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Day 4 of 10- BPO Discussions, Govt Subsidies
by Walubengo J 18 Jun '09

18 Jun '09

-Dear Listers, I must thank all for your insights over the last few days. I like the challenge that asked whether we are "over-regulating" an emerging market as the "answer" to the question on if we have legal and regulatory gaps. Listers are encouraged to challenge and not just answer the questions. Other arising issues included where we want to play within the BPO Value Chain, the Impact of the Political (in-)stability, the need to map our Data Protection laws to those in the target markets are just but some of the highlights I picked - and by all means this is NOT exhaustive as am still reading through the contributions. But today we need to open the theme on Government subsidies. The Researchers found the S.Africa and India had elaborate subsidy provisions for the sector that included Tax Holidays and Exemptions, Investment Grants to BPO operators, Training Subsidies, One-stop shop for Corporate Company Registrations that could be 100% foreign owned, etc. The Researchers noted the unique Mauritius case which had similar incentives but eventually abolished most of them arguing that they were more beneficial to the Operators than to the Nation. On the Kenyan front - other than the not so succesfull Govt Bandwidth subsidies for Operators, very little in terms of incentives was available to BPO Operators. It was noted that the BPO operators had to be within the EPZ in order to enjoy the subsidies other EPZ corporates operates - the problem being that most BPO operaters exist outside the EPZ area. Whats more, BPO operators had to pay additional charges to be registered by the CCK (Regulator) and should be at least 20% locally owned. Qtn6: What incentives / subsidies should the government provide to BPO operators? What of the clause requiring 20% Local shareholding in foreign companies - is it prohibitive or helpful? Floor is open comments. walu. Encl: Synthesis 2:- Subsidies and Incentives

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FW: News - ELECTION FALLOUT / ACCESS TO INFORMATION Iran's cyber-revolution gets a hand from Canada
by Edith Adera 17 Jun '09

17 Jun '09

============================== http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/world/middleeast/17media.html?ref=middlee… June 17, 2009 U.S. Steps Gingerly Into Tumult in Iran By MARK LANDLER and BRIAN STELTER WASHINGTON - The Obama administration says it has tried to avoid words or deeds that could be portrayed as American meddling in Iran's presidential election and its tumultuous aftermath. Yet on Monday afternoon, a 27-year-old State Department official, Jared Cohen, e-mailed the social-networking site Twitter with an unusual request: delay scheduled maintenance of its global network, which would have cut off service while Iranians were using Twitter to swap information and inform the outside world about the mushrooming protests around Tehran. The request, made to a Twitter co-founder, Jack Dorsey, is yet another new-media milestone: the recognition by the United States government that an Internet blogging service that did not exist four years ago has the potential to change history in an ancient Islamic country. "This was just a call to say: 'It appears Twitter is playing an important role at a crucial time in Iran. Could you keep it going?' " said P.J. Crowley, the assistant secretary of state for public affairs. Twitter complied with the request, saying in a blog post on Monday that it put off the upgrade until late Tuesday afternoon - 1:30 a.m. Wednesday in Tehran - because its partners recognized "the role Twitter is currently playing as an important communication tool in Iran." The network was working normally again by Tuesday evening. The State Department said its request did not amount to meddling. Mr. Cohen, they noted, did not contact Twitter until three days after the vote was held and well after the protests had begun. "This is completely consistent with our national policy," Mr. Crowley said. "We are proponents of freedom of expression. Information should be used as a way to promote freedom of expression." The episode demonstrates the extent to which the administration views social networking as a new arrow in its diplomatic quiver. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton talks regularly about the power of e-diplomacy, particularly in places where the mass media are repressed. Mr. Cohen, a Stanford University graduate who is the youngest member of the State Department's policy planning staff, has been working with Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and other services to harness their reach for diplomatic initiatives in Iraq and elsewhere. Last month, he organized a visit to Baghdad by Mr. Dorsey and other executives from Silicon Valley and New York's equivalent, Silicon Alley. They met with Iraq's deputy prime minister to discuss how to rebuild the country's information network and to sell the virtues of Twitter. Referring to Mir Hussein Moussavi, the main Iranian opposition candidate, Mr. Crowley said, "We watched closely how Moussavi has used Facebook to keep his supporters informed of his activities." Tehran has been buzzing with tweets, the posts of Twitter subscribers, sharing news on rallies, police crackdowns on protesters, and analysis of how the White House is responding to the drama. With the authorities blocking text-messaging on cellphones, Twitter has become a handy alternative for information-hungry Iranians. While Iran has also tried to block Twitter posts, Iranians are skilled at using proxy sites or other methods to circumvent the official barriers. A Twitter account called IranNewsNow sent a message to CNN's Twitter account that read, "don't listen to what iran gov says u can or can't do! You can report the pics/vids coming from Twitter!" An account called StopAhmadi wrote on Tuesday evening, "We need ppl around world helping to raise the issues put pressure on Iranian gvmt." It posted links to pictures from Tehran, including one that showed a man bleeding profusely from his chest, surrounded by protesters. There were also suspicions that some pro-government forces might be using new-media outlets to send out misinformation. One popular opposition site, Persiankiwi, warned its followers on Tuesday to ignore instructions from people with no record of reliable posts. In addition to Twitter, YouTube has been a critical tool to spread videos from Iran when traditional media outlets have had difficulty filming the protests or the ensuing crackdown. One YouTube account, bearing the user name "wwwiranbefreecom," showed disturbing images of police officers beating people in the streets. On Monday, Lara Setrakian, an ABC News journalist, put out a call for video on Twitter, writing, "Please send footage we can't reach!" The BBC's Persian-language television channel said that for a time on Tuesday, it was receiving about five videos a minute from amateurs, even though the channel is largely blocked within Iran. One showed pro-government militia members firing weapons at a rally. "We've been struck by the amount of video and eyewitness testimony," said Jon Williams, the BBC world news editor. "The days when regimes can control the flow of information are over." As new media proliferate, however, traditional journalists are having a harder and harder time. Journalists were told on Tuesday that they could not cover protests without permission. The restrictions "effectively confine journalists to their offices," a spokesman for the BBC said. Still, many ventured out into the streets to witness pro- and antigovernment protests, at considerable risk. At the Laleh Hotel in central Tehran, the Time magazine columnist Joe Klein said, "A number of journalists were coming back from the streets pretty badly beaten." As their visas expired, journalists were looking for any chance to report. Jim Marshall, the last Sky News staff member in Tehran, was barred from reporting, so he went shopping instead and came upon thousands of supporters of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at a rally. "I kept shopping, and they kept demonstrating," he wrote in a blog post. "This was turning into a test of wills. How much longer could I shop without slipping into reporting?" Once he realized he was carrying a notepad in his pocket, he swiftly left the scene. Mark Landler reported from Washington, and Brian Stelter from New York. Richard Pérez-Peña contributed reporting from New York. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Adel El Zaim, PhD Senior Program Specialist / Administrateur de programme principal ICT4D - Acacia Centre de recherches pour le développement international (CRDI) / International Development Research Center (IDRC) aelzaim(a)idrc.org.eg Le Caire, Egypte / Cairo, Egypt http://www.idrc.ca/acacia ________________________________________ From: Laurent Elder [lelder(a)idrc.ca] Sent: June 17, 2009 4:18 PM To: ICT4D-Futures Workspace Subject: FW: News - ELECTION FALLOUT / ACCESS TO INFORMATION Iran's cyber-revolution gets a hand from Canada Apologies for cross-posting, but nice to see our colleagues at ONI/Citizen Lab involved with the recent activities in Iran... PUBLICATION: GLOBE AND MAIL IDN: 091680092 DATE: 2009.06.17 PAGE: A14 (ILLUS) BYLINE: OMAR EL AKKAD AND MATT HARTLEY SECTION: International News EDITION: Metro DATELINE: WORDS: 1194 WORD COUNT: 1275 ________________________________ ELECTION FALLOUT / ACCESS TO INFORMATION Iran's cyber-revolution gets a hand from Canada Psiphon, a censorship avoidance tool created at U of T, has been 'pushing' government-blocked Internet content to Iranian activists ________________________________ OMAR EL AKKAD AND MATT HARTLEY At the heart of the disputed Iranian elections, a group of Canadians is helping Iranian activists gain access to what has become the most precious and tightly controlled commodity in Iran: information. The Canadian researchers behind Psiphon, an online censorship avoidance tool, have begun a massive grassroots campaign to give Iranians access to sites that the Iranian government has gone to great lengths to ban - including Facebook, Iranian opposition sites and international news networks. Psiphon has been "pushing" that content to Iranians, giving them a glimpse of the outside world that has been largely blocked since the elections began. But Psiphon's founders are walking a tightrope in their attempts to empower Iranians, as they try to simultaneously offer activists unfettered access to the Internet and dissuade those same activists from launching cyberattacks on the government institutions that took that access away in the first place. "Thousands of people are arguing for [cyberattacks against government infrastructure]," said Greg Walton, editor of the Information Warfare Monitor and a research fellow at the Citizen Lab in the University of Toronto's Munk Centre, where Psiphon was first developed. "We're concerned that if people launch [denial of service attacks] - the Iranian government is already throttling [down] bandwidth - this may take up the remaining bandwidth." Mr. Walton said some government sites have been defaced and that others had gone down, possibly as a result of cyberattacks. Iran's biggest mass protest since the 1979 Islamic revolution has become a full-fledged global movement, fought on and fuelled by the World Wide Web. The cyber-revolution's epicentre is the microblogging site Twitter. Often disparaged as trivial because of its 140-character limit on posts, the site has proved to be an effective way for activists to post updates on the situation in Iran. Among the thousands of posts popping up are descriptions of government raids and the date and location of planned protests. Indeed, Twitter was supposed to go offline on Monday for prescheduled maintenance. However, the site's founders delayed that shutdown because of "the role Twitter is currently playing as an important communication tool in Iran." Washington officials reportedly also asked Twitter to postpone the maintenance. Without tools such as Psiphon, most Iranians would still be unable to gain access to sites such as Twitter. The censorship avoidance tool essentially links "trusted members" together with members who have access to content, sending it to those who don't, all under the authorities' noses. "When a people has no access to a free press, of course they have to get their words out there," said Jaffer Sheyholislami, an Iranian-born assistant professor of linguistics at Carleton University who has been monitoring the election closely. "As soon as the election results were announced in Tehran, you could tell something was not right from the beginning and you could tell by the fact that the Internet services such as Facebook and many websites were shut down - especially . . . opposition-group websites." One Tweet in particular caught Mr. Sheyholislami's attention. It was sent from Twitter account mousavi1388 (1388 is the year in the Persian calendar), and it read: "We have no national press coverage in Iran, everyone should help spread [Mir-Hossein] Mousavi's message. One Person = One Broadcaster." Without tools such as Twitter and cellular technology, it would be much more difficult for Iranians to get information out of the country, said Jeff Jarvis, associate professor and director of the interactive journalism program at the City University of New York's Graduate School of Journalism. "Once you have access to the Internet, information will flow around the despots," he said. "It is now inevitable. It will be more and less efficient and they'll be more and less smart about trying to stop it, but it will flow around tyranny and that is new and that is an absolute impact." *** THE REVOLUTION WILL BE DIGITIZED The widely disputed Iranian presidential election has spurred the largest wave of civil unrest in that country since the Islamic revolution of 1979. But even as hundreds of thousands take to the streets, a larger revolution is under way in cyberspace, where digital activists have taken to blogs - and, especially, Twitter - to express frustration and provide first-hand reporting. This digital revolution has raised questions about the rules of virtual activism: Cyberwarfare: There's an ongoing debate among online activists about launching Internet-based attacks against Iranian government infrastructure. Attacks such as "denial of service" are easy to launch and can cripple a server. Some argue such attacks are one of the few ways citizens can fight back against a repressive government, while others argue that using up bandwidth to launch such attacks makes it even harder for Iranian citizens to gain access to the Web. Anonymity: Facing serious consequences if caught, many Iranian bloggers are posting anonymously. However, this has made it difficult to tell which bloggers are activists and which accounts are fake. Some bloggers have begun building small communities of trusted sources, but are preferring not to publicize them for fear of putting them at risk. Safety in numbers: Many users around the world have taken one blogger's advice to change their personal information in Twitter such that their hometown appears to be Tehran. The purpose is to make it more difficult for Iranian security personnel monitoring the site to determine which activists are based in the country. Access: Internet service in Iran dropped significantly around the time of the election. However, it is unclear whether that was a result of government tampering or simply a result of massive worldwide interest in Iranian Web content. What is known is that many sites - including opposition websites, social networking hubs and news outlets - are blocked in Iran. Users have begun creating go-arounds that allow Iranians access to these sites. However, it seems that when the address of such a server is made public, it isn't long before it is blocked inside Iran. Omar El Akkad *** What is Psiphon? Developed at the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto's Munk Centre, Psiphon is essentially a tool that allows users to get around content-blocking systems, such as filters that ban users from gaining access to certain websites. First released in late 2006, the tool was designed with a social or political purpose. It is mainly aimed at users in countries with repressive regimes, where Internet usage is highly regulated. Early versions of the software worked on a "trusted member" model - essentially, encrypted information is passed between computers run by known and trusted users in small networks. This model reduces the likelihood that a government agent will be able to infiltrate the network and shut it down. The downside, however, is that networks of trusted users tend to stay small. Psiphon's developers took the software out of the lab in 2008, when they spun it out as a Canadian corporation. In the words of Ron Deibert, vice-president of policy and outreach for Psiphon and director of the Citizen Lab, "We are the first explicitly political company to be spun out of the University of Toronto." Omar El Akkad Dgroups is a joint initiative of Bellanet, DFID, Hivos, ICA, ICCO, IICD, OneWorld, UNAIDS and World Bank --- You are currently subscribed to ict4d-futures as: aelzaim(a)idrc.org.eg To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-ict4d-futures-90963U(a)dgroups.idrc.ca Dgroups is a joint initiative of Bellanet, DFID, Hivos, ICA, ICCO, IICD, OneWorld, UNAIDS and World Bank --- You are currently subscribed to ict4d-futures as: eadera(a)idrc.or.ke To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-ict4d-futures-75952T(a)dgroups.idrc.ca

