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did u know elearning conference is in town?
by Rebecca Wanjiku 30 May '07

30 May '07

E-learning experts in town For the last two days, Safari Park hotel has been abuzz with techies, government representatives and e-learning advocates comparing notes. Its the second e-learning Africa conference and from the choice of the venue, its not a place for ordinary men and women to just walk in and participate in sessions, or exhibitions. Oops! Did I forget to say that you need about sh 22,000 to get in? Yes, it is the participation fee. How many people can afford the fee? Who are the people who need to know much about e-learning opportunities and appreciate the technology out there? From the ambience, this is not a place for the poor chaps with bad breath and brown teeth. If anything, they may just as well suggest that the fee is better off in their pockets than with conference organizers. For instance, the press room has no computers because it is assumed that the local journalists and bloggers would use their laptops, and take advantage of the wireless hotspot. Reuben Kyama, a local journalist, could only say we are sending a message when asked why there is no properly equipped press room or area for bloggers and journalists. So, who are the real winners in this conference? Ends Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Shape Yahoo! in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel today!

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M$ Vendor Lockin In Kenyan Schools
by Dorcas Muthoni 30 May '07

30 May '07

Microsoft waives software license fees for schools Schools in Kenya will have more access to computer technology, with a free license deal from the world's leading software producer. Microsoft Corporation forged the deal through the Ministry of Education to allow local schools and higher education institutions to use the company's software free of charge. Under the arrangement, Microsoft will work with organisations currently in charge of supplying computers to the institutions to first install the programmes on the machines . Learning institutions in the developing world have often been held back from using legitimate copies of common software such as Microsoft's Windows operating system and Office application suite because of license fees that are locally unaffordable. With the free licenses, schools can use the computer technology to build capacity among teachers and students. Mr Mark East, the general manager for Microsoft's International Education Solutions Group, said the main drive for offering the fees waiver, was the lack of computer uptake in the region's education system. Mr East said the company learnt a lesson from Ghana, where its approach to increasing computer usage in schools ran into trouble. "In Ghana our approach first was to build capacity for teachers but we came to learn that even after training the teachers they still didn't have this basic tool—the computer," he said. More >> http://bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1232&Itemid=4…

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[Fwd: (Fwd) Needed: Experts for Incubator Business Management and Support
by alice 30 May '07

