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Re: [kictanet] why safaricom has no competition
by robert yawe 07 Feb '12

07 Feb '12

Hi Hussein, I fully agree with you on that point, it not that Safaricom is doing anything better just that the rest are mediocre, as is said "in the land of the blind the one eyed man will be king". Just to prove your point, I have been trying to get a comprehensive pricing from Safaricom of their cloud offering and all I have been getting is twitter type responses. Why can't they just have a kiosk type menu where one can pick what they need without having to send 100 emails to 20 different departments/people a.k.a silos over a period of 2 months. Selling cloud is not new Amazon has been at it for years (now offering 5 GB free cloud storage), the Indians are doing it www.esds.co.in but the Kenyans are trying to recreate the wheel. "Self deception is the easiest form of deception" Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ________________________________ From: Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> To: 'robert yawe' <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Friday, 3 February 2012, 10:58 Subject: RE: [kictanet] why safaricom has no competition Robert You have made my day… JThough I must say that it’s a really sad day when the choice is between ‘iffy’ service and bad service… We have become so ‘pavloved’ to bad service in the Telco sector that we now just roll over and play dead.. Have a wonderful day! Ali Hussein|Managing Partner Telemedia Africa Azania Technology Group Chaka Court, Argwings Kodhek Road P O Box 14556-00100 +254 773/713 601113 Nairobi, Kenya Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo From:kictanet-bounces+info=alyhussein.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+info=alyhussein.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of robert yawe Sent: Friday, February 03, 2012 10:34 AM To: info(a)alyhussein.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] why safaricom has no competition Hi, We are always giving Safaricom flack on all issues including the lack of rain but today I have realised that they are still the better option. I read on the Airtel website, http://africa.airtel.com/kenya/choose-your-number-148, about a service that allows you to choose your own number directly from your phone. So I dashed to the nearest Airtel Shop to purchase a SIM card, I asked the attendants whether this service is available and they said I should go to one of the customer service centres. This already indicates that the information on the web site is obsolete, how much does it cost to update a website, I wonder. So off I went to Kimathi Street service centre and for a minute I thought it was a classroom as there where rows of chairs facing the front, of the class. Any customer service centre that has more chairs than a post Michuku Matatu definitely has serious problems. As I had 10 minutes to kill I decided to pick a ticket just to go through the menu and there was no option for SIM card services so it seems that stopped offering this service and since there where more than 14 people already seated in the queue I decided that this was an exercise in futility. I decided to humour myself by buying an Airtel SIM card and try following the instructions on the web site, alas to no avail. The instructions do not correspond to the menus on the phone, then after cycling through a few options I get the correct one just to get the message that I cannot change the number because i have a pending "Kopa Kredo" balance and that I need to clear it before proceeding. Note that this is a brand new SIM card so does it mean that on purchase the SIM card already has a debit balance? I then go to the "Kopa Kredo" menu option and receive the message "dear customer the kopa kreda system is currently unavailable". After spending 30 valuable minutes on this exercise I got a flash of brilliance and instantly went into a trans. I felt an inner force in me remove the SIM card from the phone, fit it on my thumb and flick it into the direction of the bin where it bounced off the edge and went straight in, what a feeling of relief. I then put back my old trusted Safaricom SIM card and continued with my day. Now I understand why Safaricom had no issues with number portability as they say in Harlem "Once you go "green" they is no going back". Enjoy a connected weekend Regards Disclaimer: This post reflects the feelings of the writer and has been done without any monetary or other kind of incentive from the mentioned organisations. The tests where done under an impartial and controlled environment, you are free to try the same at home. Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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Funding opportunity: UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund Program
by Alice Munyua 06 Feb '12

06 Feb '12

Dear all, An opportunity for up to USD25,000 grants for projects lead by youth piloting innovative approaches to good urban governance, employment etc. Best Alice ---------------------------------------------------- From: owner-accreditedngos(a)unep.org [mailto:owner-accreditedngos@unep.org] On Behalf Of UNEP Civil Society Sent: February-06-12 7:04 AM To: Eric.Luguya(a)unhabitat.org Cc: habitat.press(a)unhabitat.org Subject: UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund Program Dear Colleagues, Please find attached herewith a Press release on the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-HABITAT) Urban Youth Fund Program that is opening on February 15th and closing on April 15, as well as the Brochure on the fund. For more information, contact directly Eric Luguya (Eric.Luguya(a)unhabitat.org) or the UN-HABITAT Press& Media Relations Unit& Spokesperson ( habitat.press(a)unhabitat.org) The Major Groups and Stakeholders Branch United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) P.O. 30552 Nairobi, Kenya http://www.unep.org/civil_society/ If your organisation is engaged in the work of UNEP, please register its profile at http://www.unep.org/cso-sgb3/Register.aspx United Nations Human Settlements Programme UN-HABITAT, P.O. Box 30030, Nairobi 00100, KENYA Tel: +254-20 7623151, habitat.press(a)unhabitat.org, Website: www.unhabitat.org United Nations Human Settlements Programme UN-HABITAT, P.O. Box 30030, Nairobi 00100, KENYA Tel: +254-20 7623151, habitat.press(a)unhabitat.org, Website: www.unhabitat.org FOURTH CALL FOR APPLICATIONS TO UN-HABITAT URBAN YOUTH FUND Nairobi, January 2012: The UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund will this year provide one million dollars to projects led by young people aged 15-32 years who are piloting innovative approaches to employment, good urban governance, shelter and secure tenure. Small development initiatives are eligible for grants up to $25,000. Of the one billion slum dwellers in the world today, it is estimated that more than 70% are under the age of 30. These young people have few resources available to improve their own living environments. There are many youth-led initiatives in slums and squatter settlements around the world that require support in their efforts to transform their communities. UN-HABITAT invites young people based in cities or towns from the developing world to apply for grants from the fund. The application opens on February 15th 2012 and closes on April 15th 2012. More information and details are available at www.unhabitat.org/youthfund. Background: This initiative sprang from the 21st session of the UN-HABITAT Governing Council in 2007 and has so far awarded grants to 172 projects led by young people from all over the world. Many of the project ideas have been aimed at alleviating poverty, improving employment opportunities, improving the environment and increasing youth participation in decision-making. The fund promotes the poverty-reduction aims of the Millennium Development Goals, and the Habitat Agenda for better, more sustainable and equitable towns and cities throughout the developing world. In his message for International Youth Day 2011, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated that far too many of the worlds more than one billion young people lack the education, freedom and opportunities they deserve. Yet despite these constraints and in some cases because of them young people are mobilizing in growing numbers to build a better future. The international community must continue to work together to expand the horizons of opportunity for these young women and men and answer their legitimate demands for dignity, development and decent work. For further information, please contact: Head, Press& Media Relations Unit& Spokesperson, or Media Liaison, Press& Media Relations Unit, UN-HABITAT, Nairobi; Tel: (254 2) 7623065, 7625518, Fax (254 2) 7624060, Email: habitat.press(a)unhabitat.org, Website: www.unhabitat.org

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Wezesha Laptop initiative, was it a trial run?
by Barrack Otieno 06 Feb '12

06 Feb '12

Listers, Anyone with an idea as to whether this initiative is still on, seem like the portal went down. Best Regards -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254-20-2498789 Skype: barrack.otieno http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/

