara" <kahara(a)cfsk.org> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 12:54 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Karuaphobia KICTANET List Manager. If this list is not discussing ICT issues, I think it should be closed or order restored. regards At / À 12:32 25/01/2008, Odhiambo Washington wrote / a écrit: >On Jan 25, 2008 11:17 AM, Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > Robert, > > > > Please DO NOT use derogatory language against Hon. Martha Karua. > > > > She a sign of women leadership which is characteristically lacking in > > this > > country. > > > > Could you please apologize to the women of this country. Men have > > significantly failed us in leadership in this country and we cannot > > afford > > to have anyone undermining women of resolve. > > > > -- > > Muthoni > > >What was so derogatory about what Bobby said? If there was anything, >then I believe it wasn't intentional. Prepending "phobia" to names in >Kenya has never been derogatory though. It's sort of a culture that >has taken roots in Kenya when there are political inclinations >associated with an individual. >Now, that, to me, is not derogatory. > > >-- >Best regards, >Odhiambo WASHINGTON, >Nairobi,KE >+254733744121/+254722743223 >_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ > >"Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" > --from a /. post > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >This message was sent to: eadera(a)idrc.or.ke >Unsubscribe or change your options at >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eadera%40idrc.or.ke _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: kahara(a)cfsk.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kahara%40cfsk.org -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.11/1242 - Release Date: 24/01/2008 20:32 _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… ___________________________________________________________ Support the World Aids Awareness campaign this month with Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/

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Re: [kictanet] Online courtesy- dont misuse this forum!!!!
by robert yawe 25 Jan '08

25 Jan '08

Hi, It is unfortunate that your ethnicity is blinding you from the reality of the situation. Please be specific about the issues in my posting that have been negative to the Kikuyu and stop reacting. It is disappointing that we advocate for what you deem negative to be discussed in bars and political rallies, isn't this how we got to where we are in the first place? How many years would it take to walk from Egypt to Israel? So why did it take 40 years for Moses, a trained astronomer, to get the children of Israel back home? The life of a slave is the responsibility of his master, and as Cane was told you are your brothers keeper. All the writing is on the wall and for that reason I refuse to apologize for my comments. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Rebecca Wanjiku <rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: Kenya ICT Policy - kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Friday, 11 January, 2008 12:49:59 PM Subject: Online courtesy- dont misuse this forum!!!! Dear Yawe, I am sure my name has given me away too but I dont care much about that. Suffice it to say that this is not a forum for bar talk and that kind of stuff. This is a place for serious discussions. I am sure this kind of responses can make people to unsubscribe from this list, or make others start defending their political stand. For the years I have been a member of this list, I am sure Kictanet accommodates everybody irrespective of race, ethnic background or levels of development. This is a list with people beyond Kenya, who are interested in ICT policy and other attendant issues. If everybody came to narrate such stories online, I wonder what we will do during our free time when we are supposed to engage in idle talk. Let us restrict this kind of talk to political rallies and local pubs and let this forum be for serious ICT discussions. We must see beyond some of these things. If you have any bone to pick with my contribution please reply to me directly and not to the list. Walubengo has published guidelines on posting, I am sure he will be kind enough to re-post them just to remind ourselves how to conduct online discussions. Best regards Becky Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ----- Original Message ---- From: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> To: Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com>; ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 8:26:09 AM Subject: Re: [ke-internetusers] Election process fiasco Hi Alex, If your name is a definite give away and I would have been more surprised if your contribution was any different. Do not create a storm in a tea cub, the Kikuyu should head the adage "with great power comes great responsibility". By not uplifting the livelihood of your neighbours in Eldoret, Kisumu and Kuresoi you failed in your responsibility. Yes, you are your brothers keeper do not escape your right. Taking us back to the days of your tribes existence as gatherers (sorry they still are) you are trying to justify your abdicated responsibility. Teach your pastoral and fishing neigbours how to better their lives and this problem will solve itself. Take Raila's hand and show him how by taking EA Spectre and the Molasses plant public is the way of the future instead of selling everything to Trans Century. Teach Ruto that education is the land of the future, his mentor ruled us for 24 years longer than Kenyatta ruled yet Gatundu is still better off than Sacho. It is time the Kikuyu accepted that they have misused their God given right to enrich yourselves and frustrate those you are responsible for. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Sent: Tuesday, 8 January, 2008 9:30:09 PM Subject: Re: [ke-internetusers] Election process fiasco Greetings Robert, Let break it down! You mean every Kikuyu carries a "land thief" label on their forehead? Terrible thieves of indigenous lands they should all be. Hey, what am I saying? You live and your office is in Nairobi right? And Nairobi is a maasai name. oops! Then we are occupying indigenous maasai land and we should all vacate and go back to our ancestral homes to avoid massai rungus and spears. Step 1 Kalenjin head back to Rift Valley, Luo back to Luo-Nyanza, Kikuyus to Central Kenya, Arabs, Waswahili back to the coast, Taita... etc etc.. all 42 communities ( or should I use tribes?) Step 2 Before we unpack those sufurias, beddings, and bags and city life computers and modems. History says pssst! Look over here! Sorry Bantus, the Nigeria-Cameroon- Congo forest is where you belong you only came here 5,000 years ago (3000 BC) <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantu#Origins> And you Nilotics get up further north to the Sudan, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilotic) Cushitics back to the arab-asia origins. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Asiatic_languages> Step 3 If you noticed above Nilotics include Maa-speaking peoples who earlier chased you and me from their Nairobi. etc.. etc.. Step 4 Nearly forgot, Indians please the British only brought you here to construct Her/His Majesty's EAR and you have over-stayed. Get packing thank you very much for your labours. BTW, White Kenyans remember Europe is where your ancestors are? Everyone is going back home where they belongs. ok! Step 5 If there are any Americans- Kenyans you go home as well. This is a hard one because once you get there, you then retrace where you came from because Native Americans claim that land. Australians the Aborigine wan their land back. Spanish Mexicans the Aztecs want back their land etc etc Step 6 Kenya's permanent solution to the Eldoret "problem" as per Yawe has triggered an unprecedented global migration crisis and succeeded in removing everyone from Kenya. In other works, there is no Kenya because Kenya was an artificial invention of some British adventurers who have all been compelled to go back home. Finally, Everybody is now safely back in their home land and permanent peace prevails all over the world? BTW regarding, "Evelyn brought out an interesting issue, can we digitize the land ownership patterns so that we can easily identify prospective problem zones before they flare up," I believe she must have been making reference to a KDN's business proposal because she works there and it's her job to look for new business. She's unlikely to share it with potential competitors on the list, at least I wouldn't:) Nice debate, hit me! Enjoy! Alex On Jan 8, 2008 8:04 PM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > Hi Alex, > > We know the genesis of the problems in Eldoret and whichever way the > election went the killings and displacements there would still have taken > place. Stop bombarding God with insincere prayers, we pray together only to > walk out of the judge and return to our tribal cocoons. > > The history and progression of the tensions in Eldoret are well known and > documented, it had nothing to do with the election results but Ruto > finishing off what he begun in 1992 - 1997. Remember is the one of the only > known participant in a cabinet meeting who was not a minister. > > Give the land back to the Kalenjin it was taken away from them by the > settlers but returned to the Kikuyu. If you want my added opinion if you > decide to eat a frog eat a fat juicy one, if the Kikuyu's really want to > remain in Eldoret let them make sure they have uninterrupted tracts of not > less than 100 acres and stop promising your sons and daughters that they > will inherit the land lets move to the new age, knowledge. > > Evelyn brought out an interesting issue, can we digitize the land ownership > patterns so that we can easily identify prospective problem zones before > they flare up. > > Lets stop useless rhetoric and apply our knowledge and skills to better run > this country, stop using 18th century solutions for 22nd century problems. > There are enough busy bodies dealing with the now and here of this crisis we > need a group to look 20 years ahead to make sure that the child born in > Eldoret, Nyeri or Kisumu today does not revert to the solutions of todays 20 > year old. > > Alex, I refuse to be pulled into a discussion that I cannot provide a > workable solution that is within my skill set. Ask me for a techie solution > to a problem then I am in my forte. > > Regards > > > > Robert Yawe > KAY System Technologies Ltd > Phoenix House, 6th Floor > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 > KEnya > > Tel: +254722511225 > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Alex Gakuru <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> > To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> > Cc: ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> > Sent: Tuesday, 8 January, 2008 12:58:48 PM > Subject: Re: [ke-internetusers] Election process fiasco > > Robert: > > Firstly, I am not opposed to your expressed opinion but only calling > on prioritisation of issues. We are lucky to be alive and in our > offices typing away our diverse polls opinions and offering our best > efforts in solving problems facing our suffering brothers and sisters. > > But could we at this moment in time focus all our energies on > solidifying returning peace and calm. Hard-line political positions, > polls details, allegations or insinuations will neither console those > that lost their loved ones, destroyed homes, property, and > livelihoods. Accusations will not console fellow Kenyans and relatives > since spending every night in the cold not because they committed any > crime. > > Let us all try a very difficult thing, forgiveness. Anger is easily > inflames and spread whereas honest forgiveness is such a difficult > thing for us to do. But why should we all forgive in the first place? > some may ask. > > I believe forgiveness should not be to please the aggressor, not to > gain political mileage, settle political scores, or improve ones > public image. We should not forgive to appear righteous to appease > our religious leaders, cultural traditions, or our families. > > We should forgive so that we save own selves from self-ruin. Save our > futures from burdens of pain and grief. To break free chains of > carrying burdens of hatred for the rest of our lives. For our > conscience, hearts and minds to be unpolluted, pure and clear. To > appreciate and focus on the beauty, value and to actualise sanctity of > life every moment that we live. And to become soldiers of life, love, > kindness, and fairness fellow beings. > > What possibly could ever justify one taking the life of another? I > simply could never find words strong enough to condemn such. > > Therefore, my friend, let is not tire ourselves with politicians power > self-interests when many are undergoing trauma. At this moment in > time politicians interests bother me the least. Time will tell and I > hope 10 years todays, this country will look back at this as the > darkest cloud ever to have passed over our country. > > Alex > > On Jan 8, 2008 11:52 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > > > Happy new year to you all and I pray that you are all well. > > > > It is shocking that in this day and age we can actually have the kind of > > electoral fiasco that has been visited on us by the ECK and Co as well as > > the political parties. > > > > This draconian problem reared its head when the Orange house was broken > into > > and the computers stolen. Hon.Nyongo's statement indicated that the > > objective was to steal the member register. If I needed to steal the > > register which from his comments was in electronic form what was the need > of > > taking off with the computer. Has he ever heard of flash disks, > external > > hard dis drives and CD/DVD writers. Technology allows me to steal his > data > > without him every knowing. > > > > After this issue Kivuiti dismissed the SMS service that had been made > > available by Telkom to enable voters confirm their details. He even went > to > > the extent of saying he does not know how to send an SMS. As the IT > > fraternity in the country can we really escape blame for this fiasco? > > > > The next time was when I saw Hon. Ruto standing at KICC and screaming > > himself hoarse over the forms 16 & 16A that had not been received. It > seems > > he might be using a Nokia 1018 mobile phone (he actually uses a Nokia N > > series). > > > > Was it so difficult for the opposition to provide each of their agents > with > > a camera equipped mobile phone that they would have used to to take > pictures > > of the form and also record the returning officer announcing the results. > > This would then have been easily sent to party head quarters. > > > > There are 210 or so constituencies in the country and the mobile phones I > am > > talking about cost about 10,000/- each do the math. > > > > I ask am I the only Kenyan who is aware of such technology or is this > entire > > fiasco a stage managed process. Even the EU observer teams came equipped > as > > if it was the 12th Century after which they proceeded to make unsupported > > statements about the result that further inflamed bloodshed. > > > > Maybe its a techie thing to keep in our glass houses and refuse to add > value > > to a process and only send around message (this one included) after the > > fact. > > > > It is re-assuring when we remember the Florida fiasco but this not > > withstanding do we really have a moral standing to point fingers about the > > election results? > > > > What will be our contribution to stopping this from being repeated in > > future? > > > > Regards > > > > Remember Matiba and his video cameras during the good old days of > mulolongo > > voting? > > > > Robert Yawe > > KAY System Technologies Ltd > > Phoenix House, 6th Floor > > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 > > KEnya > > > > Tel: +254722511225 > > > > > > ________________________________ > > Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox. > > > > ________________________________ > > Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox. > > _______________________________________________ > > ke-internetusers mailing list > > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox. > _______________________________________________ > ke-internetusers mailing list > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > > Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox. Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail - a smarter inbox http://uk.mail.yahoo.com

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Re: [kictanet] Karuaphobia
by Edith Adera 25 Jan '08

25 Jan '08

KICTANET List Manager. If this list is not discussing ICT issues, I think it should be closed or order restored. regards At / À 12:32 25/01/2008, Odhiambo Washington wrote / a écrit: >On Jan 25, 2008 11:17 AM, Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > Robert, > > > > Please DO NOT use derogatory language against Hon. Martha Karua. > > > > She a sign of women leadership which is characteristically lacking in this > > country. > > > > Could you please apologize to the women of this country. Men have > > significantly failed us in leadership in this country and we cannot afford > > to have anyone undermining women of resolve. > > > > -- > > Muthoni > > >What was so derogatory about what Bobby said? If there was anything, >then I believe it wasn't intentional. Prepending "phobia" to names in >Kenya has never been derogatory though. It's sort of a culture that >has taken roots in Kenya when there are political inclinations >associated with an individual. >Now, that, to me, is not derogatory. > > >-- >Best regards, >Odhiambo WASHINGTON, >Nairobi,KE >+254733744121/+254722743223 >_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ > >"Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" > --from a /. post > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >This message was sent to: eadera(a)idrc.or.ke >Unsubscribe or change your options at >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eadera%40idrc.or.ke

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Karuaphobia
by robert yawe 25 Jan '08

25 Jan '08

Hi, I missed Hon. Martha Karua's interview on BBC HardTalk with Clay so I tried looking for a recording on the net. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008qqjx It is interesting that it is not available, could this be a case of censorship or is BBC also suffering from KauraPhobia? Regards PS. Self censorship is the worst form of fear Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ___________________________________________________________ Support the World Aids Awareness campaign this month with Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/

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[Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] Net body issues plea for liberty]
by alice 24 Jan '08

24 Jan '08

Net body issues plea for liberty * The overseer of the net's addressing system has asked the US government to be freed from official control. * Icann made the plea in a lengthy report sent to the US Department of Commerce. The report will be the focus of a meeting to consider Icann's progress on objectives the US government set it in preparation for independence. Icann argues these objectives have been achieved earlier than planned and now is the time for talk to turn into deciding what happens on independence. * Future focus * Paul Twomey, president of Icann, told the BBC news website that the process of meeting the objectives was "essentially complete". The US government issued a call for comments on Icann's progress prior to the meeting. Mr Twomey said the lengthy report was part of Icann's response to this request detailing its achievements. The meeting marks the half-way point for the Joint Project Agreement (JPA) under which Icann was tasked to comply with a series of "responsibilities" deemed necessary for its release from official oversight. The JPA grew out of the original Memorandum of Understanding that established Icann and signalled the beginning of the end for US control. "The Board proposes that the JPA is no longer necessary and can be concluded," wrote Peter Dengate Thrush, chairman of the Icann board, in the letter accompanying the report. Added Mr Twomey: "Has the process of the MoU and JPA towards building a stable, strong organisation which can do this transition, has that been successful? The board is effectively saying yes." Instead of creating more hoops for Icann to jump through, Mr Twomey said it was time for talk to move on and for thoughts about the future of the net body. Icann keeps an eye on the net's addressing system - the master directories of which site is where. * Work needed * Said Mr Twomey: "The JPA has been fundamentally achieved and what's more important is for the Department of Commerce and Icann to talk about what the next stage looks like." But, he added, this did not mean that Icann's work was done. "If the question is: 'Can Icann keep improving?' then, yes, of course it can but that's not the question," he said. "The time now is really to talk about what the final transition is going to look like." In the future Mr Twomey said governments would still have a role in keeping the organisation informed about public policy developments but would not be able to dictate its agenda or development. He said one of the principles Icann had worked towards fulfilling was freedom from official influence. Icann is due to meet the officials from the US Department of Commerce in March. Anyone wishing to comment on its progress towards being a private body has until 14 February to let their views be known to the US government. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/technology/7205609.stm Published: 2008/01/24 10:56:30 GMT © BBC MMVIII -- Anne-Rachel Inne _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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KIF-Kenya ICT Board Luncheon
by nancy bosire 24 Jan '08

24 Jan '08

Kenya ICT Federation * * Dear Members and Partners, I Apologize, this email was to reach you yesterday, before the Mass Action was called off.......... We have been forced to postpone tomorrows Luncheon because of the mass action called for the same date, 24th January 2008, that might result to riots which will disrupt our meeting. The Luncheon will STILL take place but at a date to be announced next week. We apologize for any inconveniences. Have a peaceful day. Secretariat Manager Kenya ICT Federation Tel: 020 4440102 Mobile: 0721907995 secretariat(a)kif.or.ke, info(a)kif.or.ke http://www.kif.or.ke Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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[Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] EUROPEAN UNION’S CONVENTION ON CYBER CRIME (ETS NO. 185): FIRST INTERNATIONAL TREATY ON CRIMES COMMITTED VIA THE INTERNET]
by alice 23 Jan '08

23 Jan '08

INTERNET LAW - EUROPEAN UNION'S CONVENTION ON CYBER CRIME (ETS NO. 185): FIRST INTERNATIONAL TREATY ON CRIMES COMMITTED VIA THE INTERNET /Ira Piltz, Greenpoint Technologies/ Email <mailto:?subject=INTERNET%20LAW%20-%20EUROPEAN%20UNION%E2%80%99S%20CONVENTIO…> The Council of Europe, along with the U.S., Canada and Japan signed a convention on Cyber crime. The convention provides a legal framework for the protection of society against cyber-crime. The convention stresses adopting appropriate legislation and fostering international co-operation in this arena. It is the first international treaty on crimes committed via the Internet and other computer networks. In particular, the convention deals with infringements of copyright, computer-related fraud, child pornography and violations of network security. This Convention has been adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe at its 109th Session (8 November 2001). 41 European countries along with U.S., Canada and Japan have signed this convention. The main aims and the objectives behind the convention are set out in the preamble. The goal of the convention is to establish a fast and effective regime of international co-operation against cybercrime. The preamble stresses the harmonizing of the domestic criminal substantive law elements of offenses and connected provisions in the area of cybercrime. The convention provides for domestic criminal procedural law powers to combat cyber crime. The law enforcement agencies can investigate and prosecute the offenses committed by means of a computer system or in electronic form. *What is the structure of the convention?* The Convention contains four chapters: (I) Use of terms; (II) Measures to be taken at domestic level – substantive law and procedural law; (III) International co-operation; and (IV) Final clauses. Chapter I contains definitions for computer system, computer data and traffic data. The convention defines "computer data" as "any representation of facts, information or concepts in a form suitable for processing in a computer system, including a program suitable to cause a computer system to perform a function". Chapter II is divided in to three sections. Section 1 covers substantive law issues, while Section 2 deals with procedural law issues. Section 1 includes both criminal provisions and other connected provisions in the area of computer- or computer-related crime. Section 2 states that each party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish the powers and procedures provided for in the section for the purpose of specific criminal investigations or proceedings. Along Jurisdiction provisions are established in Section 3. Chapter III also contains provisions concerning traditional and computer crime-related mutual assistance as well as extradition rules. Finally, Chapter IV contains the signature and entry into force and territorial application provisions and the effect of the convention. *What are the various provisions incorporated in the convention relating to computer-related fraud? * "Computer-related forgery" and "Computer-related fraud" are included within the definition of computer-related offenses. These offenses typically involve the manipulation of computer system or computer data. The convention provides that each party should adopt legislative measures against the criminal offenses under its domestic law, when committed intentionally and without right-- the input, alteration, deletion, or suppression of computer data, resulting in inauthentic data with the intent that it be considered or acted upon for legal purposes as if it were authentic, regardless whether or not the data is directly readable and intelligible. It is interesting to note that the convention has also imposed a mens rea requirement. As per the convention, the States may require an intent to defraud, or similar dishonest intent, before criminal liability attaches. *What are the provisions of the convention related to child pornography transmitted via the Internet? * •Title 3, Article 9 deals with the offenses related to child pornography. The convention defines a minor as a person less than 18 years of age. However, individual states may create a lower age-limit, which the convention states shall not less than 16 years. The term "child pornography" includes pornographic material that visually depicts a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct; a person appearing to be a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct; and realistic images representing a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The provision criminalizes various aspects of electronic production, possession and distribution of child pornography. Producing child pornography for the purpose of its distribution through a computer system is an offense under the convention. Additionally, offering or making available child pornography through a computer system; distributing or transmitting child pornography through a computer system comes under the purview of the convention. _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 8, Issue 43
by Robert Alai 23 Jan '08

23 Jan '08

Wanachi The domain safaricom.com seems not to open. Why have they ignored the country level domain? Alai On 1/23/08, kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke < 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 > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > 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. about Google &Safaricom:-xyz@safaricom.com (John Walubengo) > 2. Re: about Google &Safaricom:-xyz@safaricom.co > (Odhiambo Washington) > 3. I.T. Case Studies... (Michael Kipsang Bullut) > 4. [Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] AFTLD 2nd African ccTLDs Event, Cape > Town, SA "April 2008" - Africann invited] (alice) > 5. Re: about Google &Safaricom:-xyz@safaricom.co (Kai Wulff) > 6. [Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] ICANN Seeks Expressions of Interest > from Auction Design Experts] (alice) > 7. [Fwd: Pambazuka News 338: Heart of darkness in Western Media] > (alice) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:17:31 -0800 (PST) > From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: [kictanet] about Google &Safaricom:-xyz@safaricom.com > To: KICTAnet KICTAnet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Message-ID: <930487.5171.qm(a)web56608.mail.re3.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > I came accross the joint effort to b/w google & safaricom > with regard to providing e-addresses. Good idea, but my > question was: > > Is the domain 'safaricom.com' locally hosted? I would have > been happier (technically and mentally) if the suffix was > xyz(a)safaricom.CO.KE or is it that suddenly the .KE suffix > has brought us too much shame and pain that no one wants to > use it :-(? > > walu. > nb: as a way of leading by example, I have been planning to > shed off my jwalu(a)yahoo.com in favor of jwalu(a)jambo.co.ke > but I seem to be trapped in some perpetual migration > fever...Methinks we need to build .KE, both literally and > electronically. > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Looking for last minute shopping deals? > Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. > http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:55:48 +0300 > From: "Odhiambo Washington" <odhiambo(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] about Google &Safaricom:-xyz@safaricom.co > To: "John Walubengo" <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Message-ID: > <991123400801220655w6acac9d1ta4f6b8929788b550(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > On Jan 22, 2008 5:17 PM, John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > I came accross the joint effort to b/w google & safaricom > > with regard to providing e-addresses. Good idea, but my > > question was: > > > > Is the domain 'safaricom.com' locally hosted? I would have > > been happier (technically and mentally) if the suffix was > > xyz(a)safaricom.CO.KE or is it that suddenly the .KE suffix > > has brought us too much shame and pain that no one wants to > > use it :-(? > > Hi Walu, > > safaricom.CO.KE is used by safaricom for their staff addresses. It's > simply not possible to include the ordinary mwananchi like you into > that! :-) > > > walu. > > nb: as a way of leading by example, I have been planning to > > shed off my jwalu(a)yahoo.com in favor of jwalu(a)jambo.co.ke > > but I seem to be trapped in some perpetual migration > > fever...Methinks we need to build .KE, both literally and > > electronically. > > jambo.co.ke - is that Free? > > Anyway, walu.co.ke will make more sense to me than anything else. > > PS: As an aside, and at the risk of a flame war, are you personally > happy with Safaricom as a provider? > > -- > Best regards, > Odhiambo WASHINGTON, > Nairobi,KE > +254733744121/+254722743223 > _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ > > "Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" > --from a /. post > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:02:12 +0300 > From: "Michael Kipsang Bullut" <kipsangb(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [kictanet] I.T. Case Studies... > To: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Message-ID: > <2e9a33da0801220702m57c720b7q24f97d45557f807b(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Greetings, > > Does anyone by any chance have any documented I.T. Case Studies with them? > If you do, could you please forward them to this address: > kipsangb(a)iconnect.co.ke Thank you... > > Kind regards, > > Michael. > > -- > > "To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wildflower...hold > infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour..." > > ~ William Blakeg. > > -- >

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[Fwd: Pambazuka News 338: Heart of darkness in Western Media]
by alice 23 Jan '08

