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KeNIC Site down
by Ali Hussein 01 Apr '13

01 Apr '13

Can someone at KeNIC look into this? The KeNIC site seems to have been down for the last 48hours.. Ali Hussein CEO | 3mice interactive media Ltd Principal | Telemedia Africa Ltd +254 773/713 601113 "The future belongs to him who knows how to wait." - Russian Proverb Sent from my iPad

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Raila Odinga
by Eric Osiakwan 31 Mar '13

31 Mar '13

Raila Odinga has earned my respect as a real African statesman -- in my view he has set a precedent that changes the dynamics of African politics.......#AfricaRising Eric here Eric M.K Osiakwan +233244386792

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 70, Issue 196
by Baiju Shah 31 Mar '13

31 Mar '13

Hey All, The question lies here, why did we not do anything this time around, apologies next time is not good enough... Best Regards, Baiju Shah Managing Partner|Telemedia Africa Ltd Suite 12|Chaka Court | Argwings Kodek Road, P.O. Box 14556-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. T: +254 737 751409 | M: +254 787332247 E: baiju(a)tele2media.com On 31 Mar 2013, at 12:00, kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke wrote: > Send kictanet mailing list submissions to > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > You can reach the person managing the list at > kictanet-owner(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of kictanet digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Opinion Technology, transparency, and the Kenyan general > election of 2013 (Warigia Bowman) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 30 Mar 2013 20:07:20 -0500 > From: Warigia Bowman <warigia(a)gmail.com> > To: Dick Omondi <Dick.Omondi(a)ke.airtel.com> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Opinion Technology, transparency, and the > Kenyan general election of 2013 > Message-ID: > <CACeY99QbjXqkSu4nt0T8iodgDFqJ8p+=cA+=x5jQ7CXkW_cMjA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Dear Dick and Brian > > I think that Kictanet has a real opportunity to make sure that we do better > next time. Can we work out an agenda to plan for this? > > Yours, Warigia > > > On Sat, Mar 30, 2013 at 2:21 PM, Dick Omondi <Dick.Omondi(a)ke.airtel.com>wrote: > >> Now that we have a court decision that clears the matter of the >> presidency, perhaps it is now time to remove the emotions of the decision, >> turn away from politics and get down to the core issues in real >> institutional management and those surrounding the processes and the people >> around the IEBC lest we sit back and get through another four years and put >> together another unit in the last year of the 5 and go back to the same >> merry go round. >> >> ------------------------------ >> *From*: kictanet ** >> *To*: Dick Omondi >> *Cc*: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions ** >> *Sent*: Sat Mar 30 21:40:14 2013 >> >> *Subject*: Re: [kictanet] Opinion Technology, transparency, and the >> Kenyan general election of 2013 >> >> Thank you Ali. I appreciate your comments. Shukran. >> >> >> On Sat, Mar 30, 2013 at 1:38 PM, Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> wrote: >> >>> Wariga >>> >>> Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed the read. I want to however object to the >>> words:- >>> >>> '...the election results show that technology has failed them.' >>> >>> I humbly submit that what failed us in this case is a mix of partisan >>> politicking, a knack for jostling to see how each proponent could >>> manipulate the process for their own benefit and lastly the failure of the >>> IEBC leadership to accept and tell Kenyans to our faces that the most >>> expensive technology ever bought for elections in Kenya (and Probably >>> Africa) was designed to fail before it landed in the country. >>> >>> I would replace the sentence '...the election results show that >>> technology has failed them.' with the sentence >>> >>> '...the election results show that *leadership* has failed them.' >>> >>> The saving grace is that we have a sober Supreme Court and we thank God >>> for them. >>> >>> Ali Hussein >>> CEO | 3mice interactive media Ltd >>> Principal | Telemedia Africa Ltd >>> >>> +254 773/713 601113 >>> >>> "The future belongs to him who knows how to wait." - Russian Proverb >>> >>> Sent from my iPad >>> >>> On Mar 29, 2013, at 11:05 PM, Warigia Bowman <warigia(a)gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> >>> I thought you guys might enjoy this piece. >>> >>> http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/03/2013329135519365308.html >>> >>> Take a look, and tell me what you think. :-) >>> >>> Warigia >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com >>> >>> >>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>> >>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> >> >> -- >> Dr. Warigia Bowman >> Assistant Professor >> Clinton School of Public Service >> University of Arkansas >> wbowman(a)clintonschool.uasys.edu >> ------------------------------------------------- >> View my research on my SSRN Author page: >> http://ssrn.com/author=1479660 >> -------------------------------------------------- >> >> [image: http://www.airtelappportal.com/banner/254KenyaMailbanner.jpg] >> >> This email and any file(s) transmitted with it are confidential and >> intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are >> addressed. Unauthorised distribution, copying, use or disclosure of the >> contents to any other person is prohibited. Airtel Networks Kenya Limited >> does not accept any legal liability for the contents of this message. If >> you have received this email in error please notify the Systems >> Administrator, mailadmin(a)ke.airtel.com <mailadmin(a)ke.airtel.com.com>. >> >> **** >> >> This email and any file(s) transmitted with it are confidential and >> intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are >> addressed. Unauthorised distribution, copying, use or disclosure of the >> contents to any other person is prohibited. Airtel Networks Kenya Limited >> does not accept any legal liability for the contents of this message. If >> you have received this email in error please notify the Systems >> Administrator, mailadmin(a)ke.airtel.com <mailadmin(a)ke.airtel.com.com>. >> >> **** > > > > -- > Dr. Warigia Bowman > Assistant Professor > Clinton School of Public Service > University of Arkansas > wbowman(a)clintonschool.uasys.edu > ------------------------------------------------- > View my research on my SSRN Author page: > http://ssrn.com/author=1479660 > -------------------------------------------------- >

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 70, Issue 184
by Gideon 30 Mar '13

30 Mar '13

Here is a link that might help, http://gigaom.com/2013/03/27/undersea-cable-cut-near-egypt-slows-down-inter… Undersea cable cut near Egypt slows down Internet in Africa, Middle East, South Asia<http://gigaom.com/2013/03/27/undersea-cable-cut-near-egypt-slows-down-inter…> On Thu, Mar 28, 2013 at 11:23 AM, <kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>wrote: > Send kictanet mailing list submissions to > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > You can reach the person managing the list at > kictanet-owner(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of kictanet digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Internet - Slow (Edith Adera) > 2. Re: Internet - Slow (Peres Were) > 3. Re: Internet - Slow (Mark Mwangi) > 4. Re: Internet - Slow (Ali Hussein) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2013 08:07:23 +0000 > From: Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.ca> > To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: [kictanet] Internet - Slow > Message-ID: <B62E14120536B14B81E328F4FF78AA99BC6F12(a)hqvm24.IDRC.ORG> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Listers, > > I wonder if I'm the only one who's experiencing slow Internet since > yesterday - both official and personal connection. Anyone knows what's > going on? > > Edith >

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Opinion Technology, transparency, and the Kenyan general election of 2013
by Warigia Bowman 30 Mar '13

30 Mar '13

I thought you guys might enjoy this piece. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/03/2013329135519365308.html Take a look, and tell me what you think. :-) Warigia

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Fwd: Opinion Technology, transparency, and the Kenyan general election of 2013
by Warigia Bowman 30 Mar '13

30 Mar '13

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Warigia Bowman <warigia(a)gmail.com> Date: Sat, Mar 30, 2013 at 7:43 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Opinion Technology, transparency, and the Kenyan general election of 2013 To: Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi(a)gmail.com> Thanks Dennis, I appreciate your comments. I think that we should work as a Kictanet on this issue? can I post them? On Fri, Mar 29, 2013 at 4:35 PM, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Straight to the point and I like the inclusion of doubt of technology in > the US. I think another issue here us that IEBC failed to have contingency > plans in place(though we can argue that paper is a fall back plan - > however, this was not expressly stated, that in case of technology failure, > we would resort to paper). > > From here, maybe I can suggest Dr. , is there a way technology can be > made trustworthy for elections, such as maybe making procurement of systems > open and also making the systems architecturally open for scrutiny. > > I feel the mistrust comes from people not knowing what happens "in there" > On Mar 29, 2013 11:40 PM, "Warigia Bowman" <warigia(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> >> I thought you guys might enjoy this piece. >> >> http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/03/2013329135519365308.html >> >> Take a look, and tell me what you think. :-) >> >> Warigia >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmbuvi%40gmail.com >> >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >> >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> > -- Dr. Warigia Bowman Assistant Professor Clinton School of Public Service University of Arkansas wbowman(a)clintonschool.uasys.edu ------------------------------------------------- View my research on my SSRN Author page: http://ssrn.com/author=1479660 -------------------------------------------------- -- Dr. Warigia Bowman Assistant Professor Clinton School of Public Service University of Arkansas wbowman(a)clintonschool.uasys.edu ------------------------------------------------- View my research on my SSRN Author page: http://ssrn.com/author=1479660 --------------------------------------------------

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Re: [kictanet] Why CSK is your official representative organisation
by eonchari＠lynxbits.com 30 Mar '13

30 Mar '13

How has the CSK furthered the brilliant discussions held in this forum? Edwin ----- Original Message ----- From: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.ukTo: eonchari(a)lynxbits.com Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke Sent: 3/26/13 5:06 AM Subject: [kictanet] Why CSK is your official representative organisation Computer Society of Kenya (CSK) Our Profile The Computer Society of Kenya (CSK) is the recognized association for information and communication technology (ICT) industry and professionals in Kenya, attracting a large and active membership from all levels if the IT industry and providing a wide range of services to its 6,000 plus members. It was established in 1986 and originally known as The Computer Institute and the society attained its current name in 1994. It is a member of the World Information Technology Services Alliance , the International Federation for Information Processing , the Association of Professional Societies in East Africa , the Kenya Private Sector Alliance , the International Chamber of Commerce and the Asia Oceania Computer Industry Organization amongst other affiliations. The Computer Society of Kenya is the public voice of the IT profession and the guardian to professional ethics and the standards in the IT industry, with a commitment to the wider community to ensure the beneficial use of IT. Aims and Objectives of the Society To act as the advocacy organization for ICT issues in Kenya To facilitate the exchange of information and ideas on ICT through meetings, exhibitions and publications. To promote IT training, both academic and professional. To facilitate the establishment of professional competence and practice. To establish and develop branches of the Society. To establish and maintain affiliations with international and regional organizations that support and share our vision To set and supervise examinations for admission to relevant grades of the Society's membership. Vision To be the best ICT Industry and Professional body in Kenya. Mission To coordinate the activities of and forge unity among it?s members as well as be a focal point for the dissemination of Professional Services . Motto NUNTIUS PRO OMUNIS (Information for all) Core Activities 1. Accreditation of computer training establishments. 2. ICT industry excellence awards, standards, and code of conduct 3. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programs 4. Local and international lobbying 5. Publications 6. Networking forms 7. Industry seminars, conferences and workshops.. 8. Activities that bring together the ICT Industry and the users. For example every Thursday morning there is a Chairman's Breakfast where about five (5) IT managers meet with the chairman and a guest from industry for an hour over breakfast in an informal environment and arrangement to exchange industry information and ideas. Track Records To date it has registered over 3000 IT practitioners out of a total of 4500 (66%) over five hundred (500) IT Solution Providers out of a total of nine hundred (900) (55%) and accredited over six hundred (600) academic institutions out of one thousand two hundred (1200) (50%). Way Ahead Spearhead the establishment of one ICT authority in Kenya government structure Establish an ICT export services incubation centre Facilitate donation of at least three (3) computers in all 3000 Kenya secondary schools. Facilitate the establishment of telecentres in each administrative location of Kenya. For more information contact us through: Computer Society of Kenya No. 7 Menelik Court, Menelik Road P.0. Box 70180 Nairobi Tel: (20) 3871822/36, 211640 Fax: (20) 728351 Email: csk(a)nbi.ispkenya.com or info(a)csk-online.org Website: http://www.cskonline.org