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Kenya being exploited by unscrupulous "aid organisations"
by Brian Munyao Longwe 04 Feb '12

04 Feb '12

An interesting article on how one organisation plans to make millions of dollars from so called aid to Western Kenya. http://www.ssireview.org/blog/entry/thirty_million_dollars_a_little_bit_of_… Should we have some kind of mechanism in place to control, regulate or at least oversee projects that intend to use carbon credits generated in/from this country? Best regards, Brian -- Brian Munyao Longwe e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com cell: +254715964281 blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com

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why safaricom has no competition
by robert yawe 03 Feb '12

03 Feb '12

Hi, We are always giving Safaricom flack on all issues including the lack of rain but today I have realised that they are still the better option. I read on the Airtel website, http://africa.airtel.com/kenya/choose-your-number-148, about a service that allows you to choose your own number directly from your phone. So I dashed to the nearest Airtel Shop to purchase a SIM card, I asked the attendants whether this service is available and they said I should go to one of the customer service centres. This already indicates that the information on the web site is obsolete, how much does it cost to update a website, I wonder. So off I went to Kimathi Street service centre and for a minute I thought it was a classroom as there where rows of chairs facing the front, of the class. Any customer service centre that has more chairs than a post Michuku Matatu definitely has serious problems. As I had 10 minutes to kill I decided to pick a ticket just to go through the menu and there was no option for SIM card services so it seems that stopped offering this service and since there where more than 14 people already seated in the queue I decided that this was an exercise in futility. I decided to humour myself by buying an Airtel SIM card and try following the instructions on the web site, alas to no avail. The instructions do not correspond to the menus on the phone, then after cycling through a few options I get the correct one just to get the message that I cannot change the number because i have a pending "Kopa Kredo" balance and that I need to clear it before proceeding. Note that this is a brand new SIM card so does it mean that on purchase the SIM card already has a debit balance? I then go to the "Kopa Kredo" menu option and receive the message "dear customer the kopa kreda system is currently unavailable". After spending 30 valuable minutes on this exercise I got a flash of brilliance and instantly went into a trans. I felt an inner force in me remove the SIM card from the phone, fit it on my thumb and flick it into the direction of the bin where it bounced off the edge and went straight in, what a feeling of relief. I then put back my old trusted Safaricom SIM card and continued with my day. Now I understand why Safaricom had no issues with number portability as they say in Harlem "Once you go "green" they is no going back". Enjoy a connected weekend Regards Disclaimer: This post reflects the feelings of the writer and has been done without any monetary or other kind of incentive from the mentioned organisations. The tests where done under an impartial and controlled environment, you are free to try the same at home. Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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Can technology enhance musical experience and creativity? free lecture
by Paul Kukubo 03 Feb '12

03 Feb '12

Event Details *[image: Tech on Music with Roger Dannenberg]* * * *Can technology enhance musical experience and creativity? * *Speaker: Roger B. Dannenberg, Associate Research Professor at the Schools of Computer Science, Art, and Music | Carnegie Mellon University speaking at the Micheal Joseph Centre, Safaricom House, Monday 6 Feb at 6pm.* ** *register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/register?orderid=68164151813&ebtv=C&eid=25560532… * Roger's research work in music and technology has earned him three patents. On Monday February 6, he will speak about his experience in using software engineering to create products that make music more accessible and interactive. Tech on Music will also feature Kenyan musicians speaking about their experience and use of technology and, of course, Kenya's best in a lively jam session. Who should attend? - Musicians interested in technology trends - Techies and software developers interested in music - Anyone interested in both music and tech *Join us, Monday February 6, 2012 at the Michael Joseph Centre* Paul Kukubo Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board PO Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya 12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960 Fax: +254 20 2211962 website: www.ict.go.ke local content project: www.tandaa.co.ke, www.facebook.com/tandaakenya twitter:@tandaaKENYA BPO Project: www. doitinkenya.co.ke Digital Villages Project: www.pasha.co.ke personal contacts _______________ Cell: + 254 717 180001 skype: kukubopaul googletalk: pkukubo personal blog: www.paulkukubo.co.ke personal twitter: @pkukubo ____________________ Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment

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lecture by Randal Bryant, Dean, Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science
by Paul Kukubo 02 Feb '12

02 Feb '12

[image: Chipuka Lecture Series 01.2012] *An exclusive lecture by Randal Bryant, Dean, Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science at Strathmore University 5th Floor Student Centre Friday Feb 3rd from 5-7pm. * ** *Register here: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2873142647/efblike* For the first time in Africa, software engineer Professor Randal Bryant will give a lecture on computer systems. Bryant will go over the underlying principles by which programs are executed on a computer with broad coverage of processor operation, compilers, operating systems, and networking. Whereas most lectures on computer systems focus on material from the perspective of one who designs or implements part of the system, Bryant will presents the view of a system visible to application programmers. *Participants will learn how, by understanding aspects of the underlying system, they can make their programs faster and more reliable. *This approach provides immediate benefits for all computer science and engineering students and also prepares them for more advanced systems courses. - This lecture is based on the Carnegie Mellon University course '*Introduction to Computer Systems*', which has been taught every semester since Fall, 1998 with enthusiastic responses by the students, the instructors, and the instructors of subsequent systems courses. ------------------------------ *About Randal Bryan * Randal Bryant is an Americancomputer scientist and academic noted for his research on formally verifying digital hardware, and more recently some forms of software. More recently, he has become interested in the opportunities and challenges presented by computer systems working with very large data sets. He is also Dean of Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science, where he has taught since 1984. *About Carnegie Mellon University* Carnegie Mellon (www.cmu.edu) is a private, internationally ranked research university with programs in areas ranging from science, technology and business, to public policy, the humanities and the arts. More than 11,000 students in the university’s seven schools and colleges benefit from a small student-to-faculty ratio and an education characterized by its focus on creating and implementing solutions for real problems, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. *About Software in Excellence Lecture Series* This lecture series is hosted by the Kenya ICT Board's softwrare certification initiative that seeks to establish an authentic software developer certification for Kenya. The Certification Project dubbed 'Chipuka', which stands for "to emerge", is being designed in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University.The certification will help employers to easily identify software developers that have the skills necessary to carry out IT jobs to a professional and world class standard. Paul Kukubo Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board PO Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya 12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960 Fax: +254 20 2211962 website: www.ict.go.ke local content project: www.tandaa.co.ke, www.facebook.com/tandaakenya twitter:@tandaaKENYA BPO Project: www. doitinkenya.co.ke Digital Villages Project: www.pasha.co.ke personal contacts _______________ Cell: + 254 717 180001 skype: kukubopaul googletalk: pkukubo personal blog: www.paulkukubo.co.ke personal twitter: @pkukubo ____________________ Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment

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Crops growable per region
by Dennis Kioko 02 Feb '12

02 Feb '12

I remember there's a time that Dr. Ndemo said that there was a way we could tell what crops were viable in an area by looking up the place's geo co-ordinates. I was in Ukambani recently, where farmers keep planting crops and checking if they would grow and are watered from a borehole containing salty water. Is the data on crops that are viable in such areas openly available, as this would be quite helpful in assisting the farmers decide on what to grow. -- with Regards: blog.denniskioko.com <http://www.denniskioko.com/>

