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KDN PIPS EASSY TO THE POST $115M DEAL WITH FLAG - COST OF
by Alice Wanjira 26 Jun '06

26 Jun '06

>From Balancing act TOP STORY: KDN PIPS EASSY TO THE POST $115M DEAL WITH FLAG - COST OF BANDWIDTH COST? AROUND $150 PER MBPS PER MONTH _____________________________________________________________________ The EASSy saga, which has had more twists and turns than a mountain road, took what may be a final turn. Kenya Data Networks announced that it has secured a separate deal with Flag Telecom to build a spur from off the cost of Yemen to Mombasa. The deal is believed to be worth US$115 million and the pipe will be built before EASSy was planning to come on stream. And the cost of the bandwidth? An eye-wateringly low figure of around US$150 per mbps per month for Mombasa to London. Russell Southwood spoke to KDN's CEO Kai Wulff this week about how it will work. Flag is in the process of completing the Falcon system that runs through the Gulf and it will be up-and-running in early 2007. The spur to Mombasa will be completed at the latest by September 2007. In the deal with Flag, KDN is believed to be putting up a capacity guarantee and will in turn sell capacity to others in the region. The cost of this capacity will be at cost plus operating, maintenance and interest charges. Therefore this effective cost price will be around $150 per mbps per month, a figure that is considerably lower than any of those mentioned verbally by members of the EASSy consortium. Flag will manage the system and be responsible for maintenance. KDN's Kai Wulff has a very clear attitude to capacity sales:"We will take the capacity. We will be the guarantor. We will sell to all serious players at the cost price. We want everyone to be able to offer value-added services and infrastructure in the (national) market. We will not mark up capacity and we don't see why others should do so. We will have a huge chunk of capacity and will keep competition open by capping bandwidth at cost. When it comes to the next upgrade of the pipe, everyone can negotiate their own deal." "I don't want to dominate the market. If the international bandwidth is cheap, I will be so busy with other business that selling capacity will look like a joke. I'll leave that to the ISPs." He hopes that by 2008 that it will be possible to offer a 4 mb DSL line to users at between US$20-22, coming well below the current cheapest continental price being offered by Maroc Telecom. "We already outsource as many of KDN's function's as possible. We do it with satellite. We will do the same with fibre. There are not many serious private fibre operators and this is why we have ended up making the deal with Flag." And what of the EASSy consortium? "We will continue to be active in the EASSy consortium but we need to rethink the purpose of EASSy". He points out that having built this first link that the balance of the cost of the submarine link will halved:"We need to reach the other countries. They could follow us and speak to Flag and use the same model as we are.

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Fwd: A SKILLED IT PROGRAMMER LOOKING FOR ATTACHMNET/WORK
by charles nduati 24 Jun '06

24 Jun '06

Hi all, Attached kindly find henry kamau's cv. He looks quite skilled so may be you might want to engage him. Cheers all, Charles nduati Note: forwarded message attached. CHARLES N. NDUATI BUSINESS MANAGER JKUAT ENTERPRISES LTD JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY JUJA MAIN CAMPUS, THIKA P. O. BOX 79324-00200 NAIROBI, KENYA TEL: 254-067-52420 OR 254-067-52711 FAX: 254-067-52438 MOBILE:254-722728815 EMIAL:charlesnduati2002@yahoo.co.uk www.jkuat.ac.ke ___________________________________________________________ All new Yahoo! Mail "The new Interface is stunning in its simplicity and ease of use." - PC Magazine http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html

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[Fwd: www.stock-detective.co.ke]
by Bill Kagai 23 Jun '06

23 Jun '06

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "Info" <info(a)circuitspackets.co.ke> To: billkagai(a)gmail.com Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2006 01:03:46 +0300 Subject: www.stock-detective.co.ke The death knell to shareholders of Uchumi Supermarkets could have been avoided if the investors had accurate information and reliable projections of the company's performance in real time. Speculation is already rife that Unga Group investors ought worry though no information is available to the shareholders from the relevant stakeholders. The Hosted Services Unit at Circuits&Packets Comunications Ltd has developed a web-based portal www.stock-detective.co.ke combined with a swahili version www.KacheroWaHisa.co.ke which will provide you with data, news and analytics in the stock market. Updated and archived financial and market data, pricing, trading, news and communications tools will now be available in a single, integrated solution to corporations, business professionals and individual shareholders in Kenya. The Stock-Detective also integrates real-time and historical information on all the 49 listed companies, bonds, equities, commodities, currencies and funds. The unique feature of the Stock-Detective is that it contains no frames to ease accessibility and deliberately does not feature images, file attachments or compressed documents for download so that once data is available it can integrate seamlessly with your computer, cell-phones or hand-held devices either through the internet or via short messaging service (sms). The beta version of the solution is now available for tests, editing and bug fixing at www.stock-detective.co.ke As a potential user of our services, we welcome you to have a glance. Your comments and suggestions will be held in high esteem. Stock-Detective Team Circuits & Packets Communications Ltd Hosted Services Unit Suite B2, Tetu Apartments, State House Avenue P. O. Box 20311 - 00200 Nairobi, Kenya Tel. 254 20 2728332 Fax. 254 20 2726965 Email. info(a)circuitspackets.co.ke URL. www.circuitspackets.co.ke