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Are we throwing the baby with the bath water?
by Ali Hussein 29 Mar '13

29 Mar '13

Listers Voltaire, the Famour French Historian and Philosopher once said "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/v/voltaire109645.html> " I am writing this post due to the interesting times that we live in. There is a lot of emotions, bigotry, outright tribalism and jingoism being bandied around the country in many channels - Online responses to media stories, FM Station talk shows, social media, work places, bars etc. Whilst I abore the very nature of some of the discussions we have fought too hard for freedom of expression and association to blanketly condemn everything whole sale. I have just read a story in today's nation titled *'14 Bloggers linked to hate messages'*. http://www.nation.co.ke/News/14-bloggers-linked-to-hate-messages/-/1056/173… The gist of the story is that the bloggers are using the anonymity of the internet to spread hate, tribalism etc.and they are being 'hunted down' like rabid dogs. What I found interesting is this particular paragraph:- *Mr Robert Alai, a well-known blogger was on Tuesday charged with posting “annoying” statements on social media sites, Twitter and Facebook.* For those of us who follow Robert on Social Media you may be forgiven if you think he is the 'Village Mad Man'. However he is a Kenyan and has a right to free speech. I do not excuse some of the stuff being posted online but I sincerely do hope that when one is being charged at our law courts the charge sheet does not say that he or she is charged in court for posting 'Annoying Statements'!! A few months ago Eric Hershman (whiteafrican.com) posted a blog defending Robert's right to his unique brand of 'journalism' and I am one of those who commented on the blog saying that one needs to take responsibility for his actions. http://whiteafrican.com/2012/08/22/kenyas-slippery-censorship-slope/ Now I see where Eric was going... Oh the power of Retrospection. I urge the Powers That Be to delicately balance and be circumspect on how they use the tools of state lest we run rough shod on the very freedoms that allow us to freely comment, post online our opinions. As Voltaire said - I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it. Let us all take a step back and ensure that we do not fall victim to the tyranny of the few who have decided to interpret for us what is good or bad for our beloved nation. *Ali Hussein* *CEO, 3mice interactive media ltd* *Partner, Telemedia Africa Ltd * Tel: +254713601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim<http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> Blog: www.alyhussein.com

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Why CSK is your official representative organisation
by robert yawe 26 Mar '13

26 Mar '13

Computer Society of Kenya (CSK) Our Profile The Computer Society of Kenya (CSK) is the recognized association for information and communication technology (ICT) industry and professionals in Kenya, attracting a large and active membership from all levels if the IT industry and providing a wide range of services to its 6,000 plus members. It was established in 1986 and originally known as The Computer Institute and the society attained its current name in 1994. It is a member of the World Information Technology Services Alliance , the International Federation for Information Processing , the Association of Professional Societies in East Africa , the Kenya Private Sector Alliance , the International Chamber of Commerce and the Asia Oceania Computer Industry Organization amongst other affiliations. The Computer Society of Kenya is the public voice of the IT profession and the guardian to professional ethics and the standards in the IT industry, with a commitment to the wider community to ensure the beneficial use of IT. Aims and Objectives of the Society To act as the advocacy organization for ICT issues in Kenya To facilitate the exchange of information and ideas on ICT through meetings, exhibitions and publications. To promote IT training, both academic and professional. To facilitate the establishment of professional competence and practice. To establish and develop branches of the Society. To establish and maintain affiliations with international and regional organizations that support and share our vision To set and supervise examinations for admission to relevant grades of the Society's membership. Vision To be the best ICT Industry and Professional body in Kenya. Mission To coordinate the activities of and forge unity among it?s members as well as be a focal point for the dissemination of Professional Services . Motto NUNTIUS PRO OMUNIS (Information for all) Core Activities 1. Accreditation of computer training establishments. 2. ICT industry excellence awards, standards, and code of conduct 3. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programs 4. Local and international lobbying 5. Publications 6. Networking forms 7. Industry seminars, conferences and workshops. 8. Activities that bring together the ICT Industry and the users. For example every Thursday morning there is a Chairman's Breakfast where about five (5) IT managers meet with the chairman and a guest from industry for an hour over breakfast in an informal environment and arrangement to exchange industry information and ideas. Track Records To date it has registered over 3000 IT practitioners out of a total of 4500 (66%) over five hundred (500) IT Solution Providers out of a total of nine hundred (900) (55%) and accredited over six hundred (600) academic institutions out of one thousand two hundred (1200) (50%). Way Ahead Spearhead the establishment of one ICT authority in Kenya government structure Establish an ICT export services incubation centre Facilitate donation of at least three (3) computers in all 3000 Kenya secondary schools. Facilitate the establishment of telecentres in each administrative location of Kenya. For more information contact us through: Computer Society of Kenya No. 7 Menelik Court, Menelik Road P.0. Box 70180 Nairobi Tel: (20) 3871822/36, 211640 Fax: (20) 728351 Email: csk(a)nbi.ispkenya.com or info(a)csk-online.org Website: http://www.cskonline.org

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Countellect – bringing intelligence back to governance in a new political dispensation in Kenya
by Mbugua Njihia 26 Mar '13

26 Mar '13

Your feedback on the concept* " **Countellect – bringing intelligence back to governance in a new political dispensation in Kenya" *is welcome. Full concept note here - http://kng.ht/15NNwvj -- ................................................................................................................................................................. Business, more than any other occupation, is a continual dealing with the future; it is a continual calculation, an instinctive exercise in foresight.

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Cyber Cop
by Edith Adera 25 Mar '13

25 Mar '13

Bwana Ndemo, As I reflected on your unenviable job as a "cyber cop" (watching you on The Trend last Friday) and stumbled on this article by Gaitho entitled "The demented postings on social media must stop before blood flows" http://www.nation.co.ke/blogs/-/446672/1723754/-/ee6vonz/-/index.html it occurred to me that we probably need something deeper, while we must address the madness online. You're on record here advocating for policy/decision-making based on empirical/research evidence. I recall your spirited campaign about the Cancer Bill that MPs excitedly passed without the benefit of scientific evidence as to "the actual cause of cancers in Kenya". You argued that you wished they did not get excited about addressing the symptoms of the problem, but the root cause. As you crack down on cyber haters (to address the symptoms of the problem), could we also ask ourselves a couple of questions (listers, feel free to add more questions) to get to the ROOT CAUSE of this ANGER: *why are people so angry? *is this anger only in cyberspace? *If not, to what extent is it a reflection of simmering (unexpressed) anger on the ground? *what are the implications of unexpressed anger? *why are people comfortable to express such deep anger online and not offline? What are they afraid of? *How can long-lasting co-existence be achieved, once and for all? * etc etc etc Someone has work to do as we try to address the short-term symptoms - is it the academic community? or pollsters can have a post-election job to do? I don't know, but the RROT CAUSE, we must find including the solutions. Reflective Edith

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Kenya’s PKI Destined for Failure?
by Brian Munyao Longwe 24 Mar '13