30 May '07

------- Forwarded message follows ------- To: Jane Møller Larsen <jml(a)ict.danishmanagement.dk> Subject: Needed: Experts for Incubator Business Management and Support Incubator Business Management and Support (IGAD/Horn of Africa) From: Jane Møller Larsen <jml(a)ict.danishmanagement.dk> Date sent: Tue, 29 May 2007 12:14:24 +0200 Keywords: Dear Sir/Madam, Please also distribute this to personal contacts and networks where you believe that experts could find interest in this. Thank you in advance. ______________________________________ ______________________________ We are presently looking for experts who have an interest in the following position: Project title: Incubator Business Management and Support (IGAD/Horn of Africa) Application deadline: Friday 1 June 2007 Contract duration: 60 man-days Company: Danish Management A/S (http://www.danishmanagement.dk/) for the RICTSP/COMESA (and for this specific assignment IGAD). ______________________________________ ______________________________ General information: The objective: To assist local Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the IGAD countries to integrate ICT tools in their daily business operations, by improving the availability of e-business solutions specifically adapted to their needs, in order to promote e-business cooperation among them and thereby increase economic integration in the region and thus enhance growth and competitiveness. Scope of work: The incubator project will cover all IGAD countries which National Working Groups are established and have finalized their country strategies for incubator project development. At this time these countries are: Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan. In subsequent calls, however, it is anticipated that all countries covered by the IGAD programme Estimate, namely, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan will have fulfilled the requirements for accessing the grant. The Short Term Expert will provide business incubation support services and project management support as follows: Develop an IGAD regional and national strategies for implementing incubator projects; Based on EDF procedures, review and refine the call for proposals (using EDF rules and procedures) taking into account the proposed regional and national strategies; Publish the Call for Proposals and respond to queries concerning the call for proposals especially with regard to the EDF rules and procedures; Receive the applications and conduct all necessary administrative evaluation; Review and refine the evaluation criteria; Consititute the application evaluation team and conduct preliminary meetings to familiarize them with the evaluation criteria; Facilitate the application evaluation meeting and collect results of the application evaluation for collating. Submit the results of the evaluation with recommendations to the RAO for the winning applications. On approval of winning applicants, award the grant and conduct preliminary meetings with the grantees to evaluate the relevance of the business plans and assist them to refine them and commit to targets and reporting periods. Monitor implementation of the projects providing support and any training deemed relevant to the projects; Evaluate the projects and produce Report on Incubator Activities in IGAD. Results: 1. IGAD Incubator Project implementation strategy. 2. Speedy implementation of the Call for Proposals. 3. Efficient administration of the Grants provided. 4. Incubator Project Monitoring and Evaluation Reports. Total amount of man-days: 60 Regions/Countries to visit: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Somalia (Kenya) Estimated contract start: 1 September 2007 Profiles of the Experts: Education: Masters/University degree in either Business Management or Business Information Systems, or similar relevant education. Skills and Specialism: The Short Term Expert must have experience in business planning, application of ICT in business development and have familiarity working with NGOs, Government agencies, business entrepreneurs and business associations. The Short Term Expert will be specialized in working with EDF procedures. Experience: The Short Term Expert must have at least 10 years of progressive working experience in the business and ICT sub-sector. Working experience with incubator projects and EDF procedures in the ESA region will be an added advantage. Language: The short-term expert will have an excellent command of English with good report writing skills. Knowledge of French will be an added advantage. Eligibility (who can apply?): EU citizens and citizens from: Angola, Burundi, DR Congo, Malawi, Rwanda, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan AND citizens of the ACP member states: http://www.acpsec.org/en/acp_states.htm Background information: Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD): http://www.igad.org/ COMESA: http://www.comesa.int/ Business Incubation; Promoting ICT-Enabled Entrepreneurship: http://www.infodev.org/en/Topic.8.html UNIDO SME Panel during the WSIS: http://www.unido.org/doc/19585 INTERNET BUSINESS CENTRES SPRING UP ACROSS THE CONTINENT: http://www.balancingact- africa.com/news/back/balancing-act52.html Please find ToR enclosed If you find the position of interest and your - or one of your proposed expert's - profile complies with the stated criteria, please contact us immediately and send us a short professional presentation of yourself and an updated CV with relevant similar experience (stating your age, nationality, languages spoken, education and exactly in what you are an expert). Send your application to: ictjobs(a)danishmanagement.dk. NB: Only short-listed candidates will receive notice. Contact person: Jane Moeller Larsen Danish Management A/S Margretheholmsvej 2 1432 Copenhagen, Denmark Phone: +45 70 200 298 Direct: +45 35 250 655 Kind regards, Jane Moller Larsen ------- End of forwarded message ------- ------------------------------------------------------ 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

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intellectual property article
by Rebecca Wanjiku 29 May '07