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Fw: Grants for open applications development
by Bitange Ndemo 02 Feb '12

02 Feb '12

Listers, I attended an Open Data conference in Abu Dhabi on 8th of this month. There are opportunities emerging out of that conference that I want to bring to your attention. I will give a brief of the conference but in the meantime we need our application developers to check this. Please read e-mail below and the attachments. Ndemo. Sent from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: Duncan Edwards <D.Edwards(a)ids.ac.uk> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:12:29 To: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke<bitange(a)jambo.co.ke>; ps(a)information.go.ke<ps(a)information.go.ke> Subject: Grants for open applications development Dear Bitange, It was really good to meet you at the Linked Open Data workshop organized by REEEP in Abu Dhabi. I wanted to follow up with you in relation to the conversation we had regarding supporting better links between research and policy. At the Institute of Development Studies (UK) we have been involved in the provision of services, such as www.eldis.org<http://www.eldis.org> and www.bridge.ids.ac.uk<http://www.bridge.ids.ac.uk>, to support evidence based decision-making through making the findings of research more accessible to policymakers and practitioners. As I explained when we met in Abu Dhabi, we have developed an Open API to allow other organizations make use of the datasets of development research we host. We are running a call for proposals for the development of applications to make use of this content (see below), and I wondered whether you might be able to forward this to any contacts of yours who you might feel would be interested in the call? The deadline for this call for proposals is quite tight but we will be running more of these later in the year. In addition to this I wonder whether there might be other ways in which IDS Knowledge Services might be able to support your work in strengthening the links between research and policymaking? Would it be worth having a follow up phone call to discuss further? Best wishes, Duncan ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Duncan Edwards Information Systems Innovation Manager Institute of Development Studies, Brighton BN1 9RE, UK Charitable Company No. 877338 email: d.edwards(a)ids.ac.uk<mailto:d.edwards@ids.ac.uk> tel: +44 (0)1273 915797 fax: +44 (0)1273 621202 Skype: duncan_ed1 Twitter: duncan_ids<http://twitter.com/duncan_ids> Eldis Community: http://community.eldis.org/duncan Knowledge Services at IDS:http://www.ids.ac.uk/go/knowledge-services ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- IDS Knowledge Services have some technical grants available to create applications that make use of their datasets on academic research on development issues. These grants are available to application developers in developing countries wishing to use information and communication technologies to repurpose, and contextualise research on development issues and so inform evidence based policy making. Please see the call for proposals below and documents attached and contact api(a)ids.ac.uk<mailto:api@ids.ac.uk> if you are interested. And please do forward to technical staff within your organisations if relevant. Call for Proposals The IDS Knowledge Services Open Application Programming Interface (API) provides easy programmatic access to tens of thousands of thematically organised resources, primarily academic research, on development issues that are freely available online. IDS Knowledge Services invites your organisation to apply for a small technical grant. These grants are available to application developers in developing countries wishing to use information and communication technologies to repurpose, and contextualise research on development issues and so inform evidence based policy making. Individual grant maximum: GBP £3000 Implementation period: 5 weeks Application deadline: 13 February 2012 We are currently offering two types of grant: 1) Plug in grants These grants are allocated to design and build plug-ins/modules/add ons to existing content management systems and web platforms. The plug-ins will import or display a user defined selection of data from the KS data sets. There are two grants currently available, for developing a Wordpress plug-in and an HTML embeddable "widget". 2) Innovation grants These grants are allocated to design and build applications or services that use innovative ways of combining data and information from different sources, to create new tools, applications and systems which are useful, meaningful and relevant for informing development policy and practice. Preference will be given to proposals that focus on the programme's key thematic or technological areas, as follows: THEMES * Climate Change * Food and Agriculture * Health * Governance * Gender TECHNOLOGY * Mobile * Mapping * Applications supporting people in areas of limited connectivity Full details can be found in the attached documents, or online http://api.ids.ac.uk/about/grants.shtml Simon Colmer Information Projects Officer Knowledge Service Department Institute of Development Studies University of Sussex Brighton BN1 9RE, UK +44 (0) 1273 915771 http://api.ids.ac.uk<http://www.ids.ac.uk> api(a)ids.ac.uk<mailto:api@ids.ac.uk> | Twitter: ids_api This message is for the addressee only and may contain privileged or confidential information. If you have received it in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the original. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of IDS. Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RE Tel: +44 (0)1273 606261; Fax: +44 (0)1273 621202 IDS, a charitable company limited by guarantee: Registered Charity No. 306371; Registered in England 877338; VAT No. GB 350 899914

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Grants for open applications: call for proposals
by alice＠apc.org 01 Feb '12

01 Feb '12

*Grants for open applications developmentfrom ** IDS Knowledge Services* *Call for Proposals* The IDS Knowledge Services Open Application Programming Interface (API) provides easy programmatic access to tens of thousands of thematically organised resources, primarily academic research, on development issues that are freely available online. IDS Knowledge Services invites your organisation to apply for a small technical grant. These grants are available to application developers in developing countries wishing to use information and communication technologies to repurpose, and contextualise research on development issues and so inform evidence based policy making. *Individual grant maximum*: GBP £3000 *Implementation period*: 5 weeks *Application deadline*: 13 February 2012 We are currently offering two types of grant: *1) Plug in grants* These grants are allocated to design and build plug-ins/modules/add ons to existing content management systems and web platforms. The plug-ins will import or display a user defined selection of data from the KS data sets. There are two grants currently available, for developing a Wordpress plug-in and an HTML embeddable "widget". *2) Innovation grants * These grants are allocated to design and build applications or services that use innovative ways of combining data and information from different sources, to create new tools, applications and systems which are useful, meaningful and relevant for informing development policy and practice. Preference will be given to proposals that focus on the programme’s key thematic or technological areas, as follows: *THEMES* • Climate Change • Food and Agriculture • Health • Governance • Gender *TECHNOLOGY* • Mobile • Mapping • Applications supporting people in areas of limited connectivity Full details can be found in the attached documents, or online http://api.ids.ac.uk/about/grants.shtml development from ** IDS Knowledge Services* *Call for Proposals* The IDS Knowledge Services Open Application Programming Interface (API) provides easy programmatic access to tens of thousands of thematically organised resources, primarily academic research, on development issues that are freely available online. IDS Knowledge Services invites your organisation to apply for a small technical grant. These grants are available to application developers in developing countries wishing to use information and communication technologies to repurpose, and contextualise research on development issues and so inform evidence based policy making. *Individual grant maximum*: GBP £3000 *Implementation period*: 5 weeks *Application deadline*: 13 February 2012 We are currently offering two types of grant: *1) Plug in grants* These grants are allocated to design and build plug-ins/modules/add ons to existing content management systems and web platforms. The plug-ins will import or display a user defined selection of data from the KS data sets. There are two grants currently available, for developing a Wordpress plug-in and an HTML embeddable "widget". *2) Innovation grants * These grants are allocated to design and build applications or services that use innovative ways of combining data and information from different sources, to create new tools, applications and systems which are useful, meaningful and relevant for informing development policy and practice. Preference will be given to proposals that focus on the programme’s key thematic or technological areas, as follows: *THEMES* • Climate Change • Food and Agriculture • Health • Governance • Gender *TECHNOLOGY* • Mobile • Mapping • Applications supporting people in areas of limited connectivity Full details can be found in the attached documents, or online http://api.ids.ac.uk/about/grants.shtml