23 Jan '08

western media bias...Africa -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Pambazuka News 338: Heart of darkness in Western Media Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:26:13 +0000 From: Firoze Manji <fmanji(a)mac.com> To: pambazuka-news(a)pambazuka.gn.apc.org PAMBAZUKA NEWS 338: HEART OF DARKNESS IN WESTERN MEDIA The authoritative electronic weekly newsletter and platform for social justice in Africa Pambazuka News (English edition): ISSN 1753-6839 With nearly 500 contributors and an estimated 500,000 readers Pambazuka News is the authoritative pan African electronic weekly newsletter and platform for social justice in Africa providing cutting edge commentary and in-depth analysis on politics and current affairs, development, human rights, refugees, gender issues and culture in Africa. To view online, go to http://www.pambazuka.org/ To SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE – please visit, http://www.pambazuka.org/ en/subscribe.php CONTENTS: 1. Features, 2. Comment and analysis, 3. Pan-African Postcard Please note that views expressed in articlea published in Pambazuka News reflect those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Pambazuka News or the publishers, Fahamu. Support the struggle for social justice in Africa. Give generously! Donate at: http://www.pambazuka.org/en/donate.php /\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\ Highlights from this issue FEATURE: - John Barbieri on media coverage of the Kenya crisis - Pambazuka editors on the word “tribe” COMMENT & ANALYSIS: - Emma Mawdsley on British coverage of China in Africa - John Lonsdale on ethnicity, tribe and state in Kenya - Antony Ong'ayo on the Kenya case and media bias PAN-AFRICAN POSTCARD: George Ogola on parachute journalism and the Kenyan crisis /\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\ 1 Features WHAT IS IN THE WORD TRIBE? Africa Focus, Africa Action and H-Net Africa contributors on Western media coverage of Africa Pambazuka editors Pambazuka editors give you the war on the word "tribe" What’s in a word? What does the word “tribe” carry? Here below Pambazuka Editor’s give you a few snippets of what is a long struggle to get US Mainstream media to stop using a racist and stereotypical lens in its coverage of Africa. You can find the fascinating discussion at www. http://www.h-net.org/~africa We end with an excerpt from an Africa Action essay on the word tribe. You can see the full essay at: http://www.africaaction.org/bp/ethall.htm Africa Focus (http://www.africafocus.org/docs08/ethn0801.php) narrates that Jeffrey Gettleman for the New York Times in his December 31 dispatch from Nairobi [wrote that the Kenya electoral crisis], "seems to have tapped into an atavistic vein of tribal tension that always lay beneath the surface in Kenya but until now had not provoked widespread mayhem." Gettleman was not exceptional among those covering the post-election violence in his stress on "tribe." But his terminology was unusually explicit in revealing the assumption that such divisions are rooted in unchanging and presumably primitive identities. However Africa Focus gives an update that since the Africa Focus Bulletin that covered Gettleman’s use of language: “Gettleman's coverage of Kenya in the New York Times has avoided the indiscriminate use of the word tribe in favor of "ethnic group," and has noted the historical origins and political character of the continued violence in the country, as well as its links to ethnic divisions”. But Peter Alegi from Michigan State University in an H- Net Africa posting says and then asks: “While Gettleman (Times' EastAfrica bureau chief) seems to have toned down his use of "tribe" thanks to our protests, but isn't substituting "ethnic group" for it a minor victory? Also, folks might be interested in this side story: the other day, I wrote a brief message to Bill Keller, Times' Executive Editor (ex NYT correspondent from Johannesburg [1992-1995]), alerting him to the H- Africa thread on his paper's handling of the Kenya crisis. Mr. Keller's insulting response included the following statement: "I get it. Anyone who uses the word "tribe" is a racist. [. . .] It's a tediously familiar mantra in the Western community of Africa scholars. In my experience, most Africans who live outside the comforts of academia (and who use the word "tribe" with shameless disregard for the political sensitivities of American academics) have more important concerns." So Gettleman's ignorance about African languages, history, and cultural identities doesn't seem to trouble his boss one bit. And the utter disregard Keller seems to have for what scholars is reinforced in a closing line dripping with condescension: "If you have a string that has something insightful to say about Kenya, I hope you'll pass it along." Kudos to AfricaFocus then, but it seems that the struggle for accuracy and informed analysis of Africa in US mainstream media is going to be a long and tortuous one. Carol Sicherman, a Professor Emerita. at Lehman College underlines Alegi’s point with the following post to H-net Africa: She says writes that “On January 12, I wrote to the Public Editor of the New York Times as follows (I did not get an answer): Reading recent dispatches from Kenya, I was pleased to notice that the Times has responded to years of complaints about the biased terms "tribe" and "tribal," replacing them with "ethnic group" and "ethnic." This editorial policy, however, seems to be confined to the news. Roberta Smith's article "Face Time: Masks, Animal to Video" in the Arts Section on Jan. 11 uses the egregiously offensive phrase "a tribal, almost animalistic ritual." It is exactly that equation that makes it necessary to remove "tribe" and its related words. In the case in question, removing "tribal" would have put the focus on "animalistic" without designating Africans as inherently animalistic. It is particularly odd to find such a cliché in a discussion of the work of Yinka Shonibare, a highly sophisticated, learned, and ironic artist. I don't know how copy editors are instructed at the Times, but the policy adopted for the news section needs to be adopted for all sections. And last but not least, in1997 Africa Action said the following of the word tribe: Tribe has no coherent meaning. What is a tribe? The Zulu in South Africa, whose name and common identity was forged by the creation of a powerful state less than two centuries ago, and who are a bigger group than French Canadians, are called a tribe. So are the !Kung hunter-gatherers of Botswana and Namibia, who number in the hundreds. The term is applied to Kenya's Maasai herders and Kikuyu farmers, and to members of these groups in cities and towns when they go there to live and work. Tribe is used for millions of Yoruba in Nigeria and Benin, who share a language but have an eight-hundred year history of multiple and sometimes warring city-states, and of religious diversity even within the same extended families. Tribe is used for Hutu and Tutsi in the central African countries of Rwanda and Burundi. Yet the two societies (and regions within them) have different histories. And in each one, Hutu and Tutsi lived interspersed in the same territory. They spoke the same language, married each other, and shared virtually all aspects of culture. At no point in history could the distinction be defined by distinct territories, one of the key assumptions built into "tribe." Tribe is used for groups who trace their heritage to great kingdoms. It is applied to Nigeria's Igbo and other peoples who organized orderly societies composed of hundreds of local communities and highly developed trade networks without recourse to elaborate states. Tribe is also used for all sorts of smaller units of such larger nations, peoples or ethnic groups. The followers of a particular local leader may be called a tribe. Members of an extended kin-group may be called a tribe. People who live in a particular area may be called a tribe. We find tribes within tribes, and cutting across other tribes. Offering no useful distinctions, tribe obscures many. As a description of a group, tribe means almost anything, so it really means nothing. If by tribe we mean a social group that shares a single territory, a single language, a single political unit, a shared religious tradition, a similar economic system, and common cultural practices, such a group is rarely found in the real world. These characteristics almost never correspond precisely with each other today, nor did they at any time in the past. Tribe promotes a myth of primitive African timelessness, obscuring history and change. The general sense of tribe as most people understand it is associated with primitiveness. To be in a tribal state is to live in a uncomplicated, traditional condition. It is assumed there is little change. Most African countries are economically poor and often described as less developed or underdeveloped. Westerners often conclude that they have not changed much over the centuries, and that African poverty mainly reflects cultural and social conservatism. Interpreting present day Africa through the lens of tribes reinforces the image of timelessness. Yet the truth is that Africa has as much history as anywhere else in the world. It has undergone momentous changes time and again, especially in the twentieth century. While African poverty is partly a product of internal dynamics of African societies, it has also been caused by the histories of external slave trades and colonial rule. In the modern West, tribe often implies primitive savagery. When the general image of tribal timelessness is applied to situations of social conflict between Africans, a particularly destructive myth is created. Stereotypes of primitiveness and conservative backwardness are also linked to images of irrationality and superstition. The combination leads to portrayal of violence and conflict in Africa as primordial, irrational and unchanging. This image resonates with traditional Western racialist ideas and can suggest that irrational violence is inherent and natural to Africans. Yet violence anywhere has both rational and irrational components. Just as particular conflicts have reasons and causes elsewhere, they also have them in Africa. The idea of timeless tribal violence is not an explanation. Instead it disguises ignorance of real causes by filling the vacuum of real knowledge with a popular stereotype. Images of timelessness and savagery hide the modern character of African ethnicity, including ethnic conflict. The idea of tribe particularly shapes Western views of ethnicity and ethnic conflict in Africa, which has been highly visible in recent years. Over and over again, conflicts are interpreted as "ancient tribal rivalries," atavistic eruptions of irrational violence which have always characterized Africa. In fact they are nothing of the sort. The vast majority of such conflicts could not have happened a century ago in the ways that they do now. Pick almost any place where ethnic conflict occurs in modern Africa. Investigate carefully the issues over which it occurs, the forms it takes, and the means by which it is organized and carried out. Recent economic developments and political rivalries will loom much larger than allegedly ancient and traditional hostilities. Ironically, some African ethnic identities and divisions now portrayed as ancient and unchanging actually were created in the colonial period. In other cases earlier distinctions took new, more rigid and conflictual forms over the last century. The changes came out of communities' interactions within a colonial or post-colonial context, as well as movement of people to cities to work and live. The identities thus created resemble modern ethnicities in other countries, which are also shaped by cities, markets and national states. Tribe substitutes a generalized illusion for detailed analysis of particular situations. The bottom-line problem with the idea of tribe is that it is intellectually lazy. It substitutes the illusion of understanding for analysis of particular circumstances. Africa is far away from North America. Accurate information about particular African states and societies takes more work to find than some other sorts of information. Yet both of those situations are changing rapidly. Africa is increasingly tied into the global economy and international politics. Using the idea of tribe instead of real, specific information and analysis of African events has never served the truth well. It also serves the public interest badly. *Please send comments to editor(a)pambazuka.org or comment online at http://www.pambazuka.org ****** THE POVERTY OF INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM John Barbieri John Barbieri writes about the pervasive and dangerous myths that have characterized the coverage of Kenya's post election crisis in the US and elsewhere First, let me honorably mention that the title of this piece is borrowed from Kenyan journalist Rebecca Wanjiku [1]. As most others, I have watched in dismay and outrage at the events in Kenya following the announcement on Dec. 30th of the (manipulated) election results. I have been equally, if not more so, dismayed, outraged and disgusted by how the situation and violence there has been depicted and framed in the international media, especially here in the United States. In almost all of the recent coverage and commentary on Kenya in the mainstream U.S. media there have been three particularly dangerous and pervasive myths and misrepresentations that have appeared. All of these myths have been previously commented on by much more eminent figures than I, but perhaps it will help to restate and further comment on all of them in one place. Three Pervasive Myths and Misrepresentations First, this is not ‘ethnic conflict.’ Similar to the way that most African conflicts get reported, there is the ubiquitous framing of the situation as conflict solely being driven by ethnicity. This is most profoundly seen in the statements of ‘tribal conflict’; it must be made clear that this is an extremely racist, antiquated and inaccurate depiction of the situation. Though there has been an ethnic factor to some of the conflict, this factor is largely overemphasized at expense of the more pervasive factor of the rich/ poor and the gross inequities in resource distribution across and among ‘ethnic lines’ (that is as if such lines could be so clearly drawn). As many have more articulately said elsewhere the situation must be re-framed as a political conflict. More specifically, the organized violence following the elections must be framed as political elites manipulating their supporters (including paying and equipping armed militias and using the armed instruments of the State) to inflict violence on their behalf; it is so-called leaders fomenting hatred among their supporters all for their own personal benefit; and it is power-hungry politicians willing to do whatever it takes, literally willing to throw Kenyans’ lives away in their attempt to do it, and to be so disgustingly eager to use that violence as a mere pressure point on the national and international community to get/retain power. Both parties were guilty of this, but in particular the man sworn in as President has employed the disproportionate brutal force of the police and military, especially the General Service Unit. The repercussions of depicting the situation as solely ethnically- driven can be seen in the distorted sense of history and context for all conflicts in Africa and elsewhere. One of the most pervasive historical misconstructions is especially evident in the popular writings and collective memory of the Rwandan genocide, which continue to frame the genocide as being simply the result of primordial ‘tribal conflict.’ In so doing the context and history of the genocide is obfuscated by neglecting the ongoing role played by the brutal legacy of the colonial power (Belgium in the case of Rwanda) and of national, regional and international politics following ‘independence.’ Second, this is not a ‘shock.’ We need to attack the myths and claims being reported that the developments in Kenya are a great ‘shock,’ and that this is a great blow to a ‘beacon of stability, democracy and economic growth in Africa.’ For anyone who knows the history of Kenya, the history of colonialism and the history since ‘independence,’ they know that these developments are not a shock and that they have been long in the making. The developments are directly connected to the inability of the Kenyan government to come to terms with the brutal legacy and power distributions inherited from British rule, including the constitution itself. And specifically the developments were written all over the wall leading up to the election to anyone who was paying attention to the fomenting of ethnic tension by Kibaki/PNU and Odinga/ODM, yet too few seemed willing to acknowledge it. Anyone who claims that this is a ‘shock’ is either blatantly ignorant, dishonest or practices mere wishful thinking to be so naïve. And anyone who claims that Kenya is a grand ‘beacon of stability, democracy and economic growth in Africa’ misrepresents the hardships and injustices that the vast majority of Kenyans desperately face on a daily basis; they also inaccurately depict the past five years of the ‘booming economic growth’ witnessed under the Kibaki regime, which through exorbitant amounts of corruption and increasing income inequality has ensured that the benefits from that robust economic growth has by-and-large reached only the very elite. Third, and perhaps most importantly, is the role of the U.S. It must be made clear and people must fully understand the large role that the U.S. has been playing in Kenya and throughout eastern Africa. The U.S. has keenly been trying to build up allies in East Africa and the Horn of Africa to counterbalance other perceived ‘threat’ countries in the region. These key U.S. allies include Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda and the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. These allies are meant to act as a counter-balance to the ‘threats’ of Sudan (the Bashir regime), Eritrea and the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) in Somalia. The Bush administration has clearly supported incumbent Kibaki due to the fact that his government has been one of these key allies in the ‘war on terror’ in the East and the Horn of Africa. The Kibaki administration has allowed and worked closely with the U.S. on supposed ‘terrorist’ raids along the coast of Kenya. The Kenyan Anti-Terrorism Unit (with American and British support) has conducted these extralegal anti-terrorism operations along the Kenyan coast, targeting the sizeable Muslim population there. According to human rights organizations in Kenya these anti- terrorism operations have included the roundup, torture and extradition of Muslims (to Somalia, Ethiopia and elsewhere) without being charged or given a trial, similar to ‘war on terror’ operations elsewhere. The people, nearly all of whom are Muslims, being targeted are dubiously claimed to be Al Qaeda operatives or a part of other subversive terrorist organizations. Similarly, Kenya was an ally during the U.S.-supported invasion of Somalia by Ethiopian forces to overthrow the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) in southern Somalia exactly one year ago. What was, and still is, routinely missed in the story of the UIC is how they helped to implement order, stability and social services that had not been seen in southern Somalia for nearly 15 years; and how the UIC was primarily an effort to depose corrupt warlords (many of whom were being backed by the U.S.), not to impose an international Al Qaeda- like jihadist movement as many claim(ed). Kenya’s (i.e., the Kibaki administration’s) role in the military operations included working with U.S. forces along the Kenya-Somalia border and the ubiquitous sharing of ‘intelligence,’ but they also played a more direct role as well. At the onset of the invasion, the Kenyan military, seemingly at the behest of the U.S., closed off its border with Somalia and refused entry to all Somalis, including refugees, trying to flee southern Somalia. Soon after, the U.S. conducted air strikes in southern Somalia killing at least 30 people, most, if not all, of whom were probably fleeing civilians, not ‘Al Qaeda operatives’ as was alleged. In short, the Bush administration had clear ‘national security’ ambitions in seeking that Kibaki, as a key ‘war on terror’ ally in eastern Africa, stay in power. Also, add to this the vested American, UK and other European business interests in Kenya as well, who likely did not care for Odinga’s ‘social democratic’ platform which was posing the threat of more taxes and redistributive wealth. The biggest blow to U.S. credibility and neutrality in the matter, though, came immediately after the election results were announced. Incredulously, the U.S. State Department quickly came out and congratulated the man sworn in as President on his ‘victory.’ This was done despite the fact that every diplomat in the country clearly knew of the irregularities in the election and the hastily swearing in process of the President. Realizing its mistake the State Department quickly moved to retract this congratulatory statement, and then issued a statement calling an end to the violence and for the situation to be resolved through ‘constitutional and legal remedies.’ However, it is quite clear that these ‘remedies’ are blatantly weighted in the incumbent’s favor and thus will merely support the status quo: Kibaki and corruption. Since January 4th the U.S. has been pursuing the diplomacy route with Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer, who has now departed, and Ambassador Michael Ranneberger leading these attempts. However, it is was disturbing that despite Frazer’s close watch and ongoing separate talks with both sides, she (and therefore the U.S. in general) was not able to prevent Kibaki from disastrously going ahead and filling the most critical posts in the President’s cabinet. More recently it should be no surprise that the few Heads of State who have come out and congratulated Kibaki on his ‘victory’ are also key ‘war on terror’ allies of the Bush administration. These Heads of State include: President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda (who has received much aid from the Bush administration and has been crucial in supplying troops for the AU force in Somalia), transitional President Abdullahi Yusuf of Somalia (who the U.S., Ethiopia and Kenya helped reinstate after the overthrow of the UIC), Sheikh Sabah of Kuwait, King Mohammed VI of Morocco, and Prime Minister Themba Dlamini of Swaziland. An excerpt from Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf’s congratulatory message to President Kibaki is worth quoting: ‘…both our countries must remain strong partners on the global war on terror and steadfast Allies in protecting freedom.’ Further still, Uganda’s starch dependence on Kenyan supply routes and Museveni’s close relationship with Kibaki must be stressed, and therefore the widespread reports that the Uganda People’s Defense Force is masquerading as police, destroying property and killing people in western Kenya must be seriously addressed! As others have already made clear (e.g., Mukoma wa Ngugi [2], Wandia Njoya [3], etc.), it should not be assumed that Odinga/ODM is somehow inherently antithetical to the interests of the U.S. and of international capital; the extravagant fuss over Odinga’s Hummer was perhaps one highly illustrative example of his true nature as an elite who gladly enjoys connections to the West and living well above the rest of Kenyans. Also, it should not be believed that U.S. support for corrupt and autocratic Kenyan leaders started with Bush- Kibaki, it is well-documented how the U.S. had been keenly supporting and arming the preceding 24 year dictatorship of Daniel arap Moi during the final years of Cold War geopolitics and beyond. Lastly, all of this is not meant to suggest a direct U.S. connection to the manipulated election results, but still the overall interests and role of the U.S., and other international actors, in Kenya must be made clear. (For more facts and figures on the U.S.’s military ties to Kenya and incumbent Kibaki see Daniel Volman’s excellent short article <http://www.concernedafricascholars.org/080110_volman.php> [4].) The Poverty of International Journalism In all, it has been disgusting how reporters have been so eager to energetically document and provide inaccurate and inhumane commentary on the bloodshed, but have been too unconcerned in trying to actually understand the situation and report what Kenyans are really saying and thinking; although this should certainly come as no surprise. The inspiration and title for this article comes from Kenyan journalist Rebecca Wanjiku’s blog ‘The Poverty of International Journalism,’ and this excerpt about a broadcast on CNN is worth quoting at length: Understanding the local language is very important when reporting from foreign countries. For instance on Sunday [January 6th 2008], there was on television an injured man and those carrying him said in Swahili "tunampeleka hospitali" (we are taking him to hospital?) But the journalist's translation was that he had been asked "are you shot or cut?" with the response coming back that he was actually the victim of a shooting. It is unlikely that this was an innocent mistake, the journalist may simply not have cared what was true and what was not, and it is unlikely either that the world audience would have noticed, but using video like this to underline a story you are making up is dishonest reporting. I have faith that Kenyans will soon be embracing each other, and that we will soon get back to the urgent yet more mundane tasks of kujitafutia riziki – putting food on the table. I hope CNN will be around to cover that and not simply rush on to the next big story. By the way, how comes CNN does not cover American soldiers or civilians bleeding and writhing in pain, yet has no second thought for the dignity of the dead and dying from other countries? It has been Kenyan journalists and bloggers, like Rebecca, and other local reporters who have been the real champions of correctly depicting and analyzing the situation, and who are actually raising the real desperate concerns of Kenyans. Rather than condescendingly prescribing analysis and treatment from London, New York or even the U.S. embassy in Nairobi (which is, although not as geographically removed, as cognitively removed from the concerns of Kenyans), the mainstream media needs to listen, understand and make clear the history and context of the current situation, and stop speaking so ignorantly and arrogantly about it. And good journalists need to call out fellow journalists who are perpetuating the pervasive myths and stereotypes (e.g., Canadian journalist Arno Kopecky’s Daily Nation article [5]). I would like to take this opportunity, then, to call out CNN reporter Zain Verjee. Miss Verjee, as someone who grew up in Kenya, and therefore should know better, it is despicable how you have been playing up the ‘ethnic conflict’ angle in your TV reporting. Why are you doing this? Are you callously using the plight of your countrymen/women to simply boost your career ambitions? Why is it that you so seldom let other Kenyans actually speak, and rather choose to just speak ‘on their behalf?’ Why is it that as someone who has worked on campaigns to spread awareness of violence against women have you not been more vigorously reporting the disproportionate effect that the violence and displacement has had on women in Kenya? Why is it that I have not once heard you mention the role the U.S. is playing in Kenya? Miss Verjee I am sorry that you were hit by a teargas canister during your recent reporting (although it should not have been a surprise given your attempt to ‘get the story’), but perhaps you might now feel some of the brutality that so many Kenyans have endured and perhaps now you may start honestly speaking on their behalf and letting their voices be heard. The situation in Kenya, like all political conflicts (e.g., eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Darfur, eastern Chad, Iraq, Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, etc.), should be vigorously reported, but it must be framed and depicted accurately by incorporating a proper historical context and the perspective of the people there. The perspectives/stories of people there must be told, but they must not be simply trivialized and sensationalized, as is so often done, particularly in the simplemindedness of televised ‘reporting.’ It is so sad that in the business that is U.S. TV reporting we seldom actually hear the voices of people telling their stories from around the world; rather we too often get a voice-over by some clearly intelligible Western (i.e., ‘white-sounding’) reporter. Why not use subtitles!?! Why must these people be robbed from having their voices heard, why must we be robbed from hearing them?!? Or why not find articulate English speakers (there certainly are an abundance of them in Kenya) to speak on their own behalf, and not demean their ‘foreignness’ by using unwarranted subtitles? And why do we have to wait for ‘crisis’ situations to hear these voices? Why do we hear, or rather really just see, only the bad? Why do we not hear and see good, fun, silly, playful, uplifting and empowering stories being told every day? Why do we not hear and see stories with depth about love and dreams as often as we superficially see stories about loss and despair? In conclusion, news without a proper sense of history and context is just a list of jumbled half-truths, and news without a proper respect for and input from the people who are actually affected is just a list of callous stereotypes. In the past week, now that the violence has slightly eased, the U.S. media seems to be losing interest in the situation in Kenya. Forgive the extreme vulgarity, but the mainstream U.S. media appears to send the following double message: we are not interested in Africans or African politics, that is unless there is a full out Rwanda-like bloodbath (with pictures of gruesome machete attacks and all, of course) so we can stereotype all Africans as the savages we think they are. I hope that all journalists, reporters and editors may heed these calls and start acting responsibly and start reporting the truth coming ‘out of Africa.’ * John Barbieri is an independent reporter who lived in Kenya from Jan.-June 2007, and is the founder of the US Coalition for Peace with Truth and Justice in Kenya. He can currently be reached at kenyanpeace(a)gmail.com *Please send comments to editor(a)pambazuka.org or comment online at http://www.pambazuka.org * Please click on the link for the article notes http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/45590 ****** /\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\ 2 Comment and analysis FU MANCHU VERSUS DR LIVINGSTONE IN THE DARK CONTINENT? How British broadsheet newspapers represent China, Africa and the West Emma Mawdsley Emma Mawdsley examines the coverage of China's growing influence in Africa by the British print media The words and images we use do not describe ‘reality’, they create it. Language (terms, metaphors, and analogies) and images (such as films, news photos, maps and cartoons) are caught up in struggles over interpretation – which means that the language and images of the powerful are important tools in creating and maintaining particular points of view amongst politicians, policy-makers and the public. This paper explores the way in which six British broadsheet newspapers have covered China’s growing role in Africa over the past seven years. China’s impacts in Africa are complex and varied by country, sector and context, and most of the newspaper articles reflect that. Whether more critical or approving in tone, the articles invariably point to both benefits and problems associated with China’s rise. Even those which focus on specific issues or countries, tend to open or conclude with at least a sentence or two outlining a broader assessment of the prospects and problems associated with the growing relationship. Even so, a detailed analysis led us to identify five narrative tropes that recurred consistently and frequently, which tended to systematically endorse images of African weakness, Western trusteeship and Chinese ruthlessness: 1) a tendency to refer to ‘the Chinese’ or ‘China’, as if the various Chinese actors all shared the same interests; 2) a tendency to focus excessively on China’s interests in oil over other commodities; 3) a decided preference for focussing on China’s negative impacts on the continent, and within that, on issues and places of violence, disorder and corruption (e.g. Zimbabwe, Sudan, Angola) over other negative issues (e.g. trade imbalances, undermining domestic manufacturing sectors); 4) a tendency to portray Africans as victims or villains; and 5) a frequently complacent account of the role and interest of different western actors in Africa. Representations of Africa, China and the West First, most press reports tend to refer simply to “the Chinese”, often overlooking the fact that Chinese communities and actors in Africa are diverse in origins, roles and interests. The Chinese in Africa include longer standing and more recent diasporic communities, often engaged in small and medium business, but with a range of histories and relations with China and with their adopted African homes. Media accounts tend to focus much more strongly on Chinese state firms and agencies, as well as the more recent wave of large private enterprises (although the distinction can be blurred). But interests differ – longer term Chinese diasporic populations, the managers of Chinese companies, Chinese labourers employed by those companies, and different elements of the Chinese Government may have very different views on, for example, political stability, corporate transparency or democratic accountability. Different Chinese firms may have competing interests over what constitute desirable conditions for import/export trade or commodity extraction/ manufactures. The following quote indicates competing interests that are otherwise rarely reflected in the media accounts that were analysed: “Venturing into Africa is a superficially attractive option for Chinese enterprises with limited global experience, as they can avoid the kind of competition and rules they face in markets such as the US or the European Union. But Chinese companies are also under great pressure to invest in Africa to fulfil political commitments made by China’s leaders, who provide financial incentives, including cheap loans, for them to go overseas. “First we must listen to what the country says, but we have our own company considerations” says Mr Wang of Chico, an enterprise controlled by the provincial government of Henan …[Mr Wang says] they “get criticism” from officials back home if they miss business targets, which often involve expanding overseas investment” (Financial Times, 20 June 2006: “China ventures on rocky roads to trade with Africa”). Allied to this is a tendency to isolate Chinese firms as nationally discrete entities. In fact, joint enterprises with both African and western firms are becoming more common. The second theme identified is the focus on oil and, to a lesser extent, natural gas and ores, over other commodities. This reflects a wider focus on the geopolitics of oil, a subject that the Iraq war and massive oil price rises have brought to the fore of western public attention. Although oil is undeniably an important issue, and a major component of Sino-Africa trade and economic growth, this is concentrated in Angola, Sudan, Nigeria, Gabon and Guinea. For many African countries, exports of fish, timber and grain, or imports of relatively cheap manufactured goods are just as important. The focus on oil lends itself to a discourse of resource competition rather than the recognition that China and the West have a range of interests and relations in Africa, including potentially complementary ones. Third is a very uneven focus on China's interests and impacts in different African nations. More positive elements tend to get less attention (debt cancellation, investment, lower commodity prices for consumers, support for a greater international voice etc), with a preferred focus on problem issues. Moreover, we find that there is a preferred focus on zones and subjects of violent conflict, corruption, genocide and authoritarian leadership, rather than, say, the less gripping images of China’s impacts on trade imbalances or under-cutting of African manufacturing sectors. The overwhelming balance of articles is on Sudan, Zimbabwe and Angola, with far less attention paid to, for example, Lesotho, which is experiencing immense hardship competing with China in textile production; or Kenya which is struggling to compete with China in the manufactured goods sector. Fourth, within these accounts, Africans, tend to be reduced to villains (Mugabe, the Sudanese government) and victims (African populations, Darfur, the poor), an observation that fits with the findings of many other critical evaluations of the media. African agency, as leaders or ordinary citizens, workers and consumers, is rarely emphasised. Allusions to adolescence or childhood are common. Thus, discussing China’s effects on Chad: “Chad was supposed to establish a model of good practice. But, as a western observer in the country puts it: “The risk is [following China’s oil deals] it will become an example for the worst [African] pupils” [emphasis added]. (Financial Times, 23 January 2006: “The ‘resource curse’ anew”.) The paternalistic line that the West needs to save Africa from China’ depredations is something reflected elsewhere in the media. An extended Channel Four news report which was widely circulated and repeated, started: “To Tony Blair, Africa is somewhere which needs healing or saving and Sierra Leone gets a lot of British aid. But the Chinese are looking at the continent through different eyes. They see it as a source of raw materials, especially oil, which they need for their own development. And somewhere like Sierra Leone, fresh out of war – they think it’s ripe for trade and investment” (Lindsey Hillsum, Channel Four, 4 July 2005) Finally, Western actors – businesses, governments, national and international development NGOs – are typically portrayed as benign within the majority of these articles and accounts. Many articles imply or state that while the West did in the past have supported authoritarian leaders, or were party to corrupt business practices, it has learnt its lesson and reformed. While colonialism was economically exploitative and morally wrong, according to many of the articles exploring China’s ‘new African safari’ or ‘new scramble for Africa’, western colonialism is claimed to at least have had a paternalistic/developmental dimension and well-intentioned elements - an attitude that has translated into an ethical concern for Africa in the postcolonial period. Thus, in the contemporary setting, Western companies supposedly operate under a different ethical regime because of their own high convictions; labour laws; voluntary agreements as part of wider government and third sector pressure to improve business with Africa; consumer demands for more ethical production and trading; and/or shareholder pressure. None of these are said to apply to state-run or private Chinese companies. Above all, the dominant (although by no means universal, narrative) that runs through many of the articles is that the mistakes of the past have been addressed, and the West is now the architect and energiser of a new drive towards good governance and development, with aid now accompanied by ethical conditionalities, while reformed commercial practices promise investment, extraction and trade that will enhance development rather than line the pockets of kleptocratic elites. These faltering steps forward, which will be of mutual benefit to western companies and ordinary African people, are under threat from the unscrupulous Chinese. A few quotes give a flavour of these arguments: “But while the meeting [2006 FOCAC] is intended to fuel China’s global drive for resources, raw materials and markets, concerns are growing that the boosters of Beijing do not have Africa’s best interests at heart and that western countries will be cut out of future business”. (The Guardian, 1 November 2006: “Beijing’s Race for Africa”) “There are concerns too about soft loans leading to unsustainable debt and generous aid programmes that undermine efforts to improve governance, transparency and accountability. If the World Bank and IMF say no or attach conditions, Beijing always says yes…. The [2006] Beijing Summit is a big deal for China, a deliberately showy monument to its value-free strategy. It would be absurd to claim that western greed and interest did not do enormous damage in an earlier scramble for Africa. But the age of colonialism is over. It should be accepted today that global power brings global responsibilities. Tyranny, inequality and corruption offend universal values. In the countries where it now has the ability to make a difference, China should think twice about offering its help with no strings attached”. (The Guardian, 4 November 2006: “Scrambling to Beijing: China and Africa”) “That virtuous circle of increased assistance and better governance has been the hall mark of the approach taken, with varying degrees of success, by the West and Japan since the end of the Cold War. China now threatens to blow apart