24 Mar '13

Disclaimer: All the opinions expressed herein are my own. #140friday <http://140friday.com> » Business <http://140friday.com/?cat=3>» Politics <http://140friday.com/?cat=6> » Technology<http://140friday.com/?cat=8>» Kenya’s PKI Destined for Failure? March 20, 2013 Kenya’s PKI Destined for Failure? Today I had the opportunity to attend a seminar organized by the Ministry of Information & Communications and Samsung SDS as part of the implementation of Kenya’s National Public Key Infrastructure (NPKI). The project is undertaken within the framework of the Kenya Transparency & Communications Infrastructure Project (KTCIP), a World Bank funded initiative that will help Kenya achieve a number of the goals under the ICT pillar of Vision 2030. The presentations from the team from Korea consisted of representatives of Samsung SDS (who won the International tender for Kenya’s NPKI implementation) as well as representatives from some of the key actors in Korea’s own NPKI. The Korean presentations were interesting, informative and very well prepared. Over the period of a few hours they were able to take the relatively complex subject of National Public Kenya Infrastructure and unpack it in a way that was both easy to understand as well as clear and straightforward. They left no shadow of doubt as to whether Samsung SDS can successfully implement this project. They also shared the organizational structure for the project, which is as follows: [image: CAM00454]<http://140friday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/CAM00454.jpg> During the course of their presentations the team from Korea shared the high level plan for the implementation of Kenya’s SDS. They made it clear that they had spent a good deal of time working closely with Government officials responsible from the Kenyan side. In describing the structure and hierarchy that has proven successful in Korea for the implementation and operation of their NPKI, the team shared the following diagram. [image: CAM00455]<http://140friday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/CAM00455.jpg> At the very top, there is the Ministry responsible for the NPKI, they provide the legal and regulatory framework, national authentication plan and other high level functions. Below them is the “Root Certification Authority” an organization known as the Korea Internet Security Agency (KISA), which provides operation of the National Authentication system, licensing/accreditation of certificate authorities (CA) to provide service to the public as well as development of technical standards. Below them are the accredited CAs of which Korea has 5 who provide certificate issuance and management services to the public. In a presentation which came later, the Korean team shared the proposed structure for the Kenyan implementation which had been arrived at after consultations with Government. The diagram is as follows. [image: CAM00457]<http://140friday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/CAM00457.jpg> In this structure, Government who will be responsible for legal and regulatory framework, national authentication plan, other high level functions as well as licensing and auditing are to be represented by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK). Below them and responsible for operation of the Root Certification Authority is CCK. Below that are a proposed “Government CA” which will issue certificates for Government agencies and employees and a proposed “Private Sector CA” which will issue certificates to the rest of the country. I have a big problem with this structure. First and foremost because CCK is being proposed as BOTH the licensing authority as well as the licensed operator of the Root Certification Authority. The potential for conflict of interest is immediately evident, not to mention the fact that the end-to-end integrity of a structure that ensures top-down accountability is rendered completely void. Even worse was the mumbled suggestions by some of the government participants at the seminar that CCK might also act as the Government CA. In addition that is the fact that a project as crucial as this has not gone through a proper stakeholder consultative process and is seemingly being shoved down our throats. In his closing remarks a director a the E-Government directorate asked the ICT Board to engage stakeholders further and receive input before moving too far. I raised this point as a question during the Q & A session at the end of the seminar and would like to emphasise that it would be *very wrong* for CCK to be the Root Certification Authority for a number of reasons: 1. *Conflict of Interest:* As per the proposed structure the representative of Government, CCK needs to serve as the top level entity that handles the legal and regulatory framework and the national authentication plan. Adding a subsidiary role would not only compromise their integrity but would also expose them to all manner of challenges with regards to operation of an infrastructure that is supposed to be based on trust. 2. *Procurement Issues:* In sharing to a certain level of detail the complexity of the Root Authority setup, it became evident that there would be a continuous need for procurement of various goods and services. As a government agency, CCK is subject to public procurement regulations, this means that even very basic, small and simple items could take months if not years to procure. The problems with our public procurement are well known. Subjecting the Root Authority to this kind of environment is in itself a major risk for successful implementation and operation. 3. *Human Resource Issues:* Several times in their presentations the Koreans complained that they had observed a critical lack of human resources. They emphasized that they were not referring to *skilled*human resources but simply to *enough people* for the project requirements. Shock of shocks! With the incredible numbers of well educated Kenyans who are unemployed or underemployed? They could obviously have only been referring to what they had seen as far as the people available for the project from the Ministry and CCK. It is no secret that CCK has extremely limited human resources in their ICT division and those few are oveworked, stretched beyond measure and juggling multipe roles. Isn’t adding additional responsibilities into this mix a formula for disaster? 4. *Inertia*: CCK has proven to be very poor at the timely execution of functions that fall outside their core mandate of licensing, regulation and resource management. A perfect example is the implementation of the Universal Service Fund, which CCK insisted on handling as an inhouse function instead of facilitating the setup of a dedicated entity to handle the task. It has been over 6 years since regulation and legislation regarding the USF came into place and there is still nothing to speak of. I will reserve this as a subject for another day (it is a long and detailed one!) *Recommendations* The Government should immediately consider adopting a *Public Private Partnership* approach for the implementation of Kenya’s NPKI. This is especially timely because we now have a fully ratified Public Private Partnership Policy that provides a variety of models for project implementation. This will not only ensure involvement from crucial stakeholders but also free the Root Authority from the problems highlighted above (and probably many others) while at the same time ensuring that enough private sector energy and enthusiasm is infused into the project so that it moves with speed and determination. Success stories such as KENIC and TEAMS show that it is not only possible but that it can be done with ease.

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Silicon Valle goes to Dar
by robert yawe 22 Mar '13

22 Mar '13

Hi, It is always good to watch what the competition is doing to avoid planning in a vacuum, I came across an article and report on the approach Tanzania is taking in developing outsourcing and knowledge centre. The model is interesting and takes into consideration the fact that a large pool of highly educated personnel is important to achieve their objective therefore they have opted to take the Stanford model. It will be interesting to see how the approach works in relation to out Savanna approach. http://touch.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/7080-silicon-valley-comes… http://ro.ecu.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1072&context=ceducom Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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[Skunkworks] Fwd: Kenya's PKI Destined for Failure?
by Wambua, Christopher 22 Mar '13

22 Mar '13

Warigia, In my view, the assessment of CCK's performance in respect to Universal Access Fund is not fair. I say this because the legal framework for the Universal Service Fund (USF) is barely three years old (i.e. the Kenya Information and Communications Act of 2009 and the Kenya Information and Communications Universal Access and Service Regulations of 2010). It is these pieces of legislation that charge CCK with the responsibility of managing and administering the Fund. From the date USF's legal instruments were put in place, the issue of doing nothing in the last six years does not arise. You will also recall that the Universal Service Access Committee (USAC), which is mandated to advise the CCK Board on the management of the Fund, was appointed in December 2012 by the Minister for Information and Communications. As it awaited the legal framework to be in place, CCK undertook a number of preparatory activities for the implementation of USF. These include: * Establishing a Statistical function within the Commission in view of the need for up to date information on access and usage of ICT to inform universal access planning. This is the Unit that prepares the Quarterly Sector Statistics. * Carrying out a number of studies to guide the implementation of the Fund, including the National ICT Survey (2010/2011) and the ICT Access Gaps Study (2011). The Survey was undertaken in conjunction with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics to provide baseline information on the level of access and usage of ICTs at the household level in Kenya. The Survey provides benchmark indicators against which to measure the penetration of ICT services particularly through the USF. It provided a key input into the ICTs Access Gap study of 2011 undertaken by APOYO Consultoria. The ICT Access Gap Study identified areas that lacked access to voice, postal and data services and provide cost estimates for closing the gaps. It has provided the basis for identifying the areas requiring USF interventions and prioritizing allocation of funds. These reports are available on the CCK website. * Implementing a number of UA pilot projects whose experience will be key in implementing national UA projects. The pilot projects include: 16 ICT Centers in Secondary Schools (2 in each province), 4 Community Centers, 8 ICT Centers schools for PWDs (covering all secondary schools for PwDs in Kenya), 10 e-Resource Centers within the Kenya National Library Service outlets, E-health Project (in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Qualcomm Inc), Content Development that include the Digitization of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary School (KCSE) Form I and II curriculum by KIE and a Web Portal for Persons With Disabilities (in partnership with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and United Disabled Persons of Kenya). These projects have been funded largely by the Commission. * From 2012 to date, the Commission has been developing USF program concepts, projects prioritization criteria and USF Strategy with technical support from USAID's Global Broadband Innovation (GBI) programme. Again with support from the USAID, the Commission in conjunction with the Ministry of Information and Communications, Kenya ICT Board, E-Government Directorate, Vision 2030 Secretariat and National Communications Secretariat and other stakeholders are developing a National Broadband Strategy (NBS). This strategy is important in the realization of universal access to broadband services in Kenya. Starting from July 2013, the Fund shall be brought into operation. In this regard, all licensees shall be expected to begin remitting their statutory contribution to the Fund. On its part, the Commission has set aside Kshs1,000,000,000 as seed money for the USF. I hope this sheds more light on this matter. Wambua From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+wambua=cck.go.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Warigia Bowman Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2013 4:50 PM To: Wambua, Christopher Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet][Skunkworks] Fwd: Kenya's PKI Destined for Failure? Dear Brian Thank you for this very thoughtful discussion. 4. Inertia: CCK has proven to be very poor at the timely execution of functions that fall outside their core mandate of licensing, regulation and resource management. A perfect example is the implementation of the Universal Service Fund, which CCK insisted on handling as an inhouse function instead of facilitating the setup of a dedicated entity to handle the task. It has been over 6 years since regulation and legislation regarding the USF came into place and there is still nothing to speak of. I will reserve this as a subject for another day (it is a long and detailed one!) Erm, am I the only one embarassed that all of our neighbors have a functional USF, but Kenya does not? Recommendations The Government should immediately consider adopting a Public Private Partnership approach for the implementation of Kenya's NPKI. This is especially timely because we now have a fully ratified Public Private Partnership Policy that provides a variety of models for project implementation. This will not only ensure involvement from crucial stakeholders but also free the Root Authority from the problems highlighted above (and probably many others) while at the same time ensuring that enough private sector energy and enthusiasm is infused into the project so that it moves with speed and determination. Success stories such as KENIC and TEAMS show that it is not only possible but that it can be done with ease. PPPs are the respected model for many kinds of endeavors, and this is a very strong suggestion. Yours, Warigia On Thu, Mar 21, 2013 at 8:24 AM, Lucy Kimani <lkimani(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Ali and Brian +1 CCK can be the CA for the government but there has to be Private Sector based CAs as well to avoid conflict of interest. What may seem complex when broken down may not be all that bad as evidenced in this paper: http://www.articsoft.com/whitepapers/AustPKI03SMr2.pdf I especially like the not always waiting for the government "The business and Internet communities are not waiting for some over-arching system to be put into place by governments or agencies such as the UN. They are seizing opportunities as they arise, putting in place systems that they trust and selecting their own RCA - a PRIVATE RCA - if they select one at all. An example of this is the Secure Electronic Transaction (SET) PKI developed by Visa and MasterCard. Figure 4 represents the basic SET PKI as identified by Ford & Baum. A new version of the SET protocol has recently been introduced, sometimes referred to as 3DSET. It expects to provide the customer with a provable digital receipt for a transaction, establishing the formality of the contract between the customer and the merchant, something that was lacking in the original implementation." VISA introduced 3D SET in 2000 to address issues with SET PKI. 3D SET simplifies the SET protocol into three domain Model: 1) acquirer domain, 2) issuer domain, 3) interoperability domain. 3D SET provide a flexible framework that allows banks and acquirers to use their method to authenticate cardholders and merchants in a transaction. --- On Thu, 3/21/13, Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> wrote: From: Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Skunkworks] Fwd: Kenya's PKI Destined for Failure? To: lkimani(a)yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Thursday, March 21, 2013, 7:24 AM Adam +1 And I give Brian the highest commendation for highlighting this issue. We must always try our level best to embrace the Multi-Stakeholder regime because as much as sometimes it sound like we are in the Tower of Babel ultimately the best solutions emerge (most of the time). Regards Ali Hussein CEO, 3mice interactive media ltd Partner, Telemedia Africa Ltd Tel: +254713601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim Blog: www.alyhussein.com On Thu, Mar 21, 2013 at 12:58 PM, Adam Nelson <adam(a)varud.com <http://mc/compose?to=adam@varud.com> > wrote: I think Brian's original point is well taken. It's not ideal for a Korean government agency to hold such important keys. However, Kenya can't just start its own key without at least a few years of lead time to get on a critical mass of browsers and operating systems by default (although it should start now just to get the ball rolling). Finland and Turkey have CAs (although Turkey's was famously hacked with google.com signatures). I would suggest that the certificate authority for this be one of the most trusted and common commercial ones - Equifax. That's what Google uses and because they're commercial, will probably be more responsive to the needs of the government than a Koren agency. -Adam https://twitter.com/varud https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamcnelson On Thu, Mar 21, 2013 at 12:32 PM, Kivuva <Kivuva(a)transworldafrica.com <http://mc/compose?to=Kivuva@transworldafrica.com> > wrote: Good points from Brian and Evans. I think the elephant in the room is CCK to be the Root Certification Authority. PPP as Brian puts it might be the best way to go, although it has its own challenges, as we saw last year when KENIC was facing leadership challenges, and discord within the board. Other channels might be to tender for local companies to bid to be the RCA. This has worked very well in developed countries. The issue of HR can be sorted if we are willing to empower our youth, by say Knowledge Transfer. Unfortunately, these Asians are not very keen in transferring such knowledge to the client side of the business since they want to be indispensable. But we can be forceful, and find ways to train people who will administer the NPKI system. We currently have thousands of security experts in the country, and we are willing to learn more. Kind Regards. -- ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva _______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke <http://mc/compose?to=skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://orion.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <http://mc/compose?to=kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein. com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <http://mc/compose?to=kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lkimani%40yahoo.co m The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/warigia%40gmail.co m The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. -- Dr. Warigia Bowman Assistant Professor Clinton School of Public Service University of Arkansas wbowman(a)clintonschool.uasys.edu ------------------------------------------------- View my research on my SSRN Author page: http://ssrn.com/author=1479660 --------------------------------------------------