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Technology or food
by robert yawe 01 Feb '12

01 Feb '12

Hi, I was searching for information about the wheat and rice production in Kenya and came across the following information which is very worrying about our food security. http://www.indexmundi.com/agriculture/?country=ke&commodity=milled-rice&gra… http://www.indexmundi.com/agriculture/?country=ke&commodity=wheat&graph=pro… We are producing less and less of our staple food yet the population is growing. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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Caution on Twitter urged as tourists barred from US
by Grace Githaiga 01 Feb '12

01 Feb '12

31 January 2012 Last updated at 12:51 GMT Caution on Twitter urged as tourists barred from US Post-9/11 USA is highly cautious of any perceived threat, Abta said Holidaymakers have been warned to watch their words after two friends were refused entry to the US on security grounds after a tweet. Before his trip, Leigh Van Bryan wrote that he was going to "destroy America". He insisted he was referring to simply having a good time - but was sent home. Trade association Abta told the BBC that the case highlighted that holidaymakers should never do anything to raise "concern or suspicion in any way". The US Department for Homeland Security picked up Mr Bryan's messages ahead of his holiday in Los Angeles. The 26-year-old bar manager wrote a message to a friend on the micro-blogging service, saying: "Free this week, for quick gossip/prep before I go and destroy America." The Irish national told the Sun newspaper that he and his friend Emily Bunting were apprehended on arrival at Los Angeles International Airport before being sent home. "The Homeland Security agents were treating me like some kind of terrorist," Mr Bryan said. "I kept saying they had got the wrong meaning from my tweet." No joke Abta, which represents travel companies in the UK, said holidaymakers need to learn to be ultra-cautious when it comes to talking about forthcoming trips, particularly after 9/11. Continue reading the main story “Start Quote Airport security staff do not have a sense of humour when it comes to potential risk” Abta "Posting statements in a public forum which could be construed as threatening - in this case saying they are going to "destroy" somewhere - will not be viewed sympathetically by US authorities," it told the BBC. "In the past we have seen holidaymakers stopped at airport security for 'joking' that they have a bomb in their bag, thoroughly questioned and ending up missing their flights, demonstrating that airport security staff do not have a sense of humour when it comes to potential risk." In another tweet, Mr Bryan made reference to comedy show Family Guy saying that he would be in LA in three weeks, annoying people "and diggin' Marilyn Monroe up". Mr Bryan told the newspaper that he was questioned for five hours about his Twitter messages. 'Tweeter account' After the interview, Homeland Security's reported: "Mr Bryan confirmed that he had posted on his Tweeter website account that he was coming to the United States to dig up the grave of Marilyn Monroe. "Also on his tweeter account Mr Bryan posted he was coming to destroy America." Paul Chambers was fined after posting a message about Robin Hood Airport The US Customs and Border Protection agency said in a statement that it tried to maintain a balance between "securing our borders while facilitating the high volume of legitimate trade and travel that crosses our borders every day". It added: "We strive to achieve that balance and show the world that the United States is a welcoming nation." Mr Bryan is not the only person to suffer from a misjudged tweet. In January 2010, Paul Chambers tweeted that he would blow snow-affected Robin Hood Airport in Doncaster "sky high!" if it was not reopened in time for him to see his girlfriend. He was fined £385 plus £2,600 in costs - a sum which actor Stephen Fry offered to pay on Mr Chambers' behalf.

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2063: Kenya @ 100 Short Story & Essay Contest - New Deadline - March 31st, 2012‏
by Matunda Nyanchama 01 Feb '12

01 Feb '12

This an FYI for those that asked for more time on the above. I is interesting that we have received few technology-related stories. Some interesting ones talk about rural society, the national stage and attempts to place vision 2030 in "its place". Baadaye. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, CISSP; mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com; Twitter: nmatunda; Skype: okiambe ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be prepared to face ICT Security failures & know how to respond when they happen! Call: +1-888-587-1150 or info(a)aganoconsulting.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk I have a workstation…" - Anonymous ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you.

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Death or Birth of the CIO
by robert yawe 01 Feb '12

01 Feb '12

Hi, During the CIO 2011 Symposium a tea break discussion erupted of how many true CIOs there are in the country today, it was shocking that we could only name 3. Hope this article link helps in getting this discussion on the way. http://www.silicon.com/management/cio-insights/2012/01/27/time-to-shut-up-a… Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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Caution on Twitter urged as tourists barred from US
by alice＠apc.org 31 Jan '12

31 Jan '12

31 January 2012 Last updated at 12:51 GMT Caution on Twitter urged as tourists barred from US Post-9/11 USA is highly cautious of any perceived threat, Abta saidHolidaymakers have been warned to watch their words after two friends were refused entry to the US on security grounds after a tweet. Before his trip, Leigh Van Bryan wrote that he was going to "destroy America". He insisted he was referring to simply having a good time - but was sent home. Trade association Abta told the BBC that the case highlighted that holidaymakers should never do anything to raise "concern or suspicion in any way". The US Department for Homeland Security picked up Mr Bryan's messages ahead of his holiday in Los Angeles. The 26-year-old bar manager wrote a message to a friend on the micro-blogging service, saying: "Free this week, for quick gossip/prep before I go and destroy America." The Irish national told the Sun newspaper that he and his friend Emily Bunting were apprehended on arrival at Los Angeles International Airport before being sent home. "The Homeland Security agents were treating me like some kind of terrorist," Mr Bryan said. "I kept saying they had got the wrong meaning from my tweet." No jokeAbta, which represents travel companies in the UK, said holidaymakers need to learn to be ultra-cautious when it comes to talking about forthcoming trips, particularly after 9/11. Continue reading the main story“ Start QuoteAirport security staff do not have a sense of humour when it comes to potential risk” Abta"Posting statements in a public forum which could be construed as threatening - in this case saying they are going to "destroy" somewhere - will not be viewed sympathetically by US authorities," it told the BBC. "In the past we have seen holidaymakers stopped at airport security for 'joking' that they have a bomb in their bag, thoroughly questioned and ending up missing their flights, demonstrating that airport security staff do not have a sense of humour when it comes to potential risk." In another tweet, Mr Bryan made reference to comedy show Family Guy saying that he would be in LA in three weeks, annoying people "and diggin' Marilyn Monroe up". Mr Bryan told the newspaper that he was questioned for five hours about his Twitter messages. 'Tweeter account'After the interview, Homeland Security's reported: "Mr Bryan confirmed that he had posted on his Tweeter website account that he was coming to the United States to dig up the grave of Marilyn Monroe. "Also on his tweeter account Mr Bryan posted he was coming to destroy America." Paul Chambers was fined after posting a message about Robin Hood AirportThe US Customs and Border Protection agency said in a statement that it tried to maintain a balance between "securing our borders while facilitating the high volume of legitimate trade and travel that crosses our borders every day". It added: "We strive to achieve that balance and show the world that the United States is a welcoming nation." Mr Bryan is not the only person to suffer from a misjudged tweet. In January 2010, Paul Chambers tweeted that he would blow snow-affected Robin Hood Airport in Doncaster "sky high!" if it was not reopened in time for him to see his girlfriend. He was fined £385 plus £2,600 in costs - a sum which actor Stephen Fry offered to pay on Mr Chambers' behalf