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Re: [kictanet] Institutional framework
by Walubengo J 17 Jun '09

17 Jun '09

Bill, I know yesterday was the last day of these discussions...but I feel I needed to chip in on the PMs office being the cordinating ICT organ...my take is that it may work btwn now and 2012, and then what next? Remember as much as the PMs office and his cordinating role is in our constitution, I tend to think that by 2012 this may not obtain. Depending on how we rewrite our constitution, the PM office maybe too strong, too weak or simply deleted and either case the ICT cordination role would then be misplaced. There was some KICTAnet breakfast meeting last year where the numerous ICT agents, organisations, assosciations, societies etc were enumurated (over 50!) and I wish Brian/Harry? who was the secretary could share with Listers to appreciate the level of confusion that stalks our ICT landscape in this country. Something needs to be be done to harness and cordinate their good efforts. walu. --- On Tue, 6/16/09, Bildad Kagai <billkagai(a)gmail.com> wrote: > From: Bildad Kagai <billkagai(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Institutional framework > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 5:25 PM > On Jun 16, 2009, at 3:03 PM, godera(a)skyweb.co.ke > wrote: > > > There needs to be a body overseeing all these > ministries. > > It will determine which Ministry will handle which > component (seeing how > > different ministries are doing business parks etc and > duplicating efforts). > > And no, I do not see it having such a high budget. > > It is also called the Prime Minister's Office. Can one of > the outcomes of this discussion be Kictanet to organise a > delegation to his office with a view of requesting him to > assume the vacant position of National ICT Champion to lead > us as our sage in the detente between ICT and Media amongst > other sectors?? > > No need establishing another quango as is being suggested > here when you have a functional office entrenched in the > constitution and read together with the national accord. The > Prime Minister suffices. Sometimes I wonder where some of us > went to school!!! (on a light note). > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >

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Invitation to the BPO Study Stakeholder’s Workshop -1st July 2009
by Walubengo J 17 Jun '09

17 Jun '09

Hey Listers, following your most valuable BPO contributions over the last 2weeks, I wish to extend the invitation below on behalf of the Research Team: walu. +++++++ invite +++++++++++++ Dear KICTANet mailing list members, Re: Invitation to the BPO Study Stakeholder’s Workshop The School of Computing and Informatics, University of Nairobi, in collaboration with the Kenya BPO & Contact Centre Society and the Kenya ICT Board has been conducting a study titled ‘Development of a Business Process Outsourcing Industry in Kenya: Critical Success Factors’. The project is funded by the International Development Research Centre(IDRC) and it’s overall objective is to undertake comprehensive research in the BPO sub-sector in pioneer, emerging and mature markets to provide evidence and a deeper understanding of the imperatives for success in the BPO industry to better inform Kenya’s policy decisions and investment choices. Data collection which comprised of collecting data from USA, South Africa, Kenya, India, Mauritius and UK is complete. The high-level research findings have been discussed in the KICTANET list and the inputs incorporated. The research team would like to share these findings and obtain further input from stakeholders for incorporation into the final document which will contain the policy implications. This will be done at a workshop on Wednesday 1st July 2009 at the KICC from 8.30 am to 1.00 pm. You have been recommended as a key stakeholder and therefore we are inviting you to attend this workshop in order to participate in shaping the future of the BPO industry in Kenya. Lunch will be provided at the end of the meeting. We look forward to interacting and exchanging ideas with you. Please email your confirmation of attendance to: munyiva(a)uonbi.ac.ke. Yours faithfully, Prof. Timothy Mwololo Waema BPO Research Project Team Leader ++++end of invite++++++

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Re: [kictanet] Day 12 of 12 -- BPO Discussions, Wrapping Up
by Walubengo J 17 Jun '09

17 Jun '09

Thanx Nyaki for being a tremendous co-moderator and between you and Mwende, I now know I can retire comfortably. As for institutional overlaps u describe below - we just need to borrow from Rwanda. Create an oversight body like RITA (Rwanda Info Technology Authority) that will have a broad cordinating role over all the others (KICTBoard, Min Ed, eGov, GITS, etc) that have anything ICT. walu. --- On Tue, 6/16/09, Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: [kictanet] Day 12 of 12 -- BPO Discussions, Wrapping Up > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 9:06 AM > > > > > -- > Day 12 of 12- BPO Discussions, > Wrapping Up --After > extremely interesting discussions yesterday, where I > summarized once or twice > during the day, we would like to bring the BPO discussion > to a close. It was > very interesting to see that many of you were concerned > that the media is > portraying Kenya negatively and this could (or maybe was) > affecting some of the > decisions of potential investors. Some in the media > fraternity responded that > they really must report what is there and that their > priority is Kenyans not > foreigners first. As one said “…bottomline- the media > can’t just be improvised > to promote the interests of the business and capitalist > class. There are the > rest of us citizens whose welfare, life and worries too > must be reported”. > > Thank > you to all of you who have actively participated both > online and offline > (directly to the moderators sometimes) during the last 12 > days. To recap, we > have covered the following themes: > > The policy, legal > and institutional frameworks for > BPO sector Subsidies accorded > to BPO sector Human Capacity > Issues Youth and > Gender IssuesStrengths, > Challenges and niches for Kenya as a BPO > destination > > As > we wrap up today I believe we could have done more justice > to the institutional > framework issue. More specifically I draw from the > conclusion of the > institutional framework summary and the question: > > > In > conclusion for Kenya, it > can be observed that there is an overlap between KenInvest > and the Kenya ICT > Board when it comes to promotion of Kenya as an investment > destination to > potential investors. There could be other overlaps as well. > For example, both > KICTB and MoHEST are planning for technology/BPO parks. > This is likely to lead > to duplication of effort, differences in the messages > communicated to stakeholders > and confusion on the part of investors with respect to whom > to deal with, > amongst other problems. In addition, there is need to > coordinate between ICT > Board, KenInvest, EPC and MoEST. The big question is: Who > will perform the > coordination? Finally, the Monitoring > and Evaluation (M&E) Directorate in the Ministry of > Planning has never been > devolved into the ministries and public enterprises. > Whether it is a > consequence of this lack of devolution or not, the M&E > capacity of the > Ministry of Information and Communications, Kenya ICT Board > and all the other > institutions highlighted earlier is weak. At the same time, > the institutional > framework for Vision 2030 is in the > formation stages > and, > even if it were to develop strong M&E capabilities, it > may not be able to > marshal enough power to ensure corrective action is taken > by the concerned > institutions in a timely manner. > > This draws me to > the discussion question: What needs to be done > to > improve/strengthen the institutional framework in order for > the BPO and outsourcing > sector to play its planned role in the Kenyan > economy? > > Let us discuss this > today and any other gnawing > issues in all the thematic areas as we wrap up. > > Best, > > Nyaki > > > > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >

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Re: [kictanet] Institutional framework
by Betty Ogange 16 Jun '09

16 Jun '09

The document posted in by Sang this morning suggests that as early as 2004 there was a draft ‘policy document’ proposing the formation of the Kenya Information and Communications Technology Authority (KICTA) that would be responsible for 'managing, co-ordinating and regulating' ICT activities in the public sector. The document indicates that KICTA ‘shall be the custodian of all government information and all ICT programmes, and shall be headed by a Director General or Secretary General who will also be the governments Chief Information Officer at the Permanent Secretary Supper Scale level.’ And the document goes on to appropriately define roles and functions. I did have a quick read through and I found no mention of the BPO as an industry (I may have missed it); there is a probability that the subsequent drafts address some of the issues that have arisen in the discussions. KICTA, as defined in this document, sounds like the oversight body that Walu and other listers referred to earlier on. I would like to find out if anyone in the list a) has the final copy of this document (and would be willing to share it;) ) b) is aware of how far its implementation has gone / who is taking responsibility for its implementation. Betty --- On Tue, 6/16/09, Sam Aguyo <saguyo(a)yahoo.com> wrote: From: Sam Aguyo <saguyo(a)yahoo.com> Subject: [kictanet] Institutional framework To: ogange(a)yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 5:21 PM Listners. When we talk of institutional framework in my understanding is not a political office but on office mandated to interface between the BPO and the probable markets, translate the market requirements of those markets to the BPO , communicate effectively and market the value proposition and Kenya's competitiveness as a BPO destination both locally and abroad. This body could be KICTB, Brand Kenya.....! A political office can only be ceremonial and nothing to do with tactical. The political office will only associate with a well cordinated outfit producing products. With not products, very difficult indeed. Sam From: Bildad Kagai <billkagai(a)gmail.com> To: saguyo(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 4:25:31 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Institutional framework On Jun 16, 2009, at 3:03 PM, godera(a)skyweb.co.ke wrote: > There needs to be a body overseeing all these ministries. > It will determine which Ministry will handle which component (seeing how > different ministries are doing business parks etc and duplicating efforts). > And no, I do not see it having such a high budget. It is also called the Prime Minister's Office. Can one of the outcomes of this discussion be Kictanet to organise a delegation to his office with a view of requesting him to assume the vacant position of National ICT Champion to lead us as our sage in the detente between ICT and Media amongst other sectors?? No need establishing another quango as is being suggested here when you have a functional office entrenched in the constitution and read together with the national accord. The Prime Minister suffices. Sometimes I wonder where some of us went to school!!! (on a light note). _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: saguyo(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/saguyo%40yahoo.com -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: ogange(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ogange%40yahoo.com

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Community fibre networks - a high level communique on the way forward
by Muriuki Mureithi 16 Jun '09