29 May '07

Friends of Development May Narrow WIPO Development Agenda Proposals By William New The developing countries that in 2004 proposed an agenda for reform of the World Intellectual Property Organization toward stronger consideration of developing country needs are exploring a compromise in advance of the next WIPO meeting on the issue, according to government sources. About 70 proposals, some seen as far-reaching, are slated for consideration at the 11-15 June Provisional Committee on Proposals Related to a WIPO Development Agenda (PCDA). Informal discussion by the Friends of Development about refining the proposals is being received positively by other governments, several officials from non-Friends nations said. An informal non-paper, was recently filed with the WIPO secretariat and circulated to regional groups for discussion. The Friends are 15 countries, supported by others, seeking substantive changes to WIPOs mandate. The confidential non-paper is intended to present a way forward and make the remaining proposals more manageable, according to an official from a Friends of Development country. It contains about 24 proposals, including to renew the mandate of the PCDA for two years to monitor implementation and continue negotiations. We merged similar proposals, softened the language on some we knew were difficult to achieve consensus on, the official said. The idea is to retain as much substance as possible without having to undergo excessive negotiation on the rhetoric of it. We want to facilitate consensus and see if we can move forward. Other important issues will be what happens next, including ensuring accepted proposals are actually worked into WIPOs programme and budget process. Possible suggestions include strengthening national capacity to: ensure a balance between protecting intellectual property rights and acting in the public interest, protect local innovations, and monitor legislative assistance given by WIPO, a source said. Other possible proposals, the source said, include: asking WIPO to consider ways to help smaller economies increase their access to medicines and food; negotiating an international instrument for protecting traditional knowledge and genetic resources; preserving and boosting access to material in the public domain; and considering a way within WIPO to discuss new ideas to promote innovation, including open collaborative projects that might lead to public goods. Still other possibilities would address exceptions and limitations to international IP rules, technology transfer, prevention of anti-competitive practices, and ways of measuring the impact of WIPO treaties on all countries. The June meeting will be the second and last this year before recommendations go to the September-October annual WIPO General Assembly. The assembly will decide how to proceed on the proposed development agenda, but there has been a sense that substantive progress should be made this year if discussions are to continue. The first meeting, in February, saw agreement on a package of less-controversial proposals (IPW, WIPO, 23 February 2007). We want to be constructive, the Friends official said. The outcome should be measured by the qualitative breadth and scope of the agreed content, not by a mere mathematical total count of agreed recommendations. William New may be reached at wnew(a)ip-watch.ch. Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- TV dinner still cooling? Check out "Tonight's Picks" on Yahoo! TV.

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MOBILE PHONES REVOLUTIONIZE AFRICAN BANKING
by alice 28 May '07

28 May '07

From Balancing Act MOBILE PHONES REVOLUTIONIZE AFRICAN BANKING Mobile phone banking is expanding across the region from South Africa to Kenya and is putting the poor directly in control of their own finances like never before. In Africa, traditional banking is not a viable option for many of the poor and those living in rural areas. High fees, low education and literacy, as well as long distances between banking facilities get in the way of simple transactions. According to the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), an estimated 80 percent of those living in the United Nations-designated least developed countries (LDCs) are unbanked. However, technologies like mobile phone banking are contributing to overcoming these constraints. Only 1 billion of the world`s 6.5 billion people have bank accounts, according to CGAP, yet about 3 billion have mobile phones. CGAP figures these new technologies will open the door to more than 2 billion people worldwide who currently do not have access to banking services. Thanks to a $26 million partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation launched in February, CGAP hopes to discover how to best use technology to deliver banking services to the poor around the world and "make it possible for people anywhere, anytime, to have access to all kinds of financial services," says Elizabeth Littlefield, chief executive officer of CGAP. "Poor people are very willing to use mobile phones as a basis for moving money around. In places like the Congo, mobile phones are used to transfer money around the country, circumventing the banking system as well as the more traditional money transfer," she said. According to Gautam Ivatury, a microfinance specialist and manager of the CGAP technology program, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone, there are an estimated 3 million mobile phones yet only 20,000 bank accounts, indicating a huge potential for mobile banking. The bottleneck in delivering microfinance services such as savings accounts, money transfers, and loans to the poor has been the cost of "making tiny little transactions" in sometimes rural areas using traditional banking practices. Yet mobile phones and other technology can cut the cost of such transactions and make widespread microfinance economically feasible. (SOURCE: AGOP)

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Internet for shillings 1,500/= per month!
by Alex Gakuru 26 May '07