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MONTHLY PLANNING MEETING
by Evelyne Majale 23 Jun '06

23 Jun '06

Good afternoon On behalf of the chair, Mr. Charles Nduati, I am inviting you to the Kictanet monthly planning meeting to be held at The Jacaranda Hotel on Thursday, 22nd June 2006 at 3.45 p.m. Mr. Kanja Waruru Chairman of the Media Owner's Association will give a feedback on the MOA workshop held at The Norfolk Hotel on 22nd May 2006, while Dr. Ben Sihanya will give a feedback on Kictanet registration. Mr. Marcel will table the issue on Planning for Open Policy Forum. MM could you please handle feedback of ICT bill 2006? If not, please assign one of the facilitators to do it on your behalf. Attached, please find the agenda. Evelyne

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Valentyne
by Emutua 21 Jun '06

21 Jun '06

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Fw: Invitation to BusinessXchange Forum - Thursday 22 June 2006.
by alice＠apc.org 19 Jun '06

19 Jun '06

FYI ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Kimacia" <peter(a)c4IDEA.com> To: "Alice Munyua" <alice(a)apc.org> Cc: <events(a)c4IDEA.com> Sent: Monday, June 19, 2006 3:34 PM Subject: Invitation to BusinessXchange Forum - Thursday 22 June 2006. Dear Alice, This month, KPMG East Africa will make a presentation titled 'Regional Budget Analysis and its impact on the ICT industry in Kenya'. This will be followed by a plenary session to discuss the way forward for the ICT industry in Kenya. Our special guest for this forum will be Dr. Bitange Ndemo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications. Date: Thursday 22nd June 2006. Topic: Regional Budget Analysis - Impact on the ICT Industry. Presenter: Mr. Richard Ndungu, CEO, KPMG East Africa. Time: 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm. Venue: Grand Regency Hotel. Cost: KShs. 1,000/- per person. c4IDEA.com is a resource network that helps individuals and organizations exchange innovative and proactive ideas to develop world-class Kenyan leaders in different professions and disciplines. Please email or contact us to make a reservation for this special businessXchange forum. Call Joan at the contacts listed below. Thanks, Peter. -------------------------------------------- The Office Park, Riverside Drive. Tel: 254-020-444-9277 254-020-444-7655 Fax: 254-020-444-9210 PO Box 12 - 00606, Sarit Centre, Nairobi, Kenya.

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Take a Stand on Internet Governance! - http://internetgovernance.org/comment.asp
by Wainaina Mungai 16 Jun '06

16 Jun '06

> Hello > I am forwarding the message below, about ICANN and its evaluation. You can > make comments individually or collectively as you wish. > Best > divina > > Take a Stand on Internet Governance! > ==================================== > > In advance of renewing the current agreement between the U.S. > Department of Commerce and ICANN, the U.S. government's National > Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has asked for > public comments about its supervision of the Internet Corporation for > Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). > > This is an important opportunity for public participation in the reform > of ICANN and Internet governance. We urge everyone to let your opinion > of how ICANN is working and how it can be improved be known. Comments > are due by July 7. > > The Internet Governance Project is focusing public attention on the > Bush administration's controversial and divisive assertion of unilateral > control over the DNS root. IGP is urging Internet users everywhere to > respond to the NTIA request for comments with the following statement: > > > <statement> > > The Internet's value is created by the participation and cooperation of > people all over the world. The Internet is global, not national. > Therefore no single Government should have a pre-eminent role in > Internet governance. > > As the US reviews its contract with ICANN, it should work cooperatively > with all stakeholders to complete the transition to a Domain Name System > independent of US governmental control. > > </statement> > > You can transmit this statement directly to the NTIA and key > Congressional committee chairs. Just visit > http://internetgovernance.org/comment.asp > > Join this global campaign today! > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Edu mailing list > Edu(a)wsis-cs.org > http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/edu > >

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Fw: Removal of VAT on ICT
by alice＠apc.org 15 Jun '06

15 Jun '06

----- Original Message ----- From: "waudo siganga" <emailsignet(a)mailcan.com> To: "KIPlist" <kiplist-cl(a)lyris.idrc.ca> Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2006 4:24 PM Subject: Removal of VAT on ICT > Dear Colleagues, > > The Minister Kimunya has announced the removal of VAT on ICT products. > This will herald cheaper ICT but then, the ICT vendors also have to > undergo difficult times - how to recover the VAT they pay on the non-ICT > inputs necessary to run their businesses. > > > Kind Regards > Waudo Siganga > Computer Society of kenya > -- > waudo siganga > emailsignet(a)mailcan.com > > -- > http://www.fastmail.fm - Faster than the air-speed velocity of an > unladen european swallow > > > --- > Submitted by: Waudo Siganga - (Int. address) <emailsignet(a)mailcan.com> > 2006-06-15 09:35:34 EDT4 > (Please reply to original submitter for private communication) > --- > You are currently subscribed to kiplist-cl as: [alice(a)apc.org] > To unsubscribe, forward this message to > leave-kiplist-cl-100946B(a)lyris.idrc.ca

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WIRE THE SLUMS!
by sidarec 14 Jun '06

14 Jun '06

Dear all, Welcome to the CONNECTED world of SIDAREC. Now Youth from Majengo slums can access wireless internet connectivity! You can also see visit our freeflux Library site.... SIDAREC is pioneering in the use of KOHA a free library cataloguing software. Kindly see our library website as designed by the youth http://sidarecyouth.freeflux.net and also get in touch with us for more about our program ...."the poor can eat computers!" warmest! Lucy Mathai Executive Director Slums Information Dev. & Resource Centres (SIDAREC) P.O.BOX 9687 00300 Ronald Ngala Post Office, Tel.254-20-246961/247356/6767649 Email: sidarec(a)kenyaweb.com Web site: www.sidarec.or.ke Nairobi-Kenya.