that consensus”. (The Telegraph, 26 April 2006: “The dragon in Africa”) “Soft Chinese loans to vulnerable and corrupt African regimes, arranged outside the painstakingly agreed Equator Principles for responsible lending, risk reversing progress towards extricating such regimes from debt. … And misconceived or badly executed civil engineering projects risk irreversible environmental damage … Such a critique is valid. Coming from the West it also has a hint of the hypocritical. China’s current scramble for African energy and resources is modest compared with Europe’s scramble for African territory a century and a half ago. And China’s sometimes reckless spending only mirrors gambles by Western banks and governments in the postwar era. But now Beijing risks repeating the West’s mistakes … when it allowed massive increases in overseas aid and investment with no commensurate adjustments to its foreign policy”. (The Times, 2 November 2006: “China and Africa”) There are undeniably elements of truth in some of this – some western companies are indeed bound by their charters, public pressure and voluntary agreements to abide by standards that can reduce their competitiveness with companies not thus circumscribed. Bilateral and multilateral initiatives on debt, trade and aid have made some advances towards greater equity and reparation of injustices. These efforts and advances should not be belittled. However, there are three main sets of problems with the imagery of a benign west being undermined by a ruthless and unscrupulous China. The first is that, despite advances, many western companies remain mired in corrupt and exploitative business practices. Without losing sight of the importance and achievements of incremental improvements in western accountability and transparency, they remain inadequate. The second problem is that of scope and scale – the West’s impact on Africa cannot be reduced to the efforts of NGOs, aid agencies or companies. We must look beyond these limited horizons to debt, unjust trade regulations, uneven power in the institutions of global governance, the ‘war on terror’, and increasingly, perhaps, climate change, to develop a better understanding of the West’s impacts on Africa. Third, ‘development’ is almost invariably coded as apolitical and positive in these articles – although interestingly such partiality and complacency tended to be situational, apparent when framed within the specific China-Africa story. Newspapers and even individual journalists who in other reports may be very critical of, for example, the halting, late and inadequate provision of medical supplies, or debt, or trade inequalities, appear to become less critical when the West is framed in the same article as China. Thus, while the Australian, French and South African companies may also be condemned for working in Zimbabwe, in none of the articles analysed were these framed in the same space as a critique of China’s business interests. Running throughout, we can identify recurring words and phrases which are indicative of the images outlined above: China is ‘guzzling’, ‘aggressive’, an ‘economic juggernaut’, ‘insatiably’ ‘thirsty’ for oils and minerals, and ‘voraciously’ capitalist. “China is prowling the globe in search of energy sources” (Declan Walsh, 9 Nov. 2005, The Guardian, emphasis added) “As a voracious China scours the world for minerals, no regime is off limits” (Financial Times, 12 Jan 2006: “Insatiable Beijing scours the world for profit and power”) “[China] is ravenous for raw materials”. (The Telegraph, 26 April 2006: “The dragon in Africa”) In an article headlined “China’s goldmine: Tony Blair and Bono see Africa as a moral cause; China sees it as a business opportunity. But is Beijing’s interest based on economic partnership – or ruthless exploitation?”, we find: “The resurrection of Chambishi [a major Zambian copper mine] is just one small example of China’s explosion into Africa. From the barest foothold a decade ago an army of diplomats, technicians and entrepreneurs has kicked the continent’s door wide open, making Beijing a heavyweight investor and political player” (The Guardian, 28 March 2006: “China’s goldmine”, emphasis added) This position and language stands in contrast to accounts of western FDI, which is only presented as an unambiguously positive flow. Unlike the West, the Chinese have ‘insinuated’ their way into the continent. For example: “Quietly, while the attention of the world has been elsewhere, China has become a major player in Africa”. (The Independent, 7 September 2006: “The benefits and dangers of those gifts from the east”) “China, which now foresees annual trade with the world’s poorest continent totalling $100 billion (£50 billion) by 2010, began stepping up its presence stealthily in Africa in the early 1990s” (The Times, 25 April 2007: “From favoured patron to target of dissenters”, emphasis added) Dan Large, at SOAS, argues that these images are indicative of western defensiveness about ‘it’s backyard’, and can be seen as part of a wider reaction to an emerging power. The language of red dragons in the continent takes us back to the geopolitical discourses that characterised the Cold War. Conclusions To retiterate, amongst the database of articles reviewed there were alternative perspectives and stories, critical accounts of western roles and histories, and a recognition of the complex but also positive possibilities of greater Sino-African relations. However, the themes identified above emerged as strong and pervasive scripts in British reporting on the contemporary relationships between Africa, China and the West. Africa is one place in which China and western nations, notably the US, are likely to find themselves in a position of competition, and these images and languages, both popular and policy, are significant. In a recent analysis, Andrew Still (2005) urges the importance of maintaining moderate, pragmatic and respectful language and diplomatic ‘signals’ on both sides, if we are to avoid hardening ideological dividing lines between China and the US in particular – Still talks in terms of a potential degeneration of relations that could usher in the next Cold War. He suggests that: “ … some of the most difficult issues [between China and the US/West] lie in the realm of ideas and identity rather than the narrow economic and political interests, making them far less tractable. Not least of these will be the way in which the debate over ‘the rise of China’ is conducted in the public sphere. The limited repertoire of historical analogies on which it currently draws … creates a distorting prism through which the issue is viewed and provides a thin basis for more thoughtful analysis of how to ensure a peaceful power transition” (Still, 2005, p.3-4) In the context of what is certain to be growing economic and political competition between China and the US (with the UK and other nations playing bit parts), including over Africa, media images and representations will play an important role in shaping public understandings, debates and political pressures. These in turn will have consequences – however negotiated or contested – for different countries, actors and interests in Africa. * Dr. Emma Mawdsley is a lecturer in geography and Cambridge University. This article is a short version of a paper to be published in Political Geography in 2008. For a copy of the longer version, please refer to the journal, or contact the author on: eem10(a)cam.ac.uk *Please send comments to editor(a)pambazuka.org or comment online at http://www.pambazuka.org ****** KENYA: ETHNICITY, TRIBE, AND STATE John Lonsdale John Lonsdale argues that key to the post-election crisis in Kenya lies in the changing role of the post-colonial state in relation to the country's ethnic terms of political trade The extensive commentary on Kenya's troubles has tended to blame ancient tribal rivalry, cynical political calculation, or a combination of the two; with the corrupted electoral process seen as providing the unintended catalyst - or worse, the deliberate instigator that awakens latent tribal hostility. British imperialism has also received its expected share of criticism, for inventing the now-indigenous Kenyan practice of divide and rule (see Caroline Elkins, "What's Tearing Kenya Apart? History, for One Thing", Washington Post, 6 January 2008). While all such explanations have some merit they may also mislead the unwary, since they underplay the always slippery relations between ethnicity as a universal human attribute, politicised tribalism as a contingent process, and the state - any state, colonial or otherwise - as a cockpit of variously contested but always unequal power. How, then, can a focus on such factors illuminate Kenya's continuing turmoil? A colonial formation In the 19th century the area that became "Kenya" was stateless. Its peoples' civility, their ethnicity, was shaped by their subsistence: farming or herding, or some mixture of both. Such ethnic groups were not teams, not "tribes". Loyalties and rivalries were smaller than that - patriarchal lineages, marriage alliances, age-groups, trading partnerships, client-clusters, and the like. Ethnic groups were constituted more by internal debate over how to achieve honour in the unequal lives of patron or client, than by solidarity against strangers. Ethnic economies indeed were as often complementary as competitive, with different specialisms. But such inter-ethnicity - which was not without its frictions - was facilitated by the absence of any central power that might arrange groups in hierarchical relations. Sustained "tribal rivalry" could not exist under such decentralised, underpopulated, conditions. It was European rivalry that imported that modern Leviathan, the state, in the late 19th century. It was, like all states, assembled by force and driven by self-interest. Its British officials allied with African leaders too weak to be rivals; and occasionally did a little to rein in the otherwise self-destructive excesses of those potentially overmighty subjects, the white settlers. The colonial state, responsible to Westminster and at the same time nervous of India's viceroy and then (at independence) the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru - since British Indians far outnumbered white Britons in Kenya - stood to some extent athwart both Africans and settlers, trying to mediate the contradictions between them. Both settlers and Africans colonised the state and the facilities it provided. What had previously been a multi-polar mosaic of scattered nodes of socially productive energy became, within Kenya's new borders, a layered pyramid of profit and power, unequally divided between two key centres - one "white", one black - and many marginalised peripheries. White settlers got 20% of Kenya's high-potential farmland. As these settlers failed to provide enough state revenue and blocked African opportunity, the British increasingly encouraged African farming on the other 80%. So the second economic centre became Kikuyu-land: home of 20% of the population; close to the capital, Nairobi; cool and attractive to missionaries, with more schools than elsewhere. By geographical accident, then, Kikuyu had a head start in making money (essential to advance political ambitions) and in acquiring modern managerial skill. Most nationalisms start among those subjects who do best out of, and are most useful to, an ancien regime; their frustrations are keenest, their opportunity greatest. Yet while that may explain Kikuyu leadership of Kenya's anti-colonial nationalism, it does not account for their involvement in Mau Mau, its secretive, violent, offshoot. To that point I will return, as it is a key to understanding the present. A social transformation In the new circumstances, other and not-so-well-placed ethnic groups made the most of what they had. They were often driven by a local patriotism inspired by vernacular, mission-translated, Bibles that told of an enslaved people who became a tribal nation. They embarked, in combinations of hope and desperation, on chain-migrations out of pauper peripheries (not unlike the Scots or Irish in comparable circumstances) to colonise particular niches of employment: on the railway; on white farms and plantations; in domestic service; or in the police and army. Yet others came to dominate the livestock trade. Officials and employers exploited these various tendencies and stereotyped the supposed ethnic qualities of the group concerned. The British helped to harden ethnic divisions made greater by differing potentials for social mobility. Britain did not simply divide in order to rule. The emergence of ethnic consciousness also arose from local debates about how the genders, generations, rich and poor should relate, as older inequalities were transformed into new differentiations less sensitive to existing moral audits of honour. Nowhere was such differentiation so sharp as among Kikuyu. Its effects became politically acute after 1945 when settler employers in the Rift Valley's "white highlands" mechanised production, and the extensive Kikuyu diaspora of tenant-workers in the region refused the worsening conditions they were offered. These "ex-squatters", failing to recover a home in their increasingly populated, and property- protective, "reserves", had to make shift in Nairobi's slums. The insistent question, "how then can I live as an honourable Kikuyu?" was what separated the militants of Mau Mau from the politically conservative, propertied, patrons - led by Jomo Kenyatta - who first inspired them. A political competition The horrors of the Mau Mau "emergency" war of the 1950s that ensued proved the repressive potential of a colonial state too closely allied to the settlers, its strongest clients. But the relative calmness of decolonisation in 1963 similarly proved the advantages of an outgoing state power that was not solely dependent upon its local roots - a clear contrast with Rhodesia's fiery end. The post-colonial state - rooted in a competitive society, for good historical reasons - is once more different. For the state has been the sole agency by which Africans could aspire to climb the commanding heights of the economy against racially entrenched interests - in land, commerce and finance. In recent years it has continued this role by ever more devious means, to meet external demands for "liberalisation". Access to its power matters. It is concentrated in an executive presidency, now directly elected, capable of manipulating all public institutions, including a parliament elected from single-member constituencies that either singly or in contiguous groups coincide with what have become tribal territories. In consequence, the competition for a share in this power became governed by internal ethnic accountability and tribal rivalry. President Kenyatta and his Kikuyu elite soothed the frustrated honour of their Kikuyu poor with settlement schemes in the former "white highlands" (of which the bulk, historically, had belonged to less favoured Maasai and Kalenjin groups). His successor Daniel arap Moi, finding less room for the poor of own Kalenjin, did more to create for them an ethnic elite. Politicians generally justify their privilege by carving ethnic benefits from state largesse. But (in Kenya as elsewhere) this extractive approach faced increasing pressures. The ferocity of competition for a share of state power rose over time - as population has grown, as the fertilising rains of the post-colonial Africanisation of opportunity long ago dried up, as the terms of trade for primary commodities turned sour. It was fairly easy for Kenyatta to ensure that all, more or less, enjoyed a turn "to eat" in the ethnic coalitions on which a parliamentary majority relied. It was more difficult for Moi. As the political stakes rose, so it became more tempting to attract and reward one's ethnic followers with officially-deniable opportunities for thuggery at the expense of those who were now tribal rivals in land, urban property, or petty trade. With every "bought" election, popular anger grew among Kenyan citizens - to an extent that they created pressure for a constitutional change which would strengthen parliament at the expense of the presidency. A national transition? A new president, Mwai Kibaki, was elected in 2002 to clean the Aegean stables. But in that effort he has disappointed all but his Kikuyu cronies. Now, in the presidential election of 27 December 2007, he appears to many to have broken the tacit rules of national competition - the last straw. That the opposition was, it seems, merely less successful in rigging the ballot will not make reconciliation any easier. Some of the subsequent opposition violence is politically directed. But the worst, by Kalenjin "warriors" against Kikuyu "immigrants" into the Rift Valley, may have outrun such elite-engineered tribalism to become an eerie echo of Mau Mau - in being an internal, generational, ethnic revolt against the compromises by which its own recently-manufactured Kalenjin elite came to terms with the "old wealth" of Kenyatta's Kikuyu. There are, then, two very different dynamics currently at work in Kenya: internal ethnic dissidence and external tribal rivalry. Neither can be disarmed without rewriting the rules of political competition for the power of a rather different ("post-post- colonial") state. It would have to be less closely allied to its strongest clients, and offer its services more disinterestedly to all Kenyans. These might in consequence come to think of themselves more as citizens, less as ethnically-defined clients. It is a very great deal to ask. Kenya faces two possible futures. On the one hand, the normal inter- ethnicity of most daily lives may have been poisoned by the recent violence, forecasting a broken state. On the other, the shock may have persuaded Kenyan elites of the old, Burkean, truth that a state without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation. There is perhaps a glimmer of hope in the opposition's success in getting its man elected as the speaker of the new parliament. * John Lonsdale is emeritus professor of modern African history and fellow of Trinity College Cambridge. This article was first published in OpenDemocracy *Please send comments to editor(a)pambazuka.org or comment online at http://www.pambazuka.org ****** THE KENYA CASE AND MEDIA BIAS Antony Otieno Ong'ayo While the whole world is aware of the crisis is in Kenya, thanks to the international and local media, most of their reporting is accurate, however, there is need for an honest analysis of the situation in Kenya The media It is sad at this moment in time to apply outdated tactics of muzzling the people who are expressing a democratic right. In the case of Kenya, gagging the media would not help Kibaki and his cohorts, since the level of awareness and resolve among Kenyans not to return to the dark days of dictatorship is so high. The courage of the Kenyan media and journalists despite setbacks initiated by Internal security Minster (Michuki) is worth noting, but more so the way in which they reported events during the campaigns and eventful day of vote counting. However, there are problems with headlines (both local and international) that have appeared since the outbreak of post elections violence. The ethnic dimension is appearing to be the main focus of international press and they are also reporting that it is a Kikuyu- Luo issue but that is not true. Besides the fighting in the slums in Nairobi, Nakuru and Mombasa whose inhabitants are from all backgrounds though dominated by communities from western Kenya, Killings taking pace in the Rift Valley; Coast provinces are not perpetrated by the Luos. The fact that Raila is a Luo is not a justification enough to tag a whole community, just because one of them is a leading personality in the current stalemate. Such bias will direct attention in the wrong direction, and could be used to gang up against other communities, as has been the case in the past. There is no mention of killings taking place in Nyanza province especially in the Lake Town of Kisumu where Police has been shooting protesters at the orders of the internal Security Minister (Michuki). Condemnation of violence should be applied across the board. Victims of the violence are from all over especially in the slums, but where it is perpetrated by the state in a selective manner, condemnation should be focused on security forces and those who give such orders) These kinds of statements misinform the world of the actual facts on the ground and hinder insights that could help get Kenya out of the situation. Secondly reducing the current post election conflict to a Kikuyu-Luo affair is cheap analysis that is devoid of facts and reflections of what happens on the ground. Most of the current Western media analyses do not taken into account the underlying factors such as the failure of institutions of the state, such as the electoral commission of Kenya whose mediocre performance has plunged the country into bloodshed, a draconian constitutional framework that has been at the service of ethnic chauvinists and jingoist in power since 1963, the centralised power and networks that benefit from it, whose abuse and actions have led to marginalisation of certain groups from national resources, equitable public appointments, and the grand scheme involving local and international elites who exploit Kenya under the “old order”, interests/forces that want to keep the status quo and their role in the current problem. Bias and partisan analyses are also observed in the local media especially the media owners association, Kenya broadcasting corporation, Kenyan citizens in the diaspora through various blog sites and debaters in the local Newspapers where intellectuals, opinion and church leaders have taken sides, instead of guiding the debate in a more honest way so that all Kenyans can identify where the problem lies (draconian laws, out-dated political system, poverty, inequality, corruption, unequal distribution of resources countrywide and lack of access to essential services among others). Kenyans suffer under these conditions regardless of their tribe, and that is why those who live in the slums are from all tribes, even though previously marginalized by earlier regimes such as the Luo, Luhya and other minority groups make up the majority in those dwellings. Leadership and national interest The question that people need to ask is why did Kibaki sought to be Kenya’s president, in 1992, 1997, and finally became one in 2002? Was it because he lacked money? Was he someone with an agenda for the “whole “ nation? And if he had one, what was the agenda? Was that agenda realised between 2003 and 2007? Why are Kenyans having a problem with his agenda presented during the campaigns and the people around him majority of whom have been rejected in their own backyards? Why did most Kenyans have a problem with giving him another mandate? Why would someone who is a billionaire and aged 76, not want to leave a legacy that would be remembered in positive terms? What is so painful to forego that Kibaki would not want a clean election? More important to ask is why the current “elite” and morons around Kibaki are afraid of change of the current system and/or leadership to go into the hands of “lesser” communities? And lastly, why was the current regime rejected by majority of provinces and communities? Even though there are arguments that Kenya’s economy has grown at 6% over the past two years, the gap between the rich and poor has widened, with more people falling below the poverty line. The slums did not get smaller, nor did North Eastern and North-Eastern provinces get piped water from lake Victoria, the Samburus did not receive hospitals and tarmac roads, no fish industry was built along Lake Victoria and loans given to fishermen. 40 years is a long time for the Samburu, Turkana, Rendile and Somalis to wait for basic and essential services to reach them, it is a long time for Kamba people to wait for water and receive food hand outs during starvation, it is a long time before the fishermen along Lake Victoria receive funding through a fishing Board to take care of their interests in agriculture as done to coffee, tea, pyrethrum and dairy farmers; it is along time to wait for any major industry in Western Kenya; it too long time for Mijikenda to have resources from Coastal investments recycled back to alleviate their poverty, thirst for water, better schools and hospitals. Obstacle to dialogue In my view Kibaki is hostage to a number of factors that seems to contradict his call for putting the nation first. First and foremost are the networks of buddies and business comrades and elite form Mt Kenya who have been on the Gravy train since 2003. For what explains the refusal to find a middle ground while knowing so well that the outcome of the elections are not acceptable to everyone including their own people? The people holding Kibaki hostage are the ones Kenyans need to address in their quest for finding a peaceful solution to the current crisis. These people have a lot to loose if the man goes, thus the reason they are against recount, judicial review or re-run of presidential elections. Kenyans regardless of their ethnic background come distant in their priority of needs and actions. The opposition also has a role to play in the process and that will depend on the kind of proposal they put on table, which should be scrutinised by Kenyans since the issue at hand is about how Kenyans are governed and therefore Kibaki or Raila are just but people they expect to govern them through their mandate which includes listening to their views and respecting their will as expressed through the social contract via the vote and representative democracy. A Government of National Unity, or a recount of ballots papers will not solve any problem. It is a well-known fact that ballot papers especially those used for tallying presidential votes were already tampered with and might mot be traced. Secondly Keep never keeps any promise. He did not keep his promise to Kenyans after he made promises upon election in 2002; he never honoured agreements with his comrades upon enthronement, he renegade on the fight against corruption, poverty and tribalism. He does not have the will to keep his promises therefore arrangements such as a government of national unity will just be a soft landing for him, it will be a process that legitimises his hold onto power at the expense of democracy and the will of Kenyans who came out to vote on the 27^th December 2007. Kibaki and his handlers, do not care about democracy, it is a word they use at their convenience. The best arbitrator in this case is the voter. All mediators coming to Kenya should not let Kenyans down by proposing frameworks that will maintain the status quo. It will be a mockery to democracy and great betrayal to the many Kenyans who have lots their lives since the 50s, to liberate the country from colonial yokes but also from the yokes of fellow Kenyans such as Kenyatta, Moi and Kibaki. The Killings Kenyans should stop Killing each other. The culprits are few people who are out busy with self-aggrandisement at the expense of a whole nation. Although the current killings are unacceptable since they are an outcome of a stupidity of failure by Kenyan politicians to grasp the communality interest, Kenyans and more so those who abuse the political system and state institutions and resources should know that "Kenya belongs to all who belong in it" and all should be given equal treatment. There is no justification for the minister of internal security to use outdated and counterproductive tactics of targeting specific ethnic groups with paramilitary force and orders to kill. The images on television screens, shows that most of these people could be apprehended and taken to court. Senseless beating and shooting based on orders of a politician with colonial hangovers will exacerbate acts of revenge instead of resorting to the rule of law to settle disputes or address acts pf violence that are currently being perpetrated by some Kenyans who exploit the chaotic situation. The paramilitary police used by Michuki on the Luo (historical tactic, used by Kenyatta, in the 60s and early seventies) is selective and directed in one direction towards a group of people but that too will create more anger and feelings for revenge. Struggles in the Rift Valley are also about past wrongs against the minority communities like Ogieks who were chased out of the forest and the places given to the central province groups. Maasai and Kalenjin whose prime land were taken by the British, and later by the elite around Kenyatta. These grievances have never been addressed and due to the complex nature of ethnic blend in those regions, Moi for instance exploited this mix to cause chaos in order to vilify the onset of multiparty in Kenya. Ethnic clashes in 1992 and 1997, produced suffering and anger which have been kept low, but now fully exploited in the face of a dashed hope for change. These people thought there could be some equity with change of government but that hope is gone, so we expect anger, but also revenge as result of past clashes that were instigated by Moi prior to 1992, and 97 elections. Democratic test What I fear most is that if Kibaki is allowed to rule, Kenya will return to the dark ages, all the democratic gains will be lost. They will know that they can always rig elections and get away with it no matter what people do including protest, they don’t mind whether people die or not, since they will be able to get away with it. Kibaki’s behaviour in relation to vote tallying and results in the 2007 elections makes democracy look sick in Africa. It brings to mind the question whether there are free and fair elections? Or whether franchise or high voter turn out as witnessed in Kenya can turn a regime out of office? What about the role of institutions to support such a process like an independent police, electoral commission, judiciary and a parliament that is sensitive to the needs of the country, free and non-partisan media, respect for the rule of law by all parties involved in the electoral process? Even though democracy has never been perfect although being adopted by nations and peoples, its institutionalisation depend more on local history, culture and geography and not analyses and prescription as it is applied in other contexts. In the case of Kenya, the political, economic and social systems are complex and full of nuances, combined with other forces/ vested interests/pressure groups that exert more power, thus making the ordinary voter appear to be a pawn rather than a "king" maker. Therefore if Kenya is to build on the already made gains on the democratic front, a solution to the current crisis must be found in tandem with the reality on the ground. The reality that the “presidential election was rigged” and the incumbent is hell-bent on hanging to power no mater what cost, but also the reality that the opposition is making claims which have been proved right by the electoral commission itself and the various poll observers that Kibaki did not win the elections”. Although, calling for peace or on the major players to urge their supporters to clam down is a first step, but the call for peace should not water down the main cause of the problem which is “rigged elections” which is a threat to democratic gains. Being soft on this point would embolden the antagonists especially the “winners” and based on their history of arrogance and lack of decorum in addressing national issues, they will brush aside the issue at stake and this will fuel anger which is not only expressed by the opposition, but the very people the winners want to “rule” at all cost. Way out Asking Raila or Kenyans to forget this and forge ahead, and wait for another 5 years by many partisan authors in various local dailies and international blogs is not sincere and honest since such calls are directed at one party and not the other two. Why are people not asking Kibaki to resign? Why not ask for recount and audit of the votes? If the Electoral commission is not honest, how sure can we be of the courts in Kenya? Kenyans know that the system is rotten thus the overwhelming vote and a clear message that they want something different. They should not be denied this difference by hiding behind discourses that keeps on mystifying the problem. If Kibaki goes on without the approval of Kenyans, he is not making it better for those already hurt in one way or the other through killings and destruction seen in the past days. These things will haunt the nation after he is long gone and people around him or groups supporting him will not escape blame and demands to be held accountable. Peace can only come when the two parties agree to talk, engage and get into a process that will heal wounds on both sides of the divide (the people, the Opposition and PNU politicians). Allowing Kibaki to go ahead and bury his head as if nothing serious has happened will only exacerbate the arrogance of the group around him as witnessed during a recent press conference and the exchange between PNU Ministers and the press. Such one sided approach and attack on the opposition will only help strengthen the status quo, the exploitation, discrimination and inequality along tribal lines, which will exacerbate problems even if calmness would return today. What is urgently needed are; Curfew in Opposition areas to be lifted and regular police patrols with a humane face be initiated in hot spots to give people confidence in the state institutions for their safety. The general service unit has no role in the process since it is a catalyst instead of providing safety. The Kenya Pipeline Corporation should immediately resume pumping oil to western Kenya and Uganda. Cutting this supply is not different from scorched earth policy and if someone in the government has ordered such action, which was observed already before the election days then he/she or they are fueling the crisis instead of solving it. This should apply to other services like electricity, food items among others Kenyan civil society organisations, Law Society, The Kenya National Human Rights Commission and invited institutions to help in the process of reconciliation and putting in place a framework that would bring back the credibility of the electoral process and an acceptable conclusion A re-run of presidential election supervised by a team of independent observers and representatives of the two parties (ODM and PNU) within an agreed time frame. It is now clear from ECK that they did not know who won. The ECK had put aside funds for a run off, and that money can be used to SAVE KENYA. * Antony Otieno Ong'ayo is a Researcher in the New Politics Programme at the Transnational Institute *Please send comments to editor(a)pambazuka.org or comment online at http://www.pambazuka.org ****** /\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\ 3 Pan-African Postcard PARACHUTE JOURNALISM AND THE KENYAN CRISIS George Ogola George Ogola decries the simplistic western approach to covering news on Africa, as exemplified by the reporting of the Kenyan post- election crisis They were probably the longest days of my life. Red-eyed from lack of sleep and desperate for updated information on the Kenyan elections, I meticulously watched international TV networks and spent hours surfing the net for relevant sites covering the elections. I could sense curiosity turn into anxiety then fear before an unprecedented implosion. Kenya was at war with itself. The Economist called it ‘a very African coup’ while Raila Odinga called it ‘a civilian coup’. Both PNU and ODM claimed victory. Confusion reigned as chaos erupted. Months of excitement had turned into uncertainty for some and distress for others. But as I agonised with my people, there was a parallel drama unfolding. When controversy over the presidential elections threatened to destroy our fragile nation-state, ‘parachute’ journalists descended on Nairobi eager to cover yet another ‘trouble spot’ in the blighted continent. As the country went to the polls, Africa collectively had no more than tickers in the major international news channels. A week prior to the election, only Al-Jazeera had taken some trouble to tell the Kenyan story. Reuters Africa proved another notable exception. But the familiar would soon follow, vicious and unrelenting. When protests met the announcement of the presidential results, CNN, BBC 24 and Sky News sent some of their finest to Nairobi. But the frame of reference had been pre-determined. A narrative had been established. Kenya had descended into tribal anarchy reminiscent of the Rwanda genocide. Neighbours had turned onto each other just because they belonged to different tribes. ‘Tribal violence’ became the definitive mantra and was the basis for reports across the world. I recall a BBC 24 news anchor asking a reporter when the results were announced whether a military coup was an immediate possibility. Meanwhile, pundits were carefully selected. As a rule, they were middle class white folk mostly ex-diplomats previously based in Africa and ‘respected’ London-based Africanists working with the city’s many ‘Think-Tanks’. There was the occasional African interviewed on a late night show. The frames of reference could not be destabilised. People were being targeted and killed indiscriminately by tribal mobs. The savagery both in the deed as well as coverage was taken to new heights when a Church was set ablaze in Eldoret killing more than 40 people. International reporters flew to the town and milked the tragedy. They reconstructed the gory scenes, the savagery unbeknown to man since Rwanda. Footage of rotting corpses in maize fields and overflowing morgues were aired without reservation. The dead were denied dignity. If you were Kenyan, you cried; and I wept. But I cried for my country as well as the job I love. The kind of coverage I saw on Sky, BBC 24, Euro News and a host other channels was not magnanimity. I was convinced it was not a desire by a section of the international media to tell the world the true story about the conflict that was slowly consuming Kenya. This was about a good story; it was about the exploitation of a people crying out for help. It was equally about a western anthropology that figures conflict in Africa only in tribal terms; an Africa whose existence is so basic it must not be understood beyond the discourse of the tribe. I witnessed the power of a selective morality that tends to view Africa from a paradigm of difference, a unique rationality that embraces the kind of savagery the world was witnessing. Feature stories, commentaries and editorial pieces revelled in descriptions of gore; of eyes gorged, bodies burnt beyond recognition, of limbs severed with machetes. The description sounded more like a sport. Context and detail was ignored as the number of deaths became fodder for good stories. Highbrow newspapers suddenly became tabloids with pictures of fleeing Kenyans, children sleeping rough and lines of women with bowls queuing for food making the cover pages. TV news anchors asked reporters on the ground how many were starving, how many more had been killed, and how many more villages had been razed. Helicopters were more useful flying over burnt out villages to capture footage of frightened villagers than provide assistance. When many news channels heard whiff of planned protests, the question was not what it was about but how violent it would be. The threshold of death was continuously being revised, indeed rewritten. Amid this, the obvious was deliberately being negated. Why was violence in Nairobi largely restricted to the slums of Kibera and Mathare? Was it possible that the Kenyan poor were at war with the rich and with themselves, though speaking in a voice that is anathema to a revolution? Why was violence so seductive? Why were the middle classes marooned in their suburbs, silent and invisible? Why was the violence so vicious in the rural areas and especially in the Rift Valley? Was it really possibly that because of disputed presidential elections, Kenya would suddenly implode? Was there a historical trajectory to this conflict? No, the unambiguity of Africa as a problem continent could not be challenged at a time when it was such a good story. The assumption that informs the continent’s interpretation is that this is a continent whose civilisation cannot be so sophisticated as to have class wars; neither can it justifiably fight for anything remotely democratic. I’m still torn between weeping for my country and an institution I still love dearly. * Dr. George Ogola teaches at the University of Central Lancashire *Please send comments to editor(a)pambazuka.org or comment online at http://www.pambazuka.org ****** /\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\ Fahamu - Networks For Social Justice http://www.fahamu.org © Unless otherwise indicated, all materials published are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. For further details see: http:// www.pambazuka.org/en/about.php Pambazuka news can be viewed online: http://www.pambazuka.org/ RSS Feeds available at http://www.pambazuka.org/en/newsfeed.php Pambazuka News is published with the support of a number of funders, details of which can be obtained at http://www.pambazuka.org/en/ about.php To SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE go to: http://pambazuka.gn.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pambazuka-news or send a message to editor(a)pambazuka.org with the word SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line as appropriate. The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Pambazuka News or Fahamu. ISSN 1753-6839