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China and Operating Systems Architecture
by Evans Ikua 22 Mar '13

22 Mar '13

Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology defines a new reference architecture for standard operating systems in China .... http://www.canonical.com/content/canonical-and-chinese-standards-body-annou… -- *---------------------------------------------------- Kind Regards, Evans Ikua,* lanetconsulting.com, lpi-eastafrica.org, ict-innovation.fossfa.net, Skype: @ikuae Cell: +254-722-955831

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Re: [kictanet] [Skunkworks] Fwd: Kenya’s PKI Destined for Failure?
by Kivuva 22 Mar '13

22 Mar '13

Good points from Brian and Evans. I think the elephant in the room is CCK to be the Root Certification Authority. PPP as Brian puts it might be the best way to go, although it has its own challenges, as we saw last year when KENIC was facing leadership challenges, and discord within the board. Other channels might be to tender for local companies to bid to be the RCA. This has worked very well in developed countries. The issue of HR can be sorted if we are willing to empower our youth, by say Knowledge Transfer. Unfortunately, these Asians are not very keen in transferring such knowledge to the client side of the business since they want to be indispensable. But we can be forceful, and find ways to train people who will administer the NPKI system. We currently have thousands of security experts in the country, and we are willing to learn more. Kind Regards. -- ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva

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Kenyans, Nigerians wage tweet-war ahead of fixture
by Grace Githaiga 22 Mar '13

22 Mar '13

Kenyans and Nigerians taunted each other on twitter following reports that Kenya’s Harambee Stars had been denied a proper training ground and forced to train on a grassless compound of what looked like an abandoned school in Lagos... When the Kenyans on Twitter woke up on Thursday and saw what their national team had been reduced to, they unleashed their belligerence through a hashtag #SomeoneTellNigeria in which they protested about the way the Harambee Stars had been treated. http://www.nation.co.ke/sports/football/Kenyans-Nigerians-wage-tweetwar-ahe…

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Telecom firms and banks lead race for Konza
by Grace Githaiga 21 Mar '13

21 Mar '13

IN SUMMARYThe real estate, telecoms and financial services sectors alone represent about 38.2 per cent of the 303 formal requests so far made to the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KOTDA) for inclusion in the initial phase of the project.Kenyan investors are poised to be the key drivers of the Konza project with 81 per cent of the enquiries so far registered with the authority.Phase 1 of the Konza project covers a 400-acre portion of the 5,000 acres site off the Nairobi-Mombasa highway which has been earmarked for construction of residential houses and related amenities such as cultural centres, parks and a university complex. http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/-/539550/1727112/-/item/0…

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Message to Kenya
by Edith Adera 21 Mar '13

21 Mar '13

MESSAGE TO KENYA by Apostle Paul Amadi (Notes) on Monday, March 18, 2013 at 10:12pm The Lord woke me up about 2am on the night of 13th March 2013 with a message to the nation of Kenya, and particularly to the Body of Christ. Before He began speaking to me He showed me the flag and the emblems of the nation, then He showed me the words of the first verse of the national anthem of Kenya (O God of all creation, bless this our land and nation, justice be our shield and defender, may we dwell in unity, peace and liberty, plenty be found within our borders) and also I saw the words PEACE, LOVE & UNITY. I saw that these 3 words were written upon a long slab of rock that had been painted with the colors of the flag of Kenya (black, red, green & white). I also saw that the painting had become greatly disjointed. Neither the words nor the colors were together. It was a broken state. As I came to the point of tears at what I was seeing, my belly suddenly became very hot and He began to speak: "Why are you following men that shall die? You have forgotten Me, the fountain of living waters, and now seek to men. Can they save you? Can they deliver you? Yet you seek to them. All these are the works of My hands. In the day I call for them all their thoughts perish. Seek to Me. I the Lord I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Let your trust be in Me, for I speak and it comes to pass. No man can stop My purposes. The Lord then brought me to see what was happening around the nation. He showed me Christian homes, men and women speaking and spewing hatred against those who belong to communities of differing political affiliations. And He said to me, "See what My people are doing. Is this what I called you to do? Have I not called you to love one another and to pray for the peace of your nation? Have I not called you to bless and not to curse? How is it then that you have taken sides with the enemy of My people? You are destroying, destroying, destroying everything! Where is love in My people? Where are My intercessors? Where are My watchmen? For your enemy is risen and is even now ready to devour this nation. I have spoken to you over and over again but you do not listen. Yes, you prayed and repented before Me and asked Me to heal your nation, but how can I heal when you are so deeply divided? Have I called you to take sides against one another? Or I have called you to be united. You speak and devour one another, you consume each other with the words of your mouth and at last you yourself will be no more. For while you are cursing one another your enemy is busy strategizing how he will destroy your nation. I speak this to your shame. Then He continued, "I the Lord have called you to be peacemakers, for so you will be called My sons. I despise those who cause discord among their brethren, and I will oppose them. Repent now of the evil that is in your heart and return to your position. I love those of you who have refused to take sides, who pray to Me because of the land. They are My jewels and I will preserve them. I am your source. O Kenya, look to Me and be saved. If you look to men you will be disappointed, for men will lie to you, but I the Lord am the God of truth; what I speak I will also do. If you do not repent judgment will come to your land and the sword will pass through but if you My people humble yourselves and return to Me then I will heal you and heal your land. This is the direction the Lord gave me for you: Whom you have spoken against, you must go and face them and seek their forgiveness. And for the servants the ministers, this is what the Lord says to you: "Why have you taken sides in these matters? I have not called you to take sides but to stand before Me and intercede for the land. REPENT!" And the Lord said, "Begin praying for the healing of this nation, for if you do not do so it will fall apart and you yourself will not survive. I said put your trust in Me but you have gone after men who can do nothing for you. [Just now as I am typing this I heard Him say: I the Lord hold the key to your life]. Stop saying I (i.e. the Lord) am with this one, or that one. I the LORD do not take sides for I am the King of the earth. I respect no persons, but those who fear Me and obey My commandments shall find favor in My sight. Therefore, be zealous and repent. Pray unto Me, love one another, be united and I will restore you once again." And the Lord said to me, "This confusion in your elections is caused by the enemy that he may destroy My people. If you do not pray, he shall prevail." Who can pray, let him pray, and who cannot pray, let him also pray. The Lord also showed me what the enemy is planning: Chaos, anarchy and bloodshed. Church of God, arise and pray against these things. Spend time with the Father and plead for the sake of this nation. Gather together in your homes and churches and intercede. Cry mightily to the Father, and He who is able shall change the tide and heal our nation. Verses: Pro 6:16-19: These six Jehovah hates; yea, seven are hateful to his soul: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked plans, feet hurrying to run to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and he who causes fighting among brothers. Mat 5:9: Blessed are the peacemakers! For they shall be called the sons of God. 2Ch 7:14: if My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Isa 55:6,7: Seek Jehovah while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to Jehovah, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. Come on Kenyans, share this message on your timelines so others will also read and take action. The whole nation needs to hear this. For the Master, Paul Amadi Gatekeeper

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Digital Democracy Kenya: 2013 Elections Survey…
by Michael Bullut 21 Mar '13

21 Mar '13

Greetings Good People, Carrying out a survey for an online forum called *"Digital Democracy Kenya"*on the General Elections... You're not required to give your details (i.e. name & address) but jus' your honest views... The link to the survey is *here.<http://kipsang.com/digital-democracy-kenya-2013-elections-survey/> * Warm regards, Michael Bullut. --- *Cell:* *+254 723 393 114. **Skype Name:* *Michael Bullut.* ***Twitter:** @Kipsang <http://twitter.com/Kipsang/> * *Blog: http://www.kipsang.com/* *E-mail:* *main(a)kipsang.com* * * *---*

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Government acts on driving e-commerce growth
by Phyllis Nyambura 21 Mar '13