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Re: [kictanet] TCO & Cloud
by robert yawe 31 Jan '12

31 Jan '12

Hi, It is encouraging that you decided to post your thoughts on my post unlike many others if opted to call me directly to air their disquiet. I would like to belief that the systems our banks are using are centralised with all branches online to the data centre, until recently when a few providers implemented MPLS, the connectivity to those branches was point to point. With the point to point connectivity there was a minimum of 2 hops to get to the data centre, if those links delivered then imagine is the data centre is at, for example, Safaricom then you have an minimum hop of 1. The Kenstream & KenSat services when run by Telkom provided us with 95% uptime and that was without any redundant links. The GSM providers need to keep their links up 99% of the time if only for the voice service and since the data is carried over the same fibre, microwave and satellite links. Taking that into consideration I believe we have no reason not to embrace cloud and shared services, yesterday. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ________________________________ From: Emmanuel Khisa <oloo.khisa(a)googlemail.com> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: oloo.khisa(a)gmail.com; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Friday, 27 January 2012, 17:45 Subject: Re: [kictanet] TCO & Cloud Hi Bobby, I am impressed with your understanding of the financial sector ( Not many IT people in Financial sector have such a deep insight of IT Ops). I would like to differ though on the issue of cloud. One of the greatest issues raised against cloud and which is partly true is the connectivity (and reliability of the same). Let's say you head IT in a bank and have to manage the downtimes in places like Meru, Bungoma, Wajir etc, running off a Safaricom cloud may be abit of a longshot. Safaricom has done a great deal to bring us connectivity especially the last mile, I however think something is still amiss with the reliability of connection. Every executive committee will raise (and validly so) the issue of Connectivity and letting go of customer data to counter that cloud argument. That needs to be addressed and the only company in Kenya today that can take us into the cloud is Safaricom, I hope they listen and fortify this data segment like they did voice. On a lighter note, having used Temenos, I can take my money to the bank that finacle would beat it hands down. I don't care how many big financial orgs are using it, I have baby sat it and the truth of the matter is that it is like a Kluger (no offence to owners of this) very overrated and big in size but has the performance of a saloon car... Temenos are good at marketing but the real value is elsewhere. On Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 1:09 PM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Francis, > > >Most of the issues you mention on customer service are only applicable with a certain level of account holder who we would refer to as your corporates who make up less than 1% of the accounts. > > >The other 99% are mainly salary account holders who receive a single inflow once a month and spend the rest of the time drawing down the amount. > > >With the proliferation of ATMs, mobile and agency banking this kind of account holder is already being served through a cloud solution. > > >Outages within most organisations are today much more frequent than those involving external providers, most ATMs are down not because of the connectivity but more for lack of cash. With services such as bank account to mobile money transfer and cash back the ATM is slowly becoming obsolete, at least in the Kenyan scenario. Most ATM cards are now debit cards meaning that they are usable at various point of sale locations. > > >As customers use less and less physical cash the easier it is to mine trends than before making it easier to extend credit to establishments since you have a better view of their cash flows. > > >In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king until a two eyed man/woman arrives in the village, if we use the global definitions of SMB all businesses in Kenya, except mpesa, that we refer to a enterprises actually fall under this category and those we call small are actually micro. Therefore from your take on the same then all businesses in Kenya should be embracing cloud solutions. > > >MPesa is run as a cloud service no applications are installed locally right from Safaricom head office to the till in Gabatula, it has 34,000 plus branches, employs over 50,000 people, transacted over 600 billion last year, at peak times handles 200 transactions per second (Temenos can handle 3,000), has over 15 million accounts and made a profit last year of over 1 billion. > > >If MPesa was to be listed in the NSE it would be the most profitable organisation once you remove the burden of its parent. > > >If this organisation can survive on a cloud solution even Kenya Breweries can move their systems onto the Safaricom Cloud (for lack of any other examples) especially since they are implementing a model similar to Safaricoms. > > >Francis, lets accept it that we have no leg to stand on in as far as not using the cloud is concerned. > > >Why have I not released my applications to the cloud? Because the only provider has been unable to provide me with a easy self service model. http://www.esds.co.in/cloud-servers-hosting.php > > >Regards > >Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 > > >________________________________ > From: Francis Hook <francis.hook(a)gmail.com> >To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> >Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >Sent: Friday, 27 January 2012, 11:28 > >Subject: Re: [kictanet] TCO & Cloud > > >Hi Robert >I agree WRT TCO...perhaps what I overlooked to mention is ROI - >increased visibility of accounts and account holders, Business >intelligence (tracking bad debts, defaulters, speedy loan approvals >for HNW and customers that pay their loans on time, etc), reduced >queuing time thanks to having proper systems in place that enable a >teller access requisite data needed to decide (ergo bringing a lot of >decision making to front office = better customer service, customer >retention, etc). > >By and large yes, the TCO argument should be weighed against the ROI >(whether tangible is shs and cts, or intangible via better customer >service, increased staff efficiency, better GRC practices (esp this >point as banks are increasingly under scrutiny), etc. And yes, there >is more gravitation towards OPEX from CAPEX (but at the core there >might be some inherently irrefutable justification to take either path >and this will vary from vertical to vertical) > >Back to the cloud issue - and I'm now playing the devil's advocate >:-> - thinking of instances that have been shared on this very forum, >where the systems of an operator/provider/host etc go down (internet >services, mobile money, voice services, govt websites etc) - from an >institutional perspective, perhaps that is something to eschew? If >something goes wrong (at a connectivity, security level for example), >and even with a back up site, then it more or less cripples the sector >(and the economy). > >The cloud however, would be best positioned to SMBs who, owing to >their size, needs and budgets, want to totally do away with CAPEX of >this nature and instead have a pay as you go system (like you >suggested where an operator hosts an app and charges end users on a >pay as you go basis and then shares revenues with the app vendor). >This would make sense for smaller banks (or SACCOs and MFIs). Also >other SMBs that need some CRM/Payroll/HR, etc functionality but do not >want to buy the whole bus since they have no where to park it or no >one to drive it. > > > >On 27 January 2012 11:03, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: >> Hi Francis, >> >> I will disagree with you in the issue of security as we all know that its >> not about where the data sits but how secure it is. >> >> Many a times a go to an ATM just to find a mini-statement sticking out of >> the printer slot which tells you that the issue is not really account >> visibility but how difficult it is to manipulate. >> >> Still looking at the security issue, who is likely to offer better security, >> some small fly by night operation like the one that developed the web sites >> for the recently hacked government web