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[Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] ICANN Seeks Expressions of Interest from Auction Design Experts]
by alice 22 Jan '08

22 Jan '08

-------------------- From ICANN Dear All, Thanks for your help in disseminating the word for African Companies. ICANN Seeks Expressions of Interest from Auction Design Experts 18 January 2008 ICANN is seeking expressions of interest from entities experienced in developing and managing auction processes. ICANN has identified several areas where auctions might be an appropriate tool, such as the efficient disposition of data from terminated registrars and registries, the allocation of single-character second-level domain names, and perhaps, resolution of contention between competing commercial applicants for identical strings in the application process for new generic Top Level Domains. A number of commenters and academics have recommended auctions as the preferred method of objectively allocating scarce resources such as popular second-level domain names or gTLD strings. Also, ICANN received substantial public comment in the discussion on allocation of single-character second-level names that the names should be allocated through an auction model. ICANN is an internationally organized non-profit public benefit organization that administers certain features of the Internet's unique identifiers. As a private-public partnership, ICANN is dedicated to preserving the operational stability of the Internet; to promoting competition; to achieving broad representation of global Internet communities; and to developing policy appropriate to its mission through bottom-up, consensus-based processes. A general description of ICANN is available at http://icann.org/tr/english.html <http://www.icann.org/tr/english.html>. *Background* As recommended by the GNSO Council, ICANN commenced a Forum on Allocation Methods for Single-Letter and Single-Digit Domain Names in gTLD registries. ICANN conducted the public forum from 16 October to 15 December 2007. The Forum on Allocation Methods identified support from members of the ICANN community and described several auction models of single-letter and single-digit domain names at the second-level (see 16 October 2007 announcement at http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-16oct07.htm, and Summary of Comments located at http://www.icann.org/public_comment/single-letter-summary-comments-23dec07.… [PDF, 61K]. If these models are pursued, ICANN staff has determined that the additional knowledge and expertise on auctions is necessary to further work in this area. Although implementation plans are still in development, ICANN staff has also identified auctions as a possibility of final resort for addressing string contention among multiple applicants for popular new generic TLDs. Additional guidance on auctions will be beneficial as staff moves toward the introduction of new gTLDs in the near future. In furtherance of the protection of registrants, auctions also provide a mechanism for addressing the termination or failure of accredited registrars and gTLD registries and the efficient transfer of names to a competent, on-going registrar or registry. *Qualifications* Entities interested in submitting Expressions of Interest should be experienced in areas of auction design, management and implementation. Prior experience with telecommunications, Internet or domain name, energy/utility or other asset auctions would be particularly relevant. *Expressions of Interest* Expressions of interest should be sent to Patrick Jones, at patrick.jones(a)icann.org <mailto:patrick.jones@icann.org> by 23:59 UTC on 18 February 2008. ICANN is hoping to select a qualified entity or entities to assist with auctions in 2008. Accordingly, ICANN is eager to commence a dialogue to determine whether your service is interested and would be capable of assisting ICANN with the development and management of auction processes. ICANN requests Expressions of Interest from potential entities that include information showing that your organization can fulfill the requirements set forth above, as well as background information about your organization, appropriate experience and additional qualifications you believe would be relevant, but that are not addressed above. _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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about Google &Safaricom:-xyz@safaricom.com
by John Walubengo 22 Jan '08

22 Jan '08

I came accross the joint effort to b/w google & safaricom with regard to providing e-addresses. Good idea, but my question was: Is the domain 'safaricom.com' locally hosted? I would have been happier (technically and mentally) if the suffix was xyz(a)safaricom.CO.KE or is it that suddenly the .KE suffix has brought us too much shame and pain that no one wants to use it :-(? walu. nb: as a way of leading by example, I have been planning to shed off my jwalu(a)yahoo.com in favor of jwalu(a)jambo.co.ke but I seem to be trapped in some perpetual migration fever...Methinks we need to build .KE, both literally and electronically. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

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[Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] AFTLD 2nd African ccTLDs Event, Cape Town, SA "April 2008" - Africann invited]
by alice 22 Jan '08

22 Jan '08

Dear all FYI and follow up. best alice -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] AFTLD 2nd African ccTLDs Event, Cape Town, SA "April 2008" - Africann invited Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:52:45 +0300 From: Mohamed EL Bashir <admin(a)isoc.sd> Reply-To: admin(a)isoc.sd, africann(a)afrinic.net Organization: Sudan Internet Society "SIS" To: africann(a)afrinic.net Dear African AfTLD in cooperation with South Africa's Department of Communications “DOC”, AfTLD is organizing the Second African ccTLD event ( Workshops, Training and AfTLD General Assembly meeting in Cape Town, South Africa from7th to 11th of April 2008. AFTLD workshops main objective is to offer advanced DNS training and exchange of best practices between African Country Code Top Level Domain operators/managers. Telecom, ISPs and Governments ICT Agencies, are invited to participate in AfTLD events inorder to be contribute to the process of developing and enhancing a national Internet infrastructure and provide assistance in building a strong local Internet services by promoting and utilizing country’s top level domain . Event Programme : The event programme and logistics will be announced soon. Previous AfTLD Events : Visit AfTLD 2007 Cairo Page ( materials, AGM Report, Photo Gallery, ..ect ) .. http://www.aftld.org/cairo2007/index.html Best Regards, Mohamed El Bashir VP Communications & Out-Reach AFTLD _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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I.T. Case Studies...
by Michael Kipsang Bullut 22 Jan '08

22 Jan '08

Greetings, Does anyone by any chance have any documented I.T. Case Studies with them? If you do, could you please forward them to this address: kipsangb(a)iconnect.co.ke Thank you... Kind regards, Michael. -- "To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wildflower...hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour..." ~ William Blakeg. --

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Open Positions at AfriNIC
by brian 22 Jan '08

22 Jan '08

FYI from AfriNIC ------------------------------- Dear Colleagues, The following positions are opened at AfriNIC: 1. Communications Area Manager. http://www.afrinic.net/job/jobs2008/afjob_cco200801_Advert.htm 2. Event Coordinator & Marketing Communication Officer. http://www.afrinic.net/job/jobs2008/afjob_ecco200801_Advert.htm Both positions will be based at our headquarters in Mauritius. For any further queries, do not hesitate to contact us on jobs(a)afrinic.net. Kind Regards, Kiran Cunniah Executive Assistant AfriNIC

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Food for thought
by Gakiria 21 Jan '08

21 Jan '08

Dear All, An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does the truth become error because nobody will see it. -Mohandas K. Gandhi(1869-1948) The propagandist's purpose is to make one set of people forget that certain other sets of people are human. -Aldous Huxley, novelist (1894-1963)

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[Fwd: African Banking Technology Conference, Nairobi, 15-22 February.: Sharing Knowledge and Best Practices in Banking across Africa"
by alice 20 Jan '08

20 Jan '08

/"Sharing Knowledge and Best Practices in Banking across Africa"/ 15-22 February 2008 at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi *Hosted and organised by AITEC Africa: http://www.aitecafrica.com/?q=node/524 * Africa’s financial sector aspires to world-class systems and standards that match best practices in developed economies. But at the same time, the continent’s banks have to seek growth in the region’s vast majority of unbanked who require low-cost mass banking services. The effective application of IT and telecommunication solutions is essential for developing a profitable balance between these two sides of the banking market. World-class systems have to be carefully examined and assessed for their appropriateness to extend services to mass, low-income, mostly rural customers – instead of widening the divide between a banking system that serves an urban elite, delivering high-value services to a limited market, and the vast majority of the population that remains unbanked and therefore excluded from the formal economy. The African Banking Technology Conference provides the region’s banking community with in-depth briefings from African and international experts that will enable them to assess latest banking technology systems and strategies to achieve an effective and profitable balance. *Who is the conference aimed at?* The event will have several key audiences: • ICT managers & professionals in the banking and financial services sector • Policy-makers • High-level managers at CEO, COO and CFO level • Innovators and service providers active in the financial services sector • Telecom operators and service providers • NGOs/civil society organisations directly involved with delivering banking or microfinance services in rural areas. • Media representatives *Evaluation and Outputs* There will be several outputs from the event: • Increased knowledge among ICT managers and ICT professionals in the East African banking sector of latest international trends and technologies and their application in the region • Increased awareness among high-level non-technical managers in the sector of the vital role ICT has to play in their business strategies – and the range of technologies and systems available. • Informed media coverage that will help build a profile for the issues under discussion. • Brokering of relationships between suppliers and users of ICT systems for the financial sector. *Presentation Proposals* To propose a Forum presentation, send a brief outline to Sean Moroney, email: seanm(a)aitecafrica.com <mailto:seanm@aitecafrica.com> *Conference six-day programme http://www.aitecafrica.com/?q=node/524* ** *Exhibition* There will be an exhibition linked to the conference, providing an opportunity to network with participants in a unique educational setting. For more information email info(a)aitecafrica.com <mailto:info@aitecafrica.com>

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Annual Digital Africa Summit : “Next Generation Convergence Driving Positive Change”,22-24 April 2008 • Johannesburg South Africa
by alice 20 Jan '08

20 Jan '08

Annual Digital Africa Summit “Next Generation Convergence Driving Positive Change” 22-24 April 2008 • Hilton Sandton Hotel • Johannesburg South Africa Having recently completed the 5th Annual Summit which was an enormous success for all involved. We are pleased to announce the 6th annual Digital Africa Summit 2008 will take an in depth look at technology convergence from an African perspective. Operators on the African continent are currently rolling out WiMax networks, developing IPTV capability and yet many Africans struggle to access even the most basic services. The problems facing African operators are exacerbated by a sense of confusion in the entire Global telecoms industry surrounding implementation of Next Generation Networks. In spite of the confusion and uncertainty surrounding NGN, in 2008 a Global boom is expected in the investment into Triple & Quadruple Play, Fixed-mobile convergence and WiMax solutions. The Digital Africa Summit aims to assist African operators by providing information that will aid them in developing a focussed, practical strategy moving forward. This will be achieved by orchestrating a debate between: * Leading regulatory authorities from Africa and the World (ICASA, ETSI and more) * Operators from Africa and the World * Solution providers such as Alcatel, Nortel, Ericsson and Motorola * System integrators such as IBM and Dimension Data We expect participating executives to leave this debate with greater clarity and understanding about the challenges they will face in developing their networks. The Summary from this year: "The recently concluded 5th Annual Digital Africa Summit attracted participants from over 22 African countries ranging from Government Ministers, Chief Accounting Officers (Permanent Secretaries, Director Generals, Principal Secretaries etc) and public sector professionals to Chief Executives and Managing Directors of leading information and communication technology companies in Africa. This was the first time the ICT practice in Africa was convened in the scenic parliamentary capital of South Africa to discuss ‘Corporate Social Responsibility and how ICTs can set the standard for sustainable development’. The session was opened by South Africa’s Minister of Communications Hon Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri who placed emphasis on the need for sustainable use of information and communication technology in order to meet the expectations of the world information society..." To read the rest of the Summary, please feel free to check out the Archive section of the website for the Summary, Photos, Presentations & Testimonials from the previous Summits. "Highly focused meetings between supplier and prospective buyers. This is a very good Summit. It meets and exceeds my expectations completely. The discussions and content is quite relevant and complimentary to the ongoing responsible development of Africa." Managing Director, VDT Communications Ltd

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Safaricom expresses concern over inflammatory SMS
by Mike Theuri 19 Jan '08

19 Jan '08

http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=47669 Safaricom expresses concern over inflammatory SMS Written By:Rose Kamau, Posted: Sat, Jan 19, 2008 Safaricom has expressed concern over the content of inflammatory text messages being sent around vilifying the company and urging members of the public to shun its services in the name of propagating mass action. In a statement, the company asserts its commitment to the welfare of all Kenyans. The company says it has a staff of over 1,400 Kenyans, in addition to dealer network of 400 dealers employing over 2,500 Kenyans, and indirectly over 25,000 people across the country. "Safaricom currently has over 9.3 million Kenyans subscribers and we know that in one way or another, Safaricom plays a part in Kenya's day to day life, "the company says. The company further says it has contributed to the creation of a sustainable environment by promoting dialogue with its stakeholders countrywide and assisting local communities, through its CSR programs through the Safaricom Foundation. "Having allocated more than Ksh100 million over the past year alone, on projects ranging from education, health, community development, environment, Arts, and culture, sports and disaster funding, Safaricom has and will continue to positively impact hundreds of thousands of Kenyans, " the company says. The company calls for the current crisis to be resolved peacefully soon to avert further loss of lives destruction of property. "We are also committed to alleviating the suffering being experienced by the many Kenyans who have lost their loved ones, livelihoods and homes. It is in this respect that together with our partners Safaricom Foundation and Vodafone Foundation, we have donated Kshs 15 million to the Kenya Red Cross Society towards post-election emergency relief services ". "We have also launched three methods through which members of the public can assist their fellow Kenyans by donating money either by sending funds through Sambaza to line 0721 100 000, by sending a peace message to the short code 767 where each message is charged at Kshs 20, or by sending any amount up to Kshs 35,000 via M-Pesa to account number 10000", the company says.