21 Mar '13

*Government acts on driving e-commerce growth* ** *Establishment of a secure online environment will be implemented come October * ** *Nairobi 20th March, 2013: *The government through the Kenya ICT board, Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) and Directorate of E-government, today held a forum with stakeholders to sensitise them on what it will take to secure online transactions. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), is the national system that the government is implementing to provide digital certification services. Through the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), the government will set up an online identity and verification system where each citizen will be issued with a unique online identity (digital certificate) that will be required whenever they take part in online transactions. The project is being implemented by Korea technology company Samsung SDS. “Electronic signing is the most ensuring method to help solve a lot of the on-line crimes we see such as hacking, identity theft and forgery of sensitive information. Interested individuals will apply for a digital certificate using their name and ID number and later called in for a face-to-face authentication process by the Accredited Certificate Authority. Following the verification process, the applicants will then be authorized to download the digital certificate to the PC or USB (HSM token),” explained Evans Kahuthu, Project Manager Information Security at the Kenya ICT Board. The online certificate will be a unique Internet ID (a cryptographic key) that will facilitate access to on-line government services leading to increased online business. “Going forward, we will be getting into complex, sophisticated and very hard to investigate organized cybercrime. It is therefore prudent that the government readies itself to tackle these new challenges,” said Francis Mwaura, Senior Assistant Director, and Directorate of E-Government. “As the government moves to automate and digitize its records, e-government will handle a lot of sensitive data, and this calls for security of these records,” added Francis Mwaura. The project expected date of completion is October and it will be piloted at the Kenya Revenue Authority before a roll-out to other government agencies and ministries. This will mean that those applying for KRA online services e.g tax returns and pin certificates will have to apply for digital certificates before they are allowed to transact. “Internet users have to struggle with a trade-off between convenience and security. As countries all over the world are making progress in e-government, all offline activities are being changed into online ones like e-commerce, e-banking, e-procurement and e-bidding through the internet. That’s why PKI is so crucial at this time,” said Samsung SDS Vice President, Sungwon Han. “Kenya is taking the lead in East Africa,” said Michael Katundu, Director Information Technology at CCK, who also chairs the Cyber Security Steering Committee in the region. CCK will be the root certification authority and will also accredit private companies who will issue certification to online users on their behalf. Full details of who qualifies to be an accreditter will be published on CCK website (www.*cck*. go.ke). Immediate beneficiaries of PKI are those that rely heavily on e-transactions among them; Banks, Tax bodies (KRA), online businesses and those that hold sensitive information like Medical service providers, legal entities and government ministries like the Immigration and Lands. In *2009*, Kenya passed the amendment legislation introducing the regulation of Electronic Signatures (E-Signature) into the Kenya Information and Communications Act, *Cap 411A *(as part of e-transactions). Subsequent *subsidiary legislation* to operationalise this framework was designed in 2010 in the form of Kenya Information and Communications (Electronic Certification and Domain Name Administration) Regulations, 2010. *For more information contact pnyambura(a)ict.go.ke* -- Phyllis Nyambura Communication Writer Kenya ICT Board Telposta Towers, 12th Floor, Kenyatta Ave P.O. Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya t: + 254-020-2211960/62 | m: + 254 (0) 789396433 | e: pnyambura(a)ict.go.ke Visit: www.ict.go.ke Become a fan: www.facebook.com/kenyaictboard Follow us on twitter: @kenyaICTboard --------------------- *Our Vision*: Kenya becomes a top 10 ICT hub * Our Mission*: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment * Our Quality Policy*: Kenya ICT Board is committed to consistently deliver quality ICT services and manage projects that support the growth of Information and Communication Technology, to satisfy the needs and expectations of customers. Kenya ICT Board shall comply with all requirements and continually improve the effectiveness of the Quality Management System. Kenya ICT Board leadership shall establish and review quality objectives in line with this policy and ensure commitment of all employees.

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Sample of results from Survey information for election day
by Warigia Bowman 21 Mar '13

21 Mar '13

Wenzangu Can you believe that the electionwas 16 days ago? Sometimes it feels like it was yesterday, and sometimes it feels like it was last year. Anyway, I just want to *thank* those Kictanet members who helped me to collect data about ICT usage on election day. Those people included Wambui Ngugi, Mwendwa Kivuva, Muchiri Nyaggah, Norbert Wildermuth, Grace Githaiga, Michael Bullut and Brian Longwe. I think all in all we collected about 70 surveys on election day. I have not keyed them all in. This database has some very rich information, and some surprising results. Bottom line 1) *Kictanet rocks* 2) *Crowdsourcing works*. I have asked my colleagues to give me permission to give your more information about the data we collected in summarized form, We have a LOT more questions than shown here, but here is a delicious taste. If you want to contribute your experience to this noble project, contact *Michael Bullut at main(a)kipsang.com**. *We are closing survey collection this weekend because the social media is beginning to distort people's perceptions. Number of Surveys 23 Age of youngest voter 20 Age of Oldest voter 67 How many received text messages day of election? 7 30.43% Sample text messages Yes, exchanged with a friend to remind me to vote wisely to the candidate of our choice. Yes.There were some aspirants who tried to text messages, writing their names Senator, Governor. Yes. We need our country even after elections so we can continue with daily lives. Let us vote peacefully and avoid inceitement. We are all Kenyans! Changed their vote on the basis of a textbook or facebook message. 0 Received a text message warning to stay away from polls 0 Sample comments on election People should stop voting on tribal lines I experiencedthe peace. I cannot expect anything worse. According to the behavior, it is going to be a peaceful election in Nairobi. I was frustrated and disappointed that the election was manual and slow, not based on the immense technological advances in the country. This was more so after all the hype and excitement that the election and the tallying process was technology driven. I left the polling station hoping that nothing would go wrong with the manual process as it happened in 2007. The entire technology eventually failed at the tallying process and now allegations have arisen that the manual process has been comprised. Instead of feeling happy for an election well conducted and won by the superior candidate, I continue feeling a sense of apprehension. Like something about to explode. A feeling as though the prevailing peace is not genuine. It is an oppressive peace only celebrated by the winners. -- Dr. Warigia Bowman Assistant Professor Clinton School of Public Service University of Arkansas wbowman(a)clintonschool.uasys.edu http://democratizingegypt.blogspot.com ------------------------------------------------- View my research on my SSRN Author page: http://ssrn.com/author=1479660 --------------------------------------------------

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ICANN 2013 Nominating Committee is Actively Seeking Candidates
by Alice Munyua 20 Mar '13

20 Mar '13

Would be great if several Kenyans applied for these leadership positions at ICANN. Best Alice https://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-19mar13-en.htm 2013 Nominating Committee is Actively Seeking Candidates 19 March 2013 ICANN's 2013 Nominating Committee (NomCom) will be attending the 46th ICANN Meeting in Beijing, China, (http://beijing46.icann.org/) and conduct a number of open meetings to provide detailed information to the community about the NomCom's work and obtain input from the ICANN entities regarding desirable applicant qualities. The NomCom is actively seeking qualified candidates for the following key leadership positions within ICANN: * Three members of the Board of Directors of ICANN * Three members of the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) (one each from the Africa; Asia/Australia/Pacific; and Latin America/Caribbean regions) * Two members of the Council of the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) * One member of the Council of the Country-Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) Statements of Interest for the positions described above can be submitted through an on-line application form at http://nomcom.icann.org/apply. Applications will be considered in confidence and should be received by 11:59:59 UTC on 1 May 2013 for full consideration. Selections will be announced in September 2013. Successful candidates will take up their positions following ICANN's Annual Meeting in Buenos Aires in November 2013. The 2013 NomCom began its work in October 2012 after the ICANN Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada, and since then has organized outreach events in multiple locations around the globe. The NomCom holds regular conference calls to plan and follow-up on its work. More information regarding the Nominating Committee can be found at: http://nomcom.icann.org/ Candidate recommendations, questions or comments may also be emailed to nomcom2013(a)icann.org <mailto:nomcom2013@icann.org>. Glen de Saint Géry GNSO Secretariat gnso.secretariat(a)gnso.icann.org <mailto:gnso.secretariat@gnso.icann.org> http://gnso.icann.org

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Media Awards 2013
by Ruth Kwamboka 20 Mar '13

20 Mar '13

Dear All, The Media Council of Kenya will hold a regional Journalists’ Convention and the second Annual Journalism Excellence Awards [AJEA] gala to mark the World Press Freedom Day on 3rd May, 2013. The Journalists’ convention will take place on 2nd May and half day on 3rd May, while the Journalism Awards gala will be held on the evening of the same day (Friday, 3rd May 2013) in Nairobi. In regard to the Media Awards, Kindly find attached the Call for entry poster and the entry form. You could share the same with other journalists in your networks too.

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No politechnics no Vision 2030
by robert yawe 20 Mar '13

20 Mar '13

Here is why we need to be very careful about converting practical teaching polytechnics into theoretical content Universities Tiny, personal blood testing laboratory gets under your skin By Darren Quick March 19, 2013 7 Pictures 3 inShare Email This prototype implant can detect up to five proteins and organic acids at once (Photo: EPFL)Image Gallery (7 images) Gmail: More than an email - Mail.Google.com Stay in Touch with friends on Chat, Mobile, or Free SMS, try it now! Homocysteine Assay - www.diazyme.com Low cost per test - Simple to use Accurate and reliable results Best Hospitals in India - SafeMedTrip.com for Kenya Patients, High Quality Care,Low Cost Packages,Free Opinion Don't wait for NFC - www.tagattitude.fr Tagattitude contectless technology: offer secure transactions today Ads by Google Blood tests usually involve drawing some blood out of the body. Now scientists from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have developed an implant that allows blood to be analyzed from within the body, with results then transmitted wirelessly to a computer. While still at the experimental stage, the device could make it easier for health care providers to monitor the chronically ill and provide more personalized treatment to cancer patients. * * * * * View all The tiny, portable blood-testing laboratory measures about 14 mm long and is designed to be implanted just beneath the skin. The prototype has five sensors that allow it to detect up to five proteins and organic acids at once. The sensor surfaces are covered with an enzyme to capture targeted substances in the body, such as lactate, glucose, or Adenosine triphosphate (ATP). However, the enzymes being tested in the prototype are currently only good for about a month and a half. "Potentially, we could detect just about anything," explains EPFL scientist Giovanni de Micheli. "But the enzymes have a limited lifespan, and we have to design them to last as long as possible." However, De Micheli points out that, “it's very easy to remove and replace the implant, since it's so small." In addition to the sensors, the implant also packs a radio transmitter and a power delivery system into its few cubic millimeter volume. Instead of an inbuilt battery, the device has a tiny electrical coil that receives power inductively from a patch located outside the body that provides 1/10 watt of power through the patient’s skin. The external patch also collects the data transmitted over a safe frequency from the implant and relays it via Bluetooth to a mobile phone or tablet, which then forwards the information to the doctor over the mobile network. The research team, which was led by De Micheli and Sandro Carrara, believes the implant could be particularly useful to oncologists who use occasional blood tests to evaluate cancer patients’ tolerance to particular dosages of chemotherapy. "It will allow direct and continuous monitoring based on a patient's individual tolerance, and not on age and weight charts or weekly blood tests,” De Michelli says. In addition to potentially offering a more personalized form of chemotherapy, the implant could also be used in patients with chronic illness to identify a problem, such as an imminent heart attack or high blood sugar levels, and send an alert even before symptoms emerge. The prototype has already been tested in the laboratory and proved to be as reliable as traditional analysis methods in detecting the five different substances it targeted. The researchers hope the implant will be commercially available within the next four years. De Michelli and Carrera detail the implant and its potential uses in the following video. Source: EPFL Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Cyber Cop
by meshack emakunat 20 Mar '13