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IC bill analysis workshop programme
by alice＠apc.org 13 Jun '06

13 Jun '06

Dear All attached and below, the IC bill analysis workshop programme Day | Friday 16 June 2006, Jacaranda Hotel, Nairobi Objectives of the Workshop: The objective is for the stakeholders who will include telecom, ISPs, IT, CSO, academic, and social etc to understand the context of the bill and make informed determinations sessions 08:00-09:00 Registration 09:00-10:30 Opening Telecom and related issues a.. Mr Muriuki Mureithi: Summit Strategies- Facilitator 10:30-11:00 Tea Break 10:30-13:30 Internet and IT issues · Mr. John Walubengo: KICTANET- Facilitator 13.30: -14:30 LUNCH BREAK 14:30- 16.00 Academic and other applications session · Victor Kyalo: KICTANET - Facilitator 16:00-16:30 Tea Break 16:00-17.30 Social dimensions in ICTs · Dorcas Muthoni: KICTANET - Facilitator 16:00-16:30 Closure: Vote of thanks

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Fw: [Fibre-for-africa] Where are things now, really?
by alice＠apc.org 12 Jun '06

12 Jun '06

----- Original Message ----- From: "Eric Osiakwan" <eric(a)afrispa.org> To: "Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants" <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> Sent: Monday, June 12, 2006 1:33 PM Subject: Re: [Fibre-for-africa] Where are things now, really? > Anriette, the Kenyans where never offboard. They only announce another > national fiber project and the rest was "propaganda" by those who wanted > to pitch the Kenyan against the South Africa government - a rather sad > initiative. > > The way forward now is, you dont need any LICENSE to INVEST in EASSy. The > IGA would authenticate investors to be sure they are legimate businesses > or organisations or investors from their countries of residence. Again > the governments through the Ministries (in charge of ICTs and or > Infrastructure) are not going to ask you to present a license, they may > rather require some documentation to prove their you are legally existing > entity or enterprise. > > The detailed business plan of equity to debt is being finalised but when > i last checked the consideration was 30 to 70 respectively - this may > change. Am not financially knowledgable to be in that space. > > I was in Rwanda the other day and indications are that most of the > Consortium members have come to terms with this new development but as > usual a few still belong to the school of thought that "their legitimate > business" has been snatched away from them by the governments...:-) > > EASSy is now a Public Private Partnership so the UbuntuNet Alliance, > AfrISPA Members and all those who have money to invest, please get ready > and start syncing with your respect governments. > > Eric here > > > On Jun 11, 2006, at 11:04 PM, Anriette Esterhuysen wrote: > >> Hallo all >> >> So the ministers have signed an agreement (on 7 June) and apparently the >> Kenyans are back on board, and an SPV will be created and registered in >> Rwanda. >> >> What is not clear to me is how all the original consortium members feel >> about >> this, particularly the private sector investors? >> >> Any updates? >> >> Anriette >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------ >> Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director >> Association for Progressive Communications >> anriette(a)apc.org >> http://www.apc.org >> PO Box 29755, Melville, South Africa. 2109 >> Tel. 27 11 726 1692 >> Fax 27 11 726 1692 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Fibre-for-africa mailing list >> Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org >> http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa >> > > Eric M.K Osiakwan > Executive Secretary > AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) > Tel: + 233.21.258800 > Fax: + 233.21.258811 > Cell: + 233.244.386792 > Handle: eosiakwan > Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North > Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North > Blog: http://afrispa.skybuilders.com/users/Eric/blog.html > Slang: "Tomorrow Now" > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

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Fw: [Fibre-for-africa] Article from HANA
by alice＠apc.org 12 Jun '06

