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Re: [kictanet] Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore Passes on
by Barrack Otieno 01 Jul '19

01 Jul '19

Dear Listers, We have learnt with deep sorrow the passing on of Bob Collymore the Safaricom Chief Executive Officer in the morning of 1st July 2019. As stakeholders and members of the Kenyan ICT fraternity we have lost a great Champion. As the Kenya ICT Action Network, we condole with Bob's family as well as our friends and colleagues from Safaricom PLC, a key partner and member of the network. May Bobs soul rest in Peace. We will miss him. Best regards Barrack Otieno

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Save the date: www.dnsforum.africa July 22-24, Gaborone, Botswana
by Barrack Otieno 01 Jul '19

01 Jul '19

Listers, Please note that the Africa DNS Forum 2019 will take place from July 22-24, 2019 in Gaborone (Botswana) . For more information , kindly visit www.dnsforum.africa. If you require a VISA kindly ensure that you register online on or before 10th July 2019. Best Regards -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Financial transactions should be private by default
by Alice Munyua 01 Jul '19

01 Jul '19

> > > > > > > > Hey, > > 🍕🥓🍩 = 💸 > > What if all your guilty pleasures were on display for the whole world to see? If you use Venmo, a popular app that lets people send and collect money, there's a good chance they already are. > > Venmo's settings are public by default, so millions of transactions are available for anyone on the web to find. > > Everyone knowing who you shared pizza with last week might seem innocuous enough, but with millions of transactions publicly available there is a huge risk that this data could be used for nefarious purposes. Venmo has transformed the way Americans settle personal debts, and with as many as an estimated 10 million monthly users, how it handles privacy could be the standard for other financial apps.1 > > Sign our petition to tell Venmo that financial transactions should be private. > > Last year, researcher and Mozilla Fellow Hang Do Thi Duc exposed the serious implications of Venmo's settings by uncovering how countless Venmo users' drug habits, junk food vices, personal finances, and fights with significant others are available for all to see.2 > > Under pressure from the slew of news covering Do Thi Duc's work and a Mozilla campaign calling for the company to change its public by default setting, Venmo made a few small changes and restricted the rate at which information could be pulled from its public database of transactions (called an API).3 This change means that sensitive data about your transactions can still be extracted exactly the same way, it will just take a bit longer.4 > > This is not a fix. The privacy of Venmo users remains at risk. Last week, news surfaced that one researcher was able to collect data on 7 MILLION new transactions.5 With this renewed focus again exposing Venmo's terrible privacy practices, we have the opportunity to push the company to finally fix the problem and make privacy its default setting. > > Will you join 25,000 privacy advocates who have already signed our petition telling Venmo to make financial transactions private? Click here to add your name. > > Thank you for helping hold Venmo accountable, > The Mozilla Team > > References: > > Kaya Yurieff, "A researcher studied a year of public Venmo transactions. Here's what she learned," CNN Money, July 17, 2018. > Olivia Solon, "Venmo: how the payment app exposes our private lives," The Guardian, July 17, 2018. > Sarah Perez, "Mozilla pushes PayPal to make Venmo transactions private by default," TechCrunch > Dell Cameron, "Millions of Transactions Scraped in Latest Demonstration of Venmo's Absurd Privacy Policy," Gizmodo, June 17, 2019. > Ibid. > > > > > > Connect with us > > > > Thanks for reading! > You're receiving this email because we think you’re neat, AND you subscribed to hear from us. If our emails aren’t sparking joy, we’ll understand if you unsubscribe. > > You can also update your email preferences at any time. > > > > Donate to Mozilla | Download Firefox > > 331 E. Evelyn Avenue Mountain View CA 94041 > Legal • Privacy

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[ideas] Is there a way we can use our skills/talents to try and help turn our local politics into something more healthy and inclusive?
by Patrick A. M. Maina 29 Jun '19

29 Jun '19

Dear listers, Is there a way we can use our skills/talents to try and help turn our local politics into something more healthy and inclusive? Somalia's 20+ years of lawlessness is a grim reminder that toxic politics can backfire massively in an unpredictable and uncontrollable way that does not yield any winners over very long periods of time. There is no human society that is immune to the dangers of toxic politics, therefore it is important for stakeholders (be they professionals, business people, politicians and/or intellectuals) to voice their good-faith concerns against toxic politics, ideally in good time - when there is still a good chance for the country/leaders to change course, because ultimately we all get to bear the heavy socioeconomic costs associated with political uncertainty and volatility. To quote UNDP (see link #1): "Societies whose political institutions are more inclusive and participatory tend to be more peaceful and resilient, just as societies practicing exclusion tend to be more vulnerable to fragility and conflict." As long as leadership and/or resource/opportunity allocation is associated with ethnic identity, and/or an exclusive mindset, there will always be discontent among the have-nots, which leads to aggressive political competition as different ethnic communities clamor for their "turn to eat". It is therefore in our best interest, as a country that desires stability and prosperity, to push towards inclusive and participatory frameworks of governance (see link #2). Let me open the floor with some ideas / suggestions based on the above-mentioned themes. Hoping we can have a non-partisan idea-focused discussion in the spirit of searching for creative solutions to a shared problem. IDEAS / SUGGESTIONS:-------------------------------- 1. Our country needs moments of guaranteed pause in our politics where everyone (including media) gets to take a break from elective politics and focus on development: doing things that create opportunities and prosperity for all. What if election laws were amended to make campaigning illegal unless it occurs within 18 months prior to an election? 2. What if promises for maendeleo (development) were limited to election time only - and required in writing (lodged at the registrar), with measurable pledges and indicators (e.g. x number of jobs annually) such that the promises form a performance contract between the (winning) politician and voters across the whole country? 3. What if politicians agreed that failure to achieve x% of the committed pledges/targets, without credible extenuating circumstances, would be deemed a fair and reasonable ground for impeachment/recall. This would help minimizefalse/unrealistic promises and help reshape the perceptions of leadership from the more toxic "opportunity to rule", into the healthier opportunity to serve the country. 4. What if politician salaries were pegged to the median salary in the country - and any extra perks (e.g. performance bonus) to be linked, via a tiered system, to the delivery of agreed socio-economic performance targets and paid lumpsum at the end of the political term? This would incentivize a growth mindset and also minimize the perception that politics is a shortcut to easy wealth (meaning politics would attract people who truly want to make a difference; stakes would be lower during elections and we would have more of in-touch leadership styles). 5. What if political leaders and senior administrators were offered actual housing (instead of a monetary allowance) in median level neighborhoods (e.g. Eastlands) - to avoid their developing the out-of-touch elitism that seems to comes with moving to places like Karen or Muthaiga? What if government only offered them cover limited to public health services (I've seen this being discussed in the news)? Perhaps our country will be transformed much faster if our leaders lived among the median demographics and had a personal stake in improving the median standards of living? 6. What if political campaigns were about winning support for a written socio-political strategy and plan; i.e. a competition of ideas - instead of personalities? What if elections were about perceived merits of ideas, implementation strategies or preferred economic direction that the country should take - instead of identities and/or unrealistic promises? 7. All Kenyans have common problems that they would like to hear politicians talking about all the time such as JOBS CREATION and ABUNDANT OPPORTUNITIES for ENTREPRENEURSHIP. I think ICT, manufacturing and agriculture are high-potential drivers where quick results can be attained. How can we encourage politicians to focus on these issues within a nationally inclusive framework? 8. Can/should advertisers influence the News Media to stop fanning divisive narratives, mediocrity, ethnic chauvenism, identity politics and other banal inanities - and focus instead on responsibly shaping the national agenda towards issues that bring growth and prosperity? Can media self-regulate and refocus the Kenyan masses towards sustainable agendas (like entrepreneurship and excellence)? If our media moguls are in doubt about the business case of responsible journalism, I would urge them to study how Somalia's media industry has been performing over the last ~28 years. I think if the clock was pulled back, Somalia's media would think very carefully about the narratives that they want to shape their national discourse. Short term profits can come with a heavy long-term cost. Please consider this. 9. Serializing national goals to maximize focus, prioritize and leverage the domino effect of cumulative wins: Do we really have the capacity to make massively bold and audacious goals that are to be implemented concurrently or are we setting ourselves - and our leaders - up for failure by overreaching far beyond our realistic capabilities and stretching ourselves way too thin? Our economic/policy advisors need to accept the reality - that we are a poor, debt ridden country with crippling levels of corruption, institutionalized mediocrity, short sighted orientation and greater levels of incompetence than competence; a country that seems to be always tittering on the edge of a precipitous political/economic cliff - thus urgently in need of credible stabilizing plans and strategies. I would like to propose the idea of a serial, bite-sized approach to strategic national initiatives, where the main goals (which can still be big and audacious) are smartly serialized for domino effect and pursued, with laser focus, one at a time. For example we can have the entire nation's development agenda focus on creating jobs and opportunities - and nothing else - for the first 5 years, then in the subsequent 5 years the focus can change to boosting growth and efficiency, say via infrastructure upgrades/enhancements. This makes it easy for political manifestos to be guided by realistic 20-30 year economic master-plans (that already have national concensus), rather than arbitrary perceptions about what is popular at election time. It can also help decouple the economy from political transition cycles which would attract high quality FDI. Attempting very wide scope goals in parallel significantly increases costs - without giving the economy time to catch up and create domino effects; it compounds complexity - yet we have limited capacity to manage significant complexity; it increases the likelihood of mega corruption due to greater ambiguity + an overstretched Monitoring and Evaluation framework; it consumes a counterproductive amount of leadership bandwidth - such that unexpected events become more of a challenge than would otherwise be; and it magnifies risk of failing to attain ALL the audacious goals to near certainty levels. CONCLUSION: If we serialize our national goals, we will avoid biting more than we can chew and stretching our resources (or bandwidth) too thin. Being focused will minimize the risk of goal-capture by corruption cartels. By prioritizing wealth creation initiatives, we will give our economy a chance to develop domino effects - building a viable case for increasing capacity via infrastructure enhancements. A period of guaranteed pause in politics will allow the country to focus on development. Elections should be about issues - rather than identity. Performance-linked manifestos will encourage politicians to make realistic promises that they intend (and are able) to keep and be held accountable for their attainment. Media is key to ending negative/exclusive ethnicity as it can shape the national discourse towards less toxic narratives. Research suggests that inclusive, participatory governance models are superior to exclusive ones. Inclusivity creates the right socio-political conditions for sustainable stability and prosperity. Welcoming your thoughts / more ideas on the same. My only request, please, is that we try to have a non-partisan, intellectually honest exchange of creative ideas. Good evening. Brgds,Patrick. Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross-domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations] Links / References: 1. Inclusive political processes https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/2030-agenda-for-sustainable-devel… 2. Sustainability and Public Participation: Toward an Inclusive Model of Democracy on JSTOR https://www.jstor.org/stable/25610875?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents

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Fwd: [At-Large] GDPR A Year Later in European Jurisdictions
by Barrack Otieno 26 Jun '19

26 Jun '19

Might be of interest. Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: *Carlton Samuels* <carlton.samuels(a)gmail.com> Date: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Subject: [At-Large] GDPR A Year Later in European Jurisdictions To: At-Large Worldwide <at-large(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org>, " lac-discuss-en(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org" < lac-discuss-en(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org>, CPWG <cpwg(a)icann.org> The Eurobarometer 487a report offers insight on citizen awareness of the GDPR, individuals’ rights under it, their perception of their ability to control their personal data and their sense of and understanding of the enforcement mechanisms and actors. Read it here: http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/ index.cfm/ResultDoc/download/DocumentKy/86886 Carlton ============================== *Carlton A Samuels* *Mobile: 876-818-1799Strategy, Process, Governance, Assessment & Turnaround* ============================= -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Data Visualization through the Use of Excel
by Tracy Nyatoro Weru 26 Jun '19

26 Jun '19

@LabAfrica,Strathmore university in partnership with Sunesis Consulting Limited is organizing a 3-day training course on Excel as a Business Intelligence Tool (Dashboard Reporting). The program will take place @iLabAfrica on 17th - 19th July 2019 at 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. This is a 3-day training that aims at providing business personnel with skills to transform data into decisions using a cost effective tool. The training course is open to all personnel in business related fields who want to leverage on the power of Excel as a Business Intelligence tool. We would be honored to have you participate in this training. If you have further queries, please do not hesitate to contact the event coordinator Getrude on her email address: ggichuhi(a)strathmore.edu <https://link.aeusercontent.com/mt/lt/D355BBBAC67B2DCE36571561528960260/1?ta…> The course will help you to: - Explore top 15 advanced data analysis functions that will save your report generation turn-around time! - Move from static, dull reports to interactive and insightful dashboards -learn to apply form controls, slicers, pick lists, and camera tool to create interaction - Show top performers using formulas and YoY% by a click of a mouse - Achieve more with advanced analytical charts -Pareto chart, Scrolling charts, Gauge Charts - Easily spot trends and patterns in your data by using icon sets, traffic lights, Sparklines and Custom Number formats - Creating a dashboard in Excel step-by-step Suitability: - This course is definitely NOT for you if locking cells ($ sign), VLOOKUP & PivotTables are news to you! - You need to have been a regular user of Excel (at least 40% usage in a week), and are comfortable with creating simple lookup formulas and charts, as well as customizing them. - *This course is not suitable for Absolute Beginners in Microsoft Excel.* If you are a beginner, we recommend that you start with less advanced Excel courses. You send an email to Getrude on ggichuhi(a)strathmore.edu <https://link.aeusercontent.com/mt/lt/D355BBBAC67B2DCE36571561528960260/2?ta…> with your inquiry. Fee information: Ksh 66,500 which covers the training fee, lunch and refreshments for the three days, as well as the certificate.. -- *Kind Regards,* Tracy Weru Program Manager @iLabAfrica Research Centre Email: tweru(a)strathmore.edu <https://link.aeusercontent.com/mt/lt/D355BBBAC67B2DCE36571561528960260/3?ta…> Direct Line: +254 (0) 703 034 621 Ext: 2621 Cell: +254 (0) 724239020 Enquiries: +254 (0) 703-034000/200/300 www.strathmore.edu <https://link.aeusercontent.com/mt/lt/D355BBBAC67B2DCE36571561528960260/4?ta…> <https://link.aeusercontent.com/mt/lt/D355BBBAC67B2DCE36571561528960260/5?ta…> <https://link.aeusercontent.com/mt/lt/D355BBBAC67B2DCE36571561528960260/6?ta…> <https://link.aeusercontent.com/mt/lt/D355BBBAC67B2DCE36571561528960260/7?ta…> <https://link.aeusercontent.com/mt/lt/D355BBBAC67B2DCE36571561528960260/8?ta…> <https://link.aeusercontent.com/mt/lt/D355BBBAC67B2DCE36571561528960260/9?ta…> <https://link.aeusercontent.com/mt/lt/D355BBBAC67B2DCE36571561528960260/10?t…> <https://link.aeusercontent.com/mt/lt/D355BBBAC67B2DCE36571561528960260/11?t…> -- *Note: *All emails sent from Strathmore University are subject to Strathmore’s Email Terms & Conditions. Please click here <http://www.strathmore.edu/en/email-policy> to read the policy. * * "Visit our Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/StrathmoreUniversity>Page and Twitter <https://twitter.com/StrathU>Account".

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Re: [kictanet] [Fair Competition Laws will Promote Innovation and Reduce Unfair Market Practices - the bill is not targeting a particular company or product] Safaricom to be compelled to split m-pesa business in new bill
by Patrick A. M. Maina 25 Jun '19

25 Jun '19

Hi Ali, Here we go again... My comment was fair because your points appear to be contradicting themselves - which suggests a limited understanding, either of the overall topic or of the point(s) that you are making. If this is not an accurate assessment, I invite you please to rephrase and present your ideas more congruently to avoid being misundersood. Taking note of past interactions, I am detecting a pattern where you repeatedly claim, without substantiating, to be offended or attacked by intellectually fair comments (e.g. when sincerely called out for contradicting your own points or for demolishing your own arguments) and that makes it quite challenging to debate with you with intellectual candor. Your decision to draw conclusions about a particular entity based on ONE WORD on the subject line does not make sense to me because my plain language *insertions* and use of plural terms in the message body (including the section you quoted) clearly suggests a general discussion. Latching onto one word or phrase while completely ignoring the overall context is not an intellectually honest way to debate. So Ali, the onus is still on you to offer a more substantive substantiation as to why you chose to associate one specific entity with what is clearly a general paragraph, and which you excerpted from what is clearly a general discussion. Debating experts generally advise that participants who take diversionery paths instead of focusing on robust, congruent ideas have no intention to engage in genuine debate but just want create certain perceptions for the moderator/observers or create a dramatic distraction so that important ideas are hidden (muzzled) by the noise. Rather than prevail with the strength of their ideas, intellectually dishonest (or unskilled) debaters try to "win" by muzzling or supressing opposing ideas. This is a troubling pattern that I am detecting in your debating style Ali. Productive mature debating is a skill that can be learned. To learn more about how to have an intellectually honest debate, please read the following articles as a starting point, and then search online for more. https://hbr.org/2019/01/how-to-debate-ideas-productively-at-work https://shane.substack.com/p/how-to-stop-being-intellectually Hope that helps. :-) Please let us be open to diverse opinions, fresh ideas and new ways of thinking. Suppressing ideas when discussing public-interest policy issues is counterproductive because it leads to sub-optimal outcomes. Try not to take an intellectual challenge as a personal affront, or use victimhood as a tactic, otherwise you will miss valuable opportunities to engage in, and learn from, high-quality intellectually honest debates on complex, public-interest topics. Enjoy your day. Brgds,Patrick. Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross-domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations] On Tuesday, June 25, 2019, 8:37:45 AM GMT+3, Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> wrote: Patrick Do you always have to turn a conversation into a personal affront/attack? My limited understanding of State Capture? I will not deign to respond to personal attacks because in my responding I will be making an assumption that you are an expert in the subject of State Capture. Let me instead respond to your question below:- "Perhaps Ali, you can shed more light as to why the name of a particular company - and not any other(s) - came into your mind after reading my general comments about ruthless anti-competitive, anti-poor practices by monopolistic entities. Is there something you have observed or heard about their activities and/or practices?" Simple Patrick. The title of this email thread specifically mentions Safaricom and so the assumption is understandable that you are singling them out. Perhaps you care to respond to that instead of deflecting? I asked a specific question on this. Focus on that, perhaps? AliHussein Principal AHK & Associates Tel: +254 713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing, Chiromo Road, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya. Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with. On Mon, Jun 24, 2019 at 9:36 PM Patrick A. M. Maina <pmaina2000(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Greetings Ali, and many thanks for your thoughts. One key attribute of high value debates is the presence of two (or more) opposing perspectives because diversity of thought often leads to a multi-dimensional understanding of complex issues, which (if leveraged with good intentions) can lead to high quality inputs for policies, strategies, regulations and/or decisions. So I truly welcome and appreciate your counter-perspective and rebuttal efforts. :-) Let me start with an African saying made famous by Chinua Achebe: "An elderly person is always uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb." Perhaps Ali, you can shed more light as to why the name of a particular company - and not any other(s) - came into your mind after reading my general comments about ruthless anti-competitive, anti-poor practices by monopolistic entities. Is there something you have observed or heard about their activities and/or practices? Why would public-interest regulation be interpreted as targeting specific companies - unless it is some kind of admission or assertion that those companies could indeed be acting (or causing negative externalities) against public interest? Retrogressive externalities could be an unforeseen and/or unintentional by-product of a sub-optimized network-effects success model and poor economic master-planning (see links #1-7). Furthermore corporations, in different parts of the world, have also been known for purposeful malevolent activities when they fear of competition/disruption especially when operating within a weak / outdated institutional / antitrust framework. Specifics would need to be studied on a case by case basis. Have you considered the timing of the bill (in context of recent industry developments)? The proposed rules could actually *benefit* the very local corporate entities that would supposedly be motivated to resist them. In the global scale, our "tech giants" are like MSMEs and they get to be on the receiving end of mega-scale cross-border corporate tyranny. There is an interesting story of certain well known CEO's visit to Africa. A lot of people thought he was coming to look for investment opportunities and they cheerfully welcomed him (full VVIP+ treatment), took him on tours, demoed innovations, snapped selfies and eagerly answered his questions - hoping to dazzle, awe and impress him. Kumbe he was on a mission to gather economic intelligence - and he openly stated so (meaning you can't claim illegality) - leaving people to form their own self-deluded conclusions as to why he was doing it. Several years later, his company launches a product that will directly compete with ours at an unprecedented game-changing scale! There are so many stories like this in Africa, the script remains the same, only the actors, props and victims keep changing. It is quite embarrassing just how easy we make it for others to *repeatedly* plunder our ideas/insights or compete with us unfairly - to our own collective detriment - yet we always speak of a "knowledge economy" without taking time to understand what that *really* means. "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." - old proverb. Africa's centuries-old commitment to gullibility and ignorance is unparalleled and quite disturbing (see links #8-15). We are among the very few (if not the only) modern-day societies that never seem to learn from history. We welcome plunderers / economic spies with pomp, ceremony and color, and we happily give them everything they need to subjugate and impoverish us. Like little children, we accept sweet words as proof of benevolent intent and our shallow vanity makes us take pride that everyone is interested in learning from us (surely that means we are very important and smart - if others want to study us and everything we know, right?), yet we don't take as much - or more - interest in learning from them or asking ourselves uncomfortable questions, such as: "why is the student always teaching the teacher?"... and most worryingly, we see voices of reason, desperately scrambling to wake us up - as party-pooping troublemakers. Quite depressing, but I digress.. Ali, your argument on state capture suggests a limited understanding on how state capture comes about or what really it is (see links #8-15). Essentially you are contradicting yourself because it is good (uncorrupted) public-interest regulations, strong government institutions (not beholden to a few private interests) and a socio-political commitment to fair and sensible rules - motivated by public-interest - that minimize the risk of state capture. State capture is enabled by corruption, unchecked corporate power and corporate lobbying against public interest, which leads to regulatory (and market) failure e.g. due to bad laws that have loopholes purposefully designed in to them - or good laws getting blocked from enactment. I urge you to read more on the topic if you are interested in it (there are some good links below that you can start with) to gain a better understanding so you can offer more robust arguments/rebuttals without unwittingly demolishing or contradicting your main argument. Have a great evening. Brgd,Patrick Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross-domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations] Links / References: 1. Understanding Network Effects https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_information-systems-a-managers-guide-to… 2. The Dangers of Platform Monopolies https://knowledge.insead.edu/blog/insead-blog/the-dangers-of-platform-monop… 3. UNCTAD: Why competition and consumer protection matter https://unctad.org/en/Pages/DITC/CompetitionLaw/why-competition-matters.aspx 4. Apr. 2016: MIT News: How network effects hurt economieshttp://news.mit.edu/2016/network-effects-hurt-economies-0406 5. Regulating Anticompetitive Behavior – Principles of Economics https://opentextbc.ca/principlesofeconomics/chapter/11-2-regulating-anticom… 6. Monopolies are Destroying our Economy (US centric - but contains valuable insights) https://intpolicydigest.org/2018/05/23/monopolies-are-destroying-our-econom… 7. Apr. 2019: IMF warns that tech giants stifle innovation and threaten stability https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/apr/03/imf-warns-that-tech-giants… 8. 2017: UN Speakers Stress Need to Address Exploitation of Africa’s Resources, Urging Paradigm Shift, as Economic and Social Council Concludes Segment | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/ecosoc6831.doc.htm 9. Why the richest continent is the poorest https://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/18/africa/looting-machine-tom-burgis-africa… 10. Culture and social environment in the pre-colonial era http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0041-476X200900… 11. Why no African country is truly free or independent - THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! https://www.theafricancourier.de/opinion-analysis/neo-colonialism-in-africa… 12. Exploiting gullible people is a modern form of mininghttps://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/aug/07/exploiting-gulli… 13. Universities and the “democracy of the gullible” https://en.unesco.org/courier/2018-1/universities-and-democracy-gullible 14. The Age of Gullibility https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/one-among-many/201806/the-age-gulli… 15. The Science Of Gullibility: Why We Get Duped https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=99160094 16. Corporations and Regulators: The Game of Influence in Regulatory Capture https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257246830_Corporations_and_Regulat… 17. Corruption, Lobbying and State Capture https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304479012_Corruption_Lobbying_and_… 18. Rent-Seeking and Regulatory Capture https://www.e-education.psu.edu/ebf200/book/export/html/160 On Monday, June 24, 2019, 7:57:38 AM GMT+3, Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> wrote: Patrick >From the context of this headline, I'm curious to see how Safaricom contributes to your quote below:- "...OK to drive mama mbogas (small vegetable sellers), youth-founded startups, indigenous innovators and other MSMEs out of business, by leveraging legal/regulatory loopholes that allow them to distort market forces using their mass-scale market power. " Whilst I generally agree with your thesis below I think it's fair that when we make such accusations in relation to a specific company we quote specific examples. I'm all for ensuring a level playing field across the board and contend that this is a collective effort of Good Citizenry by corporates (which by the way is good for business long term) and robust but fair policies and regulation by government. The world is full of examples where breaking up companies has never achieved the desired effect of creating a level playing field (Standard Oil is probably the best example. Years later these baby Standard Oils are mostly back together in the form of Exxon Mobil. And by the way, the breakup may have made the Rockefellers even more fabulously wealthy). Rather than breaking up companies, the world should address the elephant in the room. State Capture. Boeing is probably the most current example of how government regulation was completely corrupted by a company, resulting in a colossal loss of life. One of my best examples of how governments can reign in bad players is how the fear of breaking up Microsoft and other tech giants in the 90s contributed to the rise of the current #BigTech companies. Maybe the cycle needs to be repeated? Let me reiterate. I'm in general agreement with your post, I'm just concerned we don't specifically target an organization without specific evidence to back it up. Regards AliHussein Principal AHK & Associates Tel: +254 713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing, Chiromo Road, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya. Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with. On Sun, Jun 23, 2019 at 1:14 AM Patrick A. M. Maina via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: Fair competition laws are long overdue and should be very welcome because, if properly formulated and implemented, such laws will rapidly stimulate economic growth and create millions of new jobs. An objective observer will agree that there is something fundamentally wrong about billion-dollar-revenue companies operating in poverty-ridden low-income countries that find it OK to drive mama mbogas (small vegetable sellers), youth-founded startups, indigenous innovators and other MSMEs out of business, by leveraging legal/regulatory loopholes that allow them to distort market forces using their mass-scale market power. Instead of celebrating a few concentrated pockets of super-profits - we should be concerned as to why such "stellar" performance does not match the overall sector's competitive landscape (especially if everyone else in the sector is making losses) - as well as, the general state of the rest of the economy. Hopefully the relevant parties in legislature will do the right thing for opportunities-starved wananchi and for the struggling economy by passing fair competition laws (I am also hoping that wananchi, politicians, public interest NGOs and activists will add weight to such beneficial initiatives as/when necessary). There is still room for more to be done, however, especially in the six areas below (which if addressed, will create an environment that is even more conducive for prosperity and growth): 1. Contextualized Intellectual Property Protection: This area needs urgent attention to address rampant theft of IP due to obsolete, non-contextualized laws that favor corporate tyranny and plunder. Compelling data-based evidence (see link #1-2) shows that a laissez faire attitude to IP is a top contributor to poverty and low quality FDI in low income countries. Wealthy nations zealously defend their indigenous IP as a critical economic resource that is part of their national security (equivalent importance to oil, mining and financial sectors). Did you know that the top 10 most valuable companies in the world are IP-based (see link #3) and none of them is in oil / gas /precious stones or minerals? Extraction is no longer the secret to prosperity (in fact it only attracts chaos instead nowadays)! Did you know that Apple, the world's most valuable company overall, does not own a single factory (see link #4)? Apple is an IP and distribution company (not a manufacturer) - it is in the business of selling ideas! This should be very interesting for Africa, the fact that high value ICT corporations can be based on ideas, IP and distribution networks alone. Wake up brothers and sisters. We don't have to build physical factories to plug into the global ecosystem. We just need a good framework for monetizing great ideas! Even if we are to choose the harder 19th/20th Century path of traditional own-factory manufacturing (instead of the easier and more profitable logistics-driven 21st Century alternative) path, a conducive IP protection framework still remains an essential must-have prerequisite. Global clients will need strong credible guarantees that there wont be leakage of their designs / prototypes / proprietary tooling etc. 2. Preventing Deceptive PR and Marketing Practices: Weak regulation/enforcement encourages corporations to engage in deceptive PR campaigns (e.g. fake partnership offers or deceptive innovation "competitions" / "boot-camps" / "demo-day" events whose purpose is to facilitate the theft/plunder of IP. We also have anti-poor / anti-socialcompanies which brazenly deceive the public by masquerading as pro-poor / pro-social via dishonest marketing and CSR.). 3. Fast-tracked MSME friendly dispute resolution: Judiciary should consider a dedicated court to handle and fast-track commercial disputes that involve MSMEs v/s large corporations with affirmative action in favor of MSMEs (e.g. state provides litigation assistance and cushions the MSME from legal fees). Currently corporations use their resource-power to bully and steal from MSMEs because the current legal framework has loopholes which allows corporations to subvert justice (e.g. companies steal BILLIONS by delaying MSME invoices to accumulate debt then they declare bankruptcy. This is theft - plain and simple - but the law does not treat it as such. Other corporations use legal technicalities to unjustly drag court proceeding for years - hoping that litigants will run out of resources or give up even if they have a strong case. These kind of dispute resolution loopholes cause great harm to MSMEs. 4. Anti-Price Gouging regulations: Companies that provide essential services to the public (e.g communication / data / e-money) should not price them exorbitantly in order to exploit the must-have nature of the product. This should especially apply when there is limited / ineffective competition or indicators of cartel-like collusion within an industry. Dominant / monopolistic entities that offer essential services to the public should be compelled to publish their audited pricing methodologies every month in a way that shows the profit margin percentage for each product line (after factoring in scale and piggybacking advantages). 5. Anti-predation, anti-usury laws: I believe there are ongoing efforts in this area. The public should not be enticed into odious debt or induced to take on debt that they cannot manage; and the CRB should not be used as a financial weapon for oppressing the poor or entrenching poverty. Maintaining a record for 5 years after someone has cleared a loan is disproportionately punitive and shows a lack empathy with the ordinary mwananchi's economic struggles. CRB rules are anti-poor and punish people for lack of opportunity and a poor education - i.e. things that are not wholly of their own making, in favor of predatory corporations. The financial sector needs more empathy and less greed. By punitively and unreasonably denying people access to opportunities, they unwittingly limit their own growth potential. 6. Regulating non-profit foundations associated with for-profit companies: to limit conflicts of interest. Many (if not all) of these companies are covert vehicles for corruption, lobbying and influence peddling. They subvert agendas in sectors like education, finance, agriculture and health with the goal of creating new markets for affiliated corporations, winning government tenders or creating rent seeking avenues contrary to public interest. Ultimately the country loses because the net effect is wealth extraction. The left hand gives with a big show, and pompous ceremony where everyone is invited, but then, once the lights and cameras go off, the right hand quietly takes it all back, and then takes a lot more (leading to a net-loss). Economic analysts should start conducting net-effect analysis of charitable/donor activities to confirm the growing sense of awareness across Africa that something is not right with the charity/donor model. How can we receive so much "assistance" and yet we never seem to take off? How can countries that literally know everything important that happens within our territory (even before it happens) be completely inept and clueless when it comes to preventing proceeds of corruption from being laundered in their countries? Their economies benefit greatly from our fatuous practices.. could it be that some of them actually want us to stay corrupt? Food for thought. Modern day monopolies do not have to overtly abuse their dominance in order to damage the economy. Any mass-scale business model that is based on network effects is inherently anti-competitive because it locks-in millions of customers to one brand and its associated platforms or products - thereby severely limiting choice, stifling competition and blocking startups with better solutions from gaining market traction due to gatekeeper-effect (which prevents the rise of new ICT-related industries). This has a cascading effect of blocking TRILLIONS in high quality FDI that would have eventually come in via Venture Capital; it also limits the ability of the economy to create an export market - to beef up foreign reserves; limits the number of high-value formal jobs; reduces opportunities to lower government's reliance on debt for budget support; and suppresses the growth of a healthy middle class that is essential for economic and political stability. Anti-competitive practices also contribute to increased economic hardships for citizens (by limiting opportunities to a few connected individuals) and prevent governments from fulfilling their campaign promises to the people (thereby stirring dissent and political volatility risks). Products from dominant companies are priced using anti-poor (zero empathy) methodologies which makes them disproportionately expensive to the poor who comprise the majority (and who often have to make food v/s airtime decisions on a daily basis). The same companies offer exponentially better value for money to the rich (less than 1% of the population) to whom the discount has minimal life impact and who can afford to pay a premium anyway! Yet these companies brand themselves as pro-poor and pro-wananchi (which is evidence of a loophole in advertising regulations that allows for deceptive PR practices). Having concentrated points of failure in critical applications, like Mobile Money, puts our increasingly digital economy at significant risk. There needs to be innovations that decentralize mobile money and disrupt the current rent-seeking / price gouging model which offers ridiculous and unjust margins to companies that are already wealthy anyway. Money is not a product - even in digital form. Exchange of digital cash should be 100% free, with no rent-seeking intermediaries taking an undeserved "private tax" cut off every transaction; money should serve its proper purpose as an economic store of value and trade enabler. With the right framework, such socially beneficial innovations will have room to emerge. Economies grow when innovative MSMEs are given room to bloom, grow and thrive without being crushed by anti-competitive dinosaurs who themselves had benefited from state protection and preferential regulation when they were startups e.g. telecomms operators initially benefited legal limits on the number of competing mobile operator licenses - which gave them breathing room to reach scale and discover a working business model. Dominant corporations have highly competent teams that (ought to) understand the cyclical nature of markets and innovation. They are therefore not sincere when they play "victim" to block public-interest regulation that would be exceedingly beneficial to the overall economy. A big THANK YOU to all government stakeholders who are committed to doing the right (and smart) things for the economy and for wananchi in general. You are the true heroes that our country needs and your efforts are truly appreciated! Brgds,Patrick. Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross-domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations] References / Links: 1. Nunnenkamp P, Spatz J; 2004: Intellectual Property Rights and Foreign Direct Investment: A Disaggregated Analysis https://www.jstor.org/stable/40283951?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents 2. Contribution of IP in growth of FDI's in India https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=fa4da9e0-029d-4f0a-9f61-bf42… 3. The World's Most Valuable Brands https://www.forbes.com/powerful-brands/list/ 4. Apple's Supply Chain From the Factory Floor to Retail Stores http://s354933259.onlinehome.us/mhi-blog/apples-supply-chain-factory-floor-… On Saturday, June 22, 2019, 5:08:51 PM GMT+3, Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: The Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill 2019, which is sponsored by Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo, is seeking to compel mobile phone companies to form separate arms to manage any other business they engage in outside telecommunications services. They will also be required to "legally split or separate the telecommunciations business from such other business. Besides separating the revenue streams, telcos will also be required to compensate consumers for dropped calls at the rate of Sh10 for every call dropped for up to three dropped calls a day. https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/MPesa-Airtel-Money-set-for-split/5… _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/pmaina2000%40yahoo.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.

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Save the Date: the Kenya Internet Governance Forum 2018 (July 19, 2018)
by Grace Githaiga 25 Jun '19

25 Jun '19

Listers Greetings! This is to let you know that the Kenya Internet Governance Forum 2018 is planned to take place on Thursday July 19, 2018. I will send a call shortly to invite volunteers to help in organizing the forum. The organising committee lead by Victor Kapiyo (he will Chair for the 2nd term) will share further details on venue, topics, speakers with us as the process evolves. Looking forward to seeing as many of you on that day. Best regards Githaiga, Grace Co-Convenor Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) Twitter:@ggithaiga Tel: 254722701495 Skype: gracegithaiga Alternate email: ggithaiga(a)hotmail.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracegithaiga www.kictanet.or.ke "Change only happens when ordinary people get involved, get engaged and come together to demand it. I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change – but in yours"---Barrack Obama.

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Safaricom to be compelled to split m-pesa business in new bill
by Mwendwa Kivuva 25 Jun '19

25 Jun '19

The Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill 2019, which is sponsored by Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo, is seeking to compel mobile phone companies to form separate arms to manage any other business they engage in outside telecommunications services. They will also be required to "legally split or separate the telecommunciations business from such other business. Besides separating the revenue streams, telcos will also be required to compensate consumers for dropped calls at the rate of Sh10 for every call dropped for up to three dropped calls a day. https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/MPesa-Airtel-Money-set-for-split/5…

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Re: [kictanet] Fair Competition Laws will Promote Innovation and Reduce Unfair Market Practices
by Jimmy Gitonga 25 Jun '19

25 Jun '19

Greetings Patrick, Thank you for the robust and thoroughly enlightening discussion / writeup. I have been schooled anew. One day, when (not if) Kenya comes out of this period of blatant state capture, you will be of great use to us. Best Regards, Jimmy Gitonga Web Software Design and Development LinkedIn: Jimmy Gitonga | Twitter: @Afrowave ______________________________________ Web: afroshok.com <http://afroshok.com/> > On 24 Jun 2019, at 9:39 PM, kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke wrote: > > From: "Patrick A. M. Maina" <pmaina2000(a)yahoo.com <mailto:pmaina2000@yahoo.com>> > To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>>, > Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke <mailto:ali@hussein.me.ke>> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Fair Competition Laws will Promote Innovation > and Reduce Unfair Market Practices - the bill is not targeting a > particular company or product] Safaricom to be compelled to split > m-pesa business in new bill > Message-ID: <244168600.1182915.1561401395341(a)mail.yahoo.com <mailto:244168600.1182915.1561401395341@mail.yahoo.com>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Greetings Ali, and many thanks for your thoughts. > > One key attribute of high value debates is the presence of two (or more) opposing perspectives because diversity of thought often leads to a multi-dimensional understanding of complex issues, which (if leveraged with good intentions) can lead to high quality inputs for policies, strategies, regulations and/or decisions. So I truly welcome and appreciate your counter-perspective and rebuttal efforts. :-) > > Let me start with an African saying made famous by Chinua Achebe: "An elderly person is always uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb."? > > Perhaps Ali, you can shed more light as to why the name of a particular company - and not any other(s) - came into your mind after reading my general comments about ruthless anti-competitive, anti-poor practices by monopolistic entities. Is there something you have observed or heard about their activities and/or practices? > > Why would public-interest regulation be interpreted as targeting specific companies - unless it is some kind of admission or assertion that those companies could indeed be acting (or causing negative externalities) against public interest? > > Retrogressive externalities could be an unforeseen and/or unintentional by-product of a sub-optimized network-effects success model and poor economic master-planning (see links #1-7). Furthermore corporations, in different parts of the world, have also been known for purposeful malevolent activities when they fear of competition/disruption especially when operating within a? weak / outdated institutional / antitrust framework. Specifics would need to be studied on a case by case basis. > > Have you considered the timing of the bill (in context of recent industry developments)? The proposed rules could actually *benefit* the very local corporate entities that would supposedly be motivated to resist them. In the global scale, our "tech giants" are like MSMEs and they get to be on the receiving end of mega-scale cross-border corporate tyranny. > > There is an interesting story of certain well known CEO's visit to Africa. A lot of people thought he was coming to look for investment opportunities and they cheerfully welcomed him (full VVIP+ treatment), took him on tours, demoed innovations, snapped selfies and eagerly answered his questions - hoping to dazzle, awe and impress him. Kumbe he was on a mission to gather economic intelligence - and he openly stated so (meaning you can't claim illegality) - leaving people to form their own self-deluded conclusions as to why he was doing it. Several years later, his company launches a product that will directly compete with ours at an unprecedented game-changing scale! There are so many stories like this in Africa, the script remains the same, only the actors, props and victims keep changing. > > It is quite embarrassing just how easy we make it for others to *repeatedly* plunder our ideas/insights or compete with us unfairly - to our own collective detriment - yet we always speak of a "knowledge economy" without taking time to understand what that *really* means. > > "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." - old proverb. > > Africa's centuries-old commitment to gullibility and ignorance is unparalleled and quite disturbing (see links #8-15). We are among the very few (if not the only) modern-day societies that never seem to learn from history. We welcome plunderers / economic spies with pomp, ceremony and color, and we happily give them everything they need to subjugate and impoverish us. Like little children, we accept sweet words as proof of benevolent intent and our shallow vanity makes us take pride that everyone is interested in learning from us (surely that means we are very important and smart - if others want to study us and everything we know, right?), yet we don't take as much - or more - interest in learning from them or asking ourselves uncomfortable questions, such as: "why is the student always teaching the teacher?"... and most worryingly, we see voices of reason, desperately scrambling to wake us up - as party-pooping troublemakers. Quite depressing, but I digress.. > > Ali, your argument on state capture suggests a limited understanding on how state capture comes about or what really it is (see links #8-15). Essentially you are contradicting yourself because it is good (uncorrupted) public-interest regulations, strong government institutions (not beholden to a few private interests) and a socio-political commitment to fair and sensible rules - motivated by public-interest? - that minimize the risk of state capture. > > State capture is enabled by corruption, unchecked corporate power and corporate lobbying against public interest, which leads to regulatory (and market) failure e.g. due to bad laws that have loopholes purposefully designed in to them - or good laws getting blocked from enactment. > > I urge you to read more on the topic if you are interested in it (there are some good links below that you can start with) to gain a better understanding so you can offer more robust arguments/rebuttals without unwittingly demolishing or contradicting your main argument. > Have a great evening. > > Brgd,Patrick > > Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross-domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations] > Links / References:

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Fwd: [Internet Policy] Is Facebook's proposed cryptocurrency a bad idea?
by Barrack Otieno 20 Jun '19

20 Jun '19

Listers, Might be of interest. Regards ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Richard Hill via InternetPolicy <internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org> Date: Thu, Jun 20, 2019 at 9:43 AM Subject: [Internet Policy] Is Facebook's proposed cryptocurrency a bad idea? To: <internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org> Here is the white paper explaining Facebook’s cryptocurrency: https://libra.org/en-US/white-paper/. Here is an article criticising it: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/19/opinion/facebook-currency-libra.html : ‘Launching a Global Currency Is a Bold, Bad Move for Facebook The way we structure money and payments is a question for democratic institutions, not technology companies. *By Matt Stoller* Mr. Stoller is a fellow at the Open Markets Institute. · June 19, 2019 · _______________________________________________ To manage your Internet Society subscriptions or unsubscribe, log into the Member Portal at https://admin.internetsociety.org/622619/User/Login and go to the Interests tab within your profile. - View the Internet Society Code of Conduct: https://www.internetsociety.org/become-a-member/code-of-conduct/ -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Call for volunteers- 2019 KeSIG steering committee
by Grace Bomu 20 Jun '19

20 Jun '19

Afternoon listers, KICTANet wishes to invite volunteers to the steering committee of the Kenya School of Internet Governance (KeSIG). Now in its fourth edition, KeSIG takes place prior to the Kenya IGF, with the aim of introducing beginners in internet governance to basic concepts in internet policy making. This is with the goal of creating and increasing the available expertise for participation in local and global internet governance processes. KeSIG is slotted for 29th to 31st July 2019. Please write to info(a)kictanet.or.ke , with the subject *2019 KeSIG steering committee* if interested in collaboratively organising the school, explaining your interest. Membership to the team is on volunteer basis and we aim to have representation of diverse groups. Find more information on KeSIG <https://kigf.or.ke/kesig/> here. KeSIG Steering Team TORs <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-TzXUlOI6gIeTK4_fhpzanb6Y8Y-B1rmibSEFfG…> Looking forward to collaboration, Grace B -- Grace Mutung'u Skype: gracebomu @Bomu PGP ID : 0x33A3450F

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Fwd: IGF 2019 Call for Travel Support
by Barrack Otieno 20 Jun '19

20 Jun '19

Dear Listers, This is for your information, attention and action. Best Regards ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Secretariat AfIGF <africanigf(a)gmail.com> Date: Mon, Jun 10, 2019 at 1:08 PM Subject: Fwd: IGF 2019 Call for Travel Support To: Dear Stakeholders, Below kindly find a call for travel support from the Internet Governance Forum Secretariat to take part in IGF 2019 to be held in Berlin, Germany from 25-29 November 2019. Deadline is fast approaching. Kind regards, ------------------------------------------- The African Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) Secretariat, African Union Le Secrétariat du Forum sur la Gouvernance de l'Internet (AfIGF), Union Africaine Email: Africanigf(a)gmail.com *From:* IGF Secretariat Date: Fri, May 31, 2019 at 7:46 AM *Subject:* IGF 2019 Call for Travel Support Dear All, The 14th annual IGF meeting will be hosted by the Government of Germany in Berlin from 25 – 29 November 2019. With this email, the IGF Secretariat would like to inform that the Call for Travel Support to attend the 14th annual IGF meeting <https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/supporting-participation-a…> is open until 30 June 2019: https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/supporting-participation-a… Supporting participation at the IGF 2019 annual meeting Call for Travel Support to attend the 14th annual meeting of the IGF The mandate of the Internet Governance Fo... <https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/supporting-participation-a…> *Background* During the IGF 2018 meeting in Paris, the United Nations Secretary-General has called for action to increase inclusiveness in the IGF processes. Specifically, it was called for a* ‘dedicated effort to include and amplify the weak and missing voices’*, as well as for the IGF to evolve toward a more multidisciplinary framework (see full speech <http://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/igf-2018-address-to-the-int…> ). IGF 2018 Address to the Internet Governance Forum by UN SG António Guterres Mesdames et Messieurs, Nous sommes réunis aujourd’hui à Paris, en France, où la créativité et le génie humains... <http://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/igf-2018-address-to-the-int…> Historically, the IGF community has also advised to increase diversity in the IGF processes. For these reasons, the IGF 2019 Host Country, Government of Germany, will support eligible stakeholders to participate at the 14th annual IGF meeting in Berlin, from 25 – 29 November 2019. *Application and Selection Process* All interested stakeholders are invited to submit their expressions of interest through a dedicated form <https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/igf-2019-call-for-travel-s…> on the IGF website by 30 June 2019. The IGF Secretariat/UNDESA will collaborate with the multistakeholder organizing committees of the national, regional and youth IGF initiatives (NRIs) in order to identify the most suitable candidates that will enrich the IGF 2019 processes, but also bring long-term benefits to their respective communities from gained experience. Potential applicants are kindly advised to consult the IGF website and review all information about the application and evaluation procedure, before submitting requests. Best regards, IGF Secretariat -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Enter Libra; new rails for value movement
by Mbugua Njihia 20 Jun '19

20 Jun '19

Open source roots to support inclusive innovation, a strong viral coefficient, trusted partner framework, stable coin model, wide base of possible interoperable utility and an ambitious shared roadmap point to a strong transformative offering - http://www.mbuguanjihia.com/business/enter-libra-new-rails-for-value-moveme… ᐧ

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Call for Volunteers for the 2019 Kenya IGF Steering Team
by Victor Kapiyo 20 Jun '19

20 Jun '19

Good morning listers, KICTANet wishes to invite volunteers from the different stakeholder groups to assist in the preparation of the *Kenya Internet Governance Forum (KIGF) 2019*, which will be held on *Thursday, 1 August 2019. * The Kenya Internet Governance Forum (KIGF) is an annual meeting that brings together various stakeholder groups to dialogue on ICT and Internet policy. The Steering Team otherwise known as the Multistakeholder Advisory Group ( MAG) role is to assist in convening the Kenya IGF by preparing the programme and schedule and to improve the IGF process through community consultations, outreach and stakeholder engagement. MAG members volunteer and serve in their personal capacity, and are expected to have established linkages with their respective stakeholder groups. Please review the MAG TOR <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1npYjF9XHg79tWL24krEkaRZL9bNpCzV-TIpa0tR…> . To express interest, please send an email to *info(a)kictanet.or.ke <info(a)kictanet.or.ke>* with the subject line "*Kenya IGF 2019 MAG*" indicating your stakeholder group, expertise and why you are interested in joining the steering committee of KIGF 2019 by* Tuesday, June 25 2019. * Membership to the steering team is voluntary and all materials produced by KICTANet are published under creative commons licenses. Organisations from various stakeholder groups are encouraged to nominate representatives. For more information or clarification, feel free to get in touch. Best regards, *Victor Kapiyo*

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Fwd: [afnog] UCC Licensing Framework for IXPs
by Barrack Otieno 20 Jun '19

20 Jun '19

I hope this doesn't become a Regional Trend. Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Mike Barnard <mike.barnardq(a)gmail.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2019 17:09:10 +0300 Subject: [afnog] UCC Licensing Framework for IXPs To: Afnog Mailing List <afnog(a)afnog.org> The Uganda IXP (https://uixp.co.ug) recently received a letter from the government (UCC) which announces that they intend to establish a licensing framework for IXPs. The letter includes a detailed draft of the proposed framework text (see attached). While we think it is wise for the government to continuously reconsider its role in this evolving industry in order to support its development, the UCC's proposed licensing framework would ironically prohibit further market development by effectively nationalizing the network interconnection service. As written, the framework: 1) Establishes a government controlled monopoly IXP called the “Designated National Internet Exchange Point” and requires all other IXPs to function as edge nodes for it. The framework accomplishes this by requiring all IXPs to connect to the DNIXP, and by giving government control over the contracts between IXPs and their members. See 7.4.b; 8.2.a; 9.e.iii; 9.j. 2) Includes vague language which could lead to problematic interpretations. For example: Clause 9.h could mean that the government intends for the DNIXP to establish itself by expropriating the UIXP’s infrastructure. 3) Allows the government to inspect, copy, or remove any data related to any IXP without a court order. This could include proprietary information. See 7.5.b.ii. 4) Turns IXPs into potential surveillance hubs by requiring them to report any unlawful activity observed in member networks to the government. See 7.3.e.iv. 5) Introduces other significant barriers to entry for new market entrants. Our view is that this licensing framework should either be (a) scrapped entirely, as it can be argued that it is counterproductive to license IXPs in the first place or (b) significantly revised such that it no longer includes any language which would create a monopoly or otherwise hinder the emergence of true competition in this industry. The UCC has called for written feedback to be submitted by July 5th, 2019 and we need your help to avoid disaster. Please take a few minutes to review the attached document and submit your comments in writing before the deadline. If you cannot submit feedback to the UCC directly, please send it to us (board(a)uixp.co.ug) and we will ensure that it gets delivered to the UCC in writing. Thank you. -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Israel lessons on how to fund profitable start-ups
by S.M. Muraya 19 Jun '19

19 Jun '19

Dear Listers, December 2017, there was no comment on KICTANET for this article. Singapore vs. Israel: Who’s the better role model? https://www.kictanet.or.ke/?p=36145 Like we have said on this list, KES 100 Bln, per annum, can do wonders in Kenya.. https://www.kictanet.or.ke/?p=37640 Now that a foreign diplomat has spoken on how they (Israel) fuelled start ups, will this particular go.ke respond & provide budgetary support next year? https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/markets/marketnews/Israel-lessons-on-ho… *Israel lessons on how to fund profitable start-ups* By JAMES KARIUKI, THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019 19:20 SUMMARY - Kenya must generate internal funds that startups can draw from in order to thrive. - Israeli is closely working with Kenya to formulate a partnership deal that will see Kenyan and Israeli companies collaborate in trade. An Israeli diplomat has advised Kenya to provide seed capital to startups to ignite a culture of innovation. Speaking in Nairobi, Israel Embassy head of economic mission, Arnon Abel said Kenya must generate internal funds that startups can draw from in order to thrive. “In the nineties, the Israeli government injected Sh100 billion which helped many startups implement their ideas. In some cases, the government suffered losses but in other projects that succeeded, the government got back its money,” he said. He told a Startup Ecosystem Forum held in Nairobi that emergence of a vibrant startups ecosystem attracted multinational players that established research and development centres across Israel, which serve as incubation hubs for startups. Israeli is closely working with Kenya to formulate a partnership deal that will see Kenyan and Israeli companies collaborate in trade. “In Israel, the military, government, private businesses, academia and multinationals among other entities actively fund startups as a way of seeking new strategies to improve their businesses and be ahead of the pack. “The research and development centres (Cyberhubs) enjoy funding from global multinationals keen on learning firsthand how to improve their products or service delivery channels,” he said. Finland ambassador for innovations, Jarmo Sareva said failure of startup projects should not lead to despair in funding new enterprises. “Governments and companies must support startup forums to spur networking among innovators. Companies use the forums to present problems that startups spend time seeking commercial solutions,” he said.