20 Mar '13

I speak of control at this point how does regulation fit in? ------------------------------ On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 7:26 AM PDT Brian Munyao Longwe wrote: >True about Egypt, but that was to extend the Govts iron-grasp on the >populace. Is there any country in Africa with as much civil liberty as >Kenya? Let us not look the gift horse in the mouth... > > cell: +254715964281 >#*****TRON LIVES*****# >On Mar 19, 2013 4:44 PM, "meshack emakunat" <memakunat(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > >> >> >> Just for thought Egypt shut down internet during the Arab uprising in 2011. >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 5:21 AM PDT Grace Mutung'u (Bomu) wrote: >> >> >Brian, >> >I agree with you that the insanity on social media has gone beyond >> >mere expression or opinion. The gloves are so off. There are too many >> >instances where people are commenting without regard for the rights >> >and reputations of others. It is as if the various camps have brought >> >out their best propaganda machinery...and it keeps getting nastier as >> >the election/ petition proceeds. And the intolerance! Why on earth do >> >we have to abuse someone for their opinion? Didn't our foreparents >> >fight so hard for plurality? >> > >> >On agenda four, maybe we missed the bus at the truth and >> >reconciliation stop. But all is not lost and it is just wrong for >> >people to keep stirring ethnic/sectarian emotions in the name of >> >communal anger. Haven't we always been angry? Why is the anger more >> >urgent now? >> > >> >Action should be taken towards those inciting others. I agree with >> >Macharia Gaitho, someone needs to stop this social media violence! >> > >> > >> > >> > >> >2013/3/19 Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com>: >> > Emmanuel, >> > >> > Thanks for setting me straight, this is clear evidence of the ignorance >> I >> > alluded to as I began my previous post :) >> > >> > On a more serious note and once again, thank you so much for bringing >> this >> > out, Agenda Four is a very critical part of our Nationhood. As you have >> > pointed out, the media might seem to have lost focus, forgotten or >> ignored >> > it's importance. >> > >> > But on issues of such grave importance as the Agenda Four - couldn't it >> also >> > be argued that all stakeholders have failed in their roles? >> > >> > The two principals >> > International Civil Society >> > Local Civil Society >> > Various relevant organs of Government >> > Legal Fraternity >> > Media Houses >> > >> > Best regards, >> > >> > >> > Brian >> > >> > On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 12:24 PM, Emmanuel Khisa < >> oloo.khisa(a)googlemail.com> >> > wrote: >> > >> > Hi Brian, >> > >> > I did not refer to blackout on politicians. >> > >> > The media has been failing in their role as interrogators of the deeper >> > issues of Agenda four...Please note the following as regards the >> national >> > accord: >> > >> > The National Accord >> > >> > The two parties agreed to tackle four main agenda items to end the >> > political crisis and address its underlying causes. >> > >> > Agenda Item 1: Immediate Action to Stop Violence and Restore Fundamental >> > Rights. >> > Agenda Item 2: Addressing the Humanitarian Crisis, and Promoting Healing >> > and Reconciliation. >> > Agenda Item 3: How to Overcome the Political Crisis (power sharing). >> > Agenda Item 4: Tackling Long-term Issues. >> > >> > Agenda four addresses the long standing issues of Land, Equity and other >> > causative factors of ethnic violence ( PEV included). This does not >> screem >> > any politician's name, it simply means this so called Mantra of PEACE >> has >> > been used to cloud our collective psychie as a country. The problem with >> > this is that today you think Kenya is peaceful just because we are able >> to >> > drive around Nairobi and go for our nyama choma sessions in Naivasha or >> > Kajiado...what we forget is that so far we have no report on the Tana >> River >> > Violence, Baragoi Massacre, Garrisa and NE province violence, simmering >> > conflicts in Kwale and the entire coast...We are all glued to our TVs >> very >> > ready to embrace "PEACE" while conviniently avoiding the topics listed >> as >> > grievances... >> > >> > So Mr. Munyao, it is very critical that we begin to not use the >> > responsibility of Cyber use as a pannacea for all the ills facing the >> > country for ventilating we must late people ventilate..and the >> institutions >> > charged with these responsibilities must use the tones and trends of >> > discussion online to map out issues that need addressing...and The MEDIA >> > must be key here....The Agenda Four items will not address themselve >> and yet >> > it is these issues..longstanding that will slow down the currently >> raging >> > tribal sentiments on the internet. >> > >> > My thoughts, >> > >> > On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 11:55 AM, Brian Munyao Longwe < >> blongwe(a)gmail.com> >> > wrote: >> >> >> >> Please excuse my ignorance but in responding to Emmanuel's input I >> don't >> >> see the relationship between media's black out on politicians and the >> >> insanity on social media. >> >> >> >> Let's put this in context - the media blackout affects a select few - >> the >> >> political elite who are looking for a platform to push their own >> personal >> >> and political agendas. The blackout has to a certain extent protected >> >> Kenyans from their inflammatory statements. >> >> >> >> On the other hand, the social media activity involves hundreds, if not >> >> thousands of individuals who are expressing their personal opinions (as >> >> negative and unsavoury as those might be). I place emphasis here on >> >> *expressing their opinion*. The fact that they are using social media >> as one >> >> of the channels where their opinion gets aired is simply that, a >> matter of >> >> fact. I am sure that they express the same opinion in their homes, over >> >> their phones, in their hair salons, bars, classrooms, gyms etc...This >> is >> >> because the opinion belongs to them. >> >> >> >> Let us not be naive and try to separate the opinion from the individual >> >> behind it. That to me, is the more important issue. A tribal tirade on >> >> social media is indicative of a tribal opinion held by an individual >> with >> >> tribal beliefs. Solve the basic problem of promoting Kenyanness, unity >> and a >> >> non-tribal outlook and I believe that strides begin to be made towards >> >> solving the problem. >> >> >> >> My two cents, >> >> >> >> Brian >> >> >> >> On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 10:08 AM, Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.ca> wrote: >> >> >> >> John F. Kennedy - “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will >> >> make violent revolution inevitable” >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> From: Emmanuel Khisa [mailto:oloo.khisa@googlemail.com] >> >> Sent: March 19, 2013 9:50 AM >> >> To: Edith Adera >> >> Cc: oloo.khisa(a)gmail.com; KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum; KICTAnet ICT >> >> Policy Discussions >> >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Cyber Cop >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> +1, >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Indeed cyber responsiblilty is not a standalone initiative...cyber >> >> exists as a channel for expressing the societal views and does not >> therefore >> >> exist on its on... >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> The day we realise that gagging the traditional media does not work in >> >> the 21st century internet age we will start making steps to tackle the >> >> difficult issues the SOUL of the country is struggling with. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> We can make noise about responsible internet use but for as long as the >> >> media blacks out channels of communications, blogsphere will remain >> the only >> >> media of expression for the populace... >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> IMHO we are a country that is quick to bury its head in the sand and >> now >> >> we are left with a simmering problem on Agenda 4 which remain >> unattended to >> >> and which is awaiting an opportune time to explode.. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Regard >> >> >> >> On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 9:09 AM, Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.ca> wrote: >> >> >> >> Bwana Ndemo, >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> As I reflected on your unenviable job as a “cyber cop” (watching you on >> >> The Trend last Friday) and stumbled on this article by Gaitho entitled >> “The >> >> demented postings on social media must stop before blood flows” >> >> http://www.nation.co.ke/blogs/-/446672/1723754/-/ee6vonz/-/index.html it >> >> occurred to me that we probably need something deeper, while we must >> address >> >> the madness online. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> You’re on record here advocating for policy/decision-making based on >> >> empirical/research evidence. I recall your spirited campaign about the >> >> Cancer Bill that MPs excitedly passed without the benefit of scientific >> >> evidence as to “the actual cause of cancers in Kenya”. You argued that >> you >> >> wished they did not get excited about addressing the symptoms of the >> >> problem, but the root cause. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> As you crack down on cyber haters (to address the symptoms of the >> >> problem), could we also ask ourselves a couple of questions (listers, >> feel >> >> free to add more questions) to get to the ROOT CAUSE of this ANGER: >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> *why are people so angry? >> >> >> >> *is this anger only in cyberspace? >> >> >> >> *If not, to what extent is it a reflection of simmering (unexpressed) >> >> anger on the ground? >> >> >> >> *what are the implications of unexpressed anger? >> >> >> >> *why are people comfortable to express such deep anger online and not >> >> offline? What are they afraid of? >> >> >> >> *How can long-lasting co-existence be achieved, once and for all? >> >> >> >> * etc etc etc >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Someone has work to do as we try to address the short-term symptoms – >> is >> >> it the academic community? or pollsters can have a post-election job >> to do? >> >> I don’t know, but the RROT CAUSE, we must find including the solutions. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Reflective Edith >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> kictanet mailing list >> >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> >> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> >> >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/oloo.khisa%40gmail.com >> >> >> >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >> >> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >> >> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >> >> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and >> development. >> >> >> >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >> >> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and >> bandwidth, >> >> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, >> do >> >> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> >> >> "Service to Mankind is the greatest form of service"... >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Oloo Khisa >> >> P.O. Box 24324-00100 >> >> Nairobi >> >> 0721321086/0731849128 >> >> http://ke.linkedin.com/in/olookhisa >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> kictanet mailing list >> >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> >> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> >> >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/blongwe%40gmail.com >> >> >> >> >> >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >> >> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >> >> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >> >> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and >> development. >> >> >> >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >> >> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and >> bandwidth, >> >> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, >> do >> >> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> kictanet mailing list >> >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> >> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> >> >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/oloo.khisa%40gmail.com >> >> >> >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >> >> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >> >> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >> >> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and >> development. >> >> >> >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >> >> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and >> bandwidth, >> >> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, >> do >> >> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > -- >> > >> > "Service to Mankind is the greatest form of service"... >> > >> > >> > >> > Oloo Khisa >> > P.O. Box 24324-00100 >> > Nairobi >> > 0721321086/0731849128 >> > http://ke.linkedin.com/in/olookhisa >> > >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > kictanet mailing list >> > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> > >> > Unsubscribe or change your options at >> > >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/nmutungu%40gmail.com >> > >> > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >> for >> > people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >> > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >> > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and >> development. >> > >> > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >> > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and >> bandwidth, >> > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, >> do >> > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> > >> > >> > >> >-- >> >Grace L.N. Mutung'u (Bomu) >> >Kenya >> >Skype: gracebomu >> >Twitter: @Bomu >> >Website: http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu >> > >> >_______________________________________________ >> >kictanet mailing list >> >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> >https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> > >> >Unsubscribe or change your options at >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/memakunat%40yahoo.com >> > >> >The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >> > >> >KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/blongwe%40gmail.com >> >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >> >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.