12 Jun '06

Submarine Fiber-optic Cable Connectivity in the Balance > > HANA, 30 May 2006. > > Efforts to complete the encircling of Africa by a modern submarine fiber > optic telecommunication could suffer a major blow if the parties involved > fail to reach an agreement in the near future. By: Alari Alare Kenneth > > starts/ > > Efforts to complete the encircling of Africa by a modern submarine fiber > optic telecommunication cable could suffer a major blow if the parties > involved fail to reach an agreement in the near future. > > Following the successful implementation of SAT-3/WASC/SAFE, providing > high > quality and high bandwidth telecommunications services to Western and > Southern Africa, and with Northern Africa served by a number of other > submarine cable systems, the next logical step is to provide the East > Coast of Africa with submarine fiber-optic cable connectivity. This will > complete the encircling of Africa by a modern submarine fiber optic > telecommunications network. > > However, this could be hampered by a few factors at play, one being that > the project is a joint initiative between governments and private telcos > including the incumbents in participating countries. > > EASSy is expected to establish an undersea cable system to connect the > region with the rest of the world. EASSy should be commercially viable to > provide the owners with opportunities to benefit directly from the > international traffic. > > It is anticipated that by the time fiber cable lands at the coastal city > of Mombasa in Kenya, a backhaul (local) transmission link will have been > laid to further link Uganda through Malaba. > > According Peter K Kenduiywo Telkom Kenya, linking the hinterland will > through the East Africa Digital Transmission System (EADTS) forming the > Kenya ? Uganda backhaul (local) transmission link. > > "The basic EADTS configuration is a SDH transmission system, from > Mombasa to Malaba through Nairobi with Spurs to major towns within the > country", he said. > >>From Mombasa, it will pass through towns including Voi, Mtito-Andei, > Nairobi, Longonot, Naivasha, Nakuru, Kericho, Timboroa, Eldoret, > Muhoroni, Kisumu, Bungoma and finally Malaba to link Uganda. > > However, the project's groundbreaking, which was scheduled for March > this year, is yet to take place with well-placed sources saying that the > slim financial base is casting dark clouds over the completion of the huge > project. > > The consortium has so far raised only US$ 110 million out of the > required US$ 290 to stay on schedule. This due to the fact that some of > the members in consortium are state owned incumbent telcos struggling to > stay afloat while others heavily depend on their cash strapped governments > for financing. > > The other issue posing a lot of challenge to the success of the project is > the model of ownership. While one group is pushing for open access on > grounds of affordability, another group is pushing for a closed model > arguing that the project should be operated fully as a commercial venture. > > While giving his views to Hana, Joseph Mucheru, the immediate former > chairman of the Telecommunications Service Providers of Kenya (TESPOK) > and > a director with the biggest Internet Service Provider in Kenya, Wananchi > Online told us that EASSy should be run like a business entity, "Am not > entirely sure about the whole definitions of Open or Closed access, > stakeholders better adopt an hybrid model. This is because I think profits > are important for the sustainability of any business/project and unless > this services will be provided for free it is important to ensure a > business model is adopted and not just a social model", said Mucheru. > > However, an industry player and a member of the WGIG (Working Group on > Internet Governance) ahead of last year's WSIS Waundo Siganga also the > chairman of the Computer of Kenya has shown his support for the Open > Access model, "EASSy should adopt an Open Access Model so that all > investors have equal opportunity and rights". He adds that the World Bank > should be involved as a debt financier to the project. > > Debate is currently raging as to whether EASSy should be built along an > Open Access model, or should be closely controlled by the operators and > investors that will inject funds in it. The view of the World Bank, which > is eager to provide loan financing to the cable system, is that EASSy will > deliver better value to users in Eastern and Southern Africa if it is > built and run along the Open Access model. > > The World Bank has said it wants the cable to be accessible to anybody who > is not an investor in EASSy, but in future wants to use the cable. It says > those operators should access the EASSy system at rates and terms > comparable to those at which investors in EASSy access it. > > Under the Open Access model, EASSy would be owned by a Special > Purpose > Vehicle (SPV), meaning a company that would sell bandwidth to whoever > wants to buy it. This SPV would not offer telecoms services as that would > place it an advantage compared to other users of the EASSy bandwidth. > > The MoU partners reject this argument. Instead, they propose that new > operators intending to benefit from the cable should invest in it too. > > At one point, Mucheru posed, "The World Bank involvement in what way. And > to serve what purpose, as a bank they can either give loans or grants, and > it is not clear to me what the funding mechanism the consortium has chosen > and therefore cannot answer this question." > > He adds: "EASSy should be a business like any other and be allowed to have > competitors. This is the only way to ensure the regions benefits and does > not support another monopoly model, it can be an expensive mistake". > > What about Nepads involvement; "Nepad should not be responsible for > developing a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) managing the financing > process. They should also not be involved in choosing board members for > the EASSy SPV", says Waundo who sat on the Working Group on Internet > Governance. > > A group of big telecommunication firms are pushing for the Sat 3 model > whose monopolist structure has not helped kept the cost of > telecommunication down in the west and southern African region. > > While the battle on the model continues, Kenya Data Network (KDN) who is > also one the consortium members is busy laying out fiber optic in Kenya > hoping that by the time EASSy lands in Mombasa, they would have > completed > the project that should see fiber optic link between the port of Mombasa > traversing through Kenya's hinterland all the way to Kenya Uganda border. > > Source: Highway Africa News Agency <http://hana.ru.ac.za/> (Free > subscription is required). > > > ------------------------------------------------------ > Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director > Association for Progressive Communications > anriette(a)apc.org > http://www.apc.org > PO Box 29755, Melville, South Africa. 2109 > Tel. 27 11 726 1692 > Fax 27 11 726 1692 > > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

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Fwd: CAN ICT HELP FIGHT HIV/AIDS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE?
by constance georgina 12 Jun '06

12 Jun '06

Constance Georgina Khaendi Walyaro President-Citron Wood AP-Oxfam International Youth Parlaiment East Africa Region Focal Point-Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS constance(a)youthaidscoalition.org Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

