- KICTANet - KICTANet

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

1 0

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. >

1 0

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

4 3

[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]

2 1

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.

1 0

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

1 0

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.

1 0