4 3

Re: [kictanet] Cyber Cop
by meshack emakunat 19 Mar '13

19 Mar '13

Just for thought Egypt shut down internet during the Arab uprising in 2011. ------------------------------ On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 5:21 AM PDT Grace Mutung'u (Bomu) wrote: >Brian, >I agree with you that the insanity on social media has gone beyond >mere expression or opinion. The gloves are so off. There are too many >instances where people are commenting without regard for the rights >and reputations of others. It is as if the various camps have brought >out their best propaganda machinery...and it keeps getting nastier as >the election/ petition proceeds. And the intolerance! Why on earth do >we have to abuse someone for their opinion? Didn't our foreparents >fight so hard for plurality? > >On agenda four, maybe we missed the bus at the truth and >reconciliation stop. But all is not lost and it is just wrong for >people to keep stirring ethnic/sectarian emotions in the name of >communal anger. Haven't we always been angry? Why is the anger more >urgent now? > >Action should be taken towards those inciting others. I agree with >Macharia Gaitho, someone needs to stop this social media violence! > > > > >2013/3/19 Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com>: >> Emmanuel, >> >> Thanks for setting me straight, this is clear evidence of the ignorance I >> alluded to as I began my previous post :) >> >> On a more serious note and once again, thank you so much for bringing this >> out, Agenda Four is a very critical part of our Nationhood. As you have >> pointed out, the media might seem to have lost focus, forgotten or ignored >> it's importance. >> >> But on issues of such grave importance as the Agenda Four - couldn't it also >> be argued that all stakeholders have failed in their roles? >> >> The two principals >> International Civil Society >> Local Civil Society >> Various relevant organs of Government >> Legal Fraternity >> Media Houses >> >> Best regards, >> >> >> Brian >> >> On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 12:24 PM, Emmanuel Khisa <oloo.khisa(a)googlemail.com> >> wrote: >> >> Hi Brian, >> >> I did not refer to blackout on politicians. >> >> The media has been failing in their role as interrogators of the deeper >> issues of Agenda four...Please note the following as regards the national >> accord: >> >> The National Accord >> >> The two parties agreed to tackle four main agenda items to end the >> political crisis and address its underlying causes. >> >> Agenda Item 1: Immediate Action to Stop Violence and Restore Fundamental >> Rights. >> Agenda Item 2: Addressing the Humanitarian Crisis, and Promoting Healing >> and Reconciliation. >> Agenda Item 3: How to Overcome the Political Crisis (power sharing). >> Agenda Item 4: Tackling Long-term Issues. >> >> Agenda four addresses the long standing issues of Land, Equity and other >> causative factors of ethnic violence ( PEV included). This does not screem >> any politician's name, it simply means this so called Mantra of PEACE has >> been used to cloud our collective psychie as a country. The problem with >> this is that today you think Kenya is peaceful just because we are able to >> drive around Nairobi and go for our nyama choma sessions in Naivasha or >> Kajiado...what we forget is that so far we have no report on the Tana River >> Violence, Baragoi Massacre, Garrisa and NE province violence, simmering >> conflicts in Kwale and the entire coast...We are all glued to our TVs very >> ready to embrace "PEACE" while conviniently avoiding the topics listed as >> grievances... >> >> So Mr. Munyao, it is very critical that we begin to not use the >> responsibility of Cyber use as a pannacea for all the ills facing the >> country for ventilating we must late people ventilate..and the institutions >> charged with these responsibilities must use the tones and trends of >> discussion online to map out issues that need addressing...and The MEDIA >> must be key here....The Agenda Four items will not address themselve and yet >> it is these issues..longstanding that will slow down the currently raging >> tribal sentiments on the internet. >> >> My thoughts, >> >> On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 11:55 AM, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com> >> wrote: >>> >>> Please excuse my ignorance but in responding to Emmanuel's input I don't >>> see the relationship between media's black out on politicians and the >>> insanity on social media. >>> >>> Let's put this in context - the media blackout affects a select few - the >>> political elite who are looking for a platform to push their own personal >>> and political agendas. The blackout has to a certain extent protected >>> Kenyans from their inflammatory statements. >>> >>> On the other hand, the social media activity involves hundreds, if not >>> thousands of individuals who are expressing their personal opinions (as >>> negative and unsavoury as those might be). I place emphasis here on >>> *expressing their opinion*. The fact that they are using social media as one >>> of the channels where their opinion gets aired is simply that, a matter of >>> fact. I am sure that they express the same opinion in their homes, over >>> their phones, in their hair salons, bars, classrooms, gyms etc...This is >>> because the opinion belongs to them. >>> >>> Let us not be naive and try to separate the opinion from the individual >>> behind it. That to me, is the more important issue. A tribal tirade on >>> social media is indicative of a tribal opinion held by an individual with >>> tribal beliefs. Solve the basic problem of promoting Kenyanness, unity and a >>> non-tribal outlook and I believe that strides begin to be made towards >>> solving the problem. >>> >>> My two cents, >>> >>> Brian >>> >>> On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 10:08 AM, Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.ca> wrote: >>> >>> John F. Kennedy - “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will >>> make violent revolution inevitable” >>> >>> >>> >>> From: Emmanuel Khisa [mailto:oloo.khisa@googlemail.com] >>> Sent: March 19, 2013 9:50 AM >>> To: Edith Adera >>> Cc: oloo.khisa(a)gmail.com; KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum; KICTAnet ICT >>> Policy Discussions >>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Cyber Cop >>> >>> >>> >>> +1, >>> >>> >>> >>> Indeed cyber responsiblilty is not a standalone initiative...cyber >>> exists as a channel for expressing the societal views and does not therefore >>> exist on its on... >>> >>> >>> >>> The day we realise that gagging the traditional media does not work in >>> the 21st century internet age we will start making steps to tackle the >>> difficult issues the SOUL of the country is struggling with. >>> >>> >>> >>> We can make noise about responsible internet use but for as long as the >>> media blacks out channels of communications, blogsphere will remain the only >>> media of expression for the populace... >>> >>> >>> >>> IMHO we are a country that is quick to bury its head in the sand and now >>> we are left with a simmering problem on Agenda 4 which remain unattended to >>> and which is awaiting an opportune time to explode.. >>> >>> >>> >>> Regard >>> >>> On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 9:09 AM, Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.ca> wrote: >>> >>> Bwana Ndemo, >>> >>> >>> >>> As I reflected on your unenviable job as a “cyber cop” (watching you on >>> The Trend last Friday) and stumbled on this article by Gaitho entitled “The >>> demented postings on social media must stop before blood flows” >>> http://www.nation.co.ke/blogs/-/446672/1723754/-/ee6vonz/-/index.html it >>> occurred to me that we probably need something deeper, while we must address >>> the madness online. >>> >>> >>> >>> You’re on record here advocating for policy/decision-making based on >>> empirical/research evidence. I recall your spirited campaign about the >>> Cancer Bill that MPs excitedly passed without the benefit of scientific >>> evidence as to “the actual cause of cancers in Kenya”. You argued that you >>> wished they did not get excited about addressing the symptoms of the >>> problem, but the root cause. >>> >>> >>> >>> As you crack down on cyber haters (to address the symptoms of the >>> problem), could we also ask ourselves a couple of questions (listers, feel >>> free to add more questions) to get to the ROOT CAUSE of this ANGER: >>> >>> >>> >>> *why are people so angry? >>> >>> *is this anger only in cyberspace? >>> >>> *If not, to what extent is it a reflection of simmering (unexpressed) >>> anger on the ground? >>> >>> *what are the implications of unexpressed anger? >>> >>> *why are people comfortable to express such deep anger online and not >>> offline? What are they afraid of? >>> >>> *How can long-lasting co-existence be achieved, once and for all? >>> >>> * etc etc etc >>> >>> >>> >>> Someone has work to do as we try to address the short-term symptoms – is >>> it the academic community? or pollsters can have a post-election job to do? >>> I don’t know, but the RROT CAUSE, we must find including the solutions. >>> >>> >>> >>> Reflective Edith >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/oloo.khisa%40gmail.com >>> >>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>> >>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> "Service to Mankind is the greatest form of service"... >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Oloo Khisa >>> P.O. Box 24324-00100 >>> Nairobi >>> 0721321086/0731849128 >>> http://ke.linkedin.com/in/olookhisa >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/blongwe%40gmail.com >>> >>> >>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>> >>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/oloo.khisa%40gmail.com >>> >>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>> >>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> "Service to Mankind is the greatest form of service"... >> >> >> >> Oloo Khisa >> P.O. Box 24324-00100 >> Nairobi >> 0721321086/0731849128 >> http://ke.linkedin.com/in/olookhisa >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/nmutungu%40gmail.com >> >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for >> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >> >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > > > >-- >Grace L.N. Mutung'u (Bomu) >Kenya >Skype: gracebomu >Twitter: @Bomu >Website: http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/memakunat%40yahoo.com > >The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > >KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.