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No Peace Without Justice [NPWJ]
by Bill Kagai 19 Jan '08

19 Jan '08

Colleagues, As I had informed you earlier, a human rights investigations body called 'No Peace Without Justice' - www.npwj.org - based in Brussels, has been seconded by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights - www.knchr.org - to spearhead investigations and forensic audit of the causes behind the recent violence, killings, displacement and wanton destruction of property after the 2007 general elections. Having talked to the officers in charge of this operation, they have indicated to me that they require a lot of ICT support in mapping the conflict region, geo-information and 'access' to feed data straight into the database from the field. I have been helping the consultants with basic IT support and informed them that in our Kictanet fraternity, they will be able to get all the support (resources, financial, mobility) to help heal our country and bring the perpetrators of this violence to justice. As a Kictanet patriot, I kindly request you to liaise directly with - *Niccolò A. Figà-Talamanca * or *Anthony Kuria* - email - akuria(a)knchr.org - +254 20 2717908/2717928 to understand the problem statement and see how your firm or as individual can contribute to this enormous task ahead of them. -- Bildad Kagai MD - MediaCorp Limited Nairobi Stock Exchange [NSE] - Authorised Information Vendor Suite B2 Tetu Apartments StateHouse Avenue P. O. Box 20311-00200 Tel. 254 20 272 8332 Fax. Rendered Obsolete URL. www.mediacorpafrica.com --

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STATE OF THE INDUSTRY LUNCHEON 24/01/2008 – KENYA ICT FEDERATION - KENYA ICT BOARD
by nancy bosire 18 Jan '08

18 Jan '08

Kenya ICT Federation * * 18th January 2008 Dear members and partners, RE: STATE OF THE INDUSTRY LUNCHEON 24/01/2008 – KENYA ICT FEDERATION - KENYA ICT BOARD During 2008 KIF will organise a series of State-of-the-Industry luncheons with the Kenya ICT Board, for our Members and guests. The Kenya ICT Board (KICTB) will present its mandate, undertakes to each time present its up-to-date strategic plan and KIF will select a theme for each session. At these meetings, KICTB expects support from the KIF membership as a think tank and source of inspiration. Please note that KICTB has invited the new KIF KICTB Liaison Committee to obtain information about its ongoing activities and programme implementation, whenever required. This will assist KIF to inform its Members better about the KICTB programmes and to encourage their participation. The first meeting in this series will be on the 24th of January 2008 at the Grand Regency from 12.30pm to 2.30 pm. The agenda will be e-mailed mid next week. Charges: Ksh. 2,000 for Members and Ksh.3, 000 for non-members. Contact details are below for early reservations. Book early to avoid disappointment. PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY. Sincerely yours, Nancy Bosire *Secretariat Manager* *Kenya** ICT Federation Tel: 020 4440102 Mobile: 0721907995* *secretariat(a)kif.or.ke**, info(a)kif.or.ke* *http://www.kif.or.ke* <http://www.kif.or.ke/>** Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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Uganda: ICT Sector Brought in Sh256b in 2007
by Harry Hare 18 Jan '08

18 Jan '08

Interesting figures here from Uganda, unfortunately no comparison was made (or at least the journalist did not capture it) with 2006 figures to measure the growth in the past 12 months. What is interesting is that ICT has contributed to 9% of the GDP! Any such measurement from CCK? Harry ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ New Vision (Kampala) 17 January 2008 Posted to the web 18 January 2008 David Muwanga Kampala THE information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector attracted projects worth sh256b ($150m) last year, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), has announced. "Investment in the sector for the year 2007 was estimated at $150m and its contribution to the gross domestic product is approximately 9%," Patrick Masambu, the head of UCC, said on Monday. Masambu was speaking at a function where MTN, uganda telecom and Celtel handed in a combined contribution of sh5.1b to the rural communication development the fund. The telecom operators give a conditional 1% of their annual gross earnings to fund. Masambu explained that more than 300,000 jobs were created directly and indirectly. "This is an increase of one hundred times following the restructuring of the sector and this is likely to increase as a result of the new service providers recruitment drive as well as indirect employment," he said. He disclosed that over 20 companies had been licensed to provide voice telephony and data services. "A wide range of modern postal products including easy mail track and trace, electronic money transfer are now available in the market and the public should utilise them," Masambu said. He said the customer base had also grown from 50,000 in 1998 to 4.7m, representing a tele-density of about 16%. Masambu, however, warned of several challenges the fund faces, including infrastructure limitations in rural areas and insecurity. African eDevelopment Resource Centre 3rd Floor, Nelleon Place Raphta Road, Westlands PO Box 49475 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Cel +254 725 650044 Land +254 20 4453445 www.africanedevelopment.org *********************************************************** February 2008 Capacity Building Opportunities VSAT Field Engineering: 5-8 Records Management: 13-15 Fiber Optics: 26-29 Book Now, Limited spaces available

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[Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Q&A with SEACOM President]
by alice 17 Jan '08

17 Jan '08

Hi all FYI -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] Q&A with SEACOM President Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:39:47 +0100 (CET) From: Wairagala Wakabi <wakabi(a)cipesa.org> Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> References: <478EEA7B.7040702(a)apc.org> <FB0CFC3EE5CB18438CE7E5D638A91B8082084F(a)SFCMAIL01.safaricom.net> <2526.217.113.73.239.1200565276.squirrel(a)mail.cipesa.org> Q&A with SEACOM President Construction of the13,700 km Sea Cable System (SEACOM, www.seacom.mu) is underway and expected to reach completion by June 2009. The cable will comprise of two fibre pairs, connecting South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Kenya to India and Egypt, with an option for connectivity into the UAE and Djibouti. Fibre-for-Africa (www.fibreforafrica.net) spoke to SEACOM Ltd. president Brian Herlihy. Excerpts: Q. Who are the partners in SEACOM and how much are they investing in the network? A. SEACOM has publicly announced its investors, it is 75% African owned with Agha Khan Economic Development Group (IPS) out of East Africa, Venfin, Convergence Partners and Shanduka group from South Africa. The remaining 25% is owned by Herakles Telecom, our New York based development company. Herakles management is also the management of Sithe Global (developer and investor of the Bujagali Hydro in Uganda) and Global Alumina, a $4.5 billion alumina refinery in Guinea. Q. What do you envisage will be the prices for SEACOMs bandwidth? A. SEACOMs pricing is the equivalent of $100 to $170 per Mb/s per month. Q. In what ways will SEACOM be competitive compared to other fibre initiatives in the region, such as TEAMS and EASSy? A. SEACOM is the only cable offering a PoP to PoP solution for Europe and Asia. I believe this is a large advantage and the purchase of onward capacity is a difficult process. SEACOM understands that TEAMS has very competitive pricing to Fujairah. SEACOM believes that its pricing to Europe is more competitive than EASSys pricing to Sudan. Q. How will SEACOM assure affordability of services, and how has it been responsive to NEPADs calls for Open Access? A. SEACOM has structured each landing point as an open access unit. This has been accomplished in two formats. First, the capital cost of the landing stations is a sunk cost for SEACOM, in other words SEACOM does not seek to recover the investment costs of the landing station through co-location fees. Secondly, each landing station is built with an additional building whereby customers can put their own equipment at the cable station. SEACOM has published its prices through many different forums. The pricing is an 80% discount over current satellite charges and is the only cable offering capacity directly from a PoP (Point of Presence) in Nairobi to a PoP in Europe or India without the requirement to purchase onward capacity. Q. Would you say the fact that SEACOM is not a local company in the countries where it is going to land fibre places it at a disadvantage compared to pother cable systems such as EASSy and TEAMS? A. Depending on each countrys regulatory regime, SEACOM has either established a local entity to operate the cable or partnered with an existing cable. SEACOM will bring experienced operators to the cable to ensure that the local entities maintain world class quality service. Q. What are your comments to the assertion that it is not viable for the eastern coast of Africa to have three competing cables? Do you see a need for the cables to cooperate in some areas rather than duplicate everything? A. The current capacity demand on the East Coast of Africa is very small. However, we believe that the future demand will experience exponential growth. Having said the three competing systems would create a large over-supply which could create a short term glut. Q. What is Herakles Telecom and where does it operate from? A. Herakles Telecom is a development company set in New York. The management is the same management that works with Sithe Global (www.sitheglobal.com) and Global Alumina (www.globalalumina.com) Q. There has been talk that Herakles staff were involved in the Africa One project which did not materialise, and that they collected money from African telecom, which money has purportedly not been refunded. How true is this, and how could it affect SEACOMs operations? A. I have noted the slander towards myself and JP (Jean Pierre de Leu) out of Kenya. I can confirm that both of us worked and spent many years with Africa ONE for the hope that this project would go forward. However, neither of us were principals of this project and left the project from 2002. It was our understanding that the only countries that made a deposit were Eritrea and Mauritania. We understand that the sales person for Eritrea was able to help that money be returned. It should be noted that the Africa ONE name was sold by AT&T to a private investment group in 1998 and it was this group who was responsible for that money ¬ JP and myself have nothing to do with this entity. Since Africa (2002) I have worked as a developer on over $5 billion of projects in Africa, each of which have excellent reputations and large impacts in their respective countries, including Bujagali in Uganda. - wakabi(a)cipesa.org --- _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

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[Fwd: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] [Fwd: Re: [Fwd: Re: SEACOM gets funding boost]]]]
by alice 17 Jan '08

17 Jan '08

From the fibre for Africa list -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] [Fwd: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: SEACOM gets funding boost]] Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:21:16 +0100 (CET) From: Wairagala Wakabi <wakabi(a)cipesa.org> Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> References: <478EEA7B.7040702(a)apc.org> <FB0CFC3EE5CB18438CE7E5D638A91B8082084F(a)SFCMAIL01.safaricom.net> Vitalis, Fibre-for-Africa (www.fibreforafrica.net) today put this issue to Mr Herlihy, president of SEACOM. His response: "I can confirm that both of us worked and spent many years with Africa ONE for the hope that this project would go forward. However, neither of us were principals of this project and left the project from 2002. It was our understanding that the only countries that made a deposit were Eritrea and Mauritania. "We understand that the sales person for Eritrea was able to help that money be returned. It should be noted that the Africa ONE name was sold by AT&T to a private investment group in 1998 and it was this group who was responsible for that money ¬ JP and myself have nothing to do with this entity. Since Africa (2002) I have worked as a developer on over $5 billion of projects in Africa, each of which have excellent reputations and large impacts in their respective countries, including Bujagali in Uganda." Wakabi > If the two men, Jean Pierre de Leu - a resident in Kenya and owner of > Karibunet and Brian Hilehy President of Heracles from SA- were truly > involved in Africa One Project, then they should explain what happened > to the contributions made to the Africa One Project, after it became a > "White Elephant". The defunct KPTC and many other organizations did > contribute to this project but it did not take-off. How can we trust > them now that SEACOM will not go the same direction? And even if Seacom > will be a success story, they should refund the contributions for Africa > One. > > > Vitalis > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: fibre-for-africa-bounces(a)lists.apc.org > [mailto:fibre-for-africa-bounces@lists.apc.org] On Behalf Of alice > Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 8:41 AM > To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants > Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] [Fwd: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: SEACOM gets > funding boost]] > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] SEACOM gets > funding boost] > Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 07:16:48 +0300 > From: Victor Maloi <victormaloi3(a)gmail.com> > To: alice <alice(a)apc.org> > CC: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > References: <478E11D0.1070605(a)apc.org> > > > > Wakabi, > You have not addressed the fact that the principals behind Seacom > collected funds from African Telcos and never refunded the money when > the project failed. KPTC now Telcom Kenya indeed paid and never > recovered the funds. Should we embrace these individuals even when they > > stole from our national investments? Please declare your interests too. > > Victor > > > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] SEACOM gets funding boost > Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:31:24 +0100 (CET) > From: Wairagala Wakabi <wakabi(a)cipesa.org > <mailto:wakabi@cipesa.org>> > Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop > Participants > <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > <mailto:fibre-for-africa@lists.apc.org>> > To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants > <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > <mailto:fibre-for-africa@lists.apc.org>> > CC: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > <mailto:kictanet@kictanet.or.ke>> > References: < > 3104.217.113.73.239.1195028026.squirrel(a)mail.cipesa.org > <mailto:3104.217.113.73.239.1195028026.squirrel@mail.cipesa.org>> > <478CFEF7.1040209(a)apc.org <mailto:478CFEF7.1040209@apc.org>> > > > > Alice, > Our understanding is that SEACOM (The Sea Cable System) is a > registered in > Mauritius and owned 25% by Herakles Telecom - the managing partner > for the > cable who is based in New York. > > The other partners: > 1) Industrial Promotion Service of the Aga Khan Foundation (25%); > 2) Venfin (a South African investment holding company with > interests in > IT (25%); > 3) Shanduka Group, a South African investment company (12.5%); > 4) Convergence Partners, a South African Black Economic Empowerment > (BEE) > investment company focusing on the Telecommunications, Media and > Technology (TMT) sector - 12.5%. > > SEACOM says the ownership structure varies for each segment of the > cable, > which ensures local ownership of the cable segments connecting > individual > countries to comply with regulations in those countries. The cable > backbone along the east coast of Africa and to India and Europe is > owned > by SEACOM; while the segments connecting to individual countries are > either 100% (South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, India, France) or > 35% > (Tanzania, Kenya) locally owned. > > Wakabi > > ===== > > Hi all > > > > Out of curiosity, who is SEACOM? rather who are behind SEACOM? > > Anyone conducted due diligence. Any connection to the Africa One > saga? > > > > best > > alice > > > > > > > > Wairagala Wakabi wrote: > >> Netters, > >> Its backers are saying SEACOM will be the only new cable > completed in > >> time > >> to give South Africa the bandwidth needed for the 2010 WC, with > "actual > >> production of the fibreoptic cable and undersea facilities" > starting > >> next > >> week. SA's SNO, NEOTEL, has helped marshal capital from local > financial > >> heavyweights, enabling NEOTEL to be owned 50% by South Africans. > >> > >> Tut Tut... > >> > >> Wakabi > >> > >> > >> Sea cable venture lands big investors > >> > >> By Lesley Stones, Business Day, November 14 2007 > >> > >> AN UNDERSEA cable promising cheap bandwidth for Africa yesterday > finally > >> named its backers, signing up enough well-connected local > investors to > >> guarantee its landing rights in SA. > >> > >> Investment heavyweight Venfin is sinking $75m into the project, > taking a > >> 25% stake in the 15000km cable linking SA to India and Europe. > >> > >> Cyril Ramaphosa's black investment house Shanduka is taking > 12,5%, worth > >> $37,5m. Another 12,5% goes to Convergence Partners, a group of > black > >> investors led by Andile Ngcaba, the chairman of Dimension Data > Africa > >> and > >> a former director-general of the communications department. > Nedbank > >> Capital and Investec will provide financing for the $650m > project. > >> > >> SA's second network operator, Neotel, is pumping in a far more > modest > >> R20m, and using its telecoms licence to guarantee that the cable > can > >> dock > >> in SA. > >> > >> The local ownership is sufficient to ensure that Seacom meets > >> controversial new conditions being drawn up by Communications > Minister > >> Ivy > >> Matsepe-Casaburri, dictating who can land a cable in SA. The > minister is > >> insisting that any cable must be majority owned by African > investors to > >> come ashore. > >> > >> South Africans hold 50% of Seacom, and that rises to 75% African > >> ownership > >> thanks to 25% held by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic > Development's > >> Industrial Promotion Services, a development agency based in > Kenya. > >> > >> The remaining 25% lies with New York's Herakles Telecom, a > development > >> group that has invested $4bn in Africa. > >> > >> Neotel is investing only in the local landing station, but its > licence > >> to > >> operate in SA conferred on it the right to land a cable, said MD > Ajay > >> Pandey. > >> > >> "Our understanding is that the country needs international > capacity, and > >> the way international cable landing protocols have been defined > means we > >> have the opportunity here." > >> > >> Venfin CEO Jannie Durand said Neotel's licence to land a cable > in SA > >> meant > >> everything had been done "legally and correctly". Venfin was > backing > >> Seacom for two reasons, he said: "We are hopefully going to make > a lot > >> of > >> money out of it and SA needs more bandwidth. We want to bring SA > >> affordable bandwidth to the rest of the world." > >> > >> Although the cable will cost $650m, it would be partly funded by > loans > >> as > >> well as equity, allowing Venfin to take 25% for less than the > book value > >> of the project, Durand said. > >> > >> Pandey believes Seacom will be the onlyThe actual production of > the > >> fibreoptic cable and undersea facilities will start next week. > >> > >> The consortium has already invested more than $10m in a marine > survey > >> and > >> engineering of the cable. The actual production of the > fibreoptic cable > >> and undersea facilities will start next week. > >> > >> Seacom will connect Mtunzini in SA to Mumbai in India and > Marseilles in > >> France via Mozambique, Madagascar, Kenya and Tanzania by June > 2009. > >> > >> Terrestrial links will be built to take its bandwidth to > numerous other > >> inland countries. Its capacity of 1,28 terabytes per second is > 10 times > >> the capacity on the existing Sat-3 cable around Africa's west > coast. > >> > >> The consortium has promised that it will charge other voice and > data > >> carriers significantly less for its bandwidth than they pay to > use Sat-3 > >> or satellite services, which should trigger a massive decrease > in the > >> cost > >> of phone calls, internet access and data transmissions for > African > >> consumers and businesses. > >> > >> "Improved access for business and individuals in Africa to > >> communications, > >> broadband services and new technology offerings can improve > lives and > >> help > >> grow the economies of our countries," said Ngcaba, the chairman > of > >> Convergence Partners. "The linking of southern and east Africa > with > >> India > >> and Europe is crucial for enhancing development and trade > between these > >> key regions." > >> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Fibre-for-africa mailing list > >> Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > <mailto:Fibre-for-africa@lists.apc.org> > >> http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > >> > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > <mailto:Fibre-for-africa@lists.apc.org> > > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > <mailto:Fibre-for-africa@lists.apc.org> > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > <http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa> > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: victormaloi3(a)gmail.com > <mailto:victormaloi3@gmail.com> > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/victormaloi3%40gmai > l.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > The information in this email and any attachments is confidential and may > be legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the named > addressee. > Emails are susceptible to alteration and their integrity cannot be > guaranteed. Safaricom Limited does not accept legal responsibility for the > contents of this email if the same is found to have been altered or > manipulated. > The contents and opinions expressed in this email are solely those of the > author and do not necessarily represent those of Safaricom Limited. > Safaricom Limited disclaims any liability to the fullest extent > permissible by law for any consequences that may arise from the contents > of this email including but not limited to personal opinions, malicious > and/or defamatory information and data/codes that may compromise or damage > the integrity of the recipient's information technology systems. > If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender and > immediately delete this email from your system. > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa _______________________________________________ secretariat mailing list secretariat(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/secretariat This message was sent to: alice(a)apc.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/secretariat/alice%40apc.org

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With friends like these ... understanding Facebook
by alice 17 Jan '08

17 Jan '08

With friends like these ... Face book has 59 million users - and 2 million new ones join each week. But you won't catch Tom Hodgkinson volunteering his personal information - not now that he knows the politics of the people behind the social networking site Tom Hodgkinson The Guardian, Monday January 14 2008 http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/jan/14/facebook --

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[Fwd: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] SEACOM gets funding boost]
by alice 17 Jan '08

17 Jan '08

FYI -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] SEACOM gets funding boost Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:31:24 +0100 (CET) From: Wairagala Wakabi <wakabi(a)cipesa.org> Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> CC: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke> References: <3104.217.113.73.239.1195028026.squirrel(a)mail.cipesa.org> <478CFEF7.1040209(a)apc.org> Alice, Our understanding is that SEACOM (The Sea Cable System) is a registered in Mauritius and owned 25% by Herakles Telecom - the managing partner for the cable who is based in New York. The other partners: 1) Industrial Promotion Service of the Aga Khan Foundation (25%); 2) Venfin (a South African investment holding company with interests in IT (25%); 3) Shanduka Group, a South African investment company (12.5%); 4) Convergence Partners, a South African Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) investment company focusing on the Telecommunications, Media and Technology (TMT) sector - 12.5%. SEACOM says the ownership structure varies for each segment of the cable, which ensures local ownership of the cable segments connecting individual countries to comply with regulations in those countries. The cable backbone along the east coast of Africa and to India and Europe is owned by SEACOM; while the segments connecting to individual countries are either 100% (South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, India, France) or 35% (Tanzania, Kenya) locally owned. Wakabi ===== > Hi all > > Out of curiosity, who is SEACOM? rather who are behind SEACOM? > Anyone conducted due diligence. Any connection to the Africa One saga? > > best > alice > > > > Wairagala Wakabi wrote: >> Netters, >> Its backers are saying SEACOM will be the only new cable completed in >> time >> to give South Africa the bandwidth needed for the 2010 WC, with "actual >> production of the fibreoptic cable and undersea facilities" starting >> next >> week. SA's SNO, NEOTEL, has helped marshal capital from local financial >> heavyweights, enabling NEOTEL to be owned 50% by South Africans. >> >> Tut Tut... >> >> Wakabi >> >> >> Sea cable venture lands big investors >> >> By Lesley Stones, Business Day, November 14 2007 >> >> AN UNDERSEA cable promising cheap bandwidth for Africa yesterday finally >> named its backers, signing up enough well-connected local investors to >> guarantee its landing rights in SA. >> >> Investment heavyweight Venfin is sinking $75m into the project, taking a >> 25% stake in the 15000km cable linking SA to India and Europe. >> >> Cyril Ramaphosas black investment house Shanduka is taking 12,5%, worth >> $37,5m. Another 12,5% goes to Convergence Partners, a group of black >> investors led by Andile Ngcaba, the chairman of Dimension Data Africa >> and >> a former director-general of the communications department. Nedbank >> Capital and Investec will provide financing for the $650m project. >> >> SAs second network operator, Neotel, is pumping in a far more modest >> R20m, and using its telecoms licence to guarantee that the cable can >> dock >> in SA. >> >> The local ownership is sufficient to ensure that Seacom meets >> controversial new conditions being drawn up by Communications Minister >> Ivy >> Matsepe-Casaburri, dictating who can land a cable in SA. The minister is >> insisting that any cable must be majority owned by African investors to >> come ashore. >> >> South Africans hold 50% of Seacom, and that rises to 75% African >> ownership >> thanks to 25% held by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Developments >> Industrial Promotion Services, a development agency based in Kenya. >> >> The remaining 25% lies with New Yorks Herakles Telecom, a development >> group that has invested $4bn in Africa. >> >> Neotel is investing only in the local landing station, but its licence >> to >> operate in SA conferred on it the right to land a cable, said MD Ajay >> Pandey. >> >> Our understanding is that the country needs international capacity, and >> the way international cable landing protocols have been defined means we >> have the opportunity here. >> >> Venfin CEO Jannie Durand said Neotels licence to land a cable in SA >> meant >> everything had been done legally and correctly. Venfin was backing >> Seacom for two reasons, he said: We are hopefully going to make a lot >> of >> money out of it and SA needs more bandwidth. We want to bring SA >> affordable bandwidth to the rest of the world. >> >> Although the cable will cost $650m, it would be partly funded by loans >> as >> well as equity, allowing Venfin to take 25% for less than the book value >> of the project, Durand said. >> >> Pandey believes Seacom will be the onlyThe actual production of the >> fibreoptic cable and undersea facilities will start next week. >> >> The consortium has already invested more than $10m in a marine survey >> and >> engineering of the cable. The actual production of the fibreoptic cable >> and undersea facilities will start next week. >> >> Seacom will connect Mtunzini in SA to Mumbai in India and Marseilles in >> France via Mozambique, Madagascar, Kenya and Tanzania by June 2009. >> >> Terrestrial links will be built to take its bandwidth to numerous other >> inland countries. Its capacity of 1,28 terabytes per second is 10 times >> the capacity on the existing Sat-3 cable around Africas west coast. >> >> The consortium has promised that it will charge other voice and data >> carriers significantly less for its bandwidth than they pay to use Sat-3 >> or satellite services, which should trigger a massive decrease in the >> cost >> of phone calls, internet access and data transmissions for African >> consumers and businesses. >> >> Improved access for business and individuals in Africa to >> communications, >> broadband services and new technology offerings can improve lives and >> help >> grow the economies of our countries, said Ngcaba, the chairman of >> Convergence Partners. The linking of southern and east Africa with >> India >> and Europe is crucial for enhancing development and trade between these >> key regions. >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Fibre-for-africa mailing list >> Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org >> http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