16 Jun '09

hi all National fibre infrastructure is now prevalent but unfortunately bypassing the rural and the poor. this should not happen and there is a way out. please read the attached communique for a way forward. cheers Muriuki Mureithi

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by Walubengo J 16 Jun '09

16 Jun '09

I agree with Dr. Ndemo et al. One of our greatest weakness is negative energy. And the root cause of this negative energy is tribalism. Our East African citizens (TZ,UG etc) know that Kenyans identify themselves first as being from their tribe, then 2nd as being from their clan and finally as being from their country ( the 'Navumulia' kua mkenya mentality). As noted by others, the sheer capacity of this negative energy will overide any marketing dollars that may be poured out there in "Brand Kenya" initiatives...There must be conscious and deliberate effort to sell Brand Kenya internally. We have to find a way to celebrate our diversity rather than exagerate our differences...This to me should have been one of the pillars in the Vision 2030 because it wont happen overnite. walu. --- On Mon, 6/15/09, Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Monday, June 15, 2009, 12:35 PM > Dakatari, thanks for the > elaboration....I hear you! I hope the media is also reading > this. > > Nyaki > > From: > "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > To: Catherine > Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com>; > kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > Cc: KICTAnet > ICT Policy Discussions > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Sent: Monday, > June 15, 2009 12:16:12 AM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day > 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths andWeaknesses > (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > > > Catherine, some barking dogs are causing untold pain to our > people. Hate against Kenyans in Tanzania is at its > worst. Irrespective who you are, you are refered to as > Mungiki who is after grabbing Tanzanian land. Whom do > you think created this image for our people? > > Mungiki is more of any economic crisis in our country but > our Media has refused to link the two. We lack > analytical depth in our media houses. What you read is > petty fitina. When a media house purpots that > "Cable lands into financial trouble" do you think > such media has the interests of this country at heart? > If they did they should have asked the right questions > before publishing. I do not think they have a clue how > such any article impacts the country negatively. > > The audience of what is published locally is not only > Kenyan people who read it. We must love our country > and stop hoping that someone else will change our > image. The sad part is that all of what has been > read throughout the world are all lies. Some people > reading this may never know that it was not true. > > This what I meant to say that negativity will fail us and > we should check every barking dog. > > Ndemo > > Sent from my BlackBerry® > > -----Original Message----- > From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> > > Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:36:34 > To: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, > Strengths and > Weaknesses (Observations from USA and > UK); and Trends and > Niches > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke > > > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >

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Re: [kictanet] Fw: Re: Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths and Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by Luvisia Bakuli 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

Thanks LK for your observations. You sent the message to me and not the list. I am not sure if you wanted this to appear in public; but I think you made an important contribution that needs to be shared, for you might be speaking for the "silent majority." For that reason, I will whiteout your ID to share your message. You are right, I should have used a better metaphor for IBM than Godfather. Let me try a different one: IBM is like a hawk on the Serengeti. From its vantage point, 20/20 eyesight, and ease of movement it is capable of monitoring what's happening on the vast terrain. So what others in the food chain, e.g. hyenas, have learned to do when the undergrowth is thick and the prey (e. g. antelopes) too fast for them is to look up in the sky for signs of where there is a kill. They have learned that if they follow the hawk they hare sure to have food albeit leftover bones. And if they arrive early enough and are in a large group, they might even chase the lions away and inherit the carcass. Okay that's enough for the metaphor lest we overstretch it. But we might miss the point of the discussion if we focus on who's first, leader or right. I have read articles where IBM failed miserably in its bit to manage outsourcing for the state of Texas and history might teach us a lesson that not all visionaries are good at execution. So our major task might be to find the visionaries and if they are goofy in their execution, ignore their execution but go after the lucrative markets they have identified. I gotta go. It is raining, thundering, and I don't want to be the lightning's conduit to earth. Cheers, Luvisia Bakuli On Mon, 2009-06-15 at 10:07 -0700, LK wrote: > > Truth is IBM is NOT the Godfather of Cloud computing, in fact they are > way behind newz... Look at what Microsoft is already selling to the > federal government, my only objection is that they seem to be after > Stimulus money -- yani fighting the small guys for federal bail out > funds! > > http://www.publicsectorondemand.com/ > > I think Cloud computing for disaster recovery makes sense but like > everyone else I am concerned about data security until they come up > with an encryption that hackers cant get perhaps in the next > lifetime:-) > > > > > --- On Mon, 6/15/09, Luvisia Bakuli <luvisia.bakuli(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > From: Luvisia Bakuli <luvisia.bakuli(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, > Strengths and Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and > Trends and Niches > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Monday, June 15, 2009, 12:35 PM > > Thanks Catherine-- wil stick to the subject line next time. > Had posted > as I rushed out the door in the morning. > > The article that I forwarded addressed trends abd potential > niche > market as defined by IBM. Just like UNESCO leads the way in > social > culturall trends, IBM seems to pick winning markets. Luvisia > Bakuli > > On 6/15/09, Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > Thanks Luvisia, > > > > However, may I request all not to change the subject header > for ease of > > discussions, we will flesh out the relevant content as we go > along. So note > > inside the body of your discussion that you will focus on > niche areas but do > > not change the subject header. > > > > Thanks for your input, very insightful. > > > > Much appreciated, > > > > Nyaki (Moderator jointly with Walu) > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > From: Luvisia Bakuli <luvisia.bakuli(a)gmail.com> > > To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com > > Cc: eMatete(a)gmail.com; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 2:45:19 PM > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Niche Markets > > > > For those looking for niche areas, the following article > might generate > > some ideas. DBL > > > > ____________________ > > > > > > June 15, 2009 > > > > I.B.M. to Help Clients Fight Cost and Complexity > > By STEVE LOHR > > > > > > In 2000, the Linux operating system was a hot technology, > but it had not > > spread much beyond scientists, researchers and computer > programmers. > > Then I.B.M. declared that it would back Linux with > investment, research > > and marketing, and the technology moved swiftly into the > corporate > > mainstream. > > > > The same thing happened with the personal computer in the > early 1980s, > > when I.B.M. endorsed that upstart technology and entered the > market. > > > > Starting this week, I.B.M. is returning to the same > playbook, > > introducing some initial products and services and a roadmap > for its > > stable of corporate and government customers to comfortably > embrace > > cloud computing. > > > > Cloud computing — in which vast stores of information and > processing > > resources can be tapped from afar, over the Internet, using > a personal > > computer, cellphone or other device — holds great promise in > the > > corporate market. The cloud model, analysts say, has the > potential to > > cut the costs, complexity and headaches of technology for > companies and > > government agencies. > > > > Already, Amazon.com, Google and Salesforce.com, among > others, offer > > cloud-based Web services to companies, including e-mail, > computer > > storage and customer management software. But many big > companies and > > government agencies have been reluctant to get on board > because of > > traditional corporate-computing concerns like the security > of data, > > reliability of service and regulatory compliance. > > > > “I.B.M. knows how to do all of those things,” said Frank > Gens, chief > > analyst for IDC, a technology research firm. “Its strategy > is all about > > making cloud computing safe for enterprise customers.” > > > > Even if I.B.M. succeeds in its bid to make cloud computing > more > > palatable for big corporations, there is no guarantee that > it will be > > the main beneficiary of the trend. After I.B.M. helped > create the PC > > industry, lower-cost competitors ended up dominating the > business. > > > > In the cloud market, I.B.M. plans to take a tailored > approach. The > > hardware and software in its cloud offerings will be meant > for specific > > computing chores. Just as Google runs a computing cloud > optimized for > > Internet search, I.B.M. will make bespoke clouds for > computing workloads > > in business. > > > > Its early cloud entries, to be announced on Monday, follow > that model. > > One set of offerings is focused on streamlining the > technology used by > > corporate software developers and testers, which can consume > 30 percent > > or more of a company’s technology resources. > > > > The second set is virtual desktop services, in which > personal computer > > software, either from Microsoft or open-source alternatives, > is run on > > remote servers and piped to simple desktop machines equipped > with > > screens and keyboards. I.B.M. found in tests with clients > that such > > virtual PCs, with little desktop processing or storage, can > use 70 > > percent less power than conventional PCs and reduce > technical support > > costs by up to 40 percent,. > > > > Both the software development and desktop services are being > offered as > > an integrated bundle of hardware and software for a cloud > running inside > > a corporate or government data center, or as a cloud service > hosted in > > an I.B.M. data center. > > > > Other offerings are planned, I.B.M. executives said, > including clouds > > fine-tuned for data storage, and clouds for business > analytics, which is > > software that analyzes data for patterns of customer > behavior, market > > trends and other potentially valuable information. > > > > I.B.M. calls its approach of fine-tuning hardware and > software for > > specific jobs “hybrid computing.” And it will open a Hybrid > Computing > > Research lab later this year, inviting industry and > university > > scientists to work cooperatively on new application-specific > designs > > intended to improve performance by 100 to 1,000 times > compared with > > today’s systems. > > > > The fresh look at computer design is being prompted by the > surge in > > Internet data, from social networking to smartphone > applications to > > sensors monitoring food shipments and electrical use. By > 2011, IDC > > estimates, there will be one trillion Internet-connected > devices, up > > from 500 million in 2006. > > > > “This huge explosion of data is driving a movement to design > systems > > around workloads because it is the only way to deliver the > computation > > needed, and it’s far more energy-efficient,” said Kunle > Olukotun, a > > computer scientist at Stanford. > > > > I.B.M. had an initiative, begun in early 2008, called Blue > Cloud, which > > mainly involved adapting its server computers for cloud > technology. Most > > major technology suppliers have cloud-related hardware and > software > > products, including Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems > and Dell. > > But I.B.M., analysts say, is going further by offering > simplified, > > integrated stacks of hardware and software, as well as cloud > services. > > > > I.B.M.’s cloud strategy, the company said, is the > culmination of 100 > > prototype projects with companies and government agencies > over the last > > year, and its research partnership with Google. > > > > “The information technology infrastructure is under stress > already, and > > the data flood is just accelerating,” said Samuel J. > Palmisano, I.B.M.’s > > chief executive. “We’ve decided that how you solve that > starts by > > organizing technology around the workload.” > > > > One of I.B.M.’s test beds for cloud computing has been the > Interior > > Department’s National Business Center, a service center that > handles > > payroll, human relations, financial reporting, contracting > services and > > other computing tasks for dozens of federal agencies. The > center runs > > two large data centers, one in Northern Virginia and another > outside > > Denver. > > > > Douglas J. Bourgeois, the center’s director, said he is > introducing > > several cloud-style applications over the next nine months > including > > Web-based training, and staffing and recruitment software. > And in tests > > with financial and procurement software, the cloud-computing > environment > > has delivered efficiencies of 40 to 60 percent in > productivity and power > > consumption, he said. > > > > “For us, like other data centers, the volume of data > continues to > > explode,” Mr. Bourgeois said. “We want to solve some of > those problems > > with cloud computing, so we don’t have to build another $20 > million data > > center.” > > > > > > Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizaslider%40yahoo.com > > > > > > > > > > -- > Sent from my mobile device > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: lkimani(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lkimani% > 40yahoo.com >

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, StrengthsandWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