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Wananchi Appoints new CEO
by Alice Wanjira 12 Jun '06

12 Jun '06

Congratulations Mucheru, Njeri and all at Wananchi best alice ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joseph Mucheru" <mucheru(a)wananchi.com> To: <alice(a)apc.org> Sent: Friday, June 09, 2006 5:06 PM Subject: [Kictanet] Wananchi Appoints new CEO > > Wananchi Online has finally merged with ISP Kenya and The Board of > Directors reports the following changes to its structure as well as > changes to the management structure, as the company prepares for its > intended Initial Public Offering. > > Njeri Rionge steps down as CEO at the end of June 2006, but remains > on the Board of Directors. > > Mr. James Gachui remains the Chairman of the board, while Sandeep > Mangat and Hamish Govani join Njeri Rionge, Joseph Kamau and Subash > Handa as Directors on the board. There will be further changes to the > board as the Company continues to enhance its Corporate Governance > structures which will be announced in due course. > > Joseph Mucheru, the Strategy and Business Development Director and Co- > founder is now the acting CEO. He is also the current Chairman of the > Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK) > and has been instrumental in providing strategic input in ICT policy > and regulations both at Wananchi Online and the Industry as a whole. > > Sandeep Mangat and Hamish Govani, who were executive Directors of ISP > Kenya, join Wananchi Online as the Corporate Sales Director and > Projects Director, respectively and both bring a wealth of industry > experience on Internet based communications for Corporates to > compliment the current retail solutions provided by Wananchi Online. > > Wananchi Online continues to enhance its Corporate brand, products > and services, business processes and continued innovative > technologies to deliver customer satisfaction to its clients. > > The Board of Directors > Wananchi Online Limited > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alice%40apc.org

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Invitation to a meeting to discuss the Kenya Information
by Alice Wanjira 11 Jun '06

11 Jun '06

(Apologies for cross posting) Dear Colleagues The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) invites you to a one-day workshop Meeting on Friday 16 June 2006 from 8:00 to 5:30 to discuss the Information Communication Bill 2006 at the Jacaranda Hotel, Gazebo Banda. The Ministry of Information and Communications finalized the ICT Policy Early this year and Cabinet approved it. Subsequently, KICTANet has Established a team to facilitate a comprehensive review of the draft ICT Bill to make substantial recommendations for those who will finalize it. The Key issues to be addressed include context, construction and implementation Of the bill. Your participation to this workshop will be highly appreciated and we look Forward to having you there. To RSVP please contact Judy Kimiti on Tel number 6751323 or Cell number 0722-716020, email jkimiti(a)email.kictanet.or.ke before 13th June 2006 Thank You Yours Sincerely, Judy Kimiti Events and logistics coordinator Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTAnet) Enclosed Agenda

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e-Govt security questions
by Wainaina Mungai 11 Jun '06

11 Jun '06

Great progress in eGovt. especially http://www.immigration.go.ke/kenyan_ppt.php...however, I came across the attached ppt detailing internet security issues and abuse of the eGovt facilities e.g. a politician's campaign website is on the govt servers ;-) etc Security will be a critical determant of the success of eGovt / Digitisation campaign. --- Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. > -------Original Message------- >

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Re: [Kictanet] eGov in Action?
by Andrew Limo 11 Jun '06

11 Jun '06

Thanks Harry for the compliment. Making such services interactive is the next phase in the modernization of government service delivery channels in Kenya. Your feedback and suggestions from other users invaluably help us chart the way forward. Regards, Andrew e-Govt, Kenya Harry Harry <harry(a)aitecafrica.com> wrote: st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } Dear Colleagues, Today I was pleasantly surprised when from the conform of my home office, download a passport renewal application form from the department of Immigration website (http://www.immigration.go.ke/kenyan_ppt.php) . The Department has a fairly useful site that guides visitors on how to apply for various travel and immigration documents including Visas and Passes. My further request to for the site to enable visitors to actually fill the forms online! This would have saved me another KSh 3000 to courier the forms to Nairobi from Dar es Salaam. All the same, this is a good start. For that I would like to register my heartfelt congratulations to all those involved in this initiative. Harry -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.3/360 - Release Date: 6/9/2006 _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/andrew.limo%40yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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eGov in Action?
by Harry Harry 10 Jun '06

10 Jun '06

Dear Colleagues, Today I was pleasantly surprised when from the “conform” of my home office, download a passport renewal application form from the department of Immigration website (HYPERLINK "http://www.immigration.go.ke/kenyan_ppt.php"http://www.immigration.go.ke/ke nyan_ppt.php) . The Department has a fairly useful site that guides visitors on how to apply for various travel and immigration documents including Visas and Passes. My further request to for the site to enable visitors to actually fill the forms online! This would have saved me another KSh 3000 to courier the forms to Nairobi from Dar es Salaam. All the same, this is a good start. For that I would like to register my heartfelt congratulations to all those involved in this initiative. Harry -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.3/360 - Release Date: 6/9/2006

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US House rejects Net neutrality rules
by Wainaina Mungai 10 Jun '06