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Vodafone denies Huawei Italy security risk
by Adam Lane 03 May '19

03 May '19

Dear Patrick Please note that Vodafone have responded to the inaccurate report from Bloomberg. The report is https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48103430 and copied below. You may also be interested in reading this report: https://www.zdnet.com/article/cisco-removed-its-seventh-backdoor-account-th… explaining that Cisco has already found seven “backdoors” into its equipment just this year alone. This is not a Huawei issue, or an espionage issue. It is a global ICT security issue that all companies are constantly struggling with. As you can read (or ask a technical expert), there are many bugs in many products (your apps on your phone are probably being updated on a weekly basis…) due to the nature of software development which are constantly being found and addressed; companies like Cisco and Huawei (along with customers like Vodafone) to the tests and find these (usually) before going to market (though sometimes afterwards) and address them urgently. I am not sure how this issue of bugs in software relates to multinationals illegally collecting and selling business insights. I am sure the local companies have just as many bugs in their software too, and all of us need to collaborate to address them, improve software development standards, and raise the bar. This is not a policy issue, it is a technical issue. You are certainly right that trust is good for business; unfortunately poor journalism such as that by Bloomberg which published before getting the “other side of the story” from Vodafone itself is not helping. I appreciate that you understand this, as you also referenced the ZDnet article which is much better reporting than Bloomberg, including Instead, Huawei says it was "technical flaws in equipment" which were fixed. "These were technical mistakes in our equipment, which were identified and corrected," the spokesperson said. 'The accepted definition of' backdoors' is deliberately built-in vulnerabilities that can be exploited -- these were not such. They were mistakes which were put right." Regards Adam https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48103430 Vodafone denies Huawei Italy security risk Vodafone has denied a report saying issues found in equipment supplied to it by Huawei in Italy in 2011 and 2012 could have allowed unauthorised access to its fixed-line network there. A Bloomberg report said that Vodafone spotted security flaws in software<https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-30/vodafone-found-hidden-ba…> that could have given Huawei unauthorised access to Italian homes and businesses. The US refuses to use Huawei equipment for security reasons. However, reports suggest the UK may let the firm help build its 5G network. This is despite the US wanting the UK and its other allies in the "Five Eyes" intelligence grouping - Canada, Australia and New Zealand - to exclude the company. Australia and New Zealand have already blocked telecoms companies from using Huawei equipment in 5G networks, while Canada is reviewing its relationship with the Chinese telecoms firm. In a statement, Vodafone said: "The issues in Italy identified in the Bloomberg story were all resolved and date back to 2011 and 2012. "The 'backdoor' that Bloomberg refers to is Telnet, which is a protocol that is commonly used by many vendors in the industry for performing diagnostic functions. It would not have been accessible from the internet. "Bloomberg is incorrect in saying that this 'could have given Huawei unauthorised access to the carrier's fixed-line network in Italy'. "In addition, we have no evidence of any unauthorised access. This was nothing more than a failure to remove a diagnostic function after development. "The issues were identified by independent security testing, initiated by Vodafone as part of our routine security measures, and fixed at the time by Huawei." A Huawei spokesperson said: 'We were made aware of historical vulnerabilities in 2011 and 2012 and they were addressed at the time. "Software vulnerabilities are an industry-wide challenge. Like every ICT [information and communications technology] vendor, we have a well-established public notification and patching process, and when a vulnerability is identified, we work closely with our partners to take the appropriate corrective action." Several European telecoms operators are considering removing Huawei's equipment from their networks. But the firm's cyber-security chief, John Suffolk, has described the firm as "the most open [and] transparent company in the world". In January, Vodafone "paused" the deployment of Huawei equipment in its core networks in Europe until Western governments resolved their security concerns about the company. Huawei has been accused of being a potential security risk and of being controlled by the Chinese government - allegations it has always firmly denied. With the introduction of the 5G network in the UK approaching, telecoms operators say the way it would work, in a highly integrated system alongside 4G, means that excluding Huawei is not realistic without significant cost and delay, That would include potentially removing existing hardware, leading to the UK falling behind other countries. The company is the world's third-largest supplier of mobile phones, behind Samsung and Apple. Senior Director, Public Affairs Huawei Southern Africa Mobile: +254-7909-85886 Read Huawei Kenya’s First Ever Sustainability Report here<https://www.huawei.com/minisite/explore-kenya/pdf/huawei_kenya_csd_report.p…> From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+adam.lane=huawei.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Patrick A. M. Maina via kictanet Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2019 8:59 PM To: Adam Lane <adam.lane(a)huawei.com> Cc: Patrick A. M. Maina <pmaina2000(a)yahoo.com> Subject: [kictanet] [Economic Espionage Risks] Vodafone has 'acknowledged' that it Found Hidden Backdoors in Huawei Equipment (but says the issues were resolved). Dear Listers, These kinds of global reports should concern Kenyan business CEOs and Boards in all sectors (as well as economic / technology policymakers) - unless Kenya has little or no interest in competing regionally or internationally to generate new streams of foreign exchange; and even then, are we able to protect our local "home turf" competitive advantage, should multinational actors decide to illegally collect and sell (or leverage) unfairly acquired local business insights, in order to give affiliated new entrants unfair advantage over local enterprises? These are legitimate and global policy concerns. If such things are happening in advanced, tech-savvy economies, what about here in Africa? Is the world having a party at our expense? Trust is good for business - but its is not wise to trust blindly. If we refuse to learn from others, or from history, it will be difficult for us to hand over to our children/youth a future that proves that we played our part responsibly as present-day custodians. We need to start thinking of our existence in less selfish terms: as a relay race, where it is our duty to ensure that we pass on a better future to our children/youth. Let's wake each other up. We must start BELIEVING in ourselves and LOVING ourselves so that our children can believe in, and love themselves as well. Excerpts below: ------------------------------- Reported by Bloomberg today (30th April 2019): "[Vodafone] identified hidden backdoors in the software that could have given Huawei unauthorized access to the carrier’s fixed-line network in Italy, a system that provides internet service to millions of homes and businesses, according to Vodafone’s security briefing documents from 2009 and 2011 seen by Bloomberg, as well as people involved in the situation. Vodafone asked Huawei to remove backdoors in home internet routers in 2011 and received assurances from the supplier that the issues were fixed, but further testing revealed that the security vulnerabilities remained, the documents show. Vodafone said Huawei then refused to fully remove the backdoor, citing a manufacturing requirement. The April 2011 document was authored by its Chief Information Security Officer at the time, Bryan Littlefair. 'What is of most concern here is that actions of Huawei in agreeing to remove the code, then trying to hide it, and now refusing to remove it as they need it to remain for ‘quality’ purposes,' Littlefair wrote. 'There’s no specific way to tell that something is a backdoor and most backdoors would be designed to look like a mistake,' said Stefano Zanero, an Associate Professor of Computer Security at Politecnico di Milano University. 'That said, the vulnerabilities described in the Vodafone reports from 2009 and 2011 have all the characteristics of backdoors: deniability, access and a tendency to be placed again in subsequent versions of the code,' he said. Vodafone also identified backdoors in parts of its fixed-access network known as optical service nodes, which are responsible for transporting internet traffic over optical fibers, and other parts called broadband network gateways, which handle subscriber authentication and access to the internet... In Vodafone’s case, the risks included possible third-party access to a customer's personal computer and home network, according to the internal documents. However, Vodafone’s account of the issue was contested by people involved in the security discussions between the companies. [who allege that] Vulnerabilities in both the routers and the fixed access network remained beyond 2012 and were also present in Vodafone’s businesses in the U.K., Germany, Spain and Portugal. Vodafone stuck with Huawei because the services were competitively priced, they said." Links: 1. Vodafone found Hidden Backdoors in Huawei Equipment https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-30/vodafone-found-hidden-ba… 2. Huawei denies existence of ‘backdoors’ in Vodafone networking equipment https://www.zdnet.com/article/huawei-denies-existence-of-backdoors-in-vodaf… Best regards, Patrick. Patrick A. M. Maina [Cross-domain Innovator | Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]

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Re: [kictanet] ict practitioners bill is back
by Ali Hussein 02 May '19

02 May '19

Dear Bwana CS KICTANet NEVER asked KEPSA to handle engagements on our behalf. We engaged KEPSA to work as a team. Period. Never, did we abdicate our responsibilities to KEPSA because we are not KEPSA members. If KEPSA gave you that belief then I'm afraid that you were misled. And KEPSA should apologise for misleading you. *Ali Hussein* *Principal* *Hussein & Associates* Tel: +254 713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing, Chiromo Road, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya. Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with. On Sun, Dec 17, 2017 at 4:53 PM, Joseph Mucheru via kictanet < kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > Ali Hussein, > > This is the reason I keep off this list. You are calling me a liar and yet > your team asked KEPSA to handle the engagements in this matter. > > With all respect going forward let's follow the agreed engagements between > government and private sector. > > Ahsante Sana! > > JM > > > On 17 Dec 2017 11:17, "Ali Hussein via kictanet" < > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > > Bwana CS > > With all due respect. You are a senior government official and shouldn’t > peddle untruths. > > KICTANet HAS NEVER BEEN PART OF KEPSA. > > We have collaborated only once on the ICT BIll. Most of us don’t believe > KEPSA is representative of the wider ICT Industry. > > We welcome dialogue with your ministry and KEPSA on this. We are happy to > be included in the conversation. We however CANNOT endorse a dialogue and > discussions we are not party to. > > *Ali Hussein* > *Principal* > *Hussein & Associates* > +254 0713 601113 <+254%20713%20601113> > > Twitter: @AliHKassim > > Skype: abu-jomo > > LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim > > "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a > habit." ~ Aristotle > > > Sent from my iPad > > On 17 Dec 2017, at 9:04 AM, Julius Njiraini via kictanet < > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > > Digital forensic expert is involved in investigation of fraud, abuse, > embezzlement, larceny, conversion of any digital device, records and > process. The report is supposed to be presented in courtroom and testify as > expert witness. He is also supposed to corroborate evidence with other > segment of crime scene using relevant laws including evidence act, criminal > procedures code and cyber crime laws as best international laws in other > countries > On Dec 17, 2017 8:32 AM, "Julius Njiraini" <njiraini2001(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> Thanks for your enlightenment. Am just concerned about new emerging >> fields like information security and forensics which is mainly concerned >> with digital cyber crime and evidence presentation in courtroom. These is >> especially concerns for computer security and forensics professionals >> On Dec 17, 2017 6:12 AM, "Joseph Mucheru via kictanet" < >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >> >>> The absence of dialogue and relying on media reports is a recipe for >>> discord. The current views, sentiments and concerns raised in the group are >>> justified only because there is no dialogue. Kicktanet is part of KEPSA >>> <https://kepsa.or.ke> who we are in constant dialogue even on this >>> topic. Going forward, the need to dialogue through the agreed channels is >>> key; >>> >>> So let me try and give a position on where we are; >>> >>> - I did state that we will need a Practitioners Bill and even >>> clarified to media it would not be the current one >>> - There is currently NO Bill in parliament. The last one lapsed and >>> we would need to start afresh >>> - The bill identified a need/gap in our sector that requires some >>> action, especially since ICT is at the heart of the Governments development >>> agenda >>> - The Industry was opposed with the method/solutions proposed by the >>> Bill but not the fact there is a gap >>> - Other Industries have self regulating bodies and if our sector is >>> to grow, we need to get organised and set this up. Why should government >>> have to do it? >>> - We are exporting our skills regionally and internationally and a >>> need to standardise and demonstrate our skills is key. This is because we >>> are not working in isolation, we are competing with other countries and >>> Kenya must be able to demonstrate consistent and quality skills -- today we >>> are blacklisted on various online jobs platforms because of a few bad >>> apples, while we know we have some of the best talents, we are also losing >>> tenders and business because we have not conformed to specific >>> international standards and so the rating of our products/services falls >>> short. (KBS is working on the standards) >>> >>> And for the accusations... >>> >>> - It was a private members bill and not sponsored by Government (We >>> opposed it in its current form - you know that, otherwise google it). >>> - Responding to questions from the sector does not amount to a >>> "roadside decision", considering the level of engagement we have had on >>> this issue >>> - The Government is there to serve the people of Kenya and not just >>> the sector in isolation >>> - Skills Rating systems used by platforms such as Kuhastle.com, >>> upwork.com., cloudfactory.com, monster.com..etc are examples of ways >>> people are able to build and demonstrate skills both technical and otherwise >>> - I have had engagements on this topic with KEPSA (ICT Sector >>> Committee <https://kepsa.or.ke/sector-comittees/>) - Mike Macharia >>> being the Chair >>> - I saw in social media many of you opposed to ICTAK >>> <http://www.ictak.or.ke/> being enjoined in the supreme court >>> presidential petition, but none came out (Kicktanet included) to >>> support/represent the sector, which was at the heart of the dispute. At the >>> very least ICTAK <http://www.ictak.or.ke/> was willing to come >>> forward. >>> - Similar to the Law Society, The Supreme Court should have chosen >>> the ICT experts from the ICT Industry body? >>> >>> My advice would be for the sector to take the lead and suggest how this >>> need/gap of* "SKILLS RATING" standards etc.. *can be addressed. We are >>> on the same side. If industry does not take the lead, then Government will >>> step in. As it stands, industry has various bodies and you need to agree on >>> how to engage amongst yourselves. We are going to be successful and so let >>> us push in the same direction. >>> >>> Finally, today the official engagement between government and the ICT >>> sector is through KEPSA <https://kepsa.or.ke/> . (KICTAnet, TESPOK, >>> KITOS etc.. are members and even when we engaged on the ICT Practitioners >>> bill, the sector was represented by KEPSA, when we met MPs). >>> >>> The last discussion on Tuesday 14th December 2017 between KEPSA and the >>> Ministry covered the following topics; >>> >>> 1. ICT Policy >>> 2. Kick-off Industry meetings >>> 3. Bills / Opinions - ICT Practitioners Bill >>> 4. PDTP <http://icta.go.ke/digitalent/> + Ajira Digital >>> <http://ajiradigital.go.ke/> (Jobs) >>> 5. Flagship Projects >>> 6. Constituency Development Hubs >>> <http://www.ict.go.ke/constituency-to-get-an-innovation-hub/> >>> 7. ICTA Engagement with Counties >>> 8. Enterprise Kenya >>> 9. Blockchain >>> >>> Thank you! >>> >>> On Sun, Dec 17, 2017 at 3:07 AM, Andrew Alston via kictanet < >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >>> >>>> Hi All, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> So – having seen an article in the standardmedia in which elements of >>>> what I stated below were quoted – and to which there seem to have been >>>> responses – I now need to comment further: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> (Article found at: https://www.standardmedia.co.k >>>> e/business/article/2001263257/techies-oppose-move-to-introdu >>>> ce-new-ict-watchdog) >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> *Mucheru, however, denies that the Bill will lock out experts without >>>> formal training insisting the reverse will be the case. “This Bill will >>>> benefit the people who have been working in technical capacity for years >>>> but have not acquired certificates,” he explained. “If they can demonstrate >>>> their proficiency to the Institute then they can get certified and widen >>>> the scope of jobs they can bid or apply for.” * >>>> >>>> So – I have a question – What will be the method of demonstrating >>>> proficiency and how will this be tested – and what will it cost – and how >>>> long will it take. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Now – let me break the questions down a bit >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> 1. The ICT field is vast – are you going to test proficiency in >>>> programming? In networking? In security? In database administration? In >>>> desktop support? In Linux? Freebsd? Microsoft? Solaris? AIX? What is the >>>> test going to be – and who is going to administer these tests >>>> 2. What makes an industry body more capable of testing proficiency >>>> than Cisco, Juniper, Huawei or any of the other vendors – the bill does * >>>> *NOT** cater for industry standard certification outside of formal >>>> education – it simply is not in there – and if you are not going to accept >>>> these and are going to have this industry body determine proficiency – we >>>> need to know how this will be done and how the people testing proficiency >>>> will be qualified to do it – and in what fields they are qualified to test >>>> proficiency. >>>> 3. What is the cost of this testing of proficiency – does an >>>> individual who has certified as a CCIE at the cost of thousands – and in >>>> some cases tens of thousands – of dollars suddenly need to pay more to >>>> demonstrate something that he has clearly already demonstrated? Who will it >>>> be paid for? How will the money be utilized? Will this be included in the >>>> license fee for the first year? Or will this suddenly cost extra so >>>> someone can make some money? >>>> 4. How does does it take to “demonstrate proficiency” – and if I >>>> bring in someone from outside to train my staff in a new field of >>>> technology – is he going to be made to sit some kind of exam? Or pay some >>>> kind of fee before he can upskill Kenyans? Because – lets be real – that is >>>> not going to happen – it will be the death of bringing in people to impart >>>> knowledge. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Let me be blunt – more than half the authors of the RFC’s within the >>>> IETF would not qualify under the bill as it stands – this means they would >>>> have to “demonstrate” their proficiency – despite the fact that they have >>>> their names on Internet standards – and if people expect these individuals >>>> to sit exams or prove to people that they know what they are doing – >>>> despite the knowledge having been clearly demonstrated (which is why they >>>> are being flown in in the first place, to train Kenyans in skills that are >>>> not available in the country so that those Kenyans can continue to further >>>> upskill and lift up the industry) – you can kiss goodbye to having cutting >>>> edge people coming into this country – it simply won’t happen – and it will >>>> be Kenya that loses out. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Then to comment on this: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> *Mucheru adds that the Government has held several engagements with >>>> practitioners in the sector on the provisions of the Bill. * >>>> >>>> Correct – there was massive engagement – and the bill was largely >>>> defeated after the industry said it was broken – after people on this list >>>> said it was broken – after it was slammed left right and centre – so yes – >>>> there was engagement – but the article is wrong about the fact that the >>>> engagement agreed that this bill in its current form was a good idea or >>>> represented the correct solution. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> *“There was consensus that we need to establish a professional body to >>>> regulate the industry,” he said. * >>>> >>>> I have no problem with the concept of a professional body – I have >>>> major problems with forcing a situation where people who have potentially >>>> decades of experience have to suddenly “prove” their skills via some >>>> entirely undefined means at some undefined cost to a bunch of people who >>>> may or may not have anywhere close to the experience or knowledge of the >>>> person being tested. If we said that we had a professional body that people >>>> could register to – and they needed to be registered – and in the event of >>>> *substantiated* complaints the individual could be deregistered and >>>> blacklisted – I would have no problem. It is the arbitrary and >>>> unsubstantiated and undefined criteria for registration that I take >>>> exception to – and that I believe could result in expensive legal >>>> challenges. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Please – do not get me wrong – I do not begrudge anyone who has a >>>> desire to genuinely root out the bad apples and clean up the industry and >>>> remove scam artists and fraudsters. I think that is a noble and pure >>>> objective that should be pursued. I however dispute the fact that this >>>> bill is the right way to go about it – and I dispute the fact that >>>> university degrees have anything to do with competence in this industry – >>>> particularly with the rate that technology evolves – because an individual >>>> doing a 3 year degree who is learning specific technologies in his first >>>> year – by the time he graduates – those technologies are history – and when >>>> he walks into the industry – he is having to self study it all again >>>> ANYWAY. Let me give you examples of technologies that did not exist a year >>>> ago in any real form: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> 1. Segment routing – the foundation of network routing going >>>> forward and the replacement to MPLS – how do I know this – because I’ve had >>>> my hands in crafting the specifications and doing a lot of the beta testing >>>> for it – so who is going to test proficiency here – it changes the game – >>>> and the only people qualified to teach it – or gauge the proficiency in it >>>> – do not themselves qualify under this bill to be registered. >>>> 2. Network telemetry processing – first introduced in limited form >>>> in Q3 2015 – and only now becoming main stream – but within a year of it >>>> being main stream – it will replace standard network monitoring entirely – >>>> who is going to teach that with a university degree? >>>> 3. Which university degree teaches BGP? BGP-LU? ISIS? Network >>>> segmentation? IPv6 addressing? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> The list is endless – these are things that cannot be learnt through a >>>> degree – they are learnt through industry standard certification or >>>> self-skilling by reading documentation. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> So, Mr Mucheru – please – do not read me wrong – I have tremendous >>>> respect for the regulator in this country – and it is testament to how well >>>> the Kenyan industry and the regulatory environment here works that today – >>>> Kenya has higher average mobile broadband speeds than either the US or >>>> South Africa or a lot of other places. It is testament to the regulatory >>>> environment here that we have the high-speed networks we do – and that the >>>> pricing is as low as it is – because the industry is competitive and open >>>> and innovative. This list of things the regulator has gotten right in this >>>> country is long - I do however plead with you, the bill as it stands would >>>> break the industry that all of us – yourself – myself – and so many others >>>> have worked so hard to build. I am NOT against a professional body – I am >>>> NOT against formalizing things – but I beg you – do not walk down the road >>>> of this current bill in its current form – it will be death to this >>>> industry in this country. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Andrew Alston >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> *From: *Andrew Alston <Andrew.Alston(a)liquidtelecom.com> >>>> *Date: *Monday, 4 December 2017 at 01:24 >>>> *To: *KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >>>> *Cc: *Liz Wanjiru <lizwanjiru(a)gmail.com> >>>> *Subject: *RE: [kictanet] ict practitioners bill is back >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> I have to say – personally I cannot think of a worse piece of >>>> legislation that I have seen in recent history. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Let us look at the net effects of this and the problems with it: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> 1. Large companies bring in consultants or external people where >>>> necessary to supplement capacity, to train and upskill Kenyan staff etc, >>>> while those guys are here, even for a week or two, they are compensated, >>>> and my reading of this bill is – this would be illegal – because you’d have >>>> to get every consultant you bring in accredited and licensed first – which >>>> is impractical in the extreme >>>> 2. The list of highly skilled people with 20+ years experience who >>>> would not qualify for accreditation under this bill is extensive, globally >>>> and within Kenya – this bill completely stops any form of knowledge >>>> transfer from those individuals and in fact will force a situation where >>>> Kenyan’s who wish to learn from some of the biggest names in the industry >>>> would be forced to go internationally to get that knowledge, rather than >>>> bringing those people in to train locally >>>> 3. It forces Kenyans who have spent years learning and honing their >>>> skills without university qualifications out of work and could well result >>>> in large scale job losses looking at the number of highly skilled >>>> individuals I know of who are working without qualifications >>>> 4. It prevents private companies from making what are normal >>>> business decisions – who they hire and who they pay. That is problematic >>>> in the extreme – in any normal situation if a private company hires staff >>>> that don’t perform – those staff either get fired or the market rejects the >>>> company and the company disappears – standard market dynamics – in this >>>> case – if a company finds extremely talented people they may be forced into >>>> a position where they have to hire less skilled people because someone >>>> can’t meet some accreditation requirement. >>>> 5. The bill has no recognition of prior experience – no recognition >>>> of those who have published papers and are world recognized experts – does >>>> not specify what the “recognized” universities are – does not take into >>>> account industry standard certification (CISSP/CCNA/CCIE/CCDP/JNCIE/JNCIP/JNCIA, >>>> the list is endless) >>>> 6. May well end up in the constitutional court when it deprives a >>>> host of people who have spent their lives working in this industry and have >>>> no other options for a career of the ability to earn a living >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> The bill relies on the belief that a university qualification some how >>>> makes you better than those without – it’s reasoning that has been >>>> disproved globally for years and years and years – and it flies in the face >>>> of the global industry and the way the ICT industry has worked since the >>>> day it began. It is damaging to the industry in Kenya – it is damaging to >>>> the growth prospects of the economy as a result – it is damaging to the >>>> people of Kenya – and it will destroy the position that Kenya is in as one >>>> of the leaders of the ICT industry on the continent (Kenya already has the >>>> highest average broadband speeds on the continent and significantly better >>>> ICT infrastructure than you will find even in South Africa – it is doing so >>>> well – why break a system that is proving functional?) >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> I really hope this does not pass – and if it does – will be curious to >>>> see the court challenges and how they play out – but I think this is >>>> madness personally – and in the name of stopping a few bad individuals – >>>> penalizes the entire country and will destroy an industry that employs >>>> thousands. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Andrew >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> *From:* kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+andrew.alston= >>>> liquidtelecom.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *Liz Wanjiru via >>>> kictanet >>>> *Sent:* 04 December 2017 06:43 >>>> *To:* Andrew Alston <Andrew.Alston(a)liquidtelecom.com> >>>> *Cc:* Liz Wanjiru <lizwanjiru(a)gmail.com> >>>> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] ict practitioners bill is back >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Hi, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> While trying to push such laws shouldn't they be looking at >>>> credentialing people without formal ICT schooling but have the experience, >>>> knowledge and skills to back them? These people have talent and positively >>>> contribute in the industry. Some countries have learning institutions >>>> credentialing professionals based on their body of work and so long as they >>>> can demonstrate this they are awarded the degrees or other government >>>> approved certifications. Here is an example of such >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Link >>>> <http://www.ara.ac.nz/study-options/centre-for-assessment-of-prior-learning-…> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Liz >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Mon, Dec 4, 2017 at 3:18 PM, Ahmed Mohamed Maawy via kictanet < >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >>>> >>>> I wonder how some of the ground breaking technology companies - such as >>>> for instance Google Kenya, can operate if this bill is passed. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Sun, Dec 3, 2017 at 4:57 PM, Watila Alex via kictanet < >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >>>> >>>> EricKigada: Kenya’s controversial ICT Practitioners Bill 2016 to be tabled in parliament again >>>> >>>> techmoran.com/kenyas-controv… >>>> >>>> https://twitter.com/EricKigada/status/937309893954031616 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android >>>> <https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/mobile/?.src=Android> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> kictanet mailing list >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ >>>> >>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m >>>> ailman/options/kictanet/ultimateprogramer%40gmail.com >>>> >>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>> >>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> *Ahmed Maawy* >>>> Head of Corporate Products - Al Jazeera Media Network >>>> Skype: ultimateprogramer >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> kictanet mailing list >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ >>>> >>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m >>>> ailman/options/kictanet/lizwanjiru%40gmail.com >>>> >>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>> >>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Kind Regards >>>> >>>> Liz Wanjiru >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> kictanet mailing list >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ >>>> >>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m >>>> ailman/options/kictanet/joe%40mucheru.com >>>> >>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>> >>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Joseph Mucheru E.G.H >>> *Cabinet Secretary* >>> Ministry of Information Communications & Technology (ICT) >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ >>> >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m >>> ailman/options/kictanet/njiraini2001%40gmail.com >>> >>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>> >>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>> >>> _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m > ailman/options/kictanet/info%40campusciti.com > > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m > ailman/options/kictanet/joe%40mucheru.com > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > >

19 37

Blockchain in Agriculture
by Erick Mwangi 01 May '19

01 May '19

Gartner, Inc. predicts that, by 2025, 20% of the top 10 global grocers by revenue will be using blockchain for food safety and traceability to create visibility. Being an Agri country i would imagine similar conversations would take center stage. Its quite here re Blockchain. Eric

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[Economic Espionage Risks] Vodafone has 'acknowledged' that it Found Hidden Backdoors in Huawei Equipment (but says the issues were resolved).
by Patrick A. M. Maina 30 Apr '19

30 Apr '19

Dear Listers, These kinds of global reports should concern Kenyan business CEOs and Boards in all sectors (as well as economic / technology policymakers) - unless Kenya has little or no interest in competing regionally or internationally to generate new streams of foreign exchange; and even then, are we able to protect our local "home turf" competitive advantage, should multinational actors decide to illegally collect and sell (or leverage) unfairly acquired local business insights, in order to give affiliated new entrants unfair advantage over local enterprises? These are legitimate and global policy concerns. If such things are happening in advanced, tech-savvy economies, what about here in Africa? Is the world having a party at our expense? Trust is good for business - but its is not wise to trust blindly. If we refuse to learn from others, or from history, it will be difficult for us to hand over to our children/youth a future that proves that we played our part responsibly as present-day custodians. We need to start thinking of our existence in less selfish terms: as a relay race, where it is our duty to ensure that we pass on a better future to our children/youth. Let's wake each other up. We must start BELIEVING in ourselves and LOVING ourselves so that our children can believe in, and love themselves as well. Excerpts below: ------------------------------- Reported by Bloomberg today (30th April 2019): "[Vodafone] identified hidden backdoors in the software that could have given Huawei unauthorized access to the carrier’s fixed-line network in Italy, a system that provides internet service to millions of homes and businesses, according to Vodafone’s security briefing documents from 2009 and 2011 seen by Bloomberg, as well as people involved in the situation. Vodafone asked Huawei to remove backdoors in home internet routers in 2011 and received assurances from the supplier that the issues were fixed, but further testing revealed that the security vulnerabilities remained, the documents show. Vodafone said Huawei then refused to fully remove the backdoor, citing a manufacturing requirement. The April 2011 document was authored by its Chief Information Security Officer at the time, Bryan Littlefair. 'What is of most concern here is that actions of Huawei in agreeing to remove the code, then trying to hide it, and now refusing to remove it as they need it to remain for ‘quality’ purposes,' Littlefair wrote. 'There’s no specific way to tell that something is a backdoor and most backdoors would be designed to look like a mistake,' said Stefano Zanero, an Associate Professor of Computer Security at Politecnico di Milano University. 'That said, the vulnerabilities described in the Vodafone reports from 2009 and 2011 have all the characteristics of backdoors: deniability, access and a tendency to be placed again in subsequent versions of the code,' he said. Vodafone also identified backdoors in parts of its fixed-access network known as optical service nodes, which are responsible for transporting internet traffic over optical fibers, and other parts called broadband network gateways, which handle subscriber authentication and access to the internet... In Vodafone’s case, the risks included possible third-party access to a customer's personal computer and home network, according to the internal documents. However, Vodafone’s account of the issue was contested by people involved in the security discussions between the companies. [who allege that] Vulnerabilities in both the routers and the fixed access network remained beyond 2012 and were also present in Vodafone’s businesses in the U.K., Germany, Spain and Portugal. Vodafone stuck with Huawei because the services were competitively priced, they said." Links: 1. Vodafone found Hidden Backdoors in Huawei Equipmenthttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-30/vodafone-found-… 2. Huawei denies existence of ‘backdoors’ in Vodafone networking equipment https://www.zdnet.com/article/huawei-denies-existence-of-backdoors-in-vodaf… Best regards,Patrick. Patrick A. M. Maina [Cross-domain Innovator | Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]

1 0

Online discussion on State of Broadband - Policy day
by Mwendwa Kivuva 30 Apr '19

30 Apr '19

Thank you Listers, we have had a great debate so far. There are so many issues that have remained hanging on the first thread. I hope we can continue debate on those issues, and tie the loose ends. We will move on to broadband policies. Here is a brief background. Kenya enacted a National Broadband Strategy in 2013. This was updated to the Draft National Broadband Strategy 2023 <https://ca.go.ke/public-consultation-on-the-national-broadband-strategy-for…> that takes into account recent technological, industry trends and market realities. The Draft strategy went through public participation in March 2019. It covers; Infrastructure and connectivity, Content services and applications, Policy - regulations and Legislation, Capacity building and innovations, Broadband devices, Finance and investment, Privacy and Security, Role of stakeholders in expanding broadband penetration, Governance and delivery framework. The outcome of the public participation has not been released to the public by the National Broadband Strategy Steering Committee. We hope to get an update on that. We also have the ICT Policy 2006, and the yet to be ratified Draft ICT policy 2016. The ICT policy should be the overarching policy on which the other policies in the sector branch from. Probably we will get an explanation on how new ICT related strategies are being drafted without an updated ICT policy. This leads to the following questions: 1. How is the sector regulated and what complimentary policies are in place? 2. What complimentary laws and regulations are in place that either stifle, or promote broadband? 3. How is the business environment for those who want to venture into provision of broadband services? 4. What policy interventions can be put in place to promote broadband uptake? Looking forward to a great policy day. Sincerely, ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva

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Online discussion on State of Broadband in Kenya
by Mwendwa Kivuva 29 Apr '19

29 Apr '19

Dear Listers, As notified last week, we are conducting an assessment on the state of play and impact of broadband in Kenya, broadly looking at the socio-economic impact on consumers, businesses and various sectors like agriculture, education, healthcare, finance and government. We are looking at real life examples of impact of broadband, challenges we face in increasing impact of broadband and recommendations on interventions needed to address the challenges identified. For this discussion, we define broadband as any fast internet. Fast enough to serve your intended purpose. We can have an extended definition through the discussion. Some of the questions we should answer are: 1. What is the current state of broadband in Kenya? What is the current coverage of broadband in Kenya? Do you have broadband internet in your area? How affordable is the available broadband? 2. What barriers are there in increasing impact of broadband in Kenya? 3. What recommendations can counter the barriers identified in increasing impact of broadband? Looking forward to a grrat debate. Sincerely, ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva

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[fyi] Mozilla's 2019 Internet Health Report is out. A "must read" source of context and ideas for all ICT stakeholders.
by Patrick A. M. Maina 28 Apr '19

28 Apr '19

Dear Listers, Mozilla's Internet Health Report (2019) presents a human-centric perspective on the current state of the internet. It also offers excellent recommendations on how to make the internet work positively for all stakeholders i.e. private sector, Government and the general public. The report is a "must read" source of context and ideas for all stakeholders interested in having a holistic perspective of emerging 21st Century public-interest issues. Here are some excerpts from the executive summary (published on Mozilla's blog): "The digital environment is a complex ecosystem, just like the planet we live on... The internet has the potential both to uplift and connect us. But it also has the potential to harm and tear us apart... we need to step up and do something if we want the digital world to net out as a positive for humanity rather than a negative... The good news is that more and more people are dedicating their lives to creating a healthier, more humane digital world. This Report is designed to be both a reflection and resource for this kind of work. It is meant to offer technologists and designers inspiration about what they might build; to give policymakers context and ideas for the laws they need to write; and, most of all, to provide citizens and activists with a picture of where others are pushing for a better internet, in the hope that more and more people around the world will push for change themselves. Ultimately, it is by more and more of us doing something in our work and our lives that we will create an internet that is open, human and humane." Please read, engage and share widely within your networks. Thank you! Links: 1. Executive Summary: https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2019/04/23/its-complicated-mozillas-2019-inte… 2. Mobile Friendly Sitehttps://internethealthreport.org/2019/ 3. The 2019 Internet Health Report (Short Version) https://d20x8vt12bnfa2.cloudfront.net/2019/2019InternetHealthReport_shortve… Brgds,Patrick. Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross-domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]

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Tanzania to limit SIM cards to one per network
by Victor Kapiyo 27 Apr '19

27 Apr '19

Interesting developments in Tanzania. Looks like biometric registration programmes have now become vogue for any initiative from government that calls for registration, and it's not just happening in Kenya with our Huduma Number. _____ Tanzania plans to limit the number of mobile phone numbers an individual can own to a single line per network, in its bid to boost security and tame cybercrime. This will involve a fresh biometric registration of all SIM card holders from May 1 to September. Subscribers have to present their national identification card or its number for registration. According to the sector regulator, the current system is not secure enough and lacks important subscriber details that are vital for the national identity card registration initiated two years ago. https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/Tanzania-to-limit-SIM-cards-to-on…

1 0

Smart Cities Books - Free Downloads
by Bitange Ndemo 26 Apr '19

26 Apr '19

Here are two books from UNESCO on Smart Cities - Very good reads and available for free. https://netexplo.com/notebooks/ Ndemo.

3 2

Huduma Namba Questions
by Grace Bomu 25 Apr '19

25 Apr '19

Listers, There are reports that huduma number data in Machakos County has gone missing. See http://dailyactive.info/2019/04/22/huduma-namba-data-go-missing-in-machakos/ and subsequent reports of arrests and investigations on the matter https://www.kahawatungu.com/2019/04/23/machakos-huduma-namba-registration-a… On asking around, it appears that huduma namba kits use micro SD cards which when full are taken to the Assistant or County Commissioners Office for copying (onto NIIMS?). Got me wondering whether use of SD cards is the practice across the country and the implications for data security and integrity with this method. Other questions I still have from observing the exercise is what the real objective of data collection is. It appears that most adults (with ID cards) may already have had their data in different registries related. I am assuming that this is how eCitizen and IPRS works. And then the question of integrity/accuracy of data when a person gives data about other people eg spouses. Will there be opportunity to know what data is held about me? Would be great to have this explained. Regards, -- Grace Mutung'u Skype: gracebomu @Bomu PGP ID : 0x33A3450F

3 2

Christchurch Call
by Alex Comninos 25 Apr '19

25 Apr '19

Dear All I am wondering lister thoughts on the "Christchurch Call” Where does Africa and the South stand in these processes, how will it affect us? What principles would we like to see in such a call? (If we would like to see it at all) This is happening in the midst of so many other global events, many tragic, as well as legislative and regulatory processes/calls on/for social media platform moderation and regulation. [article pasted below] its worth following the link to watch the video too. The devil will be in the detail of the 'Christchurch Call’ By Tom Pullar, Stuff New Zealand https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/112230966/the-devil-will-be-in-the-detail-… ANALYSIS: World leaders and technology companies will probably reach some sort of accord on social media and online extremism when they meet in Paris next month. But the devil will be in the detail of the agreement they reach, suggests Colin Gavaghan, director of the Centre for Law and Policy in Emerging Technologies at Otago University. Normally, when politicians attend international summits, the text of the agreements they sign is agreed beforehand and then ratified at the meeting, rather than actually being negotiated there. The summit in Paris on May 15 hosted by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron will be a little different from most, in that representatives from many the world's biggest technology companies, Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Twitter will be among the participants. There are clues as to what it will contain. A spokesman for Ardern said the Government wanted the text to set out "parameters or actions where countries and companies agree to take action". He also said the Government wanted the agreement to be "reasonably specific rather than too high level". But Ardern cautioned that the Christchurch Call would not amount to a "draft set of regulations" that social media companies would need to follow. She also suggested that the focus would be on trying to prevent footage from terrorist attacks being shared online, rather than on the distribution of extremist content more generally. "This is not about freedom of expression. This is about preventing violence and extremism and terrorism online," she explained. "I don't think anyone would argue the terrorist on March 15 had a right to live stream the murder of 50 people. That is what this call is very specifically focused on." Agreeing concrete steps to achieve even that narrow goal would be incredibly hard. Technology experts appear in agreement that the technology does yet not exist that could have automatically identified the live stream of Christchurch shootings as a terrorist atrocity while it was taking place and being streamed live online. There is also no need to use a large social media service, or even live-streaming at all, to distribute a video. While Facebook, YouTube and Twitter have used video and audio-matching technology to gradually rid their websites of copies of the Christchurch video, it was also being distributed by people who simply posted links to it – hosted on nefarious websites – in their social media posts. Just so long as people can set up websites and post content to the internet anonymously, it is hard to see how that could be prevented. Gavaghan cautions the more people that are brought to the table, the more "general and vague" international agreements tend to be. The risk, he argues, is you can end up with texts that are pitched at such a level that "no-one could disagree with them" but which don't tend to mean anything in practice. The role, if any, of the United States in the summit will be something to watch for, he says. "They take their First Amendment considerations very seriously indeed, and that has been a real bone of contention between the EU and US-based companies." But Ardern said the fact that the problem was "extremely difficult" was not a reason not try to find a solution and many would agree with that. Sensibly, she has also made it clear upfront that she believes the summit should be the start of a conversation rather than the end of one. The fact that it appears representatives from Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Twitter will attend the summit is also encouraging. That may be partly because they want to shift responsibility for solving the Christchurch-shooting problem from their businesses to governments and regulators. But they do appear to have recognised that the game has changed. The sheer novelty of the summit hosted by the two young politicians should save it from any risk of obscurity. If they do look at the broader issue of social media platforms being used to propagate extremist views more generally, then the practical challenges are likely to multiply. Material promoted by terrorist organisations would already be illegal in most countries, Gavaghan says. "They are quite an easy target to identify and get shot of." But the boundary between less extremist content and legitimate political views would inevitably be hard to define, he argues. "A lot of the casual everyday normalisation of racism and extremist views comes in at a level probably far below anyone's hate speech laws. "The daily output from the Daily Mail and the Express and the Sun probably does a lot more to normalise racism and anti-immigrant views than some of the really extremist stuff, but what can you do? It is not plausible to ban that.” That doesn't mean the landscape facing social media isn't, or should change, he believes. "The days when the likes of YouTube and Facebook could take the view that they are simply a neutral platform for other's people content and not a publisher – that has gone. "But the question is, what is it reasonable to expect them to do?" Stuff -- Alex Comninos

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Fwd: [afnog] Application for fellowship- 2019 Hackathon@AIS
by Barrack Otieno 25 Apr '19

25 Apr '19

Listers, Might be of interest. Regards ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Betel Hailu <hailu(a)isoc.org> Date: Tue, Apr 23, 2019 at 9:50 AM Subject: [afnog] Application for fellowship- 2019 Hackathon@AIS To: afnog(a)afnog.org <afnog(a)afnog.org> ============ FRANCAIS PLUS BAS ============ Hello everyone, The Hackathon@AIS is an event aimed at exposing engineers from the African region to Open Internet Standards development and is co-organized by the Internet Society and AFRINIC. This will be the third event in the series following successful events held in Nairobi (2017) and Dakar (2018). Please look at https://bit.ly/2Gp8uMa to see the topics that will be covered this year. Network/System engineers, software developers, and or computer science students are encouraged to apply as engagement in open Internet standards development can help further their careers. *The event will be held on the 19th and 20th of June 2019 in Kampala, Uganda*. If you are interested in participating AND can commit to being available over the 2 days, please fill the application form. Space is limited and successful applicants will be notified and then be enrolled in various online training sessions in the build up of the event. Fellowships will be awarded to strong applicants where possible. Click here to apply: https://internetsociety.wufoo.com/forms/sspq7xj1p17m0n/ *Applications close on the 19th of May 2019.* ====================================================== Bonjour à tous, Le Hackathon@AIS est un événement visant à exposer les ingénieurs de la région africaine au développement des standards Internet ouverts et est co-organisé par Internet Society et AFRINIC. Ce sera le troisième événement du genre après les événements réussis de Nairobi (2017) et de Dakar (2018). Veuillez regardez https://bit.ly/2Gp8uMa afin de voir les sujets qui seront couverts cette année. Ingénieurs Systèmes / Réseaux, développeur d'applications, et ou étudiants en informatique sont encouragés à postuler étant donné que l'engagement dans le développement des standards ouvert de l'Internet peut aider au futur de leur carrière. *L'événement aura lieu le 19 et 20 juin 2019 à Kampala, Uganda*. Si vous êtes intéressé à participer ET que vous pouvez vous engager à être disponible pendant les 2 jours, veuillez remplir le formulaire. Les places sont limité et les candidats retenus seront informés et seront ensuite inscrits à diverses sessions de formation en ligne en vue de l'événement. Des bourses de participations seront accordées aux meilleurs candidats dans la mesure du possible. *Important : Les documents et travaux de l’IETF étant exclusivement en anglais, une bonne compréhension de la langue est essentielle. * Cliquez ici pour postuler: https://internetsociety.wufoo.com/forms/sspq7xj1p17m0n/ *La date limite pour les candidatures est le 19 mai 2019.* Thank you, *Betel Hailu *| *Communications Coordinator – Africa Regional Bureau *|* Internet Society* skype: betty.hailu | www.InternetSociety.org | *Follow Us * [image: iption: Macintosh HD:Users:betelhailu:Desktop:facebook.png] <https://www.facebook.com/ISOCAfrica>[image: iption: Macintosh HD:Users:betelhailu:Desktop:twitter.png] <https://twitter.com/ISOC_Africa> _______________________________________________ afnog mailing list https://www.afnog.org/mailman/listinfo/afnog -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

1 0

What ALA's “The Young Entrepreneurs Fund” means for African entrepreneurship
by Eric M K Osiakwan 24 Apr '19

24 Apr '19

https://digestafrica.com/young-entrepreneurs-fund-african Eric here Sent from my iPad

1 0

Online discussion on social-economic impact of broadband in Kenya
by Mwendwa Kivuva 18 Apr '19

18 Apr '19

Dear Listers, IDC is conducting an assessment on the state of play and impact of broadband in Kenya, broadly looking at the socio-economic impact on consumers, businesses and various sectors like agriculture, education, healthcare, finance and government. This assessment has been commissioned by Huawei in collaboration with Ministry of ICT and the Communications Authority. It has the overarching objective of supporting the policy making process to develop broadband services and infrastructure throughout Kenya and achieve substantial economic impact in the economy. Other partners in the study include the ICT Authority and the National Communications Secretariat. The assessment will involve a review of the current state of play in the sector as well as gaining insights from a wide range of stakeholders on the barriers and recommendations to increasing the impact of broadband. Among the key stakeholders identified include KICTANET, from whose members IDC will seek to gain civil society and other stakeholder perspectives including real life examples of impact of broadband, challenges we face in increasing impact of broadband and recommendations on interventions needed to address the challenges identified. This will be conducted as an online debate facilitated and moderated by KICTANET from 23rd to 26th April 2019. Through the online discussion, we will also seek to understand the current state of play of broadband in Kenya, including: 1. What barriers are there in increasing impact of broadband? 2. What recommendations can counter the barriers in increasing impact of broadband? 3. How is the sector regulated and what policies are in place? How is the business environment for those who want to venture into provision of broadband services? 4. How do we create the skills and demand and use cases for broadband? 5. What local content is there and is it having an impact or not? What type of local content are we lacking? 6. How are users and businesses benefiting from broadband? 7. Any other issues. Please note that lister may add any other issue on broadband that come to mind. After the discussion, a summary report will be developed by KICTANET which will subsequently be validated during a face to face meeting. IDC will incorporate relevant findings into the broadband market assessment. Sincerely, ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva.

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Invitation to Ai Kenya Show and tell event : Building Secure Voice Biometrics with Ryan Roberts
by alfred＠kenya.ai 18 Apr '19

18 Apr '19

Dear Kictanet members! On Behalf of the Ai Kenya Events team, I would like to invite you for the following event happening on Saturday 27th April from 9.30 am to 12.30pm: "My Voice is my password" is a term that you might be familiar with. Voice biometrics adoption is experiencing strong growth, driven by the need for foolproof security methods for technology-driven systems and the popularity of voice assistants such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. In the second Ai Kenya Show and tell event, we will be hosting Ryan Roberts, Principal Software Engineer at <https://www.cirrus.com/> Cirrus Logic, who will provide insight into the approach used to systematically train and test voice biometrics, one of the forms of Narrow AI(Artificial Intelligence). Join is for a session of discovery, demos and Q&A. Is your company offering services powered by Voice Biometrics? Are you curious to find out more on how voice biometrics algorithms work? Book your free ticket and check the full event details on <http://bit.ly/voiceAIK> http://bit.ly/voiceAIK About Ai Kenya Ai Kenya is a community of enthusiasts and practitioners in the field of machine learning and data science. We invite you to come to some of our events and see the work that we are doing. To understand us better, please have a look at this <https://drive.google.com/open?id=1BvGr3dSsshV50YxCZbnDwXUpD1s9y-Io> introduction deck that details our origin, objectives and previous work. We are fully open to any collaborative efforts that can help us achieve our goal of democratizing artificial intelligence in the East African Ecosystem. Looking forward to seeing you at at the event! Kind regards, Alfred Ongere +254705882004 Team lead, Founder www.kenya.ai <http://bit.ly/AIKPODYTB> Watch Ai Kenya Podcast <https://t.sidekickopen75.com/s1t/o/5/f18dQhb0S7kC8dDMPbW2n0x6l2B9gXrN7sKj6v 46g14W56Dx2l7fcxHKW16gGz793K_hD101?si=8000000000133214&pi=f0ec6675-7afc-4d37 -9def-1e621c6c596e>

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Dialogue on Digital Cooperation in Africa Dialogue Series
by Bob Ochieng 17 Apr '19

17 Apr '19

Dear All, As part of its global engagement process, the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation, will work with partners to hold a series of in-person and online dialogues aimed at addressing African priorities in digital cooperation in the Spring of 2019. The public dialogues will be conducted through a multi-stakeholder collaboration of organizations including the African Union Commission, the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Internet Governance Forum, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the Association for Progressive Communication (APC), and Diplo Foundation. https://digitalcooperation.org/regionaldialogues/ [digitalcooperation.org] <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__digitalcooperation.org…> The dialogue series includes: an in-person session with members of the Policy and Regulation Initiative for Digital Africa (PRIDA) on March 29th, an in-person session at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum on April 10th, and two online sessions on April 18th and April 25th. Please register for the online sessions via the following links: Thursday 18 April [intgovforum.webex.com] <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__intgovforum.webex.com_…> (14-15:30h West Africa, GMT+01:00) Thursday 25 April [intgovforum.webex.com] <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__intgovforum.webex.com_…> (14-15:30h West Africa, GMT+01:00) Thanks and regards B.

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Vodacom, Tala bosses charged with economic sabotage in Dar
by Barrack Otieno 15 Apr '19

15 Apr '19

Listers, seems as a region we still have a long way to go doing Tech business across the borders. I hope the Kenyan High Commissioner in Tanzania who is a techie intervenes since i can see one of our home grown techies in the thick of things. Let us not wait for a repeat of what happened in Ethiopia. https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/Vodacom-tanzania-tala-bosses-char… In summary - The companies and their staff face 10 charges of contravening the Economic and Organised Crime Control Act, 2002. - They were remanded, as the crimes they are accused of are not bailable. Best Regards -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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UN IGF Best Practice Forum on IoT, Big Data and AI - Virtual Meeting Today 15 April 12:00 UTC
by Alex Comninos 15 Apr '19

15 Apr '19

Dear All, I would like to urge you all to take part in the Internet Governance Forum IoT, Big Data, and AI Virtual Meeting (webinar) today the 15th of April at 12:00 UTC. The Virtual Meeting link is here: https://intgovforum.webex.com/intgovforum/j.php?MTID=m8018d13f801dfcb5ef0ce… We would love to multistakeholderise participation from diverse communities outside of the traditional IGF community. If you have no ideas what a BPF is or what the IGF is - thats completely understandable, and we aim to rectify that! More info can be found here https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/bpf-internet-of-things-iot… The 2019 edition of the Best Practice Forum on IoT, Big Data and AI will focus on trust in these concepts and their utilization for addressing identified societal challenges. Within the IGF’s remit, the BPF intends to continue to limit its scope to the growing area where IoT, Big Data and AI meet in an Internet context. Building on this BPF’s 2018 work as a starting point, the BPF proposes for 2019 to: * Challenge and review the identified best practices and complete the report with concrete and practical examples. (e.g. in the field of healthcare, environmental protection, e-commerce, public safety, cybersecurity, and infrastructure; * Identify existing and new ways to enhance trust in IoT, Big Data, AI applications and technologies in an Internet context; * Identify how AI can affect outcomes both in terms of social justice and in terms of the allocation of societal resources; * Identify how AI can complement or pose challenges to privacy and data protection as well as transparency and good governance; * Identify how IoT, Big Data, AI can contribute to achieving the UN SDGs and * Identify the impact on policies and regulations, including policy making processes of the application of IoT, Big Data, AI applications. The Virtual Meeting will require WebEX software which can be downloaded at https://www.webex.com/downloads.html. It should work on all Desktops (Mac, Windows, and Linux with some luck) as well as on mobile phones. One should also be able to phone into the meeting with a phone and the info provided here: https://intgovforum.webex.com/intgovforum/j.php?MTID=m8018d13f801dfcb5ef0ce…. If any of you have any questions about what the IGF is, what BPFs are, or how to use WebEx, please do not hesitate to contact me. Best, Alex -- Alex Comninos http://alex.africa -- Alex Comninos http://alex.africa I am transitioning to a new email address: hello(a)alex.africa -- Alex Comninos http://alex.africa I am transitioning to a new email address: hello(a)alex.africa

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Fwd: [Internet Policy] Evangelical view on artificial intelligence
by Barrack Otieno 15 Apr '19

15 Apr '19

Listers, Might be of interest to some. Regards ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Ayden Férdeline <ayden(a)ferdeline.com> Date: Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 10:56 PM Subject: [Internet Policy] Evangelical view on artificial intelligence To: ISOC INTERNETPOLICY <internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org> The Southern Baptist Convention has released a policy paper and a statement of principles on the ethics of Artificial Intelligence. I found it an interesting read, which, of course, is not to say I agree with all of it ;-) But as many of us are grappling with what AI is and how it will change our world, I found it fascinating to see how a religious organization is trying to proactively address some of these concerns before AI has an even broader social impact. I am not sure if other religions are engaging on this topic too, but if so, I would be curious to read their thoughts as well. You can read their statement here: https://erlc.com/resource-library/statements/artificial-intelligence-an-eva… Ayden Férdeline _______________________________________________ To manage your Internet Society subscriptions or unsubscribe, log into the Member Portal at https://admin.internetsociety.org/622619/User/Login and go to the Interests tab within your profile. -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Re: [kictanet] [SST whitelist considerations] It will be hard to access Government services without a Huduma Namba, Matiang'i says
by Patrick A. M. Maina 11 Apr '19

11 Apr '19

Huduma number is a great idea that can unlock many benefits for Kenyans. I would really wish for it to succeed. However I fear that the current state of runaway corruption puts the entire project at risk. A Single Source of Truth (SST) acts as a citizen whitelist which can help speed up service delivery and make things more efficient (e.g. by removing the need for ID cross-checks). This strength is also a weakness, unfortunately. Anyone with an SST ID (and "valid fingerprint") is presumed to be a bona fide citizen - but such a conclusion can only be sensibly relied on in an environment with negligible/immaterial levels of corruption. National scale SST whitelist systems are heavily reliant on human factors (e.g. human integrity, personal values, and patriotism) at their points of highest vulnerability. So hackers will likely target the weakest link i.e. gov employees (e.g. via huge bribes or blackmail or workforce infiltration via recruitment process) in order to get to the system. Researchers (link below) have shown that fingerprints can be easily stolen by tech-savvy criminals to facilitate illegal access e.g. via affordable 3D printing technology. Fake fingerprints (and fingers) can also be manufactured to create fictitious persons (e.g. ghost workers or organized criminals). Case in point is India's Aadhaar... just prior to the attack that almost triggered a war with Pakistan, there had been media reports of terrorists being caught in posession of Aadhaar cards. How did they get the cards? Did the "whitelist effect" of Aaadhaar facilitate their movements or planning? The possibility cannot be discounted. Human flaws are the weakest link in any technology solution. What about laws? Surely strict / harsh laws will "protect" the data by deterring illegal activity? 1. Local laws do not deal with or deter international (or state sponsored) perpetrators with high budgets, sophisticated hacking technology and ability to evade acountability (geopolitical powers). 2. Attribution challenges (hackers often leave spoofed breadcrumbs (fake trails) to mislead investigators... so innocent people or even countries can be framed for things they did not do, triggering unjust arrests/convictions or costly and potentially destabilising geopolitical hostilities). Sometimes backdoors are disguised as innocent acts of user or supplier incompetence (e.g. via deliberate insecure design). Sometimes they are a result of genuinely innocent incompetence or accidental oversight. How will Government know which is which? 3. Reactive laws (as opposed to strategic or tactical laws which consider the holistic contextualized picture) only increase compliance costs for law abiding citizens but do not guarantee deterrence for criminals who don't care about laws. Cybercrime laws don't stop or deter sophisticated cybercriminals (e.g. due to atrribution & jurisdictional challenges). 4. Unlike property theft, data can be stolen without the owner's knowledge. By the time the loss is detected (e.g. via numerous incidents of actual unlawful use) it is too late to do anything. It is often impossible to establish the extent by which a honeypot system has been compromised, how the breach happened, who did it and for how long it has been compromised. 5. Massive resources will have to be expended to perform an impossible task of protecting Kenya's most sensitive (and most valuable) data. As security experts keep reminding us, it is not a question of whether a system, any system, can be hacked, it's a question of when - and what will be the consequences. 6. Once biometric data has been stolen, the loss is permanent and irreversible. You cannot issue new fingerprints. So what happens next? 7. As soon as the credibility of the data is in material doubt, we will have to revert to the old system of manual cross checking and all the envisaged benefits will dissapear (as well as the 6B investment). Whether the perpetrators are caught / jailed or not, does not make a difference. To help put things in context, consider this: Government has been unable to secure IFMIS (which was supposed to help eliminate corruption - but became an enabler), TIMS (we still have fake number plates and vehicle duty evasion), SIMBA (we still have massive levels of duty evasion at ports), the IEBC Election System (we had to do two costly elections - leading to a massive waste of funds and an increase of perceived political risks, which also hit the economy very hard adding billions in hidden costs).. even eCitizen has reportedly not been spared, going by media reports. These challenges point to a pattern where we fail to deliberately contextualize solutions and come up with holistic approaches. We put too much trust in silo solutions and reactive laws but we have repeatedly ignored the HUMAN ASPECTS leading to repeated failure to realize envisaged benefits. Any system implemented within a corrupt culture will, more likely than not, end up facilitating (and worsening the cost and scale of) corruption. Guaranteed. This is our reality. Can corruption be solved in Kenya in a sustainable way (without risking stability)? Perhaps government can run a global competition for innovative ideas on how to solve corruption in Kenya. The public can watch high profile debates by local and foreign experts, as part of sensitization/education, and then vote on the top five ideas in every major economic sector, which would then be piloted at designated institutions or counties. Prize for the winning idea in every sector (say USD 1Million) can be linked to results, say after 10-15 years, once the idea is fully implemented and proven to have significantly met the ToR targets in an independently verifiable way (and backed by public perceptions). Good evening. Brgds, Patrick. Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross-domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations] On Thursday, April 11, 2019, 2:25:32 PM GMT+3, Eshuchi Richard via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: Just to put CS's full remarks into context and an illustration on why accessing services would be harder in comparison, Ministry of Interior posted the audio through: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/662150267181777/posts/2305403209523133?sfns=mo Twitter: https://twitter.com/InteriorKE/status/1116221458966044673?s=19 On Thu, Apr 11, 2019, 13:10 Wamathai (HapaKenya) via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has said that it will be very hard for those who will not have registered for the Huduma Namba to access Government services. https://hapakenya.com/2019/04/11/it-will-hard-to-access-government-services… _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eshuchi.richard%40gma… The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/pmaina2000%40yahoo.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.