sites or a muli-billion telco? >> >> For micro institutions, less than 250 employees, like we have in Kenya >> getting on the cloud does not require those text book approaches as most of >> the so called core applications are not mission critical which is why some >> of our large banks can continue to operate even with this so called core >> banking application offline. Many of the organisations do not even have an >> online backup site. >> >> I consulted for a bank some years back who switched their core banking >> application over a weekend with almost no disruption to their services. >> Once the data conversion process had been perfected all that was needed was >> 6 hours to upload onto the new system. >> >> There is a very clear reason why I had TCO (Total Cot of Ownership) in the >> subject of my post, many organisations do the calculation you just did to >> justify capital expenditure (CAPEX) and forget that there is an operating >> expense (OPEX) such as insurance, maintenance, power production/consumption >> and none core staff to that CAPEX. >> >> If those funds where lent out to the members/customers at 12% pa the >> organisation would receive and additional US$ 6.24 Million per annum while >> saving on certain OpEx such as 12% on comprehensive maintenance (6 M), 4% >> on insurance (2.1M), office space (1,000 sq. feet @ 80/- = 0.8 M), none core >> IT staff (4 M) and power (4 M - KPLC & generator) which adds up to about >> Kes. 17 million per annum. >> >> With the same provided as a service at a charge of 5/- per transaction with >> 200,000 accounts of which 30% are active each with 2 transactions per month >> adds up to 7.2 Million per year which is covered by the interest on the >> money that has been used to acquire Temenos. >> >> The Kes. 17 million saving from the OPEX will bring in an additional 2 >> million in interest. >> >> All this just by using my form 2 accounting knowledge, imagine what I could >> come up with if I applied my advanced finance skills and was actually being >> paid to do it? >> >> Regards >> >> Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box >> 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 >> ________________________________ >> From: Francis Hook <francis.hook(a)gmail.com> >> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> >> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >> Sent: Friday, 27 January 2012, 9:59 >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] TCO & Cloud >> >> Hi Robert, >> Approaches to the cloud have to be rather cautious...especially in the >> financial sector and other sectors that handle personal info. Some >> organisations will opt to have a hybrid crowd where they have their >> private cloud (with Temenos, HR systems, etc - sensitive stuff) and >> perhaps farm out to a public cloud apps like CRM, Sales processing, >> customer feedback interfaces, etc >> >> On the issue of K-rep - if they have 200,000 accts and the system cost >> Kshs 52 million - this works out to Kshs 260 per account holder - >> something that can be somehow "loaded" onto ledger fees over say three >> months without too much furore - but in the long term the customer >> benefits from more innovation in products, greater responsiveness to >> their needs by the bank, timely and accurate info, etc etc. For the >> banker's sacco...hmmm....I think then we have to ask how small is >> "small" - at that level it works out to abt 2,600 - looks like a big >> number but I suppose the account holders are all bankers :-) with good >> deposits (vis a vis Krep's who might largely be low/middle income). >> But I agree for a single branch it might be like buying a Leyland bus >> to take my three kids to school... >> >> My two cents (...with 12% interest) >> >> >> On 27 January 2012 09:18, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: >>> Hi Listers, >>> >>> I came across a news item about how KREP Bank is to "invest" US 600,000/- >>> (Kes 52,000,000 aka 52 Million) for a new banking software. >>> >>> The system, Temenos T24, is a monster of an application also being under >>> used by Kenya Commercial Bank in addition the Kenya Bankers SACCO barely >>> uses it in a single site. >>> >>> We keep bragging about how we are a technology savvy nation and developing >>> a >>> knowledge economy yet we are the most under-utilisers of technology. >>> >>> Which is a clear explanation why Vodafone cannot understand our obsession >>> with wanting the MPesa servers installed in Kenya yet I am sure we >>> currently >>> utilise less than 1% of the capacity of the servers in Germany and 5% for >>> 2 >>> days in a month. >>> >>> Temenos can handle over 3,000 transactions per second and handle over 25 >>> million accounts across 2,000 branches >>> >>> http://sqlcat.com/sqlcat/b/technicalnotes/archive/2011/04/26/lessons-learne…. >>> >>> Temenos can handle the needs of all the banks in Kenya (approximately 6 >>> million unique accounts) and still not break a sweat while consuming less >>> energy and resources than a mobile base station. >>> >>> Please let no one raise the issue of lost IT jobs because last time I >>> checked a server was not a charcoal "jiko" that needs fanning. >>> >>> KREP has less than 200,000 accounts & 35 >>> branches http://www.k-repbank.com/branches.html, with Temenos they can run >>> a >>> transaction for each one of their clients every 58 seconds so what does >>> the >>> application do the rest of the time? Kenya Bankers SACCO is an even more >>> telling story with 1 branch and less than 20,000 members also uses Temenos >>> that is internally installed. >>> >>> If Equity was to use the same software it will take 21 minutes to run a >>> transaction for each of its 4.3 million clients so why do we complain when >>> MPesa takes 5 minutes (over 14 million accounts) to handle a transaction >>> on >>> the 15th and 30th of the month? >>> >>> I am sure many of you in the banking sector are wreathing in anger because >>> I >>> am refusing to acknowledge that the data needs to be kept secure that is >>> why >>> you must look the servers in your individual server rooms. So why doesnt >>> the same arise when you open up your applications to KenSwitch for shared >>> ATMs, to the mobile providers for mobile banking and to the ISPs for >>> online >>> banking.a >>> >>> Here is my solution, Safaricom (I am using them as an example as they are >>> less likely to sue me) buys off all the licenses of Temenos that all those >>> small banks, DTMFIs, MFIs and SACCOs have bought and then install Temenos >>> in >>> their 2 billion cloud. >>> >>> Buy all those Sun and HP servers that have been running those core banking >>> systems and donate them to universities around the country, they can >>> recover >>> the costs by writing them off next year as obsolete therefore passing on >>> the >>> cost to the taxman. >>> >>> Then they can offer a complete package to the banks for using the cloud >>> services without a nimbus and stratus pricing structure. Safaricom, being >>> experts at per second billing, can offer a similar solution to the >>> financial >>> institutions for use of the system. To the financial institutions the use >>> of the cloud will be treated as an expense therefore reducing their tax >>> obligations. >>> >>> What about the staff you say, the only ones who are likely to loose are >>> service providers like myself who have actually become over glorified >>> cleaners more because we charge more than really the service we render. >>> >>> We have all been throwing profanities at the Walter of the Lazy African >>> article fame yet we continue to prove him right every single day, yes, >>> you, >>> him, her and I. >>> >>> Have a lazy day. >>> >>> Regards >>> >>> Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box >>> 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>> >>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/francis.hook%40gmail.c… >>> >>> 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. >> >> >> >> -- >> Francis Hook >> +254 733 504561 >> >> > > > >-- >Francis Hook >+254 733 504561 > > > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/oloo.khisa%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. > -- "One hour per day of study will put you at the top of your field within three years. Within five years you'll be a national authority. In seven years, you can be one of the best people in the world at what you do."Earl Nightingale1921-1989 Oloo Khisa P.O. Box 24324-00100 Nairobi 0721321086/0734321086 http://ke.linkedin.com/in/olookhisa