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[Fwd: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] [Fwd: Re: [Fwd: Re: SEACOM gets funding boost]]]
by alice 17 Jan '08

17 Jan '08

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] [Fwd: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: SEACOM gets funding boost]] Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:49:21 +0300 From: Vitalis Olunga <VOlunga(a)Safaricom.co.ke> Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> References: <478EEA7B.7040702(a)apc.org> If the two men, Jean Pierre de Leu - a resident in Kenya and owner of Karibunet and Brian Hilehy President of Heracles from SA- were truly involved in Africa One Project, then they should explain what happened to the contributions made to the Africa One Project, after it became a "White Elephant". The defunct KPTC and many other organizations did contribute to this project but it did not take-off. How can we trust them now that SEACOM will not go the same direction? And even if Seacom will be a success story, they should refund the contributions for Africa One. Vitalis -----Original Message----- From: fibre-for-africa-bounces(a)lists.apc.org [mailto:fibre-for-africa-bounces@lists.apc.org] On Behalf Of alice Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 8:41 AM To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] [Fwd: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: SEACOM gets funding boost]] -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] SEACOM gets funding boost] Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 07:16:48 +0300 From: Victor Maloi <victormaloi3(a)gmail.com> To: alice <alice(a)apc.org> CC: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> References: <478E11D0.1070605(a)apc.org> Wakabi, You have not addressed the fact that the principals behind Seacom collected funds from African Telcos and never refunded the money when the project failed. KPTC now Telcom Kenya indeed paid and never recovered the funds. Should we embrace these individuals even when they stole from our national investments? Please declare your interests too. Victor -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] SEACOM gets funding boost Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:31:24 +0100 (CET) From: Wairagala Wakabi <wakabi(a)cipesa.org <mailto:wakabi@cipesa.org>> Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org <mailto:fibre-for-africa@lists.apc.org>> To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org <mailto:fibre-for-africa@lists.apc.org>> CC: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke <mailto:kictanet@kictanet.or.ke>> References: < 3104.217.113.73.239.1195028026.squirrel(a)mail.cipesa.org <mailto:3104.217.113.73.239.1195028026.squirrel@mail.cipesa.org>> <478CFEF7.1040209(a)apc.org <mailto:478CFEF7.1040209@apc.org>> Alice, Our understanding is that SEACOM (The Sea Cable System) is a registered in Mauritius and owned 25% by Herakles Telecom - the managing partner for the cable who is based in New York. The other partners: 1) Industrial Promotion Service of the Aga Khan Foundation (25%); 2) Venfin (a South African investment holding company with interests in IT (25%); 3) Shanduka Group, a South African investment company (12.5%); 4) Convergence Partners, a South African Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) investment company focusing on the Telecommunications, Media and Technology (TMT) sector - 12.5%. SEACOM says the ownership structure varies for each segment of the cable, which ensures local ownership of the cable segments connecting individual countries to comply with regulations in those countries. The cable backbone along the east coast of Africa and to India and Europe is owned by SEACOM; while the segments connecting to individual countries are either 100% (South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, India, France) or 35% (Tanzania, Kenya) locally owned. Wakabi ===== > Hi all > > Out of curiosity, who is SEACOM? rather who are behind SEACOM? > Anyone conducted due diligence. Any connection to the Africa One saga? > > best > alice > > > > Wairagala Wakabi wrote: >> Netters, >> Its backers are saying SEACOM will be the only new cable completed in >> time >> to give South Africa the bandwidth needed for the 2010 WC, with "actual >> production of the fibreoptic cable and undersea facilities" starting >> next >> week. SA's SNO, NEOTEL, has helped marshal capital from local financial >> heavyweights, enabling NEOTEL to be owned 50% by South Africans. >> >> Tut Tut... >> >> Wakabi >> >> >> Sea cable venture lands big investors >> >> By Lesley Stones, Business Day, November 14 2007 >> >> AN UNDERSEA cable promising cheap bandwidth for Africa yesterday finally >> named its backers, signing up enough well-connected local investors to >> guarantee its landing rights in SA. >> >> Investment heavyweight Venfin is sinking $75m into the project, taking a >> 25% stake in the 15000km cable linking SA to India and Europe. >> >> Cyril Ramaphosa's black investment house Shanduka is taking 12,5%, worth >> $37,5m. Another 12,5% goes to Convergence Partners, a group of black >> investors led by Andile Ngcaba, the chairman of Dimension Data Africa >> and >> a former director-general of the communications department. Nedbank >> Capital and Investec will provide financing for the $650m project. >> >> SA's second network operator, Neotel, is pumping in a far more modest >> R20m, and using its telecoms licence to guarantee that the cable can >> dock >> in SA. >> >> The local ownership is sufficient to ensure that Seacom meets >> controversial new conditions being drawn up by Communications Minister >> Ivy >> Matsepe-Casaburri, dictating who can land a cable in SA. The minister is >> insisting that any cable must be majority owned by African investors to >> come ashore. >> >> South Africans hold 50% of Seacom, and that rises to 75% African >> ownership >> thanks to 25% held by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development's >> Industrial Promotion Services, a development agency based in Kenya. >> >> The remaining 25% lies with New York's Herakles Telecom, a development >> group that has invested $4bn in Africa. >> >> Neotel is investing only in the local landing station, but its licence >> to >> operate in SA conferred on it the right to land a cable, said MD Ajay >> Pandey. >> >> "Our understanding is that the country needs international capacity, and >> the way international cable landing protocols have been defined means we >> have the opportunity here." >> >> Venfin CEO Jannie Durand said Neotel's licence to land a cable in SA >> meant >> everything had been done "legally and correctly". Venfin was backing >> Seacom for two reasons, he said: "We are hopefully going to make a lot >> of >> money out of it and SA needs more bandwidth. We want to bring SA >> affordable bandwidth to the rest of the world." >> >> Although the cable will cost $650m, it would be partly funded by loans >> as >> well as equity, allowing Venfin to take 25% for less than the book value >> of the project, Durand said. >> >> Pandey believes Seacom will be the onlyThe actual production of the >> fibreoptic cable and undersea facilities will start next week. >> >> The consortium has already invested more than $10m in a marine survey >> and >> engineering of the cable. The actual production of the fibreoptic cable >> and undersea facilities will start next week. >> >> Seacom will connect Mtunzini in SA to Mumbai in India and Marseilles in >> France via Mozambique, Madagascar, Kenya and Tanzania by June 2009. >> >> Terrestrial links will be built to take its bandwidth to numerous other >> inland countries. Its capacity of 1,28 terabytes per second is 10 times >> the capacity on the existing Sat-3 cable around Africa's west coast. >> >> The consortium has promised that it will charge other voice and data >> carriers significantly less for its bandwidth than they pay to use Sat-3 >> or satellite services, which should trigger a massive decrease in the >> cost >> of phone calls, internet access and data transmissions for African >> consumers and businesses. >> >> "Improved access for business and individuals in Africa to >> communications, >> broadband services and new technology offerings can improve lives and >> help >> grow the economies of our countries," said Ngcaba, the chairman of >> Convergence Partners. "The linking of southern and east Africa with >> India >> and Europe is crucial for enhancing development and trade between these >> key regions." >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Fibre-for-africa mailing list >> Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org <mailto:Fibre-for-africa@lists.apc.org> >> http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org <mailto:Fibre-for-africa@lists.apc.org> > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org <mailto:Fibre-for-africa@lists.apc.org> http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa <http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa> _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: victormaloi3(a)gmail.com <mailto:victormaloi3@gmail.com> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/victormaloi3%40gmai l.com _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa The information in this email and any attachments is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the named addressee. Emails are susceptible to alteration and their integrity cannot be guaranteed. Safaricom Limited does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this email if the same is found to have been altered or manipulated. The contents and opinions expressed in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Safaricom Limited. Safaricom Limited disclaims any liability to the fullest extent permissible by law for any consequences that may arise from the contents of this email including but not limited to personal opinions, malicious and/or defamatory information and data/codes that may compromise or damage the integrity of the recipient's information technology systems. If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender and immediately delete this email from your system. _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

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FW: Investment Opportunities Talk- Saturday 26th January 2008
by Bill Kagai 17 Jan '08

17 Jan '08

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Patrick Kariuki <pkariuki(a)genesis.co.ke> Date: Jan 16, 2008 1:53 PM The Kenya Association of Investment Groups together with our partners would like to invite you and your group members to participate in an Investment Opportunity Session. Date: Saturday 26th January, 2008 Time: 8:30am -1.00pm Venue: AMREF Headquarters This informative session will begin with a talk on "Investing in Uncertain times" by James Mworia (CFA, CPA(K), Advocate and member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants with 8 years Investment Management Experience ) Followed by presentations on forthcoming investment opportunities in Resolution Health and MediaCorp. Charges: Ksh 500(Members) Ksh 1000( Non-Members) There are limited spaces available by advance booking. To reserve your place please call 3517967 or email admin(a)kaig.org We look forward to seeing you. The Kenya Association of Investment Groups P. O Box 48525 - 00200 Nairobi, Kenya. Tel 020 3517967 Email : admin(a)kaig.org -- Bildad Kagai MD - MediaCorp Limited Nairobi Stock Exchange [NSE] - Authorised Information Vendor Suite B2 Tetu Apartments StateHouse Avenue P. O. Box 20311-00200 Tel. 254 20 272 8332 Fax. Rendered Obsolete URL. www.mediacorpafrica.com --

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Re: [kictanet] [Fibre-for-africa] SEACOM gets funding boost
by alice 16 Jan '08

16 Jan '08

Hi all Out of curiosity, who is SEACOM? rather who are behind SEACOM? Anyone conducted due diligence. Any connection to the Africa One saga? best alice Wairagala Wakabi wrote: > Netters, > Its backers are saying SEACOM will be the only new cable completed in time > to give South Africa the bandwidth needed for the 2010 WC, with "actual > production of the fibreoptic cable and undersea facilities" starting next > week. SA's SNO, NEOTEL, has helped marshal capital from local financial > heavyweights, enabling NEOTEL to be owned 50% by South Africans. > > Tut Tut... > > Wakabi > > > Sea cable venture lands big investors > > By Lesley Stones, Business Day, November 14 2007 > > AN UNDERSEA cable promising cheap bandwidth for Africa yesterday finally > named its backers, signing up enough well-connected local investors to > guarantee its landing rights in SA. > > Investment heavyweight Venfin is sinking $75m into the project, taking a > 25% stake in the 15000km cable linking SA to India and Europe. > > Cyril Ramaphosa’s black investment house Shanduka is taking 12,5%, worth > $37,5m. Another 12,5% goes to Convergence Partners, a group of black > investors led by Andile Ngcaba, the chairman of Dimension Data Africa and > a former director-general of the communications department. Nedbank > Capital and Investec will provide financing for the $650m project. > > SA’s second network operator, Neotel, is pumping in a far more modest > R20m, and using its telecoms licence to guarantee that the cable can dock > in SA. > > The local ownership is sufficient to ensure that Seacom meets > controversial new conditions being drawn up by Communications Minister Ivy > Matsepe-Casaburri, dictating who can land a cable in SA. The minister is > insisting that any cable must be majority owned by African investors to > come ashore. > > South Africans hold 50% of Seacom, and that rises to 75% African ownership > thanks to 25% held by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development’s > Industrial Promotion Services, a development agency based in Kenya. > > The remaining 25% lies with New York’s Herakles Telecom, a development > group that has invested $4bn in Africa. > > Neotel is investing only in the local landing station, but its licence to > operate in SA conferred on it the right to land a cable, said MD Ajay > Pandey. > > “Our understanding is that the country needs international capacity, and > the way international cable landing protocols have been defined means we > have the opportunity here.” > > Venfin CEO Jannie Durand said Neotel’s licence to land a cable in SA meant > everything had been done “legally and correctly”. Venfin was backing > Seacom for two reasons, he said: “We are hopefully going to make a lot of > money out of it and SA needs more bandwidth. We want to bring SA > affordable bandwidth to the rest of the world.” > > Although the cable will cost $650m, it would be partly funded by loans as > well as equity, allowing Venfin to take 25% for less than the book value > of the project, Durand said. > > Pandey believes Seacom will be the onlyThe actual production of the > fibreoptic cable and undersea facilities will start next week. > > The consortium has already invested more than $10m in a marine survey and > engineering of the cable. The actual production of the fibreoptic cable > and undersea facilities will start next week. > > Seacom will connect Mtunzini in SA to Mumbai in India and Marseilles in > France via Mozambique, Madagascar, Kenya and Tanzania by June 2009. > > Terrestrial links will be built to take its bandwidth to numerous other > inland countries. Its capacity of 1,28 terabytes per second is 10 times > the capacity on the existing Sat-3 cable around Africa’s west coast. > > The consortium has promised that it will charge other voice and data > carriers significantly less for its bandwidth than they pay to use Sat-3 > or satellite services, which should trigger a massive decrease in the cost > of phone calls, internet access and data transmissions for African > consumers and businesses. > > “Improved access for business and individuals in Africa to communications, > broadband services and new technology offerings can improve lives and help > grow the economies of our countries,” said Ngcaba, the chairman of > Convergence Partners. “The linking of southern and east Africa with India > and Europe is crucial for enhancing development and trade between these > key regions.” > > > > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > >

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Online courtesy- dont misuse this forum!!!!
by Rebecca Wanjiku 14 Jan '08

14 Jan '08

Dear Yawe, I am sure my name has given me away too but I dont care much about that. Suffice it to say that this is not a forum for bar talk and that kind of stuff. This is a place for serious discussions. I am sure this kind of responses can make people to unsubscribe from this list, or make others start defending their political stand. For the years I have been a member of this list, I am sure Kictanet accommodates everybody irrespective of race, ethnic background or levels of development. This is a list with people beyond Kenya, who are interested in ICT policy and other attendant issues. If everybody came to narrate such stories online, I wonder what we will do during our free time when we are supposed to engage in idle talk. Let us restrict this kind of talk to political rallies and local pubs and let this forum be for serious ICT discussions. We must see beyond some of these things. If you have any bone to pick with my contribution please reply to me directly and not to the list. Walubengo has published guidelines on posting, I am sure he will be kind enough to re-post them just to remind ourselves how to conduct online discussions. Best regards Becky Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ----- Original Message ---- From: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> To: Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com>; ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 8:26:09 AM Subject: Re: [ke-internetusers] Election process fiasco Hi Alex, If your name is a definite give away and I would have been more surprised if your contribution was any different. Do not create a storm in a tea cub, the Kikuyu should head the adage "with great power comes great responsibility". By not uplifting the livelihood of your neighbours in Eldoret, Kisumu and Kuresoi you failed in your responsibility. Yes, you are your brothers keeper do not escape your right. Taking us back to the days of your tribes existence as gatherers (sorry they still are) you are trying to justify your abdicated responsibility. Teach your pastoral and fishing neigbours how to better their lives and this problem will solve itself. Take Raila's hand and show him how by taking EA Spectre and the Molasses plant public is the way of the future instead of selling everything to Trans Century. Teach Ruto that education is the land of the future, his mentor ruled us for 24 years longer than Kenyatta ruled yet Gatundu is still better off than Sacho. It is time the Kikuyu accepted that they have misused their God given right to enrich yourselves and frustrate those you are responsible for. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Sent: Tuesday, 8 January, 2008 9:30:09 PM Subject: Re: [ke-internetusers] Election process fiasco Greetings Robert, Let break it down! You mean every Kikuyu carries a "land thief" label on their forehead? Terrible thieves of indigenous lands they should all be. Hey, what am I saying? You live and your office is in Nairobi right? And Nairobi is a maasai name. oops! Then we are occupying indigenous maasai land and we should all vacate and go back to our ancestral homes to avoid massai rungus and spears. Step 1 Kalenjin head back to Rift Valley, Luo back to Luo-Nyanza, Kikuyus to Central Kenya, Arabs, Waswahili back to the coast, Taita... etc etc.. all 42 communities ( or should I use tribes?) Step 2 Before we unpack those sufurias, beddings, and bags and city life computers and modems. History says pssst! Look over here! Sorry Bantus, the Nigeria-Cameroon- Congo forest is where you belong you only came here 5,000 years ago (3000 BC) <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantu#Origins> And you Nilotics get up further north to the Sudan, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilotic) Cushitics back to the arab-asia origins. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Asiatic_languages> Step 3 If you noticed above Nilotics include Maa-speaking peoples who earlier chased you and me from their Nairobi. etc.. etc.. Step 4 Nearly forgot, Indians please the British only brought you here to construct Her/His Majesty's EAR and you have over-stayed. Get packing thank you very much for your labours. BTW, White Kenyans remember Europe is where your ancestors are? Everyone is going back home where they belongs. ok! Step 5 If there are any Americans- Kenyans you go home as well. This is a hard one because once you get there, you then retrace where you came from because Native Americans claim that land. Australians the Aborigine wan their land back. Spanish Mexicans the Aztecs want back their land etc etc Step 6 Kenya's permanent solution to the Eldoret "problem" as per Yawe has triggered an unprecedented global migration crisis and succeeded in removing everyone from Kenya. In other works, there is no Kenya because Kenya was an artificial invention of some British adventurers who have all been compelled to go back home. Finally, Everybody is now safely back in their home land and permanent peace prevails all over the world? BTW regarding, "Evelyn brought out an interesting issue, can we digitize the land ownership patterns so that we can easily identify prospective problem zones before they flare up," I believe she must have been making reference to a KDN's business proposal because she works there and it's her job to look for new business. She's unlikely to share it with potential competitors on the list, at least I wouldn't:) Nice debate, hit me! Enjoy! Alex On Jan 8, 2008 8:04 PM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > Hi Alex, > > We know the genesis of the problems in Eldoret and whichever way the > election went the killings and displacements there would still have taken > place. Stop bombarding God with insincere prayers, we pray together only to > walk out of the judge and return to our tribal cocoons. > > The history and progression of the tensions in Eldoret are well known and > documented, it had nothing to do with the election results but Ruto > finishing off what he begun in 1992 - 1997. Remember is the one of the only > known participant in a cabinet meeting who was not a minister. > > Give the land back to the Kalenjin it was taken away from them by the > settlers but returned to the Kikuyu. If you want my added opinion if you > decide to eat a frog eat a fat juicy one, if the Kikuyu's really want to > remain in Eldoret let them make sure they have uninterrupted tracts of not > less than 100 acres and stop promising your sons and daughters that they > will inherit the land lets move to the new age, knowledge. > > Evelyn brought out an interesting issue, can we digitize the land ownership > patterns so that we can easily identify prospective problem zones before > they flare up. > > Lets stop useless rhetoric and apply our knowledge and skills to better run > this country, stop using 18th century solutions for 22nd century problems. > There are enough busy bodies dealing with the now and here of this crisis we > need a group to look 20 years ahead to make sure that the child born in > Eldoret, Nyeri or Kisumu today does not revert to the solutions of todays 20 > year old. > > Alex, I refuse to be pulled into a discussion that I cannot provide a > workable solution that is within my skill set. Ask me for a techie solution > to a problem then I am in my forte. > > Regards > > > > Robert Yawe > KAY System Technologies Ltd > Phoenix House, 6th Floor > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 > KEnya > > Tel: +254722511225 > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Alex Gakuru <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> > To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> > Cc: ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> > Sent: Tuesday, 8 January, 2008 12:58:48 PM > Subject: Re: [ke-internetusers] Election process fiasco > > Robert: > > Firstly, I am not opposed to your expressed opinion but only calling > on prioritisation of issues. We are lucky to be alive and in our > offices typing away our diverse polls opinions and offering our best > efforts in solving problems facing our suffering brothers and sisters. > > But could we at this moment in time focus all our energies on > solidifying returning peace and calm. Hard-line political positions, > polls details, allegations or insinuations will neither console those > that lost their loved ones, destroyed homes, property, and > livelihoods. Accusations will not console fellow Kenyans and relatives > since spending every night in the cold not because they committed any > crime. > > Let us all try a very difficult thing, forgiveness. Anger is easily > inflames and spread whereas honest forgiveness is such a difficult > thing for us to do. But why should we all forgive in the first place? > some may ask. > > I believe forgiveness should not be to please the aggressor, not to > gain political mileage, settle political scores, or improve ones > public image. We should not forgive to appear righteous to appease > our religious leaders, cultural traditions, or our families. > > We should forgive so that we save own selves from self-ruin. Save our > futures from burdens of pain and grief. To break free chains of > carrying burdens of hatred for the rest of our lives. For our > conscience, hearts and minds to be unpolluted, pure and clear. To > appreciate and focus on the beauty, value and to actualise sanctity of > life every moment that we live. And to become soldiers of life, love, > kindness, and fairness fellow beings. > > What possibly could ever justify one taking the life of another? I > simply could never find words strong enough to condemn such. > > Therefore, my friend, let is not tire ourselves with politicians power > self-interests when many are undergoing trauma. At this moment in > time politicians interests bother me the least. Time will tell and I > hope 10 years todays, this country will look back at this as the > darkest cloud ever to have passed over our country. > > Alex > > On Jan 8, 2008 11:52 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > > > Happy new year to you all and I pray that you are all well. > > > > It is shocking that in this day and age we can actually have the kind of > > electoral fiasco that has been visited on us by the ECK and Co as well as > > the political parties. > > > > This draconian problem reared its head when the Orange house was broken > into > > and the computers stolen. Hon.Nyongo's statement indicated that the > > objective was to steal the member register. If I needed to steal the > > register which from his comments was in electronic form what was the need > of > > taking off with the computer. Has he ever heard of flash disks, > external > > hard dis drives and CD/DVD writers. Technology allows me to steal his > data > > without him every knowing. > > > > After this issue Kivuiti dismissed the SMS service that had been made > > available by Telkom to enable voters confirm their details. He even went > to > > the extent of saying he does not know how to send an SMS. As the IT > > fraternity in the country can we really escape blame for this fiasco? > > > > The next time was when I saw Hon. Ruto standing at KICC and screaming > > himself hoarse over the forms 16 & 16A that had not been received. It > seems > > he might be using a Nokia 1018 mobile phone (he actually uses a Nokia N > > series). > > > > Was it so difficult for the opposition to provide each of their agents > with > > a camera equipped mobile phone that they would have used to to take > pictures > > of the form and also record the returning officer announcing the results. > > This would then have been easily sent to party head quarters. > > > > There are 210 or so constituencies in the country and the mobile phones I > am > > talking about cost about 10,000/- each do the math. > > > > I ask am I the only Kenyan who is aware of such technology or is this > entire > > fiasco a stage managed process. Even the EU observer teams came equipped > as > > if it was the 12th Century after which they proceeded to make unsupported > > statements about the result that further inflamed bloodshed. > > > > Maybe its a techie thing to keep in our glass houses and refuse to add > value > > to a process and only send around message (this one included) after the > > fact. > > > > It is re-assuring when we remember the Florida fiasco but this not > > withstanding do we really have a moral standing to point fingers about the > > election results? > > > > What will be our contribution to stopping this from being repeated in > > future? > > > > Regards > > > > Remember Matiba and his video cameras during the good old days of > mulolongo > > voting? > > > > Robert Yawe > > KAY System Technologies Ltd > > Phoenix House, 6th Floor > > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 > > KEnya > > > > Tel: +254722511225 > > > > > > ________________________________ > > Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox. > > > > ________________________________ > > Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox. > > _______________________________________________ > > ke-internetusers mailing list > > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox. > _______________________________________________ > ke-internetusers mailing list > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > > Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