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It will be hard to access Government services without a Huduma Namba, Matiang'i says
by Wamathai (HapaKenya) 11 Apr '19

11 Apr '19

Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has said that it will be very hard for those who will not have registered for the Huduma Namba to access Government services. https://hapakenya.com/2019/04/11/it-will-hard-to-access-government-services…

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Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] Reminder: ICANN66 Fellowship Application round closes on April 11.
by Barrack Otieno 10 Apr '19

10 Apr '19

Listers, This might be of interest to you. Regards ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Yaovi Atohoun <yaovi.atohoun(a)icann.org> Date: Wed, Apr 10, 2019 at 9:05 AM Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] Reminder: ICANN66 Fellowship Application round closes on April 11. To: AfrICANN Community List <africann(a)afrinic.net> Hello Everyone / Bonjour à tous EN: ICANN66 will take place from 2-7 November 2019 in Montreal, Canada. The deadline to apply is 11 April 2019, 23:59 UTC. More information at https://www.icann.org/fellowshipprogram FR : La réunion ICANN66 aura lieu du 2 au 7 novembre 2019 à Montréal (Canada). La date limite de réception des candidatures est le 11 avril 2019 à 23h59 UTC. Plus d’information à https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-55-2019-03-11-fr Thanks/Merci -- Yaovi Atohoun Stakeholder Engagement and Operations Manager- Africa; ICANN Tel. +229 66015649/65209067 www.icann.org _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/africann -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Re: [kictanet] [labor issues] why Kenya should urgently BAN unpaid
by Jimmy Gitonga 08 Apr '19

08 Apr '19

I think Ali is being “clever” like the proverbial hare. Honestly, we need to stop looking at everything the West, including their vile practices, as gospel truth. Taking on interns, with the sole intention of getting unpaid labour, even if it is the "sneaker network" that gets you coffee is despicable. The intern, no matter how enterprising, will be used and dumped. "Why would a rational employer - whose goal is to maximise margins (within a very difficult / hostile business environment) - be interested in paying an experienced ex-intern, when they can simply get a fresh unpaid intern for free, train them within hours or a couple of days, even as other unpaids hold the temporary slack? This where we are headed - if not there already. The youth are "working" but they are still technically unemployed because they are not earning a living." If getting “ahead" means bowing down to the "scacity mentality” idol and the stepping on people is one’s business success mantra, may that business perish and it’s “rational” employer perish. Please note, we are not talking about the graduate who feels entitled to get paid internship, no. Those kinds of people will always be weeded out by the system. Their attitude alone is their undoing. We are talking about the ones with little to no social advantage of networks of family or friends who can supoort unpaid internship. This is where our Africans, “Utu ni watu”, “Ubuntu” and “I am because we are” comes in. Best Regards, Jimmy Gitonga Web Software Design and Development LinkedIn: Jimmy Gitonga | Twitter: @Afrowave ______________________________________ Web: afroshok.com <http://afroshok.com/> > On 3 Apr 2019, at 3:15 PM, kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke wrote: > > Many thanks for your thoughts Ali.? > Indeed, words in most languages can have multiple, totally unrelated, meanings (e.g. "saw" the noun/hardware, "saw" the verb/cutting, and "saw" the past tense of "see"... or in Swahili "paka" the cat vs "paka" as in to paint) so in this case the appropriate focus would be on the vocation-oriented definition of "intern" (though I can see material for contextual innuendo in the two meanings hehe). > Some well known intellectuals on twitter are getting stuck on written definitions and relying on logical fallacies which is not intellectually sincere. Are definitions cast in stone? Can they have a shelf-life? Don't they change with time?? > Fact: Definitions only document meaning as it evolves over time; they are not the source of meaning. The general rule of thumb is that Informality precedes formality. > Thankfully the etymology (origin of a word and the historical development of its meaning) of "intern" shows that the meaning and usage, in professional context, has indeed been evolving. > > According to an online source (link below), the term is believed to have been documented as a noun circa 1879 for the teaching and medical professions, and then extended to other profesions around 1963. It was formally recognize as a verb circa 1933 within the medical field. > Prior to that, and going back as far as medieval times (in western cultures), people learned through apprenticeships and although you did not get "paid" in the narrow sense of the term, your boss provided you with free *accommodation* and *food*. Such contextual nuances around the apprenticeship system are (conveniently) ignored by advocates of unpaid internships. > In African culture (link below), apprenticeship was a very POSITIVE community experience. People had EMPATHY for one another and collective gains were favored over individual gains. Not caring whether someone had food or a safe place to sleep was unheard of. Lets face it, cold blooded, greed motivated exploitation of the youth within a community is an alien concept in most (if not all) of pre-colonial Africa.? > In traditional China and (I believe) India the apprentice is technically "adopted" and the relationship is parent - child, but in vocational context. There is mutual love, concern and caring even if the apprentice is treated harshly. It never crosses over to predation. > We are Africans. Unless we want to give up our core identity, the quest for meaning in everything we do (and the policies we support) has to be done within the context of our Africanness. Even as we adopt poitive aspects of foreign cultures in a cosmopolitan world, we can strive to retain the best aspects of our indigenous cultures. For example if the industrialized world had emulated positive African philosophies like simple contented living in harmony with nature, we would not have existential problems like climate change, WMDs, world wars, economic inequality and so on.? > Imported meanings are not rules cast in stone. We can, if we want to, define our own modern, African, definition of the word "intern" in a way that that protects our youth from abuse and exploitation.? > The youth are our children and our future. Let us not raise a generation of bitter, angry and resentful people. It's not a smart thing to do. > Thanks & have a great day! > Patrick. > Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross Domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations] > Links: > 1. Etymology of the word "intern":https://www.etymonline.com/word/intern <https://www.etymonline.com/word/intern> > > 2. Traditional apprenticeship in Africahttps://www.academia.edu/11682853/Revisiting_the_role_of_traditional_… <africahttps://www.academia.edu/11682853/Revisiting_the_role_of_traditional_…> > > 3. Weird history of internshiphttps://www.businessinsider.com/the-weird-history-of-how-internsh… <internshiphttps://www.businessinsider.com/the-weird-history-of-how-internsh…> >

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Breaching the Access to Information Act, 2016
by S.M. Muraya 08 Apr '19

08 Apr '19

Dear Listers, Today, there is a "Daily Nation" article about MP's going after another MP for irregularly acquiring information, quoting Section 22 (1) of the Leadership and Integrity Act provides that a state > officer shall not directly or indirectly use or allow any person under the > officer’s authority to use any information obtained through or in > connection with the office, which is not available in the public domain, > for the furthering of any private interest, whether financial or otherwise. http://www.parliament.go.ke/sites/default/files/2018-04/32_Rules_Governing_… Question is where is the line drawn when information is illegally not just irregularly kept out of the public domain, breaching the Access to Information Act, 2016? Typically this would refer to information not compromising National Security but actually enhancing it (by safeguarding public resources). http://www.ombudsman.go.ke/index.php/access-to-information/access-to-inform…

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Fwd: [Internet Policy] The Age of Surveillance Capitalism
by Barrack Otieno 08 Apr '19

08 Apr '19

Patrick, This might be of interest :-) Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Richard Hill <rhill(a)hill-a.ch> Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2019 15:35:00 +0200 Subject: [Internet Policy] The Age of Surveillance Capitalism To: "Internetpolicy@Elists. Isoc. Org" <internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org> I presume that most people on this list will have heard about a book by a Harvard professor that is highly critical of the current advertising-driven Internet business model. Here is a review: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/20/shoshana-zuboff-age-of-su rveillance-capitalism-google-facebook Best, Richard -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Konza City is now 10 years old
by Odhiambo Washington 08 Apr '19

08 Apr '19

Hello listers, Does anyone know what activities are going on at the famed Konza City or it's one of those big white elephants?? Brian Gitonga Marete <https://www.facebook.com/marete?__tn__=%2CdlC-R-R&eid=ARDI1jSnyu5oBA5420Rmu…> shared a post <https://www.facebook.com/jaylaan11/posts/10219010532593216>. 12 hrs <https://www.facebook.com/marete/posts/10156427390174934> · It was obvious that Konza City was a con job from the get go. Concentrations of industrial excellence do not sprout up suddenly just because physical buildings and infrastructure are around. That is not the bottleneck, and anyone can provide that. The real battles of realizing something like the proposed Konza city are elsewhere. <https://www.facebook.com/jaylaan11/posts/10219010532593216?__tn__=%2CdH-R-R…> -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254 7 3200 0004/+254 7 2274 3223 "Oh, the cruft.", grep ^[^#] :-)

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Modernizing Tertiary Education - some ideas
by Jimmy Gitonga 05 Apr '19

05 Apr '19

Greetings Patrick, I saved this for the weekend so that I can reflect on it as I read it carefully. I almost shed tears at how good and elaborate the ideas you have proposed are. Thank you. Last week, I met a PhD holder who has lectured for more than a decade as a senior lecturer with no hope of progressing to professorship. Why? Today, to be considered for associate professorship in a Kenyan university, you must supervise two PhD seekers and four master’s degree students, working through their thesis. This was made necessary because oft times, a PhD candidate would submit his work to the supervisor who would then sit on it, since it did not affect the supervisor’s career prospects. However, now my “Dr.” friend is in a discipline that is not attracting a lot of research and thus PhD candidates. The few he has had to deal with try to push shoddy work, believing that he would stoop low and pass the work since he “needs” his professorship. He is resigned to the fact that though he is producing fresh knowledge that is being published outside the country, on the continent and beyond, he now seeks to retire from academia and pursue other literary interests. I contrasted his path with mine; non-stop learning, education delivered high speed on the Internet, designing and developing web software with no end in demand in sight. I just have to keep my mind sharp and eyes open for relevant technologies that are applicable in Kenya and Africa as a whole. My path was the non-standard one and for a long time my PhD friend use to worry for me. Now I am worried for him and for all the ones taking that “normal” path. Recently, I heard of a young “mechanic” who repairs the now electronic cars. Think of the latest Range Rovers. I was told that the cheapest he charges for a “look-see” of a car is 2,500/-. It hit me. That is what an chest specialist charges. TVET is going to be the way to go. Finland has the best offer in this area - http://www.euroeducation.net/prof/finco.htm <http://www.euroeducation.net/prof/finco.htm>. And I have not even discussed IoT. Best Regards, Jimmy Gitonga Lead, Design and Development at Afroshok LinkedIn: Jimmy Gitonga | Twitter: @Afrowave ______________________________________ > On 28 Mar 2019, at 11:05 PM, kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke wrote: > > Greetings Listers, > The world is changing very rapidly and things that the older generations took for granted no longer apply. There are no jobs waiting for students when they graduate - that era ended decades ago (I believe in the 70s and early 80s). Yet, for some reason, academia appears to be stuck in time, doing things that no longer make sense. > > Here are some thoughts / ideas on what can be done to reform and rescue our tertiary education sector. (PhD holders might be interested in debating point No. 6. - is it too harsh or the right approach in principle? HR Policy practitioners might be interested in point No. 5..): > > 1. There is need for Government to strategically position TVETs and Universities as direct implementers of Vision 2030 and Big 4 objectives. Example - academia role should include creating sustainable jobs directly, and taking measures to guarantee high employment of graduates; instead of mechanically preparing our young people for jobs that may, or may not exist, then leaving them trapped in debt. > > 2. Expand CUE mandate to cover TVETs (as Commission for Tertiary Education); and then Implement a Universal Credit Accumulation and Transfer System - that creates multiple pathways *of equal status* towards higher qualifications (i.e. including transferable credits for TVET education and/or credits for demonstrable on-the-job / startup experience). This calls for a national skills mapping database that is derived from, and/or supports strategic national objectives (as outlined in vision 2030 & Big 4 master-plans). Accelerate regional accreditation to leverage intra-Africa synergies in view of AfCFTA. > > 3. Require *all* form 4 / grade x leavers to first attend TVETs for at least 2 years to gain hands-on technical skills for real world self-sufficiency, before they (i.e. those who wish to do so) attend university. Rationale: We need to keep our eye on the goal. The goal of education, imo,is not to create "paper churning, hands-off, intellectual elites" who lack real-world-relevant skills, but to create a competent, grounded, hands-on, innovative and future-proofed workforce that is capable of applying knowledge by making or doing things that help solve, in tangible and measurable ways, very specific challenges faced by our country (primarily) or to help solve global problems in a way that primarily and tangibly benefits our country (enhancing our global brand / jobs creation / high-value exports / attracting high quality FDI etc). > > 4. De-eliticize university education by creating high-value technical specialist pathways via TVETs (for high paying jobs and societal status / recognition). This would temper the belief held by the general public that a university degree is the only path to success and social mobility / status. > > 5. Employers to emphasize and primarily rely on real-world achievements for competence signalling - rather than relying on academic papers. For example, job advertisements should stop asking for academic qualifications. This is a pointless, tick-box requirement that only creates a market for "River Road degrees". > > For regulated roles, like medicine or engineering, having a valid practicing license should be a sufficient indicator of academic achievement as the license (hopefully) cannot be issued without verification of the required academic background. > > We now have the indigenous capacity to implement competency-based hiring painlessly with technology (e.g. via ongoing programs of supervised, automated technical screening assessments to create a national pool of vetted job candidates - which incidentally would eliminate a lot of wastefully redundant HR activities - at macro level). Hopefully tenderpreneurs / MNC lobbyists will not hijack and subvert this idea. Shindwe! :-) > > Incidentally implementing the above suggestion will reduce incentives for cheating or cram & dump learning. > > 6. Using policy and regulation to strictly limit career pathways for PhD holders such that they primarily engage in research and academia. Government and corporations should stop hiring PhD holders for full-time administrative roles, for example. It is wasteful, short-sighted and counterproductive (considering the massive resources expended to educate people to that level, as well as the need to productively leverage the intellectual potential of earned PhD holders as a super-scarce resource in Africa). > > PhD holders should be primarily dedicated to pushing the boundaries of knowledge for the benefit of our country - and they should be rewarded very well for it and accorded top societal honors / as well as status (so they are not tempted to seek jobs that do not develop / challenge their intellectual abilities / potential). > > The only exception would be for very specific, short term, high-impact, research-reliant-projects or initiatives with very precise and highly specialized objectives, where exceptionally high levels of real expertise is needed. > > The PhD designation should have (3-5) designation levels that signify real-world achievement at post-doctorate level. PhD holders, other than retirees, who wish to permanently engage in non-research work (or work that can be done by Masters / Bachelors degree holders) should be required to permanently relinquish their PhD qualification and lose the "Dr." designation. > > There needs to be a distinctive high-status designation for non-academic honorary doctorates e.g. "Exceptional Life Achiever Degree" with the title "Lx." in recognition of non-academic transformational achievements with high societal impact. > > 7. Academic institutions should form corporations to engage in intellectual property businesses for profit (e.g. IP licensing / manufacturing & distribution) to raise research funds. This requires a pragmatic expansion of institutional mandate as well as strengthening and contextualizing the indigenous IP framework. > > 8. Pedagogy should be driven by a projects-based learning paradigm with deep integration of learning and real-world work. Removing artificial (and retrogressive) boundaries or demarcations between industry and academia: > > > a. Why should learners first graduate before they can start working? This is a mindset problem. Does it make sense to have schoolwork and employment / MSME startups kept separate (yet they are complementary and interdependent)? > > b. Why allow someone without real-world paid work (not industrial attachment, but a real job or real MSME startup experience) to graduate? > > c. Why can't students learn and gain academic credits on the job (doing real, paid work for someone or in their own startups)? > > d.? Why ask our children to choose the projects they want to work on without setting a strategic real-world context that is mapped to real world goals (e.g. Big 4) and real career prospects. Projects-based learning can solve this - with emphasis on projects that can create sustainable wealth for the country (sold to regional governments or the consumer public). > > > > We need to train a generation of self-starters who can survive by creating their own opportunities - irrespective of the economy or jobs market. > > Students should incorporate real startups (with seed funding from Government) during 2nd year - to make and sell products that solve real-world problems in our country / region - and then earn transferable academic credits for demonstrable experience. > > Employers like Government, MSMEs and corporations can embed academia into the workplace by adopting an apprenticeship approach in partnership with Universities and TVETs to hire 2nd year students and assign them to projects that enable them to earn "on-job learning credits". > > By the time they graduate, at least 99% ought to be gainfully employed (or running real businesses). This is how you tackle poverty and unemployment in a sustainable way. So what really prevents us from doing this - other than mindset? > > I know the above might read like heresy to traditionalists - but before you grab the pitchforks and light the torches, look around you... status quo is not working, that's the reality - and things will get worse as 4IR gradually kicks in - if we don't effect radical transformation. > > I'd be happy to have a round-table with the faculty of any tertiary institution that is interested in discussing / debating the above points. > > Have a great evening! > Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross Domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]

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Blockchain Taskforce Report - Reminder No. 1
by Ali Hussein 05 Apr '19

05 Apr '19

Listers Has anyone perhaps have had a look at the above report? Shouldn't this report have been released by now? Almost 9 months later? Dr. Ndemo, as Chair of the Taskforce please give us an update? Regards Ali Hussein Principal AHK & Associates Tel: +254 713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing, Chiromo Road, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya. Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with.

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DATA PROTECTION BILL PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
by Mutindi Muema 05 Apr '19

05 Apr '19

Dear Listers, Please note that the Hon Gideon Moi is proposing the attached amendments to the Data protection Bill. They are about 27. Also note, the proposal to amend scope under Clause 3 of the Bill amends the scope of the Act to exempt 'a public body responsible for national security the purpose of which is the prevention, detection, investigation or punishment of a crime.' as well as ' a person in the course of a personal or household activity.' Kind regards, Mutindi.

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Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] Take Part in ICANN's Age Diversity and Participation Survey
by Barrack Otieno 05 Apr '19

05 Apr '19

Listers, For those that participate in ICANN. Regards ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Bob Ochieng <omondibob(a)gmail.com> Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2019 12:47 Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] Take Part in ICANN's Age Diversity and Participation Survey To: afrICANN Community List <africann(a)afrinic.net> How to Participate To participate, please visit http://go.icann.org/agesurvey by 19 April 2019. You can take the survey in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Please see full blog here: https://www.icann.org/news/blog/take-part-in-icann-s-age-diversity-and-part… Regards Bob. _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/africann

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[labor issues] why Kenya should urgently BAN unpaid internships
by Patrick A. M. Maina 04 Apr '19

04 Apr '19

Greetings Listers, There is a (misplaced) belief that unpaid internships are a "win-win" because they incentivize employers to create opportunities (and incur potentially unrecoverable costs) for on-the-job training of fresh graduates, who would otherwise not have a real-world platform for gaining experience. The argument often posited in support of unpaid internships is that the intern has more to gain, as it is unlikely that a fresh graduate will create more value for the employer than s/he draws from the internship. Further, it is assumed that once they have some real world experience, the graduates will have better chance at getting a paid job elsewhere. Here's the problem with that kind of thinking: 1. Phantom Jobs Paradox: A 3 month internship most likely involves entry level assignments with very limited bounds of autonomy or direct commercial impact (e.g. Web Dev, Gathering & Compiling, Graphics design, User support, Customer Service, Reception, Office admin, Project Assistants etc). Now, given the rigid way that the labor markets work, in order for a candidate to realistically leverage the experience earned during internship, s/he will have to apply for a paid job that is very similar to what s/he did during the internship.. but wait... those are the exact same jobs being offered to unpaid interns - so the ex-intern is locked-out and remains jobless because no paid jobs exist for the experience s/he gained while working for free! Why would a rational employer - whose goal is to maximize margins (within a very difficult / hostile business environment) - be interested in paying an experienced ex-intern, when they can simply get a fresh unpaid intern for free, train them within hours or a couple of days, even as other unpaids hold the temporary slack? This where we are headed - if not there already. The youth are "working" but they are still technically unemployed because they are not earning a living. The unintended consequence here is that employers have figured out (as they were bound to) that they can use unpaid interns to profit from free labor (with the "bonus" of dodging "headaches" like PAYE, NSSF, NHIF and Px filing), and this is incentivizing them to keep rotating unpaid interns - in perpetuity. It is even worse if Government subsidizes the stipend - creating an artificial band-aid relief that does not add sustainable value. Friends, that is not job creation. The risk here is that these policies are creating a growing, frustrated, resentful (and increasingly angry) pool of young, unemployed former interns - who feel used, and don't understand why their "investment" in work experience did not pay-off with a real job, as society had "promised". This is already being voiced on twitter (link below - #payinterns). While attempting to solve the youth-unemployment problem, in good faith, policy makers could be unintentionally creating a simmering political time bomb. Something to think about and address (urgently). 2. Sub-optimization problem: As stated in my article on Modernizing Tertiary Education, we have an obsolete education system which churns out graduates without taking ownership for jobs creation (comfortable in the outdated, buck-passing silo culture that believes jobs creation is someone else's i.e. private sector or government, problem / responsibility). 3. Demand vs Supply: The unpaid internship model requires a high-growth economy, which must create a greater demand for jobs each year than the available pool of candidates (>approx 800,000 - 1 Million new *real* vacancies for paid jobs annually). This incentivizes companies to compete for the experienced candidates. The fastest way to do this is to create a rapid growth environment for MSMEs and startups. But the approach should be intelligent and evidence driven. Data driven evidence (from the US, see link below - but relevant locally - which can be confirmed by analyzing performance of local youth entrepreneurship programs) shows that the older generation (age 36 - 69) are the best targets for MSME stimulus initiatives, with higher chances of sustainable success, whereas ages 18-29 have the worst rate of startup failures - which makes sense, because experience truly counts in business and - the learning curve in business is super-steep(!). Data clearly shows that it is wasteful to throw money at the youth when they don't have the skills to manage / multiply it; the grit to persevere; and broad experience to draw on - and these are not skills that can be taught in an entrepreneurship class. The smarter way is for Government to encourage *experienced* older founders to start businesses and get government funding + growth support on condition that they hire our youth for high quality paid apprenticeships. The minimum headcount and/or salaries can even be set by Government for those who receive funding. This should happen within a designed ecosystem framework (interested policy makers are welcome to contact me for more details on how to go about this). >From a root-cause perspective, what is lacking in youth-oriented programs is strategic design for sustainability. We need to move from NGO-style interventionist paradigms to evidence driven master-plan design paradigms. Youth-targeting programs should be compulsorily derived from the master-plan (Vision 2030 / Big 4) and have precise, meaningful and measurable traceability back to the master-plan, in terms of real contributions towards getting the country closer to the vision. The end game must be clear - what does the 2030 economy look like (e.g. in measurable terms such as % unemployment, median wage, GDP, sector contribution, Stock Markets, balance of trade etc)? Or will we just wake up in 2030 and find everything has magically fallen into place? How do we know where we are right now in terms of Vision 2030 overall (and this is not about project status but macro-level metrics)? Are we 10% there? 60%? 30%? How do we know the status is reliable (e.g. can things be seen, is there data, and does on-the-ground sentiment reflect it)? What is working? What is not? What are the lessons so far? How will we know we have arrived (e.g. if we get there early)? How do we know if we are off course? Is there a data driven dashboard tracking Vision 2030? Here's a quick recap of problems with unpaid internships: 1. It encourages exploitation of young people as free labor; 2. Creates a loophole for companies to dodge PAYE for certain types of jobs; 3. It creates phantom jobs - busy young people who are technically unemployed (not earning a living);4. It unfairly locks out the poor. Those who can't afford to work for free (where do they get fare? or food?); 5. Increases political risks by creating a pool of angry, disillusioned youth;6. It is evidence of poor economic policies (interventionist instead of evidence driven master-plan design). Brgds,Patrick Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross Domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations] Links: 1. European Parliament bans Unpaid Internships https://www.neweurope.eu/article/european-parliament-bans-unpaid-internship… 2. Older entrepreneurs more likely to succeed: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2018/08/05/proof-that-the-most-succ… 3. Does Kenya's Youth Enterprise Development Fund Serve Young People (Maurice Sikenyi) https://bulletin.ids.ac.uk/idsbo/article/view/2874/ONLINE%20ARTICLE 4. Worrying trend of gambling youth + 500,000 in CRB blacklisthttps://sokodirectory.com/2019/04/76-of-kenyan-youth-are-gamblers-… 5. Why youth and women enterprises fail in Africa (Prof Michael Chege) https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/Why-youth-and-women-enterprises-f… 6. Hashtag Payinterns (Kenya) on Twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/payinterns?src=hash

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Request for addition of new member - Peter Muchemi
by Denis G. Wahome 03 Apr '19

03 Apr '19

Hi Wash, Assist adding Peter to the list he is a 15+ year veteran in the industry - developer, lecturer and entrepreneur. Have a pleasant evening. Denis Wahome [image: Error Icon] Address not found Your message wasn't delivered to *kictane(a)gmail.com* because the address couldn't be found, or is unable to receive mail. LEARN MORE <https://support.google.com/mail/?p=NoSuchUser> The response was: The email account that you tried to reach does not exist. Please try double-checking the recipient's email address for typos or unnecessary spaces. Learn more at https://support.google.com/mail/?p=NoSuchUserz200sor1607336itb.10 - gsmtp Show quoted text

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Re: [kictanet] Blockchain Taskforce Report - Reminder No. 1
by Jimmy Gitonga 03 Apr '19

03 Apr '19

Hi Mwendwa, The Jadili <http://jadili.ictpolicy.org/> platform housed by Strathmore University has been working to be the portal for ICT based legislative bills in particular. Jadili has been relatively active in this area and we hope it does continue. However, Jadili is based on the Madison Project <https://github.com/opengovfoundation/madison/milestones> Sadly, the Madison Project, an open source project that Jadili is based on was abandoned after Obama left office and is likely to completely stall. In the meantime, Mzalendo Trust has been working hard on a platform named Dokeza <https://dokeza.mzalendo.com/>, a Swahili word largely meaning ‘Share your Idea’. Dokeza is being used to keep an eye on legislative bills going through the Kenyan Parliament with a mission to facilitate public participation in the Parliamentary processes. This platform should facilitate Information Sharing, Research and Networking, especially around our legislative bill development process. We are working to making Dokeza a repository of bills in particular before they become law and archive the process and the public participation that takes place to come to the bill that is signed into law. But most importantly, we are working to innovating around public participation in the legislative bill process and enabling relevant and adequate public participation. As part of the team, we would be very happy to get the Listers’ input on what and how we can make this platform the one-stop shop for our legislative bills, especially the ICT ones that govern the very platform. Power to the hijacking, Ali :-D Best Regards, Jimmy Gitonga Web Software Design and Development LinkedIn: Jimmy Gitonga | Twitter: @Afrowave ______________________________________ Web: afroshok.com <http://afroshok.com/> > On 2 Apr 2019, at 2:52 PM, kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke wrote: > > Message: 2 > Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2019 12:34:51 +0300 > From: Mwendwa Kivuva <Kivuva(a)transworldafrica.com <mailto:Kivuva@transworldafrica.com>> > > This reminds me of the reminders of the status of the implementation of the > draft ICT policy 2016. How did that go? > > Sorry Ali for hijacking your thread :-). > > Do we have a sort of portal on the status of bills, policy documents, and > strategies ... and the responsible departments? That would make our work > easy in following up. > > So here are the documents we are awaiting some action on. > 1. Draft ICT policy 2016 > 2. Draft National Broadband Strategy 2019 > 3. Draft Critical Infrastructure protection bill (or is it Public structure > and Safety bill?) > 4. National Cybersecurity strategy (What is the status in developing a new > strategy? Probably ICTA can give an update) > 5. Data protection bill > 6. Blockchain and AI task force report > > Regards > ______________________ > Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya > > On Mon, 1 Apr 2019 at 15:49, Ali Hussein via kictanet < > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>> wrote: > >> Listers >> >> Has anyone perhaps have had a look at the above report? Shouldn't this >> report have been released by now? Almost 9 months later? >> >> Dr. Ndemo, as Chair of the Taskforce please give us an update? >> >> Regards >> >> *Ali Hussein* >> >> *Principal* >> >> *AHK & Associates* >> >> >> >> Tel: +254 713 601113 >> >> Twitter: @AliHKassim >> >> Skype: abu-jomo >> >> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> >> <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>> >> >> >> 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing, >> >> Chiromo Road, Westlands, >> >> Nairobi, Kenya. >> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2019 14:51:15 +0300 > From: Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke <mailto:ali@hussein.me.ke>> > To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Blockchain Taskforce Report - Reminder No. 1 > > Mwendwa > > Thanks. Hijacking well accepted. We just need to have an efficient feedback loop for these initiatives. It?s not too much to ask. > > Ali Hussein > Principal > AHK & Associates > +254 0713 601113 > > Twitter: @AliHKassim > Skype: abu-jomo > LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> > > "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." ~ Aristotle

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Facebook External Oversight Board Workshop (podcast)
by Alex Comninos 02 Apr '19

02 Apr '19

Hi All On the 26-27 March I attended Facebook’s External Oversight Board Workshop in Nairobi. This is the third round in Facebook’s consultations regarding the setting up of an External Oversight Board, which is to provide oversight of Facebook’s decisions with regards to content. In the spirit of open consultation I made a podcast covering the workshop: https://cybernyama.net/2019/03/28/facebook-external-oversight-board-worksho… More information about the External Oversight Board can be found here: https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2019/01/oversight-board/ https://www.facebook.com/notes/mark-zuckerberg/a-blueprint-for-content-gove… https://fbnewsroomus.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/draft-charter-oversight-bo… https://fbnewsroomus.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/oversight-infographic.jpg What are your thoughts on the External Oversight Board? Sincerely, Alex

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Online "jobs?" Kenya identified as hotbed of academic writing for Cheating British PhD Students
by peres wamukhula were 01 Apr '19

01 Apr '19

Excerpt: "The industry is worth hundreds of millions of pounds globally, and tens of millions in Britain,’ says Dr Thomas Lancaster of Imperial College London. ‘Kenya is the hotbed where all the writing happens. There is high unemployment and a job working from home is coveted. They have good English and low overheads. ‘There are thousands of people in Kenya whose job is to write essays for cheating students. There are several writers in every apartment block." Here's the full article: Cheating students are paying companies to write PhD theses https://mol.im/a/6861373 via http://dailym.ai/android

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Webinar today: BPF on AI, Big Data and Internet of Things - 01 April 12:00 Noon UTC
by Alex Comninos 01 Apr '19

01 Apr '19

Dear All, the next virtual meeting of the next IGF BPF on Internet of Things, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (IoT-BD-AI) will be held Today on Monday April 1st at noon (12PM) UTC. At the first virtual meeting we defined a (working) title for the BPF: “ Justified Trust in IoT, Big Data, AI to stimulate their use to address societal challenges “, and provided a high level verbatim for this year’s work: ’The BPF as platform for multistakeholder deliberation to discuss best practices contributing to creating trusted systems and applications of IoT, Big Data and AI in an Internet context.’ https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/bpf-internet-of-things-iot… Meeting link: https://intgovforum.webex.com/webappng/sites/intgovforum/meeting/info/12363… I am looking forward to your participation, Kind regards, Alex Comninos

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The anti-competitive forces that foil speedy, affordable broadband
by Nanjira Sambuli 31 Mar '19

31 Mar '19

Interesting politics of broadband stateside... https://www.fastcompany.com/90319916/the-anti-competitive-forces-that-foil-… Sent from Flipboard Regards, Nanjira. Sent on the move.

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Apply for a Mozilla Fellowship
by Alice Munyua 30 Mar '19

30 Mar '19

https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2019/03/12/apply-for-a-mozilla-fellowship/

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[Good news for MSMEs & indigenous innovators] MPs seek to regulate Mobile Money & limit the scope of Telecommunication licenses
by Patrick A. M. Maina 30 Mar '19

30 Mar '19

[Link at bottom] This will be fantastic - if they succeed! Here's a quick recap of how the Telecommunications / Fintech Apps sub-sector is exploiting consumers and stifling local innovation. 1. Predatory practices: The mobile money sector has reached a point where lack of adequate regulation is leading to retrogressive practices that add hidden costs / friction to the economy - including: a. Price-gouging via ridiculous pricing methodologies: Mobile "money" is just text data moving from A-B. There is no credible justification for pricing to be based on the transaction value or amount sent / received / withdrawn - other than, imo, ruthless exploitation of consumer ignorance! The ethics of any company that earns super-profits in a poor third world country and still continues to do this are worth debating. At scale, I would wager that each P2P or bill payment message costs a telecoms provider less than Ksh. 0.01 per transaction. There needs to be an independent public-interest driven audit of the cost v/s pricing methodology given the essential and imperative nature of the service and the lack of viable alternatives due to lock-in effects. Very clear anti-trust issues at play, imo. b. Usurious loans, predating on the financially insecure with exorbitant fees; c. Aggressive CRB listing (thousands of young Kenyans punitively listed, some reportedly for as little as 200/-, which results in a tarnished record that denies youth access to other opportunities - for half a decade!); d. Promoting poor financial habits by encouraging people to borrow for consumption and/or to borrow "from Peter to pay Paul"; e. Aggressive collection methods - including blatant violations of privacy and shaming tactics - in violation of the Constitution; 2. Macro-economic stability risks: As payments go digital/cashless, unchecked dominance by one entity has resulted in a single point of failure scenario in the economy where the country's retail and service sectors are increasingly at the mercy of one private corporation that does not appear capable of guaranteeing 100% uptime year-round (and is not keen to guarantee just compensation for traders / customers for loss of business during down-times or service delays). 3. Unfair use of market power to crowd out MSMEs and young indigenous innovators: CA's broad-scope licenses have created a scenario where large IT corporations with mega budgets and market monopoly are "competing" with (more accurately, pulverizing) innovative indigenous MSME startups. It is sad to see a company that makes billions in profits apparently even engaging in vegetable business (among others) to deny mama mboga a livelihood. 4. Money laundering risks (Unregulated Loan Apps): Some foreign-funded apps could be a possible channel for international money laundering. The in-bound capital might not follow regulated channels. 5. Hot money risks: Foreign payday loan apps are using hot money models (short term capital allocation) to extract wealth from the country in the form of usurious interest without creating real sustainable value. This can have adverse effects e.g. on monetary policy. 6. Data sovereignty risks: Concentration of sensitive national economic data in the hands of a single private corporation (with foreign ownership). A mobile money monopoly is a bulls-eye target that attracts global hackers and saboteurs due to high payoff potential. 7. Big tech is no longer innovating: It is important for Government to note that, contrary to their PR claims, Big Tech players are no longer innovating - they just copy what is there and then leverage capital, network effects and media monopoly to scale even the most mediocre of ideas, distorting market forces and denying consumers the power to choose the best ideas. In healthy economies, governments solve this by create enabling environments for a new wave of innovations to emerge - via disruptive, independent startups. 8. Big tech are no longer creating new jobs (they are destroying jobs): HR-wise, big tech are already operating at maximum efficiency with single-digit ratios (e.g. 5%) of manpower costs to revenue. At macro-level, they are not creating more new jobs in the economy than they are destroying e.g. this hidden cost is indirect e.g. when their aggressive practices demotivate innovators and/or deny startups a chance to gain traction and grow which would attract investors. 9. Big tech anti-trust practices are delaying the next wave of innovations: In order to promote innovations in ICT (and other sectors), create jobs, and give a chance for the next "big wave of African innovation" to emerge, it is important for Government to step in and restrict Telecomms to their core business: Voice, Data and SMS. Otherwise we will only be showcasing the same old financial inclusion innovations, long after the rest of world has moved on. It looks like parliament is very much on the right track, and the proposed measures - if successful, will go a long way towards creating an enabling environment for indigenous startups and innovators. Kudos to Parliament for putting public interest at the forefront! =============== Article Excerpts ================ 1. "If MPs have their way, the telecommunications regulator, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), will be compelled to ensure that mobile money services like Safaricom’s M-Pesa, Airtel Money and Telkom’s T-Kash are licensed as banks." 2. "The telecommunication firms will then be licensed to only offer voice, data and SMS services." https://www.nation.co.ke/news/MPs-seek-CBK-regulation/1056-5047788-2wdi1l/i… Best Regards, Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross Domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]

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Fwd: [Internet Policy] Singapore to table (aka present in British English) fake news bill Monday
by Barrack Otieno 29 Mar '19

29 Mar '19

Listers, Might be of interest. Regards ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Ang Peng Hwa (Prof) <TPHANG(a)ntu.edu.sg> Date: Fri, 29 Mar 2019 17:27 Subject: [Internet Policy] Singapore to table (aka present in British English) fake news bill Monday To: ISOC Internet Policy <internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org> Hi. The Prime Minister of Singapore a couple of hours ago announced that the government will present the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill on Monday. https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/fake-news-laws-be-tabled-monday-hold-… According to the news report, the bill “will give the Government the power to compel online news sources and platforms to show corrections or display warnings about online falsehoods, and — in extreme and urgent cases — take down an errant article.” There was a Select (aka special and public) Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods https://www.parliament.gov.sg/sconlinefalsehoods that had recommended in September 2018 that the Government take action. Although most of the testimonies were public, there were closed door sessions too and reports about these seem to suggest there were disinformation campaigns targeted at Singapore. Facebook came under withering questioning at the Select Committee hearing. (A two-hour video on Facebook (where else) is at https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10155207544022115.) A couple of observations: 1. Several of us had pointed out that in Singapore, the group that spreads fake news is the elderly, parents and grandparents. And our kind of fake news is laughable by Russian standards—eg plastic rice is sold in the supermarket. And parents and grandparents pass on the hoax out of concern. The Bill does not capture this group. It is apparently not aimed at private but public communication. 2. The power to determine facticity apparently lies with the Government. 3. The sanctions come across as pretty mild—corrections or warnings. And taking down only in extreme and urgent cases. 4. The Bill will not cover the case of the videos of the NZ shooting where Google staffers were manually blocking and deleting the videoclips as they were being uploaded. They were from the live streaming and so were not false even if they were in poor taste. Regards, Peng Hwa ANG [image: id:image001.png@01D31147.941BB3B0]*ANG* Peng Hwa (Professor) | Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information | Nanyang Technological University *|* WKWSCI #02-05, 31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718 | Tel: (65) 67906109 GMT+8h | Fax: (65) 6792-7526 | Editor, Asian Journal of Communication | Web: http://research.ntu.edu.sg/expertise/academicprofile/Pages/StaffProfile.asp… Past President ICA | ICA 69th Annual Conference Washington DC, May 2019 ------------------------------ CONFIDENTIALITY: This email is intended solely for the person(s) named and may be confidential and/or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it, notify us and do not copy, use, or disclose its contents. Towards a sustainable earth: Print only when necessary. Thank you. _______________________________________________ To manage your Internet Society subscriptions or unsubscribe, log into the Member Portal at https://admin.internetsociety.org/622619/User/Login and go to the Interests tab within your profile.

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Modernizing Tertiary Education - some ideas
by Patrick A. M. Maina 29 Mar '19

29 Mar '19

Greetings Listers, The world is changing very rapidly and things that the older generations took for granted no longer apply. There are no jobs waiting for students when they graduate - that era ended decades ago (I believe in the 70s and early 80s). Yet, for some reason, academia appears to be stuck in time, doing things that no longer make sense. Here are some thoughts / ideas on what can be done to reform and rescue our tertiary education sector. (PhD holders might be interested in debating point No. 6. - is it too harsh or the right approach in principle? HR Policy practitioners might be interested in point No. 5..): 1. There is need for Government to strategically position TVETs and Universities as direct implementers of Vision 2030 and Big 4 objectives. Example - academia role should include creating sustainable jobs directly, and taking measures to guarantee high employment of graduates; instead of mechanically preparing our young people for jobs that may, or may not exist, then leaving them trapped in debt. 2. Expand CUE mandate to cover TVETs (as Commission for Tertiary Education); and then Implement a Universal Credit Accumulation and Transfer System - that creates multiple pathways *of equal status* towards higher qualifications (i.e. including transferable credits for TVET education and/or credits for demonstrable on-the-job / startup experience). This calls for a national skills mapping database that is derived from, and/or supports strategic national objectives (as outlined in vision 2030 & Big 4 master-plans). Accelerate regional accreditation to leverage intra-Africa synergies in view of AfCFTA. 3. Require *all* form 4 / grade x leavers to first attend TVETs for at least 2 years to gain hands-on technical skills for real world self-sufficiency, before they (i.e. those who wish to do so) attend university. Rationale: We need to keep our eye on the goal. The goal of education, imo,is not to create "paper churning, hands-off, intellectual elites" who lack real-world-relevant skills, but to create a competent, grounded, hands-on, innovative and future-proofed workforce that is capable of applying knowledge by making or doing things that help solve, in tangible and measurable ways, very specific challenges faced by our country (primarily) or to help solve global problems in a way that primarily and tangibly benefits our country (enhancing our global brand / jobs creation / high-value exports / attracting high quality FDI etc). 4. De-eliticize university education by creating high-value technical specialist pathways via TVETs (for high paying jobs and societal status / recognition). This would temper the belief held by the general public that a university degree is the only path to success and social mobility / status. 5. Employers to emphasize and primarily rely on real-world achievements for competence signalling - rather than relying on academic papers. For example, job advertisements should stop asking for academic qualifications. This is a pointless, tick-box requirement that only creates a market for "River Road degrees". For regulated roles, like medicine or engineering, having a valid practicing license should be a sufficient indicator of academic achievement as the license (hopefully) cannot be issued without verification of the required academic background. We now have the indigenous capacity to implement competency-based hiring painlessly with technology (e.g. via ongoing programs of supervised, automated technical screening assessments to create a national pool of vetted job candidates - which incidentally would eliminate a lot of wastefully redundant HR activities - at macro level). Hopefully tenderpreneurs / MNC lobbyists will not hijack and subvert this idea. Shindwe! :-) Incidentally implementing the above suggestion will reduce incentives for cheating or cram & dump learning. 6. Using policy and regulation to strictly limit career pathways for PhD holders such that they primarily engage in research and academia. Government and corporations should stop hiring PhD holders for full-time administrative roles, for example. It is wasteful, short-sighted and counterproductive (considering the massive resources expended to educate people to that level, as well as the need to productively leverage the intellectual potential of earned PhD holders as a super-scarce resource in Africa). PhD holders should be primarily dedicated to pushing the boundaries of knowledge for the benefit of our country - and they should be rewarded very well for it and accorded top societal honors / as well as status (so they are not tempted to seek jobs that do not develop / challenge their intellectual abilities / potential). The only exception would be for very specific, short term, high-impact, research-reliant-projects or initiatives with very precise and highly specialized objectives, where exceptionally high levels of real expertise is needed. The PhD designation should have (3-5) designation levels that signify real-world achievement at post-doctorate level. PhD holders, other than retirees, who wish to permanently engage in non-research work (or work that can be done by Masters / Bachelors degree holders) should be required to permanently relinquish their PhD qualification and lose the "Dr." designation. There needs to be a distinctive high-status designation for non-academic honorary doctorates e.g. "Exceptional Life Achiever Degree" with the title "Lx." in recognition of non-academic transformational achievements with high societal impact. 7. Academic institutions should form corporations to engage in intellectual property businesses for profit (e.g. IP licensing / manufacturing & distribution) to raise research funds. This requires a pragmatic expansion of institutional mandate as well as strengthening and contextualizing the indigenous IP framework. 8. Pedagogy should be driven by a projects-based learning paradigm with deep integration of learning and real-world work. Removing artificial (and retrogressive) boundaries or demarcations between industry and academia: a. Why should learners first graduate before they can start working? This is a mindset problem. Does it make sense to have schoolwork and employment / MSME startups kept separate (yet they are complementary and interdependent)? b. Why allow someone without real-world paid work (not industrial attachment, but a real job or real MSME startup experience) to graduate? c. Why can't students learn and gain academic credits on the job (doing real, paid work for someone or in their own startups)? d. Why ask our children to choose the projects they want to work on without setting a strategic real-world context that is mapped to real world goals (e.g. Big 4) and real career prospects. Projects-based learning can solve this - with emphasis on projects that can create sustainable wealth for the country (sold to regional governments or the consumer public). We need to train a generation of self-starters who can survive by creating their own opportunities - irrespective of the economy or jobs market. Students should incorporate real startups (with seed funding from Government) during 2nd year - to make and sell products that solve real-world problems in our country / region - and then earn transferable academic credits for demonstrable experience. Employers like Government, MSMEs and corporations can embed academia into the workplace by adopting an apprenticeship approach in partnership with Universities and TVETs to hire 2nd year students and assign them to projects that enable them to earn "on-job learning credits". By the time they graduate, at least 99% ought to be gainfully employed (or running real businesses). This is how you tackle poverty and unemployment in a sustainable way. So what really prevents us from doing this - other than mindset? I know the above might read like heresy to traditionalists - but before you grab the pitchforks and light the torches, look around you... status quo is not working, that's the reality - and things will get worse as 4IR gradually kicks in - if we don't effect radical transformation. I'd be happy to have a round-table with the faculty of any tertiary institution that is interested in discussing / debating the above points. Have a great evening! Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross Domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]

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Excel as a Bi Tool:Data Visualization (Dashboard Reporting) in Excel
by Tracy Nyatoro Weru 29 Mar '19

29 Mar '19

Greetings, We have the pleasure to inform you that Sunesis consulting in partnership with I - Lab Africa,Strathmore university is organizing a 3-day training course on Excel as a Business Intelligence Tool (DashboardReporting). The program will take place @iLabAfrica on *24th - 26th April 2019 *at 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. This is a 3-day training that aims at providing business personnel with skills to transform data into decisions using a cost effective tool. The training course is open to all personnel in business related fields who want to leverage on the power of Excel as a Business Intelligence tool. We would be honored to have you participate in this training. If you have further queries, please do not hesitate to contact the event coordinator on getrude.gichuhi(a)strathmore.edu Or alternatively Kindly ensure to register here <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1x-WVFxxCjYGSrXYT0XXQ0WUqnzE4W2wkoLw0ioCtWM…> to reserve your space. -- *Kind Regards,* Tracy Weru Program Coordinator @iLabAfrica Research Centre Email: tweru(a)strathmore.edu Direct Line: +254 (0) 703 034 621 Ext: 2621 Cell: +254 (0) 724239020 Enquiries: +254 (0) 703-034000/200/300 www.strathmore.edu <http://www.twitter.com/StrathU> <https://www.facebook.com/StrathmoreUniversity/?ref=hl> <https://www.youtube.com/user/StrathmoreUniversity> <https://plus.google.com/110890271788869052448/posts> <https://www.linkedin.com/edu/strathmore-university-357048> <https://www.instagram.com/strathmore.university/> <https://www.youtube.com/user/StrathmoreUniversity> -- *Note: *All emails sent from Strathmore University are subject to Strathmore’s Email Terms & Conditions. Please click here <http://www.strathmore.edu/en/email-policy> to read the policy. * * "Visit our Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/StrathmoreUniversity>Page and Twitter <https://twitter.com/StrathU>Account".

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Facebook and Google: This is What an Effective Ad Archive API Looks Like - The Mozilla Blog
by Alice Munyua 28 Mar '19

28 Mar '19

facebook & Google are preparing to release their ad archive APIs. Mozilla & a cohort of independent researchers are publishing five guidelines these APIs must meet in order to truly heighten transparency and curb disinformation. https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2019/03/27/facebook-and-google-this-is-what-a…

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Data Protection Forum & NIIMS - Friday 29th March
by Linda Bonyo 28 Mar '19

28 Mar '19

Dear Listers Join us this Friday 6 pm as we explore the privacy and data protection issues pertaining to the National integrated Identity Management System- NIIMS popularly known as huduma Namba. We look forward to an open, diverse and engaging discussion whose Speakers include George Kegoro (KHRC), Nanjira Sambuli (Web Foundation), Isaac E.N Okero (Former LSK President), Grace Bomu (Kictanet) , Nzilani Mweu (Tech Lawyer) Registration is absolutely free on eventbrite, limited tickets available. Event is powered by *Kenya Human Rights Commission *and hosted by the *Lawyers Hub*. Register here : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/data-protection-in-the-era-of-kenyas-identity-… ______________________________________________ *Linda Bonyo* (Ms.) | Co-Founder, *Lawyers Hub * Tech for Justice ACK Garden House| Block D, 6th Floor | Email: bonyo(a)*lawyershub.ke* <bonyo(a)lawyershub.ke> | Skype*:* lawyershubke Tel: +254(0)207840228 Mobile : +254784840228 www.lawyershub.www.lawyershub.org | www.lawyershub.ke | Nairobi, Kenya. *_**__________________________________________________________* *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 Lawyers Hub.*

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[disaster preparedness] cheap wooden disposable cargo DRONES that can be built locally
by Patrick A. M. Maina 27 Mar '19

27 Mar '19

[link below] This is an idea worth copying and a great way to develop a culture of *simple*, *practical* cross-domain innovations. Our woodworking students can team up with electronics and computing students to build, test these simple contraptions. Example use cases include supplying emergency relief to places where aircraft cannot land. Suggested approach: MoED and MoICT to sponsor a nationwide TVETs v/s Universities competition to see which institution designs the best drone prototype models with optimal balance of performance [against pre-defined parameters] and costs. The top 5 can then be built to scale and tested using gov. planes / helicopters - and the teams involved recognized with national honors. The best can then be mass produced on order (Big 4 + Jobs!) and exported via G2G facilitated trading to other African countries e.g. Mozambique, Zimbabwe as part of regional DR planning. Moral: Innovation does not have to be complicated or expensive. It just needs to solve a real problem. So, can we build a wooden drone or not? Interested listers from Gov & academia willing to run with this? https://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/drones/disposable-delivery-dro…

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Cyber Wing-Child Protection Unit
by Watoto Watch Network 26 Mar '19

26 Mar '19

Hello Listers, Great development for children in our online space in Kenya; Opening of the *Cyber Wing* at the Child Protection Unit (DCI). The wing will support investigators tackle Child Online crimes. The unit will be the first in Africa to be linked to Interpol's International Child Sexual Exploitation database. See more info; @DailyNation https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Kenya-gets-first-cyber-unit-to-fight-child-se… Great day. Regards, Lillian Kariuki. (Executive Director, Watoto Watch Network)

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Why Leapfrogging in Frontier Markets Isn't Working
by Gideon 26 Mar '19

26 Mar '19

+1 Ali, Not to oversimplify my point, but if only inbound tech/businesses would take good time to re-evaluate core business models and local enviroments before leaping in. I also think leapfrogging in itself may not be felt in some countries like KE where new technologies are adapted almost immediately albeit in ways that only benefit or fit into the local needs and enviroment. In some situations, a big leap works, in others bit stepwise scalling coupled with adaptating solutions to local problems, nuances and ways of living would be the best formula. Regards GR On Tue, Mar 26, 2019 at 8:59 AM <kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > Send kictanet mailing list submissions to > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://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: Why ?Leapfrogging? in Frontier Markets Isn?t Working > (Ali Hussein) > 2. Blockchain Taskforce Report (Ali Hussein) > 3. Cyber Wing-Child Protection Unit (Watoto Watch Network) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2019 06:58:06 +0300 > From: Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> > To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Why ?Leapfrogging? in Frontier Markets Isn?t > Working > Message-ID: > < > CAPjmBy1oHTx8_8VQGEpmaroFFdeXxPafsHam-jnsJG7KA9dxFg(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Alice > > Interesting article. Long read but worth it. My take is that the author > makes valid arguments. There are certain areas which I think he should have > paid attention to:- > > 1. Comparing Africa and the rest of the world as if Africa is one country > is a bit of a stretch. > 2. The #BigTech example (Uber specifically) is not complete without taking > into account that global companies fail in frontier markets not because > they don't have the muscle to succeed but because they fail to understand > and learn from local nuances. > 3. Platforms are under attack by regulators everywhere and this > conversation won't be complete if we don't pay attention to what regulation > will mean going forward in Africa. > 4. Scaling is not for everyone. To equate innovation to scaling doesn't in > my humble opinion tell the whole story. > 5. To tell the story of 'Leapfrogging' in Frontier Markets without talking > about Mpesa is in my humble opinion missing a big part of the story. I'm > hoping that the next part will probably cover this? > > Regards > > *Ali Hussein* > > *Principal* > > *AHK & Associates* > > > > Tel: +254 713 601113 > > Twitter: @AliHKassim > > Skype: abu-jomo > > LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim > <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> > > > 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing, > > Chiromo Road, Westlands, > > Nairobi, Kenya. > > Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely > mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the > organizations that I work with. > > > On Sat, Mar 23, 2019 at 11:27 PM Alice Munyua via kictanet < > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > > > Ali, > > Your thoughts? > > > > > > > > > https://www.cgdev.org/publication/why-leapfrogging-frontier-markets-isnt-wo… > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com > > > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and > development. > > > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and > bandwidth, > > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > > >

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Blockchain Taskforce Report
by Ali Hussein 25 Mar '19

25 Mar '19

Listers Has anyone perhaps have had a look at the above report? Shouldn't this report have been released by now? Almost 9 months later? Dr. Ndemo, as Chair of the Taskforce please give us an update? Regards *Ali Hussein* *Principal* *AHK & Associates* Tel: +254 713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing, Chiromo Road, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya. Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with.