Dear David, No one wants to stop Media from reporting what is happening. Our media must move from incident reporting to providing analytical reports that can help us grow. Yes Government has challenges. Media too is not without challenges. The discussions here are calling for us to take individual responsibilities to change this country. A single editor can change that which can harm our collective being. If the manager at Mbs airport took his responsibility seriously, he could have even borrowed a generator. Our collective failure emanates from our individual lazyness and careless attention to responsibility. This is why I still want to state that it is imperative for us to separate Kenya from personality (our individual failures). On Mungiki, you know very well it is not the country Kenya that created them. It is generally our individual failures that has brought the problem. When a family continues to have children even when they cannot afford, they contribute to the problem. When someone corruptly misuses public resources, he/she contributes to the problem. Media should then get to the root cause of the problem by indetifying individual failures. Only then we can provide a comprehensive solution. Is it for nothing that China had to create a one child policy? Regards Ndemo. > I wonder, does the media report for outsiders or kenyans who need the info > to make decisions in their daily lives? We live right here and the media > has a duty to report reality not make-believe propaganda for foreign > investors. Government shud fix the corruption, insecurity, infrastructure > etc to create an environment for investment not plead with the media to > abdicate its obligation to report accurately. If it did that it would be > an accomplice in deception. No need burying our heads in the sand for > short term gain. > I have been to many countries and nothing tells me the kenyan media is > crazy, save for common professional shortcomings. If govt functioned half > as much as the media in the pursuit of greater kenya, we wud be far! > Last nite hundreds of pepole, me included, were stranded at moi airport in > msa because there were no lights on the runway so no planes could land or > take off. > I dont know how many pple missed their connecting international flights > but that does more damage to investor confidence than crime reports. I > read those everywhere i go but not about airports that have no lights. And > that takes just a generator. Or is that among the unspecified services > that the mysterious 1.5b in the budget will cater for? Long shot. > Bottomline- the media cant just be improvised to promote the interests of > the business and capitalist class. There is the rest of us citizens whose > welfare, life and worries too must be reported. Besides, it will be the > same media that will be whipped for keeping quiet when things were going > wrong. Remember the election fiasco? Yes, better blame the media now > rather than later for not warning of the danger lurking in our midst. Dont > beseech the media to join in the collective national amnesia and deception > of the world. Ask the govt to deal with the issues. > > David > Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device > > -----Original Message----- > From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > > Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:37:06 > To: <dmakali(a)yahoo.com> > Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions'<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths > andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > > > Listers, > Please take a moment and see what is on-line from our papers today and > understand what I am trying to say. You cannot convince even our people > in the diaspora to invest in Kenya. Compare that with what SA has on the > web from their papers. They have managed their violence especially on > foreingners well even as it continues. We are showing machetes to > investors without critical analysis and how we see the future of our > country. > > The few potential investors I met this morning are distgusted with what > they see. Allow me to request my brother Linus who is on this list to > remove the picture please. > > > Ndemo. > > > > > > >> Dr. Ndemo, >> >> I stopped watching news in the local media a while back. Too much >> negative >> stuff affecting the peace and tranquility I expect in my home. >> >> There is a lot of crime in S.A. yet the country is geared to host the >> World >> Cup come next year. How are they working to make it a success? >> >> I support you fully. It is high time we Kenyans started to think >> nationally >> as a nation. To look at the positives. We live in a real world and >> things >> will not always be perfect in any country, Kenya included. >> Therefore we should promote the positive aspects of Kenya first before >> we >> can expect outsiders to support us. >> >> >> Sammy Buruchara >> CEO NairobiNet Ltd >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: kictanet-bounces+sammy=opensystems.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+sammy=opensystems.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] >> On >> Behalf Of bitange(a)jambo.co.ke >> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 12:11 PM >> To: sammy(a)opensystems.co.ke >> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths >> andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches >> >> Prof. >> We should understand the impact of internet better. Our papers are >> on-line and they contribute the greatest content out there. A >> potential >> investor trying to surf the net, gets mostly negative information. I >> am >> not against our media but they could do better in setting the agenda. >> A >> few examples may help here. >> >> It is not only Kenya that has suffered the youth bulge. This is >> something >> that has affected countries world over. The US suffered in the 1930's >> leading the country to get rid of the problem by investing heavily on >> public works and the war. In China they put much of their people into >> labour intensive public works (roads, energy, ICTs ets). While they >> did >> this they also suffered a high rate of crime. This is how the Al >> Capones >> came up. Italy has had a mafia crisis over a long period of time but >> the >> media there did not only focus on crime. They suggested economic >> solutions that have helped reduce crime in the south go down. When we >> write about mungiki, we should also suggest a way forward. We must >> also >> create hope for our people because we are all responsible for what >> happens >> in our land. >> >> The recent US elections were all about hope that things will change. >> Look >> at the Uhuru Budget. It was a budget of hope. But read our yesterday >> papers. While one Media house attempted to create hope. The other >> focused on hopelessness - "the devil is in the details" - yet for once >> we >> were united in hope for our future. I had expected many positive >> headlines out of the budget but I was disappointed. This is a budget >> we >> should have leveraged to create a new Kenya. A Kenya where we all have >> hope. It gave us our much a waited new constitution. That we can >> devolve >> our resources based on the districts. That we may not need to dismantle >> a >> constitution that has relatively served us well for more than 40 years. >> That we may need only Parliament to amend only the governance aspects >> of >> our constitution as many civilized countries do. This where media had >> a >> chance to set the agenda for this country but they have yet again >> wasted >> the opportunity. It is not too late for them to bring hope. The >> Vision >> 2030 can be achieved if we all agree that it will bring the desired >> change. >> >> I am glad we deviated a little but this discussion will shape our >> future >> policies. Where we all respect one another. >> >> Regards >> >> >> Ndemo. >> >> >>> Dr. Ndemo, >>> >>> You have captured very well the problem with us Kenyans. At the same >>> time, >>> it is important to acknowledge that we have very many people who are >>> positive and are doing very good things for this country. But they are >>> drowned by the bad elements amongst us. However, things will not >>> change >>> if >>> we do not make a deliberate change intervention. According to me, it >>> will >>> be >>> almost impossible to achieve V2030 with this attitude. We must >>> change.I >>> strongly believe that there is a 4th pillar that V2030 >>> conceptualization >>> missed - NATIONAL COHESION. It is what is required to move forward and >>> fulfil the other plans. We could therefore argue that we need to sell >>> Kenya >>> to Kenyans before we go out to foreigners. Otherwise all the positive >>> messages that will be put out there in selling Kenya to investors by >>> whoever >>> (assuming we can get this right in the first instance) will soon be >>> negated >>> by the bad attitudes that you speak of. And who said Kenya must be >>> developed >>> by outsiders? >>> >>> I hope I have not sounded like a barking dog. >>> >>> tim mwololo >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 12:16 AM, <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: >>> >>>> Catherine, some barking dogs are causing untold pain to our people. >>>> Hate >>>> against Kenyans in Tanzania is at its worst. Irrespective who you >>>> are, >>>> you >>>> are refered to as Mungiki who is after grabbing Tanzanian land. Whom >>>> do >>>> you >>>> think created this image for our people? >>>> >>>> Mungiki is more of any economic crisis in our country but our Media >>>> has >>>> refused to link the two. We lack analytical depth in our media >>>> houses. >>>> What you read is petty fitina. When a media house purpots that >>>> "Cable >>>> lands into financial trouble" do you think such media has the >>>> interests >>>> of >>>> this country at heart? If they did they should have asked the right >>>> questions before publishing. I do not think they have a clue how >>>> such >>>> any >>>> article impacts the country negatively. >>>> >>>> The audience of what is published locally is not only Kenyan people >>>> who >>>> read it. We must love our country and stop hoping that someone else >>>> will >>>> change our image. The sad part is that all of what has been read >>>> throughout >>>> the world are all lies. Some people reading this may never know that >>>> it >>>> was >>>> not true. >>>> >>>> This what I meant to say that negativity will fail us and we should >>>> check >>>> every barking dog. >>>> >>>> Ndemo >>>> >>>> Sent from my BlackBerryR >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> >>>> >>>> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:36:34 >>>> To: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> >>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths >>>> and >>>> Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and >>>> Niches >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> kictanet mailing list >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>> >>>> This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke >>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>>> >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> kictanet mailing list >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>> >>>> This message was sent to: timwololo(a)gmail.com >>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>>> >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.com >>>> >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------- >>> This message has been scanned for viruses and >>> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is >>> believed to be clean. >>> --------------------------------------------- >>> "easy access to the world" >>> >>> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------- >> This message has been scanned for viruses and >> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is >> believed to be clean. >> --------------------------------------------- >> "easy access to the world" >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: sammy(a)opensystems.co.ke >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/sammy%40opensystems.co. >> ke >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------- >> This message has been scanned for viruses and >> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is >> believed to be clean. >> --------------------------------------------- >> "easy access to the world" >> >> > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: dmakali(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmakali%40yahoo.com > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Re: [kictanet] Media Reports
by Luvisia Bakuli 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

The media need to report both the good and the ugly news. Our wish that they focus more on positive stories than negative ones may not help the country in the long run. I think the anger voiced on the list at the current media stories about Mungiki's menace in Central Province is misdirected. Real people are dieing in those villages and we cannot wish that those deaths were not reported. Rather let's pressurize the Minister and PS in charge of internal security, the Administration Police, Police, Paramilitary (GSU), CID, Special Branch, etc to contain this menace. These government officials should be made to account for these deaths –I think we need direct our anger and questions at these people not the media. Bakuli

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths and Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by Luvisia Bakuli 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