26 May '07

PHILADELPHIA WIRELESS INTERNET PROJECT ADVANCES [SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jon Hurdle] Philadelphia has finished testing its wireless Internet project, setting the stage for America's biggest citywide Wi-Fi network that will also offer access to low-income households, officials said on Thursday. The city government this week approved results from a 15-square-mile test zone where people can access the Internet for $21.95 a month or $9.95 if they qualify for low-income assistance. Access is free in parks and other outdoor spaces, and for people participating in community programs such as employment training or housing assistance. By the end of this year, Philadelphia will have wireless Internet access throughout its 135 square miles. http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN2436904820070524 COALITION PUSHES FOR US BROADBAND PLAN [SOURCE: InfoWorld, AUTHOR: Grant Gross] Fifty-four organizations, including Amazon, Google, and TiVO, have called on the U.S. government to create a national broadband policy, saying there's no plan now in place focused on providing affordable access for all residents. The Open Internet Coalition, in a letter to Congress sent Thursday, said the U.S. government needs to adopt new measures to ensure universal affordable access to broadband, net neutrality and increased competition in the broadband market. The letter is the first step in a concerted effort coalition members will make to push broadband legislation in Congress, members said. Last month, some of the coalition's members called for open access requirements in upcoming spectrum auctions at the Federal Communications Commission. Increased access to the Internet is vital to U.S. economic growth, said the letter to Congress. "Now is the time to give this goal the urgency it deserves," the letter said. "As broadband networks become more and more integral to our economic and social life, we are reaching a tipping point where legislation is no longer simply welcome -- it is imperative." Not everyone agrees with the coalition's goals, particularly its call for Network Neutrality or open access on broadband networks. Large broadband providers like Verizon and AT&T have opposed efforts to pass a net neutrality law that would prohibit providers from blocking or slowing Web content from competitors. Such a law, the companies say, would limit their business plans and would discourage them from building fast new networks. http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/05/24/Coalition-pushes-for-US-broadband… [WWWhatsup NYC] --------------------------------- Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not web links.

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Re: [kictanet] Holding our Leaders Accountable
by jamesrege＠africaonline.co.ke 26 May '07