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Access to the internet and human rights
by Grace Githaiga 30 Jan '12

30 Jan '12

Listers APC's response to Vint Cerf's article on internet and human rights. http://www.apc.org/en/news/access-internet-and-human-rights-thanks-vint RgdsGG ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is all about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth and rule the World!

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Google-Mocality: All's well that ends well?
by James Richu 30 Jan '12

30 Jan '12

As promised, Google has acted on the Mocality fiasco, with Nelson Mattos, Google's Vice-President for Product and Engineering, Europe and Emerging Markets issuing the following statement on Friday evening: "We've concluded our investigation into the serious allegations about our use of data from Mocality's website in Kenya. We're very sorry this happened. We've taken appropriate action with the people involved and made changes in our operations to ensure this doesn't occur again." Vague as the above statement might be, Nairobitech blog reports that Google has fired Olga-Arara Kimani, its country Director for Kenya<http://nairobitech.blogspot.com/2012/01/olga-arara-out-in-google-mocality-s…> . Meanwhile, *CIO East Africa* has requested and is still waiting for as statement from Mocality CEO, Stefan Magdalinski on the matter. * * * ------------------------ Jim Comptech Systems. Tel: 254 20 2503637, 254 716 852202, 254 735 195969 Occidental Plaza, 4th Flr., Muthithi Rd. Westlands. P.O.Box 73639 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya.** http://www.jimcomptech.com* * * * * On Sun, Jan 29, 2012 at 12:00 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 > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > You can reach the person managing the list at > kictanet-owner(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of kictanet digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: E-Voting | Information Security (Edwin Onchari) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:31:44 +0300 > From: "Edwin Onchari" <eonchari(a)lynxbits.com> > To: "'Walubengo J'" <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> > Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] E-Voting | Information Security > Message-ID: <000901ccddfb$dcc639d0$9652ad70$@com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Walu, > > > > I concur??.Spread the risk?have a backing up and an air-tight verification > process for the transmitted data/info. A rigorous authentication > protocol?just like a commander in chief in a first world would when > authorizing a ?nuclear warhead? deployment?because the ramifications of > doing it with error are indeed grave to say the least > > > > Edwin > > From: kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On > Behalf Of Walubengo J > Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2012 7:42 PM > To: Edwin > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > Subject: Re: [kictanet] E-Voting | Information Security > > > > > Waudo, > > yes, we dont want hackers topping up candidate votes - whether > electronically or physically. So I hope the Election Commission will be > quite keen on this. It might be comforting that the IT Director at the > commission is an ISACA member with the CISM/CISA credentials and this means > he perhaps knows a thing or two about security.;-) > > Muraya. > Yes, there is never anything like 100% security. One simply has to work on > minimising the risk. > > walu. > > --- On Sat, 1/28/12, S.M. Muraya <murigi.muraya(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > From: S.M. Muraya <murigi.muraya(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [kictanet] E-Voting | Information Security > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Saturday, January 28, 2012, 12:39 PM > > Loopholes are never fully sealed... thus continual software patches / > upgrades. > > http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/01/symantec-source-code-hack/ > > We need to follow audit trails enabled in network | storage systems, > involving the OS (file & identification systems), application severs, > clients (packages)... > > > > > > On Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 6:31 PM, waudo siganga <emailsignet(a)mailcan.com> > wrote: > > Hi Walu - I hope the loopholes that led to the Govt site hackings will have > been resolved else I would not like to imagine the servers of the electoral > commission being hacked as the results are being tallied. No more riots > please! > > > > > > On Fri, Jan 27, 2012, at 07:15 AM, Walubengo J wrote: > > > Now that Kenya might go e-Voting this year (http://tinyurl.com/7dbctnl) > why > not support the researcher below as she figures out it it will work or not. > > walu. > > --- On Fri, 1/27/12, Maina Olembo <maina.olembo(a)cased.de> wrote: > > > From: Maina Olembo <maina.olembo(a)cased.de> > Subject: RE: Survey on Internet Voting and Polling Station Voting in Kenya > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Date: Friday, January 27, 2012, 3:04 PM > > Hallo, > > I would like to ask for a few minutes of your time. > > I am carrying out a study as part of doctoral research on Internet voting > and polling station voting in Kenya. The goal of this study is to gain > insight on perceptions of polling station voting and Internet voting. > > If you would like to participate, please click on the link below: > > > Fill out questionnaire > < > https://www.soscisurvey.de/InternetVoting/index.php?q=SurveyIVotingKE&l=eng > > > > > > The password is internet. > > Thank you in advance for your time and interest. > > Your input is invaluable. > > -- > Maina M. Olembo > Doctoral Researcher > SecUSo - IT Security, Usability and Society > > Center for Advanced Security Research Darmstadt > TU Darmstadt > Department of Computer Science > Building S2|02 > Hochschulstra?e 10 > D-64289 Darmstadt > > Phone: +49(0) 6151 16 64292 > Fax: +49(0) 6151 16 4825 > Email: maina.olembo(a)cased.de > Web: www.secuso.cased.de > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/emailsignet%40mailcan.c > om > > 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 > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/murigi.muraya%40gmail.c > om > > 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. > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%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. > > _____ > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.1901 / Virus Database: 2109/4771 - Release Date: 01/27/12 > >

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Re: [kictanet] E-Voting | Information Security
by Matunda Nyanchama 29 Jan '12

29 Jan '12

Friends Very good comments on the above subject. There is substantially reliable (none is foolproof) technology for e-voting, provided there is integrity in the registration process and maintenance of the voter register. Affordable authentication methods exist for assuring that the person claiming to vote is indeed the voter. With the recent court ruling on the next election date, the commission should have sufficient time to put such technology solution in place. And this need not just be for those in the Diaspora but in the end can be extended to all Kenyans. I can see a future where one doesn't have to rush "home" to go and vote but could do so from the comfort of their home, holiday, office or some other such place. Technology, as much as it presents risks of its own, can address issues of integrity in the voting process. Just see how it has reduced the chance for rigging as demonstrated in recent by elections. It is interesting that the disgraced Kivuitu EC had the technology but failed to implement it the way it is done today. A simple tweaking that allows polling stations to send results simultaneously to the national tallying and media centres has substantially cut the potential for tampering that happened at the counting halls whose purpose now is to collate results and confirm what has come from polling stations. Baadaye. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, CISSP; mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com; Twitter: nmatunda; Skype: okiambe ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be prepared to face ICT Security failures & know how to respond when they happen! Call: +1-888-587-1150 or info(a)aganoconsulting.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk I have a workstation…" - Anonymous ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you.

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Dead in the water
by robert yawe 29 Jan '12

29 Jan '12

Hi, A reason why we shall keep trading water unless we get off our tush http://vimeo.com/27543096. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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E-Voting | Information Security
by S.M. Muraya 28 Jan '12