Thanks Catherine-- wil stick to the subject line next time. Had posted as I rushed out the door in the morning. The article that I forwarded addressed trends abd potential niche market as defined by IBM. Just like UNESCO leads the way in social culturall trends, IBM seems to pick winning markets. Luvisia Bakuli On 6/15/09, Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > Thanks Luvisia, > > However, may I request all not to change the subject header for ease of > discussions, we will flesh out the relevant content as we go along. So note > inside the body of your discussion that you will focus on niche areas but do > not change the subject header. > > Thanks for your input, very insightful. > > Much appreciated, > > Nyaki (Moderator jointly with Walu) > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Luvisia Bakuli <luvisia.bakuli(a)gmail.com> > To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com > Cc: eMatete(a)gmail.com; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 2:45:19 PM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Niche Markets > > For those looking for niche areas, the following article might generate > some ideas. DBL > > ____________________ > > > June 15, 2009 > > I.B.M. to Help Clients Fight Cost and Complexity > By STEVE LOHR > > > In 2000, the Linux operating system was a hot technology, but it had not > spread much beyond scientists, researchers and computer programmers. > Then I.B.M. declared that it would back Linux with investment, research > and marketing, and the technology moved swiftly into the corporate > mainstream. > > The same thing happened with the personal computer in the early 1980s, > when I.B.M. endorsed that upstart technology and entered the market. > > Starting this week, I.B.M. is returning to the same playbook, > introducing some initial products and services and a roadmap for its > stable of corporate and government customers to comfortably embrace > cloud computing. > > Cloud computing — in which vast stores of information and processing > resources can be tapped from afar, over the Internet, using a personal > computer, cellphone or other device — holds great promise in the > corporate market. The cloud model, analysts say, has the potential to > cut the costs, complexity and headaches of technology for companies and > government agencies. > > Already, Amazon.com, Google and Salesforce.com, among others, offer > cloud-based Web services to companies, including e-mail, computer > storage and customer management software. But many big companies and > government agencies have been reluctant to get on board because of > traditional corporate-computing concerns like the security of data, > reliability of service and regulatory compliance. > > “I.B.M. knows how to do all of those things,” said Frank Gens, chief > analyst for IDC, a technology research firm. “Its strategy is all about > making cloud computing safe for enterprise customers.” > > Even if I.B.M. succeeds in its bid to make cloud computing more > palatable for big corporations, there is no guarantee that it will be > the main beneficiary of the trend. After I.B.M. helped create the PC > industry, lower-cost competitors ended up dominating the business. > > In the cloud market, I.B.M. plans to take a tailored approach. The > hardware and software in its cloud offerings will be meant for specific > computing chores. Just as Google runs a computing cloud optimized for > Internet search, I.B.M. will make bespoke clouds for computing workloads > in business. > > Its early cloud entries, to be announced on Monday, follow that model. > One set of offerings is focused on streamlining the technology used by > corporate software developers and testers, which can consume 30 percent > or more of a company’s technology resources. > > The second set is virtual desktop services, in which personal computer > software, either from Microsoft or open-source alternatives, is run on > remote servers and piped to simple desktop machines equipped with > screens and keyboards. I.B.M. found in tests with clients that such > virtual PCs, with little desktop processing or storage, can use 70 > percent less power than conventional PCs and reduce technical support > costs by up to 40 percent,. > > Both the software development and desktop services are being offered as > an integrated bundle of hardware and software for a cloud running inside > a corporate or government data center, or as a cloud service hosted in > an I.B.M. data center. > > Other offerings are planned, I.B.M. executives said, including clouds > fine-tuned for data storage, and clouds for business analytics, which is > software that analyzes data for patterns of customer behavior, market > trends and other potentially valuable information. > > I.B.M. calls its approach of fine-tuning hardware and software for > specific jobs “hybrid computing.” And it will open a Hybrid Computing > Research lab later this year, inviting industry and university > scientists to work cooperatively on new application-specific designs > intended to improve performance by 100 to 1,000 times compared with > today’s systems. > > The fresh look at computer design is being prompted by the surge in > Internet data, from social networking to smartphone applications to > sensors monitoring food shipments and electrical use. By 2011, IDC > estimates, there will be one trillion Internet-connected devices, up > from 500 million in 2006. > > “This huge explosion of data is driving a movement to design systems > around workloads because it is the only way to deliver the computation > needed, and it’s far more energy-efficient,” said Kunle Olukotun, a > computer scientist at Stanford. > > I.B.M. had an initiative, begun in early 2008, called Blue Cloud, which > mainly involved adapting its server computers for cloud technology. Most > major technology suppliers have cloud-related hardware and software > products, including Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems and Dell. > But I.B.M., analysts say, is going further by offering simplified, > integrated stacks of hardware and software, as well as cloud services. > > I.B.M.’s cloud strategy, the company said, is the culmination of 100 > prototype projects with companies and government agencies over the last > year, and its research partnership with Google. > > “The information technology infrastructure is under stress already, and > the data flood is just accelerating,” said Samuel J. Palmisano, I.B.M.’s > chief executive. “We’ve decided that how you solve that starts by > organizing technology around the workload.” > > One of I.B.M.’s test beds for cloud computing has been the Interior > Department’s National Business Center, a service center that handles > payroll, human relations, financial reporting, contracting services and > other computing tasks for dozens of federal agencies. The center runs > two large data centers, one in Northern Virginia and another outside > Denver. > > Douglas J. Bourgeois, the center’s director, said he is introducing > several cloud-style applications over the next nine months including > Web-based training, and staffing and recruitment software. And in tests > with financial and procurement software, the cloud-computing environment > has delivered efficiencies of 40 to 60 percent in productivity and power > consumption, he said. > > “For us, like other data centers, the volume of data continues to > explode,” Mr. Bourgeois said. “We want to solve some of those problems > with cloud computing, so we don’t have to build another $20 million data > center.” > > > Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizaslider%40yahoo.com > > > > -- Sent from my mobile device

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THE STUDENT ENGINEER JOURNAL
by SAMUEL EYINDA M. 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

News in technology and related industries have been often misreported or given a media blackout all the same. Started just as a platform for students at UoN’s school of Engineering to exchange views and log in various student activities, The Student Engineer journal has matured over time and is now ready for the outside world. The journal, in its quest to link the students to the industry and keep them abreast of new technological trends, reports on these trends while profiling personalities and companies who define the ICT and Engineering industries. The journal calls upon all interested persons to be part of it’ success by sending in articles of written papers for publication via the e-mail address; studentengineer(a)ymail.com . you can also use the same e-mail to invite the Editorial board members to relevant events that require exclusive coverage, technological coverage. The journal’s latest edition is available online on the link; http://www.scribd.com/doc/16382459/Student-Engineer-June-2009n The October 2008 edition is also available online at; http://www.scribd.com/full/16376226?access_key=key-xh97xkqll3jot8ennft Use the email address provided to request for a printed copy of the journal’s latest edition. http://edsamich.blogspot.com

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Re: [kictanet] Niche Markets
by Luvisia Bakuli 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

For those looking for niche areas, the following article might generate some ideas. DBL ____________________ June 15, 2009 I.B.M. to Help Clients Fight Cost and Complexity By STEVE LOHR In 2000, the Linux operating system was a hot technology, but it had not spread much beyond scientists, researchers and computer programmers. Then I.B.M. declared that it would back Linux with investment, research and marketing, and the technology moved swiftly into the corporate mainstream. The same thing happened with the personal computer in the early 1980s, when I.B.M. endorsed that upstart technology and entered the market. Starting this week, I.B.M. is returning to the same playbook, introducing some initial products and services and a roadmap for its stable of corporate and government customers to comfortably embrace cloud computing. Cloud computing — in which vast stores of information and processing resources can be tapped from afar, over the Internet, using a personal computer, cellphone or other device — holds great promise in the corporate market. The cloud model, analysts say, has the potential to cut the costs, complexity and headaches of technology for companies and government agencies. Already, Amazon.com, Google and Salesforce.com, among others, offer cloud-based Web services to companies, including e-mail, computer storage and customer management software. But many big companies and government agencies have been reluctant to get on board because of traditional corporate-computing concerns like the security of data, reliability of service and regulatory compliance. “I.B.M. knows how to do all of those things,” said Frank Gens, chief analyst for IDC, a technology research firm. “Its strategy is all about making cloud computing safe for enterprise customers.” Even if I.B.M. succeeds in its bid to make cloud computing more palatable for big corporations, there is no guarantee that it will be the main beneficiary of the trend. After I.B.M. helped create the PC industry, lower-cost competitors ended up dominating the business. In the cloud market, I.B.M. plans to take a tailored approach. The hardware and software in its cloud offerings will be meant for specific computing chores. Just as Google runs a computing cloud optimized for Internet search, I.B.M. will make bespoke clouds for computing workloads in business. Its early cloud entries, to be announced on Monday, follow that model. One set of offerings is focused on streamlining the technology used by corporate software developers and testers, which can consume 30 percent or more of a company’s technology resources. The second set is virtual desktop services, in which personal computer software, either from Microsoft or open-source alternatives, is run on remote servers and piped to simple desktop machines equipped with screens and keyboards. I.B.M. found in tests with clients that such virtual PCs, with little desktop processing or storage, can use 70 percent less power than conventional PCs and reduce technical support costs by up to 40 percent,. Both the software development and desktop services are being offered as an integrated bundle of hardware and software for a cloud running inside a corporate or government data center, or as a cloud service hosted in an I.B.M. data center. Other offerings are planned, I.B.M. executives said, including clouds fine-tuned for data storage, and clouds for business analytics, which is software that analyzes data for patterns of customer behavior, market trends and other potentially valuable information. I.B.M. calls its approach of fine-tuning hardware and software for specific jobs “hybrid computing.” And it will open a Hybrid Computing Research lab later this year, inviting industry and university scientists to work cooperatively on new application-specific designs intended to improve performance by 100 to 1,000 times compared with today’s systems. The fresh look at computer design is being prompted by the surge in Internet data, from social networking to smartphone applications to sensors monitoring food shipments and electrical use. By 2011, IDC estimates, there will be one trillion Internet-connected devices, up from 500 million in 2006. “This huge explosion of data is driving a movement to design systems around workloads because it is the only way to deliver the computation needed, and it’s far more energy-efficient,” said Kunle Olukotun, a computer scientist at Stanford. I.B.M. had an initiative, begun in early 2008, called Blue Cloud, which mainly involved adapting its server computers for cloud technology. Most major technology suppliers have cloud-related hardware and software products, including Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems and Dell. But I.B.M., analysts say, is going further by offering simplified, integrated stacks of hardware and software, as well as cloud services. I.B.M.’s cloud strategy, the company said, is the culmination of 100 prototype projects with companies and government agencies over the last year, and its research partnership with Google. “The information technology infrastructure is under stress already, and the data flood is just accelerating,” said Samuel J. Palmisano, I.B.M.’s chief executive. “We’ve decided that how you solve that starts by organizing technology around the workload.” One of I.B.M.’s test beds for cloud computing has been the Interior Department’s National Business Center, a service center that handles payroll, human relations, financial reporting, contracting services and other computing tasks for dozens of federal agencies. The center runs two large data centers, one in Northern Virginia and another outside Denver. Douglas J. Bourgeois, the center’s director, said he is introducing several cloud-style applications over the next nine months including Web-based training, and staffing and recruitment software. And in tests with financial and procurement software, the cloud-computing environment has delivered efficiencies of 40 to 60 percent in productivity and power consumption, he said. “For us, like other data centers, the volume of data continues to explode,” Mr. Bourgeois said. “We want to solve some of those problems with cloud computing, so we don’t have to build another $20 million data center.” Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths and Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by Wainaina Mungai 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