26 May '07

Dear e-colleagues, As I said last week, our invitees indicated a willingness to come but they found varied reasons not show up. We must find a way to bring them closer. As they need to maximize the use of their time and also to avoid public embarrassment, we need to perhaps do an off-line dialogue first with them to find out how they want their bread battered. and I therefore agree with Kanja's idea. Can we beat our drum louder than the Kigali's one? Jim Rege Washington, D.C Original Message: ----------------- From: Kanja Waruru kanjawaruru(a)yahoo.com Date: Mon, 21 May 2007 02:30:39 -0700 (PDT) To: jamesrege(a)africaonline.co.ke Subject: Re: [kictanet] Holding our Leaders Accountable Judy, My concept was we use a more friendly approach and remove the pressure from the candidates, its scaring to be interviewed by ICT professionals under camera on a subject you are not confident about. So my 'chai' approach was we call them for a friendly ICT update over a cup of tea with the main objective being to bring them up to speed and more confident on this complex subject. Once they are en-lighted, they will use ICT on their campaign trails countrywide My worry is that if nobody takes the time now to bring them up to speed on ICT issues we may have a heavy price to pay later on. Cheers. Kanja --- Judy Okite <judyokite(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Kanja, > > This 'chai' concept......how much accountability are > we talking about? > a one-on-one based conversation? > how does it benefit the Nation? at the end of the > day....how does your > 'scream' come out? "He told me so?" > Or probably we could do it,but the 'Githongo' way! > > Kind Regards, > > On 5/17/07, Kanja Waruru <kanjawaruru(a)yahoo.com> > wrote: > > > > Dear All, > > Let me comment on this debate. > > > > Its obvious that the main reason why our 'guests' > > didn't show up was that the subject matter was to > > sophisticated and nobody wanted to expose their > > ignorance in front of the cameras. > > > > My suggestion is we should invite them back not > for a > > press debate, and no cameras, but for chai and a > > friendly chat that would bring them upto speed on > ICT > > issues. > > Regards. > > Kanja. > > > > > > --- Alex Gakuru <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > > > > > I encourage us not tire in seeking ways to > involve > > > legislators in ICT but we > > > are not afraid to critise them if and whenever > they > > > fail us terribly. > > > Aspirants you embarrassed consumers? > > > > > > Inexcusable are unapologetic absence in the > digital > > > age where the politicans > > > usually show off fancy communication gadgets.... > > > considering the effort > > > everyone put in, and most appreciated Eng. > Rege's > > > preparations input > > > contribution and his early arrival. > > > > > > ...and these politicians are always so harsh at > > > criticizing others yet when > > > they are called to state their vision they all > > > chicken out. They deserve a > > > thorough thrashing for the embarrassment they > caused > > > to the country and the > > > tuned in world which now has a better > understanding > > > of the political > > > protagonists qualities. > > > > > > But interesting questions were being asked in > your > > > view of your absence > > > yesterday:- > > > > > > 1. Do political leaders thrive better amidst > > > information-deprived rural > > > people? > > > 2. How much of their CDF funds went to ICT > projects? > > > 3. Has it been over-assumed that rural means > poor or > > > "stupid"? > > > 4. Do ICT disinterested MPs hope to fit well in > Hon. > > > Kaparo's ICT-compliant > > > parliament? > > > 5. What and how else could the network deliver > these > > > politicians into the > > > ICT world? > > > > > > It was wonderful Kanja transformed local content > > > challenges into an > > > opportunity. "Everyday, the media, is always > busy > > > destroying old content > > > because of storage problems...." (ask the media > > > houses to for the content > > > and start a "K-Tube"? ;-) > > > > > > Thank you Edith for sharing community wireless > > > access point built using > > > ordinary tins. I am intersted in .... > > > > > > Thanks to KICTANET, KENIC, KDN, MEDIA OWNERS and > > > notable patient press who > > > chose to stay on despite politicians failing to > turn > > > up. Cover more stor > > > > > > October 2004 draft ICT Policy decried absence of > > > high level ICT leadership > > > but fortunately the last year gazetted policy > speaks > > > of protecting this > > > (new-found) leadership. In view of this, I am > > > obliged to thank President > > > Kibaki for assuming high level ICT leadership > the > > > successive ICT directives > > > in 2006 ( e.g. fibre, digitisation... ) > > > > > > So, I give credit where it is due? > > > > > > Alex Gakuru > > > > > > On 5/17/07, Lucy Kimani <lkimani(a)comnews.co.ke> > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > All, > > > > > > > > I am just venting on the dismal performance of > our > > > aspiring presidential > > > > candidates, I have noticed a trend where those > in > > > leadershipship positions > > > > let alone those aspiring for the same confirm > > > their attendance to a > > > > certain function and then not show up or best > case > > > scenario show up 2-3 > > > > hours late. I keep asking myself why do we as > > > Kenyans accept this > > > > behavior, and I am at a loss! > > > > > > > > Actually, my pesa nane is that we as the > citizens > > > need to start demanding > > > > accountability in that when one says they will > > > attend a function then they > > > > should keep to their word, after all why are > > > electing people whose word > > > > doesnt count for much? Additionally, most of > us > > > also have busy work lives > > > > > > > > and the fact that we were willing to stop what > we > > > were doing to sit down > > > > to hear what these aspiring candidates have to > say > > > about ICT is a > > > > testament to how important we feel ICT to be > to > > > the country. > > > > > > > > I am one for making strong statements, and a > one > > > page ad expressing our > > > > displeasure and questioning why the candidates > are > > > scared of facing a > > > > serious group of citizens wanting to know > where > > > each of them stands in ICT > > > > would be in order! I am sure if it was one of > > > those meetings where fans > > > > are shouting at the top of their voices, and > no > > > one is asking any serious > > > > questions they probably would show up, we need > to > > > start demanding more > > > > from our politicians! > > > > > > > > Just my thoughts! > > > > > > > > LK > > > > > > > > > > > > ----------------------------------------- > > > > This email was sent using Communicatons > Solutions > > > LTD WebMail. > > > > " " > > > > http://www.accesskenya.com/ > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > kictanet mailing list > > > > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > > > > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > === message truncated ===> _______________________________________________ > 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/kanjawaruru%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________ ________Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games. http://get.games.yahoo.com/proddesc?gamekey=monopolyherenow _______________________________________________ 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/jamesrege%40africaonline.co.k e -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com - Microsoft® Exchange solutions from a leading provider - http://link.mail2web.com/Business/Exchange

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ISOC launches Call for PIR Board Member Nominations]
by alice 25 May '07