10 Jun '06

--- Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. > -------Original Message------- > From: Maja Andjelkovic <mandjelkovic(a)iisd.ca> > Subject: [wsisyouth] US House rejects Net neutrality rules > Sent: 09 Jun '06 16:47 > > House rejects Net neutrality rules > By Declan McCullagh > Staff Writer, CNET News.com > > The U.S. House of Representatives definitively rejected the concept of > Net neutrality on Thursday, dealing a bitter blow to Internet companies > like Amazon.com, eBay and Google that had engaged in a last-minute > lobbying campaign to support it. > > By a 269-152 vote that fell largely along party lines, the House > Republican leadership mustered enough votes to reject a Democrat-backed > amendment that would have enshrined stiff Net neutrality regulations > into federal law and prevented broadband providers from treating some > Internet sites differently from others. > > http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6081882.html > >

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Wananchi Appoints new CEO
by Joseph Mucheru 09 Jun '06

09 Jun '06

Wananchi Online has finally merged with ISP Kenya and The Board of Directors reports the following changes to its structure as well as changes to the management structure, as the company prepares for its intended Initial Public Offering. Njeri Rionge steps down as CEO at the end of June 2006, but remains on the Board of Directors. Mr. James Gachui remains the Chairman of the board, while Sandeep Mangat and Hamish Govani join Njeri Rionge, Joseph Kamau and Subash Handa as Directors on the board. There will be further changes to the board as the Company continues to enhance its Corporate Governance structures which will be announced in due course. Joseph Mucheru, the Strategy and Business Development Director and Co- founder is now the acting CEO. He is also the current Chairman of the Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK) and has been instrumental in providing strategic input in ICT policy and regulations both at Wananchi Online and the Industry as a whole. Sandeep Mangat and Hamish Govani, who were executive Directors of ISP Kenya, join Wananchi Online as the Corporate Sales Director and Projects Director, respectively and both bring a wealth of industry experience on Internet based communications for Corporates to compliment the current retail solutions provided by Wananchi Online. Wananchi Online continues to enhance its Corporate brand, products and services, business processes and continued innovative technologies to deliver customer satisfaction to its clients. The Board of Directors Wananchi Online Limited

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EASSY Declaration signed by Southern and Eastern Africa Ministers
by Alice Wanjira 09 Jun '06

09 Jun '06

>> EASSY Declaration signed by Southern and Eastern Africa Ministers >> By Chris Kabwato, Highway Africa News Agency >> >> Johannesburg, 7 June 2006. Government ministers from Southern and >> Eastern Africa have signed a declaration on the East Africa >> Submarine System Project known as Eassy. The declaration signed in >> Johannesburg yesterday commits fifteen countries to this project >> which is expected to see the construction of infrastructure to >> ensure cheap broadband access for countries on the eastern side of >> Africa (from Mozambique to Sudan) . The construction of the >> undersea cable is expected to be completed by the first quarter of >> 2008 according to one of the signatories, Kenyan Deputy Minister >> David Were. >> >> At a press conference chaired by Lesothos Minister of >> Communications, Science and Technology, Thomas Thabane, it was >> announced that the ministers had agreed on major areas around the >> implementation of the Eassy project. The represented countries >> were Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, >> Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somali Republic, South Africa, >> Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In a major departure from >> the precedence of the SAFE/SAT-3 which is led by national >> telecommunication companies and is a closed club, the NEPAD e- >> Africa Commission will take the lead in the development of the >> necessary protocol and in the coordination of the project. >> >> The major highlights of the declaration are that it proclaims an >> open access model (meaning anyone can join in as an investor in >> the project); it commits countries to developing and signing a >> protocol on the policy and regulatory framework for the Eassy >> project. In a related development the summit also selected Rwanda >> as the host of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). >> >> Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, South Africas Minister of Communications, >> said the open access model was critical to ensure a level playing >> field and equal access. She commended the signing of the >> declaration calling the second successful project of the e-Africa >> Commission after e-schools project. >> >> Kenyan Deputy Minister of Communications, David Were, said that >> prior to the meeting he had expected fireworks. He blamed the >> media for having created a picture of disharmony between South >> Africa and Kenya. >> >> In response to media questions on the open access model, Dr. Henry >> Chasia, Executive Deputy Chairman of the NEPAD e-Africa >> Commission, stated that all parties that wished to participate in >> the Eassy project would have to be guided by the declaration. His >> statement was in reference to the current situation with the >> monopolistic model of SAT-3 - the satellite and submarine cable >> system serving the western parts of Africa. >> >> The Eassy project is expected to cost 300 million United States >> dollars excluding additional costs of in-country infrastructure. >> According to Casaburri ninety percent of the funding for the >> project will be raised from within the continent with a debt and >> equity portion. It is understood that the World Bank has offered >> 170 million USD towards the project. >> >> The protocol on the regulatory frameworks is scheduled to be >> signed heads of states of participating countries in August this >> year. >> >> ENDS. >> >> >> Highlights of the Eassy Declaration by the 15 Southern and Eastern >> Africa government ministers who met in Johannesburg on 5-6 June 2006: >> >> 1.Resolve to contribute to the harmonious, balanced, equitable and >> sustainable development of our countries by facilitating the >> speedy construction of the regional backbone ICT infrastructure >> network and to facilitate the formation of an entity and/or >> entities to own, maintain and operate the said infrastructure on >> Open Access Principles and generally to achieve the objectives and >> principles set forth in this Declaration; >> >> 2.Note, recognise and appreciate the work that has already been >> carried out to realise the objectives and principles set forth in >> the Preamble, and in particular, to construct the NEPAD ICT >> Broadband Infrastructure Network for Eastern and Southern Africa, >> including the Eassy cable, and to this end direct the NEPAD e- >> Africa Commission, in collaboration with regional economic >> communities (SADC, COMESA, IGAD, EAC), regional regulatory >> associations and the Join Steering Committee to fast track the >> process. >> >> 3.Commit ourselves to take such actions, within our respective >> countries as are necessary to ensure an early approval by our >> Governments of a Protocol on Policy and Regulatory Framework for >> NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure Network for eastern and >> Southern Africa and to arrange for the earliest possible signature >> and ratification of the Protocol as may be applicable. >> >> 4.Affirm our intention to ensure that existing policy and >> regulatory frameworks within our respective countries are >> progressively adopted over time facilitate the realisation of the >> objectives of the proposed Protocol. >> >> (source: www.eafricacommission.org) >> >> Dgroups is a joint initiative of Bellanet, DFID, Hivos, ICA, ICCO, IICD, OneWorld, UNAIDS and World Bank >> --- You are currently subscribed to africtic as: eric(a)afrispa.org >> To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave- >> africtic-610699O(a)dgroups.org > > Eric M.K Osiakwan > Executive Secretary > AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) > Tel: + 233.21.258800 > Fax: + 233.21.258811 > Cell: + 233.244.386792 > Handle: eosiakwan > Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North > Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North > Blog: http://afrispa.skybuilders.com/users/Eric/blog.html > Slang: "Tomorrow Now" > > > > Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://afrispa.skybuilders.com/users/Eric/blog.html Slang: "Tomorrow Now"