Well, I am a mwananchi wa kawaida first...then a media or ICT person. Thinking as a mwananchi, i'd prefer a media that listens to wananchi. The bit that is similar in both govt&media is the insistence that they "speak for us" but neither wants to "listen to us". Listen to the IDPs and you'd temper the politics and focus on development. Listen to the hungry youth and you'd discuss solutions - not (only) point fingers. That said, it's not a media versus government war. It's meant to be engagement in various ways so as to achieve the good for mwananchi. However - most of our media is part of the 'capritalist class' being vilified by some. Resilience must be our greatest strength as a nation. Wainaina On 6/15/09, dmakali(a)yahoo.com <dmakali(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > I wonder, does the media report for outsiders or kenyans who need the info > to make decisions in their daily lives? We live right here and the media has > a duty to report reality not make-believe propaganda for foreign investors. > Government shud fix the corruption, insecurity, infrastructure etc to create > an environment for investment not plead with the media to abdicate its > obligation to report accurately. If it did that it would be an accomplice in > deception. No need burying our heads in the sand for short term gain. > I have been to many countries and nothing tells me the kenyan media is > crazy, save for common professional shortcomings. If govt functioned half as > much as the media in the pursuit of greater kenya, we wud be far! > Last nite hundreds of pepole, me included, were stranded at moi airport in > msa because there were no lights on the runway so no planes could land or > take off. > I dont know how many pple missed their connecting international flights but > that does more damage to investor confidence than crime reports. I read > those everywhere i go but not about airports that have no lights. And that > takes just a generator. Or is that among the unspecified services that the > mysterious 1.5b in the budget will cater for? Long shot. > Bottomline- the media cant just be improvised to promote the interests of > the business and capitalist class. There is the rest of us citizens whose > welfare, life and worries too must be reported. Besides, it will be the same > media that will be whipped for keeping quiet when things were going wrong. > Remember the election fiasco? Yes, better blame the media now rather than > later for not warning of the danger lurking in our midst. Dont beseech the > media to join in the collective national amnesia and deception of the world. > Ask the govt to deal with the issues. > > David > Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device > > -----Original Message----- > From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > > Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:37:06 > To: <dmakali(a)yahoo.com> > Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions'<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths > andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > > > Listers, > Please take a moment and see what is on-line from our papers today and > understand what I am trying to say. You cannot convince even our people > in the diaspora to invest in Kenya. Compare that with what SA has on the > web from their papers. They have managed their violence especially on > foreingners well even as it continues. We are showing machetes to > investors without critical analysis and how we see the future of our > country. > > The few potential investors I met this morning are distgusted with what > they see. Allow me to request my brother Linus who is on this list to > remove the picture please. > > > Ndemo. > > > > > > >> Dr. Ndemo, >> >> I stopped watching news in the local media a while back. Too much negative >> stuff affecting the peace and tranquility I expect in my home. >> >> There is a lot of crime in S.A. yet the country is geared to host the >> World >> Cup come next year. How are they working to make it a success? >> >> I support you fully. It is high time we Kenyans started to think >> nationally >> as a nation. To look at the positives. We live in a real world and >> things >> will not always be perfect in any country, Kenya included. >> Therefore we should promote the positive aspects of Kenya first before we >> can expect outsiders to support us. >> >> >> Sammy Buruchara >> CEO NairobiNet Ltd >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: kictanet-bounces+sammy=opensystems.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+sammy=opensystems.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On >> Behalf Of bitange(a)jambo.co.ke >> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 12:11 PM >> To: sammy(a)opensystems.co.ke >> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths >> andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches >> >> Prof. >> We should understand the impact of internet better. Our papers are >> on-line and they contribute the greatest content out there. A potential >> investor trying to surf the net, gets mostly negative information. I am >> not against our media but they could do better in setting the agenda. A >> few examples may help here. >> >> It is not only Kenya that has suffered the youth bulge. This is something >> that has affected countries world over. The US suffered in the 1930's >> leading the country to get rid of the problem by investing heavily on >> public works and the war. In China they put much of their people into >> labour intensive public works (roads, energy, ICTs ets). While they did >> this they also suffered a high rate of crime. This is how the Al Capones >> came up. Italy has had a mafia crisis over a long period of time but the >> media there did not only focus on crime. They suggested economic >> solutions that have helped reduce crime in the south go down. When we >> write about mungiki, we should also suggest a way forward. We must also >> create hope for our people because we are all responsible for what happens >> in our land. >> >> The recent US elections were all about hope that things will change. Look >> at the Uhuru Budget. It was a budget of hope. But read our yesterday >> papers. While one Media house attempted to create hope. The other >> focused on hopelessness - "the devil is in the details" - yet for once we >> were united in hope for our future. I had expected many positive >> headlines out of the budget but I was disappointed. This is a budget we >> should have leveraged to create a new Kenya. A Kenya where we all have >> hope. It gave us our much a waited new constitution. That we can devolve >> our resources based on the districts. That we may not need to dismantle a >> constitution that has relatively served us well for more than 40 years. >> That we may need only Parliament to amend only the governance aspects of >> our constitution as many civilized countries do. This where media had a >> chance to set the agenda for this country but they have yet again wasted >> the opportunity. It is not too late for them to bring hope. The Vision >> 2030 can be achieved if we all agree that it will bring the desired >> change. >> >> I am glad we deviated a little but this discussion will shape our future >> policies. Where we all respect one another. >> >> Regards >> >> >> Ndemo. >> >> >>> Dr. Ndemo, >>> >>> You have captured very well the problem with us Kenyans. At the same >>> time, >>> it is important to acknowledge that we have very many people who are >>> positive and are doing very good things for this country. But they are >>> drowned by the bad elements amongst us. However, things will not change >>> if >>> we do not make a deliberate change intervention. According to me, it >>> will >>> be >>> almost impossible to achieve V2030 with this attitude. We must change.I >>> strongly believe that there is a 4th pillar that V2030 conceptualization >>> missed - NATIONAL COHESION. It is what is required to move forward and >>> fulfil the other plans. We could therefore argue that we need to sell >>> Kenya >>> to Kenyans before we go out to foreigners. Otherwise all the positive >>> messages that will be put out there in selling Kenya to investors by >>> whoever >>> (assuming we can get this right in the first instance) will soon be >>> negated >>> by the bad attitudes that you speak of. And who said Kenya must be >>> developed >>> by outsiders? >>> >>> I hope I have not sounded like a barking dog. >>> >>> tim mwololo >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 12:16 AM, <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: >>> >>>> Catherine, some barking dogs are causing untold pain to our people. >>>> Hate >>>> against Kenyans in Tanzania is at its worst. Irrespective who you are, >>>> you >>>> are refered to as Mungiki who is after grabbing Tanzanian land. Whom >>>> do >>>> you >>>> think created this image for our people? >>>> >>>> Mungiki is more of any economic crisis in our country but our Media has >>>> refused to link the two. We lack analytical depth in our media houses. >>>> What you read is petty fitina. When a media house purpots that "Cable >>>> lands into financial trouble" do you think such media has the interests >>>> of >>>> this country at heart? If they did they should have asked the right >>>> questions before publishing. I do not think they have a clue how such >>>> any >>>> article impacts the country negatively. >>>> >>>> The audience of what is published locally is not only Kenyan people who >>>> read it. We must love our country and stop hoping that someone else >>>> will >>>> change our image. The sad part is that all of what has been read >>>> throughout >>>> the world are all lies. Some people reading this may never know that >>>> it >>>> was >>>> not true. >>>> >>>> This what I meant to say that negativity will fail us and we should >>>> check >>>> every barking dog. >>>> >>>> Ndemo >>>> >>>> Sent from my BlackBerryR >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> >>>> >>>> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:36:34 >>>> To: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> >>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths and >>>> Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> kictanet mailing list >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>> >>>> This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke >>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>>> >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> kictanet mailing list >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>> >>>> This message was sent to: timwololo(a)gmail.com >>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>>> >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.com >>>> >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------- >>> This message has been scanned for viruses and >>> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is >>> believed to be clean. >>> --------------------------------------------- >>> "easy access to the world" >>> >>> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------- >> This message has been scanned for viruses and >> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is >> believed to be clean. >> --------------------------------------------- >> "easy access to the world" >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: sammy(a)opensystems.co.ke >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/sammy%40opensystems.co. >> ke >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------- >> This message has been scanned for viruses and >> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is >> believed to be clean. >> --------------------------------------------- >> "easy access to the world" >> >> > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: dmakali(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmakali%40yahoo.com > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya… > -- Sent from my mobile device --- http://www.bungesms.com http://www.madeinkenya.org

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths and Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by Solomon Mburu 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

Dear All, I also concur with the previous comments on the negativity brought about by Kenya's myopic character, and forgive me for using this harsh tome. Because I'm a Kikuyu, makes me think the other communities are just as feeble as I can imagine. This is perhaps the problem that makes our unique policies from seeing the light of day. And the cause for this... politicians. I like the approach we have adapted in this discussion forum - dealing with issues and forgetting the tribal jibes which have poisoned our minds for the last 46 years. I hope, as one of us has aptly put it, the media is listening and not be enslaved with political and character assassinations. The media, can shape the face of Kenya or destroy it. I hear it orchestrated the PEV. Just tune into your favourite TV and what you see is images of poverty, illiteracy, political wars and other social ills that you can think of. Yet, through Citizen Journalism, there are unique stories of Kenyans who are doing impact and having a legacy within the local community. I see a future where Kenyans (whether the youth or old generation) will have an understanding of dealing with issues than tribes. Technology can bring us together and destroy those who would rather not change because they believe in outdated thoughts and ideals. Now to the issues of Weaknessses and Strengths in the BPO sector. *Strenghts* 1. The most recognizable strength is there are so many Kenyans who are into IT and this would be a forum/ platform for flexing their muscles, while driving Kenyans to economic growth 2. There is a lot of content which needs to be utilized. This means the BPO will be central in making good use of the local content 3. There is political will in terms of capital, motivation, positive perception by the political leadership. The State is actively involved in the various formulation of the BPO (Dr. Ndemo is a case to note in this regard) 4. Entrepreneurial developement will be achieved with the MTEF (2008 - 2012) and Vision 2030, because it is the BPO is an underlying factor in national development, state security and health fields etc *Weaknesses* 1. There is a lack of confidence within the state corporations in adapting IT (BPO) because of fear of 'losing' touch with the citizens. Corporations such as the security department (CID, Army, NSIS, Immigration) would need to get in touch with a person making any application for either jobs, Certificate of Good Conduct etc), in order to verify the existence of such an individual 2. Financial institutions have adapted technology, but cautiously. The great fear is security. For instance, banks will not comunicate with a customer through internet, phone, especially when discussing financial status of an account holder. The same is true of hospitals etc. 3. Although we have internet savvy Kenyans, not all understand the spine behind BPO. Further elaboration is needed on the basics behind the BPO My commemts! 2009/6/15 Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> > > I agree with Dr. Ndemo et al. One of our greatest weakness is negative > energy. And the root cause of this negative energy is tribalism. Our East > African citizens (TZ,UG etc) know that Kenyans identify themselves first as > being from their tribe, then 2nd as being from their clan and finally as > being from their country ( the 'Navumulia' kua mkenya mentality). > > As noted by others, the sheer capacity of this negative energy will overide > any marketing dollars that may be poured out there in "Brand Kenya" > initiatives...There must be conscious and deliberate effort to sell Brand > Kenya internally. We have to find a way to celebrate our diversity rather > than exagerate our differences...This to me should have been one of the > pillars in the Vision 2030 because it wont happen overnite. > > walu. > > > > > > --- On Mon, 6/15/09, Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths > andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > Date: Monday, June 15, 2009, 12:35 PM > > Dakatari, thanks for the > > elaboration....I hear you! I hope the media is also reading > > this. > > > > Nyaki > > > > From: > > "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > > To: Catherine > > Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com>; > > kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > Cc: KICTAnet > > ICT Policy Discussions > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > Sent: Monday, > > June 15, 2009 12:16:12 AM > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day > > 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths andWeaknesses > > (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > > > > > > Catherine, some barking dogs are causing untold pain to our > > people. Hate against Kenyans in Tanzania is at its > > worst. Irrespective who you are, you are refered to as > > Mungiki who is after grabbing Tanzanian land. Whom do > > you think created this image for our people? > > > > Mungiki is more of any economic crisis in our country but > > our Media has refused to link the two. We lack > > analytical depth in our media houses. What you read is > > petty fitina. When a media house purpots that > > "Cable lands into financial trouble" do you think > > such media has the interests of this country at heart? > > If they did they should have asked the right questions > > before publishing. I do not think they have a clue how > > such any article impacts the country negatively. > > > > The audience of what is published locally is not only > > Kenyan people who read it. We must love our country > > and stop hoping that someone else will change our > > image. The sad part is that all of what has been > > read throughout the world are all lies. Some people > > reading this may never know that it was not true. > > > > This what I meant to say that negativity will fail us and > > we should check every barking dog. > > > > Ndemo > > > > Sent from my BlackBerry® > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> > > > > Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:36:34 > > To: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, > > Strengths and > > Weaknesses (Observations from USA and > > UK); and Trends and > > Niches > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > > > This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: solo.mburu(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/solo.mburu%40gmail.com > -- Solomon Mburu P.O. Box 19343 - 00202 Nairobi Cell: (+254-0) 735 431041 Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the same way to the side of a hill! AND It is better to die in dignity than in the ignomity of ambiguous generosity!