25 May '07

A good place to shape the DNS space the way it should be ;) http://www.isoc.org/isoc/media/releases/070511.shtml <http://www.isoc.org/isoc/media/releases/070511.shtml> ISOC launches Call for PIR Board Member Nominations The Internet Society (ISOC) seeks a maximum of three highly qualified individuals to serve on the Board of Directors of the Public Interest Registry (PIR) for the period 2008-2010. PIR's business is managing an international registry of .org domain names. The Board meets in person 3-4 times per year. The time commitment is approximately 14-18 full days per year plus additional phone calls and e-mail. Qualifications sought include: * Demonstrated business acumen with significant entrepreneurial, non-commercial and/or marketing skills; * understanding and engagement in the retail domain name space; * known contributor to the ICANN processes; * financial literacy; * expertise in the application of Internet technologies to support non-commercial organizations; and * experience with the operation and policies of TLD registries. * Global diversity in candidates is desired. Please forward a statement of interest and qualifications, three references, and a curriculum vitae highlighting relevant experience, expertise, and contact information to: *Lynn St. Amour, President and CEO, Internet Society * Email: pir-nomcomm(a)isoc.org <mailto:[email protected]>. Please submit materials in attached documents (pdf, .doc, .txt) For full consideration, please apply by June 11th, 2007. Applications will be evaluated as they are received. -- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Franck Martin franck.martin(a)gmail.com <mailto:[email protected]> "Toute connaissance est une réponse à une question" G. Bachelard _______________________________________________ ALAC mailing list ALAC(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac_atlarge-lists.icann.org At-Large Official Site: http://www.alac.icann.org ALAC Independent: http://www.icannalac.org

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African Satellite & Wireless Broadband Conference & VoIP Forum]
by alice 25 May '07

25 May '07

African Satellite & Wireless Broadband Conference & VoIP Forum Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, 11-13 June 2007 "Broadband bridges across Africa: First and last mile solutions" SPEAKERS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY LEADERS: Keynote: Efficient bandwidth delivery mechanisms Peter Gbedemah, MD, Gateway Communications, UK Keynote: Next Generation Networks: Selecting the right migration path Renato Goodfellow, Solutions Manager, ME & Africa, BT Global Solutions, UK Keynote: Creating wireless communities Paul Munnery, CEO, Wireless Digital Cities, UK Optimising satellite services in the region's approaching new fibre era Joe Luel, Market Development, SkyVision Global Networks, UK Fiber optic vs. satellite-based connectivity: Do they compete or do they complete? Avihu Bergman, Executive VP Sales & Marketing, Gilat Satcom, Israel DVBS2: Its role in trunking Malcolm Brew, Director, Bushnet, Uganda Developing wireless skills Gary Chalmers, CEO Africa, Torque-IT, South Africa Rural Wireless: The role of WiMAX, WiFi, CDMA and hybrid technologies Badru Ntege, Director, Big Dish, Uganda VoIP survival strategies for telcos, ISPs and cyber cafes Russell Southwood, CEO, Balancing Act, UK Build vs. buy: VoIP solutions for Africa Colin Blou, Director, Reseller Group, Deltathree, USA Providing a VoIP service over a WiMAX network Yves Desmet, Senior Vice-President, Worldwide Sales, Verso, Belgium Maximising international VoIP services Mawuli Tse, Director for International Sales - Africa, iBasis, Ghana MASTERCLASSES Wireless Security Strategies - Maiendra Moodley, Security Advisor, South African Reserve Bank Building Wireless Communities - Paul Munnery, CEO, Wireless Digital Cities, UK TRAINING WORKSHOPS An introduction to VoIP for corporate users - Sunday Folayan, MD, Skannet, Nigeria VoIP: Survival Strategies for telcos, ISPs and cyber-cafes - Russell Southwood, CEO, Balancing Act, UK To request full details, email info(a)aitecafrica.com or log on to www.aitecafrica.com

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Fwd: Re: Holding our Leaders Accountable
by Alex Gakuru 24 May '07