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Re: [Kictanet] Possible Software Raid!!
by Wainaina Mungai 02 Jun '06

02 Jun '06

Hi Bill, I do not know if they can rightfully raid premises, but I actually see the BSA move as a positive step in promoting Free and Open Source software solutions. As Dorcas says, the IP owners can legally seek to enforce their rights and since their business model is not sustainable in this market, we simply need to make consumers aware of the alternative solutions. By enforcing their IP rights, BSA members are doing the leg-work for you and creating a ripe opensource market ;-) Rgds, --- Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. > -------Original Message------- > From: Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)kenet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [Kictanet] Possible Software Raid!! > Sent: 02 Jun '06 11:07 > > Hi Bill, > > Well, BSA (http://www.bsa.org/) is a powerful organisation that has been > around and active for a longtime. However, may be their operations have > not been active in Kenya but i think time has come. > > It is perfectly okey for owners of IP licenced under a proprietary > license to appoint "policemen/investigators" to find out who is > infringing on their rights. I overhead last year that the master > software supplier was training our utumishi kwa wote friends on this area. > > But like you and me know, there are alternatives of accessing software > which should be encouraged. > > Free and Open Source Software is the way to go. > > Thanks, > Muthoni > > Bill Kagai wrote: > > > Reference is made to the notices placed in the local dailies on > > June1st 2006 by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) through Iseme, > > Kamau and Maema Advocates. > > > > The Business Software Alliance has taken the liberty to take an > > inventory (in all Kenyan Companies/Organisations) of all the software > > currently installed in the organisations. They further put a caveat > > indicating that failure to comply with the notice can lead to an > > investigation and possible legal action against companies using > > unlicensed or pirated software. > > > > Our company (Circuits & Packets Comunications Ltd) and possibly other > > local companies ARE NOT members of BSA though we have installed > > software in various companies and organisations in Kenya. We also make > > use of Open Source / Linux software that does not require licensing > > and neither is it pirated. > > > > We therefore wish to find out from the ICT fraternity whether: > > > > 1. This advertisement and the threat of failure to comply is legal. > > 2. If software belonging to the companies that are not members of BSA > > should be included in the inventory. > > 3. If BSA whose office contact is given as Iseme, Kamau and Maema > > Advocates has the legal and moral authority to raid companies with a > > lead time of two weeks before the notice expires. > > 4. If Kictanet and other organisations protecting consumer issues can > > directly intervene in this regard before it is too late. > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org

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Fw: [Afr-ictpol-adv] Victory! FastLane wins right to compete against Jambonet
by alice＠apc.org 02 Jun '06