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by Walubengo J 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

--- On Mon, 6/15/09, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: > The few potential investors I met this morning are > distgusted with what they see. Allow me to request my brother Linus who > is on this list to remove the picture please. Bwana PS, Whereas I/we understand where you are coming from, you have to be careful that tomorrows headlines dont read " PS orders media website shutdown"... Maybe the media should explore having different editions of their publications, I mean truly we dont have to always washing our dirty linen all the time. But if we have to, lets at least keep it local. This headlines do cause panic even to Kenyan diaspora, so one can imagine what it does to non-kenyans... walu. --- On Mon, 6/15/09, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: > From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions'" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Monday, June 15, 2009, 1:37 PM > Listers, > Please take a moment and see what is on-line from our > papers today and > understand what I am trying to say. You cannot > convince even our people > in the diaspora to invest in Kenya. Compare that with > what SA has on the > web from their papers. They have managed their > violence especially on > foreingners well even as it continues. We are showing > machetes to > investors without critical analysis and how we see the > future of our > country. > > The few potential investors I met this morning are > distgusted with what > they see. Allow me to request my brother Linus who is > on this list to > remove the picture please. > > > Ndemo. > > > > > > > > Dr. Ndemo, > > > > I stopped watching news in the local media a while > back. Too much negative > > stuff affecting the peace and tranquility I expect in > my home. > > > > There is a lot of crime in S.A. yet the country is > geared to host the > > World > > Cup come next year. How are they working to make it a > success? > > > > I support you fully. It is high time we Kenyans > started to think > > nationally > > as a nation. To look at the positives. We > live in a real world and > > things > > will not always be perfect in any country, Kenya > included. > > Therefore we should promote the positive aspects of > Kenya first before we > > can expect outsiders to support us. > > > > > > Sammy Buruchara > > CEO NairobiNet Ltd > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: kictanet-bounces+sammy=opensystems.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+sammy=opensystems.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] > On > > Behalf Of bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > > Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 12:11 PM > > To: sammy(a)opensystems.co.ke > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO > Discussions, Strengths > > andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and > Trends and Niches > > > > Prof. > > We should understand the impact of internet > better. Our papers are > > on-line and they contribute the greatest content out > there. A potential > > investor trying to surf the net, gets mostly negative > information. I am > > not against our media but they could do better in > setting the agenda. A > > few examples may help here. > > > > It is not only Kenya that has suffered the youth > bulge. This is something > > that has affected countries world over. The US > suffered in the 1930's > > leading the country to get rid of the problem by > investing heavily on > > public works and the war. In China they put much > of their people into > > labour intensive public works (roads, energy, ICTs > ets). While they did > > this they also suffered a high rate of crime. > This is how the Al Capones > > came up. Italy has had a mafia crisis over a > long period of time but the > > media there did not only focus on crime. They > suggested economic > > solutions that have helped reduce crime in the south > go down. When we > > write about mungiki, we should also suggest a way > forward. We must also > > create hope for our people because we are all > responsible for what happens > > in our land. > > > > The recent US elections were all about hope that > things will change. Look > > at the Uhuru Budget. It was a budget of > hope. But read our yesterday > > papers. While one Media house attempted to > create hope. The other > > focused on hopelessness - "the devil is in the > details" - yet for once we > > were united in hope for our future. I had > expected many positive > > headlines out of the budget but I was > disappointed. This is a budget we > > should have leveraged to create a new Kenya. A > Kenya where we all have > > hope. It gave us our much a waited new > constitution. That we can devolve > > our resources based on the districts. That we > may not need to dismantle a > > constitution that has relatively served us well for > more than 40 years. > > That we may need only Parliament to amend only the > governance aspects of > > our constitution as many civilized countries do. > This where media had a > > chance to set the agenda for this country but they > have yet again wasted > > the opportunity. It is not too late for them to > bring hope. The Vision > > 2030 can be achieved if we all agree that it will > bring the desired > > change. > > > > I am glad we deviated a little but this discussion > will shape our future > > policies. Where we all respect one another. > > > > Regards > > > > > > Ndemo. > > > > > >> Dr. Ndemo, > >> > >> You have captured very well the problem with us > Kenyans. At the same > >> time, > >> it is important to acknowledge that we have very > many people who are > >> positive and are doing very good things for this > country. But they are > >> drowned by the bad elements amongst us. However, > things will not change > >> if > >> we do not make a deliberate change intervention. > According to me, it > >> will > >> be > >> almost impossible to achieve V2030 with this > attitude. We must change.I > >> strongly believe that there is a 4th pillar that > V2030 conceptualization > >> missed - NATIONAL COHESION. It is what is required > to move forward and > >> fulfil the other plans. We could therefore argue > that we need to sell > >> Kenya > >> to Kenyans before we go out to foreigners. > Otherwise all the positive > >> messages that will be put out there in selling > Kenya to investors by > >> whoever > >> (assuming we can get this right in the first > instance) will soon be > >> negated > >> by the bad attitudes that you speak of. And who > said Kenya must be > >> developed > >> by outsiders? > >> > >> I hope I have not sounded like a barking dog. > >> > >> tim mwololo > >> > >> > >> On Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 12:16 AM, <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > wrote: > >> > >>> Catherine, some barking dogs are causing > untold pain to our people. > >>> Hate > >>> against Kenyans in Tanzania is at its > worst. Irrespective who you are, > >>> you > >>> are refered to as Mungiki who is after > grabbing Tanzanian land. Whom > >>> do > >>> you > >>> think created this image for our people? > >>> > >>> Mungiki is more of any economic crisis in our > country but our Media has > >>> refused to link the two. We lack > analytical depth in our media houses. > >>> What you read is petty fitina. > When a media house purpots that "Cable > >>> lands into financial trouble" do you think > such media has the interests > >>> of > >>> this country at heart? If they did they > should have asked the right > >>> questions before publishing. I do not > think they have a clue how such > >>> any > >>> article impacts the country negatively. > >>> > >>> The audience of what is published locally is > not only Kenyan people who > >>> read it. We must love our country and > stop hoping that someone else > >>> will > >>> change our image. The sad part is that > all of what has been read > >>> throughout > >>> the world are all lies. Some people > reading this may never know that > >>> it > >>> was > >>> not true. > >>> > >>> This what I meant to say that negativity will > fail us and we should > >>> check > >>> every barking dog. > >>> > >>> Ndemo > >>> > >>> Sent from my BlackBerryR > >>> > >>> -----Original Message----- > >>> From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> > >>> > >>> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:36:34 > >>> To: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > >>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > >>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO > Discussions, Strengths and > >>> Weaknesses > (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > >>> > >>> > >>> > _______________________________________________ > >>> kictanet mailing list > >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >>> > >>> This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at > >>> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke > >>> > >>> > _______________________________________________ > >>> kictanet mailing list > >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >>> > >>> This message was sent to: timwololo(a)gmail.com > >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at > >>> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.com > >>> > >> > >> ---------------------------------------------- > >> This message has been scanned for viruses and > >> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > >> believed to be clean. > >> --------------------------------------------- > >> "easy access to the world" > >> > >> > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > > This message has been scanned for viruses and > > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > > believed to be clean. > > --------------------------------------------- > > "easy access to the world" > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: sammy(a)opensystems.co.ke > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/sammy%40opensystems.co. > > ke > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > > This message has been scanned for viruses and > > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > > believed to be clean. > > --------------------------------------------- > > "easy access to the world" > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >

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Training & Workshop Schedule Q3
by njeri.rionge＠igniteconsulting.co.ke 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

Dear Colleagues, After reading a number of emails related to Human Resource competency development needs. I have decided to send a Q3 calender schedule of training and workshops that we believe are relevant to the industry. Please note the developmental areas are soft skills based, around the already good technical skills. For more information please access our website www.igniteconsulting.co.ke. The new calender will be uploaded on to the website later in the day. For more information contact the undersigned. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Njeri Rionge (Ms) Founder & Executive Director __________________________________ Tel: +254 20 2364072 (Orange Fixed Plus) Tel: +254 772 522136 (Orange Mobile) Tel: +254 722 522136 (Safaricom Mobile) URL: www.igniteconsulting.co.ke P. O. Box 15568 Nairobi 00100, Kenya ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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Villagers to host digital world in East Africa
by Edith Adera 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

Villagers to host digital world in East Africa (http://www.dailynews.co.tz/home/?n=2530&cat=home) JAMES MPINGA in Lugoba, Coast Region, 14th June 2009 The dateline is an unlikely sleepy village called Lugoba now sitting on a super global 'knowledge highway' - whose residents did not know they have a high-level delegation of scientists and policy-makers from five East African Community (EAC) member states in their midst to prove just that. The EAC citizens - and technical partners from Sweden - were out here to demonstrate that villages could soon be playing host to the most advanced technological networks across the world. The delegates from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and hosts Tanzania were attending a regional 'hands-on' training workshop on community fibre networks at the Peacock Millennium Hotel in suburban Msasani in Dar es Salaam (June 9-12, 2009). At the end of the workshop, they declared in a joint communiqué: "Community fibre networks are not only within reach to serve and empower our communities in the region but also, the cost of implementation is now cheaper and affordable. "With emerging national fibre infrastructure now under implementation and the launching of submarine cable to link east Africa with the rest of the world for the first time on fibre, it is necessary for the communities to prepare to take advantage of this fibre infrastructure to stimulate socio-economic development," The regional workshop convened and organised by the Tanzania Commission of Science and Technology (COSTECH) and sponsored by Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) was inspired by the availability of emerging national fibre networks in the region built by governments, national operators, power and energy utilities, rail companies as well as water organizations among others. However, there weren't any illusions that all this will happen tomorrow. "Services may take a long time to reach the 'last mile' in each country and therefore it is important for the community to be sensitized on other possibilities of building their own networks bottom-up," they cautioned, adding that the 'first mile' was the greatest challenge in creating awareness about the benefit of community fibre networks among them. The events in rural Tanzania provided a fitting backdrop to neighbouring Kenya which celebrated its ascent to a major technological take-off after the much-awaited East African Marine System (Teams) fibre optic cable landed in Mombasa. The cable, launched by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki yesterday at Fort Jesus in the seaside city, the country's second biggest, connects the East African nation to worldwide cable networks. On June 27, 2009 Tanzania will be connected to another artery on the global highway - the Seacom - linking it to its SADC neighbours in South Africa and Mozambique. In both Kenya and Tanzania, the cable will improve Internet connectivity and reduce the cost of data transmission - and create thousands of jobs, especially in the telecommunications sector. Tanzania alone has more than 7,000km of fibre 'jealously' guarded by public utilities unaware of the immense opportunities that ICT now provides due to outdated legislative frameworks - or simply unwilling to share it out. The delegates therefore called on governments to live up to the "important role of creating an enabling environment for community networks to thrive." "Here in Lugoba village... not even the president knew that his own village had gone 'digital' until someone sent him an e-mail message from his own place of birth (Lugoba) ... the president was then in Washington, DC," narrated Theophilus Mlaki, who took some of the delegation on a field trip to Chalinze and Wami last week - where ICT is changing lives among the villagers. The regional workshop also recommended that all stakeholders should take advantage of emerging national fibre networks now under implementation to work with rural communities yet to be covered with communication services. Unfortunately, the emerging projects are often not interconnected and hence fell short of appropriate synergy. However, where the networks traversed, they provided an opportunity to serve the rural communities. The objective of the event was therefore to: . Build awareness on the potential for customer/ community fibre deployment in helping to meet connectivity needs; .Lay grounds to effect policy changes that may be required to allow for community owned fibre infrastructure developments, and Encourage the use of fibre for improving connectivity. The regional workshop brought together 28 participants who included ICT regulators, ICT ministries, Chair ICT Parliamentary Committee Kenya, managers of community owned networks and members of academia. The Royal Institute of Technology of Sweden facilitated the workshop.