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Why “Leapfrogging” in Frontier Markets Isn’t Working
by Alice Munyua 25 Mar '19

25 Mar '19

Ali, Your thoughts? https://www.cgdev.org/publication/why-leapfrogging-frontier-markets-isnt-wo…

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South Sudan IGF and SIG is happening next week
by Nelson Kwaje 20 Mar '19

20 Mar '19

Dear listers, Yours truly with the help of Article 19 and UNESCO South Sudan office will be organizing the first South Sudan IGF and SS-SIG next week. The country has a long way to go and I am glad the Kenyan experience is helping us in making some small steps on the other side. See info on the links below. http://southsudanigf.net/first-south-sudan-internet-governance-forum-28th-m… http://southsudanigf.net/south-sudan-digital-rights-workshop-internet-acces… Regards Nelson Kwaje Team Lead, Tech and Innovation Unit WEB4ALL LTD www.web4all.co.ke Tel : +254711250795 Skype : nelson kwaje Twitter : @nelsonkwaje Building ICT Solutions That Matter "There are enough success rooms to accommodate all of us. No one needs to fail for another to succeed. Not all of us will succeed in the same manner or at the same time." Nelson Kwaje

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Google to prompt Android users to choose preferred browsers to allay EU concerns | Reuters
by Alice Munyua 20 Mar '19

20 Mar '19

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-google-android/google-to-prompt-andro…

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[Big tech is hacking minds for profit] addiction algorithms and subversive content are NOT human rights!
by Patrick A. M. Maina 18 Mar '19

18 Mar '19

Listers, Big-tech lobbyists have become so adept at hacking the human brain (social engineering) that they have convinced civil society activists and even some critical government institutions (e.g. constitutional courts) that their commercial interests are "human rights" and that their unregulated operations are a manifestation "free speech" and/or "democratic ideals". This is complete brainwash and very regrettable given that it unethically subverts, distorts and distracts society from rational discourse regarding critical issues like free speech, democracy and human rights. The consequence of Big tech's irresponsible profit-seeking continue to accumulate - globally: Question for Internet NGOs: Are you really protecting the internet, or are you protecting FANG business interests? Why are you not speaking up more about the negative impact of FANG-type business models on society and the internet? CNN: "People could easily become radicalized before social media. Many are still radicalized without it. But social media, often in combination with other factors, has proven itself an efficient radicalizer, in part because it allows for the easy formation of communities and in part because of its algorithms, used to convince people to stay just a little longer, watch one more video, click one more thing, generate a little more advertising revenue." https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/17/tech/youtube-facebook-twitter-radicaliza… Did Zimbabwe court get it wrong on the internet? Social media apps are not the internet. https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001310324/court-says-inte… ==================== There are increasing concerns that screen-based learning could be risky for young children (especially below 14 years)... From blue screen eye damage issues, to ergonomics (spine / posture / small text), unintended stifling of creativity, and so on. Perhaps Kenya's laptop program would best benefit High school students from grade 10 (Form 1) and above? "Silicon Valley parents are raising their kids tech-free — and it should be a red flag." https://www.businessinsider.com/silicon-valley-parents-raising-their-kids-t… "In 2007, Bill Gates, the former CEO of Microsoft, implemented a cap on screen time when his daughter started developing an unhealthy attachment to a video game. Later it became family policy not to allow kids to have their own phones until they turned 14." "Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple until his death in 2012, revealed in a 2011 New York Times interview that he prohibited his kids from using the newly-released iPad. "We limit how much technology our kids use at home." "Tim "Apple" Cook, the current Apple CEO, said in January that he doesn't allow his nephew to join online social networks. The comment followed those of other tech luminaries, who have condemned social media as detrimental to society." The damage being caused to our children's brains, by uncontrolled exposure to algorithms is massive and at an unprecedented scale. This might turn out to be worse than what the Tobacco industry did before they got regulated. https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001316924/kenyan-parents-… There needs to be a policy definition of what the internet is and especially what it is not - so that when dangerous platforms are shut down, the civil society does not get tricked to pursue ruthless corporate interests thinking that they are "defending internet freedoms", "free speech" or "democracy". Brgds,Patrick. Patrick A. M. Maina [Cross Domain Innovator | Independent Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]

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TODAY’S DEADLINE: Public Consultation on National Broadband Strategy for Kenya
by Nanjira Sambuli 16 Mar '19

16 Mar '19

Good day, Are we to assume that concerns raised here regarding today’s deadline for submitting comments have gone unheard? Regards, Nanjira. Sent on the move. > On 11 Mar 2019, at 19:18, info(a)elvisjonyo.co.ke wrote: > >> On 2019-03-11 13:51, Nanjira Sambuli via kictanet wrote: >> +1, Ali, >> Additionally, are there reflections on the successes and shortcomings >> for the 2013-17 period? >> For instance the goal on broadband speeds for rural vs urban areas, a >> very lofty goal therein? >> Regards, >> Nanjira. >> Sent on the move. >>> On 11 Mar 2019, at 07:29, Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> wrote: >>> Gimode >>> Greetings. Seeing that you posted this email on Friday, 8th March, I'm curious to understand how the committee can expect to get substantive responses within a week on such a critical piece of document? >>> I think it's time this country reviews what it means when the constitution talks about Public Participation. I know that there are members of the August House in this list. I challenge them to address this issue. I fear that government officials are taking us through a 'tick the box' exercise when it comes to public participation. >>> Ali Hussein >>> Principal >>> AHK & Associates >>> Tel: +254 713 601113 >>> Twitter: @AliHKassim >>> Skype: abu-jomo >>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim >>> 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing, >>> Chiromo Road, Westlands, >>> Nairobi, Kenya. >>> Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with. >>>> On Fri, Mar 8, 2019 at 9:04 PM Gimode, Chiimbiru via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >>>> Dear Listers, >>>> You will recall the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology (MoICT) constituted an inter-agency Steering Committee to review of Kenya’s first National Broadband Strategy (NBS) for the period 2013-2017. The Committee draws membership from the MoICT, Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat (VDS), National Communications Secretariat (NCS) and the ICT Authority (ICTA). >>>> The team is at the tail-end of the review of the NBS and is seeking views from the members of the public to enrich the NBS for the period 2018 – 2023 in line with Constitution of Kenya 2010. >>>> Attached is a public notice on the same. >>>> You can access the consultation paper on the Authority’s website on this link: https://ca.go.ke/consumers/public-consultations/open-consultations/ >>>> The deadline for submission of comments is 15th March 2019. >>>> Best Regards, >>>> Chiimbiru Gimode, CMRP, MPRSK. >>>> Communications Officer >>>> Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) >>>> Head Office: CA Centre,Waiyaki Way,Westlands, Nairobi I P.O Box 14448 Nairobi 00800. >>>> Regional Offices: Mombasa I Nyeri I Kisumu I Eldoret >>>> Office Line : 0703-042-524 I Website : www.ca.go.ke I Twitter : @CA_Kenya >>>> Facebook : Communications Authority of Kenya I YouTube : CA Kenya I Instagram: CA Kenya >>>> Flickr : https://www.flickr.com/photos/cck-kenya >>>> Core Values: >>>> Integrity | Innovation| Excellence >>>> “Today is only one day in all the days that will ever be. But what will happen in all the other days that ever come can depend on what you do today’’-Ernest Hemingway >>>> Please be responsible, consider the environment before printing this e-mail. >>>> 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. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission. >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> kictanet mailing list >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ >>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com >>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40elvisjonyo.co.… >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder >> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT >> policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for >> reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled >> growth and development. >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and >> bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, >> respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or >> qualifications. > It is unreasonable and dishonorable to expect the public to peruse through a document and give comments in one week. You might as well promulgate it as is. > >

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[NBS Working group representation] SMEs & indigenous startups NOT involved!
by Patrick A. M. Maina 16 Mar '19

16 Mar '19

Dear Listers, The National Broadcast Strategy was drafted by over 70 participants representing 40 organizations. On closer scrutiny, the private sector (and non-profit) representation appears heavily skewed in favor of big-corp interests with over ~90% of participants representing large entities (or mid-size entities in partnership with, or historically associated with advancing the interests of, large entities). Here's the breakdown: * 10 Local companies (of which 60% are the largest, most visible Kenyan ICT corporations).* 9 Foreign companies or MNCs* 5 Non-profits* 2 Universities* 14 Government Agencies * 0 Indigenous ICT SME stakeholders (non-startups) * 0 Internet Startup Stakeholder(s)* 0 Indigenous tech innovators / inventors * 0 Indigenous tech policy representative(s)----- 40 organizations (~71 participants) ----- This elucidates why government policies tend to be *heavily and unfairly biased* towards large corporations, multinationals and NGOs to the detriment of SMEs and indigenous startup ecosystems (despite SMEs being the actual bedrock of Kenya's economy; the most innovative sector - albeit neglected and lacking opportunities for exposure; and the biggest jobs creators overall). Big corp's dominance at policy level is unfairly hogging government attention and thus preventing the development of a well coordinated tech-startup ecosystem based on a national ecosystem master-plan that would significantly and exponentially boost our economy within a very short period. This is one reason why our top graduates and innovative youth are jobless - relying on NGO handouts for survival (or having to grovel in the media to get PR-motivated "rescue offers" from companies that would otherwise have turned down their application for merit-based consideration). I think it is hypocritical, unethical and wrong for big corp to say it "cares" about the community when doing CSR - when behind the scenes it is busy hoarding all the meaningful opportunities, resources and government incentives that would be far more helpful to the same community in a sustainable way. Our President's call for promotion of SMEs, local Innovation, self-employment ("Tujiajiri") and millions of jobs for our youth might never materialize if things continue this way. The important role of SMEs and indigenous startups / innovations in supporting the Big 4 agenda needs to be emphasized and promoted. We need proportionate (and affirmative) policy representation at SME and Indigenous Startups / Innovations level. These representatives should be actual, experienced founders / innovators (who have been in the trenches and truly know where the shoe hurts) - not private "incubators" who will always be conflicted in favor of the hands that feed them (their MNCs / big-tech / big-corp partners). I humbly request government stakeholders on this list to kindly take note of the above problem and take action to remedy it please, in public interest. Opportunity should be equitably distributed in line with the spirit of our Constitution. Millions of jobs can be created (and we can avoid massive capital outflows) if this is done properly. Adopting the right policies is what made China take 700 Million people out of poverty in just 40 years. They have shown that it can be done. Let our policies be driven by similar goals, in line with Big 4 agenda: To take 40 Million Kenyans out of poverty and into a path of sustainable prosperity within 5-10 years. Have good evening.Patrick. Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross Domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]

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[NBS Working group representation] SMEs & indigenous startups NOT involved!
by Patrick A. M. Maina 16 Mar '19

16 Mar '19

Correction: NBS = National Broadband Strategy Dear Listers, The proposed National Broadband Strategy was drafted by over 70 participants representing 40 organizations. On closer scrutiny, the private sector (and non-profit) representation appears heavily skewed in favor of big-corp interests with over ~90% of participants representing large entities (or mid-size entities in partnership with, or historically associated with advancing the interests of, large entities). Here's the breakdown: * 10 Local companies (of which 60% are the largest, most visible Kenyan ICT corporations).* 9 Foreign companies or MNCs* 5 Non-profits* 2 Universities* 14 Government Agencies * 0 Indigenous ICT SME stakeholders (non-startups) * 0 Internet Startup Stakeholder(s)* 0 Indigenous tech innovators / inventors * 0 Indigenous tech policy representative(s)----- 40 organizations (~71 participants) ----- This elucidates why government policies tend to be *heavily and unfairly biased* towards large corporations, multinationals and NGOs to the detriment of SMEs and indigenous startup ecosystems (despite SMEs being the actual bedrock of Kenya's economy; the most innovative sector - albeit neglected and lacking opportunities for exposure; and the biggest jobs creators overall). Big corp's dominance at policy level is unfairly hogging government attention and thus preventing the development of a well coordinated tech-startup ecosystem based on a national ecosystem master-plan that would significantly and exponentially boost our economy within a very short period. This is one reason why our top graduates and innovative youth are jobless - relying on NGO handouts for survival (or having to grovel in the media to get PR-motivated "rescue offers" from companies that would otherwise have turned down their application for merit-based consideration). I think it is hypocritical, unethical and wrong for big corp to say it "cares" about the community when doing CSR - when behind the scenes it is busy hoarding all the meaningful opportunities, resources and government incentives that would be far more helpful to the same community in a sustainable way. Our President's call for promotion of SMEs, local Innovation, self-employment ("Tujiajiri") and millions of jobs for our youth might never materialize if things continue this way. The important role of SMEs and indigenous startups / innovations in supporting the Big 4 agenda needs to be emphasized and promoted. We need proportionate (and affirmative) policy representation at SME and Indigenous Startups / Innovations level. These representatives should be actual, experienced founders / innovators (who have been in the trenches and truly know where the shoe hurts) - not private "incubators" who will always be conflicted in favor of the hands that feed them (their MNCs / big-tech / big-corp partners). I humbly request government stakeholders on this list to kindly take note of the above problem and take action to remedy it please, in public interest. Opportunity should be equitably distributed in line with the spirit of our Constitution. Millions of jobs can be created (and we can avoid massive capital outflows) if this is done properly. Adopting the right policies is what made China take 700 Million people out of poverty in just 40 years. They have shown that it can be done. Let our policies be driven by similar goals, in line with Big 4 agenda: To take 40 Million Kenyans out of poverty and into a path of sustainable prosperity within 5-10 years. Have good evening.Patrick. Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross Domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]

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(Submission by KICTANET Indigenous Stakeholders) Public Consultation On The National Broadband Strategy For Kenya
by Patrick A. M. Maina 15 Mar '19

15 Mar '19

Dear Sir / Madam, Please find attached submissions for KICTANET Indigenous Stakeholders. Due to limited time provided, it was not possible to complete our review and feedback. Please consider offering a time extension, ideally of about 3 weeks, so that we can give more detailed and comprehensive inputs. Thank you and Best Regards, Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross Domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations | KICTANET Indigenous stakeholder]

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Rethinking Affordable Access
by Nanjira Sambuli 14 Mar '19

14 Mar '19

Worthwhile read. https://a4ai.org/rethinking-affordable-access/ Rethinking Affordable Access - Alliance for Affordable Internet This guest post was prepared by Steve Song and appeared first on his website Many Possibilities. Everyone needs affordable access to communication. Affordable access strategies that don’t target everyone end up magnifying the digital divide in a kind of Matthew effect: those with affordable phone/internet services have access to ever increasing education resources, opportunities, services, social safety nets (the list goes on) such that the unconnected fall further behind just by standing still. You may not agree completely with this statement but let’s assume for the purpose of this article that it is true. And if it is true, then we have a problem because access growth is slowing down. Growth is slowing whether you look at mobile subscribers or internet penetration. To date, a combination of public and private investments in telecommunications has managed to connect about half the world to the internet. Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in particular are the runaway success story when it comes to providing affordable access in regions thought unreachable. So why, given the rapid growth of the last fifteen years, are things slowing down? The one-line answer is that we have connected the easy-to-connect half, the relatively wealthy living in relatively densely populated areas. Connecting poor people is sparsely populated rural areas is a much bigger challenge. In a recent Guardian article, Sonia Jorge of the Alliance for Affordable Internet Access (A4AI) suggests that universal internet access is as far away as 2050. That same article suggests that the reason growth is slowing is a combination of lack of skills and lack of investment. It is undeniable that lack of skills to take advantage of digital tools and services is a significant barrier to uptake. It is also true that those skills are connected to affordability. We discover value online by experiencing it and by experimenting to discover what is valuable to us. When access is expensive, the discovery of value in being online is overshadowed by concerns about the cost of being online. Lack of investment is also a complicated issue. The vast majority of MNOs are private companies that serve their shareholders. Even where MNOs are government-owned, there is often more interest in generating a profit than in providing universal, affordable access. It is unsurprising then that MNOs invest in areas where both population density and incomes levels are higher. Spectrum auctions that levy millions of dollars from MNOs in advance of network deployment only compound this trend as operators worry about an increased debt burden. Universal Service Funds (USFs) are the primary mechanism that has been established to try to ensure that poorer and more remote regions also have access. Operators are typically taxed a percentage of their turnover that goes into a fund run by a Universal Service Agency, whose purpose is to finance access into unserved regions. The history of USFs and the associated agencies that manage them is pretty mixed. These agencies are typically government bureaucracies that have little experience managing millions of dollars and are risk averse by the very nature of being bureaucracies. Worse, funds with millions of dollars often attracts the worst kind of kleptocratic behaviour. That said, USFs have made a difference. In the early days of mobile network growth, they created incentives for MNOs to invest in areas that were not economic priorities for them. This led to the growth of infrastructure into previously unserved regions. However, these subsidies have typically succeeded in regions where MNOs would have found themselves eventually, that is, areas that have populations dense enough to create profits for MNOs Where USFs have really run into problems is in trying to push MNOs into regions that are not economically viable for them. Stories abound, although seldom publicly, of USF funds that have completely subsidised the capital costs of cell tower build-outs for MNOs in remote areas but those cell towers are not operated by the MNOs because the towers don’t generate profits, or perhaps not sufficient profit. In one Southern African country, the USF agency has paid for the build-out of 103 base stations in rural areas; 77 of which are not operational. This is not particularly surprising. Often, the operational costs (e.g. maintenance, supply of diesel for back-up generators, etc.) can exceed the revenues generated by calls on the base stations in remote, sparsely populated regions where income levels are lower than in urban areas. For an MNO that is accountable to its shareholders, it only makes sense to turn those towers off. And that is where we find ourselves today. Access growth is slowing because the economics just don’t make sense. So what to do? A recently published report commissioned by the World Bank entitled “Innovative Business Models For Expanding Fiber-optic Networks And Closing The Access Gaps” attempts to answer that question. Their conclusions don’t exactly break any new ground for the World Bank, however. An extremely short (perhaps unfair) summary would be: Enable market forces; the private sector has been most successful at deploying networks. Try to get out of their way. Regulate only as a last resort where there is absolutely clear evidence that the market has failed. Government investment should be cautious and only implemented with a clear vision. The problem with the above recommendations is that this course of action got us to where we are now — but it doesn’t address the fundamental problem of access economics that the MNOs face. Nor does does the proposed strategy mitigate any of the downsides of MNO network deployments, which is often a lack of market competition. If new thinking is required, what might that look like? Here are some news ways of looking at the problem. We Don’t Live in a Single Economy The conventional analysis of the access challenge treats the economy as a single entity but the reality is that the economics of the rural poor is very different from comparatively wealthy big cities. French economic historian, Fernand Braudel, makes a distinction between global and local economies. Companies that operate in the global economy are easy to spot because the endgame for those companies is monopoly. Whether you are MTN or Amazon or McDonalds, the goal is to occupy the maximum possible amount of the market. These kinds of companies get most of our attention. Growing to this size is seen as a virtue. And indeed, there has been a lot of success in the growth of mobile access. Silicon Valley has a particular obsession with scale. Where else would growth hacking be an actual profession. While there has been some pushback to this, scale remains the brass ring for internet companies in particular. In contrast, local companies seek to serve an immediate market, one which they typically have much deeper knowledge of and are able to serve in a manner that a global company cannot. The economics of these local companies are different than those of global companies. Some things are more expensive, but many things are cheaper when it comes to serving a local market. Thus the local baker’s labour costs per loaf of bread are higher but they don’t incur any shipping costs and can tailor their production specifically to demand. Not to mention the fact that they can greet you every day and be a part of your life and your community. This is not news. Governments around the world have recognised the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and have policies developed to encourage their growth. The economic contribution of small business is substantial. In the United States, small businesses employ 47.5 percent of all private sector employees. In South Africa, SMEs contribute 34 percent towards Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provide employment to about 60 percent of the labour force. But nowhere do we see a deliberate strategy to empower small and medium telecommunication/internet access providers. Again, this is not surprising. Historically, building a telecommunications company required millions of dollars of investment in international connectivity, national network infrastructure, last mile infrastructure, handsets, agent networks, marketing, the list goes on. It was a risky bet too. Choose the wrong underlying technology (e.g., WiMAX mobile ten years ago) and you could lose millions. All this has changed. Telecommunications networks are becoming disaggregated. Increasingly international, national, and metropolitan network infrastructures are available as wholesale services to any operators, lowering the bar to market entry for smaller operators who can focus on last-mile delivery. Also, communication technology in general has dramatically dropped (and continues to drop) in price. Not only has WiFi technology become extremely affordable but all kinds of communication technologies from point-to-point microwave to GSM to LTE base stations, even fibre optics now have prices that are within the reach of the community network and small-scale operator. “When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” Alexander Den Heijer Tell me if this sounds familiar: You’re in a meeting about affordable internet access and someone mentions the importance of community networks and small-scale operators. Someone stands up, usually from a big operator, sometimes government, sometimes the regulator, or even the ITU and says, “Oh we recognise the value of community networks… but do they really scale?” The implied answer is “No, of course not.” But what if we could connect millions of people affordably through small businesses i.e. ISPs and community-owned networks without scaling? Not far from where I now live in rural Nova Scotia, is a small community of about 500 people called Lawrencetown. They got fed up with not having decent access to broadband and being ignored by the incumbent telcos and formed a cooperative to build a WiFi network that serves the community. They started out charging about USD45 per month for 20 Mbps service but reduced the price to USD30 per month because they found they were making too much money. They don’t need to be any bigger than they are. They were able to do this because: Access to backhaul is affordable and open; The administrative barriers to setting up an ISP are very low; and, WiFi access technology is very cheap. Their success has emboldened the community to explore the use of a cooperative to deliver both healthcare and energy. We now live in world that has conspired to make it possible for local entrepreneurs and/or community groups to solve their own access challenges. What is missing is the enabling policies and regulation to let a million of these little (and not so little) flowers bloom. Community-Owned Infrastructure In addition to creating an enabling environment for local access solutions, we need to break out of the Manichean world of private sector networks vs government networks. In particular, community ownership of telecommunications infrastructure needs to be elevated to the mainstream of affordable access debates. We need to dispel the picture that many people seem to have of community-owned networks: two tin cans and a piece of string. It is true that in the early days of wireless hacking with WiFi, tin cans actually featured but it was that kind of hacking that spurred the growth of WiFi as a credible backhaul technology. More to the point, as the status of telecommunications infrastructure is changing from luxury to essential utility, there are lessons we can learn from the growth of another essential utility that started out as a luxury: the electricity grid in the United States. In the early part of the 20th century, much of rural America had no access to electrical power. Rural farmers and ranchers banded together to form cooperatives to build their own power infrastructure. But they likely would not have succeeded had there not been enabling policies and programs put in place by the government. The following 3 minute video which tells the story of US electrical cooperatives is well worth watching. Today, those same cooperatives are rolling out fibre optic infrastructure to address lack of broadband service in those same regions. Cooperatives can take many forms. They can be tiny like the one in Lawrencetown. They can address access challenges in regions that aren’t viable for large operators such as Rhizomatica are doing in rural Oaxaca, Mexico, or Zenzeleni in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. They can embody commons principles established by Elinor Ostrom as Guifi.net are doing in Catalunya, Spain. They can enable farmers to dig their own fibre trenches to deliver 1Gbps (symmetric) internet service in rural northern England as B4RN are doing. Cooperatives are a time-tested model for addressing collective resource challenges, especially but in no way limited to in rural areas. Why should we prioritise their growth? Here are a few reasons: Cooperatives lower consumer costs. Cooperatives are non-profits and reinvest surplus back into the network, either by lowering costs (as Lawrencetown did) or by expanding the network. This is particularly relevant in areas that may have enough demand to support one network operators but not two. Subsidising a commercial operator to build a network may solve the access challenge but does not address the affordability challenge. Cooperatives invest in local economies. In a remote community, calling someone a block away typically generates revenue for the incumbent operator headquartered in the capital. It siphons revenue away from remote, poor communities. Community-owned networks ensure that revenue spent on telecommunications is spent locally, creating more local economic circulation. Cooperatives build local skills. The technical skills to build and manage communication networks is within reach of anyone with the right learning environment. Cooperatives provide a space for local skills development in a 21st century career. Cooperatives can help to unwind inequitable social systems. We know that communication technology is an amplifier which can magnify positive outcomes like entrepreneurship and education but which can also reinforce existing social and economic inequities. Because cooperatives are not driven by a profit motive and because they are local, they can both understand and collectively choose to address challenges that face their communities in a meaningful way. Cooperatives build… community. Perhaps that sounds like a tautology but there is nothing like having a project in common to build community bonds/ties and the social fabric that holds us all together. This is a “yes, and” scenario This article should not be interpreted as an argument against big telcos. The success of large-scale, commercial telecommunications networks is undeniable. They have great advantages thanks to their economies of scale, however, the evidence is mounting that the large network model alone is not enough to connect everyone affordably. Small businesses are now are practical reality in the world of telecommunications and the internet, but are limited, not by technology, but by the lack of an enabling policy and regulatory environment. Similarly, community ownership of telecommunications infrastructure in the form of cooperatives and similar structures is a proven success model that cries out for policy, regulatory, and investment support. Locally-owned commercial and/or community connectivity initiatives will grow the market which will ultimately be good for big telcos too. The best news for regulators is that enabling local connectivity initiatives directly addresses one of the biggest concerns raised in the World Bank report: risk. Smaller initiatives can fail without causing systemic harm. They can innovate faster and be more responsive to local needs. Cooperatives are owned by their members. What better way to ensure skin-in-the-game, arguably one of the best ways to mitigate risk. It’s time to move the word “local” into the mainstream of telecommunications policy, regulation, and investment. For more updates on our work, follow us on Twitter at @A4A_Internet. Follow Steve at @stevesong. Regards, Nanjira. Sent on the move.

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Deciphering Trump's "Einstein Pilot" comment & why (most) state mandated backdoors are a bad idea
by Patrick A. M. Maina 14 Mar '19

14 Mar '19

Listers, US president Donald Trump recently triggered a debate about the (often overlooked) negative aspects of placing high/total reliance on modern, increasingly complex (and increasingly opaque), technology for safety-critical applications like aircrafts. Some food for thought... (disclaimer: below is shared for information and/or debate only, with respect to cybersecurity policy discussions): 1. (*2018* article) "Boeing thinks that cyberattacks may be a real threat to flight safety and pilots should be trained to determine and withstand them." https://airlinerwatch.com/boeing-wants-to-train-pilots-against-cyberattacks/ 2. In 2012 researchers reportedly discovered what appeared to be a deliberately engineered (i.e. possibly state mandated) security backdoor in *military grade* chips used for critical functions in aircrafts (e.g. boeing 787) and sensitive military equipment (e.g. drones). The backdoor could be ecploited by sophisticated (state sponsored) attackers to potentially take over sensitive equipment (like a commercial plane). The good intentions behind such backdoors includes anti-hijacking. But the unintended consequence is severely increased vulnerability (ironically to a different form of hijacking) that cannot be hot-fixed. https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/military-grade-chips-may-not-be-… 3. "Five eyes" nations (US, UK, CA, AU, NZ) see themselves as the global "good guys" with infinite wisdom, and who should be allowed (and trusted, without independent oversight or international accountability) to hack any tech device/software for "good" reasons. So they agressively push their tech manufacturers to engineer security backdoors into systems (chips & software). Again, the unintended consequence, which makes (most) state mandated backdoors a terrible idea, is that there is no way to fully secure such backdoors against exploitation by the "bad guys" (e.g. competing states or organized criminal networks). Sadly, it means that "five eyes" origin technology (hardware and/or software) should always be considered *insecure by design*. Yet this is the tech most of Africa relies on for literally *everything*. Actually any non-indigenous technology should be considered insecure by default (a key reason to develop strategic indigenous technology capacity). Could also partially explain why some foreign govs seem to have so much high quality (near real time) information on Africa across all critical spheres (industrial, financial, political, security etc). https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/03/five-eyes-governments-call-on-tech-giants… The floor is open for comments / debate. :-) Good day.Patrick. Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross Domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]

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AFROBYTES Nairobi - Invitation
by Linda Bonyo 14 Mar '19

14 Mar '19

Dear Listers This is to welcome you to Afrobytes Nairobi happening this Friday afternoon at the iHub. The French Development Agency's Innovation team will be present and is looking to meet people in the sector. Let me know if you need tickets as it is on an invite basis. The definitive program is now online with the speakers's profiles: http://www.afrobytes.com/afrobytes-event-series/afrobytes-nairobi/ *Afrobytes is the connection point between the African Tech Industry and other global tech ecosystems. <https://youtu.be/cO87x5VP68g>* Wonder what to expect at Afrobytes events? Just check out this video <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkZxjG_iUPo> Join me on LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/ammin-youssouf-4660621> Visit us: www.afrobytes.com, Follow us: twitter.com/socialafrobytes or Have a coffee with us: Station F <https://www.google.com/maps/place/STATION+F/@48.8348101,2.3620091,15z/data=…> // Bonus: *- One of Fast Company's Most Creative People 2018 > Rank 94-95 <https://www.fastcompany.com/most-creative-people/2018> * *- In the 50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs List in 2018 by Entrepreneur.com > Rank 14 <https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/321571>* Regards, ______________________________________________ *Linda Bonyo* (Ms.) | Co-Founder, *Lawyers Hub * Tech for Justice ACK Garden House| Block D, 6th Floor | Email: bonyo(a)*lawyershub.ke* <bonyo(a)lawyershub.ke> | Skype*:* lawyershubke Tel: +254(0)207840228 Mobile : +2547840840228 www.lawyershub.africa | www.lawyershub.ke | Nairobi, Kenya. *_**__________________________________________________________* *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 Lawyers Hub.*

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[corrected version] [connecting the dots] The real reason why Africa struggles with eCommerce and Airlines
by Patrick A. M. Maina 13 Mar '19

13 Mar '19

Correction: KQ revenues in 2018 were ~50 Billion. Dear Listers, Whenever we have a spectacular failure in industry, we rush to attribute it to one or many of the five factors below: 1. Management competence (e.g. manifests through "culture" and/or lack of responsiveness to new/non-standard challenges; lack of awareness that competence is situational) 2. Failed Strategy (e.g. markets respond better to competitors or are already locked-in. Strategy can fail even where the management is highly competent.)3. Corruption / conflicts of interest (includes nepotism, procurement challenges e.g. unethical vendor practices or blatant theft) 4. External factors (e.g. global economic / geopolitical dynamics) 5. Force Majeure (sudden unforeseeable calamities - whether natural or man-made) I'd like to put forward one reason, unique to Africa, that is seldom raised or addressed, yet it in many cases could be the primary reason why many African businesses struggle to remain viable despite adopting business models that succeed in other countries: The biggest obstacle for most African businesses is the structural operating environment. Simply put, Africa doesn't scale. * Scale is the reason that KQ's economic doom was sealed in 1977 when East African Airways was dissolved. * Scale (not trust or delivery infrastructure) is the reason eCommerce simply can't and won't work in Africa (yet works in India) under the current circumstances. Certain types of businesses are simply not viable without scale. It doesn't matter what strategy, caliber of management or whatever else is used. Without scale, you have to swim upstream and perform miracles. No wonder we tell tourists that Kenya / Africa is "Magical". Only a magician can do certain businesses in Africa - under current circumstances. For example KQ earns ~Ksh. 50 Billion annually. Where does the money go? Do you know who really benefits from African Airlines failure to leverage scale? Here's my list: 1. International Vendors (Equipment / Systems / Fuel) 2. International Hedge funds (e.g. Price / Currency hedges) 3. International Insurance.4. Prioritized creditors (most likely international) 5. International Airports. The only country that doesn't get paid is Kenya. Due to lack of scale, we end up literally giving financial aid to rich countries. This is not a smart thing for a poor country to do. Scale benefits are (in part) what makes Delta Airlines, for example, operate with double digit margins, earn Ksh. 4.4 Trillion in a year (enough to run our country for almost 2 years without borrowing) which translates to Ksh. 1.3 Billion DAILY PBT (profits before tax). Yes, a daily profit of Ksh. 1.3 Billion. That kind of performance is not magical - it's just smart application of basic economics and intelligent (strategically meaningful) politics + policies. eCommerce? USPS (et. al) operation at scale is what made Amazon possible at scale. Prosperity is not just about efficiency - the size of market matters. It matters a lot! Africa combined is the 8th largest economy in the world yet as individual countries we barely register on the global radar. Individual African countries are simply not viable. No amount of aid or borrowing will fix scale deficiencies - in fact, the lack of scale is what makes our current national debts worrisome and risky! The idea of "national pride" carriers is ancient and obsolete. We need Pan-African Champion Airlines (where countries buy shares in not more than three Pan-African Airlines - North, Central and South). This would immediately dissolve the perceived (delusional) national advantage of self-imposed barriers to open skies and regional trade. The current heavy reliance on international markets is not smart at all (we are highly exposed to global shocks and geopolitics); it should be supplemented by sensible and massive intra-Africa trade. Pan-Africanism is not a sentimental idea, it is a rational and intelligent economic strategy. It is the only way to create a common and unified mindset that will unlock scale in Africa. Thankfully a good number of African leaders and technocrats are recognizing these challenges, hence the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) initiative, which requires ratification of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, and the African Passport, as part of the integration process. As business people it is in our interest to support these initiatives as much as we can - but also to be vigilant of powerful (foreign state-backed) resource-extraction MNCs that would want to hijack or sabotage Africa's integration because it spoils their centuries-long plunder party. How does my argument hold, in view of success stories like Equity and/or Safaricom? In science, we disprove arguments by looking for a 'black swan" (just a single instance of contradiction) - are they not the Black Swans? Nope! Equity and Safaricom have certain common business model aspects which allow them to operate "successfully" with limited scale. The most obvious being network effects - but there are other non-obvious factors which are out of scope of this article. Still these are still tiny and fragile operations relative to their scale-leveraged counterparts which earn tens of billions of shillings in revenues daily (and trillions annually). Our culture of mediocrity is what makes us celebrate our (relative) minions. Failure to think in terms of scale is dangerous.. it leads to (or encourages) predatory corporate behavior, comfort zones, mediocrity and other mental barriers. Thanks for reading. I welcome your thoughts on the above. Good day & Brgds, Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross Domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]

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Public Consultation on National Broadband Strategy for Kenya
by Gimode, Chiimbiru 13 Mar '19

13 Mar '19

Dear Listers, You will recall the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology (MoICT) constituted an inter-agency Steering Committee to review of Kenya’s first National Broadband Strategy (NBS) for the period 2013-2017. The Committee draws membership from the MoICT, Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat (VDS), National Communications Secretariat (NCS) and the ICT Authority (ICTA). The team is at the tail-end of the review of the NBS and is seeking views from the members of the public to enrich the NBS for the period 2018 – 2023 in line with Constitution of Kenya 2010. Attached is a public notice on the same. You can access the consultation paper on the Authority’s website on this link: https://ca.go.ke/consumers/public-consultations/open-consultations/ The deadline for submission of comments is 15th March 2019. Best Regards, Chiimbiru Gimode, CMRP, MPRSK. Communications Officer Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) Head Office: CA Centre,Waiyaki Way,Westlands, Nairobi I P.O Box 14448 Nairobi 00800. Regional Offices: Mombasa I Nyeri I Kisumu I Eldoret Office Line : 0703-042-524 I Website : www.ca.go.ke I Twitter : @CA_Kenya Facebook : Communications Authority of Kenya I YouTube : CA Kenya I Instagram: CA Kenya Flickr : https://www.flickr.com/photos/cck-kenya Core Values: Integrity | Innovation| Excellence “Today is only one day in all the days that will ever be. But what will happen in all the other days that ever come can depend on what you do today’’-Ernest Hemingway Please be responsible, consider the environment before printing this e-mail. 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. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission.

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WWW turns 30
by Nanjira Sambuli 13 Mar '19

13 Mar '19

Hi listers, Tomorrow, March 12 marks the 30th anniversary of the World Wide Web! My colleagues (at the Web Foundation) have been recreating a timeline of the web in the 30 years, and would be awesome to have contributions from this our ecosystem, via #web30, #ForTheWeb. See https://webfoundation.org/2019/02/help-build-a-timeline-of-the-webs-history/ <https://webfoundation.org/2019/02/help-build-a-timeline-of-the-webs-history/> for more info on how to participate. Past the celebrations, though, lies a steep task ahead to keep it open and for everyone! Check out the contract for the web, and each ‘estate’ to step up to its role. See: https://fortheweb.webfoundation.org/ <https://fortheweb.webfoundation.org/> Regards, Nanjira

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Re: [kictanet] Public Consultation on National Broadband Strategy for Kenya
by Nanjira Sambuli 11 Mar '19

11 Mar '19

+1, Ali, Additionally, are there reflections on the successes and shortcomings for the 2013-17 period? For instance the goal on broadband speeds for rural vs urban areas, a very lofty goal therein? Regards, Nanjira. Sent on the move. > On 11 Mar 2019, at 07:29, Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> wrote: > > Gimode > > Greetings. Seeing that you posted this email on Friday, 8th March, I'm curious to understand how the committee can expect to get substantive responses within a week on such a critical piece of document? > > I think it's time this country reviews what it means when the constitution talks about Public Participation. I know that there are members of the August House in this list. I challenge them to address this issue. I fear that government officials are taking us through a 'tick the box' exercise when it comes to public participation. > > Ali Hussein > Principal > AHK & Associates > > Tel: +254 713 601113 > Twitter: @AliHKassim > Skype: abu-jomo > LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim > > 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing, > Chiromo Road, Westlands, > Nairobi, Kenya. > > Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with. > > >> On Fri, Mar 8, 2019 at 9:04 PM Gimode, Chiimbiru via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >> Dear Listers, >> >> >> >> You will recall the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology (MoICT) constituted an inter-agency Steering Committee to review of Kenya’s first National Broadband Strategy (NBS) for the period 2013-2017. The Committee draws membership from the MoICT, Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat (VDS), National Communications Secretariat (NCS) and the ICT Authority (ICTA). >> >> >> >> The team is at the tail-end of the review of the NBS and is seeking views from the members of the public to enrich the NBS for the period 2018 – 2023 in line with Constitution of Kenya 2010. >> >> >> >> Attached is a public notice on the same. >> >> >> >> You can access the consultation paper on the Authority’s website on this link: https://ca.go.ke/consumers/public-consultations/open-consultations/ >> >> >> >> The deadline for submission of comments is 15th March 2019. >> >> >> Best Regards, >> Chiimbiru Gimode, CMRP, MPRSK. >> Communications Officer >> >> Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) >> Head Office: CA Centre,Waiyaki Way,Westlands, Nairobi I P.O Box 14448 Nairobi 00800. >> Regional Offices: Mombasa I Nyeri I Kisumu I Eldoret >> >> Office Line : 0703-042-524 I Website : www.ca.go.ke I Twitter : @CA_Kenya >> Facebook : Communications Authority of Kenya I YouTube : CA Kenya I Instagram: CA Kenya >> Flickr : https://www.flickr.com/photos/cck-kenya >> >> Core Values: >> Integrity | Innovation| Excellence >> “Today is only one day in all the days that will ever be. But what will happen in all the other days that ever come can depend on what you do today’’-Ernest Hemingway >> >> Please be responsible, consider the environment before printing this e-mail. >> 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. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission. >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ >> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com >> >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >> >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.

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Re: [kictanet] John Suffolk's Statement at the Huawei Press Conference on March 7, 2019 - Huawei
by Ali Hussein 11 Mar '19

11 Mar '19

Adam Thanks for this. Informative. Part of it is public knowledge already especially the part about components of computer systems being manufactured by several vendors. The Global IT Supply Chain is so convoluted and so many players involved that if what the US is alluding to is correct that we will see the collapse of this ecosystem, of which China is a major player. Kind of shooting oneself in the foot so to speak. Take Apple for example: According to the statement 766 global suppliers, among which 346 were on the Chinese mainland. In summary, around half of iPhones are manufactured in China. This will be case study worthy of any Business School going forward. Regards *Ali Hussein* *Principal* *AHK & Associates* Tel: +254 713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing, Chiromo Road, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya. Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with. On Fri, Mar 8, 2019 at 6:06 PM Adam Lane via kictanet < kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > Hi all > > I thought I'd share this, as it's a nice summary of the cybersecurity > challenges we all face globally and addresses some of the concerns raised > by some stakeholders overseas. > > > https://www.huawei.com/en/press-events/special-release/john-suffolks-statem… > > there's a lot more detail on the website, but this may be the most > insightful. > > regards > Adam > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >

2 1

[here we go again.. surely we can't be this dumb] 800, 000 Kenyans need food aid, agency says
by Patrick A. M. Maina 09 Mar '19

09 Mar '19

Guys, last year the problem was TOO MUCH RAIN. This year (less than 12 months later), the problem is TOO LITTLE RAIN. This has been happening for over 100 years. Corruption makes us look foolish and incompetent to the rest of the world.. like we are incapable of something as basic as learning to compensate for nature's cycles. Then we get offended when the developed world holds paternalistic or condescending attitudes towards us... It's not them, we are doing this to ourselves! When will we realize that it is NOT THE RAIN PATTERNS that are the problem... it's having people who don't care about the impact of their selfish actions on the less privileged, in positions or jobs that require caring. When you look at countries like the Netherlands, which should not even be viable (because 1/3 of their land is literally below sea level) or Israel - which is literally a desert but among the top 20 most food secure nations, the significance of our continued failure as a society really sinks in. Some problems are so fundamental, they should have been solved decades ago. There is no excuse. No one to blame, but ourselves as a society. We contribute our part to grand corruption by being silent and passive about it. Silence, in the face of repeated injustice, means CONSENT. These are 800,000 victims of our silence in the face of corruption, nepotism and short sighted thinking. Don't blame the rain.. look in the mirror. That is where the problem is. https://www.nation.co.ke/news/800-000-Kenyans-need-food-aid/1056-5016738-ta… 800,000 Kenyans need food aid, agency says | | | | | | | | | | | 800,000 Kenyans need food aid, agency says National Drought Management Authority warns figure could rise if weather stays same. | | |

1 0

UK to place social media firms under duty of care.
by Patrick A. M. Maina 09 Mar '19

09 Mar '19

[link at the bottom] "Social media firms in the United Kingdom will soon be placed under a new statutory duty of care, the Daily Telegraph reported on Friday. Under the new rules, tech giants will be required to take reasonable and proportionate action to protect their users, especially children, from any online harm. This includes harmful content that is illegal such as physical abuse and legal content which is potentially harmful, such as cyber bullying, self-harm and violence. Firms that fail to do so will be fined, prosecuted and even barred from operating in the UK. To ensure enforcement of the rules, the government will create a new independent regulator that will have wide-ranging powers to require firms to remove harmful or illegal material under legally binding codes." link: https://www.teletrader.com/amp/news/details/47079238

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John Suffolk's Statement at the Huawei Press Conference on March 7, 2019 - Huawei
by Adam Lane 08 Mar '19

08 Mar '19

Hi all I thought I'd share this, as it's a nice summary of the cybersecurity challenges we all face globally and addresses some of the concerns raised by some stakeholders overseas. https://www.huawei.com/en/press-events/special-release/john-suffolks-statem… there's a lot more detail on the website, but this may be the most insightful. regards Adam

1 0

[AfrICANN-discuss] ICANN64 from March 09 to March 14, 2019 in Kobe
by Bob Ochieng 08 Mar '19

08 Mar '19

Listers, This will be interesting for some of you. > Begin forwarded message: > > From: Yaovi Atohoun <yaovi.atohoun(a)icann.org> > Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] ICANN64 from March 09 to March 14, 2019 in Kobe > Date: March 8, 2019 at 11:28:27 AM GMT+3 > To: AfrICANN Community List <africann(a)afrinic.net> > Reply-To: AfrICANN Community List <africann(a)afrinic.net> > > Hello everyone / Bonjour à tous > > EN: ICANN64 community forum is scheduled for March 9-14, 2019 in Kobe (Japan) and it is possible to attend remotely. > Pease see the full agenda of the meeting at https://64.schedule.icann.org/ <https://64.schedule.icann.org/> . You have also links on remote participation in various sessions details. > Note that time zone in Kobe is UTC+9 > > FR : La réunion ICANN64 se déroule du 09 au 14 mars 2019 à Kobe (Japon) et il est possible d’y participer à distance > Prière aller sur https://64.schedule.icann.org/ <https://64.schedule.icann.org/> pour l’agenda de la réunion. Vous pouvez aussi participer à distance grâce aux liens disponibles sur les pages d’information des différentes sessions. > Notez que le fuseau horaire à Kobe est UTC+9 > > Thanks / Merci > > -- > Yaovi Atohoun > Stakeholder Engagement and Operations Manager- Africa; ICANN > Tel. +229 66015649/65209067 > www.icann.org <http://www.icann.org/> > > _______________________________________________ > AfrICANN mailing list > AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net <mailto:AfrICANN@afrinic.net> > https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/africann <https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/africann>

1 0

[connecting the dots] The real reason why Africa struggles with eCommerce and Airlines
by Patrick A. M. Maina 07 Mar '19

07 Mar '19

Dear Listers, Whenever we have a spectacular failure in industry, we rush to attribute it to one or many of the five factors below: 1. Management competence (e.g. manifests through "culture" and/or lack of responsiveness to new/non-standard challenges; lack of awareness that competence is situational) 2. Failed Strategy (e.g. markets respond better to competitors or are already locked-in. Strategy can fail even where the management is highly competent.)3. Corruption / conflicts of interest (includes nepotism, procurement challenges e.g. unethical vendor practices or blatant theft) 4. External factors (e.g. global economic / geopolitical dynamics) 5. Force Majeure (sudden unforeseeable calamities - whether natural or man-made) I'd like to put forward one reason, unique to Africa, that is seldom raised or addressed, yet it in many cases could be the primary reason why many African businesses struggle to remain viable despite adopting business models that succeed in other countries: The biggest obstacle for most African businesses is the structural operating environment. Simply put, Africa doesn't scale. * Scale is the reason that KQ's economic doom was sealed in 1977 when East African Airways was dissolved. * Scale (not trust or delivery infrastructure) is the reason eCommerce simply can't and won't work in Africa (yet works in India) under the current circumstances. Certain types of businesses are simply not viable without scale. It doesn't matter what strategy, caliber of management or whatever else is used. Without scale, you have to swim upstream and perform miracles. No wonder we tell tourists that Kenya / Africa is "Magical". Only a magician can do certain businesses in Africa - under current circumstances. For example KQ earns >Ksh. 100Billion annually. Where does the money go? Do you know who really benefits from African Airlines failure to leverage scale? Here's my list: 1. International Vendors (Equipment / Systems / Fuel) 2. International Hedge funds (e.g. Price / Currency hedges) 3. International Insurance.4. Prioritized creditors (most likely international) 5. International Airports. The only country that doesn't get paid is Kenya. Due to lack of scale, we end up literally giving financial aid to rich countries. This is not a smart thing for a poor country to do. Scale benefits are (in part) what makes Delta Airlines, for example, operate with double digit margins, earn Ksh. 4.4 Trillion in a year (enough to run our country for almost 2 years without borrowing) which translates to Ksh. 1.3 Billion DAILY PBT (profits before tax). Yes, a daily profit of Ksh. 1.3 Billion. That kind of performance is not magical - it's just smart application of basic economics and intelligent (strategically meaningful) politics + policies. eCommerce? USPS (et. al) operation at scale is what made Amazon possible at scale. Prosperity is not just about efficiency - the size of market matters. It matters a lot! Africa combined is the 8th largest economy in the world yet as individual countries we barely register on the global radar. Individual African countries are simply not viable. No amount of aid or borrowing will fix scale deficiencies - in fact, the lack of scale is what makes our current national debts worrisome and risky! The idea of "national pride" carriers is ancient and obsolete. We need Pan-African Champion Airlines (where countries buy shares in not more than three Pan-African Airlines - North, Central and South). This would immediately dissolve the perceived (delusional) national advantage of self-imposed barriers to open skies and regional trade. The current heavy reliance on international markets is not smart at all (we are highly exposed to global shocks and geopolitics); it should be supplemented by sensible and massive intra-Africa trade. Pan-Africanism is not a sentimental idea, it is a rational and intelligent economic strategy. It is the only way to create a common and unified mindset that will unlock scale in Africa. Thankfully a good number of African leaders and technocrats are recognizing these challenges, hence the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) initiative, which requires ratification of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, and the African Passport, as part of the integration process. As business people it is in our interest to support these initiatives as much as we can - but also to be vigilant of powerful (foreign state-backed) resource-extraction MNCs that would want to hijack or sabotage Africa's integration because it spoils their centuries-long plunder party. How does my argument hold, in view of success stories like Equity and/or Safaricom? In science, we disprove arguments by looking for a 'black swan" (just a single instance of contradiction) - are they not the Black Swans? Nope! Equity and Safaricom have certain common business model aspects which allow them to operate "successfully" with limited scale. The most obvious being network effects - but there are other non-obvious factors which are out of scope of this article. Still these are still tiny and fragile operations relative to their scale-leveraged counterparts which earn tens of billions of shillings in revenues daily (and trillions annually). Our culture of mediocrity is what makes us celebrate our (relative) minions. Failure to think in terms of scale is dangerous.. it leads to (or encourages) predatory corporate behavior, comfort zones, mediocrity and other mental barriers. Thanks for reading. I welcome your thoughts on the above. Good day & Brgds, Patrick A. M. Maina[Cross Domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]

3 2

DNSSEC - is it available again?
by Mark Elkins 07 Mar '19

07 Mar '19

Hi, Just did a search on DNSSEC in this group and get nothing. I see that co.ke (and ke!) is DNSSEC signed. That's Very Good. Does KeNIC accept DS records for entries in CO.KE? Do any Registrars have that in their interface? A search of "dnssec" on the KeNIC website shows nothing (I tried both case) http://www.kenic.or.ke/index.php/en/search-results?ordering=newest&searchwo… Lastly - Are non-Kenyan based organisations allowed to be Registrars yet? The Application form (http://www.kenic.or.ke/images/PDF/Registrar%20Application%20Form%20Updated.…) doesn't state you have to be in Kenya - though it asks for a "KRA Pin Certificate" - and I've no clue what that it. I have a few co.ke domains and would love to add DNSSEC to them. My systems allow for that (talks EPP) and I have about 100 DNSSEC signed domains, mainly in ZA but also in other ccTLDs and GTLDs. -- Mark James ELKINS - Posix Systems - (South) Africa mje(a)posix.co.za Tel: +27.128070590 Cell: +27.826010496 For fast, reliable, low cost Internet in ZA: https://ftth.posix.co.za

3 3

Scholarships for ICT4D with University of Manchester
by peres wamukhula were 07 Mar '19

07 Mar '19

Dear Listers Please find below, details of two sets of scholarships to study ICT4D with the University of Manchester: - The 2019 Development Informatics Scholarship covers tuition fees, flights and living costs. It is available for applicants from Ghana, Kenya, Zambia or Zimbabwe to Manchester’s one-year MSc ICTs-for-Development <https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.manc…>. Deadline 31 March: https://www.gdi.manchester.ac.uk/study/taught-masters/funding-opportunities… <https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gdi.…> - Ten Commonwealth scholarships cover all fees for the distance learning MSc Management and Information Systems <https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.manc…>. Deadline 22 March: https://www.gdi.manchester.ac.uk/study/taught-masters/funding-opportunities… <https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gdi.…> Best regards Peres Were

1 0

Researchers discover a MAJOR hardware-level security vulnerability in ALL Intel CPUs (and it's worse than Spectre)
by Patrick A. M. Maina 05 Mar '19

05 Mar '19

"Researchers have found another way to abuse speculative execution in Intel CPUs to steal secrets and other data from running applications." "The leakage can be exploited by a limited set of instructions, which is visible in all Intel generations starting from the 1st generation of Intel Core processors, independent of the OS (works against ALL operating systems) and also works from within virtual machines and sandboxed environments." "This security shortcoming can be potentially exploited by malicious JavaScript within a web browser tab (phishing vector), or malware running on a system, or rogue logged-in users, to extract passwords, keys, and other data from memory. The vulnerability, it appears, cannot be easily fixed or mitigated without significant redesign work at the silicon level. The researchers also examined Arm and AMD processor cores, but found they did not exhibit similar behavior." "Spoiler is not a Spectre attack. The root cause for Spoiler is a weakness in the address speculation of Intel’s proprietary implementation of the memory subsystem which directly leaks timing behavior due to physical address conflicts. Existing spectre mitigations would therefore not interfere with Spoiler." The "spoiler" vulnerability "can be exploited from user space without elevated privileges." Link to the paper: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1903.00446.pdf News article: Intel CPUs afflicted with simple data-spewing spec-exec vulnerability Link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/03/05/spoiler_intel_processor_flaw/ | | | | | | | | | | | SPOILER alert, literally: Intel CPUs afflicted with simple data-spewing ... 'Leakage ... is visible in all Intel generations starting from first-gen Core CPUs' | | |

1 0

Master of Science in Information System Security from Strathmore...
by Michael Bullut 05 Mar '19

05 Mar '19

Greetings Team, Has anyone done the Master of Science in Information System Security from Strathmore? I need a reference for the same. *Apologies for the cross-posting... * Warm regards, Michael Bullut. --- *Cell:* *+254 723 393 114.**Skype Name:* *Michael Bullut.* *Twitter:* * @Kipsang <http://twitter.com/Kipsang/>* *Blog: http://www.kipsang.com/ <http://www.kipsang.com/>* *E-mail:* *main(a)kipsang.com <main(a)kipsang.com>* *---*

1 0

IGF Best Practice Forum on AI-Big-Data and AI +UTC12 (45 minutes)
by Alex Comninos 04 Mar '19

04 Mar '19

Dear All The BPF IoT-BD-AI (Internet of Things, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence) is resuming its activities with its first virtual meeting today (12PM) - UTC in 45 minutes. Sorry for the short notice, but if anyone was interested please join at the ink below: In 2019 the BPF IoT-BD-AI intends to develop the BPF's potential as platform for multi-stakeholder discussion, to discuss best practices contributing to creating trusted systems and applications. The full BPF proposal is available at accepted proposal<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GCDIeffcyjv7Aw8nCTShiBLvcOOx8KCC/view> Meeting link https://intgovforum.webex.com/intgovforum/j.php?MTID=me73a91313a42e9ccd5cc1… Best, Alex

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Re: [kictanet] Education ministry abandons Uhuru's laptop project
by Baiju Shah 03 Mar '19

03 Mar '19

Hi Grace, I think the approach has to be different in achieving Digital Literacy and it has to be one of self motivated learning from the youngsters, the guides need to the the teachers who teach them all day and hence it will be of value to train the teachers and the teachers train the students in the current model. I do not see any amount of teacher training. In addition, we discuss the basic infrastructure, there needs to be a team within the MOE who does an yearly audit of the infrastructure tie this up the the performance of the head teacher and the budgets that were available, with a little bit of data analysis we will be able to identify where the limitations are and what needs to be done to remedy the situation. Finally, each school needs to establish a community digi kiosk that not only acts as a teaching support in technology but also services the community around them to make it self sustaining, government pays the ICT - entrepreneur some fee to sustain him basically for a certain number of KPI, training based on a continuous learning basis, this will create 30,000 ICT led jobs in the country, provide these schools with an operational system that enables the headmasters to use technology to optimise the operational running of their institutions, reduces costs and this will free up teachers time resulting in better teaching outcomes, the money saved through better operations and transparency will assist them to maintain and upgrade their infrastructure. The operational system will also enable the School heads make decisions on the basis of factual information and the government can further be able to role up into single performance dashboard from all being able to seethe performance at national, county, regional and to the lowest denominator. Anybody ready to participate for such an impact project to improve and uplift our future? If so, please get intouch we have the operational product ready, we now need to role this out, but with the current state of affairs it is going to be a real challenge. Thanks, Best Regards, *Baiju Shah * *Tel. 0787332247* On Wed, Feb 27, 2019 at 10:09 AM Grace Githaiga via kictanet < kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > [image: Boxbe] <https://www.boxbe.com/overview> This message is eligible > for Automatic Cleanup! (kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke) Add cleanup rule > <https://www.boxbe.com/popup?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.boxbe.com%2Fcleanup%3Fkey…> > | More info > <http://blog.boxbe.com/general/boxbe-automatic-cleanup?tc_serial=48315153208…> > Listers > > Just incase you missed reading this one. KICTANet discussed this > eventuality a while back. Read on! > > The Ministry of Education has now suspended issuance of tablets to Class > One pupils under the digital literacy programme, opting instead to build > computer laboratories. > > > Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has said that each of the 25,000 public > primary schools will get one computer laboratory. > > > “There has been a policy change in programme from one child-one laptop to > the construction of computer laboratories for ICT integration,” Dr Kipsang > told National Assembly’s Education Committee while presenting budgetary > proposals. > > > https://www.nation.co.ke/news/education/Ministry-abandons-laptop-project/26… > > > > Best regards > > > Githaiga, Grace > > > -- > Grace Githaiga > Co-Convenor, Kenya ICT Action Network > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/baiju%40telemedia.co.… > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >

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Education ministry abandons Uhuru's laptop project
by Grace Githaiga 03 Mar '19

03 Mar '19

Listers Just incase you missed reading this one. KICTANet discussed this eventuality a while back. Read on! The Ministry of Education has now suspended issuance of tablets to Class One pupils under the digital literacy programme, opting instead to build computer laboratories. Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has said that each of the 25,000 public primary schools will get one computer laboratory. “There has been a policy change in programme from one child-one laptop to the construction of computer laboratories for ICT integration,” Dr Kipsang told National Assembly’s Education Committee while presenting budgetary proposals. https://www.nation.co.ke/news/education/Ministry-abandons-laptop-project/26… Best regards Githaiga, Grace -- Grace Githaiga Co-Convenor, Kenya ICT Action Network

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[hidden knowledge] What? AFRICANS (in the US) co-invented the PC, Cell Phone Tech, 4G & the LIGHT BULB????
by Patrick A. M. Maina 01 Mar '19

01 Mar '19

Listers, this is mind-blowing stuff (see the list & video links below). Did you know that almost every modern convenience in your house, and every portable electronic device, contains (or has technology inspired by) an invention by a person of African descent? Dear policy makers, when you don't believe in your own people's potential, you encourage imported technology/labor and discourage the development of indigenous solutions. When you don't give your indigenous innovators a real chance - unless they partner with a foreigner, who you happily encourage to come and "fund" our innovators, relying on obsolete imported IP laws, do you know that you are encouraging the plunder of indigenous IP? Do you know that foreign "competition" or "awards" are literally IP mining projects where we lose huge sums (possibly billions) of foreign exchange? For every 1 to 20 "winners", they collect THOUSANDS of potentially high value ideas which they will one day sell back to our governments at a massive premium (leading to even more taxes - because Government revenue is not diversified enough)! Has anyone followed up to see what happened next for all these "winning innovations" we keep hearing about for the last decade? How many jobs have been created, how big are the companies? how many still exist? what is their ownership structure (how much is still owned by the indigenous founders)? If we truly want a culture of innovation (which is critical if we want to take charge of our future), we must protect our children from the *politics of intelligence* (IQ brainwash). It is a real phenomenon - and is calculated to make Africans (from early childhood) believe that we are somehow inherently inferior and/or incompetent. It suppresses our children's dreams and ambitions, guiding them towards a life of self-doubt, mediocrity and apathy. Wake up Kenya (and Africa), let's get serious about protecting our indigenous intellectual resources and nurture them for commercial advantage so that we can free our country from the shackles of debt, poverty and other forms of externally imposed indignity! =================================== Does anyone on this list recognize these names? Did you learn about any of them is school? 1. Dr. Mark Dean: an IBM employee who helped invent the PERSONAL COMPUTER & MONITOR (screen) !!! He holds THREE of IBM's original nine PC patents. More recently he led the team that invented the 1GHz Chip. 2. Henry T Thompson - Pioneered cellphone technology (invented the Gamma-Electric cell)..among other things (e.g. improved solid rocket propellant - which significantly enhanced US missile defense capabilities) 3. Jesse Lee Russel: invented 4G / LTE technology (!!) 4. John Henry Thompson - Invented Lingo, a scripting language for rendering visuals / simulations in computer programs (Macromedia, Shockwave etc) 5. Otis Boykin: Invented the resistor (during a time of racial segregation). 6. Marie Van Brittan Brown: Invented the CCTV camera 7. James E. West - invented the Electret Microphone 8. Kenneth J. Dunkley - invented 3D glasses 9. George e. Alcorn - Imaging Xray Spectometer 10. Dr. Betty Harris - invented the bomb detector 11. Dr. Patricia Bath - invented a laser cataract remover 12. Valerie thomas - A NASA employee, invented the hologram - still way ahead of its time. 13. Dr. Shirley Jackson - co-invented fibre optic cables, caller id and call waiting. 14. Lonnie G. Johnson - patented technology that was the basis for CD/DVD optical drive (waaaaay ahead of its time) 15. Lewis Latimer: Invented the most critical component of the light bulb (the filament). 16...the list goes on and on... traffic lights, toaster, stapler, staple remover, central heating efficiency improvements, subway tech etc etc.. and these are the ones that were documented. For context, it is important to keep in mind that some of these inventors (have) lived during very hard times for people of color (slavery / racial segregation) and were systematically denied a proper education or dignified existence. Incredible achievements considering the odds and obstacles they faced. Growing up, I always wondered how come black people don't contribute to science or progress... Are our kids currently being brainwashed in school? Does KICD check for IQ brainwash while approving content? Food for thought. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umdq6B3HIZU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8tje7BkYMo Brgds,Patrick A. M. Maina.[Cross-domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]

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Re: [kictanet] [mixed-up tender-driven priorities] Education ministry abandons Uhuru's laptop project
by Patrick A. M. Maina 27 Feb '19

27 Feb '19

Adam Lane, really? what does "entirely funded by GoK" mean exactly... are you saying GoK has ever had a balanced budget? When? My facts are 100% in order. :-D On Wednesday, February 27, 2019, 3:20:14 PM GMT+3, Adam Lane <adam.lane(a)huawei.com> wrote: Patrick, the tablet project has been entirely funded by GOK, not by aid or loans. please check your facts. From:Patrick A. M. Maina via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>To:Adam Lane <adam.lane(a)huawei.com>Cc:Patrick A. M. Maina <pmaina2000(a)yahoo.com>Date:2019-02-27 13:15:13Subject:Re: [kictanet] [mixed-up tender-driven priorities] Education ministry abandons Uhuru's laptop project GG and listers, I think the underlying subtext is that a NEW TENDER is coming up for "computer labs" that will be deployed in overcrowded, dilapidated public schools (some mud-walled, others open air) with dirty / unpainted classrooms, rudimentary and worn out / broken fittings (if any) and no (or poorly paid and demoralized) teachers... not forgetting, attended mostly by children who are not getting their basic needs met (balanced unpolluted diet; clothing; dignified shelter with clean water and toilet; access to competent healthcare; child-friendly neighborhood; physical safety and psychological safety) that are critical per-requisites to actual learning, because their parents are TRAPPED IN POVERTY due to historical policy-level factors that are beyond their control and not of their own making. What problem should be solved first? How do we set priorities as a country? Here's an interesting puzzle that is by now familiar to most/all of us: a. Is there money to pay decent wages to all teachersso they can all live a dignified life (and focus 100% on our children's development)? NO. b. Is there money for "shiny thing" projects that will create a multi-billiontender opportunity for foreign MNC rent seekers? YES. Billions. How does that work? Well, it turns out that aid money (mostly Loans) from "donors/aid partners" comes with usage restrictions that are designed to benefit the donor country more than the recipient country e.g. the aid money can only be used to fund projectswhich create export markets for the donor country's corporations, national industries and/or labor. Basically aid is like a "nice" shopkeeper offering you "assistance", via a loan, to buy from his/her shop (and nowhere else), things that you don't need and cant afford e.g. dryclean-only clothes, when your children are malnourished and you can't maintain such clothes. The shopkeeper is not interested in clothing your children sustainably, he only wantsto profit off you and gain power over you via debt (so you can't freely deal with other shopkeepers). Once you are totally dependent on debt, you will have to sing the shopkeeper's tune to make ends meet. This is why many African government programs and/or priorities don't make sense or benefit the majority. It's not Africans who are calling the tune. quick_rant() { Are we not worried that our persistent failure, as an African society, to solve relatively simple challenges is signalling low competence to the rest of world (and therefore entrenching long held racist stereotypes that could lead to some form of future oppression/apocalypse for our children/descendants)? I have seen modern-day debates by highly educated people (including some very high achievers and Nobel Prize winners in the scientific community) arguing that Africa's failure to recover from historical setbacks (as well as perceived failure to contribute to global progress) is "proof" that we are genetically inferior intellectually. Although the mainstream science community has aggressively rebuffed that narrative (i.e. in public - we don't know the private sentiments), it is ultimately politics (i.e. perceptions - not reality) that shapes the past and the future. Are we playing thepolitics of perceived intelligence and competence as well as we should? History shows that incompetent societies have had to peg their continued existence on the benevolence of other more competent societies - but that benevolence has not always guaranteed (so the existential prognosis for incompetent societies isvery poor). Does this not bother us enough? } Secondly there is new information that, at certain early ages (e.g. pre-school through lower primary), heavy reliance on technology causes MORE HARM than good: a. It stunts creativity by leaving nothing to imagination; b. could trigger lifelong addiction problems - especially when imported, poorly vetted platforms are used; c. harms eyesight e.g. via blue light / small text; d. choice of wireless connectivity increases risk of cancers via long-term EMF radiation; e. excessive screen-time impairs the development of soft skills; f. risk of brainwashing via thought-bubble algorithms; and g. turns connected minors into data generation products for corporate exploitation. In fact, top technology executives and practitioners e.g. in Silicon Valley, are (and have been)LIMITING screen-time for their own children and sending them to TECH-FREE private schools (e.g. Waldorf), while their companies ruthlessly lobby governments globally to adopt harmful (by design) technologies in public schools so that children of low income parents (i.e. the majority) can use them, with no choice of opting-out, because it is part of compulsory education. Will this new knowledge be factored in Kenya's "Phase 2" of digital learning? Will Government restrict screen-time for all children below 12 years (and totally ban poorly moderated addiction-forming platforms like Facebook, SnapChat, Instagram, WhatsApp, youTube and gamified apps for under-age children)? Let's see what happens... :-) ==================================== On tablets, I was hoping that the strategy behind the tablets project was to develop local "manufacturing" (kit assembly) capacity for mobile devices and kick-start it with a gov procurement stimulus. If that was the idea, it looks like there was no proper ECOSYSTEM MASTER-PLAN to guarantee sustainability e.g. by developing a strong "demand side" - beyond our own gov. tenders... Further the manufacturing project should have been run by a collaborating (not competing) consortium of multiple agencies: 1. The Industrialization & Trade ministry to work with indigenous hardware startups to do the assembly, distribution and sales of the devices (including robust demand generation across the region / continent - with the aim of having Government orders as just a small fraction of the overall sales). 2. ICT ministry to conduct business analysis, contextualized architecture design, develop an ecosystem of indigenous platforms and content development capacity - via indigenous startups.3. Education ministry to oversee local content and platform development by setting standards (via KICD) and vetting / approving content in line with economic master-plan.4. The Health ministry to oversee ergonomics and offer guidance on safety for device (e.g. screen specifications / EMF radiation), platform (e.g. algorithms / gamification) and content design (e.g. font size v/s eyesight risks).5. Ministry of energy to ensure provision of power.6. County governments for services like sanitation and water.7. Foreign Affairs ministry to help negotiate regional and international synergies. Regional collaboration would develop and optimally leverage the comparative advantage of each constituent country.TakeEast Africa for example; a. Tanzania has a well developed content development industry; whereas b. Kenya is good with apps, software platforms and hardware maintenance. It also hasexcellent distribution and marketing ability; c. Uganda and Rwanda have comparatively lower wages - with hence perfect for assembly line setup. If each country only did what it does best, and bought the rest from its regional neighbors, we would have built a sustainable regional ecosystem. But lo-and-behold, each country wants to dominate the entire value chain by itself, and then eventually is puzzled why they suddenly have excess capacity (and increased debt) but no markets and no demand other than from Government itself. :-) Interested in hearing your thoughts on the above, as well as any alternative viewpoints. Good day. Patrick A. M. Maina.[Cross-domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations] On Wednesday, February 27, 2019, 9:23:08 AM GMT+3, Grace Githaiga via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: Listers Just incase you missed reading this one. KICTANet discussed this eventuality a while back. Read on! The Ministry of Education has now suspended issuance of tablets to Class One pupils under the digital literacy programme, opting instead to build computer laboratories. Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has said that each of the 25,000 public primary schools will get one computer laboratory. “There has been a policy change in programme from one child-one laptop to the construction of computer laboratories for ICT integration,” Dr Kipsang told National Assembly’s Education Committee while presenting budgetary proposals. https://www.nation.co.ke/news/education/Ministry-abandons-laptop-project/26… Best regards Githaiga, Grace -- Grace Githaiga Co-Convenor, Kenya ICT Action Network _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/pmaina2000%40yahoo.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.