02 Jun '06

> Dear all, > > The ISP industry in Kenya is in elation at the successful appeal against > CCK's decision not to grant FastLane a license to compete against Telkom > Kenya's Jambonet. > > In a landmark ruling which will probably shape the future of Kenya and the > wider region's communications industries, the Communications Appeals > Tribunal directed that FastLane be issued the license immediately. > > The most important aspect of the ruling was not the granting of the > license > - but rather the fact that the Tribunal stated clearly that CCK as a > Commission was to ignore any policy guidelines of a specific nature coming > from the Ministry as the Act was clear that CCK was to give "due regard to > policy guidelines of a general nature". > > This means that CCK's independence as a regulator has been re-emphasised > and > underlined. > > Here is the story from the East African Standard. > > We will be posting the ruling in it's entirety on the FastLane website in > the course of the day. > > Regards, > > Brian longwe > ISPKenya/FastLane > > > > ------------------------------------------ > (From East African Standard) > Jambonet rival wins appeal > By Athman Amran > > Communications Appeals Tribunal yesterday struck down a decision by the > Communications Commission of Kenya to deny a second independent Internet > service provider (ISP) an operating license. > > Tribunal chairman Justice (Rtd) Majid Cockar consequently ruled that Fast > Lane Limited be granted a licence to compete with Telkom Kenya's Jumbonet. > > Cockar made the ruling public at Telcom House, Nairobi in the company of > two > members of the tribunal Dr. Meoli Kashorda and Jotham Amisi. Fast Lane, > which is a conglomerate of seven ISPs, appealed to the tribunal after CCK > denied it a licence claiming that Internet Backbone Service provision was > subject to an exclusivity clause granted to TelKom Kenya .The company > first > applied for a licence to operate an Internet backbone service on December > 12, 2002. > > On February 11, 2003 ,Fast Lane submitted its business plan and technical > description to enable CCK to process the application. But on March 4, 2004 > CCK wrote to the firm communicating its decision to reject the > application. > > In its appeal Fast Lane, through lawyer Daniel McVicker, argued that the > decision of CCK to grant an exclusive license to TelKom Kenya for the > provision of Internet backbone services was without legal foundation and > in > breach of the Telecommunications Act. The appellant argued that there was > no > express provision in the Act for the granting of an exclusive licence to > Telkom.The lawyer also argued that the said policy was an adoption of the > statement of policy guidelines issued by the Minister for Transport and > Communication. > > The commission on its part argued that granting of monopoly was not > prohibited by any provision of the Act. > > In his judgment Cockar said the proper course for the CCK would have been > to > consider the exclusivity clause inserted in the approved market structure > as > ultra vires to the Act and proceeded to use its discretion within the > parameters of the policy guidelines. "There are other legal ways of > keeping > national interest in the fore-front without in the process breaching the > mandatory provisions of the Act," Cockar said. > > > > > -- > Brian Longwe > CellFon: +254 733 518744 > "Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future." Yoda > >

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FW: [swopnet] East Africa-Research Methodology & Proposal Writing Workshop - Closing Date: 11 June 2006
by Harry Harry 02 Jun '06

02 Jun '06

FYI -----Original Message----- From: Andrew C. Kajeguka [mailto:akajeguka@nimr.or.tz] Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 4:01 PM To: Sharing With Other People Network Subject: [swopnet] East Africa-Research Methodology & Proposal Writing Workshop - Closing Date: 11 June 2006 Dear colleagues, This is to inform you that National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) through the project called Malaria Research Coordination and Promotion through MIM (MALCOPROMIM) is organizing its 2nd scientific workshop on Research Methodology/Proposal writing to be held on 19-30 June 2006 in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania. The workshop aims at bringing together young talented East African scientists working in HIV/AIDS or malaria fields to undergo intensive 12 days workshop. The workshop will use hands on methods to enable each selected participant to use Health Information Systems skills to develop fundable proposal on important Malaria or HIV/AIDS research topic. Full sponsorship will be provided to selected but limited number of participants. We recommend applications should be sent by Email to malcopromim(a)nimr.or.tz Please refer to NIMR website: www.nimr.or.tz for more details about the workshop and how to send the application. All applications must be received by June 11th 2006 Please circualte this email to East African young scientists working in Malaria or HIV/AIDS fields. For Secretariat, MALCOPROMIM Project, National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Tel: +255 22 2121400 Fax: +255 22 2121360 Email: malcopromim(a)nimr.or.tz -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.7.3/350 - Release Date: 5/28/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.7.3/350 - Release Date: 5/28/2006

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Possible Software Raid!!
by Bill Kagai 02 Jun '06

02 Jun '06

Reference is made to the notices placed in the local dailies on June1st 2006 by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) through Iseme, Kamau and Maema Advocates. The Business Software Alliance has taken the liberty to take an inventory (in all Kenyan Companies/Organisations) of all the software currently installed in the organisations. They further put a caveat indicating that failure to comply with the notice can lead to an investigation and possible legal action against companies using unlicensed or pirated software. Our company (Circuits & Packets Comunications Ltd) and possibly other local companies ARE NOT members of BSA though we have installed software in various companies and organisations in Kenya. We also make use of Open Source / Linux software that does not require licensing and neither is it pirated. We therefore wish to find out from the ICT fraternity whether: 1. This advertisement and the threat of failure to comply is legal. 2. If software belonging to the companies that are not members of BSA should be included in the inventory. 3. If BSA whose office contact is given as Iseme, Kamau and Maema Advocates has the legal and moral authority to raid companies with a lead time of two weeks before the notice expires. 4. If Kictanet and other organisations protecting consumer issues can directly intervene in this regard before it is too late. -- -- With Kind Regards, Bildad Kagai MD - Circuits & Packets Communications Ltd Content & Training Partner - JKUAT E-Government Academy Suite B2, Tetu Apartments, State House Avenue P. O. Box 20311 - 00200 Nairobi, Kenya Tel. 254 20 2728332 Fax. 254 20 2726965 Cell. 254 722 379409 URL. www.circuitspackets.co.ke URL. egov.jkuat.ac.ke

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