28 Jan '12

Loopholes are never fully sealed... thus continual software patches / upgrades. http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/01/symantec-source-code-hack/ We need to follow audit trails enabled in network | storage systems, involving the OS (file & identification systems), application severs, clients (packages)... On Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 6:31 PM, waudo siganga <emailsignet(a)mailcan.com>wrote: > Hi Walu - I hope the loopholes that led to the Govt site hackings will > have been resolved else I would not like to imagine the servers of the > electoral commission being hacked as the results are being tallied. No more > riots please! > > > On Fri, Jan 27, 2012, at 07:15 AM, Walubengo J wrote: > > Now that Kenya might go e-Voting this year (http://tinyurl.com/7dbctnl) > why not support the researcher below as she figures out it it will work or > not. > > walu. > > --- On Fri, 1/27/12, Maina Olembo <maina.olembo(a)cased.de> wrote: > > > From: Maina Olembo <maina.olembo(a)cased.de> > Subject: RE: Survey on Internet Voting and Polling Station Voting in Kenya > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Date: Friday, January 27, 2012, 3:04 PM > > Hallo, > > I would like to ask for a few minutes of your time. > > I am carrying out a study as part of doctoral research on Internet voting > and polling station voting in Kenya. The goal of this study is to gain > insight on perceptions of polling station voting and Internet voting. > > If you would like to participate, please click on the link below: > > Fill out questionnaire<https://www.soscisurvey.de/InternetVoting/index.php?q=SurveyIVotingKE&l=eng> > The password is internet. > > Thank you in advance for your time and interest. > > Your input is invaluable. > > -- > Maina M. Olembo > Doctoral Researcher > SecUSo - IT Security, Usability and Society > > Center for Advanced Security Research Darmstadt > TU Darmstadt > Department of Computer Science > Building S2|02 > Hochschulstraße 10 > D-64289 Darmstadt > > Phone: +49(0) 6151 16 64292 > Fax: +49(0) 6151 16 4825 > Email: maina.olembo(a)cased.de > Web: www.secuso.cased.de > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing listkictanet@lists.kictanet.or.kehttp://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/emailsignet%40mailcan.… > > 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 > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/murigi.muraya%40gmail.… > > 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] Interesting Piece ...
by Matunda Nyanchama 28 Jan '12

28 Jan '12

Friends Here are my off the cuff remarks on the provocative piece. My suggestion: let's not be too defensive; truth can be bitter. On innovation: take the example of the automobile and semiconductor industries. A lot of countries started with fabricating parts; soon they did sub-assemblies as their precision engineering developed and soon they were making whole cars/computers/etc/. The Nyayo Car project was on the right cause if only it has realized capacity in the fabrication of parts and needed engineering and manufacturing processes. I recently saw news of a mechanic that used to service shock absorbers but now fabricates them; and people find these last longer that original ones not suited to our rough roads! He is on the right path and should, in fact, be encouraged with incentives and (possibly) injection of capital. In the west, investors would be hovering around to offer the person either a buyout or equity investment in order to expand the business which has huge regional potential as few people are in the business. Where is old money when it is needed here?? Regards. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, CISSP; mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com; Twitter: nmatunda; Skype: okiambe ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be prepared to face ICT Security failures & know how to respond when they happen! Call: +1-888-587-1150 or info(a)aganoconsulting.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk I have a workstation…" - Anonymous ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you.

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Fw: RE: Survey on Internet Voting and Polling Station Voting in Kenya
by Walubengo J 27 Jan '12

27 Jan '12

Now that Kenya might go e-Voting this year (http://tinyurl.com/7dbctnl) why not support the researcher below as she figures out it it will work or not. walu. --- On Fri, 1/27/12, Maina Olembo <maina.olembo(a)cased.de> wrote: From: Maina Olembo <maina.olembo(a)cased.de> Subject: RE: Survey on Internet Voting and Polling Station Voting in Kenya To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com Date: Friday, January 27, 2012, 3:04 PM Hallo, I would like to ask for a few minutes of your time. I am carrying out a study as part of doctoral research on Internet voting and polling station voting in Kenya. The goal of this study is to gain insight on perceptions of polling station voting and Internet voting. If you would like to participate, please click on the link below: Fill out questionnaire The password is internet. Thank you in advance for your time and interest. Your input is invaluable. -- Maina M. Olembo Doctoral Researcher SecUSo - IT Security, Usability and Society Center for Advanced Security Research Darmstadt TU Darmstadt Department of Computer Science Building S2|02 Hochschulstraße 10 D-64289 Darmstadt Phone: +49(0) 6151 16 64292 Fax: +49(0) 6151 16 4825 Email: maina.olembo(a)cased.de Web: www.secuso.cased.de

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TCO & Cloud
by robert yawe 27 Jan '12

27 Jan '12

Hi Listers, I came across a news item about how KREP Bank is to "invest" US 600,000/- (Kes 52,000,000 aka 52 Million) for a new banking software. The system, Temenos T24, is a monster of an application also being under used by Kenya Commercial Bank in addition the Kenya Bankers SACCO barely uses it in a single site. We keep bragging about how we are a technology savvy nation and developing a knowledge economy yet we are the most under-utilisers of technology. Which is a clear explanation why Vodafone cannot understand our obsession with wanting the MPesa servers installed in Kenya yet I am sure we currently utilise less than 1% of the capacity of the servers in Germany and 5% for 2 days in a month. Temenos can handle over 3,000 transactions per second and handle over 25 million accounts across 2,000 branches http://sqlcat.com/sqlcat/b/technicalnotes/archive/2011/04/26/lessons-learne…. Temenos can handle the needs of all the banks in Kenya (approximately 6 million unique accounts) and still not break a sweat while consuming less energy and resources than a mobile base station. Please let no one raise the issue of lost IT jobs because last time I checked a server was not a charcoal "jiko" that needs fanning. KREP has less than 200,000 accounts & 35 branches http://www.k-repbank.com/branches.html, with Temenos they can run a transaction for each one of their clients every 58 seconds so what does the application do the rest of the time? Kenya Bankers SACCO is an even more telling story with 1 branch and less than 20,000 members also uses Temenos that is internally installed. If Equity was to use the same software it will take 21 minutes to run a transaction for each of its 4.3 million clients so why do we complain when MPesa takes 5 minutes (over 14 million accounts) to handle a transaction on the 15th and 30th of the month? I am sure many of you in the banking sector are wreathing in anger because I am refusing to acknowledge that the data needs to be kept secure that is why you must look the servers in your individual server rooms. So why doesnt the same arise when you open up your applications to KenSwitch for shared ATMs, to the mobile providers for mobile banking and to the ISPs for online banking.a Here is my solution, Safaricom (I am using them as an example as they are less likely to sue me) buys off all the licenses of Temenos that all those small banks, DTMFIs, MFIs and SACCOs have bought and then install Temenos in their 2 billion cloud. Buy all those Sun and HP servers that have been running those core banking systems and donate them to universities around the country, they can recover the costs by writing them off next year as obsolete therefore passing on the cost to the taxman. Then they can offer a complete package to the banks for using the cloud services without a nimbus and stratus pricing structure. Safaricom, being experts at per second billing, can offer a similar solution to the financial institutions for use of the system. To the financial institutions the use of the cloud will be treated as an expense therefore reducing their tax obligations. What about the staff you say, the only ones who are likely to loose are service providers like myself who have actually become over glorified cleaners more because we charge more than really the service we render. We have all been throwing profanities at the Walter of the Lazy African article fame yet we continue to prove him right every single day, yes, you, him, her and I. Have a lazy day. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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joseph chacha nyamohanga invites you to use Boxbe
by joseph chacha nyamohanga 27 Jan '12

27 Jan '12

I'm inviting you to join Boxbe. Here's the link: https://www.boxbe.com/register?tc=10548296082_99399748 -joseph This message was sent at the request of jn.chacha(a)gmail.com. If you want to opt-out of invitations from Boxbe members, use this link: https://www.boxbe.com/unsubscribe?email=kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke&tc=10… Boxbe, Inc. | 2390 Chestnut Street #201 | San Francisco, CA 94123

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