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Fwd: [Internet Policy] Your phone and TV are tracking you, and political campaigns are listening in
by Barrack Otieno 26 Feb '19

26 Feb '19

Listers, Might be of interest. Regards ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Richard Hill <rhill(a)hill-a.ch> Date: Sat, Feb 23, 2019 at 8:04 PM Subject: [Internet Policy] Your phone and TV are tracking you, and political campaigns are listening in To: <internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org> According to this article political campaigns are buying data in order to send targeted advertising based on what people are doing: https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-campaign-tech-privacy-20190220-s… Your phone and TV are tracking you, and political campaigns are listening in Best, Richard _______________________________________________ To manage your Internet Society subscriptions or unsubscribe, log into the Member Portal at https://admin.internetsociety.org/622619/User/Login and go to the Interests tab within your profile. -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Public Notices on Postal/Courier Security Mgt and National Addressing System
by Gimode, Chiimbiru 26 Feb '19

26 Feb '19

Dear Listers, The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has published the attached notices in today’s newspapers. They are: * Guidelines on Postal/Courier Security Management * Initiatives on Development of a National Addressing System (NAS) for Kenya This is for your information and noting. Best Regards, Chiimbiru Gimode, CMRP, MPRSK. Communications Officer Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) Head Office: CA Centre,Waiyaki Way,Westlands, Nairobi I P.O Box 14448 Nairobi 00800. Regional Offices: Mombasa I Nyeri I Kisumu I Eldoret Office Line : 0703-042-524 I Website : www.ca.go.ke I Twitter : @CA_Kenya Facebook : Communications Authority of Kenya I YouTube : CA Kenya I Instagram: CA Kenya Flickr : https://www.flickr.com/photos/cck-kenya Core Values: Integrity | Innovation| Excellence “Today is only one day in all the days that will ever be. But what will happen in all the other days that ever come can depend on what you do today’’-Ernest Hemingway Please be responsible, consider the environment before printing this e-mail. 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. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission.

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The Reckoning - Regulating #BigTech
by Ali Hussein 26 Feb '19

26 Feb '19

Washington is late to the party but its' implications can be global. This will be interesting to watch. William Barr, in his January confirmation hearings to become the U.S. attorney general, entered into the lexicon a valuable, if redundant, expression to describe the biggest technology companies in the land. “I think a lot of people wonder how such huge behemoths that now exist in Silicon Valley have taken shape under the nose of the antitrust enforcers,” said Barr, an establishment Republican lawyer from central casting—and therefore an unlikely antagonist for Big Business. His locution stuck, heightening the sense that the “behemoths”—Facebook, Google <http://fortune.com/fortune500/alphabet/>, Amazon <http://fortune.com/fortune500/amazon-com/>, Microsoft, Apple <http://fortune.com/fortune500/apple/>, and a handful of less-gigantic competitors—now face a greater regulatory threat than at any other time in their relatively brief existence. Read on:- How Washington will tame #BigTech <http://fortune.com/2019/02/25/silicon-valley-tech-washington-politics/?utm_…> *Ali Hussein* *Principal* *AHK & Associates* Tel: +254 713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing, Chiromo Road, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya. Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with.

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[2 Lessons from India's a-duh! moment] 1. Fingerprints can be stolen 2. Aadhaar data leak was the world’s biggest
by Patrick A. M. Maina 20 Feb '19

20 Feb '19

[~10 minute read] [Links below] Two important takeaways from India's "a-duh!" moment: 1. The value of proactive and strategic industry engagement with Government: India has some of the world's smartest techies, but it looks like they have very sub-optimal influence in strategic policy and politics because Aadhaar issues could have been easily foreseen and mitigated. This is the same situation we have in Kenya where the tech industry is often reacting to policies / laws that seem to materialize from "thin air" as different arms of Government operate in silo mode. The reactive approach by industry is dis-empowering and leads to antagonistic / mistrusting relationships or engagements between industry and government whereas the goal should be to get optimal systemic gains through proactive influencing and cooperation. Governments are primarily political organizations and indigenous businesses in Kenya (and Africa) must come to terms with the fact that their operating environment is greatly influenced by the political environment (and government policies / projects / priorities / deadlines are often driven by political goals). It is therefore imperative that indigenous Tech stakeholders get more active and visible in politics to boost local industry's influence on government activities. We should not just engage (as an industry) with/via ICT ministry, but also form direct working links with Finance, Education, Industrialization, Agriculture, Lands, Foreign Affairs and Culture ministries - among others, as well as Parliament and the Senate; and such engagement should go as far as proactively (and strategically) fielding pro-local-industry candidates for parliamentary, senate, cabinet and permanent secretary roles as well as influencing selection of working groups and committees. Be assured the MNCs have dedicated full-time teams that are actively engaging governments 24x7x365 (often dangling carrots - that somehow never materialize - to win undeserved concessions to the detriment of reticent local players). The same MNCs, having external loyalties, aggressively avoid contributing meaningfully to the local society's long-term or strategic well being, e.g. by paying much less relative taxes, thanks to tax havens and Transfer Pricing; suppressing local wages; exacerbating inflation via predatory pricing or exploitative business models; blocking skills transfer; committing immigration corruption to facilitate race-nepotism; and many other value-destroying activities (which are then whitewashed with "CSR" and PR). 2. Corruption is a cultural phenomena: Legislation or technical measures have minimal or greatly degraded impact in an entrenched culture of corruption; so pushing for excessive / draconian laws; adding layers of bureaucracy or introducing intrusive surveillance systems does not (and will never, by itself) solve corruption; it only pushes the vice to higher level of elitism where real unaccountable power is held (as is the case in western countries where corruption is largely a preserve of the super-elite); and that ultimately makes corruption far more difficult - if not totally impossible - to solve. In Kenya, we have a paradoxical advantage of being a young republic... things like corruption are not as entrenched as they are in the more mature republics (hence the low levels of sophistication). I think as a country, we have a better chance of solving the problem, if we look for new ways of thinking about the vice. At the heart of our problem is a system of extrinsic values (excessive reliance on external indicators of achievement e.g. paper certification or displays of material opulence). This needs to be replaced with a system that extols intrinsic values (instilling a deep love for country, vocation and society - and emphasizing that as the most worthy indicator of achievement). Its impossible to superficially declare, impose or proclaim intrinsic values - they have to be modeled in everyday scenarios at all leadership levels, so they can be willingly admired and emulated. This requires a deliberate and strategic highlighting, in collaboration with mass media networks, of strategic role model archetypes that embody the precise values or vocations that are beneficial to our society. Example: The people who do the most critical work in society (e.g. Doctors, Nurses, Educators, Job creators / Small business founders) would be prominently and routinely celebrated. Those employed would be paid well enough to have comparative financial dignity and accorded high levels of respect and admiration in society. Because these professions require intelligence, conscientiousness, hard work, technical mastery, problem solving, ethics and patience - among other desirable qualities, uplifting them will create an environment where society desires to emulate their habits. Now contrast with qualities that politicians need have if they want to get ahead... :-) Further, when the elites who set policy live in a different and disconnected, parallel world: how can they empathize with problems that don't affect them? Their only connection with the populace is the ballot - hence the recurrent cycles of high, but superficial, engagement with society only during voting time where promises of "a better tomorrow" abound. How about a better today, for a change? a. How many Kenyans (% of 45 Million) can fly to America, London, India or South Africa for medical treatment? Would striking Nurses be paid poorly if one condition for getting into public office, for all senior government officials, is that they exclusively use local public hospitals (or resign to access private / international ones)? Wouldn't the public health system improve immediately? This kind of thinking can be extrapolated to nearly all sectors. b. Is education really important? Then why doesn't the status of educators in society (and their pay) reflect their role as the trustees of our economic destiny? c. Does merit matter? If yes, how can we measure merit in a consistent and transparent way? Some countries have a map that links all training offered to real vocation prospects - in view of strategic contexts, economic trends & projections. d. Can we design a "national dream"? A systematized model for merit based achievement where sincere inputs (initiative, effort, innovation) get a high chance of desired outputs; and where dream-hacking like nepotism and cronyism is shunned? National dreams must be anchored on systems and institutions. Let's get engaged with Government in a more proactive and strategic way so that we can address the real issues and reduce the endless firefighting. Best Regards, Patrick A. M. Maina [Cross-Domain Innovator & Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations] Aadhaar Operator's Biometrics Stolen And Misused, UIDAI Documents Prove | | | | | | | | | | | Aadhaar Operator's Biometrics Stolen And Misused, UIDAI Documents Prove Tech-support emails accessed by HuffPost India prove that the biometric identity of an Aadhaar operator were sto... | | | Aadhaar leak biggest data breach of 2018, claims Avast Antivirus study | | | | | | | | | | | Aadhaar leak biggest data breach of 2018, claims Avast Antivirus study The report refers to the incident in which anonymous sellers on WhatsApp charged Rs 500 or less for access to Aa... | | |

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Critical Infrastructure Protection Bill
by Lawrence Dinga, CISSP 20 Feb '19

20 Feb '19

Dear Listers, Could someone kindly direct me where I can find the above Bill. Thanking you in advance Regards [image: Mailtrack] <https://mailtrack.io?utm_source=gmail&utm_medium=signature&utm_campaign=sig…> Sender notified by Mailtrack <https://mailtrack.io?utm_source=gmail&utm_medium=signature&utm_campaign=sig…> 02/20/19, 11:20:20 AM

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Fwd: [afnog] Expression of Interest on collaborative R&D projects with AFRINIC
by Barrack Otieno 19 Feb '19

19 Feb '19

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Amreesh Phokeer <amreesh(a)afrinic.net> Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:14 Subject: [afnog] Expression of Interest on collaborative R&D projects with AFRINIC To: <afnog(a)afnog.org> Dear Colleagues, AFRINIC is pleased to invite you to express your interest in collaborating on its Research and Development projects. Please find more information on how you can collaborate with AFRINIC by reading this blog article. https://www.afrinic.net/blog/429-expression-of-interest-on-collaborative-pr… ……………………………………………………. Chers collègues, AFRINIC a le plaisir de vous inviter à exprimer votre intérêt pour collaborer à ses projets de recherche. Vous trouverez plus d’informations sur cette collaboration avec AFRINIC en lisant cet article de blog. https://www.afrinic.net/blog/429-expression-of-interest-on-collaborative-pr… Best regards, -- Amreesh D. Phokeer R&D Manager, AFRINIC t: +230 403 51 00 | f: +230 466 6758 | tt: @afrinic | w: www.afrinic.net facebook.com/afrinic | flickr.com/afrinic | youtube.com/afrinicmedia @amreesh Skype: amreesh.afrinic _______________________ _______________________________________________ afnog mailing list https://www.afnog.org/mailman/listinfo/afnog

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Fwd: [afnog] AIS 2019 - CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS - ENGLISH & FRENCH
by Barrack Otieno 19 Feb '19

19 Feb '19

Dear Members, This is for your information attention and action. Thank you Best Regards ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Nancy Dotse <nancydotse(a)gmail.com> Date: Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 9:05 PM Subject: [afnog] AIS 2019 - CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS - ENGLISH & FRENCH To: afnog <afnog(a)afnog.org> Dear Colleagues, We invite all individuals wishing to make presentations during AIS’19, which will be held from 9 to 21 June 2019 in Kampala, Uganda to submit abstracts. The meeting website is now up at https://www.internetsummit.africa To enrich the discussions and share knowledge with the technical community at AIS’19, we are seeking presentations of a wide range of issues, broadly related to growth, access and development of Internet in Africa. Please read the event concept note at https://www.internetsummit.africa/images/AIS19_EN_concept_note.pdf We are specifically interested in presentations focusing on the following areas: • The Internet and Sustainable Development • Internet Governance • Business Practices and Technology • E-governance • Cyber Security • Core Internet Infrastructure • Access, Utility and Development • Internet Number Resources Management • Internet Measurements • Higher Education in the Age of Technology • Cloud Computing • Open Data/Big Data • Technology and Content Production • Relations between Mobile Operators and the Internet Community • Mobile Applications • IPv6 • Peering and Interconnection • DNS • RPKI • IXPs Your contribution can be in the form of a presentation during a session, a tutorial, or a live technical demonstration. Kindly read all information carefully before submitting your proposal. Speakers’ Guidelines • The maximum time allotted per presentation will not exceed 30 minutes. • The presenter(s) will be required to upload their final presentation in PDF format, no later than five (5) days prior to the presentation date. • Presenters are responsible for producing any handouts if required. There are usually approximately 200 delegates in each session. Presentations with marketing and/or commercial content will not be considered. How to submit a Presentation Proposal • Please register/login on the AIS-19 website at: https://www.internetsummit.africa/en/?option=com_afmeeting&view=register • Fill in the online form with the requested information. • In the Speakers section, provide your abstract, your biography and slides if available, then click submit and you are done! Important dates to note • Deadline for submitting an application - 5 April 2019 • Notification of acceptance of application - 12 April 20119 • Submission of presentation - 25 April 2019 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Appel à Présentations pour AFRINIC-29 est Ouvert Chers collègues, Ceci est un appel à présentations pour la prochaine réunion de l’AIS’19 du 9 juin à 21 juin 2019. Visitez le site web de la réunion à https://www.internetsummit.africa. Nous recherchons des orateurs qui souhaitent partager leurs idées et savoir sur un large éventail de sujets principalement liés à l'accès et au développement de l’Internet en Afrique. Merci de lire la note de concept de la réunion à https://www.internetsummit.africa/images/AIS19_EN_concept_note.pdf Nous sommes plus spécialement intéressés par des présentations mettant l’accent sur : • L'Internet et le développement durable • La gouvernance de l’Internet • La technologie et le business • L’e-gouvernance • La cyber sécurité • L’Infrastructure Internet de base • L’accès, l'utilité et le développement • Gestion des ressources numériques d’internet • Mesures de l'internet • L'enseignement supérieur à l'ère de la technologie • Le Cloud Computing • L’Open Data / Big Data • La technologie et la création de contenu • Les relations entre les opérateurs mobiles et la communauté Internet • Les applications mobiles • L’IPv6 • Le Peering et l’interconnexion • Les DNS • RPKI • Les Points d’Echange Internet Votre contribution peut être sous la forme d’une présentation durant une session, un tutoriel ou une démonstration technique en live. Si vous souhaitez intégrer notre équipe d’intervenants lors de notre future réunion, il vous suffit de suivre ces instructions. Conditions à Remplir • Le temps maximal alloué par présentation ne doit pas dépasser 30 minutes. • Merci de soumettre votre présentation finale en format PDF, au plus tard cinq jours avant la date de votre présentation. • Les présentateurs sont responsables pour produire des documents de support en cas de besoin. Nous avons habituellement une audience constituée d'environ 200 délégués pour chaque session. Les présentations avec un contenu commercial ne sont pas autorisées. Veuillez soumettre votre proposition de présentation selon les étapes suivantes : • Inscrivez-vous sur le site d’AIS’19 : https://www.internetsummit.africa/en/?option=com_afmeeting&view=register • Remplissez le formulaire en ligne • Dans la section ‘Speakers’, soumettre un résumé de votre présentation, votre biographie et des diapositives si disponibles, et cliquer sur sauvegarder et c’est fait!. Dates Clés • Date limite pour soumettre une/des application/s le 5 avril 2019 • Notification d'acceptation de l'application le 12 avril 2019 • Soumission finale de la présentation le 25 avril 2019 _______________________________________________ Announce mailing list Announce(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/announce _______________________________________________ afnog mailing list https://www.afnog.org/mailman/listinfo/afnog -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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New Zealand joins global efforts to tax online MNCs (the FANGs)
by Patrick A. M. Maina 19 Feb '19

19 Feb '19

"New Zealand that it plans to update its laws so it can tax revenue earned by multinational digital firms such as Google, Facebook and Amazon, extending a global effort to bring global tech giants into the tax net. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the cabinet had agreed to issue a discussion document about how to update the country's tax framework to ensure multinational companies pay their fair share. "Our current tax system is not fair in the way it treats individual tax payers, and how it treats multinationals," Ardern told reporters at her weekly post-cabinet news conference." New Zealand to target online firms like Google, Facebook and Amazon with digital tax | | | | | | | | | | | New Zealand to target online firms like Google, Facebook and Amazon with... CNBC New Zealand said on Monday that it plans to update its laws so it can tax revenue earned by multinational digita... | | |

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UK Parliamentary report accuses Facebook of behaving like "Digital Gangsters" and calls for urgent regulation.
by Patrick A. M. Maina 18 Feb '19

18 Feb '19

"British politicians accused Facebook of knowingly and intentionally violating data privacy and antitrust law in a damning report into fake news." "Facebook is either 'unwilling' or 'unable' to prevent malicious content". “Companies like Facebook should not be allowed to behave like ‘digital gangsters’ in the online world, considering themselves to be ahead of and beyond the law,” the report warns. Key takeaways from damning UK report on Facebook’s world of “digital gangsters” | ZDNet | | | | | | | | | | | Key takeaways from damning UK report on Facebook’s world of “digital gan... Charlie Osborne The committee report on fake news and data misuse says Facebook maximizes revenue “at all costs” -- even when th... | | | https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/feb/18/facebook-fake-news-inves… Facebook broke law, must be regulated to protect democracy, politicians say | | | | | | | | | | | Facebook broke law, must be regulated to protect democracy, politicians say Katie Collins A report on fake news from Parliament condemns Mark Zuckerberg's "contempt" towards the UK and other countries a... | | | - - - -

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Facebook needs regulation as Zuckerberg 'fails' - UK MPs
by Victor Kapiyo 18 Feb '19

18 Feb '19

Facebook needs far stricter regulation, with tough and urgent action necessary to end the spread of disinformation on its platform, UK MPs have said. A Commons committee has concluded that the firm's founder Mark Zuckerberg failed to show "leadership or personal responsibility" over fake news. Facebook welcomed the digital select committee's report and said it would be open to "meaningful regulation". The Parliamentary report called for: - a compulsory code of ethics for tech companies, overseen by an independent regulator - the regulator to be given powers to launch legal action if companies breach the code - the government to reform current electoral laws and rules on overseas involvement in UK elections social media companies to be forced to take down known sources of harmful content, including proven sources of disinformation - tech companies operating in the UK to be taxed to help fund the work for the Information Commissioner's Office and any new regulator set up to oversee them. Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-47255380

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Books and Computers for Milimani School- CSR Opportunity
by kanini mutemi 17 Feb '19

17 Feb '19

Hello Listers, I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. Milimani School (a private school in Chogoria, Meru South, Tharaka Nithi County) is looking to stock their library and computer lab so the pupils can access information easily. If any of us listers is interested in supporting the school, kindly email me and I would be happy to get you in touch with the school. Asante! -- *Mercy Mutemi, Advocate*.

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[seeking institutional partner] A new Paradigm-shifting Social Media App with *High Content Integrity* for Africa and beyond.
by Patrick A. M. Maina 17 Feb '19

17 Feb '19

Greetings Listers, I have a technical concept that could solve the online fake news & content integrity riddles at scale - via a completely new way of thinking about social media platforms and their business models. I'd like to partner with a credible private-sector institution to refine and bring this concept to life (through PoC / MVP / MMP to full launch and beyond). Decision makers from interested institutions can reach out to me in confidence via the following email [pmaina2000_at_yahoo_do_t co_m]. This call will remain open until a deal is signed. I will reply to all inquiries that I receive, but will not provide any pre-NDA disclosures. Examples of an ideal partner: 1. A large media house that is looking to get into the digital ads platform space as a platform owner; or 2. A large / well resourced internet-space player with aligned values (pls see below); or 3. A reputable private university; or 4. A large advertising agency; or 5. An institutional investor (e.g. reputable NGO / Impact Fund / Socially Conscious VC). Why it's worth it: 1. Any innovation that significantly reduces or nullifies the impact of fake news and disinformation in the digital realm will help promote peaceful democracy and save lives by preventing socially engineered conflict; 2. Internet and media freedoms will be enhanced (governments will have fewer, if any, legitimate reasons to shut down the internet); 3. Unlike existing solutions, we'll be building with content integrity in mind - from the ground up. 4. Stronger value proposition to advertisers, businesses and society with stronger societal values alignment 5. Milestone linked seed-funding structure. Initial commitment levels directly and incrementally linked to deliverables. 6. Potential for very high (financial and social impact) ROI. Key hypothesis being that there is a high and growing demand globally for a socially responsible alternative to status quo. The partner must: 1. Have a reasonably sophisticated risk appetite (aware that the bet might not pay off, but can afford to run a potentially high-payoff experiment to find out); 2.Be able and willing to self-fund the entire seed round up to MMP launch (~$250,000 USD total). Demonstrate ability to easily raise / provide follow-on funds for rapid continent-wide scaling (>$2M USD) if/when necessary; 3. Have an official business presence in East Africa - preferably in Kenya (or be willing to set up a physical office in Kenya); 4. Be willing to sign a fair and balanced NDA, accept closed-source implementation approach and fund IP protection where strategically relevant and necessary; 5. Be capable of funding the project as an equity investment (no debt or convertibles); and does not have material conflict(s) of interest. 6. Able to fund rapid continent-wide scaling at agreed milestones; 7. Will allow monetization features for commercial self-sustainability. 8. Be willing to consent to a deal that accords me full creative, technical, executive and strategic freedom (+ authority) on the project as CEO; 9. Moves fast, has simple approach, minimal or nil hoops and commits to targets / schedules. 10. Ready to commit long-term (>10 years) if project is viable, hopefully until IPO (i.e. not a venture flipper); 11. Commit to building Africa and Kenya by incorporating the startup's HQ base in Kenya (under Kenyan legal/dispute resolution system). 12. Be willing to accept a conscious capitalism model for the startup. (Conscious Capitalism) | | | | | | | | | | | Conscious Capitalism Conscious Capitalism is a philosophy with a central premise that businesses should serve all major stakeholders,... | | | Looking forward to your inquiries. Thank you! Best Regards, Patrick A. M. Maina.[Cross-domain Innovator / Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]

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law to start listing of Kenyans? DNA
by Gideon 15 Feb '19

15 Feb '19

Listers, Would this be a similar system like the India's Aadhaar which is said to be the world's largest biometric ID system? If so what lessons and drawbacks could be learned? Many issues would need to be addressed as a foundamental step, such include privacy, ethics, security of the said system, complementarity with the existing official databases e.t.c Regards GR On Tue, Jan 22, 2019 at 10:01 PM <kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > Send kictanet mailing list submissions to > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://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: law to start listing of Kenyans? DNA (Warigia Bowman) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 12:58:59 -0600 > From: Warigia Bowman <warigia(a)gmail.com> > To: gertrude matata <gertrudematata(a)yahoo.com>, KICTAnet ICT Policy > Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] law to start listing of Kenyans? DNA > Message-ID: > < > CACeY99TvKOX13-RtN1gjCi_sh4AF8jdnEkJTNHD6WMrFR9Pogg(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > This is disturbing. I am quite sure that the US government does not have > the right to take DNA samples from citizens. > > Biometric data is not the same as DNA, rather it may include fingerprints > and eyescans. This is a move towards a surveillance state. > > On Tue, Jan 22, 2019 at 6:24 AM gertrude matata via kictanet < > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > > > Dear Listers, > > The amendment to the Act seems to have ignored Article 31(c) of the > > Constitution. This being a constitutional issue, there is probably a need > > to subject it to constitutional interpretation on; > > what was the intention of the article in providing that such > information > > should not be unnecessarily required or revealed; > > Whether such details being availed to persons registry clerks is > > defeating that intent; > > and whether the circumstances demand the "unnecessarily" revealed bar > > to be lifted. > > It is worthy to ponder the situation in terms of whether giving > > such information might not create inborn terror, > > > > Regards, > > > > Gertrude > > > > > > GERTRUDE MATATA > > HILLSIDE APARTMENTS > > 4TH FLOOR, Apartments 11 > > RAGATI ROAD,Opposite N.H.I.F > > NEAR CAPITOL HILL POLICE STATION > > P.O. Box 517-00517 > > Nairobi > > Mobile:0722-374109/0772327265 > > > > Go to; https://themediatorkenya.wordpress.com/author/themediatorkenya/ > > > > *DISCLAIMER* > > This email and any attachments to it may be confidential and are intended > > solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any views > or > > opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily > > represent those of GERTRUDE MATATA. > > If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you must neither > take > > any action based upon its contents, nor copy or show it to anyone. > > Please contact the sender if you believe you have received this email in > > error. > > > > > > Call > > Send SMS > > Call from mobile > > Add to Skype > > You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype > > > > > > On Tuesday, January 22, 2019, 2:14:05 PM GMT+3, Karanja Marigu via > > kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > > > > > > This is a classical move that also was taken by USA after 911. What do we > > expect next? Marshal law?? > > > > Terrorism is not a justification to take away our privacy rights and > > collect data. What they will do with all that data, only God knows. > > > > Best Regards, > > > > Karanja Marigu, > > > > 'Purpose fuels passion' > > > > > > On Tue, 22 Jan 2019 at 09:10, Magdalene Kariuki via kictanet < > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > > > > Dear fellow listers, > > > > Happy New Year (albeit late). > > > > Thank you Grace for sharing this information. > > > > Just a few concerns about privacy of persons and the protection and use > of > > information. > > > > While I appreciate and understand the need for Government to address > > issues relating to threats to security (assuming that this is where the > > need for such kind of information stems from), what kind of guarantees > are > > there that ensure this information is not traded? What kind of data > > protection mechanisms are in place? > > or have these concerns already been raised and addressed in the new > > legislation? > > > > Regards, > > > > Magdalene > > > > On Mon, Jan 21, 2019 at 12:16 PM Grace Bomu via kictanet < > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > > > > Full story here > > > https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/economy/Uhuru-backs-law-change/3946234-… > > > > Il giorno lun 21 gen 2019 alle ore 14:51 Grace Bomu <nmutungu(a)gmail.com> > > ha scritto: > > > > Listers, > > > > The government is now free to collect data on Kenyans? DNA and physical > > location of their homes including satellite details during registration > of > > persons. > > > > This follows President Uhuru Kenyatta?s approval of amendments to the > > Registration of Persons Act that has included the two to the list of > > requirements needed at the national people?s registry. > > > > Adults applying for documents such as IDs will be required to provide > > additional information about their location, including land reference > > number, plot number or house number. > > > > The ministry is also seeking to introduce Global Positioning System (GPS) > > coordinates in the registration of persons, enabling the tracking of > their > > location via satellite. > > > > > > More here > > > > -- > > Grace Mutung'u > > Skype: gracebomu > > @Bomu > > PGP ID : 0x33A3450F > > > > > > > > -- > > Grace Mutung'u > > Skype: gracebomu > > @Bomu > > PGP ID : 0x33A3450F > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/magdalene.kariuki%40g… > > > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and > development. > > > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and > bandwidth, > > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/karanjaemarigu%40gmai… > > > > > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and > development. > > > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and > bandwidth, > > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/gertrudematata%40yaho… > > > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and > development. > > > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and > bandwidth, > > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/warigia%40gmail.com > > > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and > development. > > > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and > bandwidth, > > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > > > > > -- > > > *"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the > world."* Nelson Mandela >

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Looking for an expert to discuss inheritance and digital/virtual assets
by Peter Wakaba 15 Feb '19

15 Feb '19

Good morning. Apologies for cross posting. I am looking to find someone to comment on what happens/ is supposed to happen when you die and have digital based assets like cash in your mpesa, crypto currency, the large number of online investment platforms. Many people have no idea where to start and this is not just a Kenya issue

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Kenya Government mandates DNA-linked national ID, without data protection law
by Alice Munyua 15 Feb '19

15 Feb '19

https://blog.mozilla.org/netpolicy/2019/02/08/kenya-government-mandates-dna… Last month, the Kenya Parliament passed a seriously concerning amendment to the country’s national ID law, making Kenya home to the most privacy-invasive national ID system in the world. The rebranded, National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) now requires all Kenyans, immigrants, and refugees to turn over their DNA, GPS coordinates of their residential address, retina scans, iris pattern, voice waves, and earlobe geometry before being issued critical identification documents. NIIMS will consolidate information contained in other government agency databases and generate a unique identification number known as Huduma Namba. It is hard to see how this system comports with the right to privacy articulated in Article 31 of the Kenyan Constitution. It is deeply troubling that these amendments passed without public debate, and were approved even as a data protection bill which would designate DNA and biometrics as sensitive data is pending. Before these amendments, in order to issue the National ID Card (ID), the government only required name, date and place of birth, place of residence, and postal address. The ID card is a critical document that impacts everyday life, without it, an individual cannot vote, purchase property, access higher education, obtain employment, access credit, or public health, among other fundamental rights. Mozilla strongly believes that that no digital ID system should be implemented without strong privacy and data protection legislation. The proposed Data Protection Bill of 2018 which Parliament is likely to consider next month, is a strong and thorough framework that contains provisions relating to data minimization as well as collection and purpose limitation. If NIIMS is implemented, it will be in conflict with these provisions, and more importantly in conflict with Article 31 of the Constitution, which specifically protects the right to privacy. Proponents of NIIMS claim that the system provides a number of benefits, such as accurate delivery of government services. These arguments also seem to conflate legal and digital identity. Legal ID used to certify one’s identity through basic data about one’s personhood (such as your name and the date and place of your birth) is a commendable goal. It is one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 16.9 that aims “to provide legal identity for all, including birth registration by 2030”. However, it is important to remember this objective can be met in several ways. “Digital ID” systems, and especially those that involve sensitive biometrics or DNA, are not a necessary means of verifying identity, and in practice raise significant privacy and security concerns. The choice of whether to opt for a digital ID let alone a biometric ID therefore should be closely scrutinized by governments in light of these risks, rather than uncritically accepted as beneficial. Security Concerns: The centralized nature of NIIMS creates massive security vulnerabilities. It could become a honeypot for malicious actors and identity thieves who can exploit other identifying information linked to stolen biometric data. The amendment is unclear on how the government will establish and institute strong security measures required for the protection of such a sensitive database. If there’s a breach, it’s not as if your DNA or retina can be reset like a password or token. Surveillance Concerns: By centralizing a tremendous amount of sensitive data in a government database, NIIMS creates an opportunity for mass surveillance by the State. Not only is the collection of biometrics incredibly invasive, but gathering this data combined with transaction logs of where ID is used could substantially reduce anonymity. This is all the more worrying considering Kenya’s history of extralegal surveillance and intelligence sharing. Ethnic Discrimination Concerns: The collection of DNA is particularly concerning as this information can be used to identify an individual’s ethnic identity. Given Kenya’s history of politicization of ethnic identity, collecting this data in a centralized database like NIIMS could reproduce and exacerbate patterns of discrimination. The process was not constitutional Kenya’s constitution requires public input before any new law can be adopted. No public discussions were conducted for this amendment. It was offered for parliamentary debate under “Miscellaneous” amendments, which exempted it from procedures and scrutiny that would have required introduction as a substantive bill and corresponding public debate. The Kenyan government must not implement this system without sufficient public debate and meaningful engagement to determine how such a system should be implemented if at all. The proposed law does not provide people with the opportunity to opt in or out of giving their sensitive and precise data. The Constitution requires that all Kenyans be granted identification. However, if an individual were to refuse to turn over their DNA or other sensitive information to the State, as they should have the right to do, they could risk not being issued their identity or citizenship documents. Such a denial would contravene Articles 12, 13, and 14 of the Constitution. Opting out of this system should not be used to discriminate or exclude any individual from accessing essential public services and exercising their fundamental rights. Individuals must be in full control of their digital identities with the right to object to processing and use and withdraw consent. These aspects of control and choice are essential to empowering individuals in the deployment of their digital identities. Therefore policy and technical decisions must take into account systems that allow individuals to identify themselves rather than the system identifying them. Mozilla urges the government of Kenya to suspend the implementation of NIIMS and we hope Kenyan members of parliament will act swiftly to pass the Data Protection Bill of 2018.

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[spin v/s reality]: Facebook (automated ad system) ALLOWS fake news ads before Nigerian vote (Al Jazeera Exclusive)
by Patrick A. M. Maina 14 Feb '19

14 Feb '19

[Al Jazeera Exclusive] Excerpt: "Facebook's automated ad approval system can be tricked fairly easily, making it possible to buy ads to spread misinformation and fake news in advance of the Nigeria elections, an Al Jazeera investigation has found. Last month, Facebook said it would temporarily disallow political ads targeting Nigeria from being purchased outside the country in an attempt to prevent foreign influence in the February 16 elections. The ads Al Jazeera was able to get Facebook to approve included: * a false claim that armed group Boko Haram would take part in the elections. * US President Donald Trump voicing his support for opposition leader Atiku Abubakar, * the deadline for collection of personal voter cards in Nigeria being extended by a week, and * thousands of Nigerian refugees getting a voting extension after the February 16 election date. All four claims were false - but Facebook [automated system] approved the ads [after some simple trial-error modifications to trick the system]." In the article, a Prof. Herman Wasserman, from the University of Cape Town, told Al Jazeera: "The evidence seems to suggest that their system does not work as effectively as it should." Exclusive: Facebook allows fake news ads before Nigerian vote | | | | | | | | | | | Exclusive: Facebook allows fake news ads before Nigerian vote Facebook's automated system can be tricked to allow ads to show millions of people fake news, Al Jazeera found. | | |

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The death of competition the Telco sector and the future of NOFBI
by Ali Hussein 14 Feb '19

14 Feb '19

Listers How will the merger of Telkom Kenya and Airtel Kenya affect the National Optic Fibre Backbone #NOFBI? According to the ICT Authority Website, #NOFBI aimed at ensuring connectivity in all the 47 counties of Kenya. The objective was to ease communication as well as improve G2C Services. Key players are:- 1. Government of Kenya and the Chinese Government (funding); 2. Ministry of ICT (oversight); 3. ICT Authority (implementing agency); 4. Huawei (building a national fiber optic infrastructure); 5. Telkom Kenya (operations and maintenance) Something else to watch. The telecom industry has now become ether a duopoly or oligopoly in most countries with either two (duopoly) or 3-4 (oligarchy) key players docking it out:- Is competition dead in the Telco sector worldwide? Have governments simply handed over the cost and risk of capital to closely chosen and controlled private entities while holding the regulatory big stick over their heads? https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6501269498602012672 Ali Hussein Principal AHK & Associates +254 0713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." ~ Aristotle Sent from my iPad

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Re: [kictanet] American Broadband Initiative to Expand Connectivity for all Americans
by Delano Kiilu 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

American Broadband Initiative to Expand Connectivity for all Americans February 13, 2019 by David Redl, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Expanding America’s broadband connectivity is critical to our nation’s economy, and a top priority for President Trump and the Department of Commerce. Today, we join with our partners in government to announce the American Broadband Initiative (ABI), a comprehensive effort to stimulate increased private sector investment in broadband. NTIA is proud to share leadership of the ABI, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the White House Offices of American Innovation, Management and Budget, Science and Technology Policy, and the National Economic Council. In a report released today <https://www.ntia.doc.gov/report/2019/american-broadband-initiative-mileston…>, over 20 federal agencies set out strategies for streamlining federal permitting, leveraging federal assets, and maximizing the effectiveness of federal funding for broadband. We congratulate the Department of Interior on the launch of the new Joint Overview Established Location Map <https://www.doi.gov/broadband>, which pulls data related to federal lands and assets from multiple agencies into a single map. This map will help the broadband industry more easily identify the location of available assets. It is an important first step in one of the Initiative’s core priorities: making it easier for the private sector to leverage federal assets to promote investment. NTIA also has begun work on a map to update nationwide broadband availability data, initially partnering with eight states – California, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia – to give policymakers a deeper understanding of which parts of the country lack broadband access. Our mapping work complements a number of significant contributions we are providing to the ABI effort. In early 2019, we will update the BroadbandUSA website <https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/> to provide a one-stop shop for federal permitting information. We will also update and expand the federal funding information provided on the site. And our new mapping tool will make it easier to ensure that federal funding is directed to the areas of greatest need. We are also working with land management agencies to streamline application siting procedures, as required by the MOBILE NOW Act <https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-115hr1625enr/pdf/BILLS-115hr1625e…>. This will make it easier for carriers to use federal resources to expand service in rural areas. The BroadbandUSA program will continue to support industry, state, and local leaders with technical assistance, tools, and programs that help communities plan and build sustainable partnerships. The American Broadband Initiative and our work to create a National Spectrum Strategy <https://www.ntia.doc.gov/blog/2018/president-s-national-spectrum-strategy-w…> set the stage for the next wave in the technology revolution – one that encourages more private sector investment in fiber, 5G, and other technologies. Above is an interesting development that perhaps we should emulate. Regards Delano Kiilu *SECRETARY GENERAL* *PROTECTIVE AND SAFETY ASSOCIATION OF KENYA* *www.prosak.or.ke <http://www.prosak.or.ke>* On Wed, Feb 13, 2019, 6:02 PM <kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke wrote: > Send kictanet mailing list submissions to > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://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: [hate speech etc] Facebook to hire 100 content reviewers > (Patrick A. M. Maina) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2019 17:42:11 +0000 (UTC) > From: "Patrick A. M. Maina" <pmaina2000(a)yahoo.com> > To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>, > Ebele Okobi <ebeleokobi(a)fb.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] [hate speech etc] Facebook to hire 100 content > reviewers > Message-ID: <90947207.5207525.1549561331334(a)mail.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Thank you Ebele. It's is definitely a positive gesture from FB and > hopefully will be welcomed by stakeholders who are concerned about risks of > platform weaponisation. > Would you be able to share the approximate ratio of moderators to users in > Africa? That will really help in establishing perspective & expectations. > Given the diverse cultures in Africa as well as hundreds of languages and > dialects, how will FB ensure that the moderators are able to correctly > interpret nuance / subtlety e.g. in coded vernacular exchanges - including > locality specific or ethnic specific slang?? > Africa is much more complicated culturally (and much more volatile - due > to various contributing factors which make hate speech / fake news much > more potent here) compared to other diverse regions like India and it would > be good if this complexity is reflected in FB's Africa strategy / measures > taken and the amount of resources committed for Africa should be higher > than anywhere else. > Have a great evening, > Patrick. > ? > On Thursday, February 7, 2019, 7:54:11 PM GMT+3, Ebele Okobi < > ebeleokobi(a)fb.com> wrote: > > It?s important to note that these are not the only content reviewers > covering Africa. We already have reviewers covering the Continent and based > in our other locations. So it is inaccurate to say that there are only 100 > reviewers covering Africa. This is meant to be a further investment in the > Continent, and to allow us to support even more communities and languages. > We also anticipate that it, like every other centre, will grow. > Regarding mental health-excellent question. > - Our partners (Samasource in Nairobi) are required to provide a > comprehensive program of additional benefits that includes health care > support.? > - We absolutely recognize this work can be difficult, and we take very > seriously our responsibility to care for the people that do this job. > - We go to great lengths to look after our reviewers. > > - Psychological support: Every person reviewing FB content is offered > psychological support & a variety of wellness resources. This typically > includes: > > - Extensive training around wellness and stress - to focus on prevention > - 24/7 counselling with trained experts > - Breakout areas if you need to step away from your desk > > - We also have a team of clinical psychologists who are tasked with > designing, delivering and evaluating the resiliency programs we have in > place for everyone who works with graphic and objectionable content. > - Training to ensure they are prepared: We have a comprehensive > training program that includes at least 80 hours of instructor-led > training, as well as hands-on practice for all of our reviewers; and > on-going coaching sessions and learning huddles so they are prepared for > this type of work > > - Anyone that reviews content for Facebook ? whether full-time > employees, or those employed by our partner ? has access to mental health > and wellness resources, including trained professionals onsite for both > individual and group counseling. > > I?m happy to answer any questions from the group! > > > > > > On Feb 7, 2019, at 4:27 PM, Patrick A. M. Maina via kictanet < > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > > > Listers, ICYMI.. Facebook will reportedly hire 100 content reviewers.. > finally something concrete in recognition of reality; though certainly not > be an optimal number imo because it's still a 1:2Million moderator-to-user > ratio, and the ideal target is ~1:1000 users meaning if they truly care > about the societal impact, they need to hire at least 200,000 moderators to > cover all of Africa to guarantee a clean and safe experience! > FB will have to eventually establish culture mapped moderation teams > across (or for) different countries in Africa because each unit will only > be as effective as its ability to detect cultural nuances, local slang and > coded hate / mobilisation messages. > > FB will also need to be upfront with potential hires that moderation is > one of the dirtiest and most psychologically stressful jobs in ICT so > hopefully FB will provide full mental health support and insurance? for > them, including post contract counselling cover over several years. They > also need to boost the headcount very quickly so they can rotate them and > minimise repeated exposure to visual trauma i.e. to mitigate the risk of > PTSD. > Their next moves in the coming weeks/months will signal whether their > primary motivator is greed (hence this is just a PR stunt) or socially > responsible profits. My thoughts... > > > https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/2019/02/facebook-to-open-sub-saharan-a… > Brgds,Patrick > <https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/2019/02/facebook-to-open-sub-saharan-a…> > A. M. Maina[Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations] > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.kictanet.or.ke_m… > Twitter: > https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__twitter.com_kictanet&d=… > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.kictanet.or.ke_m… > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > > >

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Sanitized corruption via privatized aid, charities and foundations
by Patrick A. M. Maina 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

[links and book suggestions at the bottom] The idea of MNC CSR (whether direct or via special purpose vehicles like charity "foundations" or "initiatives") is increasingly coming under scrutiny because it has been observed to have the net effect of capturing power away from governments and society to private (often majority foreign-owned) corporations, with regard to local social impact issues, social accountability, government priorities and policies. When private sector sets the social impact agenda, they change the narrative from "large multinational corporations should be accountable for their long and short term impact on the indigenous society - at both micro and macro levels - and must not do intentional evil" to something more broad and ambiguous like "do well by doing good". The second phrase might look like a concise version of the same thing, but it isn't. New insights reveal that what MNC CSR really does is: 1. Diverts attention (and more importantly, accountability) away from the much more costly and widely spread out social harm (or undesirable effects) of private sector multinational companies (e.g. pollution, exploitative products / pricing, physically or mentally harmful products/services, poverty-sustaining labor practices, aggressive tax avoidance, resource diversion / extraction, macro-economic destabilization or damage etc.) 2. MNC use CSR to sanitize their harmful activities: "our technology is designed to turn millions of your children to mentally unstable addicts and narcissists but, hey look over there, our foundation is building a school / dispensary in the slums for 100 students, or offering free Wi-Fi in rural areas, so we can't be that bad". It's amazing that policy makers and the public actually fall for this chicanery... which is one reason why our education system needs a closer re-look.. is the core curriculum designed to stifle critical thought? 3. Enables back-door lobbying and rent seeking by allowing corporate entities to indirectly influence policies through their "charitable" foundations (indirect rent seeking). These policies make it easier for their sister MNCs: i. to unfairly take control, win government tenders or dominate the targeted sectors; ii. it dissuades government officials from taking meaningful action against the harmful activities (or responding to public outcry with sustainable solutions); iii. it also helps the MNC's country of origin entrench its geopolitical influence (or activities) over the country - e.g. to facilitate resource extraction; among other undesirable / negative effects. 4. The "charity" cover allows MNCs to mine indigenous data (with minimal government oversight) for numerous commercial purposes (e.g. behavior manipulation to boost product consumption - without regard to long term effects) as well as, in some case, non-commercial (or possibly unethical / illegal) purposes (including industrial / economic espionage or political subversion) with less risk of suspicion from governments and/or society. Because they have global reach, they can steal indigenous intellectual property on one continent and make millions from it in another continent (or their home country) with subdued risks of PR blowback. 5. The charity cover also enables them to unethically brainwash young innovators in poor countries to freely hand over their intellectual property "to charity" (or more accurately, to them / their affiliated entities) - in exchange for "hope" - yet these same companies (and their close affiliates) have *thousands* of patents and other IP which they defend vigorously and consistently. Several reputable authors like Anand Giridharas and Linsey McGoey have robustly challenged the motives behind privatized philanthropy and posited that if the parent companies of these MNC (or MNC founder) owned foundations did less (or no) evil / exploitation /harm to society, they would have less (or no) need for CSR and would achieve a positive net-impact within the societies in which they operate. For example, sector or niche-dominant companies (price setters) could: 1. Deliberately structure the profit margin of their products or services to try match their quarterly gross profits as closely as possible to the median gross profit of a basket of at least ten of the largest indigenous corporations in the country of operation. This is possible with modern-day real-time pricing and analytics technology which many (if not all) of these companies already have. This is how you make ethical profits. 2. Increase wages to stimulate economic growth directly, boost the economic growth headroom (growing a robust middle class) and a have net-positive economic and social impact. The idea that people in poor countries deserve to struggle (or are "used" to low quality lifestyles - so they should not be uplifted) is racist and abhorrent. 3. Pay people according to the job - not according to passport/origin. This is racial nepotism and ought to be called out for what it is. 4. Actively reject technology that is purposely designed to divert public attention in an addictive way from meaningful economic (or learning) activity due to the long term macro-level dangers and exponentially high macro-economic costs which cannot be justified in any way (a great area of research for indigenous policy makers and current graduate students in African Universities). 5. Reject transfer pricing arrangements, incorporate locally to show full commitment, hire local staff for responsible and key roles, avoid tax havens, stop lobbying for rent deals or undeserved concessions when you already have so much financial power and resources at your disposal (instead lobby for indigenous empowerment), and diligently pay taxes in host countries. 6. Practice and promote conscious capitalism as a core philosophy and policy (instead of CSR). There are many more ideas if you think in terms of "doing less evil" because that perspective shifts the power of setting the agenda / policies away from the private corporations and back to the people (society). Have a great day and week, as you hopefully ponder these thoughts! Patrick A. M. Maina.[Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations] Further reading: 1. Well-Funded Non-Profits Pave the Way to Privatization - Living in Dialogue | | | | | | | | | | | Well-Funded Non-Profits Pave the Way to Privatization - Living in Dialogue By John Thompson. David Callahan’s The Givers begins with the first politicized think tanks of the 1960s and 197... | | | 2. Lesson 2: Introduction to Conscious Capitalism | | | | Lesson 2: Introduction to Conscious Capitalism WPSU - Penn State Public Media | | | 3. No Such Thing as a Free Gift: The Gates Foundation and the Price of Philanthropy | | | | $16.61 | | | | | | | No Such Thing as a Free Gift: The Gates Foundation and the Price of Phil... Philanthro-capitalism: How charity became big business The charitable sector is one of the fastest-growing indus... | | | 4. Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World | | | | $22.91 | | | | | | | Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World An insider's groundbreaking investigation of how the global elite's efforts to "change the world" preserve the s... | | | 5. Facebook says it is committed to Uganda despite social media tax to quash 'gossip' Ever wondered why companies without an official local presence (possibly in contravention of business registration & licensing laws) can have so much power and influence over Africa? Are social media protestors defending their addiction habit or are they defending "human-rights"? Food for thought. | | | | | | | | | | | Facebook says it is committed to Uganda despite social media tax to quas... Justina Crabtree Facebook has confirmed its commitment to Uganda as a row rumbles on over a recently imposed tax on social media ... | | |

1 0

Sanitized corruption via privatized aid, charities and foundations
by Patrick A. M. Maina 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

[links and book suggestions at the bottom] The idea of MNC CSR (whether direct or via special purpose vehicles like charity "foundations" or "initiatives") is increasingly coming under scrutiny because it has been observed to have the net effect of capturing power away from governments and society to private (often majority foreign-owned) corporations, with regard to local social impact issues, social accountability, government priorities and policies. When private sector sets the social impact agenda, they change the narrative from "large multinational corporations should be accountable for their long and short term impact on the indigenous society - at both micro and macro levels - and must not do intentional evil" to something more broad and ambiguous like "do well by doing good". The second phrase might look like a concise version of the same thing, but it isn't. New insights reveal that what MNC CSR really does is: 1. Diverts attention (and more importantly, accountability) away from the much more costly and widely spread out social harm (or undesirable effects) of private sector multinational companies (e.g. pollution, exploitative products / pricing, physically or mentally harmful products/services, poverty-sustaining labor practices, aggressive tax avoidance, resource diversion / extraction, macro-economic destabilization or damage etc.) 2. MNC use CSR to sanitize their harmful activities: "our technology is designed to turn millions of your children to mentally unstable addicts and narcissists but, hey look over there, our foundation is building a school / dispensary in the slums for 100 students, or offering free Wi-Fi in rural areas, so we can't be that bad". It's amazing that policy makers and the public actually fall for this chicanery... which is one reason why our education system needs a closer re-look.. is the core curriculum designed to stifle critical thought? 3. Enables back-door lobbying and rent seeking by allowing corporate entities to indirectly influence policies through their "charitable" foundations (indirect rent seeking). These policies make it easier for their sister MNCs: a. to unfairly take control, win government tenders or dominate the targeted sectors; b. it dissuades government officials from taking meaningful action against the harmful activities (or responding to public outcry with sustainable solutions); c. it also helps the MNC's country of origin entrench its geopolitical influence (or activities) over the country - e.g. to facilitate resource extraction; among other undesirable / negative effects. 4. The "charity" cover allows MNCs to mine indigenous data (with minimal government oversight) for numerous commercial purposes (e.g. behavior manipulation to boost product consumption - without regard to long term effects) as well as, in some case, non-commercial (or possibly unethical / illegal) purposes (including industrial / economic espionage or political subversion) with less risk of suspicion from governments and/or society. Because they have global reach, they can steal indigenous intellectual property on one continent and make millions from it in another continent (or their home country) with subdued risks of PR blowback. 5. The charity cover also enables them to unethically brainwash young innovators in poor countries to freely hand over their intellectual property "to charity" (or more accurately, to them / their affiliated entities) - in exchange for "hope" - yet these same companies (and their close affiliates) have *thousands* of patents and other IP which they defend vigorously and consistently. Several reputable authors like Anand Giridharas and Linsey McGoey have robustly challenged the motives behind privatized philanthropy and posited that if the parent companies of these MNC (or MNC founder) owned foundations did less (or no) evil / exploitation /harm to society, they would have less (or no) need for CSR and would achieve a positive net-impact within the societies in which they operate. For example, sector or niche-dominant companies (price setters) could: 1. Deliberately structure the profit margin of their products or services to try match their quarterly gross profits as closely as possible to the median gross profit of a basket of at least ten of the largest indigenous corporations in the country of operation. This is possible with modern-day real-time pricing and analytics technology which many (if not all) of these companies already have. This is how you make ethical profits. 2. Increase wages to stimulate economic growth directly, boost the economic growth headroom (growing a robust middle class) and a have net-positive economic and social impact. The idea that people in poor countries deserve to struggle (or are "used" to low quality lifestyles - so they should not be uplifted) is racist and abhorrent. 3. Pay people according to the job - not according to passport/origin. This is racial nepotism and ought to be called out for what it is. 4. Actively reject technology that is purposely designed to divert public attention in an addictive way from meaningful economic (or learning) activity due to the long term macro-level dangers and exponentially high macro-economic costs which cannot be justified in any way (a great area of research for indigenous policy makers and current graduate students in African Universities). 5. Reject transfer pricing arrangements, incorporate locally to show full commitment, hire local staff for responsible and key roles, avoid tax havens, stop lobbying for rent deals or undeserved concessions when you already have so much financial power and resources at your disposal (instead lobby for indigenous empowerment), and diligently pay taxes in host countries. 6. Practice and promote conscious capitalism as a core philosophy and policy (instead of CSR). There are many more ideas if you think in terms of "doing less evil" because that perspective shifts the power of setting the agenda / policies away from the private corporations and back to the people (society). Have a great day and week, as you hopefully ponder these thoughts! Patrick A. M. Maina.[Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations] Further reading: 1. Well-Funded Non-Profits Pave the Way to Privatization - Living in Dialogue | | | | | | | | | | | Well-Funded Non-Profits Pave the Way to Privatization - Living in Dialogue By John Thompson. David Callahan’s The Givers begins with the first politicized think tanks of the 1960s and 197... | | | 2. Lesson 2: Introduction to Conscious Capitalism | | | | Lesson 2: Introduction to Conscious Capitalism WPSU - Penn State Public Media | | | 3. No Such Thing as a Free Gift: The Gates Foundation and the Price of Philanthropy | | | | $16.61 | | | | | | | No Such Thing as a Free Gift: The Gates Foundation and the Price of Phil... Philanthro-capitalism: How charity became big business The charitable sector is one of the fastest-growing indus... | | | 4. Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World | | | | $22.91 | | | | | | | Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World An insider's groundbreaking investigation of how the global elite's efforts to "change the world" preserve the s... | | | 5. Facebook says it is committed to Uganda despite social media tax to quash 'gossip' Ever wondered why companies without an official local presence (possibly in contravention of business registration & licensing laws) can have so much power and influence over Africa? Are social media protestors defending their addiction habit or are they defending "human-rights"? Food for thought. | | | | | | | | | | | Facebook says it is committed to Uganda despite social media tax to quas... Justina Crabtree Facebook has confirmed its commitment to Uganda as a row rumbles on over a recently imposed tax on social media ... | | |

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JUST OUTLAWED FACEBOOK'S WHOLE AD BUSINESS
by Mutindi Muema 12 Feb '19

12 Feb '19

Dear listers, I have come across this article in Wired... I would like to hear your thoughts on the same and the viability of such a regulatory approach. The article reads in part : On Thursday, Germany’s Federal Cartel Office, the country’s antitrust regulator, ruled <https://www.bundeskartellamt.de/SharedDocs/Meldung/EN/Pressemitteilungen/20…> that Facebook was exploiting consumers by requiring them to agree to this kind of data collection in order to have an account, and has prohibited the practice going forward. “Facebook will no longer be allowed to force its users to agree to the practically unrestricted collection and assigning of non-Facebook data to their Facebook user accounts,” FCO president Andreas Mundt said in a statement announcing the decision. “We disagree with their conclusions and intend to appeal so that people in Germany continue to benefit fully from all our services,” Facebook wrote in a blog post responding <https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2019/02/bundeskartellamt-order/> to the ruling. The company has one month to appeal. If it fails, Facebook would have to change how it processes data internally for German users, and could only combine the data into a single profile for a Facebook account with that user's explicit consent.... “The FCO’s theory is that Facebook’s dominance is what allows it to impose on users contractual terms that require them to allow Facebook to track them all over,” Khan says. “When there is a lack of competition, users accepting terms of service are often not truly consenting. The consent is a fiction.” As a dominant company Facebook is subject to special obligations under competition law. In the operation of its business model the company must take into account that Facebook users practically cannot switch to other social networks,” said Mundt. “The only choice the user has is either to accept the comprehensive combination of data or to refrain from using the social network. In such a difficult situation the user’s choice cannot be referred to as voluntary consent.” But Facebook says that tracking people makes the services safer and better, and that the FCO misses how much the company has done <https://www.wired.com/story/new-facebook-privacy-settings/> in order to comply with the General Data Protection regulation passed by the European Union in 2018. The FCO’s ruling, however, directly addresses the GDPR, writing that under its principles Facebook has “no effective justification for collecting data from other company-owned services and Facebook Business Tools or for assigning these data to the Facebook user accounts.” (Facebook Business Tools here can be anything from the Like and Share buttons that appear all over the internet, and which allow Facebook to track you on sites it doesn’t own, to analytic tools Facebook provides businesses.) In other words, in addition to being anticompetitive in its view, the FCO believes Facebook hasn’t proven that data collection and bundling is in the best interest of every consumer and that its sites couldn’t function without it..... Facebook is appealing. The full article is accessible at : https://www.wired.com/story/germany-facebook-antitrust-ruling/?CNDID=493573… Kind regards, Mutindi.