24 May '07

Excusing, not explaining, their failure to embrace ICTs considering that we are coming from crying foul from "lack of high level leadership" does not help any one of us much. [at least Hon. Raila sent a note] Nobel Laureate Prof. Wangari Maathai said entered politics upon realising how much these political leaders determine our fate. Leaders Absence Projections: 2007 No available >> looking for votes 2008 No available >> Homecoming and thanking rural voters 2009 No available >> Very Busy "studying diverse aspects of ICTs" 2010 No available >> Reviewing [possibly fault] all "previous" ICT projects 2011 No available >> Countrywide campaign alliances, strategies formulation 2012 No available >> Election Year! Looking for votes that matter...you know ...re-start sequence To fix a stalled car, one mechanic may choose a spray job and take snaps shots of the nice looking repainted chassis, while the other starts by dismantling , re-assembling, overhauling, and then fine tunings the spark plugs fox max efficiency. ICTs drives industry, no excuse stand. Perhaps we invite Hon. Kamotho to further share his below vision? ["Kenya's legislators have surprisingly added their voice in support of the transformation to electronic governance in their operations, both within parliament and in at the constituency level."http://allafrica.com/stories/200704250544.html] Odhiambo WASHINGTON <wash(a)wananchi.com> wrote: Date: Thu, 24 May 2007 14:07:05 +0300 From: Odhiambo WASHINGTON <wash(a)wananchi.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Holding our Leaders Accountable To: Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> * On 24/05/07 13:42 +0300, Judy Okite wrote: | Chelimo, | | The future is ICT and ICT is the future....its not something that you pray | it goes away........Is it too difficult to be humble/open minded to say 'Am | not all that knowledgeable,in this arena,but I would be more confortable | with a discussion,since we are both going to be learning from each | other,than an interview!!' | In the next 7 months,one of these guys is gonig to be the President of | Kenya....so as the ICT sector, what are we looking at in the next 5 years,if | they do not want to mention it or as U said its not of importance? >From where I sit, I've always thought that politicians don't run the country, but rather the advisors (the bureaucrats). The bureaucrats work on the policy papers, and the implementation! Let's look at it this way: Whenever the country's CEO reshuffles the cabinet, does s/he take into consideration any qualifications the ministers posses, as to put them in charge of some ministry? The answer is NO. It's all political expediency. It's with this in mind that I still support Chelimo. Politicians will only go for something that will yield political mileage - aka votes. I do take cognizance of the fact that the buck stops with the CEO, but I also believe, as a matter of fact, that whatever speeches I hear from CEO or his horde of lieutenants are normally not from their minds but those of the bureaucrats. I recently heard that Kenya, Malaysia and S.Korea were economic age-mates at some point. What I did not hear are the finer details of what was being used in the comparison, and even if there was any that I missed, I seriously doubt it would boil down to ICT. It would be "general economy". I may be losing course, but I still believe that it is not the country's CEO who sits down to lay down the fine details of the ingredients that will make the economy grow, if not jump. There must be a different way of approaching this, which is different than calling the aspirants of that office to a "small" (sic!) debate on ICT:-) I am tempted to ask Dr. Ndemo about the levels at which such decisions as facilitating ICT growth are made in govt., and at what juncture. Is the president the chief decision maker or just the person whose "goodwill" makes things move? Did we invite H.E. The President for the debate as well, given he's one of the aspirants? Did he confirm attendance? I'd yell at the top of my voice if he did, and failed to turn up, because I know it is possible, within the next 6 months, for him to put in place policies towards growing the ICT field, which we can then use to gauge the performance of future leaders. cheers - wash +----------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Odhiambo Washington . WANANCHI ONLINE LTD (Nairobi, KE) | wash () WANANCHI ! com . 1ere Etage, Loita Hse, Loita St., | GSM: (+254) 722 743 223 . # 10286, 00100 NAIROBI | GSM: (+254) 733 744 121 . (+254) 020 313 985 - 9 | +---------------------------------+------------------------------------------+ "Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" --from a /. post _______________________________________________ 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/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com Choose the right car based on your needs. Check out Yahoo! Autos new Car Finder tool.http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48518/*http://autos.yahoo.com/carfinder/;_y… hot CTA = Yahoo! Autos new Car Finder tool _______________________________________________ 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/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com

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