5 5

Citi Group Forecast on Kenya Economy
by Bill Kagai 14 Jan '08

14 Jan '08

Attached -- Bildad Kagai MD - MediaCorp Limited Nairobi Stock Exchange [NSE] - Authorised Information Vendor Suite B2 Tetu Apartments StateHouse Avenue P. O. Box 20311-00200 Tel. 254 20 272 8332 Fax. Rendered Obsolete URL. www.mediacorpafrica.com --

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Re: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs
by Leonard Mware 12 Jan '08

12 Jan '08

Shim et al, For the first time I feel compelled to contribute to this discussions. I am basically in the same boat as Shim and trying to answer the same questions. Recently in Tanzania, I had a debate about Kenya and Tanzania and the question of tribalism came up. the first thing they say is Kenya is so tribal that each tribe has an FM radio station! Something Tanzanians can not allow and find strange. To me, a ban on tribal FM stations is long overdue. Leonard ----- Original Message ---- From: Geoffrey Shimanyula <gshimanyula(a)ke.uu.net> To: mleonardo(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 3:18:14 PM Subject: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs Dr. Ndemo et al, I wish to attempt to my one cent worth of contribution this mailing list by giving a story of my early schooling. Having started my schooling in a rural setting, vernacular was one of the lessons that we had to learn. The unfortunate thing was that the dialect we were learning was quite different from that which we spoke back at home. I now understand the reason for that being that no one had ever published a book in our dialect. To this date, I see no value in having learnt that dialect for it does not help me in my every day life today. Fast forward to December 30th 2008 and for the first time, my children ask me what tribe they are. This is because they are descendants of a mixed marriage. For them, the language to use is English or Kiswahili depending on the audience. And the only reason why they asked me this is because they heard of the tribal fighting's that were going on around the country. I am saying all this because as one of the contributors to this forum stated recently, over 60% of KENYANS are literate and when I say literate here I mean those who can utter a word or two in English because Kiswahili is by-and-large used all over the country with the flavor varying from one region to another. I believe that we need to be confident enough to let "other" people understand that which is being spoken and by this I am referring to the FM radio stations that use proprietary languages/dialects. I am not in any way against radio stations having a niche in terms of captive audience but I believe that they can still achieve their objective in a transparent language in this case - Kiswahili. This way, we shall eliminate all sorts of mistrusts that we are seeing today in this beautiful country. We don't need these vernacular radio stations in a country that is striving to move from the LDC quadrant. Regards, Shim... -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+gshimanyula=ke.uu.net(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+gshimanyula=ke.uu.net@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of bitange(a)jambo.co.ke Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:47 PM To: gshimanyula(a)ke.uu.net Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs Dear Yawe, Asante sana. You have said it all. We need your participation in reaching all our villages and shanties with the hope of creating wealth there. If we manage to create wealth for our people and they use that wealth to acquire properties, there will be less conflict because they have something to lose. Where I live, I know two politicians from both sides but what is striking is that they are good neighbours. They jealously guard their properties but their supporters in Kibera and Mathare fight and even kill one another. The ICT Bill is coming up and we need your views on Venacular FM stations. Perhaps we all need to revist Nyerere's philosopy of undugu. There is much to learn from our neighbours in TZ. Bitange Ndemo. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: gshimanyula(a)ke.uu.net Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/gshimanyula%40ke.uu.net _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: mleonardo(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mleonardo%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

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Kenya’s trauma, and how to end it | openDemocracy
by Alex Gakuru 12 Jan '08

12 Jan '08

[Thanks to ke-users list members for these pointers and excuse my crossposting--AlexG] Kenya is traumatized needs healing. Paraphrasing Brackenreed, D. http://www.nipissingu.ca/education/darleneb/ When disaster strikes, we go through "The Stages of Acceptance" 1. Shock is the numb, distancing feeling that engulfe when the bad news is being delivered 2. Disbelief is the stage in which do not do not believe the reports. 3. Denial is the the stage in which the we refuse to even consider that it exists and hope, e.g. "It'll soon go away by itself." 4. Anger occurs as the denial breaks down and the divisions become more real and apparent, "Why did this happen to us?" 5. Bargaining is evident when we decide that dedication will somehow alleviate the condition, "Maybe the problem will improve if we outlaw some 'tribal' embodiments." 6. Depression is evident when we start making statements like "What's the use?" "What will happen next?" - we may despair of ever finding a solution and feel sad and helpless. 7. Acceptance is the stage at which we can look past the tribe and accept people as they are. A stage beyond acceptance is to cherish our different cultures for those differences and for how that diversity has made our lives better. The goal of healing is to reach acceptance so that everyone is able to make appropriate decisions. At what stage could we consider ourselves at? Wanyama Masinde proposes a seven point agenda towards reaching this goal. <http://opendemocracy.net/article/democracy_power/kenya_seven_questions>

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Re: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs
by James Kagwe 10 Jan '08

10 Jan '08

Dear all, I totally agree with this and I happened to intentionally listen to some of the vernacular radio stations during the elections day (names undisclosed) and the content was quite inciting and tribal. As Geoffrey is saying I don't think there is anyone in Kenya today who does not understand Kiswahili and therefore we can have them using Swahili or English restrictively. We happen to have quite a number of English stations Kiss, Easy, Classics, Capital e.t.c and every morning as I go work I hear different people enjoying breakfast shows from different stations and as a result all of them are competing but are in business. The suggestions made earlier of the ICT bill and media self regulation helping to resolve the issue is not very practical considering for example that you need a Kikuyu to understand inciting information emanating from a Kikuyu radio station and the same with other tribes. Given the tribal alignment that we are seeing even in professional organizations media regulation may follow suit where we may have those supposed to ensure conformity being compromised because it is their tribe that is being affected. Radio stations should use languages that are nationally understandable to all. Regards, James Kagwe ********************************************************************* Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis Bishops Garden Towers Bishops Road P.O. Box 56445 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: (254) 20 2719933, 2719934, 2714714, 2714715 Fax: (254) 20 2719951 Confidentiality Warning ======================= The contents of this e-mail and any accompanying documentation are confidential and any use thereof, in what ever form, by anyone other than the addressee is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify admin(a)kippra.or.ke and delete it immediately from your system. Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis accepts no responsibility for losses or damage as a result of any viruses and it is your responsibility to check attachments (if any) for viruses. -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=kippra.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=kippra.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Geoffrey Shimanyula Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 3:18 PM To: James Kagwe Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs Dr. Ndemo et al, I wish to attempt to my one cent worth of contribution this mailing list by giving a story of my early schooling. Having started my schooling in a rural setting, vernacular was one of the lessons that we had to learn. The unfortunate thing was that the dialect we were learning was quite different from that which we spoke back at home. I now understand the reason for that being that no one had ever published a book in our dialect. To this date, I see no value in having learnt that dialect for it does not help me in my every day life today. Fast forward to December 30th 2008 and for the first time, my children ask me what tribe they are. This is because they are descendants of a mixed marriage. For them, the language to use is English or Kiswahili depending on the audience. And the only reason why they asked me this is because they heard of the tribal fighting's that were going on around the country. I am saying all this because as one of the contributors to this forum stated recently, over 60% of KENYANS are literate and when I say literate here I mean those who can utter a word or two in English because Kiswahili is by-and-large used all over the country with the flavor varying from one region to another. I believe that we need to be confident enough to let "other" people understand that which is being spoken and by this I am referring to the FM radio stations that use proprietary languages/dialects. I am not in any way against radio stations having a niche in terms of captive audience but I believe that they can still achieve their objective in a transparent language in this case - Kiswahili. This way, we shall eliminate all sorts of mistrusts that we are seeing today in this beautiful country. We don't need these vernacular radio stations in a country that is striving to move from the LDC quadrant. Regards, Shim... -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+gshimanyula=ke.uu.net(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+gshimanyula=ke.uu.net@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of bitange(a)jambo.co.ke Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:47 PM To: gshimanyula(a)ke.uu.net Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs Dear Yawe, Asante sana. You have said it all. We need your participation in reaching all our villages and shanties with the hope of creating wealth there. If we manage to create wealth for our people and they use that wealth to acquire properties, there will be less conflict because they have something to lose. Where I live, I know two politicians from both sides but what is striking is that they are good neighbours. They jealously guard their properties but their supporters in Kibera and Mathare fight and even kill one another. The ICT Bill is coming up and we need your views on Venacular FM stations. Perhaps we all need to revist Nyerere's philosopy of undugu. There is much to learn from our neighbours in TZ. Bitange Ndemo. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: gshimanyula(a)ke.uu.net Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/gshimanyula%40ke.uu .net _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: jkagwe(a)kippra.or.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jkagwe%40kippra.or. ke

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East Africa: M-Net commissions Kenya’s Big Ideas Entertainment to make first East African drama (something to celebrate)
by alice 10 Jan '08

10 Jan '08

Congratulations Big Ideas...Kenya continues to make waves...positive waves.... East Africa: M-Net commissions Kenya’s Big Ideas Entertainment to make first East African drama In its second major announcement in a week, M-Net confirmed its partnership with Big Ideas Entertainment, the Kenyan TV company which has been commissioned to produce M-Net’s first ever East-African drama series. Breaking the news of the Big Ideas appointment, just 5 months after M-Net first revealed its intention to create a regionalized drama series, was M-Net’s Director of Operations for sub-Saharan Africa Joseph Hundah. ''I say this frequently because it’s true. M-Net is determined to continue to pioneer new African content. We very definitely will meet the needs of audiences in this market to see their own stories on our screens. M-Net will continue creating strong programs that enable MultiChoice Africa to provide the best local content value to DStv viewers.'' He went on to say, ''From the moment M-Net began calling for series proposals on June 4, we started receiving creative ideas. It was a long process of evaluation before we made our final decision. In Big Ideas Entertainment, we have an ally who shares our vision and aims to deliver viewing which East African audiences can relate to and enjoy.'' The process of selection was a rigorous one and began immediately after the deadline for entries closed in August. All proposals received were evaluated critically by a team of four experts including M-Net Program Manager for East Africa Wangeci Murage and Kenya’s Catholic University lecturer of literature, theatre and drama Simon Peter. Thereafter a key M-Net panel also deliberated over the proposals and the evaluations before short-listing six companies for the pitching round. These pitching sessions where held early in October in Nairobi and it was here that Big Ideas Entertainment put forward their winning pitch. Telling stories of love, hope, triumph and tragedy, their series follows three couples as they juggle the demands of work, marriage and family. Set against a contemporary East African backdrop, reflecting the societies in which they live and the challenges which they share, the three couples are at the heart of this entertaining, inspirational, realistic look at modern life in Africa today. Now in pre-production and with its name still be finalized, the series is set to make M-Net history, drawing actors from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and using local crew. The Big Ideas Entertainment team of Njoki Muhoho (Executive Producer), Willie Owusu (DOP) and Aleks Kamau (Editor) will helm the show with Serah Mwihaki on the writing staff. Also playing a vital role on the show is company director Angelo Kinyua, the CNN Multichoice African Journalist 2005 winner, who takes on the role as the show’s Line Producer. Filming on the 13-part, 48-minute weekly series will begin early in 2008 and DStv audiences will be able to watch the show on M-Net later in the year. Angola: Angolan actors in crime film 'killed by police' The director of an Angolan crime film says police have shot dead two of his actors after mistaking them for real armed robbers. The duo were carrying unloaded firearms as they filmed a scene in a rough suburb of the capital Luanda, director Radical Ribeiro told AFP news agency. He said police roared up to the set and began shooting at close range. Angolan officials have not commented on the incident. Ribeiro says he had permission to film in the area. Ribeiro told AFP that police arrived at the scene in a pick-up truck and "started shooting at everybody at close range". He was "stunned" when he saw the two actors fall down, he added. "They went on shooting until I shouted out: 'Please don't shoot, this is a movie.'" The officers then stopped firing and left without attending to the wounded, who were taken to hospital, Ribeiro said. (BBC, 18th December 2007) Senegal: The Shape of Water The Shape of Water is a new feature documentary that tells the stories of powerful, imaginative and visionary women confronting the destructive development of the Third World with new cultures and a passion for change. The film takes us to Senegal, Israel/Palestine, Brazil, and India where these new cultures (alongside old traditions) include a campaign to end female genital cutting (FGC), offer innovative forms of opposition to the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and show how women are spearheading the implementation of renewable resources and rainforest preservation by tapping trees to obtain rubber. The Shape of Water also includes coverage of a vast co-operative of rural women in India (SEWA) and, in the foothills of the Himalayas, to a farm, Navdanya, set up to preserve biodiversity and women’s role as seed keepers. By interweaving images, words, and the actions of Khady, Bilkusben, Oraiza, Dona Antonia, and Gila, The Shape of Water offers fresh insights into the lives of women in the Third World.

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Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 10 Jan '08

10 Jan '08

Dear Yawe, Asante sana. You have said it all. We need your participation in reaching all our villages and shanties with the hope of creating wealth there. If we manage to create wealth for our people and they use that wealth to acquire properties, there will be less conflict because they have something to lose. Where I live, I know two politicians from both sides but what is striking is that they are good neighbours. They jealously guard their properties but their supporters in Kibera and Mathare fight and even kill one another. The ICT Bill is coming up and we need your views on Venacular FM stations. Perhaps we all need to revist Nyerere's philosopy of undugu. There is much to learn from our neighbours in TZ. Bitange Ndemo.

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Important ICANN JPA midterm review
by Michuki Mwangi 10 Jan '08

10 Jan '08

<apologies for cross posting> Dear All As you maybe aware ICANN is subject to midterm reviews by the Department of Commerce (DOC) in 2008 following the signing of the extension of the contract in Sept 2006. One of the important issues that arose prior to the extension of the contract was ICANNs independence from the US Government. This midterm review is important as it presents an opportunity for all those keen on the issues to give in their comments, feedback and reviews on ICANNs performance based on the contract. Kindly take time to read through and give your feedback to the DOC and also distribute within your local communities. Thanks and regards, Michuki Mwangi President AfTLD. ------------------------------------------------ http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/frnotices/2007/ICANN_JPA_110207.html <http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/frnotices/2007/ICANN_JPA_110207.html> Federal Register Notice: The Continued Transition of the Technical Coordination and Management of the Internet's Domain Name and Addressing System: Midterm Review of the Joint Project Agreement DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Telecommunications and Information Administration Docket No. 071023616-7617-01 The Continued Transition of the Technical Coordination and Management of the Internet's Domain Name and Addressing System: Midterm Review of the Joint Project Agreement AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commence ACTION: Notice of Inquiry SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) seeks comments on the continued transition to the private sector of the technical coordination and management of the Internet's domain name and addressing system (DNS). NTIA and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) signed a Joint Project Agreement (JPA) on September 29, 2006. It called for a midpoint review of ICANN's progress towards becoming a more stable organization with greater transparency and accountability in its procedures and decision making. The Department of Commerce seeks comment regarding the progress achieved on the Responsibilities identified in the JPA. DATES: Comments are due on or before February 15, 2008. ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by mail to Suzanne R. Sene, Office of International Affairs, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room 4701, Washington, DC 20230. Paper submissions should include a three and one-half inch computer diskette in HTML, ASCII, Word or WordPerfect format (please specify version). Diskettes should be labeled with the name and organizational affiliation of the filer, and the name of the word processing program used to create the document. Alternatively, comments may be submitted electronically to JPAMidTermReview(a)ntia.doc.gov <mailto:JPAMidTermReview@ntia.doc.gov>. Comments provided via electronic mail should also be submitted in one or more of the formats specified above. Comments will be posted to NTIA's website at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/jpamidtermreview.html <http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/jpamidtermreview.html> . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this Notice contact: Suzanne R. Sene, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room 4701, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3167; or email: ssene(a)ntia.doc.gov <mailto:ssene@ntia.doc.gov> Please direct media inquiries to the Office of Public Affairs, NTIA, at (202) 482-7002 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: A July 1, 1997 Executive Memorandum directed the Secretary of Commerce to privatize the domain name system (DNS) in a manner that increases competition and facilitates international participation in its management. In order to fulfill this Presidential directive, the Department of Commerce in June 1998, issued a statement of policy on the privatization of the Internet Domain Name System (DNS), known as the DNS White Paper. This document articulated four primary functions for global DNS coordination and management: 1. To set policy for and direct the allocation of IP number blocks; 2. To oversee the operation of the Internet root server system; 3. To oversee policy for determining the circumstances under which new top level domains (TLDs) would be added to the root server system; and 4. To coordinate the assignment of other technical protocol parameters as needed to maintain universal connectivity on the Internet. In the DNS White Paper, the Department of Commerce concluded that these functions were relevant to the state of the DNS and should be primarily performed through private sector management. To this end, the Department of Commerce stated that it was prepared to enter into agreement with a new not-for-profit corporation formed by private sector Internet stakeholders. Private sector interests formed the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for this purpose. In the fall of 1998, the Department of Commerce entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ICANN, a California non-profit corporation, to transition technical DNS coordination and management functions to the private sector. On June 30, 2005 NTIA released the U.S. Principles on the Internet's Domain Name and Addressing System, which state: the United States Government intends to preserve the security and stability of the DNS by maintaining its historic role in authorizing changes or modifications to the authoritative root zone file; governments have legitimate interest in the management of their country code top level domains (ccTLD); ICANN is the appropriate technical manager of the Internet's DNS; and dialogue related to Internet governance should continue in relevant multiple fora. On May 23, 2006, NTIA issued a Notice of Inquiry and announced a Public Meeting on The Continued Transition of the Technical Coordination and Management of the Internet Domain Name and Addressing System. The public consultation resulted in over 700 contributions from individuals, private corporations, trade associations, non-governmental entities and foreign governments. It showed broad support for continuing the transition of the coordination of the technical management of the DNS to the private sector and the continued involvement of the DOC in this transition. On September 29, 2006, NTIA and ICANN signed a Joint Project Agreement (JPA) extending the current Memorandum of Understanding between the Department and ICANN. The JPA called for a midpoint review of ICANN's progress towards becoming a more stable organization with greater transparency and accountability in its procedures and decision making. REQUEST FOR COMMENT: Given the requirement of a midterm review in the JPA, NTIA seeks comments on the progress achieved on the Responsibilities included in the JPA. The questions below are intended to assist in identifying the issues and should not be construed as a limitation on comments that may be submitted. When references are made to studies, research, and other empirical data that are not widely published, please provide copies of the referenced materials with the submitted comments. 1. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect to security and stability: "ICANN shall coordinate, at the overall level, the global Internet's systems of unique identifiers, and in particular to ensure the stable and secure operation of the Internet's unique identifier systems." What progress do you believe ICANN has achieved with regard to this Responsibility since October 1, 2006? If you believe that progress has been made, please explain how and why? Could more be done by ICANN in this area? 2. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect to transparency: "ICANN shall continue to develop, test and improve processes and procedures to encourage improved transparency, accessibility, efficiency, and timeliness in the consideration and adoption of policies related to technical coordination of the Internet DNS, and funding for ICANN operations. ICANN will innovate and aspire to be a leader in the area of transparency for organizations involved in private sector management." What progress do you believe ICANN has achieved with regard to this Responsibility since October 1, 2006? If you believe that progress has been made, please explain how and why? Could more be done by ICANN in this area? 3. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect to accountability: "ICANN shall continue to develop, test, maintain, and improve on accountability mechanisms to be responsive to global Internet stakeholders in the consideration and adoption of policies related to the technical coordination of the Internet DNS, including continuing to improve openness and accessibility for enhanced participation in ICANN's bottom-up participatory policy development processes." What progress do you believe ICANN has achieved with regard to this Responsibility since October 1, 2006? If you believe that progress has been made, please explain how and why? Could more be done by ICANN in this area? 4. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect to root server security and relationships: "ICANN shall continue to coordinate with the operators of root name servers and other appropriate experts with respect to the operational and security matters, both physical and network, relating to the secure and stable coordination of the root zone; ensure appropriate contingency planning; maintain clear processes in root zone changes. ICANN will work to formalize relationships with root name server operators." What progress do you believe ICANN has achieved with regard to this Responsibility since October 1, 2006? If you believe that progress has been made, please explain how and why? Could more be done by ICANN in this area? 5. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect to TLD management: ICANN shall maintain and build on processes to ensure that competition, consumer interests, and Internet DNS stability and security issues are identified and considered in TLD management decisions, including the consideration and implementation of new TLDs and the introduction of IDNs. ICANN will continue to develop its policy development processes, and will further develop processes for taking into account recommendations from ICANN's advisory committees and supporting organizations and other relevant expert advisory panels and organizations. ICANN shall continue to enforce existing policy relating to WHOIS, such existing policy requires that ICANN implement measures to maintain timely, unrestricted and public access to accurate and complete WHOIS information, including registrant, technical, billing and administrative contact information. ICANN shall continue its efforts to achieve stable agreements with country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) operators." What progress do you believe ICANN has achieved with regard to this Responsibility since October 1, 2006? If you believe that progress has been made, please explain how and why? Could more be done by ICANN in this area? 6. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect to the multi-stakeholder model: "ICANN shall maintain and improve multi-stakeholder model and the global participation of all stakeholders, including conducting reviews of its existing advisory committees and supporting organizations, and will continue to further the effectiveness of the bottom-up policy development processes. ICANN will strive to increase engagement with the Private Sector by developing additional mechanisms for involvement of those affected by the ICANN policies." What progress do you believe ICANN has achieved with regard to this Responsibility since October 1, 2006? If you believe that progress has been made, please explain how and why? Could more be done by ICANN in this area? 7. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect to the role of governments: "ICANN shall work with the Government Advisory Committee Members to review the GAC's role within ICANN so as to facilitate effective consideration of GAC advice on the public policy aspects of the technical coordination of the Internet." What progress do you believe ICANN has achieved with regard to this Responsibility since October 1, 2006? If you believe that progress has been made, please explain how and why? Could more be done by ICANN in this area? 8. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect to IP addressing: "ICANN shall continue to work collaboratively on a global and regional level so as to incorporate Regional Internet Registries' policy-making activities into the ICANN processes while allowing them to continue their technical work. ICANN shall continue to maintain legal agreements with the RIRs (and such other appropriate organizations) reflecting this work." What progress do you believe ICANN has achieved with regard to this Responsibility since October 1, 2006? If you believe that progress has been made, please explain how and why? Could more be done by ICANN in this area? 9. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect to corporate responsibility: "ICANN shall maintain excellence and efficiency in operations, including good governance, organizational measures to maintain stable, international private sector organization, and shall maintain relevant technical and business experience for members of the Board of Directors, executive management, and staff. ICANN will implement appropriate mechanisms that foster participation in ICANN by global Internet stakeholders, such as providing educational services and fostering information sharing for constituents and promoting best practices among industry segments." What progress do you believe ICANN has achieved with regard to this Responsibility since October 1, 2006? If you believe that progress has been made, please explain how and why? Could more be done by ICANN in this area? 10. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect to its corporate administrative structure: "ICANN shall conduct a review of, and shall make necessary changes in, corporate administrative structure to ensure stability, including devoting adequate resources to contract enforcement, taking into account organizational and corporate governance 'best practices.'" What progress do you believe ICANN has achieved with regard to this Responsibility since October 1, 2006? If you believe that progress has been made, please explain how and why? Could more be done by ICANN in this area? Dated: October 30, 2007 John M. R. Kneuer Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information SEARCH: Digital TV Transition & Public Safety Act NTIA RSS News Feed Click for the NTIA RSS News Feed What is a RSS News Feed? Spectrum Policy Initiative More Information • FY2008 Budget Request • Additional Links • Privacy Policy • FOIA Information and Points of Contact • Information Quality Guidelines • Accessibility Information • Adobe Acrobat Reader Home | Publications | Newsroom | Policy | International | Spectrum | Grants | Research National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC 20230 ### The JPA is at this link as well as the affirmation of responsibilities: http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-29sep06.htm

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Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Fwd: KPTJ Press statement on Naming of Cabinet
by Alex Gakuru 09 Jan '08