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ICT Practitoner's Legislative Proposal 2018
by Ali Hussein 11 Feb '19

11 Feb '19

Listers Please find attached. Regards *Ali Hussein* *Principal* *AHK & Associates* Tel: +254 713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing, Chiromo Road, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya. Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with.

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[Mental Health] Facebook to hire 100 content reviewers
by Collins C 11 Feb '19

11 Feb '19

There are also the psychological effects of reviewing traumatic content that is flagged by users (imagine the worst). They should consider having a counselling services for content reviewers. There is a documentary called The Cleaners of how some even end up committing suicide due to the nature of their jobs. Collins

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[hate speech etc] Facebook to hire 100 content reviewers
by Patrick A. M. Maina 10 Feb '19

10 Feb '19

Listers, ICYMI.. Facebook will reportedly hire 100 content reviewers.. finally something concrete in recognition of reality; though certainly not be an optimal number imo because it's still a 1:2Million moderator-to-user ratio, and the ideal target is ~1:1000 users meaning if they truly care about the societal impact, they need to hire at least 200,000 moderators to cover all of Africa to guarantee a clean and safe experience! FB will have to eventually establish culture mapped moderation teams across (or for) different countries in Africa because each unit will only be as effective as its ability to detect cultural nuances, local slang and coded hate / mobilisation messages. FB will also need to be upfront with potential hires that moderation is one of the dirtiest and most psychologically stressful jobs in ICT so hopefully FB will provide full mental health support and insurance for them, including post contract counselling cover over several years. They also need to boost the headcount very quickly so they can rotate them and minimise repeated exposure to visual trauma i.e. to mitigate the risk of PTSD. Their next moves in the coming weeks/months will signal whether their primary motivator is greed (hence this is just a PR stunt) or socially responsible profits. My thoughts... https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/2019/02/facebook-to-open-sub-saharan-a… Brgds,Patrick A. M. Maina[Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]

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Fwd: Promotion for registration of .africa at 200 KES
by Barrack Otieno 06 Feb '19

06 Feb '19

Listers, There is an offer for .Africa Domains for Kes 200. This is your chance to take your business beyond the borders. Kindly note that the renewal fee will be different. Regards ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Afriregister Kenya <admin(a)afriregister.co.ke> Date: Mon, Feb 4, 2019 at 4:07 PM Subject: Promotion for registration of .africa at 200 KES To: <otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com> <https://afriregister.co.ke> Dear Client, I hope this email finds you well. We would like to inform you that from February 1st to March 31, 2019, there is a promotion for .africa registration. The price is 200 KES / year for each registration. Please note that the promotion is only for registrations and not renewals and that it is a registration for one year. Link: https://afriregister.co.ke/ Thank You Best regards Afriregister Kenya -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Re: [kictanet] [Skunkworks] Fwd: Promotion for registration of .africa at 200 KES
by Barrack Otieno 06 Feb '19

06 Feb '19

@ Allan, the renewal fee depends on the Registrar. Please check Marks email ( just over US$22) Mark is a Registrar. Because Kenyan Registars are not responding i will become one. @ Ali Hussein you forgot to add Terms and Conditions apply ama namna gani ndugu? @Wash with the amount of Nyama Choma that is consumed over the weekend Kenyans are no longer living under a dollar, maybe 50 dollars. I understand Inflation has gone gone down. Tunatoka analog tunaenda digital. Regards On Wed, Feb 6, 2019 at 2:32 PM Allan Oware <lumtegis(a)gmail.com> wrote: > So, how much is the renewal fee ? > > On Tue, Feb 5, 2019 at 1:45 PM Barrack Otieno via skunkworks < > skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke> wrote: > >> Listers, >> >> There is an offer for .Africa Domains for Kes 200. This is your chance to >> take your business beyond the borders. Kindly note that the renewal fee >> will be different. >> >> Regards >> >> ---------- Forwarded message --------- >> From: Afriregister Kenya <admin(a)afriregister.co.ke> >> Date: Mon, Feb 4, 2019 at 4:07 PM >> Subject: Promotion for registration of .africa at 200 KES >> To: <otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com> >> >> >> <https://afriregister.co.ke> >> >> Dear Client, >> >> I hope this email finds you well. >> We would like to inform you that from February 1st to March 31, 2019, >> there is a promotion for .africa registration. The price is 200 KES / year >> for each registration. Please note that the promotion is only for >> registrations and not renewals and that it is a registration for one year. >> >> Link: https://afriregister.co.ke/ >> >> Thank You >> Best regards >> Afriregister Kenya >> >> >> -- >> Barrack O. Otieno >> +254721325277 >> +254733206359 >> Skype: barrack.otieno >> PGP ID: 0x2611D86A >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> skunkworks mailing list >> skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke >> ------------ >> List info, subscribe/unsubscribe >> http://lists.my.co.ke/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks >> ------------ >> >> Skunkworks Rules >> http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 >> ------------ >> Other services @ http://my.co.ke >> > > > -- > Allan Oware > > -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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[legitimized quackery harms the economy] Kenya should suspend the issuing of academic PhDs in ICT and Engineering
by Patrick A. M. Maina 06 Feb '19

06 Feb '19

The most dangerous form of quackery is institutionalized quackery. This happens when the following practices become pervasive: 1. Grades for sale / barter; 2. A culture of academic cheating / plagiarism / cronyism; 3. Academic Sophistry (using twisted sentences, jargon and fallacies to obfuscate useless garbage in fake dissertations); 4. Disconnect between choice of research topics (or academic focus) v/s the real-world needs of the country; 5. A pervasive belief that a certificate (not real-world practice) is the indisputable authority on level of competence and/or ability; 6. Due to 5, a pervasive belief in academia, and society, that the main goal of education is to "get the papers"; 7. The likelihood that thesis supervisors themselves are products of a broken system - thus (un)wittingly spreading institutionalized quackery;8. Lack of commitment to solving real-world problems which are perceived as lacking "academic flavor";9. Mindless pedantry. Visit KIPI and check the number of approved patents - then compare against the number of claimed inventions in our universities. Our universities don't seem capable of challenging ridiculous claims of novelty (despite the implications on institutional credibility) and this has led to a total mockery of words like "invention" and/or "innovation". One may argue that perhaps the universities don't want to patent their inventions in favor of academic progress - but that would be a major indictment on their real-world judgment/reasoning - given their well publicized cash strapped condition and heavy dependency on taxpayer subsidies. There are many types of conditional releases that allow for realization of IP revenues without stifling academic research. If our universities have a real IP resource, why are they not monetizing it???? This is intellectual madness. Contrast with Stanford, for example, which earns > Ksh, 4.5 Billion annually from licensing royalties (>800 patents). Their Alumini have helped created high value global companies - which have transformed the world and achieved staggering valuations (e.g. Google, Linkedin, eBay, Cisco, Dolby, HP, Instagram, NVIDIA, Sun, Yahoo! etc - with a cumulative value in excess of Ksh. 1,000 Trillion (yes, Ksh. 1 Sextillon) - enough value to run our country tax free on >Ksh 6 Trillion budget for ~150 years!). Intellectual Property can generate more value (while being far easier to commercialize) than oil / gas / minerals. Why is our government not obsessed with commercializing indigenous IP? The people in charge of Kenya's tertiary education don't seem to have an idea of the scale of economic potential that they are sitting on (and how to unlock it). Observe the ongoing US v/s China technology dominance "war" for example - these countries understand the link between indigenous innovation and economic progress and it is no surprise that they are world's top two economies. Instead of Academic PhDs Kenya should issue Honorary PhDs for real-world achievements in advancing the nation - and the prestige of such doctorates should be higher than that of academic PhDs. This will help shift mindsets from abstract academic activity to real world solutions. Meanwhile, the government should suspend academic PhDs to allow for reallocation of scarce resources more productive areas e.g. developing market structures for rapid commercialization of indigenous innovations. For the PhDs have already been issued, there needs to be a mechanism for revocation when:1. the holder repeatedly fails to demonstrate reasoning skills in public discussions (especially around their field of expertise) that justify a doctorate status2. the holder's track record of achievement in the real world is no different than (or far surpassed by) an undergrad or college dropout (not personal achievement - but value addition to the country or society) 3. the holder lacks self awareness and does not seem to know the bounds of his/her competence (heavily relies on "academic rank" to support unsound claims or reject rebuttals) If we don't urgently contextualize our tertiary education system to focus on local real world challenges (i.e. how to grow a tiny, low income African nation that is plagued by poverty, corruption and incompetence - despite having a "highly educated" population) we will continue to be plagued by the same repeating problems for yet another generation and this article (among others) will be proof, for our children and their descendants, that we neglected our duty willingly - in full knowledge of the consequences. I am open to (and happily invite) sensible rebuttals on this topic. Brgds,Patrick A. M. Maina(Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations)

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Cyber crimes | Legal Fees
by S.M. Muraya 05 Feb '19

05 Feb '19

Listers, How come there is money for legal fees but not for technology implementation and maintenance? What happens if/when the DPP charges county officials for Cyber crimes? Aiding terrorists by neglecting surveillance technology? 2015 audit >> https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/11/22/nairobi-spent-sh1-billion-in-leg… The Nairobi government gobbled up Sh1.1 billion in legal fees, the 2014-15 Auditor General’s report says. 2017 audit >> https://www.nation.co.ke/counties/nairobi/Nairobi-on-the-spot-over-Sh318m-l… City Hall has once again been put on the spot over the Sh318.4 million in questionable payments to 12 law firms representing Nairobi. The legal department is said to have made the payment without adequate documentary evidence. During the 2016/17 financial year, the department’s legal costs totalled Sh645.3 million despite an approved budgetary allocation of just Sh105 million. The cost was Sh540.26 million higher, 515 percent above the allocation for that year. https://www.nation.co.ke/counties/nairobi/Why-half-of-Nairobi-CCTV-cameras-… In September 2012, the then Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development awarded the contract to M/s Nanjing LES Information Technology Limited, a Chinese firm. The project was conceptualised as a security project which would involve installation of security cameras, vehicle number plate recognition cameras, rehabilitation of signalised junctions and construction of one main control centre at Nairobi area police headquarters at Milimani and the redundant control centre at City Hall Annex. Six years later, the chief officer confirmed that the project is still under the Chinese firm’s control, making it impossible to repair and maintain the cameras. SH7.2M REPAIRS Mr Karanja said the company wants to be paid Sh7.2 million to repair the cameras and hand over the project to the county government. “We had pledged to pay before the contractor could resume maintenance works and subsequent handover of the project to us but we are yet to settle the bill and that is why the contractor has not resumed the project maintenance,” said Mr Karanja. But the PAC Chairman Wilfred Odalo faulted the City Hall for assuming responsibility for damages they did not cause. In response, Mr Karanja said the pledge was made because of security is a priority given recent terror attack in the city at the Dusit hotel complex. In May 2018, it was revealed that 26 of the CCTV cameras — installed in major roads such as Moi Avenue, Uhuru Highway, Kenyatta Avenue and Tom Mboya Street — were not working. Those installed along University Way and at Lusaka Roundabout have also stopped working after they were damaged by students and a contractor respectively. The committee resolved to invite the contractor in its next sitting to shed more light on the issue.

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Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] Piloting the Use of TV White Space for Community Network in Rural Tanzania
by Barrack Otieno 05 Feb '19

05 Feb '19

Listers, For TV white space enthusiasts, your support will be appreciated. Regards ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Matogoro Jabera <jaberamatogoro(a)gmail.com> Date: Mon, Feb 4, 2019 at 4:19 PM Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] Piloting the Use of TV White Space for Community Network in Rural Tanzania To: africann <africann(a)afrinic.net>, <afnog(a)afnog.org> Dear Colleagues, It is my hope that this email will find you doing fine. I am happy to inform you that our project titled "Piloting the Use of TV White Space for Community Network in Rural Tanzania" has been nominated for WSIS Prizes 2019 by International Telecommunication Union. For this project to be considered among the winning project for the prize, we would appreciate your vote and if possible also helping us sharing this news in your network so that we could receive more votes for our project. I am also including details on how to vote below: 1. Visit this link: https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/stocktaking/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2Fnet4%2… 2. Create an account using your email to the voting system. 3. A confirmation email will be sent to your email, click a link sent in your email to activate the account. 4. Login to the voting system using your email address and password provided during account creation. 5. Once logged in, you will be presented a list of project for category 1. You MUST vote at least one project from category 1. 6. Vote for any project in category 2 and category 3. 7. Our project is listed in category 4 project. Please search project name titled "Piloting the use of TV White Space for Community Network in Rural Tanzania". Vote for this project in category 4. 8. Vote for one project from the remaining categories, 5-18. 9. Once voting is completed, a list of the voted project will be displayed as attached. Regards, MATOGORO Jabhera Assistant Lecturer College of Informatics and Virtual Education The University of Dodoma P.O Box 490, Dodoma. Website: www.udom.ac.tz *IEEE Membership ID: 93934185* _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/africann -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] Recent blogs
by Barrack Otieno 05 Feb '19

05 Feb '19

Listers, Might be of interest to some. Best Regards ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Yaovi Atohoun <yaovi.atohoun(a)icann.org> Date: Tue, Feb 5, 2019 at 12:27 PM Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] Recent blogs To: AfrICANN Community List <africann(a)afrinic.net> Hello everyone / bonjour à tous *ICANN64 Prep Week: *https://www.icann.org/news/blog/icann64-prep-week *Technical Study Group Makes Progress at First Face-to-Face Meeting: * https://www.icann.org/news/blog/technical-study-group-makes-progress-at-fir… Thanks -- Yaovi Atohoun Stakeholder Engagement and Operations Manager- Africa; ICANN Tel. +229 66015649/65209067 www.icann.org _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/africann -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Fwd: BOTSWANA to host the 7th Africa Domain Name System Forum
by Barrack Otieno 05 Feb '19

05 Feb '19

Listers, This might be of interest to some of you. Regards ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com> Date: Tue, Feb 5, 2019 at 11:44 AM Subject: Re: BOTSWANA to host the 7th Africa Domain Name System Forum To: AfrICANN Community List <africann(a)afrinic.net> Cc: Afri-Discuss <afri-discuss(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org>, aftld-members < aftld-members(a)aftld.org> Nairobi, 5th February 2019 The 7th edition of the Africa Domain Name System Forum (AFDNS) will be held in Gaborone Botswana from 22nd to 24th July 2019. The forum will be hosted by the Botswana Communication and Regulatory Authority (BOCRA). The Africa Domain Name System Forum is an annual open event for stakeholders in the Domain Name Industry in Africa, organized by Africa Top Level Domains Organization (AFTLD), the African Registrars Association, and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The objective of the three-day event is to help the Africa Domain Name Industry grow at a competitive rate; and ensure that the continent is on par with the rest of the world. Over the years, the AFDNS forum has lived up to its expectations, identifying key national and cross-border issues that continue to challenge the growth of the industry The Africa DNS Forum brings together Top-Level Domain registries, registrars, and stakeholders from Africa and around the world to share, learn, interact and discuss ways of how the African Domain Name Space can be improved, by sharing experiences and best practices in the domain name industry at a global level, and of the emerging business opportunities. The forum is open to anyone interested in issues pertaining to the domain name industry and the business opportunities it can provide, and engage with key players and experts in the field. We expect participation from over 200 participants representing government, private sector, civil society, media and the technical community from the region and globally, interested in investing in the Africa Domain Name industry. Discussions will cover the state of the domain name industry in Africa, opportunities and challenges faced by businesses, entrepreneurs and Internet users across Africa. This will be the seventh forum following events in Durban, South Africa (2013), Abuja, Nigeria (2014), Nairobi, Kenya (2015), Marrakech, Morocco (2016), Dar Es Salam, Tanzania (2017) and Cotonou, Benin (2018). Stakeholders from Africa and beyond interested and involved in the domain name industry are welcome to contribute and participate in the event. *About AFTLD* AfTLD is recognized as the representative of country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) managers from Africa. It is an active participant in the ICANN ccNSO, and also actively participates in various Internet governance fora with the African continent and beyond, including the IGF, where it has run a number of workshops. With collaboration in Internet governance and development a cornerstone of the bottom up policy development processes that make the Internet truly a multi-stakeholder phenomenon, AfTLD works in collaboration and partnership with other Regional Top-Level Domain Organizations (RTLDOs), these being APTLD, CENTR and LACTLD. www.aftld.org *About AfRegistrar* AFREGISTRAR association includes all ICANN Accredited Registrars based in the African Continent, The AfRegistrars shall fulfill the role, responsibilities and functions of the AFREGISTRARS as defined within the ICANN Bylaws as referenced at [ICANN-BYLAWS]. www.afregistar.org *About ICANN* ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world. https://www.icann.org/get-started BOCRA was established through the Communications Regulatory Authority Act, 2012 (CRA Act) to regulate the communications sector in Botswana, comprising telecommunications, Internet and Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs), radio communications, broadcasting, postal services and related matters. BOCRA is also designated to: · To manage and operate the .BW ccTLD in an efficient and non-discriminatory manner to ensure fairness in the use and allocation of the .bw name space; · To accredit agencies to provide secure electronic signatures as per the Electronic Communications and Transaction Act (No. 14 of 2014); · To establish, as Certifying Authority, an approved process for the production and certification of electronic documents records systems for purpose of integrity. https:www.bocra.org.bw Contacts: secretariat(a)aftld.org -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Global Legal Hackathon - Call for Participation
by Linda Bonyo 05 Feb '19

05 Feb '19

The Global Legal Hackathon 2019 organizes law schools, law firms and in-house departments, legal technology companies, governments, developers, and service providers to innovation in the legal industry – across the globe. It brings together the best thinkers, doers and practitioners in law in support of a unified vision: rapid development of solutions to improve the legal industry, world-wide. Are you a lawyer, developer, IT professional, entrepreneur or IT or law student? If so, we would love to have your participation in the Global Legal Hackathon 2019 in Nairobi! The Global Legal Hackathon in Nairobi will be hosted by the Lawyers Hub on 22nd-24th February 2019 with support from the Law Society of Kenya. Join us by registering as a participant on www.glh.hivebrite.com Feel Free to email me for any clarifications. Sincerely, _______________________________________________________ *Linda Bonyo* (Ms.) | Co-Founder, *Lawyers Hub * Tech for Justice ACK Garden House| Block D, 6th Floor | Email: bonyo(a)*lawyershub.ke* <bonyo(a)lawyershub.ke> | Skype*:* lawyershubke Tel: +254(0)207840228 Mobile : +2547840840228 *_**_____________________________________________________________________* *DISCLAIMER: The information contained in or accompanying this e-mail is 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 **Lawyers Hub*

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How to raise money for your startup
by Eric Osiakwan 05 Feb '19

05 Feb '19

Eric here Sent from my iPhone

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[cybercrime] hidden cost of commoditizing IT Talent
by Patrick A. M. Maina 01 Feb '19

01 Feb '19

There's a funny corporate culture that I have observed in Kenya that could shed some light on why local IT systems appear so vulnerable: TALENT COMMODITIZATION. Take the banking industry for example, I recall a while back seeing some chatter on twitter about how big brands UNDERPAY key IT staff (I.e. the hands on technical staff like sysadmins / app admins / dbadmins & devs) in order to "save" on manpower costs. In this day and age that is not an intelligent thing to do. Others assume that outsourcing to India will magically solve for costs, quality and security. I have worked on projects with "world-class" offshore teams and what I saw was a minefield of HIDDEN COSTS if you don't have your own savvy supervisory / QC team. Then there is the "contract fixes everything" fanatics. Contracts mean nothing if you can't detect shoddy work - and if going to court after the fact is almost impossible given risks of PR blowback (in image sensitive industries). In many cases such contracts are just for CYA (avoiding blame or passing audit reviews). Some tradition-heavy institutions still put IT under Finance directors / VPs or GMs instead of having IT representation at board level. This makes it hard for IT to push back on top-down "spreadsheet inspired" directives. You don't increase shareholder value by setting up your critical functions for downstream failure (or putting the entire org or at risk just to hit annual growth targets). Beefing up the Infosec unit is pointless if the underlying architecture is full of holes. There is only so much duct taping that can be done. Worse if that team is underpaid as well. It's also interesting that many local companies don't have a "specialist path" for technical talent advancement. This limits the political/decision making clout for technical talent as well as limiting their personal growth. Hopping / side hustling / track switching (e.g. to management) is the end result. These mistakes have cost the financial industry (for example) a whopping 17BILLION in potentially avoidable losses (and still counting). So much for HR "cost savings". :-/ I think the Infosec crisis in Kenya is just a SYMPTOM of bigger "organisation and culture" issues - and short term thinking is right at the heart of it. "Financial institutions in Kenya have recently become a soft target for cybercriminals, with police records showing that they lost about Sh17 billion to the fraudsters in 2016, up from Sh14 billion in 2015." https://mobile.nation.co.ke/business/Police-probe-130-bank-cyber-fraud-susp…

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Call for Applications: Internet of Rights Fellowship 2019
by Mallory Knodel 01 Feb '19

01 Feb '19

Hi all, Please share our call for applications for this year's Internet of Rights fellowship. The deadline for applications is Friday, 24 February. Thank you! -Mallory === Download the call: https://share.article19.io/index.php/s/f9SzmAYzBizdMg5 # Call for Applications: ARTICLE 19 Internet of Rights Fellowship ARTICLE 19 Team Digital is looking for three new fellows to join the 2019 cohort of the Internet of Rights Fellowship. Since 2014 ARTICLE 19 has been a pioneer in the technical governance and evolution of the global Internet, bridging the knowledge gap within the technical and human rights communities. In doing so, ARTICLE 19 has carved out a key platform for civil society engagement in these bodies; however, there remains the need for greater, more diverse, and more sustainable civil society participation. In its third year, the Internet of Rights Fellowship will equip a diverse community of civil society organizations and their representatives with the tools they need to carry out long-term, influential engagement in the bodies setting the technical policies and standards that uphold the global Internet architecture. Fellows will be expected to have some working knowledge and experience with the technical and policy discussions across the Internet governance landscape. Under the guidance of their assigned mentors, they will develop a deeper knowledge of their target issue area and the skills necessary to meaningfully contribute to discussions in order to further human rights considerations in Internet governance bodies. By the end of the program, fellows will be well equipped to continue developing a robust approach to human rights within these technical communities beyond the life of the program. # The Fellowship The Internet of Rights Fellowship program is designed to be flexible and dynamic to account for each individual’s skills, interests, and experience. Prospective fellows are encouraged to be creative in their approach. Upon selection, fellows will work with ARTICLE 19 Team Digital to elaborate upon their work plan, develop a schedule, and identify potential deliverables. Beyond lending structure to the fellowship, this exercise is intended to give our team insights into how we may best support each individual. The 2019 Internet of Rights Fellowship will start in March and last for one year, during which time fellows will work closely with their mentor—a designated member of our team—on one of the following priority areas: * Algorithmic decision making: This is a technical track on which fellows will complement our policy work on algorithms, artificial intelligence and machine learning to address how algorithmic decision-making can be guided by international human rights law. Algorithms fellows may work on developing research, and/or work in both established and emerging spaces, like the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Partnership on AI (PAI). * Public Interest Internet Standards: This is a technical and policy development track on which fellows will contribute to Article 19's work at the Human Rights in Protocols Considerations Research Group of the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF), or in developing novel technical methods for measuring human rights aspects of existing Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards. * Radio Network Hardware: This is a technical or humanities track in which the fellow will complement our policy work by studying specific standardization projects ongoing in either the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee (LMSC) or the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The fellowship has the goal of uncovering hidden effects on human rights of technical choices at the lowest layer of Internet architecture: hardware. Fellows may be given the task to assist ARTICLE 19 representatives with things like Letter Ballots, technical reviews and attend standardization meetings. Each Fellow will be expected to participate in three Internet governance-related meetings over the course of the year. Costs incurred during participation in meetings and conferences as part of this program will be covered by the Fellowship. Fellows will also receive a monthly honorarium of USD 300 over the duration of their fellowship. # The Fellows Fellows are expected to commit to an average of eight hours per week engaging in forum-specific discussions, participating in working groups, and completing projects. The program will be conducted entirely in English; therefore, fellows must have written and spoken proficiency in the language. For all priority areas, the ideal fellow will have: * Technical competence, which may include knowledge and experience in computer networking and protocols, systems design, and architecture * Prior experience contributing to Internet governance fora, and/or in-depth knowledge of their target body * A clear commitment to protecting and promoting human rights and Internet freedom. Applicants from the Global South, women, and other under-represented groups are encouraged to apply. # Application Submissions The deadline for applications is Friday, 24 February 2019. Interested applicants should submit the following to fellowship(a)article19.org: * Curriculum vitae * Statement of interest, indicating priority area and proposed work plan (maximum of two pages) * Contact information of two references Questions can be directed to fellowship(a)article19.org -- Mallory Knodel Head of Digital :: article19.org gpg fingerprint :: E3EB 63E0 65A3 B240 BCD9 B071 0C32 A271 BD3C C780 -- Mallory Knodel May First/People Link :: mayfirst.org gpg fingerprint :: E3EB 63E0 65A3 B240 BCD9 B071 0C32 A271 BD3C C780

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Emerging Trends - India adopting National Champion policy to accelerate growth of indigenous industries
by Patrick A. M. Maina 31 Jan '19

31 Jan '19

It's a proven mid-term strategy for stimulating rapid industrialization and international competitiveness of indigenous industries: "National champions are promoted for the purpose of job creation, technology and skill acquisition, and building competitive advantage. [Example:] 98 of the Chinese companies listed on the Fortune Global 500 list are state owned, including China’s 12 largest companies. Through government policies targeting the SOE sector, key companies have grown drastically in size to now be among the largest companies globally." - Foreign Policy Journal (Link: China’s National Champions: State Support Makes Chinese Companies Dominant | Foreign Policy Journal) | | | | | | | | | | | China’s National Champions: State Support Makes Chinese Companies Domina... China's efforts to centrally plan the economy make it difficult for foreign companies to enter the Chinese marke... | | | "National champions have an inherent multiplier effect that politicians can leverage, for instance to create domestic jobs or increase wages. They often create so-called national brands – an extension of the national champions themselves. These brands also benefit from government lobbying, as Airbus did during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to China in January 2018, during which the Chinese government signalled an interest in buying 184 Airbus jets. Traditional strategic sectors include homeland security and defence companies, utilities (power generation companies), telecommunication service providers and key manufacturing industries, while technology and healthcare are new entries to that list." - World Economic Forum (16th Jan 2019) (Link: A multipolar world brings back the national champions) | | | | | | | | | | | A multipolar world brings back the national champions Strong national consumer brands stand to benefit from greater demand from domestic consumers | | | New Delhi (31st Jan 2019): "The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has asked government departments and public sector units to avoid choosing foreign products and brands at a time when the government is trying to boost domestic manufacturing through PM Narendra Modi’s flagship ‘Make in India’ programme launched at the start of his tenure." “Our concern is Make in India. We want progressive, continuous increase of indigenous components in products procured by us.” - Nripendra Misra (principal secretary to the India's Prime Minister) PMO tells departments, PSUs to pick ‘Made in India’ products | | | | | | | | | | | PMO tells departments, PSUs to pick ‘Made in India’ products “Our concern is Make in India,” Nripendra Misra told ET. “We want progressive, continuous increase of indigenous... | | |

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CALLS FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE BUDGET POLICY STATEMENT 2019
by Deborah Wanjugu 31 Jan '19

31 Jan '19

Dear Listers, I came to learn the Treasury has issued a call for public comments on the Budget Policy Statement 2019. I never saw any particular firm plans the Government has for ICT so I thought it best to bring this to your attention, albeit a little later than I should have. I could be wrong, though. Maybe I had high expectations owing to the exposure I get from you all. What I love about this group is there are so many diverse opinions on various issues. I think it would be great to let the Government hear all these well - considered opinions on its ICT plans. The deadline for institutions to put in their comments was on Friday, which means Kictanet might not be able to, but as individuals you would be able to participate. The deadline for submitting our comments is 31st January 2019, i.e. this Thursday. I created a public Google folder for this purpose. You can access it here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1LsgzmXlEgPagqUDN-qQqlQEeEzK9pYqM You are free to share this widely. Kind regards, Deborah

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Fwd: [afnog] AFRINIC Internet Measurement Awareness Survey
by Barrack Otieno 31 Jan '19

31 Jan '19

Listers, Kindly participate in this survey if you can spare a few minutes. Best Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Musab Isah <musab.isah(a)afrinic.net> Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2019 11:54:45 +0400 Subject: [afnog] AFRINIC Internet Measurement Awareness Survey To: afnog(a)afnog.org Dear colleagues, AFRINIC has launched a survey with the aim of assessing the current status of Internet measurement in Africa. Your responses will help AFRINIC understand the available measurement infrastructure on the continent as well as the gap in the infrastructure and the relevant skills that need to be filled. AFRINIC will use the responses as guide in building Internet measurement programmes to train network operators, regulators, end users, and other stakeholders in the forthcoming summits, conferences, and *nog meetings across the continent. We invite you to take the survey available in both English (https://survey.afrinic.net/index.php/survey/index/sid/634362/newtest/Y/lang… <https://survey.afrinic.net/index.php/survey/index/sid/634362/newtest/Y/lang…>) and French (https://survey.afrinic.net/index.php/survey/index/sid/634362/newtest/Y/lang… <https://survey.afrinic.net/index.php/survey/index/sid/634362/newtest/Y/lang…>). The deadline for filling the survey is 28 February 2018. Please read more on the benefits and the reasons behind the need for assessing the current status of Internet measurement in Africa from our blog here. https://www.afrinic.net/blog/421-africa-internet-measurement-awareness-surv… <https://www.afrinic.net/blog/421-africa-internet-measurement-awareness-surv…> …………………………………………. Chers collègues, AFRINIC a lancé un sondage dans le but d'évaluer l'état actuel de la métrologie des réseaux en Afrique. Vos réponses aideront AFRINIC à comprendre l'infrastructure de la métrologie disponible sur le continent, ainsi que les lacunes dans l’infrastructure et les lacunes au niveau des compétences. Les résultats de ce sondage servira à élaborer des programmes de métrologie des réseaux destinés à former les opérateurs de réseau, les régulateurs, les utilisateurs finaux et d'autres partenaires lors des prochains sommets, conférences et réunions à travers le continent. Nous vous invitons à répondre au sondage qui est disponible en anglais (https://survey.afrinic.net/index.php/survey/index/sid/634362/newtest/Y/lang… <https://survey.afrinic.net/index.php/survey/index/sid/634362/newtest/Y/lang…>) et en français (https: // survey .afrinic.net <http://afrinic.net/> / index.php / survey / index / sid / 634362 / newtest / Y / lang / fr). La date limite pour remplir le questionnaire est 28 février 2018. Consultez notre blog ici pour

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Fwd: Results of the IGF 2019 Call for issues
by Barrack Otieno 30 Jan '19

30 Jan '19

Listers, This might be of interest. Best Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Faye Makane <makanefa(a)gmail.com> Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2019 20:03:05 +0000 Subject: Results of the IGF 2019 Call for issues To: Cc: Secretariat AfIGF <africanigf(a)gmail.com> Dear Colleagues, Following the call for issues sent in December 2018, kindly find attached the results which were sent out today by the IGF Secretariat during the first IGF MAG Consultations. I wish to thank all those of you who have contributed to it following the call which was forwarded to you. Best regards, ---------------- Makane Faye (Mr.) African Internet Governance Forum Secretariat, African Union https://www.afigf.africa/ West African Internet Governance Forum, ECOWAS www.waigf.org BP 12130 CP 12000 Dakar, Sénégal Email: makanefa(a)gmail.com facebook.com/makane.faye.eca Twitter: @thianar2 Skype: makaneaddis -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Opportunity for East African Lawyers | Digital Rights Litigation Surgery
by Grace Githaiga 30 Jan '19

30 Jan '19

This might be of interest to our lawyers here. From: "Michael Moss" Date: 30-01-2019 17:56 Dear all, There is one week left to apply for a place at our next digital rights litigation surgery (East Africa). [1] Please do share the call with any legal contacts who may be interested. The surgery is open to lawyers working in Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Further details are in my email below. Best wishes, Michael The Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI) has opened applications for an East Africa Digital Rights & Online Freedom of Expression Litigation Surgery. I would be grateful if you were willing to share the call below with lawyers working in the region: Call for Applications: East Africa Digital Rights & Online Freedom of Expression Litigation Surgery 8-12 April, Kampala, Uganda The Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI) will be running a litigation surgery on the right to online freedom of expression, digital rights and the internet. This specialised, fully funded, legal workshop is for lawyers based in Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Applications are currently open. The deadline for submitting applications is Thursday 7 February 2019. For further information and to apply, please visit: https://www.mediadefence.org/east-africa-lawyers-digital-rights-training-20… Michael Moss Project Coordinator | Media Legal Defence Initiative -- Grace Githaiga Co-Convenor, Kenya ICT Action Network Links: ------ [1] https://www.mediadefence.org/east-africa-lawyers-digital-rights-training-20…

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Re: [kictanet] REQUEST FOR PARTICIPATION IN DISCUSSING THE ICT PRACTITIONERS BILL
by Grace Githaiga 30 Jan '19

30 Jan '19

Thanks Shelly. Please avail us with the copy of the Bill so that we know its content, and therefore see who can come. Asante. Rgds Grace Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/ghei36> ________________________________ From: Shelly Mwirichia <shelly(a)apsea.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2019 10:42:22 AM To: ggithaiga(a)kictanet.or.ke; ggithaiga(a)hotmail.com Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke; Irene Njeri Wanyoike; 'APSEA' Subject: REQUEST FOR PARTICIPATION IN DISCUSSING THE ICT PRACTITIONERS BILL Dear Grace Githaiga-Convener KICTANET, Greetings from APSEA. We were referred to you by Mrs. Irene Wanyoike, APSEA Chairman. We received an invitation from a nominated MP- Hon. Godfrey Osotsi, who is sponsoring the ICT Practitioners bill in the National Assembly as a Private member bill. We are therefore inviting KICTANET members, to join APSEA in discussing the key highlights of the bill and to give input. The meeting to discuss has been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday 5th February 2018, the venue is Professional Centre and will start at 9.00 a.m. Kindly confirm your availability to attend and also confirm representatives of KICTANET who will participate. We will appreciate the confirmation and number of representatives for logistical purposes. Regards, Shelly Mwirichia-APSEA.

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Fwd: [Internet Policy] Workshop on global digital justice
by Barrack Otieno 30 Jan '19

30 Jan '19

Listers, This might be of interest to some of you. Best Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: parminder <parminder(a)itforchange.net> Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2019 08:17:13 +0530 Subject: [Internet Policy] Workshop on global digital justice To: "internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org" <internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org> Dear All Just Net Coalition <https://justnetcoalition.org/> plans a meeting between March 25th to 27th in Bangkok as a strategic get together of groups interested in issues of equity and social justice in the digital era. The plan is to shape and take forward a global digital justice agenda, working together as a network. This is also meant to further develop and strengthen the Just Net Coalition . The workshop is titled*"Equity and Social Justice in a Digital World: An Inter Sectoral/ Movements Dialogue for a Digital Justice Agenda". * Participants will come from (1) organisations that are already engaged with digital issues and (2) traditional civil society groups that have begun to feel the digital impact and pressure on their work, and would like to understand the digital better, from a progressive point of view, and collaborate in developing a global digital justice agenda. With a digital justice agenda we mean working equally on civil and political rights side as on social, economic and cultural rights. A datafied state is a major threat, but so is data discrimination by the private sector and a big corporation driven data economy that further concentrates wealth and power, within and across societies. Social and economic justice is a key part of this effort, which need to be brought to the centre stage of digital activism. This is also attempt to built bridges between digital activism in the geo-political South and North. Participants will mainly be groups that are already engaged in or with the Just Net Coalition in various ways. But we are eager to also include groups and people that we may not yet be in contact or engaged with, but who are eager to work on social and economic justice issues in a digital context. Such a commitment should be central to such groups/ people's work for them to fruitfully work with JNC and its various partners. This email is an outreach to such groups/ people who may want to engage with us with regard to this initiative of Just Net Coalition, and possibly work with us on these important issues. The accent is to work primarily with organisations because the effort is to develop a strong and sustainable civil society constituency in this area. However, we are open to also dialogue with committed individuals with demonstrated work in these areas. As mentioned, this is a strategic get together, and invitation to the meeting is selective, as per various mentioned criteria. But please do not at all hesitate to ping us , ask questions or clarifications. We need a lots of us to work together for social justice in the digital age. We would normally expect any additional participant to be able to self-fund, but in a few select cases we may be able to offer funding support. Since the meeting is not that far off, if you are going to write to us, please do it asap. Best regards parminder IT for Change <http://www.itforchange.net/> ON behalf of Just Net Coalition <https://justnetcoalition.org/>’s Secretariat -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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URGENTLY REQUIRED IN KENYA & AFRICA - Increased Public Awareness about advanced Fake News methods and technologies
by Patrick A. M. Maina 30 Jan '19

30 Jan '19

I pray that Government officials on this list will take the AFP article below seriously. The technologies described in the article are real and could be used to radicalize ignorant youth or to spark chaos e.g. during political transition events. These are REAL RISKS I believe that need to be addressed PROACTIVELY - before we get into the election (or even referendum cycle). "A well-timed and thoughtfully scripted deepfake or series of deepfakes could tip an election, spark violence in a city primed for civil unrest, bolster insurgent narratives about an enemy's supposed atrocities, or exacerbate political divisions in a society. With believable fake videos in circulation, people can choose to believe whatever version or narrative that they want, and that's a real concern." - Professors Danielle Citron - University of Maryland and Robert Chesney - University of Texas Scientists are working on technologies to detect deep fakes - but it may not be reliable (or available in Africa). Detection may also not be a practical solution after a video goes viral and leads to chaos. "It's more important to disrupt the process than to analyse the videos. An important way to deal with deepfakes is to INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS, making people more skeptical of what used to be considered incontrovertible proof." - Professor Siwei Lyu - State University of New York at Albany TECH BREAK: Misinformation woes could multiply with 'deepfake' | | | | | | | | | | | TECH BREAK: Misinformation woes could multiply with 'deepfake' Deepfake videos are becoming more sophisticated due to advances in artificial intelligence. | | |

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2019 World Press Freedom Day Global Conference, May 1-3, 2019, Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
by Lydia gachungi 29 Jan '19

29 Jan '19

*Dear Listers,* Every year, 3 May is set aside to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. UNESCO also uses the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, to give the annual UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, which honours a person, organization or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the defence and, or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, and especially when this has been achieved in the face of danger. Applications currently open and details are available on this link https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-seeking-nominations-unescoguillermo-cano-… Herewith attached is the concept note for the 2019 World Press Freedom Day Global Conference taking place at the African Union HQ in Addis Ababa from May 1-3, 2019. The concept note is also available on this link https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/wpfd2019_concept_note_summary_en.… The 2019 global conference is Jointly organised and by UNESCO, the African Union and the Government of Ethiopia, under the theme *‘Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation’. *This theme is closely interlinked with the objectives of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which seeks to promote “an Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law”. In this context, World Press Freedom Day 2019 will address the following sub-themes: 1. How the digital era is affecting electoral communications. 2. New attempts to undermine media’s role in democracy: Discrediting professional journalism, and disrupting Internet access. 3. Media’s potential to contribute to a culture of sustainable peace and democracy Online Registration https://en.unesco.org/news/registrations-now-open-world-press-freedom-day-2… A call for an academic conference can be accessed via this link https://en.unesco.org/news/academic-conference-safety-journalists-call-pape… *Format* The pre-events on May 1, 2019 and the breakout sessions on May 2 and 3, 2019 will be organized by a range of partners from *civil society, intergovernmental organizations and the private sector*. Calls for proposals are now open from potential partners wishing to participate in the event by taking on the role of* organizer of a breakout session.* Please share this information with your networks and should you be interested in partnering in any way, do not hesitate to get in touch with us (see contact details below). *For more information, contact:* UNESCO HQ, Paris Saorla McCabe s.mccabe(a)unesco.org UNESCO Liaison Office to AU and UNECA, Addis Ababa Lydia Gachungi l.gachungi(a)unesco.org

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law to start listing of Kenyans’ DNA
by Grace Bomu 29 Jan '19

29 Jan '19

Listers, The government is now free to collect data on Kenyans’ DNA and physical location of their homes including satellite details during registration of persons. This follows President Uhuru Kenyatta’s approval of amendments to the Registration of Persons Act that has included the two to the list of requirements needed at the national people’s registry. Adults applying for documents such as IDs will be required to provide additional information about their location, including land reference number, plot number or house number. The ministry is also seeking to introduce Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates in the registration of persons, enabling the tracking of their location via satellite. More here <http://The government is now free to collect data on Kenyans’ DNA and physical location of their homes including satellite details during registration of persons. This follows President Uhuru Kenyatta’s approval of amendments to the Registration of Persons Act that has included the two to the list of requirements needed at the national people’s registry. Adults applying for documents such as IDs will be required to provide additional information about their location, including land reference number, plot number or house number. The ministry is also seeking to introduce Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates in the registration of persons, enabling the tracking of their location via satellite.> -- Grace Mutung'u Skype: gracebomu @Bomu PGP ID : 0x33A3450F

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Call for Proposals - 2019 World Press Freedom Day: 'Media for Democracy - Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation' , May 1-3, 2019, African Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
by Lydia gachungi 28 Jan '19

28 Jan '19

*Become an Official Partner of World Press Freedom Day!* The 26th edition of the World Press Freedom Day will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on *1-3 May 2019 *(Main event: 2-3 May; Pre-events: 1 May). Jointly organized by UNESCO, the African Union Commission, and the Government of Ethiopia under the theme ‘Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation”, this year’s celebration will focus on the current challenges faced by media in times of elections, combatting disinformation, along with the media’s potential in supporting democracy, peace and reconciliation. Please find here <https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/wpfd2019_concept_note_en.pdf> the concept note for the event. As in previous years, the pre-events on 1 May and the breakout sessions on 2-3 May 2019 will be organized by a range of partners from civil society, intergovernmental organizations and the private sector. Calls for proposals are now open from potential partners wishing to participate in the event by taking on the role of* organizer of a breakout session.* *Should you be interested in partnering for the **event in some other form*, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us (see contact details below). *Deadline for Drafts Submission* *5 February 2019* *Submit a 250-word description of the session*, with the proposed title, theme, format, as well as a tentative list of speakers + facilitator. Please note that joint submissions from 2-3 organizations are welcome but one organization should take on overall responsibility and act as focal point for communications with UNESCO. *The benefits of organizing a parallel session, and thus becoming an official partner of WPFD, include: * - Gaining access to an exceptional network of prominent international specialists in the fields of media development, journalism and the safety of journalists. - Being part of the largest celebration of press freedom in the world, which will be a valuable showcase for your organization’s work. - Your logo will be included in all publicity materials for WPFD and on the official event website. - As an official WPFD partner, you will have the possibility to use the 2019 World Press Freedom Day logo for all related activities. *Requirements:* *Proposers are invited to submit proposals for sessions under the following themes:* *1. How the digital era is affecting electoral communications.* *2. New attempts to inhibit media’s role in democracy: Discrediting professional journalism and disrupting Internet access.* *3.Media’s potential to contribute to a culture of sustainable peace and democracy* - UNESCO encourages out-of-the-box ideas and innovative formats (storytelling, team debates, lightning talks, etc.) that ensure interactive and engaging discussions. - In compliance with UNESCO’s policy, *respecting gender balance and diverse geographic representation* in all sessions. - Panel organizers are encouraged to include at least one Ethiopian panelist in each session, and suggestions of relevant Ethiopian panelists will be made by the WPFD Steering Committee. - In order to promote youth engagement, at least one speaker < 30 y.o. will be included in each panel. - For panel sessions, a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 speakers is recommended. *Responsibilities:* *The responsibilities of the session organizers include:* - Ensuring the design and planning of the session; - Covering costs of travel, accommodation and other travel related expenses of at least 5-7 participants (including the facilitator and speakers of your session); - Contacting the moderator and speakers to address logistical matters; - Identifying a rapporteur to produce a 1-page report on the session, based on a template to be provided by UNESCO. *We look forward to collaborating with you!* *For more information, contact:* UNESCO HQ Saorla McCabe s.mccabe(a)unesco.org UNESCO LO/Addis Ababa Lydia Gachungi l.gachungi(a)unesco.org <https://www.facebook.com/unesco> <https://twitter.com/unesco> <http://en.unesco.org/wpfd>

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Fwd: Internet governance forecast for 2019
by Barrack Otieno 28 Jan '19

28 Jan '19

Listers, Might be of interest to some. Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: DiploFoundation <webinars(a)diplomacy.edu> Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2019 11:48:22 +0000 Subject: Internet governance forecast for 2019 To: otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com Internet governance forecast for 2019 Is this email not displaying correctly? View this email in your browser (https://mailchi.mp/diplomacy/ig-sept-785761?e=5fdd4b0a0d) https://diplomacy.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=89e7299f9fe54eed66d45cf… ** Digital policy in September ------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday, 25th September 11:00 UTC (13:00 CEST) Online | Geneva New rules for preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online were published, as the US Department of Defense unveiled its new cyber strategy. Intense data localisation discussions continued to unfold in India. September was also a busy time for the courts, as the European Court of Human Rights ruled on the UK's mass surveillance programme, while the Court of Justice of the European Union heard arguments on Google's right to be forgotten case. What were the main Internet governance updates in September, and how will they shape future developments? What can we expect in October? Join us for our next monthly briefing, on Tuesday, 25th September, at 11:00 UTC (13:00 CEST), online or in Geneva (WMO Building, 7bis, Av. de la Paix), for the now-customary discussion. Register for the briefing (https://diplomacy.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=89e7299f9fe54eed66d45cf…) ============================================================ ** (https://diplomacy.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=89e7299f9fe54eed66d45cf…) ** Like us on Facebook (https://diplomacy.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=89e7299f9fe54eed66d45cf…) ** (https://diplomacy.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=89e7299f9fe54eed66d45cf…) ** Follow us on Twitter (https://diplomacy.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=89e7299f9fe54eed66d45cf…) ** (https://diplomacy.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=89e7299f9fe54eed66d45cf…) ** Our website (https://diplomacy.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=89e7299f9fe54eed66d45cf…) ** (https://diplomacy.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=89e7299f9fe54eed66d45cf…) ** Our network (https://diplomacy.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=89e7299f9fe54eed66d45cf…) Copyright © 2019 DiploFoundation, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you attended DiploFoundation's course(s). _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ [ ** unsubscribe from this list (https://diplomacy.us5.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=89e7299f9fe54eed66d45cf…) | ** update your subscription preferences (https://diplomacy.us5.list-manage.com/profile?u=89e7299f9fe54eed66d45cf3d&i…) | ** forward to a friend (http://us5.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=89e7299f9fe54eed66d45cf3d&id=ed8…) ] -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Fwd: [Internet Policy] IGF MAG meeting
by Barrack Otieno 28 Jan '19

28 Jan '19

Listers, This is for your attention and action. Best ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Veni Markovski <veni(a)veni.com> Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2019 10:36:46 +0100 Subject: [Internet Policy] IGF MAG meeting To: Chapter Delegates <Chapter-delegates(a)elists.isoc.org>, Internet Policy mailing list <internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org> Hi, everyone - and a Happy New Year to all of you! In case you’d like to follow the IGF MAG meeting, which starts today - it’s being webcast and transcribed. Links at the official web site - https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/ Please, note: *Online Participants also need to register as an online participant <https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/igf-2019-first-open-consul…> beforehand, to be able to request the floor.* -- Best regards, Veni Markovski http://www.veni.com pgp: 5BA1366E veni(a)veni.com <http://www.veni.com/> The opinions expressed above are those of the author, not of any organizations, associated with or related to the author in any given way. -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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THE SECRET RULES OF THE INTERNET
by Grace Githaiga 27 Jan '19

27 Jan '19

Dear Listers This 2016 article on content moderation on social media platforms provides a historical overview of the development of moderation practices, and how this probably continues to shape the future of free speech. "The details of moderation practices are routinely hidden from public view, siloed within companies and treated as trade secrets when it comes to users and the public. The moderators of these platforms — perched uneasily at the intersection of corporate profits, social responsibility, and human rights — have a powerful impact on free speech, government dissent, the shaping of social norms, user safety, and the meaning of privacy. What flagged content should be removed? Who decides what stays and why? What constitutes newsworthiness? Threat? Harm? When should law enforcement be involved?" Read more on: https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/13/11387934/internet-moderator-history-yout… Best regards -- Grace Githaiga Co-Convenor Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) Twitter:@ggithaiga Tel: 254722701495 Skype: gracegithaiga Alternate email: ggithaiga(a)hotmail.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracegithaiga www.kictanet.or.ke "Change only happens when ordinary people get involved, get engaged and come together to demand it. I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change – but in yours"---Barrack Obama.

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Role of social media in fighting corruption
by Mwendwa Kivuva 26 Jan '19

26 Jan '19

In the Anti corruption conference hotelld this week in Nairobi, the role of social media was discussed at length by the Chief Justice, and the President. What caught my tuition was President Uhuru's call for the general public to "use tools of social media to identify, stigmatize, and report all instances of corruption that come to their knowledge". He also acknowledged that Kenya has a very vibrant social media landscape. This is a very interesting observation, and I am wondering what is the role of social media in fighting corruption, and also admissibility of evidence, given that some corrupt people are so brazen, they don't care about stigma. What tools are out there to capture corruption instances as they happen? I know Facebook Live is a very good tool, and it has been used extensively in US by the public who fear police brutality. Regards

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Mentimeter for the National Anti-corruption Conference 2019.
by WANGARI KABIRU 24 Jan '19

24 Jan '19

Mentimeter for the National Anti-corruption Conference 2019. Hosted by Multi-sectoral. Initiative Against Corruption by KEPSA.Nairobi. Visit:www.menti.com 25/01/2019 Codes:Religious Sector: 432413Professional Sector: 186745Government Multi Agency: 634479Women Sector: 634479 May interest to add your views. Be blessed.Regards/Wangari --- Pray God Bless. 2013Wangari circa - "Being of the Light, We are Restored Through Faith in Mind, Body and Spirit; We Manifest The Kingdom of God on Earth".