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Re: [kictanet] [Bpoteam] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues
by muriuki mureithi 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

Good afternoon everyone, Like other issues that have been discussed (Day 1 to day 6), my take is that we must have things right from the beginning. A BPO-specific outfit (like the BPO society) should have the mandate to enforce (or at least lobby the law enforcers) labour laws for this young industry. This way, issues like the one that appeared on the Standard Newspaper sometime back (http://www.eastandard.net/sciencetech/InsidePage.php?id=1144013244 <http://www.eastandard.net/sciencetech/InsidePage.php?id=1144013244&ci> &ci) will be unheard of. Furthermore, some clients especially from the US are concerned about how the vendor he/she is giving work to treats employees. On a light note; could we begin re-thinking this whole issue of interpretation gender issues to mean women issues; men are threatened too! Muthoni ________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+muthoni=uonbi.ac.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+muthoni=uonbi.ac.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Catherine Adeya Sent: 10 June 2009 08:08 To: muthoni(a)uonbi.ac.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator Thanks Walu, will do so shortly. Best, Nyaki (aka Dr. C. Adeya, C. Nyaki Adeya and C. Adeya-Weya) ________________________________ From: Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 7:58:41 AM Subject: [kictanet] Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator Dear Listers, As per the schedule, I am pleased to hand-over the rest of the moderation to Nyaki who will introduce the remaining themes starting with the "Youth and Gender" theme today. Nyaki's CV is too long to fit in one email but its suffice to say that she belongs to this breed of Researchers that wants to bridge the gap between Academia and Socio-economic realities of out times. The rest of her story can be googled, but remember to use her official "handle" - Dr. Catherine Adeya. Over to you Nyaki. Plse tell us about today's theme. walu. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizaslider%40yahoo .com ----------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner <http://www.mailscanner.info/> , and is believed t o be clean. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality performance from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2000 standard. University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ----------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner <http://www.mailscanner.info/> , and is believed t o be clean. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality performance from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2000 standard. University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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Re: [kictanet] [Bpoteam] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues
by muriuki mureithi 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

Muthoni, Two issues here but I think we should focus more on the first paragraph that you discuss so well. However, I will allow the occasional digression on the second issue of interpreting gender issues but that debate has been on in various fora and for now we know that gender issues in Kenya seem more inclined to women's issues though we know the definition includes both. For now listers delve on the questions and if the definitional issues come up in the course of answering them then that is an added bonus. Why the silence? Why the silence? Why the silence? We are almost there just 3 days left in a very successful discussion so far. Please write...... Nyaki ________________________________ From: Muthoni Masinde <muthoni(a)uonbi.ac.ke> To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 2:14:43 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Bpoteam] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues Good afternoon everyone, Like other issues that have been discussed (Day 1 to day 6), my take is that we must have things right from the beginning. A BPO-specific outfit (like the BPO society) should have the mandate to enforce (or at least lobby the law enforcers) labour laws for this young industry. This way, issues like the one that appeared on the Standard Newspaper sometime back (http://www.eastandard.net/sciencetech/InsidePage.php?id=1144013244 <http://www.eastandard.net/sciencetech/InsidePage.php?id=1144013244&ci> &ci) will be unheard of. Furthermore, some clients especially from the US are concerned about how the vendor he/she is giving work to treats employees. On a light note; could we begin re-thinking this whole issue of interpretation gender issues to mean women issues; men are threatened too! Muthoni ________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+muthoni=uonbi.ac.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+muthoni=uonbi.ac.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Catherine Adeya Sent: 10 June 2009 08:08 To: muthoni(a)uonbi.ac.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator Thanks Walu, will do so shortly. Best, Nyaki (aka Dr. C. Adeya, C. Nyaki Adeya and C. Adeya-Weya) ________________________________ From: Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 7:58:41 AM Subject: [kictanet] Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator Dear Listers, As per the schedule, I am pleased to hand-over the rest of the moderation to Nyaki who will introduce the remaining themes starting with the "Youth and Gender" theme today. Nyaki's CV is too long to fit in one email but its suffice to say that she belongs to this breed of Researchers that wants to bridge the gap between Academia and Socio-economic realities of out times. The rest of her story can be googled, but remember to use her official "handle" - Dr. Catherine Adeya. Over to you Nyaki. Plse tell us about today's theme. walu. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizaslider%40yahoo .com ----------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner <http://www.mailscanner.info/> , and is believed t o be clean. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality performance from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2000 standard. University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ----------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner <http://www.mailscanner.info/> , and is believed t o be clean. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality performance from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2000 standard. University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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Re: [kictanet] New Mobile Phenomenon
by muriuki mureithi 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

Interesting article... "For Teens, later to bed, the Worse the Outlook" by Greg Toppo, USA Today Teens whose parents let them stay up after midnight on weeknights have a much higher chance of being depressed or suicidal than teens whose parents enforce an earlier bedtime, says research being presented today at a national sleep conference. The findings are the first to examine bedtimes' effects on kids' mental health - and the results are noteworthy. Middle- and high-schoolers whose parents don't require them to be in bed before midnight on school nights are 42 percent more likely to be depressed than teens whose parents require a 10 p.m. or earlier bedtime. And teens who are allowed to stay up late are 30 percent more likely to have had suicidal thoughts in the past year. The differences are smaller but still significant - 25 percent and 20 percent, respectively - after controlling for age, sex, race and ethnicity. A team led by Columbia University Medical Center's James Gangwisch examined surveys from 15,659 teens and their parents who took part in a National Institutes of Health (NIH) adolescent health study. Previous research has established a firm connection between teens getting less sleep and feeling depressed or suicidal. The NIH survey found that kids whose parents called for a 9-10 p.m. bedtime said they were in bed, on average, by 10:04 p.m. They slept for 8 hours and 10 minutes on average, compared with 7 hours for kids allowed to stay up past midnight. The lesson for parents is simple, Gangwisch says: try to sell teenagers on the importance of getting enough sleep. They need about nine hours, the NIH says. Rafael Pelayo, an associate professor of pediatric sleep medicine at Stanford University, agrees. "They've got to think it's in their own best interest to get to sleep," says Pelayo, who read the study. Says Gangwisch, "We feel like we can just eat into our sleep time, but we pay for it in many different ways." The data come from analyses of NIH surveys from 1994 to 1996. Gangwisch believes disparities between teens with and without prescribed bedtimes are greater today, given greater distractions. In 1996, for instance, teens couldn't stay up late texting and checking Facebook. "I would guess that there are more kids getting less sleep," he says. Gangwisch is presenting the findings in Seattle at SLEEP 2009, the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies. Disclaimer: Views expressed here (except those quoted or referenced) are the authors own On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 11:34 AM, Gakuru Alex <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> wrote: Mwende, Let's get touch base, locally. I am investigating a compliant report where mobile companies through the Sunday Nation (last page) reportedly caused to be published invitation to (SMS) content that would contravene Section 84(d) of Kenya Communications (Amendment) Act. I shall revert with my findings. regards, Alex On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 5:36 AM, mwende njiraini<mwende.njiraini(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Dear all, > > Given that most people including children have access to mobiles, there is > now a growing problem being referred to as 'sexting'. > (View CBS news > clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xOZ81dXzdA <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xOZ81dXzdA&feature=channel_page> &feature=channel_page). > > Are there the parental control services available in Kenya? > > Kind regards > Mwende > > > Disclaimer: Views expressed here (except those quoted or referenced) are the > authors own > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alexgakuru.lists%40 gmail.com >

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Re: [kictanet] [Bpoteam] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues
by muriuki mureithi 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

Good afternoon everyone, Like other issues that have been discussed (Day 1 to day 6), my take is that we must have things right from the beginning. A BPO-specific outfit (like the BPO society) should have the mandate to enforce (or at least lobby the law enforcers) labour laws for this young industry. This way, issues like the one that appeared on the Standard Newspaper sometime back (http://www.eastandard.net/sciencetech/InsidePage.php?id=1144013244 <http://www.eastandard.net/sciencetech/InsidePage.php?id=1144013244&ci> &ci) will be unheard of. Furthermore, some clients especially from the US are concerned about how the vendor he/she is giving work to treats employees. On a light note; could we begin re-thinking this whole issue of interpretation gender issues to mean women issues; men are threatened too! Muthoni ________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+muthoni=uonbi.ac.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+muthoni=uonbi.ac.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Catherine Adeya Sent: 10 June 2009 08:08 To: muthoni(a)uonbi.ac.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator Thanks Walu, will do so shortly. Best, Nyaki (aka Dr. C. Adeya, C. Nyaki Adeya and C. Adeya-Weya) ________________________________ From: Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 7:58:41 AM Subject: [kictanet] Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator Dear Listers, As per the schedule, I am pleased to hand-over the rest of the moderation to Nyaki who will introduce the remaining themes starting with the "Youth and Gender" theme today. Nyaki's CV is too long to fit in one email but its suffice to say that she belongs to this breed of Researchers that wants to bridge the gap between Academia and Socio-economic realities of out times. The rest of her story can be googled, but remember to use her official "handle" - Dr. Catherine Adeya. Over to you Nyaki. Plse tell us about today's theme. walu. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizaslider%40yahoo .com ----------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner <http://www.mailscanner.info/> , and is believed t o be clean. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality performance from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2000 standard. University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ----------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner <http://www.mailscanner.info/> , and is believed t o be clean. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality performance from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2000 standard. University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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Re: [kictanet] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues
by muriuki mureithi 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

Nyaki, It would be nice to be reminded (in some cases informed) of the Kenyan labour law and implications within the context of BPO sector Edith ________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Catherine Adeya Sent: 10 June 2009 08:12 To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues - Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues - Morning all, Walu has done a fantastic job moderating so far and now you are stuck with me for the next four days. Todays theme is on Youth and Gender issues. It is obvious we have touched on a number of issues that focus on this theme in the last few days; however, it is still pertinent to address it as an exclusive issue. Some of you have wondered why we keep referring to S. Africa, Mauritius and India. I would like to re-emphasize that those are the countries where the research was conducted but views from other countries are welcome. The idea is not to compare Kenya per se but to bench-mark on our (or potential) competitors. Views based on other countries are very welcome, the researchers could not visit more countries due to funding constraints. It is useful to begin by noting that the researchers found that the unemployment rate (2008 est) was 40% in Kenya, 21.7% in S. Africa, 7.6% in Mauritius and 6.8% in India. The researchers also found that the minimum qualification for professional staff was a Bachelors degree in all four countries. However, the minimum qualification for operators/agents varied. In Kenya it was a certificate, diploma or degree depending on operation; in S. Africa it was Grade 12; Mauritius school certificate or below and in India it was a High school certificate. The common work related challenges include project management (especially meeting deadlines) and long hours. Some employees in Kenya complained about challenges with transportation. The detailed summary findings will be availed. Generally there were more women in call centres than male but more males in the professional cadre. The youth are mostly found in the agent/operator jobs. The following are some country specific issues: 1. In, India there is the Equal Remuneration Act ensures that there is equal remuneration to men and women for same jobs. Under this law, no discrimination is permissible in recruitment and service conditions except where employment of women is prohibited or restricted by the law. NASSCOM has launched the Women in Leadership-IT Initiative to enhance participation of women in the workforce and ensure there are more women leaders in the IT-BPO industry. 2. In South Africa, there are 40% more females than males below 25 years working in the BPO sector. However, there are 7% more males than females above 25 years old. There is no gender or age based discrimination in the work place. There exists no law or policy that prefers youth from other groups of people in employment. 3. In Mauritius, there is no 24 hour work culture. In addition, the Labor Act prohibits employment of female employees in industrial undertakings between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m; while youth are not allowed to work between between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Interestingly, there is clause that no person shall, except with the Permanent Secretary's written consent, transport a female worker or cause a female worker to be transported in a goods vehicle; any other vehicle, unless the vehicle is provided with an easy means of entering and alighting which does not involve climbing. In Kenya we have the Employment Act which many of you know. This leads us to the following discussion questions: Discussion Q9: Are the Kenyan laws adequate to protect the youth and women from exploitation by BPO&O employers? Discussion Q. 10: The BPO sector is not seen as a long term source of employment for most employees. Most believe it is a stepping stone to other lucrative opportunities. What needs to be done to ensure the youth and women view the industry as attractive, especially in terms of quality of employment and career progression? Discussion Q11: Attrition and poaching are prevalent in most countries studied. What mechanisms should employers adopt to attract and retain their staff? Let the games (oops! Discussion) begin! Thanks Nyaki To be Encl: Synthesis 4 Youth and Gender Issues

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Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator
by muriuki mureithi 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

Dear Listers, As per the schedule, I am pleased to hand-over the rest of the moderation to Nyaki who will introduce the remaining themes starting with the "Youth and Gender" theme today. Nyaki's CV is too long to fit in one email but its suffice to say that she belongs to this breed of Researchers that wants to bridge the gap between Academia and Socio-economic realities of out times. The rest of her story can be googled, but remember to use her official "handle" - Dr. Catherine Adeya. Over to you Nyaki. Plse tell us about today's theme. walu. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mureithi%40summitstrate gies.co.ke

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