09 Jan '08

[A NOTE for the record, I it is appreciated the "government sector" has not censored online communication in these complicated times for information handlers--AlexG] /FYI ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Jan 9, 2008 2:49 PM Subject: FW: KPTJ Press statement on Naming of Cabinet Subject: KPTJ Press statement on Naming of Cabinet Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice Statement from concerned citizens and governance, human rights and legal organizations We speak in the name of Kenya's governance, human rights and legal organizations, as well as the concerned citizens who have contacted and chosen to work with us over the last two weeks. In our previous statement, we noted that, at the heart of the three forms of violence now being experienced across the country—disorganised and spontaneous, organised militia activity and disproportionate use of force by the Kenya Police Force and the General Service Unit—is the violation of fundamental freedoms and rights directly related to the electoral process. It is clear that the electoral anomalies and malpractices experienced during the counting and tallying of the presidential vote were so grave as to alter its outcomes. Some of those electoral anomalies and malpractices were, in addition, illegal—thus rendering the supposed presidential outcome not only illegitimate but also illegal. We therefore consider Mwai Kibaki to be in office still on his first term. We note now, with grave concern, the announcement yesterday by the man sworn in as President of his supposed Cabinet. We consider this announcement to have been made by a man in office illegitimately and illegally and therefore to be null and void. We further note that this announcement has, in fact, aggravated and inflamed the current violence—as evidenced by the disorganised and spontaneous protests witnessed yesterday in reaction to the announcement. We consider that the announcement has thus seriously compromised the environment for mediation. We refuse to allow the man sworn in as President to continue presenting the nation with what is, in effect, a series of 'faits accomplis.' We therefore reiterate our demands that, in particular: 1. African states and the rest of the international community, particularly the United States given its currently unhelpful unilateral approach, to continue to pressurize for mediation by the region under the leadership of President John Kuffour of Ghana, current head of the African Union, between the Party of National Unity and the Orange Democratic Movement on addressing the electoral travesty that has occurred; 2. The mediation process to, as its first priority, agree upon an interim electoral oversight body to conduct a forensic audit into the polling, counting and tallying process with a view to recommending, depending on its findings, a re-count, a re-tallying or a re-run within a specified time period; 3. African states and the rest of the international community to, in the interim, deny official recognition to the man sworn in as President and his supposed Cabinet; and, in addition; 4. All those supposedly announced as Cabinet members to refuse to take up their positions upon their swearing in so as to enable the mediation process to proceed. Signed: Africa Centre for Open Governance (AfriCOG) Awaaz Centre for Law and Research International (CLARION) Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) Centre for Rights, Education and Awareness for Women (CREAW) (CRADLE) Constitution and Reform Education Consortium (CRECO) East African Law Society (EALS) Haki Focus Hema la Katiba Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) Innovative Lawyering Institute for Education in Democracy (IED) International Commission of Jurists (ICJ-Kenya) Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) Kenya Leadership Institute (KLI) Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) Kituo cha Sheria Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Media Institute Muslim Human Rights Forum National Constitution Executive Council (NCEC) Release Political Prisoners (RPP) Society for International Development (SID) Urgent Action Fund (UAF)-Africa Youth Agenda Annex 1: previous demands Our previous demands were for: 1. All efforts and initiatives to consistently stress that peace cannot and will not be achieved without electoral truth and justice; 2. All Kenyans to stand up to be counted not just for peace but also for electoral truth and justice; 3. The state to respect and uphold the rights to the freedoms of expression, assembly and association so as to ensure Kenyans protest only legally, legitimately and non-violently; 4. All politicians and political parties to immediately desist from the re-activation, support and use of militia organizations such as those active in the Rift Valley, Mungiki and Chinkororo; 5. The Ministry of Internal Security, the Police Force and the General Service Unit to exercise their duties within the boundaries of the Constitution and the law and desist from any extraordinary use of force and, in particular, extrajudicial executions; 6. The Electoral Commission of Kenya to immediately resign for having participated in and condoned a presidential electoral process so flawed as to result in our nation's current crisis; 7. African states and the rest of the international community to pressurize for mediation between the Party of National Unity and the Orange Democratic Movement on addressing the electoral travesty that has occurred; 8. The mediation process to, as its first priority, agree upon an interim electoral oversight body to conduct a forensic audit into the polling, counting and tallying process with a view to recommending, depending on its findings, a re-count, a re-tallying or a re-run within a specified time period; 9. African states and the rest of the international community to, in the interim, deny official recognition to the man sworn in as President; 10. African states and the rest of the international community to immediately revoke any and all visas for any and all of the PNU's and ODM's leadership—as well as all of their immediate family members—to ensure they remain in this country to resolve the electoral travesty that has occurred; 11. The man sworn in as President to desist from announcing a Cabinet and otherwise aggravating and inflaming the current violence. Contact Linda Ochiel Principal Human Rights Officer Media and Communications Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) CVS Plaza, Lenana Road P.O.Box 743559-00200 Nairobi -Kenya Tel 254-20-2717908/2717928/2712664 Cellphone: 254-722-583-200/254-727-642193 haki(a)knchr.org _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers

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Re: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs
by James Kagwe 09 Jan '08

09 Jan '08

Robert, Maybe we should start campaigning for all vernacular stations to be shut. I don't think they add so much value, in any case we have a fairly literal community in Kenya and I'm almost sure there are very few in Kenya who cannot understand Kiswahili and English. In any case the cost of teaching Basic English and Swahili languages to those who do not know is cheaper than what we have lost in one week. What happened last week has never happened since independence and probably the main cause is the vernacular radio stations which have drastically increased in the last 3-5 years with their inciting messages and statements. Best Regards, James Kagwe ********************************************************************* Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis Bishops Garden Towers Bishops Road P.O. Box 56445 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: (254) 20 2719933, 2719934, 2714714, 2714715 Fax: (254) 20 2719951 Confidentiality Warning ======================= The contents of this e-mail and any accompanying documentation are confidential and any use thereof, in what ever form, by anyone other than the addressee is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify admin(a)kippra.or.ke <mailto:admin@kippra.or.ke> and delete it immediately from your system. Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis accepts no responsibility for losses or damage as a result of any viruses and it is your responsibility to check attachments (if any) for viruses. ________________________________ From: robert yawe [mailto:robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk] Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 10:17 AM To: James Kagwe Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs Hi Kagwe, Why is it that tribal issues are most violent outcome among poor? I believe because they suffer from more than economic poverty but also associative poverty. When the Luo's call their shanty villages Kisumu Ndogo and the Kikuyu's Kwanjenga we refuse to create diversity of association and thus loose the opportunity for cultural wealth. The creation of vernacular radio stations has not helped the issue either. We have become worse had implementing ethnic segregation than God or the colonizers, the Boars cannot hold up a candle to us. What this does is it makes it uncomfortable for me and my neighbour to listen to radio together because he is Luo and I am what I am. With a literacy level of 60% why are we cowering into our tribal cocoons instead of becoming more cohesive. I believe that Kiswahili and English programing should take up 80% of all radio station content otherwise we might as well have the parliamentarians take a vernacular proficiency test to be allowed to participate in elections and also have our national exams done in vernacular. Who funds this radio channels that propagate ethnicity, its the Breweries, Safaricoms, Bidcos and Coca Colas as their only objective is a profit. They then walk around flounting their CSR (or should it be CPR - corporate profit responsibility) programs, if they refused to support all this ethnic stations their CSR programs might be more effective. After supporting KASS FM and others they will now be running to Eldoret to give blankets to people who where, as of 27th December, self reliant before the radio station broadcast inflammatory contents soon after the commercial message. The lawyers have got us to this impasse when they arm-twisted the Moi government to issue all with radio frequencies, similarly to what they did for Rwanda. As history teaches us we never learn from it, we are moving full steam towards ethnic cleansing. Let us us make use of technology to broadcast information that will bring us together, lets run completions that test our knowledge of other ethnic groups. Lets install computers in our rural schools and have the children send e-mails to each other across the country, not those misguided projects that get Kenyan children to communicate with kids in Europe & the US. We have the technology that allows us to implement solutions that do not require parliamentary approval or a government license. Awake and stop this lip service on the issue of ethnicity we are all responsible for getting this country to where it is today. Do we have what it takes to change course. Yes, I do know the causes and like a typical Kenyan I know the solutions but only discuss them on forums instead of taking action. Like a serial killer I am looking to be stopped, can someone push me to act on my theories? Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: James Kagwe <jkagwe(a)KIPPRA.OR.KE> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, 8 January, 2008 3:09:19 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs Please let us know that the problem we are having in the country now is more in the mind than anywhere else. Technology could help but even with technology it is possible for people who have the same tribal convictions that their tribal chief has to be the president to conspire to inflate the polls and actually go ahead and mark the ballot papers in favor of their candidate. Tribalism is the main problem and this has to be fought by all means. Most of the problems were experienced in the strongholds of the main candidates and this confirms the greatest worry. ________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=kippra.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=kippra.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Evelyn Rono Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:29 PM To: James Kagwe Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' Subject: Re: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs Hi Bobby, Several ICT companies and individuals approached the ECK with the intention of supporting and a managing the process with ICT. I quote " ECK in 2004 was provided with IT hardware & software and GIS electoral database created with each individual polling station positions' mapped using GIS technology that integrated with the electoral database through a unique ID for polling station. The constituency boundaries provided the domain universe within which each polling station could be located for administrative purposes. Training was also conducted for ECK". The same company tried to do the same 2007 This did not happen - Only ECK knows. Evelyn Rono From: kictanet-bounces+evelyn.rono=kdn.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+evelyn.rono=kdn.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of robert yawe Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 11:51 AM To: evelyn.rono(a)kdn.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs Happy new year to you all and I pray that you are all well. It is shocking that in this day and age we can actually have the kind of electoral fiasco that has been visited on us by the ECK and Co as well as the political parties. This draconian problem reared its head when the Orange house was broken into and the computers stolen. Hon.Nyongo's statement indicated that the objective was to steal the member register. If I needed to steal the register which from his comments was in electronic form what was the need of taking off with the computer. Has he ever heard of flash disks, external hard dis drives and CD/DVD writers. Technology allows me to steal his data without him every knowing. After this issue Kivuiti dismissed the SMS service that had been made available by Telkom to enable voters confirm their details. He even went to the extent of saying he does not know how to send an SMS. As the IT fraternity in the country can we really escape blame for this fiasco? The next time was when I saw Hon. Ruto standing at KICC and screaming himself hoarse over the forms 16 & 16A that had not been received. It seems he might be using a Nokia 1018 mobile phone (he actually uses a Nokia N series). Was it so difficult for the opposition to provide each of their agents with a camera equipped mobile phone that they would have used to to take pictures of the form and also record the returning officer announcing the results. This would then have been easily sent to party head quarters. There are 210 or so constituencies in the country and the mobile phones I am talking about cost about 10,000/- each do the math. I ask am I the only Kenyan who is aware of such technology or is this entire fiasco a stage managed process. Even the EU observer teams came equipped as if it was the 12th Century after which they proceeded to make unsupported statements about the result that further inflamed bloodshed. Maybe its a techie thing to keep in our glass houses and refuse to add value to a process and only send around message (this one included) after the fact. It is re-assuring when we remember the Florida fiasco but this not withstanding do we really have a moral standing to point fingers about the election results? What will be our contribution to stopping this from being repeated in future? Regards Remember Matiba and his video cameras during the good old days of mulolongo voting? Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi , 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http:/us.rd.yahoo.c om/evt=51949/*http:/uk.docs.yahoo.com/mail/winter07.html> - a smarter inbox. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner <http://www.mailscanner.info/> , and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner <http://www.mailscanner.info/> , and is believed to be clean. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo. co.uk ________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http:/us.rd.yahoo.c om/evt=51949/*http:/uk.docs.yahoo.com/mail/winter07.html> - a smarter inbox.

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Re: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs
by robert yawe 09 Jan '08

09 Jan '08

Hi Kagwe, Why is it that tribal issues are most violent outcome among poor? I believe because they suffer from more than economic poverty but also associative poverty. When the Luo's call their shanty villages Kisumu Ndogo and the Kikuyu's Kwanjenga we refuse to create diversity of association and thus loose the opportunity for cultural wealth. The creation of vernacular radio stations has not helped the issue either. We have become worse had implementing ethnic segregation than God or the colonizers, the Boars cannot hold up a candle to us. What this does is it makes it uncomfortable for me and my neighbour to listen to radio together because he is Luo and I am what I am. With a literacy level of 60% why are we cowering into our tribal cocoons instead of becoming more cohesive. I believe that Kiswahili and English programing should take up 80% of all radio station content otherwise we might as well have the parliamentarians take a vernacular proficiency test to be allowed to participate in elections and also have our national exams done in vernacular. Who funds this radio channels that propagate ethnicity, its the Breweries, Safaricoms, Bidcos and Coca Colas as their only objective is a profit. They then walk around flounting their CSR (or should it be CPR - corporate profit responsibility) programs, if they refused to support all this ethnic stations their CSR programs might be more effective. After supporting KASS FM and others they will now be running to Eldoret to give blankets to people who where, as of 27th December, self reliant before the radio station broadcast inflammatory contents soon after the commercial message. The lawyers have got us to this impasse when they arm-twisted the Moi government to issue all with radio frequencies, similarly to what they did for Rwanda. As history teaches us we never learn from it, we are moving full steam towards ethnic cleansing. Let us us make use of technology to broadcast information that will bring us together, lets run completions that test our knowledge of other ethnic groups. Lets install computers in our rural schools and have the children send e-mails to each other across the country, not those misguided projects that get Kenyan children to communicate with kids in Europe & the US. We have the technology that allows us to implement solutions that do not require parliamentary approval or a government license. Awake and stop this lip service on the issue of ethnicity we are all responsible for getting this country to where it is today. Do we have what it takes to change course. Yes, I do know the causes and like a typical Kenyan I know the solutions but only discuss them on forums instead of taking action. Like a serial killer I am looking to be stopped, can someone push me to act on my theories? Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: James Kagwe <jkagwe(a)KIPPRA.OR.KE> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, 8 January, 2008 3:09:19 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs  Please let us know that the problem we are having in the country now is more in the mind than anywhere else. Technology could help but even with technology it is possible for people who have the same tribal convictions that their tribal chief has to be the president to conspire to inflate the polls and actually go ahead and mark the ballot papers in favor of their candidate. Tribalism is the main problem and this has to be fought by all means. Most of the problems were experienced in the strongholds of the main candidates and this confirms the greatest worry. From: kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=kippra.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=kippra.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Evelyn Rono Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:29 PM To: James Kagwe Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' Subject: Re: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs Hi Bobby, Several ICT companies and individuals approached the ECK with the intention of supporting and a managing the process with ICT. I quote “ ECK in 2004 was provided with IT hardware & software and GIS electoral database created with each individual polling station positions' mapped using GIS technology that integrated with the electoral database through a unique ID for polling station. The constituency boundaries provided the domain universe within which each polling station could be located for administrative purposes. Training was also conducted for ECK”. The same company tried to do the same 2007 This did not happen – Only ECK knows. Evelyn Rono From: kictanet-bounces+evelyn.rono=kdn.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+evelyn.rono=kdn.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of robert yawe Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 11:51 AM To: evelyn.rono(a)kdn.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs Happy new year to you all and I pray that you are all well. It is shocking that in this day and age we can actually have the kind of electoral fiasco that has been visited on us by the ECK and Co as well as the political parties. This draconian problem reared its head when the Orange house was broken into and the computers stolen. Hon.Nyongo's statement indicated that the objective was to steal the member register. If I needed to steal the register which from his comments was in electronic form what was the need of taking off with the computer. Has he ever heard of flash disks, external hard dis drives and CD/DVD writers. Technology allows me to steal his data without him every knowing. After this issue Kivuiti dismissed the SMS service that had been made available by Telkom to enable voters confirm their details. He even went to the extent of saying he does not know how to send an SMS. As the IT fraternity in the country can we really escape blame for this fiasco? The next time was when I saw Hon. Ruto standing at KICC and screaming himself hoarse over the forms 16 & 16A that had not been received. It seems he might be using a Nokia 1018 mobile phone (he actually uses a Nokia N series). Was it so difficult for the opposition to provide each of their agents with a camera equipped mobile phone that they would have used to to take pictures of the form and also record the returning officer announcing the results. This would then have been easily sent to party head quarters. There are 210 or so constituencies in the country and the mobile phones I am talking about cost about 10,000/- each do the math. I ask am I the only Kenyan who is aware of such technology or is this entire fiasco a stage managed process. Even the EU observer teams came equipped as if it was the 12th Century after which they proceeded to make unsupported statements about the result that further inflamed bloodshed. Maybe its a techie thing to keep in our glass houses and refuse to add value to a process and only send around message (this one included) after the fact. It is re-assuring when we remember the Florida fiasco but this not withstanding do we really have a moral standing to point fingers about the election results? What will be our contribution to stopping this from being repeated in future? Regards Remember Matiba and his video cameras during the good old days of mulolongo voting? Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi , 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/

4 3

I stand by the helpless
by Alex Gakuru 09 Jan '08

09 Jan '08

-------Start------- To you the tribes of the world I write this plea All you black tribes, white tribes, Asian tribes Economic tribes, power tribes, elitism tribes Every tribal king, queen, knight, and drones I am tired of every all selfish ethnocentrisms I am fed up with your foolish and lost ways I denounce your wickedness and rise up I fear not you archaic blurred tribal lenses Open your eyes to the blood rivers flowing See the horror in childrens eyes ask why? Look at the children straight in the eyes Tell why they will never see their parents Feel the pain in your grandmother's soul Tell her why? oh why? she needs your answer She needs to know for what and it is worth Tell her when enough blood will be spilled See them sleeping out in the cold with no blankets Have no clothes yet had about enough last week In dark of chilly nights trembling But not from cold >From terror of political wickedness and its evils They have no basin, no water, no soap, They've lost friends and neighbours for ever Is one innocent life loss worth anything ? Tell me their lives are meaningless to you? Go to clinics and wards; see them lying, Wounded and bleeding, crying and frail, Sickly but not of natural but your causes Starving with much food in our reserves Looking up in prayer only crying to God I say loudly to you all the politicians You promised us much in campaign You and your promises are hollow When now are doing next-to-nothing Go round the country once again now Preaching peach, unity and selflessness Wherever you flew campaigning return Console just turned widows and orphans Made homeless by senseless barbarism Give children food clothes and food Shelter, home, hope and make friends Unless they were only useful then With problems you abandon forever Go! else never open you mouth ever My radio sing me a song of love My radio please play me a song, One sung by Jonathan Butler We must Heal Our Land Today Heal our land today, don't delay.. For this land is big enough for all of us It has enough to feed and house everyone It is beautiful enough for all of us to see It is endowed rich cultural diversity With a heritage and traditions of peace Cultures flowing with love and kindness I stand firm condemning violence to citizens. Stand up also and say no to political violence PEACE! Alex Gakuru -------Ends-------

10 17

Re: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs
by robert yawe 08 Jan '08

08 Jan '08

Hi, It is interesting to know that a number of technology options were provide to ECK. When you are dealing with a group of lawyers who do not understand SMS what is the chance they would appreciate GIS. Out of curiosity does the ECK have a commissioner responsible for ICT? Evelyn, if possible can you share the proposal that was given to ECK, maybe we need to look at this as the IT fraternities contribution to future free and fare elections. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Evelyn Rono <evelyn.rono(a)kdn.co.ke> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, 8 January, 2008 12:28:43 PM Subject: RE: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs  Hi Bobby, Several ICT companies and individuals approached the ECK with the intention of supporting and a managing the process with ICT. I quote “ ECK in 2004 was provided with IT hardware & software and GIS electoral database created with each individual polling station positions' mapped using GIS technology that integrated with the electoral database through a unique ID for polling station. The constituency boundaries provided the domain universe within which each polling station could be located for administrative purposes. Training was also conducted for ECK”. The same company tried to do the same 2007 This did not happen – Only ECK knows. Evelyn Rono From: kictanet-bounces+evelyn.rono=kdn.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+evelyn.rono=kdn.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of robert yawe Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 11:51 AM To: evelyn.rono(a)kdn.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs Happy new year to you all and I pray that you are all well. It is shocking that in this day and age we can actually have the kind of electoral fiasco that has been visited on us by the ECK and Co as well as the political parties. This draconian problem reared its head when the Orange house was broken into and the computers stolen. Hon.Nyongo's statement indicated that the objective was to steal the member register. If I needed to steal the register which from his comments was in electronic form what was the need of taking off with the computer. Has he ever heard of flash disks, external hard dis drives and CD/DVD writers. Technology allows me to steal his data without him every knowing. After this issue Kivuiti dismissed the SMS service that had been made available by Telkom to enable voters confirm their details. He even went to the extent of saying he does not know how to send an SMS. As the IT fraternity in the country can we really escape blame for this fiasco? The next time was when I saw Hon. Ruto standing at KICC and screaming himself hoarse over the forms 16 & 16A that had not been received. It seems he might be using a Nokia 1018 mobile phone (he actually uses a Nokia N series). Was it so difficult for the opposition to provide each of their agents with a camera equipped mobile phone that they would have used to to take pictures of the form and also record the returning officer announcing the results. This would then have been easily sent to party head quarters. There are 210 or so constituencies in the country and the mobile phones I am talking about cost about 10,000/- each do the math. I ask am I the only Kenyan who is aware of such technology or is this entire fiasco a stage managed process. Even the EU observer teams came equipped as if it was the 12th Century after which they proceeded to make unsupported statements about the result that further inflamed bloodshed. Maybe its a techie thing to keep in our glass houses and refuse to add value to a process and only send around message (this one included) after the fact. It is re-assuring when we remember the Florida fiasco but this not withstanding do we really have a moral standing to point fingers about the election results? What will be our contribution to stopping this from being repeated in future? Regards Remember Matiba and his video cameras during the good old days of mulolongo voting? Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi , 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. ___________________________________________________________ Support the World Aids Awareness campaign this month with Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/

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Re: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs
by Florence Etta 08 Jan '08

08 Jan '08

Of Dinosaurs and dot comers; The last elections in India were hailed for their widespread use of technology. Maybe Kenya ought to be the next such story! This will move the country from Dinosaur status to the dot com era. Allow me therefore to urge that the IT fraternity to start now, to get ready for the next election with all the might of project planning and funding ready. If it can be done even in one constituency if only to show how, it can make a difference. Let the IT community not continue to live in glass houses and afraid to throw stones! Techies ought to get out there and show their wears!!! It seems to me that with all the mediation efforts going on currently it might be sooner than we think before it is time to deploy all the IT gadgetry some of which have been identified by Evelyn for democracy. Get ready...........guys n gals! Go on dare to make a difference. Now! OK maybe soon! Cheers, FE ----- Original Message ---- From: James Kagwe <jkagwe(a)KIPPRA.OR.KE> To: florence.etta(a)gmail.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, 8 January, 2008 3:09:19 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs Please let us know that the problem we are having in the country now is more in the mind than anywhere else. Technology could help but even with technology it is possible for people who have the same tribal convictions that their tribal chief has to be the president to conspire to inflate the polls and actually go ahead and mark the ballot papers in favor of their candidate. Tribalism is the main problem and this has to be fought by all means. Most of the problems were experienced in the strongholds of the main candidates and this confirms the greatest worry. From: kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=kippra.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=kippra.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Evelyn Rono Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:29 PM To: James Kagwe Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' Subject: Re: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs Hi Bobby, Several ICT companies and individuals approached the ECK with the intention of supporting and a managing the process with ICT. I quote “ ECK in 2004 was provided with IT hardware & software and GIS electoral database created with each individual polling station positions' mapped using GIS technology that integrated with the electoral database through a unique ID for polling station. The constituency boundaries provided the domain universe within which each polling station could be located for administrative purposes. Training was also conducted for ECK”. The same company tried to do the same 2007 This did not happen – Only ECK knows. Evelyn Rono From: kictanet-bounces+evelyn.rono=kdn.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+evelyn.rono=kdn.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of robert yawe Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 11:51 AM To: evelyn.rono(a)kdn.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Election fiasco reveals Technological dinosaurs Happy new year to you all and I pray that you are all well. It is shocking that in this day and age we can actually have the kind of electoral fiasco that has been visited on us by the ECK and Co as well as the political parties. This draconian problem reared its head when the Orange house was broken into and the computers stolen. Hon.Nyongo's statement indicated that the objective was to steal the member register. If I needed to steal the register which from his comments was in electronic form what was the need of taking off with the computer. Has he ever heard of flash disks, external hard dis drives and CD/DVD writers. Technology allows me to steal his data without him every knowing. After this issue Kivuiti dismissed the SMS service that had been made available by Telkom to enable voters confirm their details. He even went to the extent of saying he does not know how to send an SMS. As the IT fraternity in the country can we really escape blame for this fiasco? The next time was when I saw Hon. Ruto standing at KICC and screaming himself hoarse over the forms 16 & 16A that had not been received. It seems he might be using a Nokia 1018 mobile phone (he actually uses a Nokia N series). Was it so difficult for the opposition to provide each of their agents with a camera equipped mobile phone that they would have used to to take pictures of the form and also record the returning officer announcing the results. This would then have been easily sent to party head quarters. There are 210 or so constituencies in the country and the mobile phones I am talking about cost about 10,000/- each do the math. I ask am I the only Kenyan who is aware of such technology or is this entire fiasco a stage managed process. Even the EU observer teams came equipped as if it was the 12th Century after which they proceeded to make unsupported statements about the result that further inflamed bloodshed. Maybe its a techie thing to keep in our glass houses and refuse to add value to a process and only send around message (this one included) after the fact. It is re-assuring when we remember the Florida fiasco but this not withstanding do we really have a moral standing to point fingers about the election results? What will be our contribution to stopping this from being repeated in future? Regards Remember Matiba and his video cameras during the good old days of mulolongo voting? Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi , 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: florence.etta(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/florence.etta%40gmail.… ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/

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