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Kisumu turns to WhatsApp for better services
by Victor Kapiyo 24 Jan '19

24 Jan '19

Kisumu county is testing a county 'digital assistant' to provide information relating to different functions. I think its a good initiative by the county. See story below. Are there any innovative implementations of such or similar systems being implemented in other counties that listers may be aware of? I think it's a useful start, and they are taking in feedback and suggestions to improve the service. Hopefully, some of you might want to try it out and see what gives. I wouldn't mind having a similar Chatbots for eCitizen or iTax, whose numbers sometimes hardly go through. ____________ This week, the county has been testing an interactive WhatsApp platform that allows residents to get information promptly. All that one needs to do is to send the word “hello” from a WhatsApp account to +254 756 742 421. That message prompts the county digital assistant to release a drop-down menu that asks the user to select a code representing their area of interest. There is a separate code for government ministries, healthcare services, tourists sites, hotels and radio stations. “When you send the word “hello”, it gives you an automated “welcome” response and from there, you can get information on anything,” says Levit Nudi, one of the brains behind the platform. “It is very similar to USSD codes like *100# with the only major difference being that it's running on WhatsApp, which is not a common thing to find anywhere,” he said, adding that future plans include creating codes for information on county jobs, tenders, and other opportunities. https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/tech/Kisumu-turns-to-WhatsApp… *Victor Kapiyo* Partner | *Lawmark Partners LLP* *Suite No. 8, Centro House, Westlands, Nairobi | **Web: www.lawmark.co.ke <http://www.lawmark.co.ke> * ==================================================== *“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude” Zig Ziglar*

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Fwd: FW: REMINDER: Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics
by Riva Jalipa 23 Jan '19

23 Jan '19

Dear All, You might find this of interest. *From:* Rift Valley Forum <forum(a)riftvalley.net> *Sent:* 21 January 2019 16:48 *Subject:* REMINDER: Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics <https://riftvalley.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bbe4bf6326e7666108dd11…> Trouble viewing? View in browser <https://mailchi.mp/c47072f3c764/reminder-digital-democracy-analogue-politic…> <https://riftvalley.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bbe4bf6326e7666108dd11…> <https://riftvalley.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bbe4bf6326e7666108dd11…> <https://riftvalley.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bbe4bf6326e7666108dd11…> <https://riftvalley.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bbe4bf6326e7666108dd11…> <https://riftvalley.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bbe4bf6326e7666108dd11…> *Book Launch: Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics* 5pm - 7pm・Wednesday 23 January 2019 Rift Valley Institute・Seminar Room Laikipia Road ・Kileleshwa Nairobi REGISTER HERE <https://riftvalley.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bbe4bf6326e7666108dd11…> >From the upheavals of recent national elections to the success of the #MyDressMyChoice feminist movement, digital platforms have already had a dramatic impact on political life in Kenya – one of the most electronically advanced countries in Africa. While the impact of the Digital Age on Western politics has been extensively debated, there is still little appreciation of how it has been felt in developing countries such as Kenya, where Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp and other online platforms are increasingly a part of everyday life. On 23 January 2019, the Rift Valley Institute will launch *Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics: How the Internet Era is Transforming Kenya*, a book that presents a unique contribution to the debate on digital democracy. The book explores how traditionally marginalised groups, particularly women and people with disabilities have used digital spaces have allowed Kenyans to build new communities which transcend old ethnic and gender divisions. But the picture is far from wholly positive. Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics explores the drastic efforts being made by elites to contain online activism, as well as how ‘fake news’, a failed digital vote-counting system and the incumbent president's recruitment of Cambridge Analytica contributed to tensions around the 2017 elections. Reframing digital democracy from the African perspective, Nyabola’s ground-breaking work opens up new ways of understanding our current global online era. *Moderator* *TBC* *Speakers* Nanjala Nyabola *Author* *Discussants * Marylin Muthoni Kamuru Patrick Gathara This email was sent to jbraganza(a)taxjusticeafrica.net because it is subscribed to the RVI mailing list. Unsubscribe <https://riftvalley.us5.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=bbe4bf6326e7666108dd11…> · Update subscription preferences <https://riftvalley.us5.list-manage.com/profile?u=bbe4bf6326e7666108dd11e6f&…> · View in browser <https://mailchi.mp/c47072f3c764/reminder-digital-democracy-analogue-politic…> Rift Valley Institute · PO Box 52771 · GPO 00100 · Nairobi · Kenya *The Rift Valley Institute works in Eastern and Central Africa to bring local knowledge to bear on social, political and economic development.*

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[CofekDigest] #9: Govt Needs to Clarify Secrecy in Procurement and Deployment of NIIMS
by Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) 23 Jan '19

23 Jan '19

Dear Sir/Madam, 1. Questions on the procurement and integrity of Kenya's identity system: http://www.cofek.co.ke/index.php/news-and-media/2359-questions-on-the-procur ement-and-integrity-of-kenya-s-identity-system 2. PM? Rise and rise of Dr Matiang'i, to Uhuru's key man at the helm: http://www.cofek.co.ke/index.php/news-and-media/2355-defacto-pm-rise-and-ris e-of-dr-matiang-i-to-coordinate-other-cs-es 3. Why decision to hand out firearms to private security guards is a bad idea: http://www.cofek.co.ke/index.php/news-and-media/2353-why-decision-to-hand-ou t-firearms-to-private-security-guards-is-a-bad-idea 4. Case on ownership of gas cylinders to be decided Friday, Jan 18: http://www.cofek.co.ke/index.php/news-and-media/2348-case-on-ownership-of-ga s-cylinders-to-be-decided-friday-jan-18 The 2nd Edition of The Kenya Consumer Summit & Expo will be held on November 20-22, 2019. The theme: "Harmonizing the Big Four Agenda and Consumer Protection". Partnership opportunities for Sponsors, Exhibitors and Speakers are open. Talk to us. Yours faithfully, Pjorn Muriuki Program Officer Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) - Restoring Consumer Pride & Confidence _______________________________________________ CofekDigest mailing list CofekDigest(a)lists.cofek.co.ke http://mail.cofek.co.ke/mailman/listinfo/cofekdigest_cofek.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at %(user_optionsurl)s

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Invitation to innovation ecosystem vigil
by Nekesa Were 23 Jan '19

23 Jan '19

Good morning listers, Resilience is a word that is increasingly used regularly in innovation circles. How do we avoid failure when we’re surprised by events? Following the devastating Riverside Attack, Nairobi and Kenya has refused to fail. We are showing our resilience. Our hearts have been warmed by the support for each other throughout the innovation ecosystem. Many times we feel like competitors, but really we all serve a wider, greater mission; to make our society better today than it was yesterday. We would like to invite the innovation ecosystem to the iHub on Tuesday 22 January from 5.30pm - 7.30pm to meet in person and see how we are all doing, how we can better support each other, what we can learn together from the last week. This is an inclusive event. If you want to come, please come. If you are wondering if you should come, please come. *Please RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/innovation-ecosystem-vigil-tickets-55071623709 <https://www.eventbrite.com/e/innovation-ecosystem-vigil-tickets-55071623709>* Prior to this, join family and friends of I-DEV's Jason Spindler today, Monday, January 21st, what would have been his 41st birthday, at a place he loved— J’s on Muthangari from 7:30 until late. Also join the Cellulant family at CITAM Valley Road from 10.30am tomorrow, 22nd Tuesday, when they'll have a memorial service for the Six Brave Men. -- Warm Regards, Nekesa Were iHub <http://ihub.co.ke/> Too brief? Here's why. <http://emailcharter.org/> +254.722.625.633

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Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] Share Your Input on ICANN's Draft Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2021-2025
by Barrack Otieno 22 Jan '19

22 Jan '19

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Bob Ochieng <omondibob(a)gmail.com> Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 16:22 Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] Share Your Input on ICANN's Draft Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2021-2025 To: afrICANN Community List <africann(a)afrinic.net> *Dear all* Please click here [icann.org] <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.icann.org_public-2…> to share your input to help shape the future of ICANN as it sets out long-term strategic objectives that reflect the ICANN mission and vision. The Public Comment will be open until *11 February 2019.* After this public comment period, ICANN org will revise the draft. A strategic planning session is scheduled at ICANN64 in Kobe to further refine the plan. Following ICANN64, the ICANN org will incorporate any last revisions to the draft Strategic Plan. The Board will then finalize and adopt the new FY21 - FY25 Strategic Plan. To learn more about the strategic planning process and to stay up-to-date on progress, please visit the ICANN Strategic Planning page [icann.org] <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.icann.org_resource…> . Regards Bob. _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/africann

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France fines Google nearly $57 million for first major violation of new European privacy regime
by Alice Munyua 21 Jan '19

21 Jan '19

Enforcement begins! -------------------------------- The outside of the Google offices in New York. (Mike Segar/Reuters) By Tony Romm January 21 at 10:30 AM Google has been fined nearly $57 million by French regulators for violating Europe’s tough new data-privacy rules, marking the first major penalty brought against a U.S. technology giant since the region-wide regulations took effect last year. France’s top data-privacy agency, known as the CNIL, said Monday that Google failed to fully disclose to users how their personal information is collected and what happens to it. Google also did not properly obtain users’ consent for the purpose of showing them personalized ads, the watchdog agency said. French regulators said Google’s business practices had run afoul of Europe's new General Data Protection Regulation. Implemented in 2018, the sweeping privacy rules commonly referred to as GDPR have set a global standard that has forced Google and its tech peers in Silicon Valley to rethink their data-collection practices or risk sky-high fines. The United States lacks a similar, overarching federal consumer privacy law, a deficiency in the eyes of privacy hawks that has elevated Europe as the world’s de facto privacy cop. Despite Google’s changes to its business practices, the CNIL said in a statement that “the infringements observed deprive the users of essential guarantees regarding processing operations that can reveal important parts of their private life since they are based on a huge amount of data, a wide variety of services and almost unlimited possible combinations.” In response, Google said it is “studying the decision to determine our next steps,” adding: “People expect high standards of transparency and control from us. We’re deeply committed to meeting those expectations and the consent requirements of the GDPR. “ French regulators began investigating Google on May 25 -- the day GDPR went into effect -- in response to concerns raised by two groups of privacy activists. They filed additional privacy complaints against Facebook and its subsidiaries, photo-sharing app Instagram and messenger service WhatsApp, in other EU countries. “We are very pleased that for the first time a European data protection authority is using the possibilities of GDPR to punish clear violations of the law," said Max Schrems, the leader of the nonprofit noyb.eu (None of Your Business). "It is important that the authorities make it clear that simply claiming to be complaint is not enough." Under Europe's data privacy law, tech giants including Google must give users a full, clear picture of the data they collect, along with simple, specific tools for users to consent to having their personal information harnessed. In both cases, France said that Google had erred. Full details about what Google does with users' personal information are "excessively disseminated across several documents," according to the CNIL. The lack of transparency is even more jarring to users, the watchdog said, because of the sheer volume of services Google operates -- including its maps service, YouTube and app store. Even though Google users can modify their privacy settings when they create an account, French regulators said it still isn't enough -- partly because the default setting is for Google to display personalized ads to users. Meanwhile, Google requires people who sign up to agree to its terms and conditions in full in order to create their accounts, a form of consent that the CNIL faulted because it requires users to agree to everything -- or not use the service at all. For Google, its fine in France marks only its latest headache in Europe. Regulators throughout the region repeatedly have investigated the search giant for its privacy practices, while EU watchdogs have scrutinized Google on antitrust grounds. In 2018, Google faced a much larger, record $5 billion fine for stifling competitors on Android, its smartphone operating system. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/france-fines-google-nearly-57-m…

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British duo flees with Safaricom’s Sh120m debt
by S.M. Muraya 21 Jan '19

21 Jan '19

If the private sector is learning, maybe our public sector (for national security reasons) should prioritize engaging firms owned partially or fully by Kenyans who have no where to flee? https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/British-duo-flees-with-Safaricoms-… *British duo flees with Safaricom’s Sh120m debt* By GALGALLO FAYO | MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019 9:53 SUMMARY - Safaricom is now seeking permission to serve court papers on the elusive company through newspaper adverts. - Iphone Global systems, which has roots in the United Kingdom, is facing a Sh120 million ($1.2 million) claim from Safaricom. - The mobile firm says it has learnt that two of Iphone Global systems directors have filed bankruptcy proceedings in British courts. An international telecommunications firm that owes Safaricom SCOM • 23.40 ▼ 1.27% Sh120 million cannot be traced after folding up its local operations, the mobile phone company has told the court. Safaricom is now seeking permission to serve court papers on the elusive company through newspaper adverts. The mobile firm says it has learnt that two of Iphone Global systems directors have filed bankruptcy proceedings in British courts. The directors, Steven James Moran and Leslie Thompson, who are British nationals, are said to have left Kenya without Safaricom’s knowledge. Attempts to serve the company with court papers have, however, been futile since November after the firm closed its Nairobi office Safaricom and the UK firm, according to documents filed in court, have a relationship that dates back to 2006 when they entered into an agreement of terminating calls into each other’s networks. Iphone Global is licensed to provide voice over internet protocol (VOIP) services. The firm that terminated more calls into the other’s network was supposed to pay the difference, as per the agreement. Safaricom in the suit papers says the firm has defaulted on paying millions in outstanding bills. “Attempts to serve the defendant at its registered office, Ad Life plaza, 4th Floor, suite No 4E, Ring Road Kilimani, have been to naught as the defendant was not in occupation thereof and was said by the Ad Life plaza Manager to have never occupied any offices therein,” Safaricom told the court. The telecommunications firm further says its attempts to locate the company at Iphone Global Systems’ last address, Carbon House, at Westland’s Office Park, was futile as it was informed they were no longer tenants there. High Court Judge James Makau on Thursday allowed Safaricom to inform the company of the pending suit against it by placing an advertisement in a local daily newspaper. Safaricom pleaded with court for speedy determination of its claim to allow it join the bankruptcy proceedings in British courts. The firm further claims that it has traced property belonging to the two directors in the State of Florida, United States of America and that any delay will see the assets disposed, making it difficult for it to recover its claims. Iphone Global signed an agreement with Safaricom to interconnect their systems. The two firms agreed to every month harmonise the bills for calls that had been terminated across the systems, and the company that had placed more cross-network calls was to pay the difference. Iphone Global had always paid its bill on time until early 2017 when it started defaulting, leading to Safaricom terminating the cross network services in March, 2018.

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(WhatsApp) Bigtech v/s Governments (Global Case Studies)
by Patrick A. M. Maina 19 Jan '19

19 Jan '19

1. Power: Global big tech, like FB, are not elected institutions, yet they seem to have amassed enough power to take on *entire governments* - and this is getting worse; a. WhatsApp rejects Indian Gov request for traceability: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/whatsapp-rejects-indian-governments-dema… b. WhatsApp pushing back on Anti-encryption laws (India / Australia): https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/8adc2b8c-1a4a-11e9-9e64-d15… All these despite mounting evidence that the tool is / can be used to *amplify* criminal or subversion activities at a scale that can seriously destabilise most governments! 2. The platforms appear keen to prioritise technology and profits over human safety or human rights (especially when dealing with the global South). https://futurism.com/india-facebooks-whatsapp-violence/amp/ 3. The US tech platforms operate as pseudo "world government" entities rather than ordinary business entities. Aggressively imposing *their own* definition of "privacy", "free speech" and "democracy" upon others. There seems to be an assumed expectation of global cultural homogeneity irrespective of country-level or regional-level Context. American platforms don't seem overly concerned that their tools can be used to trigger civil wars, genocide or coups in fragile / immature democracies. This has led to what looks like credible fears that US Big Tech is turning into a tool for advancing US hegemony. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0306396818823172 4. Even Europe (e.g France) is beefing up to indigenous cyber-defense infrastructure by building their own WhatsApp / Telegram clones for government use. https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/france-whatsapp-security/amp/ When even industrialized *western* nations want to minimise reliance on (or control exposure to) US tech platforms, would it be wise for Kenya want to increase it? Once you are locked in, it will be very costly (if not impossible) to come out. Something for government officials to think about. Degradation of security and economic stability should not be the price we pay for "innovation"; Not all technology is beneficial to humanity and it is important to have assertive public-interest policies driven by holistic and strategic analysis of our unique local circumstances and needs. Have a nice weekend. Patrick A. M. Maina(Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations)

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Fwd: [NRIs List] IGF Stocktaking: Deadline Extended to Monday 21 January
by Barrack Otieno 19 Jan '19

19 Jan '19

Listers, Might be of interest to those following the IGF process. Thank you Best Regards ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Anja Gengo <anja.gengo(a)un.org> Date: Wed, Jan 16, 2019 at 1:58 PM Subject: [NRIs List] IGF Stocktaking: Deadline Extended to Monday 21 January To: igfregionals(a)intgovforum.org <igfregionals(a)intgovforum.org> Dear Colleagues, The IGF Secretariat would like to inform you that the deadline for submitting inputs to the IGF's annual stocktaking process is now EXTENDED until Monday 21 January. The Call for Inputs and submission guidance are available at the IGF website: *https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/igf-community-public-consultation-taking-stock-of-the-2018-work-programme-and-13th-igf-and* <https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/igf-community-public-consu…> All inputs received are already made public on the IGF's website: *https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/2018-2019-stocktaking-contributions* <https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/2018-2019-stocktaking-cont…> If you take a look at the list of currently received submissions, you will notice that the NRIs did not submit any. However, some of the stakeholders involved in the core organizing teams of some of the NRIs did (e.g. those involved in: Italian IGF, Swiss IGF, Ukraine national and Youth IGF, Youth India IGF). We are most thankful to these colleagues! The extension of deadline could be an opportunity for the NRIs to reflect on the IGF 2018 preparatory process and add suggestions for how the NRIs-IGF collaboration can be improved in this year. Thank you very much in advance! Best regards, Anja _______________________________________________ Igfregionals mailing list Igfregionals(a)intgovforum.org To unsubscribe or manage your options please go to http://intgovforum.org/mailman/listinfo/igfregionals_intgovforum.org -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Fwd: Connect Africa : FW: [afnog] Final Announcement: AIS 2019 - AfNOG , 9 - 21 JUNE - KAMPALA - UGANDA
by Barrack Otieno 19 Jan '19

19 Jan '19

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Victor Ndonnang via Internet Society <Mail(a)connectedcommunity.org> Date: Sat, Jan 19, 2019 at 12:19 AM Subject: Connect Africa : FW: [afnog] Final Announcement: AIS 2019 - AfNOG , 9 - 21 JUNE - KAMPALA - UGANDA To: <otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com> Hi all, Forwarding the below message to you for information and action. Best regards, Victor. -- Victor Ndonnang Chapter Development Manager,... -posted to the "Connect Africa" community == Please, reply above this line == ------------------------------ Connect Africa <https://connect.internetsociety.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer…> FW: [afnog] Final Announcement: AIS 2019 - AfNOG , 9 - 21 JUNE - KAMPALA - UGANDA <https://connect.internetsociety.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer…> [image: Victor Ndonnang] <https://connect.internetsociety.org/network/members/profile?UserKey=c955b5d…> Jan 18, 2019 4:19 PM Victor Ndonnang <https://connect.internetsociety.org/network/members/profile?UserKey=c955b5d…> Hi all, Forwarding the below message to you for information and action. Best regards, Victor. *-- * *Victor Ndonnang* *Chapter Development Manager, Africa* Mobile: +1 770-837-7634 – Skype: Ndonnang [image: image001.png(a)01D422CF.BA25C880] <https://www.internetsociety.org/> *The Internet is for Everyone* https://www.internetsociety.org [image: /Users/victor/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Outlook/Data/Library/Caches/Signatures/signature_1206349235] <https://www.facebook.com/InternetSociety> [image: /Users/victor/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Outlook/Data/Library/Caches/Signatures/signature_696112137] <https://twitter.com/internetsociety> [image: /Users/victor/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Outlook/Data/Library/Caches/Signatures/signature_366865481] <https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/> *From: *afnog <afnog-bounces(a)afnog.org> on behalf of nancy dotse < nancy(a)ghana.com> *Reply-To: *nancy dotse <nancy(a)ghana.com> *Date: *Friday, January 18, 2019 at 13:19 *To: *Afnog <afnog(a)afnog.org> *Subject: *[afnog] Final Announcement: AIS 2019 - AfNOG , 9 - 21 JUNE - KAMPALA - UGANDA Hi All, The AfNOG Workshop Application deadline has just been extended for two more weeks ending* 30 Jan 2019.* This is the FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT and those who do not apply by the deadline will not get the opportunity to attend the Event. kindly forward to mailing lists to enable interested applicants apply. *Workshop application information is at :* *English: www.afnog.org/applications/online_application_en.php <http://www.afnog.org/applications/online_application_en.php>* *French: www.afnog.org/applications/online_application_fr.php <http://www.afnog.org/applications/online_application_fr.php>* Participants should please remember to provide complete answers as Applications will be evaluated based on the answers provided. Best regards Nancy Dotse AfNOG Coordinator ---------- Original Message ---------- From: nancy dotse <nancy(a)ghana.com> To: Afnog <afnog(a)afnog.org> Date: October 11, 2018 at 6:25 PM Subject: AIS 2019 - AfNOG ANNOUNCEMENT, 9 - 21 JUNE - KAMPALA - UGANDA Hi All, Hope you are doing well. AfNOG 2019 been announced as below. Interested applicants should please click on the Workshop Online Application link therein to apply. Please remember to provide complete answers as your Application will be evaluated based on the answers provided. Further, kindly forward to various mailing lists Best regards Nancy Dotse AfNOG Coordinator AFRICA INTERNET SUMMIT (AIS) 2019 – WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES AFRICAN NETWORK OPERTORS GROUP (AfNOG) Africa Internet Summit (AIS) Secretariat announces AfNOG's program at The Africa Internet Summit scheduled to be held in Kampala, UGANDA from 9th – 21st June 2019. AIS is the pinnacle multi-stakeholder event combining, workshops, conferences and networking for the internet Industry. The annual summit attracts internationally renowned Instructors, Experts and Speakers to share the latest innovations and Best practices in the Internet industry. This is the place where the African Technical Institutions and Af* such as AfNOG, AFRINIC, AfREN, AfricaCERT, AfTLD –AROC, AfCHIX , ISOC Africa, AfrICANN, AfGWG etc meet. Meeting the needs of the Africa Internet Community: AIS aims at meeting the ever-changing needs of the ICT Industry and includes the core IP Engineering as well as integrating the real world use and impact of IP Technologies. Sessions include technical and business aspects of the Internet :ie Capacity Building, Infrastructure, Security, Policy, Content & Names, Internet Numbers and Research. About the Entire Event : Event Calendar include the following: - AfNOG Workshop on Network Technology (offering advanced training in a week-long hands-on workshop) • Several one /two full-day Advanced AfNOG Tutorials • AfricaCERT Workshop & Forums • AFRINIC Trainings • AfREN Forum • AfTLD – Workshop & Forum • ISOC Africa Sessions • ICANN Africa Day - o AfChixTechWomen Summit • A one-day AfNOG Plenary Session • A three-day AFRINIC Plenary Session. In addition, several side meetings and workshops will be hosted in collaboration with other organizations. Who Attends? A broad range of ICT Industry leaders and technical experts including Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Network Engineers, CSIRTs Engineers and Policy makers who wish to acquire the necessary skills in ICT, Government, Regulators, Telecommunication companies and ICT vendors. It is a good opportunity for networking among peers and businesses. Why Attend? - The AIS addresses the current and future needs of operators in the ICT Industry • It is focused on popular and emerging ICT Industries such as Cyber Security, Mobile Networking among other. • It features discussions on a wide range of issues of the Internet including the current and newest trends in ICT. • Industry experts will be participating in conference sessions from thought-provoking and visionary keynote presentations to interactive panel sessions, all addressing the most pressing topics LOCAL HOST : NFT Consult, Uganda TIME TABLE Workshop & Tutorials - Event Date(s) Unix Boot Camp 9 June 2019 (Sunday) Networking Boot Camp 9 June 2019 (Sunday) CERT Boot Camp 9 June 2019 (Sunday) AfNOG Workshop 10 June - 14 June 2019 (Monday - Friday) AfricaCERT Workshop 10 June -14 June 2019 (Monday - Friday) AfTLD – Workshop & Forum 10 June - 14 June 2019 (Monday - Friday) AFRINIC Trainings 15 – 17 June 2019 (Saturday - Monday) AfCHIX TechWomen Summit 15 June 2019 (Saturday) AfNOG Tutorials 15 - 17 June 2019 (Saturday - Monday) Forums & Conference : Event Date(s) ISOC Africa Sessions TBC ICANN Africa Sessions TBC Opening Session 17 June 2019 (Monday at 5 pm) AfREN Meeting / AAF 17 June2019 (Monday) AfNOG-20 Conference 18 June 2019 (Tuesday) AFRINIC-30 Conference 19 – 21 June, 2019 (Wednesday - Friday) About AfNOG AfNOG (See http://www.afnog.org/) is a forum for cooperation and the exchange of technical information between operators of Internet-connected networks in Africa. AfNOG aims at building a community of engineers helping each other operate Internet Infrastructure in Africa, and on the Global Internet as well as promote the discussion of issues relating to implementation of new networks that require community cooperation. AfNOG has since year 2000 organized their annual Event in a different African country each year. "While AfNOG fuels the rapid growth of the Internet in Africa with trained technical capacity, our content has been determined by the needs of the community. In so doing AfNOG's output training capacity has multiplied in the past decade and the community flourished" AfNOG Workshop on Network Technology : The AfNOG Workshop on Network Technology aims to offer advanced training to people who are in the process of developing and enhancing an Internet-connected network with regional and international connectivity. The target audience includes senior and mid-level technical staff of commercial Internet service providers (ISPs), academic networks, government networks, or NGO networks. This workshop builds on the experience of previous AfNOG workshops held annually from 2000 to 2018 in Nineteen different African countries, and also the Internet Society's INET workshops, held annually from 1993 to 2000 at eight locations around the world. The workshop's Instructors are an international team with many years of experience in operating large networks and teaching about network operations. AfNOG 2019 Workshop Tracks This year's workshop is divided into six parallel Tracks: ( 5 English & 1 French Tracks). - SS-E Scalable Internet Services (in English), focused on the design and operation of email, web, and other Internet services, in ways that can scale to handle large numbers of end users. - SI-E - Scalable Network Infrastructure (in English), focused on the design and operation of networks using routers and switches, in ways that can scale to handle large numbers of interconnected sites. - NM – E, Network Monitoring & Management (English) - NM-F, Network Monitoring & Management (enfrancais), similar to track NM-E, but given in French. - AR –E, Advanced Routing Techniques (English) - CT- E, CERT Training (English) Workshop application information is at : English: www.afnog.org/applications/online_application_en.php French: www.afnog.org/applications/online_application_fr.php **Workshop Application Deadline – 15th Jan, 2019 AfNOG Tutorials AfNOG will offer 1 to 2 full-day(s) tutorials on advanced topics. Tutorials take place in a classroom-style environment, and may include a hands-on practical component. Tutorials are non-commercial in nature, and most are technically oriented. They are intended to offer advanced training on technology already deployed or soon to be deployed on networking and related services provisioning for ISP operations. Additional information about AfNOG 2019 Tutorials will be available here shortly: www.afnog.org/afnog2019/tutorial About AFRINIC AFRINIC is the Regional Internet Registry for Africa headquartered in Ebene, Mauritius. It is responsible for the distribution and management of Internet number resources (IP address space and Autonomous System Numbers) in Africa and the Indian Ocean region. AFRINIC ensures equitable and efficient distribution of Internet number resources to the African Internet community to support Internet governance, technology usage and development across the continent. Trainings and capacity building are a central part of AFRINIC's activities and the objective is to build competence within Africa in IPv6 adoption as well as associated technologies required to use internet number resources effectively. More on AFRINIC can be found at http://www.afrinic.net/ . AfricaCERT AfricaCERT will hold a 6 day Workshop & Tutorial on CSIRT Operations from 10th to 14th June 2019 in Kampala, Uganda. AfricaCERT is the African forum of computer incident response teams, and aims to propose solutions to Challenges for a better health in the Af* Internet Ecosystem. The objectives of AfricaCERT include, but are not restricted to : - Assisting African countries in establishing CSIRTs; • Strengthening the relationships amongst CSIRTs in Africa and with other stakeholders all over the World; • Fostering and supporting education and outreach programs in ICT Security; • Encouraging information sharing in ICT Security; • Promoting good practices and experiences sharing among members to develop a comprehensive framework for cybersecurity including better addressing of legal and regulatory issues; • Assisting African CSIRTS in improving Cyber readiness and enhancing the resilience of ICT Infrastructure; • Promoting Collaborative Technology Research, Development and Innovation in the ICT security field. Please visit http://www.africacert.org/ for further information. AfTLD – AROC Workshop & Meeting Africa Top Level Domains Organization will be conducting a Workshop & Forum during AIS. Further information will be provided shortly. ICANN Africa ICANN Africa will be holding sessions on ICANN. Further information will be provided shortly. ISOC AFRICA ISOC Africa will be holding sessions/tutorials on Internet Governance, etc. Further information will be provided shortly. AfCHIX AfCHIX will be holding the Third AfCHIX Tech Women Summit on 15th June, 2019. Further information will be provided shortly. AfREN The Africa Research and Education Networking (AfREN) will be holding a one day meeting on 17th June 2019. AfREN is the annual forum on African research and education networking. As one of the Af* organizations, the AfREN forum is part of the annual Africa Internet Summit (AIS) and was convened since 2007 by the Research and Education Networking Unit (RENU) of the Association of African Universities in collaboration with AfNOG & AFRINIC. The forum is a platform for discussions on issues of interest to the research and education networking (REN) community such as collaboration, advocacy and coordination of activities in Africa. Sharing of experience and best practices as well as presentation of innovative networking technologies are also regularly addressed at AfREN. The sponsorship of campus network Managers to attend the annual AfNOG training workshops has also become an integral part of AfREN. Since 2012, with the formation of regional RENs covering all the countries of Africa, there is a traditional session on updates from the UbuntuNet Alliance (Eastern & Southern Africa), WACREN (West and Central Africa) and ASREN (Arab countries, including North Africa). Typical AfREN participants include among others, campus and research and education network practitioners, REN operators, telecom operators, regulators, policy makers and international partners. Additional information on AfREN 2019 will be provided shortly. AfNOG - 2019 Conference The 20th AfNOG Conference will be held in Kampala Uganda, on 18th June 2019. AfNOG conferences provide a forum for the coordination and dissemination of technical information related to backbone/enterprise networking technologies and operational practices. The conferences are informal, with an emphasis on relevance to current and future African backbone engineering practices. The AfNOG 2018 conference in Senegal drew several delegates, mainly consisting of network engineering staff from lnternet Service providers, Telecommunication Companies, Government, Research and Education community, Civil Society. Additional information and the Conference schedule will be available here shortly: www.afnog.org/afnog2019/conference AFRINIC- 30 Public Policy Meeting The AFRINIC-30 Public Policy meeting will be held in Kampala, Uganda for three days from 19th – 21st June, 2019. AFRINIC Meetings are open to everyone and provide an excellent opportunity to take part in Internet policy discussions. These policies, which describe how Internet Number Resources should be managed and distributed, are developed by the community. The meeting will include tutorials, presentations, update on the various working groups and the AFRINIC Public Policy Meeting. The three day meeting will be preceded by IPv6 training and training in Internet Number Resource Management. Please join us, once again, as we come together to learn, network and shape the future of ICT in Africa!! *Reply to Sender Online <https://connect.internetsociety.org/communities/all-discussions/postreply?M…>* *View Thread <https://connect.internetsociety.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer…>* *Flag as Inappropriate <https://connect.internetsociety.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer…>* You are subscribed to "Connect Africa" as otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com. To change your subscriptions, go to My Subscriptions <http://connect.internetsociety.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions>. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to Unsubscribe <http://connect.internetsociety.org/HigherLogic/eGroups/Unsubscribe.aspx?Use…> . -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Online learning portal on new Technologies.
by John Matogo 17 Jan '19

17 Jan '19

Dear listers, This is a useful resource you can leverage for learning new technologies. There is new content on Data Science and Blockchain in the New Collars Section. In addition to learning, users are able to obtain *Digital Badges* when they complete certification, users also get a platform on which they can develop and host apps and also *find jobs directly from the portal*. *Registration and Learning is Free*. All one requires is an email address and Internet access. *To access the platform go to **http://www.digitalnationafrica.com* <http://www.digitalnationafrica.com> Best.

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Big Data Analytics Training
by Timothy- Coach- Oriedo 17 Jan '19

17 Jan '19

Dear Listers, https://training.predictiveanalytics.co.ke/ Predictive Analytics Lab, domiciled i Nairobi but with a client footprint in Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania has launched blended learning modules in data science to bridge the industry demand supply deficit . Designed to cater for the needs of analytics professions across the spectrum, from Entry level generalists to intermediary Machine Learning experts to specialist level Data Engineers. The training and coaching program intends to inject more native Data Scientists to help solve local challenges leveraging on homegrown tuned algorithms and datasets. It prepares the participants for career transformation moves whether they are seeking vertical growth within the organisation or horizontal growth by moving out of employment into dataprenuership consulting. We look forward to your support by registering and referrals through the link below. https://training.predictiveanalytics.co.ke/ Kind Regards Tim Coach Timothy Oriedo [image: http://]timothyoriedo.coach <http://timothyoriedo.coach?promo=email_sig&utm_source=product&utm_medium=em…>

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Huawei Kenya Sustainability
by Adam Lane 17 Jan '19

17 Jan '19

Hi all I was chatting with Grace and realized I forgot to share the Huawei Kenya Sustainability Report that was launched late last year, and that it might be interesting for KICTAnet members...it maps our contribution to all 17 SDGs, and covers both commercial and philanthropic activities, as well as our operations and can be downloaded here<https://www.huawei.com/minisite/explore-kenya/pdf/huawei_kenya_csd_report.p…>. This is our first Kenya report and just highlights key activities. Please read the global report<https://www.huawei.com/en/about-huawei/sustainability/sustainability-report> for more details on anything that is global, as it is more comprehensive particularly on issues related to cybsersecurity, privacy, environmental protection, and supply chain. A summary: [cid:image002.png@01D4A9BA.A800C160] Cheers Adam Senior Director, Public Affairs Huawei Kenya Mobile: +254-7909-85886 E-mail: adam.lane(a)huawei.com<mailto:adam.lane@huawei.com> Address:5th Floor, Tiara Office Park, Mugumo Road, Lavington, Nairobi, Kenya http://www.huawei.com/en/ Read Huawei Kenya's First Ever Sustainability Report here<https://www.huawei.com/minisite/explore-kenya/pdf/huawei_kenya_csd_report.p…> [W3 Home]<http://w3.huawei.com/>

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#10YearChallenge and data mining
by Grace Githaiga 17 Jan '19

17 Jan '19

"If you use social media, you've probably noticed a trend across Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter of people posting their then-and-now profile pictures, mostly from 10 years ago and this year. Imagine that you wanted to train a facial recognition algorithm on age-related characteristics and, more specifically, on age progression (e.g., how people are likely to look as they get older). Ideally, you'd want a broad and rigorous dataset with lots of people's pictures. It would help if you knew they were taken a fixed number of years apart—say, 10 years.... In other words, thanks to this meme, there’s now a very large dataset of carefully curated photos of people from roughly 10 years ago and now." Read more on: https://www.wired.com/story/facebook-10-year-meme-challenge/ Best regards -- Grace Githaiga Co-Convenor, Kenya ICT Action Network

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India's Bharti Airtel in talks to buy Telkom Kenya
by Victor Kapiyo 17 Jan '19

17 Jan '19

Looks like it's soon going to be a two horse race for mobile subscribers... India’s Bharti Airtel is in talks to buy Telkom Kenya, the country’s smallest telecoms operator, to create a stronger challenger to market leader Safaricom, three industry sources told Reuters on Monday. London-based Helios Investment, which owns a 60 percent stake in Telkom, is looking to partly cash out of the investment which it entered in 2015, the sources said. https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/Bharti-Airtel-in-talks-to-buy-Tel…

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Africa: Increasing internet Shutdowns and media bans limiting access to information
by Victor Kapiyo 17 Jan '19

17 Jan '19

ARTICLE 19 is concerned by a series of internet shutdowns across Africa, most recently in Zimbabwe, where the internet has reportedly been blocked since 15 January. Similar shutdowns in Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Gabon and South Sudan have likewise paralyzed access to information and communication for citizens of these countries. https://www.article19.org/resources/africa-increasing-internet-shutdowns-an…

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Startups write to PM Modi for exemption from Section 68; here's what it is - The Financial Express
by WANGARI KABIRU 16 Jan '19

16 Jan '19

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Economic sabotage via FAKE NEWS
by Patrick A. M. Maina 15 Jan '19

15 Jan '19

[long post - but interesting topic] Hi Listers, There is a new target for weaponised information (i.e. fake news / propaganda): The Economy. It is increasingly apparent that "Fake news" can be (and is being) used to sabotage and/or derail an entire country or region's economic agenda by (local and/or foreign) parties intent on furthering their own interests at any cost to the targeted country or region, and the media seems to be an unwitting (or unconcerned?) participant. Some of us may have already noticed a critical flaw in the "free media" business model. It is viewership (not the quality of stories) that drives their revenue. Now one would expect viewership and quality to be strongly correlated but that thought does not factor human nature. Majority of people gravitate towards entertaining / controversial / shocking / shaming subjects. Very few people care for deep, broad or complex analysis of the real issues especially if the conclusions are not sensational. Even fewer search for multiple viewpoints before drawing their own conclusions. They would rather trust the author to have done sufficient balanced research and analysis (which is often far from reality e.g. due to time constraints associated with "breaking" or "exclusive" news models). So *controversy* (not information) is what sustains media houses in democratic countries globally. Consequently this has made them easy targets for targeted disinformation campaigns. As much as the media claims to have a code of conduct or editorial policies, we see all over the world evidence that media (and/or journalism) is not free of overt/covert bias. In Kenya we have the open secret of "envelope" or "eWallet" journalism for example... Is "Free press" an illusion? How can a media house be free when its shareholders demand endless growth in profits - something that can only be achieved by "giving people what they want" (not what they need)? Which media house will publish a story that potentially upsets a major advertiser? Can they refuse millions from deep pocketed international lobbyists to spread propaganda (provided there are legal loopholes to evade treason, libel or other forms of accountability)? Critical thinkers will agree that nowadays the media (worldwide) are informing less and manipulating more...and it almost looks deliberate (no wonder the uptick in conspiracy theories globally!). The hidden (but harmful) impact of this is increased *mass ignorance* within populations at the very least, with other potentially worse implications (e.g. spread of unfounded fears or hate targeted at certain groups). Fake news is particularly insidious and destructive when the economy or development agenda is targeted for sabotage. To the average person, it looks like harmless gossip or sensational chatter from "concerned (usually faceless) groups" but if you consider the consequences in monetary terms, e.g. if truly beneficial projects be abandoned, delayed or scaled down for invalid or unjustifiable reasons, then there is a massive cost that the taxpayer will ultimately have to foot. What looks like fierce competition between geopolitical power players in pursuit of *their* interests can end up completely derailing an otherwise promising economic agenda of the targeted country/region. Should local media be held accountable for the consequences of facilitating economic sabotage that is commensurate with any harmful impact of the fake/distorted/half-truth stories being told? I value press freedom but I think all freedoms are balanced with some kind of equitable accountability (such that A's freedoms don't harm B's rights). It is not the media that feels the pain of irresponsible reporting, its the MSME business people whose opportunities for growth get limited, or hardworking employees whose taxes (or costs of living) go up as government scrambles to raise funds in a booby trapped economy. Meanwhile the controversy / fake news fuelled media shareholders laugh all the way to the bank. The bigger picture for all of us, no matter our role in society, is to try contribute (within our abilities) towards peace, progress, democratic ideals, better standards of living and economic prosperity. I think it is irresponsible for one party to exercise its rights just for the sake of it, without regard to impact on other people's rights (e. g. to have a stable, predictable and growing economy). What do you think? Is the western model of "press freedom" failing? Share your thoughts. BrgdsPatrick A. M. Maina(Independent Public Policy Analyst)

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Concern over graft as State centralizes IT procurement
by Joel Itube 14 Jan '19

14 Jan '19

https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Concerns-over-graft-as-State-centralises-proc… Kind Regards, Joel Itube

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Fwd: [Internet Policy] 'Right to be forgotten' by Google should apply only in EU, says court opinion
by Barrack Otieno 14 Jan '19

14 Jan '19

Dear Listers, Interesting development. Learned friends what is your take? Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Joly MacFie <joly(a)punkcast.com> Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2019 10:58:48 -0500 Subject: [Internet Policy] 'Right to be forgotten' by Google should apply only in EU, says court opinion To: "internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org" <InternetPolicy(a)elists.isoc.org> (Via Access Now) https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/10/right-to-be-forgotten-by… The “right to be forgotten”, which enables claimants to request the removal of links to irrelevant or outdated online information about them, should not be enforceable globally, the European court of justice (ECJ) has found in a preliminary opinion. The controversial power, requiring search engines to prevent access to material on the internet, should be enforceable only in the EU and not worldwide, the court’s advocate general, Maciej Szpunar, said. Final judgments by the ECJ usually endorse initial opinions. The case related to a dispute between Google and France’s National Commission for Information Technology and Civil Liberties (CNIL), with a number of UK and international free speech organisations saying that extending the power could encourage censorship in countries such as China, Russia and Saudi Arabia. In his opinion, the advocate general said the right to be forgotten must be balanced against other “fundamental rights”, such as the right to data protection, privacy and the legitimate public interest in accessing information. Szpunar said if worldwide “de-referencing” was allowed, EU authorities would not be able to determine a right to receive information or balance it against other fundamental rights to data protection and to privacy. <snip> -- --------------------------------------------------------------- Joly MacFie 218 565 9365 Skype:punkcast -------------------------------------------------------------- - -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Samsung Users Can't Delete Facebook, making it crapware to users who don't need it
by Mwendwa Kivuva 10 Jan '19

10 Jan '19

Facebook has inked an unknown number of agreements with Android smartphone makers, mobile carriers and OSes around the world to not only pre-load Facebook’s eponymous app on hardware but render the software *undeleteable*; a permanent feature of your device, whether you like how the company’s app can track your every move and digital action or not. Bloomberg spoke to a U.S. owner of a Samsung Galaxy S8 who, after reading forum discussions about Samsung devices, found his own pre-loaded Facebook <https://crunchbase.com/organization/facebook>app could not be removed. It could only be “disabled,” with no explanation available to him as to what exactly that meant. The Galaxy S8 retailed for $725+ when it went on sale in the U.S. two years ago <https://techcrunch.com/2017/04/20/samsung-galaxy-s8-and-galaxy-s8-now-on-sa…> . A Facebook spokesperson told Bloomberg that a disabled permanent app doesn’t continue collecting data or sending information back to the company, but declined to specify exactly how many such pre-install deals Facebook has globally. Samsung told the news organization it provides a pre-installed Facebook app on “selected models” with options to disable it, adding that once disabled, the app is no longer running. https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/09/facebook-is-the-new-crapware/amp/

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Fwd: [NRIs List] IGF2019 reminder: Taking Stock and Call for Issues OPEN
by Barrack Otieno 09 Jan '19

09 Jan '19

Listers, This is for your information and action. Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Anja Gengo <anja.gengo(a)un.org> Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2019 11:46:25 +0000 Subject: [NRIs List] IGF2019 reminder: Taking Stock and Call for Issues OPEN To: "igfregionals(a)intgovforum.org" <igfregionals(a)intgovforum.org> Dear Colleagues, This is a kind reminder on two important IGF processes currently underway: * Taking stock of the 2018 work programme and 13th IGF and suggestions for 2019 and 14th IGF All NRIs are encouraged to help strengthening the IGF, by providing written inputs on what worked well during the IGF 2018 cycle and how can we improve the 2019 IGF cycle. On THIS LINK<https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/igf-community-public-consu…> you can see a set of proposed guiding questions to address. Deadline for submissions: 15 January 2019. All received inputs will be published on the IGF website, and summarized to feed into the first face to face IGF Open Consultations and MAG meeting. * IGF 2019 Call For Issues It would be much helpful to the IGF, if you would let the community know what issues were among highest priorities for your respective communities in the recent period. You can submit as many issues as you want through THIS LINK<https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/igf-2019-call-for-issues>. Deadline for submissions: 24 January 2019. Thank you very much in advance for your collaboration on these important processes! Best regards, Anja -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Use law on right to information to fight corruption
by S.M. Muraya 09 Jan '19

09 Jan '19

Dear Listers, If Executive Order No. 2 of 2018 is prioritized and maintained, in 2020, we can start to track the percentage of funds allocated to information system (transparency promoting) projects. https://www.nation.co.ke/oped/opinion/Use-law-on-right-to-information-to-fi… In his desire to make the government accountable and tackle the runaway corruption, President Uhuru Kenyatta issued Executive Order No. 2 of 2018, directing public entities to, from July 1, maintain and continuously update and publicise complete information of all tenders awarded. Subsequently, the Public Procurement Information Portal — an online platform for the publication of contract awards and tender notices by public bodies — was set up to consolidate and upload such information on a monthly basis. More than 7,000 tenders and 1,500 contracts worth Sh50 billion awarded to 4,200 suppliers have been posted to enhance transparency in the public procurement of goods and services.

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NYABUGA: Mugo Kibati epiphany seems long in coming - Daily Nation
by Mutindi Muema 09 Jan '19

09 Jan '19

Dear listers, I came across this article ... It would be interesting to hear your views on the same. https://www.nation.co.ke/oped/opinion/Kibati-epiphany-seems-long-in-coming/… Kind regards, Mutindi.

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Fwd: [Internet Policy] Relation between blockchain and real world
by Barrack Otieno 08 Jan '19

08 Jan '19

Listers, As we look forward to the report from the Block Chain Taskforce, this will be an interesting read. Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Richard Hill <rhill(a)hill-a.ch> Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2019 12:49:03 +0100 Subject: [Internet Policy] Relation between blockchain and real world To: internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org The article referenced below gives a good explanation of why blockchain may not be suitable for certain applications: https://www.coindesk.com/the-false-promise-blockchains-will-revolutionize-r… Best, Richard -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Fwd: [At-Large] ISOC Hall of Fame Nominations
by Barrack Otieno 08 Jan '19

08 Jan '19

Listers, For your attention and action. Best Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Glenn McKnight <mcknight.glenn(a)gmail.com> Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2019 14:57:49 -0500 Subject: [At-Large] ISOC Hall of Fame Nominations To: At-Large Worldwide <at-large(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org> Do you know someone who has played a major role in the development and advancement of the Internet? Now is the time to recognize their contribution. Nominate them for the 2019 Internet Hall of Fame. With more than 100 inductees, the Internet Hall of Fame celebrates Internet pioneers and innovators who have pushed the boundaries to bring the Internet to life and make it an essential resource for billions of people today. The Internet Hall of Fame, launched in 2012 by the Internet Society, recognizes: • Individuals who were instrumental in the design and development of the Internet with exceptional achievements that impacted the Internet's global advancement and evolution; • Individuals who made outstanding technological, commercial, or other advances and helped to expand the Internet’s positive impact on the lives of others; • Individuals who made major contributions to the growth, connectivity, and use of the Internet, either on a global scale or within a specific region that resulted in global impact. For more information or to make a nomination, visit https://www.internethalloffame.org/nominations <https://www.internethalloffame.org/nominations?fbclid=IwAR18mUidmWZq_ZX73hl…> . The deadline for nominations is 8 March 2019. Please help us spread the news and share this message with your networks and contacts. If you have any questions, email internethalloffame(a)isoc.org. Glenn McKnight NARALO Secretariat mcknight.glenn(a)gmail.com http://toronto.ieee.ca/ IEEE Toronto SIGHT Chair glenn.mcknight(a)ieee.org skype gmcknight twitter gmcknight 289-830 6259 . <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> Virus-free. www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Fwd: [Internet Policy] Future of Data Driven political campaigns
by Barrack Otieno 08 Jan '19

08 Jan '19

Listers, This might be of interest. Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Richard Hill <rhill(a)hill-a.ch> Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2019 20:01:08 +0100 Subject: [Internet Policy] Future of Data Driven political campaigns To: internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org I thought that this article was worth cross-posting: https://opendemocracy.net/renata-avila/fixing-digital-democracy-future-of-d… Best, Richard _______________________________________________ To manage your ISOC subscriptions or unsubscribe, please log into the ISOC Member Portal: https://portal.isoc.org/ Then choose Interests & Subscriptions from the My Account menu. -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Mozilla applauds the government of Kenya for publishing the Data Protection Bill, 2018.
by esther kamande 07 Jan '19

07 Jan '19

In the spirit of increased private sector engagement in policy making, Mozilla applauds the government of Kenya for publishing the Data Protection Bill, 2018. *".... a strong data protection law must protect the rights of individuals with meaningful consent at its core. It must have strong obligations placed on data controllers and processors reflecting the significant responsibilities associated with collecting, storing, using, analyzing, and processing user data; and provide for effective enforcement by an empowered, independent, and well-resourced Data Protection Authority. We’re pleased to see all of these values included in the Kenyan data protection bill......"* Alice Munyua (Policy Advisor Mozilla Corporation). Excerpt from : https://blog.mozilla.org/netpolicy/2019/01/02/kenya-considers-protection-of… Mozilla’s comments on the Kenyan data protection bill can be found here <https://ca.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Mozilla-Submission-of-Comments-…> . https://ca.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Mozilla-Submission-of-Comments-… Let us continue engaging the government to ensure the bill is *perfected* and passed in 2019. Happy new year Listers! Kind Regards, Esther Kamande Advocate | InfoTech Law Twitter: @enkamande

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Fwd: [i-network] AIS 2019 - AfNOG ANNOUNCEMENT, 9 - 21 JUNE - KAMPALA - UGANDA
by Barrack Otieno 04 Jan '19

04 Jan '19

Listers, Might be of interest to some. Regards ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: badru.ntege(a)nftconsult.com <badru.ntege(a)nftconsult.com> Date: Fri, Jan 4, 2019 at 8:08 AM Subject: [i-network] AIS 2019 - AfNOG ANNOUNCEMENT, 9 - 21 JUNE - KAMPALA - UGANDA To: I-Network Uganda <i-network(a)dgroups.org> Cc: Techies <techies-bounces(a)uixp.co.ug>, Richard Okuti <rokuti(a)intracen.org > Good Morning All The Application deadline is gradually drawing to a close and we urge all interested applicants to please click on the Workshop Online Application link below to apply. Workshop application information is at : English: http://www.afnog.org/applications/online_application_en.php French: http://www.afnog.org/applications/online_application_fr.php Please remember to provide complete answers as your Application will be evaluated based on the answers provided. Further, kindly forward to various mailing lists For Ugandans this is a great opportunity not only to get probably the best network training available but to also meet the leaders in building what we enjoy today as an African internet infrastructure. Best regards [image: cid:image001.png@01D375D0.BEBB4E30] MAILING LIST RULES - http://www.i-network.or.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=189… WEEKLY DISCUSSION ROUNDUPS - http://www.i-network.or.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=19… QUARTERLY eNEWSLETTERS - http://www.i-network.or.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=34&… WEBSITE - www.i-network.or.ug TWITTER - http://twitter.com/inetwork FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/inetwork.ug The I-Network Dgroup is a platform for ICT Knowledge Sharing --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit [web site]( http://dgroups.org/iicd/i-network/ ) Click [here]( mailto:leave.i-network@dgroups.org ) to unsubscribe The email is intended only for the recipients. The owners of the Dgroups cannot be held responsible for the contents of the email message. -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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ICYMI - Competitiveness - Balancing the metrics
by Patrick A. M. Maina 04 Jan '19

04 Jan '19

A must read article on the need to have balanced competitiveness indicators. When a country scores highly on "Ease of doing business" rankings it does not necessarily mean that other critical factors for a thriving economy are in place. Balanced metrics can inform better policies and incentives. Example of additional metrics: Competitiveness: What products or services does our country offer to global markets with a strong value proposition? Lots of potential for ICT here. Predictability: Financial system e.g. banking & credit / Political / Regulatory / Dispute resolution... Income distribution: at what rate is the median purchasing power increasing? Check it out... https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/analysis/columnists/Competitiveness-a-m…

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How Apps on Android Share Data with Facebook - Report
by Wamathai (HapaKenya) 03 Jan '19

03 Jan '19

"Facebook routinely tracks users, non-users and logged-out users outside its platform through Facebook Business Tools. App developers share data with Facebook through the Facebook Software Development Kit (SDK), a set of software development tools that help developers build apps for a specific operating system. Using the free and open source software tool called "mitmproxy", an interactive HTTPS proxy, Privacy International has analyzed the data that 34 apps on Android, each with an install base from 10 to 500 million, transmit to Facebook through the Facebook SDK." https://privacyinternational.org/report/2647/how-apps-android-share-data-fa…

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Fw: [bestbits] E-commerce negotiations expected to be launched at Davos - Statement against
by WANGARI KABIRU 03 Jan '19

03 Jan '19

Blessed New Year 2019! The arguments and counter in the forwarded message would interest the growing "e-commerce" players. "Developing countries cannot simply hope that the benefits of their local producers getting new markets through global e-commerce will somehow outweigh the disadvantages of cheap products from mass manufacturing centres inundating their domestic markets. They would be equally misplaced to expect that global e-commerce rules will help the flourishing of their domestic digital platforms, where they already exist. The latter face quick annihilation as soon as global digital majors cast their eyes on the corresponding markets. India, which has been a little ahead of the curve among developing countries (other than China), has already seen its major digital platform companies unionise and seek government protection against global ‘capital dumping’." Be blessed.Regards/Wangari --- Pray God Bless. 2013Wangari circa - "Being of the Light, We are Restored Through Faith in Mind, Body and Spirit; We Manifest The Kingdom of God on Earth". ----- Forwarded message ----- From: parminder <parminder(a)itforchange.net>To: "governance(a)lists.riseup.net" <governance(a)lists.riseup.net>; bestbits(a)lists.bestbits.net> < <bestbits(a)lists.bestbits.net>Sent: Thursday, 3 January 2019, 09:31:19 GMT+3Subject: [bestbits] E-commerce negotiations expected to be launched at Davos - Statement against Hi All Wishing you all a great 2019! It is expected that plurilateral negotiations on e-commerce will be launched at the World Economic Forum's Davos annual meeting last week of Jan 2019, bypassing the WTO. The African group and India had blocked attempts at launching ecom negotiations at the WTO Buenos Aires ministerial in Dec 2017 ... We have prepared the enclosed and below statement for sign ons. It highlights what is contained in the proposed rules, what are the proponents' true motives, why some developing countries get deceived, and why these rules should be stopped. Pl follow the instructions on the statement for endorsement...An email to be me would work as well.... best, parminder Statement developed by Just Net Coalition E-commerce negotiations being launched at the WEF are really about rules for digital colonisation A call to the people and governments of the world to oppose legitimisation of the new land grab of people’s, communities’, and nations’ data World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Davos meeting in January, 2019, is expected to witness the launch of plurilateral negotiations on global e-commerce rules, bypassing the WTO. Dominant digital interests – global digital business and governments supporting it – plan the proposed rules to be a blue-print for a whole new global digital order. A new digital social contract Agrarian-feudal economic and social relationships centred on land ownership, and industrial age ones on ownership of industrial and later intellectual capital. In the digital age, these relationships will revolve around ownership of data and the resultant artificial intelligence.1 The proposed e-commerce rules2 mandate unrestrained global flow of data – the primary resource of the digital society. This in essence means that data will be the property of whoever collects and hoards it. It provides an, in perpetuity, legitimacy to global data land-grabs by a few digital corporations such as Facebook, Google, Amazon, Alibaba, etc. These rules would insulate global digital corporations from national regulation by disallowing any requirement for their ‘local presence’ in the domestic territory, and inspection of their software and algorithms. Digital inter-connections, payments, authentication, cyber-security, etc, get mostly subject to global private law – under pro- big business arbitration – further curtailing the remit of domestic jurisdictions over global digital interactions. Prohibition against any border-crossing tax on commercial digital transactions would, in turn, debilitate the nation state’s finances in the digital era. Digital economy is not just a sector. It pervades and increasingly transforms all sectors – like the industrial society/economy paradigm did before it. As every sector and activity becomes digital, and infused with artificial intelligence, this proposed political economy and private governance framework for the digital will dominate all aspects of societies. It will increasingly upend the social contract that underlies the nation-state based mixed economy and welfarism for the last many decades. Digital opportunities, many believe, can bring unprecedented prosperity for all. But for this, digital governance must be based on principles of social justice and equity within and across societies. This is required even more in this formative period of the digital society. Quite the opposite is sought, however, through rules for global usurpation of the most valuable digital resource, and hamstringing national regulation. A few powerful businesses and governments plan to digitally control all social activities and economic sectors across the world. The omnipresent tentacles of the Internet, globally extracting granular data about every person and thing, underpin these new controls. The e-commerce chimera The biggest bluff of global e-commerce rules is how they get sold in the name of helping micro, small and medium enterprises in developing countries. So apparently, the new messiahs of small enterprises in developing countries are going to be a few US based global digital corporations, that monopolise e-commerce to take up to 40 percent commissions, abuse sellers’ and manufacturers’ data to manipulate them and/or replace their products by in-house ones, are most arbitrary and exploitative in their relationships with sellers/producers, and beyond national regulations to impose any fairness on their activities! Some developing country leaders get led to believe that global e-commerce simply represents a great expansion of the marketplace, opening more market opportunities for their struggling businesses. For one, expanded and more open markets are not necessarily better for their small businesses, an overwhelming majority of which deal in goods that are easily out-priced by global mass manufacturing centres like in China. The latter can now so much more readily penetrate even the remotest local markets. These leaders that are enthusiastic about global e-commerce perhaps need to first list the actual goods that their domestic businesses produce in a globally competitive manner! Artisan and other cultural goods tend to form the staple of the ‘global e-commerce for development’ rhetoric, but they constitute an extremely small part of any economy. Digitalisation can enhance efficiencies in every economic activity and layer of the economy. It is NOT digital efficiencies in the global trade layer that will bring the most immediate benefits to developing countries. It will simply expose their vulnerable economies and markets to endless exploitation. Developing countries need to first digitalise their domestic production processes, to produce globally valuable products cheaply. They must focus on developing domestic digital platforms. In short, they need to undertake digital industrialisation before they can benefit from global digital trade. To the extent that trade across borders also can stimulate industrialisation, and scale being important for the digital economy, developing countries should first collaborate among those with comparable digital development. The founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba, Jack Ma, himself considers e-commerce to be an outdated concept. This clearly underlines the fallacy of seeing e-commerce primarily as digitally-expanded marketplaces. What global digital platforms really do is to re-organise every sector employing data-based digital intelligence, and then control them in a monopolistic manner. Such controls tend to be very one-sided and highly exploitative, with deep lock-ins. This situation demands new kinds of digital regulation, and national frameworks mandating local ownership of data for nurturing domestic digital businesses. The proposed e-commerce rules pre-empt all such possibilities, which shows how their proponents know their game well into the future. Developing countries cannot simply hope that the benefits of their local producers getting new markets through global e-commerce will somehow outweigh the disadvantages of cheap products from mass manufacturing centres inundating their domestic markets. They would be equally misplaced to expect that global e-commerce rules will help the flourishing of their domestic digital platforms, where they already exist. The latter face quick annihilation as soon as global digital majors cast their eyes on the corresponding markets. India, which has been a little ahead of the curve among developing countries (other than China), has already seen its major digital platform companies unionise and seek government protection against global ‘capital dumping’. A reality check is needed for the chimera of ‘global e-commerce for development’ created by digital superpowers, with the support of some donor and international agencies. Resist digital colonialism Global business leaders from the South – like Bob van Dijk, CEO of Naspers, Africa’s biggest company; Anil Ambani, head of India’s largest business house ; and Nandan Nilekani, Chairman of India’s top IT company – have been warning against data and digital colonisation. Traders’ groups in many developing countries are holding protests, and local digital businesses are complaining, as they face being captured or wiped out by global digital corporations. Some developing country leaders, however, remain blinded by the lure of sitting at the high table with global digital business leaders, this time at the snow-white Davos. They keep hoping that these business leaders will somehow magically usher in the appropriate digital economy/ society in their countries. It would be useful to understand the future that dominant digital interests have in mind through the proposed e-commerce rules. Data flows unchecked from all countries to a very few global digital corporations, mostly in the US and some in China. Such expansive and minute data enables them to develop thorough real time digital intelligence about every sector and every single economic activity and actor. It would be as if the ‘brains’ of all physical activities and processes in all other countries are ‘outsourced’ to these few corporations. A complete cognitive lock-in and digital intelligence dependency soon sets the conditions for total economic and social domination. As it gets entrenched, future options for developing countries to ever extricate themselves also get foreclosed. In any case, as explained earlier, the proposed rules simultaneously de-fang key levers of national digital regulation, render digital relationships subject to global private law, and considerably squeeze the taxation base of the state. The choice of the Mecca of global business, WEF, for launching this potent new framework for domination of the world by a few digital corporations indeed rings of poetic appropriateness! We, the undersigned, call upon the people and the governments of the world to oppose this blatant attempt at a new elitist digital social contract which is nothing but one between the digital masters and the rest of us, laying out the rules of our digital servitude for all times to come. Let us claim our data, and our digital future, for ourselves! Just Net Coalition ……………………. ……………………. ……………………. This statement is open for endorsements by organisations and individuals till January 15th, 2019. Please send your endorsement, or any questions, to secretariat(a)justnetcoalition.org . Alternatively, you can endorse it online at https://data.justnetcoalition.org . 1Among others, the prominent author and public intellectual Yuval Harari recently employed the analogy across land, capital and data ownership. 2First developed as a part of the Trans Pacific Partnership trade treaty, its template of e-commerce rules has been repeated at all trade discussions that US and its allies get involved in, including at the WTO.

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Re: [kictanet] Shenzhen: The Silicon Valley of Hardware
by Jimmy Gitonga 24 Dec '18

24 Dec '18

Thank you Grace. This should be a nice read over the festive season. With the best regards, Jimmy Gitonga > On 23 Dec 2018, at 12:00 PM, kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke wrote: > > From: Grace Bomu <nmutungu(a)gmail.com <mailto:nmutungu@gmail.com>> > To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>> > Subject: [kictanet] Shenzhen: The Silicon Valley of Hardware > Message-ID: > <CAMwG4pw7818ZePZcxUvBf8rmQginkGXWNCX9sa+KqnR-RH6a+Q(a)mail.gmail.com <mailto:CAMwG4pw7818ZePZcxUvBf8rmQginkGXWNCX9sa+KqnR-RH6a+Q@mail.gmail.com>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Every day at around 4 p.m., the creeeek criikkk of stretched packing tape > echoes through Huaqiangbei, Shenzhen?s sprawling neighborhood of hardware > stores. Shopkeepers package up the day?s sales?selfie sticks, fidget > spinners, electric scooters, drones?and by 5, crowds of people are on the > move at the rapid pace locals call Shenzhen sudu, or ?Shenzhen speed,? > carting boxes out on motorcycles, trucks, and?if it?s a light order?zippy > balance boards. From Huaqiangbei the boxes are brought to the depots of > global logistics companies and loaded onto airplanes and cargo ships. In > the latter case they join 24 million metric tons of container cargo going > out every month from Shekou harbor?literally ?snake?s mouth,? the world?s > third-busiest shipping port after Shanghai and Singapore. > > A few days or weeks later, the boxes arrive in destinations as nearby as > Manila and Phnom Penh and as far afield as Dubai, Buenos Aires, Lagos, and > Berlin. They appear in the world?s largest cities and smallest villages: > selfie sticks held up in front of Indian temples, a (rebranded) Xiaomi > electric scooter cruising down San Francisco?s Market Street, and a DJI > drone flying over pretty much anywhere. If your gadget says ?Made in > China,? the chances are it came from Shenzhen. > > https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612571/inside-shenzhens- <https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612571/inside-shenzhens-> > race-to-outdo-silicon-valley/ > > > -- > Grace Mutung'u > Skype: gracebomu > @Bomu

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Shenzhen: The Silicon Valley of Hardware
by Grace Bomu 23 Dec '18

23 Dec '18

Every day at around 4 p.m., the creeeek criikkk of stretched packing tape echoes through Huaqiangbei, Shenzhen’s sprawling neighborhood of hardware stores. Shopkeepers package up the day’s sales—selfie sticks, fidget spinners, electric scooters, drones—and by 5, crowds of people are on the move at the rapid pace locals call Shenzhen sudu, or “Shenzhen speed,” carting boxes out on motorcycles, trucks, and—if it’s a light order—zippy balance boards. From Huaqiangbei the boxes are brought to the depots of global logistics companies and loaded onto airplanes and cargo ships. In the latter case they join 24 million metric tons of container cargo going out every month from Shekou harbor—literally “snake’s mouth,” the world’s third-busiest shipping port after Shanghai and Singapore. A few days or weeks later, the boxes arrive in destinations as nearby as Manila and Phnom Penh and as far afield as Dubai, Buenos Aires, Lagos, and Berlin. They appear in the world’s largest cities and smallest villages: selfie sticks held up in front of Indian temples, a (rebranded) Xiaomi electric scooter cruising down San Francisco’s Market Street, and a DJI drone flying over pretty much anywhere. If your gadget says “Made in China,” the chances are it came from Shenzhen. https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612571/inside-shenzhens- race-to-outdo-silicon-valley/ -- Grace Mutung'u Skype: gracebomu @Bomu PGP ID : 0x33A3450F

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Re: [kictanet] TV signals turned off
by Dorcas Muthoni 22 Dec '18

22 Dec '18

Hahaha 😂 😂 😂, that is all I can tell you Ali. Have a great weekend! On Feb 2, 2018 5:20 PM, "Ali Hussein via kictanet" < kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: Dorcas You smartly skirt the issues I have raised. But let me address the issue of the media. During the electioneering period who was abusing the Internet most to spread virulent lies and propaganda? Was it the media or politicians? And here I mean politicians on both sides of the divide. My dear sister, wake up and smell the coffee.. you continue to defend the indefensible and one day we will be here defending you. As I said this list has a habit of being an equal opportunity offender. *Ali Hussein* *Principal* *Hussein & Associates* +254 0713 601113 <0713%20601113> Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." ~ Aristotle Sent from my iPad On 2 Feb 2018, at 4:06 PM, Hillary Cheserek via kictanet < kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: Agreed. ------------------------------ *From: *"Dorcas Muthoni" <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com> *To: *"hcheserek" <hcheserek(a)kenet.or.ke> *Cc: *"KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> *Sent: *Friday, February 2, 2018 3:48:22 PM *Subject: *[kictanet] TV signals turned off Thanks Hillary, Correct, this is not a justification discussion but an opportunity to show that both government and media should be accountable and responsible at all times. I am surprised at how much leeway the media has been given even on this list when it comes to being accountable and responsible. So many journalists mean well, but how many can set the headline? Several years ago, I asked a senior news editor "as you set the political agenda in the country (what many call power of the media ), do you see Nairobi becoming something like Tokyo or Kabul?" He was dismayed. That person is still heading news as far as I know. On Feb 2, 2018 3:31 PM, "Hillary Cheserek" <hcheserek(a)kenet.or.ke> wrote: > I have seen the video and it is really informative. However, I doubt if > Kenyans will take it seriously. They have been trained to think differently > and to be defensive at all times. The video does not justify switching off > TV signals as well. > > Regards > *Hillary K. Cheserek* > Senior Network Engineer > KENET > > ------------------------------ > *From: *"Dorcas Muthoni via kictanet" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > *To: *"hcheserek" <hcheserek(a)kenet.or.ke> > *Cc: *"Dorcas Muthoni" <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com>, "KICTAnet ICT Policy > Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > *Sent: *Friday, February 2, 2018 3:15:02 PM > *Subject: *Re: [kictanet] TV signals turned off > > Ali, view this video https://www.facebook.com/nasdaily/videos/ > 977587759060043/ to get an idea why media is harmful to civilians. Pay > attention to the last 30 seconds. > I am sure you appreciate this bit as well. > > No one one should acquire a licence to use the spectrum, only to > predominantly serve personal and paid interests. I guess you know that only > three out of the 43 TV stations are affected by this. They have all mainly > grown on the premise that politics sells in Kenya. Who sets the agenda, > they do. It is common sense that politics in Kenya thrives on tribalism. > > If you think the content (especially political) served by the 3 TV > stations is doing more good than harm, i think the exact opposite. > > This list enables different perspectives to be shared while shaping the > industry. We cannot afford to lean on one side. > > And by the way, i think our constitution still needs lots of work, we > cannot blindly say that it is the best we can ever have. And what about > democracy, i am not sure of any perfect democracy anywhere in the world, > neither do i think that it is really working in many parts of the world. > > On Fri, Feb 2, 2018 at 1:02 PM, Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> wrote: > >> Dorcas >> Yours is a one sided conversation. Why are you not talking about our >> leaders who have disappointed the nation more than the press can ever do. >> >> Look at what is happening right now. The use of the instruments of state >> to circumvent a court order. When those who are supposed to protect us and >> uphold the law are the ones who are circumventing it where does this leave >> us as a citizenry? >> >> Why do you not talk about that? >> >> This list is an equal opportunity offender. Most of us here do not >> necessarily subscribe to any particular political pursuit when it comes to >> ICT issues. We discuss issues here that affect the ICT Sector and how it is >> perceived by local and foreign investors. You tell me whether what is >> currently happening is good for this country. >> >> Kiswahili twasema - Ukiona mwenzako anyolewa chako kitie maji.. (if you >> see your friend being shaved, please prepare your head because you will >> surely be next). >> >> My earnest and sincere plea to the government is not to take this country >> on a slippery slop of disrespecting our democracy and constitution. This is >> our Govt irrespective of our political divide. >> >> Regards >> >> *Ali Hussein* >> *Principal* >> *Hussein & Associates* >> +254 0713 601113 <0713%20601113> >> >> Twitter: @AliHKassim >> >> Skype: abu-jomo >> >> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim >> >> "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a >> habit." ~ Aristotle >> >> >> Sent from my iPad >> >> On 2 Feb 2018, at 11:41 AM, Dorcas Muthoni via kictanet < >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >> >> Brother Ali, Trust me, the media has let me down. There were days when >> it was a true fourth estate but today, the same rot that has eaten many >> sectors is well alive and blooming in the media. >> >> Please share your perceived risks to national security the >> self-inauguration poses to you and me. One sided risk assessment is >> self-destructive. >> >> On Feb 1, 2018 3:47 PM, "Ali Hussein" <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> wrote: >> >>> Semantricks my dear sister.. A play with words doesn’t detract from the >>> fact. Who more than politicians have turned this into personal interest? >>> >>> *Ali Hussein* >>> *Principal* >>> *Hussein & Associates* >>> +254 0713 601113 <0713%20601113> >>> >>> Twitter: @AliHKassim >>> >>> Skype: abu-jomo >>> >>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim >>> >>> "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but >>> a habit." ~ Aristotle >>> >>> >>> Sent from my iPad >>> >>> On 1 Feb 2018, at 12:02 PM, Dorcas Muthoni via kictanet < >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >>> >>> @Ali and @Kiama, the word is politricks. >>> >>> Reporting politics obsessively for personal and paid interest. This is >>> where I fault the media. They know themselves. >>> >>> This trend does not benefit the professional media or the followers but >>> rather brings selfish political games to your channel. >>> >>> On Feb 1, 2018 9:50 AM, "Mutemi wa Kiama" <eddiekiama(a)gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> Dorcas? >>> >>> Don't report politics? Don't report corruption, mismanagement, theft of >>> public resources, abuse of office? Don't report LIFE in Kenya is what you >>> are saying. You want to stay in your ignorance perch and enjoy your comfort >>> zones. Thing is, you won't know what hits you when it crumbles. >>> >>> #LestWeForget: When local TV stations were arbitrary switched off during >>> digital migration, notwithstanding that the global deadline was over a year >>> away providing room for negotiation & structured migration, the CS in >>> charge of information/ICT was... drum roll... incidentally, one Fred >>> Matiang'i!!! YaHoo! >>> >>> Let's keep feeding the pet python by doing nothing, after all, we are >>> not media. No way internet can be shut down surely! >>> >>> Ni mimi, >>> >>> Edwin Kiama >>> >>> >>> Thoughts become things... choose the good ones! >>> ------------------------------------------------------------ >>> ------------------------------------------- >>> Social Innovator, Social Justice Entrepreneur, Catalyst, Human Rights >>> Defender, Social Accountability Champion, Rhize Coach >>> >>> #DevolutionIsRevolution Champion >>> >>> The Wanjiku Agenda Kenya Foundation (WAKenya) >>> Ordinary, Fearless Kenyans. >>> >>> Sauti Ya Wanjiku Social Movement www.sautiyawanjiku.com >>> >>> https://www.facebook.com/wanjikurevolutionkenya >>> >>> https://twitter.com/WanjikuRevolt >>> >>> https://plus.google.com/u/1/+WanjikuMapinduzi/posts >>> >>> http://www.scribd.com/wmkenya >>> >>> >>> "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can >>> change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever >>> has." ~Margaret Mead >>> >>> >>> >>> On 1 Feb 2018 09:02, "Dorcas Muthoni via kictanet" < >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >>> >>> @Peter >>> >>> This is very true and I know to survive in the media business today is >>> not business as usual. >>> >>> Instead of focusing on politricks, claiming it sells why not wake to the >>> call of disruption. >>> >>> We have all lost government business across many sectors, many bills >>> remain unpaid in public procurement, now it's time to create new value >>> propositions to the undeserved or new relevant content. >>> >>> If you check the Google search statistics on top Kenyan user searches, >>> that would provide a pointer on some content areas worth airtime with >>> relevant local context. >>> >>> By the way, why is KTN HOME still broadcasting? Because they focus is >>> on family entertainment? I am sure several others are on air. >>> >>> Wake up call to your mainstream media houses producers? Over emphasis on >>> politricks especially during the news hours will eventually cost the media. >>> >>> >>> >>> On Jan 31, 2018 4:38 PM, "Peter Wakaba via kictanet" < >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >>> >>>> Let me give a bit of background on why media owners may be taking the >>>> quiet road on this one. After President Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn in in >>>> 2013, and thereafter he named his cabinet, the Ministry of information >>>> moved forward with an idea that had been floating around for a while. To >>>> streamline government spending on advertising and several associated areas >>>> under one body. Meant to create synergy through bulk and then save >>>> government money, the move saw government then channel all advertising >>>> cash through the Government Advertising Agency. >>>> >>>> Between January and April of 2016, this body billed just over a cool >>>> ksh.4B. >>>> >>>> Then they moved a step further and created the 'My Gov' pullout which >>>> initially ran in the two national dailies, plus the people and the star. >>>> Henceforth all government advertising apart from very critical adverts were >>>> channel into this project with the news being delivered by the Kenya News >>>> Agency. The ministry then pays one of the newspapers to print and >>>> distribute as a pullout. >>>> >>>> Needless to say, over this period, advertising revenue has shrunk >>>> dramatically to the point of crippling operations in some newsrooms. To >>>> turn the screws even further, the Ministry has then stopped printing and >>>> publishing this pullout regularly but is now doing so in 'random' fashion >>>> on a weekly basis in any of the said newspapers. The last I saw it was in >>>> the Star Newspaper. >>>> >>>> While no doubt the above move has helped with government austerity, the >>>> media is having to tighten its belt tighter every day. (Not that anyone >>>> owes us anything) >>>> From a team of ten just five years ago, I often have to work with just >>>> one person and maybe an intern to deliver hours of news. (and companies, >>>> like our are all looking to shrink their traditional businesses). >>>> >>>> When you mix the above issues with the general corporate governance >>>> issues that majority of the Kenyan economy faces, there is cause for worry. >>>> And while companies are indeed innovating in order to stay relevant, I >>>> daresay the level of attrition is way faster. >>>> >>>> Then through in lack of depth, lack of experience (because inexperience >>>> is easier to hire and pay) and the rise of fake news and you have a melting >>>> pot that should have everyone worried. >>>> >>>> And while I agree with Ali Hussein that our diligence will eventually >>>> pay off, I fear for the hordes of millennials who may not be as patient. >>>> >>>> In closing, very few companies are willing to take on Government, or >>>> even larger corporates like Safaricom anymore >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Wed, Jan 31, 2018 at 4:35 PM, Grace Githaiga via kictanet < >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >>>> >>>>> @ Victor >>>>> >>>>> It is not clear if any of the media houses has taken legal action. >>>>> However, the media attended a press briefing this afternoon where they were >>>>> informed that the stations would "remain off air until the government has >>>>> completed investigations into the "swearing-in" of Opposition leader Raila >>>>> Odinga." >>>>> >>>>> Read on: TV stations will remain shut until investigations end, says >>>>> Matiang'i >>>>> https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2018/01/31/tv-stations- >>>>> will-remain-shut-until-investigations-end-says-matiangi_c1706915 >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Video footage:VIDEO: 3 media houses to remain off-air until government >>>>> concludes investigations - Interior CS Fred Matiang'i >>>>> https://twitter.com/ntvkenya/status/958674927405580289 >>>>> >>>>> Best regards >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Githaiga, Grace >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Wednesday, 31-01-2018 at 15:40 Victor Kapiyo via kictanet wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Has any media station gone to court on this? >>>>> >>>>> Or are they perhaps pursuing ADR methods to resolve the issue? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> *Victor Kapiyo* >>>>> >>>>> Partner | *Lawmark Partners LLP* >>>>> >>>>> Advocate of the High Court of Kenya,Commissioner for Oaths & Notary >>>>> Public >>>>> >>>>> *Suite No. 8, Centro House, Westlands, Nairobi |**Web: >>>>> www.lawmark.co.ke* >>>>> ==================================================== >>>>> >>>>> *“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude” Zig >>>>> Ziglar* >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 31 January 2018 at 14:53, Harry Delano via kictanet < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Actually, Ali am equally outraged that am not seeing sufficient, >>>>> copiou, outpouring amounts of outrage from the mainstream media, or we >>>>> being hoodwinked..? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> We seem to be the ones who look more outraged at this, strangely..! >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Harry >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 31 Jan 2018 14:46, "Admin CampusCiti via kictanet" < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Kevin >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Kuwa mpole Ndugu. [image: :-)] >>>>> >>>>> *Ali Hussein* >>>>> >>>>> *Hussein & Associates* >>>>> >>>>> +254 0713 601113 <0713%20601113> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim >>>>> >>>>> Skype: abu-jomo >>>>> >>>>> LinkedIn:http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim >>>>> >>>>> Blog:www.alyhussein.com >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking >>>>> what no one else has thought". ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Sent from my iPad >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 31 Jan 2018, at 1:50 PM, Kevin Kamonye via kictanet < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Peter. I hope you wrote us this email while in a highly charged >>>>> meeting with your colleagues and those from the other houses as regards to >>>>> how you are going to march to both the CA and the MoICT to demand the >>>>> restoration of your transmissions and an explanation. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> You just tell me where and when we are to start. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> If not, I have no sympathy for you guys. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Regards, >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Kevin >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 31 January 2018 at 11:53, Peter Wakaba via kictanet < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Good morning, >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> My conundrum for the day. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I work for KTN NEWS >>>>> I had scheduled two interviews today afternoon. >>>>> >>>>> One on modern commercial large scale farming and another on T-vet >>>>> (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) and youth. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Being off air on most platforms and under government shutdown, one of >>>>> my interviewees, parastatal Chief, no less, has developed cold feet and >>>>> cancelled or postponed. He is not sure how to behave and whether his >>>>> turning up would be misconstrued. (Two weeks of work out of the window). >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> My second interviewee, a focused and passionate lady PS. we have been >>>>> planning and cancelling for 3 months now. When I last got her into studio, >>>>> what was supposed to be a one hour insightful discussion was interrupted by >>>>> a presidential rally by the current President. She got just 3 minutes on TV >>>>> for her trouble and left veeeery angry. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> After much haggling, we finally rescheduled. AND THEN YESTERDAY >>>>> HAPPENED. Despite the switch off her handlers insist we keep our end of the >>>>> bargain. >>>>> >>>>> If I host her, will I still be 'kow towing' to the same government >>>>> that is trying to literally throttle my bread and butter ( if I may borrow >>>>> from two expressions). >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> For both them and I, there is a lacuna on how to behave in these >>>>> instances. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> And yet, my audience still needs to be educated and entertained. Oh >>>>> what interesting times we live in. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Wed, Jan 31, 2018 at 11:25 AM, Eric David via kictanet < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> We are living a lie. The Channels are off. Who's answerable? >>>>> ------------------------------ >>>>> >>>>> *From:* kictanet <kictanet-bounces+mwau=outlook >>>>> .com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> on behalf of Kevin Kamonye via kictanet < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >>>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 31, 2018 10:45 AM >>>>> *To:* Eric Mwau >>>>> *Cc:* Kevin Kamonye >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] TV signals turned off >>>>> >>>>> A good and insightful read Wangari. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> The rising power of Facebook, Google and Twitter and their >>>>> opportunistic business models. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I can directly correlate the challenges that the world media is facing >>>>> to these corporations. They have basically invalidated the current media >>>>> company model in such a way that they sell content that they do not produce >>>>> themselves and to sweeten the deal further - they do not have to pay for >>>>> any operator licenses.They need to be classified as media companies - at >>>>> the very least. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> That is why you see our media here being so desperate to the point >>>>> that they almost have no choice but to cooperate with the government >>>>> because it is the biggest source of their revenue. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Next in line to be cannibalized is the Telecom industry bu this is a >>>>> discussion for another day. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On another note, it is shameful for Kenya to be mentioned with the >>>>> below countries, and in such a context. Does anyone have specific >>>>> information on what the Soros foundation is doing in Kenya. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> That leaves the local battlegrounds in Africa, the Middle East and >>>>> Central Asia. My foundations are actively engaged in all of them. We are >>>>> particularly focused on Africa, where would-be dictators in Kenya, Zimbabwe >>>>> and the Democratic Republic of Congo have perpetrated electoral fraud on an >>>>> unprecedented scale and citizens are literally risking their lives to >>>>> resist the slide into dictatorship. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Regards, >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Kevin >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 30 January 2018 at 23:30, WANGARI KABIRU via kictanet< >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> While haggling here on democracy using the lens of TV media, yes, the >>>>> cyber is also on the spotlight. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> https://www.georgesoros.com/2018/01/25/remarks-delivered- >>>>> at-the-world-economic-forum/ >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> *The IT monopolies* >>>>> >>>>> I want to spend the bulk of my remaining time on another global >>>>> problem: the rise and monopolistic behavior of the giant IT platform >>>>> companies. These companies have often played an innovative and liberating >>>>> role. But as Facebook and Google have grown into ever more powerful >>>>> monopolies, they have become obstacles to innovation, and they have caused >>>>> a variety of problems of which we are only now beginning to become aware. >>>>> >>>>> Companies earn their profits by exploiting their environment. Mining >>>>> and oil companies exploit the physical environment; social media companies >>>>> exploit the social environment. This is particularly nefarious because >>>>> social media companies influence how people think and behave without them >>>>> even being aware of it. This has far-reaching adverse consequences on the >>>>> functioning of democracy, particularly on the integrity of elections. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Might it be possible to replace with TV companies, aka broadcasters >>>>> >>>>> "This is particularly nefarious because (social media companies)TV >>>>> companies, aka broadcastersinfluence how people think and behave without >>>>> them even being aware of it. This has far-reaching adverse consequences on >>>>> the functioning of democracy, particularly on the integrity of elections. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Be blessed. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Regards/Wangari >>>>> >>>>> --- >>>>> Pray God Bless. 2013Wangari circa -"Being of the Light, We are >>>>> Restored Through Faith in Mind, Body and Spirit; We Manifest The Kingdom of >>>>> God on Earth". >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Tuesday, 30 January 2018, 20:25, Harry Delano via kictanet < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hey Dorcas, >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> There could be specific qualms against the media fraternity, but how >>>>> about effective checks and balances which I suppose a majority of us would >>>>> agree are in place to quite a degree including costs for breach.. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Am afraid yours is sanctioning a ' throw-out-the-baby-with-the- >>>>> bath-water' approach. When done with media, next will be this very cyber >>>>> space me and you are thriving on that will be switched off. Then what..?? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Harry >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 30 Jan 2018 19:13, "Dorcas Muthoni via kictanet" < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Media freedom must come with responsibility which currently is not the >>>>> case. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Call me when you organize a forum to hold the media to account. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Jan 30, 2018 6:55 PM, "Liz Orembo via kictanet" < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote: >>>>> >>>>> @Dorcas, >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> We missed a step forward towards media freedom and freedom to access >>>>> information. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Politics aside, I also felt for those who had to keep calling people >>>>> who had internet or could afford bundles to stream the event. There are >>>>> other ways of making the media accountable other than denying citizen >>>>> access to information. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Jan 30, 2018 18:43, "Denis Mutinda via kictanet" < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote: >>>>> >>>>> So I’m assuming they will turn off those signals forever? >>>>> >>>>> Media will be on Govts case for the next few weeks. Extinguish one >>>>> fire, start another one. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Denis Mutinda >>>>> >>>>> President, ISACA Kenya >>>>> >>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 30 Jan 2018, at 18:31, Dorcas Muthoni via kictanet < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Other than the perceived illegality, what did we actually miss. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I stopped watching these stations two years ago. Most journalists >>>>> agenda set based on personal or paid interests and there is tonnes of >>>>> evidence to this. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I am surprised at how so many pretend not to know this \uD83D\uDE14 >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> By the way, my business and customers are gravely tired of this >>>>> political crap. I assure many people are. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> And subscribers are paying to serve the kind of delusional content >>>>> screened (I feel especially for kids). >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Kenyans, if you want a better country, fix yourself first. Complaining >>>>> about the less 500 senior government officials many of whom you would be >>>>> pleased to replace and benefit like they do is the highest level of >>>>> hypocrisy. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Controversial as this may sound, it's the high time each of us took >>>>> ownership by fixing yourself first. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Jan 30, 2018 6:02 PM, "Ali Hussein via kictanet" < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Kevin and all >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I won't dwell on the tribal or ethnic part of this issue. Let's rather >>>>> address the illegality and unprecedented nature of what is going on right >>>>> now. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ALL MAJOR TV STATIONS HAVE GONE DARK. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Why? Is it because of a technical issue? Or was it a deliberate >>>>> attempt to muzzle free speech and expression. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I understand some goons even went to a particular ISP and tried to >>>>> block certain IP addresses. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> This level of intimidation and muzzling of the press is unprecedented. >>>>> Any Kenyan of sound mind and body will be against it. Irrespective of the >>>>> political divide. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Not even in the darkest days of the KANU Dictatorship has the press >>>>> been treated in such a cavalier manner while the supposedly 'friendly' >>>>> press continue with their business as usual. As I write this Citizen, NTV >>>>> and KTN News are still dark. The rest are operating. WHY? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> One day someone will be held responsible for this. Impunity cannot >>>>> last forever. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> *Ali Hussein* >>>>> >>>>> *Principal* >>>>> >>>>> *Hussein & Associates* >>>>> >>>>> Tel: +254 713 601113 <0713%20601113> >>>>> >>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim >>>>> >>>>> Skype: abu-jomo >>>>> >>>>> LinkedIn:http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alih kassim >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing, >>>>> >>>>> Chiromo Road, Westlands, >>>>> >>>>> Nairobi, Kenya. >>>>> >>>>> Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are >>>>> purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the >>>>> organizations that I work with. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Tue, Jan 30, 2018 at 5:38 PM, Kevin Kamonye via kictanet< >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote: >>>>> >>>>> This may explain why Wangusi had to go. There is a Kemei who is acting >>>>> DG. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Mwendwa, to me this reads like ethnic profiling. Not acceptable. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Regards, >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Kevin >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 30 January 2018 at 16:47, Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote: >>>>> >>>>> This may explain why Wangusi had to go. There is a Kemei who is acting >>>>> DG. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> We thought Kenya is ahead of other countries to experience a shutdown. >>>>> Think again. We are still in January, and 2022 is 5 years away. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> The media too thought they were above board and could not be harassed >>>>> like normal Kenyans. Now the tide has turned. They were complacent in many >>>>> ways before, during, and after the elections. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> "... and when they finally came for the media, there was nobody to >>>>> speak up for them" >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Jan 30, 2018 2:46 PM, "Tracy Kadesa Adolwa via kictanet" < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote: >>>>> >>>>> I have been unable to livestream since Baba arrived, is it me only? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -Regards >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Tracy Kadesa, >>>>> >>>>> LL.B ,University of Nairobi. >>>>> >>>>> Dip KSL >>>>> >>>>> legalwalk.wordpress.com >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Tue, Jan 30, 2018 at 2:26 PM, Peter Wakaba via kictanet< >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote: >>>>> >>>>> The government simply did not want Kenyans to witness the huge crowds >>>>> that have turned up. AND they are huge. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> The BBC and Aljazeerah are offering periodical updates live as well. >>>>> >>>>> KTN NEWS livestream is also still on, though intermittent. >>>>> >>>>> And at this point, it is out of Both Raila and Kalonzo's hands. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Politics aside, the CA physically disconnected terrestrial links at >>>>> Limuru before then systematically switching off most other channels of >>>>> broadcast, fibre connections and satellite are intermittent. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Tue, Jan 30, 2018 at 2:07 PM, Kevin Kamonye via kictanet < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote: >>>>> >>>>> This is so sad to see happen in my country Kenya. And at so many >>>>> levels. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I will set aside the constitution and the illegality of the situation >>>>> because am not a constitutional expert of any kind. What I can comment on >>>>> is that this is such a strategic failure by the perpetrators. It is >>>>> actually so shocking that they cannot actually see that this only serves to >>>>> add more fuel to the fire. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Is this the caliber of people that we have at the top of our Industry? >>>>> Are they not able to advise the government of how futile it is to attempt >>>>> to shutdown communication in today's world??? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> As for the Kenyan Media - you deserve this. You are a greedy and self >>>>> serving lot. Just the other day we heard recordings of a certain journalist >>>>> being threatened. Where was the collective response? Shame on you too. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Regards, >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Kevin >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 30 January 2018 at 13:34, Wathagi Ndungu via kictanet < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote: >>>>> >>>>> A creeping back of autocracy. This is outside the perimeter of the >>>>> constitution. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Best Regards, >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Joy Wathagi Ndungu >>>>> >>>>> Co-Founder, Digital Grassrootswww.digitalgrassroo ts.org >>>>> >>>>> Phone number :*+254706690282* >>>>> >>>>> Alternate Email 1: *joy.w@digitalgrassroots.org*AlternateEmail2:*jndungu@stu >>>>> dentsforliberty.org* >>>>> >>>>> 8638-00300 Nairobi, Kenya >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> www.digitalgrassroots.org >>>>> >>>>> https://www.facebook.com/digit algrassroots/ >>>>> >>>>> https://twitter.com/digigrassr oots >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Tue, Jan 30, 2018 at 1:20 PM, Odhiambo Washington via kictanet < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Jubilee can go ahead and switch off the Sun, FaceBook & Twitter. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> At the height of the protests in Egypt, the dictator president, Hosni >>>>> Mubarak, decided to shut down the Internet as well. That did not stop >>>>> Egyptians from remaining Egyptians. >>>>> >>>>> Who triumphed? >>>>> >>>>> Just because an ostrich decides to bury its head in the sand so as not >>>>> to see what is happening around doesn't make it safe for the ostrich. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> No need to >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 30 January 2018 at 11:48, Deborah via kictanet < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote: >>>>> >>>>> My apologies. I now understand the situation. I'm working away from >>>>> the TV most of the time. This last time I went by I was corrected that the >>>>> decoder has a subscription, and even then NTV, KTN and Citizen were off. It >>>>> seems they defied the ban on broadcasting live political events. My >>>>> question would now be on the justification of the ban. >>>>> >>>>> ------------------------------ >>>>> From:Keith Andere via kictanet >>>>> Sent:‎30/‎01/‎2018 11:09 >>>>> To:deborah.wanjugu@gmail.com >>>>> Cc:Keith Andere >>>>> Subject:Re: [kictanet] TV signals turned off >>>>> >>>>> KTN News too. Channels are off on all free to air platforms. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> KTN News and NTV are available on DSTV. >>>>> >>>>> Regards, >>>>> >>>>> Keith. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 30 Jan 2018 10:53, "Sidney Ochieng via kictanet" < >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Citizen and NTV. >>>>> >>>>> On Tue, 30 Jan 2018 at 10:33, Deborah <deborah.wanjugu(a)gmail.com> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Hey Sidney, >>>>> >>>>> Which signals have been turned off? I went to check and found them all >>>>> on and transmitting normally with the exception of Citizen. It usually has >>>>> issues on the Startimes decoder. >>>>> >>>>> Deborah >>>>> >>>>> ------------------------------ >>>>> From:Sidney Ochieng via kictanet >>>>> Sent:‎30/‎01/‎2018 10:26 >>>>> To:deborah.wanjugu@gmail.com >>>>> Cc:Sidney Ochieng >>>>> Subject:[kictanet] TV signals turned off >>>>> >>>>> Listers, >>>>> >>>>> How long before they come for the internet? I’m so disappointed in the >>>>> CA >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> Regards, >>>>> >>>>> Sidney >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Twitter:@princelySid|*Web:*s idneyochieng.co.ke >>>>> *Skype: *sidney.ochieng | *Github:* princelySid >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> Regards, >>>>> >>>>> Sidney >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Twitter:@princelySid|*Web:*s idneyochieng.co.ke >>>>> *Skype: *sidney.ochieng | *Github:* princelySid >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ______________________________ _________________ >>>>> kictanet mailing list >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m ailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTA Net/ >>>>> >>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m >>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/kephan d%40gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder >>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy >>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>>> >>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ______________________________ _________________ >>>>> kictanet mailing list >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m ailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTA Net/ >>>>> >>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m >>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/odhiam bo%40gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder >>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy >>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>>> >>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> Best regards, >>>>> Odhiambo WASHINGTON, >>>>> Nairobi,KE >>>>> +254 7 3200 0004/+254 7 2274 3223 >>>>> "Oh, the cruft." >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ______________________________ _________________ >>>>> kictanet mailing list >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m ailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTA Net/ >>>>> >>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m >>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/joywat hagi%40gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder >>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy >>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>>> >>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ______________________________ _________________ >>>>> kictanet mailing list >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m ailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTA Net/ >>>>> >>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m >>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/kevin. kamonye%40gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder >>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy >>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>>> >>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ______________________________ _________________ >>>>> kictanet mailing list >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m ailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTA Net/ >>>>> >>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m >>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/peterw akaba%40gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder >>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy >>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>>> >>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> *Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up, It knows it must run >>>>> faster >>>>> than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes >>>>> up, >>>>> it knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to >>>>> death. It >>>>> doesn't matter whether you are a gazelle or a lion. When the sun comes >>>>> up, >>>>> you better start running. - In "The World is Flat" by Thomas L. >>>>> Friedman.* >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ______________________________ _________________ >>>>> kictanet mailing list >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m ailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTA Net/ >>>>> >>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m >>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/kadesa tracy%40gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder >>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy >>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>>> >>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ______________________________ _________________ >>>>> kictanet mailing list >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m ailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTA Net/ >>>>> >>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m >>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/kivuva %40transworldafrica.com >>>>> >>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder >>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy >>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>>> >>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ______________________________ _________________ >>>>> kictanet mailing list >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m ailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTA Net/ >>>>> >>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m >>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/kevin. kamonye%40gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder >>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy >>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>>> >>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ______________________________ _________________ >>>>> kictanet mailing list >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m ailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTA Net/ >>>>> >>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m >>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/info%4 0alyhussein.com >>>>> >>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder >>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy >>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>>> >>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ______________________________ _________________ >>>>> kictanet mailing list >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m ailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTA Net/ >>>>> >>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m >>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/dmutho ni%40gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder >>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy >>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>>> >>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>>>> >>>>> ______________________________ _________________ >>>>> kictanet mailing list >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m ailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTA Net/ >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> kictanet mailing list >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ >>>>> >>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ >>>>> mailman/options/kictanet/harry26001%40gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder >>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy >>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>>> >>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>>>> >>>>> ... >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> kictanet mailing list >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ >>>>> >>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ >>>>> mailman/options/kictanet/vkapiyo%40gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder >>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy >>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>>> >>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Co-Convenor >>>>> Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) >>>>> Twitter:@ggithaiga >>>>> Tel: 254722701495 <0722%20701495> >>>>> Skype: gracegithaiga >>>>> Alternate email: ggithaiga(a)hotmail.com >>>>> Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracegithaiga >>>>> www.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> >>>>> "Change only happens when ordinary people get involved, get engaged >>>>> and come together to demand it. I am asking you to believe. Not in my >>>>> ability to bring about change – but in yours"---Barrack Obama. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> kictanet mailing list >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ >>>>> >>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ >>>>> mailman/options/kictanet/peterwakaba%40gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder >>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy >>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>>> >>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> *Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up, It knows it must run >>>> faster >>>> than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes >>>> up, >>>> it knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. >>>> It >>>> doesn't matter whether you are a gazelle or a lion. When the sun comes >>>> up, >>>> you better start running. - In "The World is Flat" by Thomas L. >>>> Friedman.* >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> kictanet mailing list >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ >>>> >>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ >>>> mailman/options/kictanet/dmuthoni%40gmail.com >>>> >>>> >>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>>> >>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>>> >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ >>> >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ >>> mailman/options/kictanet/eddiekiama%40gmail.com >>> >>> >>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>> >>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ >>> >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ >>> mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com >>> >>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>> >>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet >> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ >> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ >> mailman/options/kictanet/info%40campusciti.com >> >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >> >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> >> > > > -- > 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 > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > mailman/options/kictanet/hcheserek%40kenet.or.ke > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ mailman/options/kictanet/dmuthoni%40gmail.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.

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CA's Q1 Sector Statistics Report
by Mark O. Okuttah 21 Dec '18

21 Dec '18

Dear Lister, Kindly find the attached Q1 Sector Statistics Report for your information and noting. Regards, Okuttah Mark Consumer And Public Affairs Department [Description: Description: http://digital.scanad.com/signature/ca-logo.jpg] Tel: +254 20 4242000/542/+254 703042000 Fax: +254 20 4451866/4242207 [cid:710A6FE0-2AE5-4FE8-A2F7-14ED3049072A] [Description: Description: http://digital.scanad.com/signature/cop.jpg]

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Arrest of a High-Profile Huawei Executive
by S.M. Muraya 20 Dec '18

20 Dec '18

Interesting super power, "devents".. Beyond resisting selling out (infrastructure projects) to foreigners, focus on importance of developing localized intelligence (intellectual property) firms.. http://time.com/5472538/arrest-huawei-executive-trump-deal-china/ http://time.com/5472538/arrest-huawei-executive-trump-deal-china/ How the Arrest of a High-Profile Huawei Executive Could Upend President Trump's Truce with China By DAVID TWEED AND PETER MARTIN / BLOOMBERG Updated: December 6, 2018 10:41 AM ET (Bloomberg)—On the same day Donald Trump and Xi Jinping struck a trade war truce in Argentina, some 7,000 miles away Canadian authorities made an arrest that now threatens to make the U.S.-China conflict much worse. The U.S. is seeking the extradition of Wanzhou Meng, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co., after convincing Canada to arrest her on Dec. 1. Canada confirmed she was in custody shortly after the Globe and Mail reported she had been arrested in connection with violating sanctions against Iran. China promptly reacted with outrage after the news broke, demanding that both countries move to free Meng. Later, the foreign ministry said it was waiting for details on why she was arrested, and said trade talks should continue. It’s hard to overstate the significance of her arrest in Beijing: Meng is the daughter of the founder of Huawei, a national champion at the forefront of Xi’s efforts for China to be self-sufficient in strategic technologies. While the U.S. routinely asks allies to extradite drug lords, arms dealers and other criminals, arresting a major Chinese executive like this is rare — if not unprecedented. “The timing and manner of this is shocking,” Andrew Gilholm, director of North Asia analysis at Control Risks Group, said by phone. “It’s not often the phrase OMG appears in our internal email discussions. ” Right now it’s unclear what role Trump played in Meng’s arrest, or if he will intervene at some point. The U.S. leader has spent the past few days seeking to convince the world — and skeptical equity investors — that China has agreed to major concessions, including reducing or removing tariffs on U.S. cars. Stocks fell across Asia on Thursday. Analysts said it’s more likely the case proceeded separately from the trade talks as part of Trump’s efforts to step up prosecutions against Chinese companies that conduct economic espionage and violate sanctions. In October, the U.S. said Belgium extradited a Chinese intelligence official accused of stealing trade secrets from U.S. companies — an unprecedented development. Either way, China is almost certain to view Meng’s arrest as a major escalation in the trade war that will foment fears of a wider Cold War between the world’s biggest economies. As part of trade talks, Trump has insisted that China stop providing government support to strategic sectors including artificial intelligence and robotics as part of its “Made in China 2025” policy. ‘New Game’ “It will definitely complicate the negotiations and they may believe this was done to increase the pressure during this 90-day period,” said Dennis Wilder, a former CIA China analyst and senior director for Asia at the National Security Council under President George W. Bush. “This is sending a signal that there is a new game,” Wilder said of the recent U.S. arrests. “They are trying to deter Chinese espionage and make it clear that there are real consequences.” Perhaps no company better personifies the perceived trade threat than Huawei. It’s overtaken Apple Inc. in smartphone shipments and aims to surpass Samsung Electronics Co. while targeting record sales of $102.2 billion this year — more than Boeing Co. It’s shooting for the lead in fifth-generation wireless networks and preparing to take on some of America’s biggest chipmakers. That’s why Trump’s administration invoked its name in blocking a Qualcomm Inc.-Broadcom Inc. merger that would’ve been the largest deal ever, saying it would hand the lead in 5G to China. Huawei has since been blocked from selling its gear in Australia and New Zealand, got frozen out of a Korean contract, and faces U.S.-led competition even in Papua New Guinea. The latest U.S. action against Huawei may be even more significant. While the company has made advances in developing its own microchips, it still relies on American equipment to make its networking gear and smartphones. ZTE Corp., another Chinese technology company, nearly collapsed due to U.S. penalties for violating Iran sanctions before Trump rescued it following a request from Xi. The ZTE case showed China’s leaders that they needed to become independent from the U.S. when it comes to critical technologies like semiconductors and network infrastructure, according to Graham Webster, coordinating editor of DigiChina at the Washington-based think tank New America. “What makes Huawei important is that it is a leader in developing technologies that will make China less dependent on U.S. or European suppliers,” he said. “Targeting Huawei through seeking the extradition of a top executive is a major move by the U.S. government, whether coordinated or not.” For some analysts in China, it shows that the U.S. national security apparatus isn’t interested in cutting a deal, no matter what Trump thinks. “Their goal is to decouple with China,” said Wang Yong, a professor at the School of International Studies at Peking University. “Negotiations are the wish of Trump and Wall Street.” Contact us at editors(a)time.com.

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Listing Crypto-fund on NSE soon
by Shitemi Khamadi 20 Dec '18

20 Dec '18

Folks, there has been a conversation that NSE has not listed an entrant in some years now. It seems a crypto-based fund is on its way https://businesstoday.co.ke/worlds-first-crypto-based-fund-listed-nse/ -- Kind Regards, Shitemi Khamadi | Programs Manager, Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE). Phone: +254 704090471, +254 733522229 | Personal: +254 -720-175808 Email: shitemi(a)bake.or.ke | Website: bake.co.ke | BAKE Awards: bakeawards.co.ke <http://www.bakeawards.co.ke/> Become a member: bake.co.ke/membership <http://www.blog.bake.co.ke/2015/09/09/how-to-become-a-bake-member/> Follow us: *Twitter*: @bakekenya <http://twitter.com/BakeKenya>, *FB*: fb.com/bakekenya <http://facebook.com/bakekenya> & *YouTube*: youtube.com/bakekenya

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As Facebook Raised a Privacy Wall, It Carved an Opening for Tech Giants
by Victor Kapiyo 20 Dec '18

20 Dec '18

Data is the new oil... For years, Facebook gave some of the world’s largest technology companies more intrusive access to users’ personal data than it has disclosed, effectively exempting those business partners from its usual privacy rules, according to internal records and interviews. The special arrangements are detailed in hundreds of pages of Facebook documents obtained by The New York Times. The records, generated in 2017 by the company’s internal system for tracking partnerships, provide the most complete picture yet of the social network’s data-sharing practices. They also underscore how personal data has become the most prized commodity of the digital age, traded on a vast scale by some of the most powerful companies in Silicon Valley and beyond. Read more https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/technology/facebook-privacy.html *Victor Kapiyo* Partner | *Lawmark Partners LLP* *Suite No. 8, Centro House, Westlands, Nairobi | **Web: www.lawmark.co.ke <http://www.lawmark.co.ke> * ==================================================== *“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude” Zig Ziglar*

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Emoji Domains Could Be The Next Internet Gold Rush
by Nelson Kwaje 18 Dec '18

18 Dec '18

Something new or too much hype https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGn1VjdxQ9k Nelson Kwaje Team Lead, Tech and Innovation Unit WEB4ALL LTD www.web4all.co.ke Tel : +254711250795 Skype : nelson kwaje Twitter : @nelsonkwaje Building ICT Solutions That Matter

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[CofekDigest] #9: Please Sign Petition Against Toyota Kenya Deceptively Modifying Vehicle Chassis
by Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) 18 Dec '18

18 Dec '18

Beloved Consumer, Please sign this petition against Toyota for deceptively modifying a 28-seater and passing it off as a 33-seater chassis https://www.change.org/p/akio-toyoda-toyota-co-jp-help-stop-toyota-kenya-dec eptively-modifying-vehicle-chassis What the Cofek forum on competition, dominance and telcos forum will address http://www.cofek.co.ke/index.php/news-and-media/2271-what-the-cofek-forum-on -competition-dominance-and-telcos-forum-will-address New currency images face fresh opposition in High Court dispute http://www.cofek.co.ke/index.php/news-and-media/2266-new-currency-images-fac e-fresh-opposition-in-high-court-dispute Its official. Johnson's Baby Powder is carcinogenic. Never use it on your loved one! http://www.cofek.co.ke/index.php/news-and-media/2260-its-official-johnson-ba by-powder-is-carcinogenic-never-use-it-on-your-lived-one Subscribe to Cofek Breaking News, Send 'Cofek On' to 40408. You can also become a Cofek Member! Kind regards, Pjorn Muriuki PROGRAM OFFICER Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) Rehema Place, Block F Suite 45 P.O Box 28053-00200, City Square Tel. +2540202615496, 3861718 Mobile: 0715555550, 0733180008 Email : <mailto:hotline@cofek.co.ke> hotline(a)cofek.co.ke Web : <http://www.cofek.co.ke/> www.cofek.co.ke COFEK - Restoring Consumer Confidence and Pride _______________________________________________ CofekDigest mailing list CofekDigest(a)lists.cofek.co.ke http://mail.cofek.co.ke/mailman/listinfo/cofekdigest_cofek.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at %(user_optionsurl)s

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It's time to take back your data from Google and Facebook's server farms | Giri Sreenivas
by David Indeje 12 Dec '18

12 Dec '18

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/12/its-time-to-take-back…

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Expression of Interest - AfriNIC board
by Walubengo J 12 Dec '18

12 Dec '18

Listers, In case you are interested apply. https://afrinic.net/call-for-expressions-of-interest-for-board-appointments walu.

1 0

Pwani Innovation Week Think Piece
by Simeon Oriko 11 Dec '18

11 Dec '18

* Dear Listers, Some of you may be aware that the inaugural Pwani Innovation Week <http://pwaniinnovationweek.co.ke> was held last week at Swahilipot Hub. I’d like to share with you a Think Piece - an analysis of the discussions we had at the event: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bnRAVuG7Y1HQMqkDcIXriofwanQPnYjDtUcicuk… free to use the comment feature to share additional thoughts or insights you may have. For convenience, I’m also attaching a PDF version of the document to this email. I’d also like to share photos of the event: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jV8jGGnGDG_L0VKD1Eqtp61mWrX6nm5s?us… These are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/>(CC BY) license. We look forward to your involvement in developing the innovation ecosystem in the Pwani region. Kind Regards, Simeon Oriko Board Member - Swahilipot Hub Chairman - Pwani Innovation Week Steering Committee *

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M-Pesa is a critical resource that should never fail
by Barrack Otieno 11 Dec '18

11 Dec '18

Listers In Summary M-Pesa has grown from an option to literally being a must-have financial service for millions of Kenyans. It has also become integrated in the lifestyles of Kenyans in terms of paying for anything, ranging from groceries to school fees and even bribes. With over 25 million mobile money subscribers, the platform's going down translates into the economy slowing down. The regulator must require additional and external information security checks to provide assurance that the potential risks and threats have been identified and mitigated. The regulator should also demand that Safaricom facilitate business continuity for its subscribers rather than telling them to be patient until services are restored. https://mobile.nation.co.ke/blogs/1949942-4889230-6roifmz/index.html It would be interesting to know what is in the mind of listers. Best Regards -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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How Safaricom lost its way
by Mwendwa Kivuva 11 Dec '18

11 Dec '18

It was evening of 7th December 2018. Consumers had challenges using mpesa from around 6.40pm. I tried paying for a product, but did not get a response for around 40 minutes. Then, I got this SMS: "M-PESA is not able to process your request. Go to M-PESA>My account>Update menu>M-PESA PIN>Send. Then try again." Then this "MPESA is experiencing delays, and is not able to accept your request. Please wait for 10 minutes before trying again." Then finally after an hour, reality hit home: "MPESA is currently unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience caused." At this point, people were stranded in weird places. Car owners were stranded at petrol stations having ordered full tank hoping to pay with the often reliable MPESA. They had to park their car as they sought alternative ways to settle their bills. Revelers at the many entertainment joints had extended hours trying to pay their bills. Patients at hospitals were turned away. Queues and queues of Shoppers at supermarkets left their full baskets at tills. Online platforms were not spared either. The shopping carts were abandoned. I was stranded like the rest, and finally managed to pay with the mpesa at 8.08pm. See, I was determined. I had consumed products, and I did not have any alternative way to pay. That is how successful Safaricom has managed to make Mpesa part of our lives. At around 9.24pm, Safaricom sent this SMS "M-PESA is undergoing scheduled maintenance." Of course that downtime was not a scheduled maintenance. So now a respected company with a top notch communications team had resorted to small lies that add no value to their brand. Desperate times truly calls for desperate measures. An unexpected downtime is not the same as scheduled maintenance. Scheduled maintenance is communicated early in advance to all parties. This was not the case with this particular scenario. Back to my payment, I manged to sneak in the payment in the midst of the "scheduled maintenance". But the deductions of my mpesa balance were completely off. I informed the establishment. They investigate from their system (which is just mpesa SMSes from their feature phone), and them too had got one message indicating my payment. My previous balance did not add up when the current purchase is included. It was way less. The mpesa statement could also not reconcile where the difference of my balance had gone. It only showed one transaction. So for example, if I had a balance of Ksh20,000, and make a purchase of Ksh5,000, the balance should be Ksh15,000. But now my balance read Ksh10,000. Today is Tuesday, 11th December, and I'm yet to be united with my funds. It's good the CS Hon Mucheru has asked for a systems audit of the mpesa platform. In the audit, they should capture how many transactions were eronouse, and where users' balances disappeared to. It may be mischievous individuals carting our balances the NHIF and KPC way.

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Why Kenya's Konza technocity failed to take off
by Barrack Otieno 11 Dec '18

11 Dec '18

Listers In Summary - Five years later, it appears the Konza dream, one of the Vision 2030 projects that would give Kenya a Silicon Savannah to match the Silicon Valley in the United States, is a case of stunted growth. - The only visible sign of progress at the site is an unfinished eight-storey building. - Among global conglomerates that expressed interest in the project included Google, Huawei, Toyota, Shapoorji Pallonji Group from India, and Telemax Technology Corporation from Taiwan. For further reading : https://www.nation.co.ke/business/Why-Kenya-Konza-technocity-is-dead-in-the… Regards -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

1 0

Tweet from DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya)
by Timothy- Coach- Oriedo 10 Dec '18

10 Dec '18

DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) tweeted at 6:23 pm on Fri, Nov 16, 2018: #ARRESTED|Detectives from the Serious Crime Unit have Today afternoon arrested four young men who created a website similar to Uwezo Fund and using the name of the @FirstLadyKenya, defrauded applicants millions of shillings after they sent an application fee for loan processing. https://t.co/5GBi6ZkxPV (https://twitter.com/DCI_Kenya/status/1063452464446353408?s=03) Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download?s=13

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Is MPESA down?
by Keith Andere 08 Dec '18

08 Dec '18

Listers, Is anyone else experiencing challenges with Mpesa? Regards, Keith.

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Redundancy Key for Digital Utility Platforms
by Mbugua Njihia 08 Dec '18

08 Dec '18

Market “dominance” is often only frowned upon by parties that do not currently enjoy the said status. However this status carries with it inherent responsibility, especially so if a product or service has acquired utility status, with an enviable number of daily active consumers - http://www.mbuguanjihia.com/tech/redundancy-key-for-digital-utility-platfor… *Regards,* Mbugua Njihia ᐧ

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National Dialogues on Tech Assisted Violence Against Women
by Liz Orembo 08 Dec '18

08 Dec '18

Morning listers, KICTANet and Article 19 will hold a workshop on 11th Dec at Radison Blu on the subject theme. We have a few slots for those interested/working on policy aspect of digital satefy. Please find a concept note attached with more details. If interested, please send an OFFLIST message to cheryl(a)article19.org, and cc mwaragichanga(a)kictanet.or.ke Asanteni.

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Child marriage on facebook
by evelyne wanjiku 04 Dec '18

04 Dec '18

Hi listers, Im following a debate on cnn about this south sudanese 'baby bride' who was auctioned on fb. It brings me back to this question, who should regulate facebook? Some argue fb is too big to regulate all the things that happen on their platform. Who should police fb? Is it us? We have power to shut down our pages if we dont agree with what goes on in their...but we don't. Why? Is it facebook? Do they care about being responsible especially in Africa? Is it government? And just how far can the government reach? Or should we just relax and face the beginning of the end by having an attitude of anything goes as long we have internet. Nice day everyone. Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

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Re: [kictanet] Job Description for Digital Programme Officer Kenya
by Ephraim Percy Kenyanito 04 Dec '18

04 Dec '18

Dear All, Please find here the link for a Job Description for the position of Digital Programme Officer Kenya: https://article.peoplehr.net/Pages/JobBoard/Opening.aspx?v=c4cfaac1-c884-49… Please share widely with your networks. -- Best Regards, Ephraim Percy Kenyanito Team Digital *ARTICLE 19 EASTERN AFRICA * *DEFENDING FREEDOM **OF EXPRESSION AND INFORMATION* W _https://www.article19.org/regional-office/eastern-africa/ _Tw @article19eafric Fa _facebook.com/article19org <http://facebook.com/article19org> _PGP Fingerprint: B0FA394AF73DEB7AA1FDC7360CFED26DE6BA8DC1

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Is Kenya's Online Marketplace Coming Soon?: Do I have to pay sales tax for items purchased
by WANGARI KABIRU 29 Nov '18

29 Nov '18

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