3 2

Re: [kictanet] Cyber Cop
by meshack emakunat 19 Mar '13

19 Mar '13

Just for thought Egypt shut down internet during the Arab uprising in 2011. ------------------------------ On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 5:21 AM PDT Grace Mutung'u (Bomu) wrote: >Brian, >I agree with you that the insanity on social media has gone beyond >mere expression or opinion. The gloves are so off. There are too many >instances where people are commenting without regard for the rights >and reputations of others. It is as if the various camps have brought >out their best propaganda machinery...and it keeps getting nastier as >the election/ petition proceeds. And the intolerance! Why on earth do >we have to abuse someone for their opinion? Didn't our foreparents >fight so hard for plurality? > >On agenda four, maybe we missed the bus at the truth and >reconciliation stop. But all is not lost and it is just wrong for >people to keep stirring ethnic/sectarian emotions in the name of >communal anger. Haven't we always been angry? Why is the anger more >urgent now? > >Action should be taken towards those inciting others. I agree with >Macharia Gaitho, someone needs to stop this social media violence! > > > > >2013/3/19 Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com>: >> Emmanuel, >> >> Thanks for setting me straight, this is clear evidence of the ignorance I >> alluded to as I began my previous post :) >> >> On a more serious note and once again, thank you so much for bringing this >> out, Agenda Four is a very critical part of our Nationhood. As you have >> pointed out, the media might seem to have lost focus, forgotten or ignored >> it's importance. >> >> But on issues of such grave importance as the Agenda Four - couldn't it also >> be argued that all stakeholders have failed in their roles? >> >> The two principals >> International Civil Society >> Local Civil Society >> Various relevant organs of Government >> Legal Fraternity >> Media Houses >> >> Best regards, >> >> >> Brian >> >> On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 12:24 PM, Emmanuel Khisa <oloo.khisa(a)googlemail.com> >> wrote: >> >> Hi Brian, >> >> I did not refer to blackout on politicians. >> >> The media has been failing in their role as interrogators of the deeper >> issues of Agenda four...Please note the following as regards the national >> accord: >> >> The National Accord >> >> The two parties agreed to tackle four main agenda items to end the >> political crisis and address its underlying causes. >> >> Agenda Item 1: Immediate Action to Stop Violence and Restore Fundamental >> Rights. >> Agenda Item 2: Addressing the Humanitarian Crisis, and Promoting Healing >> and Reconciliation. >> Agenda Item 3: How to Overcome the Political Crisis (power sharing). >> Agenda Item 4: Tackling Long-term Issues. >> >> Agenda four addresses the long standing issues of Land, Equity and other >> causative factors of ethnic violence ( PEV included). This does not screem >> any politician's name, it simply means this so called Mantra of PEACE has >> been used to cloud our collective psychie as a country. The problem with >> this is that today you think Kenya is peaceful just because we are able to >> drive around Nairobi and go for our nyama choma sessions in Naivasha or >> Kajiado...what we forget is that so far we have no report on the Tana River >> Violence, Baragoi Massacre, Garrisa and NE province violence, simmering >> conflicts in Kwale and the entire coast...We are all glued to our TVs very >> ready to embrace "PEACE" while conviniently avoiding the topics listed as >> grievances... >> >> So Mr. Munyao, it is very critical that we begin to not use the >> responsibility of Cyber use as a pannacea for all the ills facing the >> country for ventilating we must late people ventilate..and the institutions >> charged with these responsibilities must use the tones and trends of >> discussion online to map out issues that need addressing...and The MEDIA >> must be key here....The Agenda Four items will not address themselve and yet >> it is these issues..longstanding that will slow down the currently raging >> tribal sentiments on the internet. >> >> My thoughts, >> >> On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 11:55 AM, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com> >> wrote: >>> >>> Please excuse my ignorance but in responding to Emmanuel's input I don't >>> see the relationship between media's black out on politicians and the >>> insanity on social media. >>> >>> Let's put this in context - the media blackout affects a select few - the >>> political elite who are looking for a platform to push their own personal >>> and political agendas. The blackout has to a certain extent protected >>> Kenyans from their inflammatory statements. >>> >>> On the other hand, the social media activity involves hundreds, if not >>> thousands of individuals who are expressing their personal opinions (as >>> negative and unsavoury as those might be). I place emphasis here on >>> *expressing their opinion*. The fact that they are using social media as one >>> of the channels where their opinion gets aired is simply that, a matter of >>> fact. I am sure that they express the same opinion in their homes, over >>> their phones, in their hair salons, bars, classrooms, gyms etc...This is >>> because the opinion belongs to them. >>> >>> Let us not be naive and try to separate the opinion from the individual >>> behind it. That to me, is the more important issue. A tribal tirade on >>> social media is indicative of a tribal opinion held by an individual with >>> tribal beliefs. Solve the basic problem of promoting Kenyanness, unity and a >>> non-tribal outlook and I believe that strides begin to be made towards >>> solving the problem. >>> >>> My two cents, >>> >>> Brian >>> >>> On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 10:08 AM, Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.ca> wrote: >>> >>> John F. Kennedy - “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will >>> make violent revolution inevitable” >>> >>> >>> >>> From: Emmanuel Khisa [mailto:oloo.khisa@googlemail.com] >>> Sent: March 19, 2013 9:50 AM >>> To: Edith Adera >>> Cc: oloo.khisa(a)gmail.com; KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum; KICTAnet ICT >>> Policy Discussions >>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Cyber Cop >>> >>> >>> >>> +1, >>> >>> >>> >>> Indeed cyber responsiblilty is not a standalone initiative...cyber >>> exists as a channel for expressing the societal views and does not therefore >>> exist on its on... >>> >>> >>> >>> The day we realise that gagging the traditional media does not work in >>> the 21st century internet age we will start making steps to tackle the >>> difficult issues the SOUL of the country is struggling with. >>> >>> >>> >>> We can make noise about responsible internet use but for as long as the >>> media blacks out channels of communications, blogsphere will remain the only >>> media of expression for the populace... >>> >>> >>> >>> IMHO we are a country that is quick to bury its head in the sand and now >>> we are left with a simmering problem on Agenda 4 which remain unattended to >>> and which is awaiting an opportune time to explode.. >>> >>> >>> >>> Regard >>> >>> On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 9:09 AM, Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.ca> wrote: >>> >>> Bwana Ndemo, >>> >>> >>> >>> As I reflected on your unenviable job as a “cyber cop” (watching you on >>> The Trend last Friday) and stumbled on this article by Gaitho entitled “The >>> demented postings on social media must stop before blood flows” >>> http://www.nation.co.ke/blogs/-/446672/1723754/-/ee6vonz/-/index.html it >>> occurred to me that we probably need something deeper, while we must address >>> the madness online. >>> >>> >>> >>> You’re on record here advocating for policy/decision-making based on >>> empirical/research evidence. I recall your spirited campaign about the >>> Cancer Bill that MPs excitedly passed without the benefit of scientific >>> evidence as to “the actual cause of cancers in Kenya”. You argued that you >>> wished they did not get excited about addressing the symptoms of the >>> problem, but the root cause. >>> >>> >>> >>> As you crack down on cyber haters (to address the symptoms of the >>> problem), could we also ask ourselves a couple of questions (listers, feel >>> free to add more questions) to get to the ROOT CAUSE of this ANGER: >>> >>> >>> >>> *why are people so angry? >>> >>> *is this anger only in cyberspace? >>> >>> *If not, to what extent is it a reflection of simmering (unexpressed) >>> anger on the ground? >>> >>> *what are the implications of unexpressed anger? >>> >>> *why are people comfortable to express such deep anger online and not >>> offline? What are they afraid of? >>> >>> *How can long-lasting co-existence be achieved, once and for all? >>> >>> * etc etc etc >>> >>> >>> >>> Someone has work to do as we try to address the short-term symptoms – is >>> it the academic community? or pollsters can have a post-election job to do? >>> I don’t know, but the RROT CAUSE, we must find including the solutions. >>> >>> >>> >>> Reflective Edith >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/oloo.khisa%40gmail.com >>> >>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>> >>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> "Service to Mankind is the greatest form of service"... >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Oloo Khisa >>> P.O. Box 24324-00100 >>> Nairobi >>> 0721321086/0731849128 >>> http://ke.linkedin.com/in/olookhisa >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/blongwe%40gmail.com >>> >>> >>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>> >>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/oloo.khisa%40gmail.com >>> >>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>> >>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> "Service to Mankind is the greatest form of service"... >> >> >> >> Oloo Khisa >> P.O. Box 24324-00100 >> Nairobi >> 0721321086/0731849128 >> http://ke.linkedin.com/in/olookhisa >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/nmutungu%40gmail.com >> >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for >> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >> >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > > > >-- >Grace L.N. Mutung'u (Bomu) >Kenya >Skype: gracebomu >Twitter: @Bomu >Website: http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/memakunat%40yahoo.com > >The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > >KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.

2 1

Re: [kictanet] Cyber Cop
by Brian Munyao Longwe 19 Mar '13

19 Mar '13

Emmanuel, Thanks for setting me straight, this is clear evidence of the ignorance I alluded to as I began my previous post :) On a more serious note and once again, thank you so much for bringing this out, Agenda Four is a very critical part of our Nationhood. As you have pointed out, the media might seem to have lost focus, forgotten or ignored it's importance. But on issues of such grave importance as the Agenda Four - couldn't it also be argued that all stakeholders have failed in their roles? - The two principals - International Civil Society - Local Civil Society - Various relevant organs of Government - Legal Fraternity - Media Houses Best regards, Brian On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 12:24 PM, Emmanuel Khisa <oloo.khisa(a)googlemail.com>wrote: > Hi Brian, > > I did not refer to blackout on politicians. > > The media has been failing in their role as interrogators of the deeper > issues of Agenda four...Please note the following as regards the national > accord: > > The National Accord > > The two parties agreed to tackle four main agenda items to end the > political crisis and address its underlying causes. > > - Agenda Item 1: Immediate Action to Stop Violence and Restore > Fundamental Rights. > - Agenda Item 2: Addressing the Humanitarian Crisis, and Promoting > Healing and Reconciliation. > - Agenda Item 3: How to Overcome the Political Crisis (power sharing). > - Agenda Item 4: Tackling Long-term Issues. > - > > Agenda four addresses the long standing issues of Land, Equity and other > causative factors of ethnic violence ( PEV included). This does not screem > any politician's name, it simply means this so called Mantra of PEACE has > been used to cloud our collective psychie as a country. The problem with > this is that today you think Kenya is peaceful just because we are able to > drive around Nairobi and go for our nyama choma sessions in Naivasha or > Kajiado...what we forget is that so far we have no report on the Tana River > Violence, Baragoi Massacre, Garrisa and NE province violence, simmering > conflicts in Kwale and the entire coast...We are all glued to our TVs very > ready to embrace "PEACE" while conviniently avoiding the topics listed as > grievances... > > So Mr. Munyao, it is very critical that we begin to not use the > responsibility of Cyber use as a pannacea for all the ills facing the > country for ventilating we must late people ventilate..and the institutions > charged with these responsibilities must use the tones and trends of > discussion online to map out issues that need addressing...and The MEDIA > must be key here....The Agenda Four items will not address themselve and > yet it is these issues..longstanding that will slow down the currently > raging tribal sentiments on the internet. > > My thoughts, > > On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 11:55 AM, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com>wrote: > >> Please excuse my ignorance but in responding to Emmanuel's input I don't >> see the relationship between media's black out on politicians and the >> insanity on social media. >> >> Let's put this in context - the media blackout affects a select few - the >> political elite who are looking for a platform to push their own personal >> and political agendas. The blackout has to a certain extent protected >> Kenyans from their inflammatory statements. >> >> On the other hand, the social media activity involves hundreds, if not >> thousands of individuals who are expressing their personal opinions (as >> negative and unsavoury as those might be). I place emphasis here on >> *expressing their opinion*. The fact that they are using social media as >> one of the channels where their opinion gets aired is simply that, a matter >> of fact. I am sure that they express the same opinion in their homes, over >> their phones, in their hair salons, bars, classrooms, gyms etc...This is >> because the opinion belongs to them. >> >> Let us not be naive and try to separate the opinion from the individual >> behind it. That to me, is the more important issue. A tribal tirade on >> social media is indicative of a tribal opinion held by an individual with >> tribal beliefs. Solve the basic problem of promoting Kenyanness, unity and >> a non-tribal outlook and I believe that strides begin to be made towards >> solving the problem. >> >> My two cents, >> >> Brian >> >> On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 10:08 AM, Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.ca> wrote: >> >>> John F. Kennedy - “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will >>> make violent revolution inevitable”**** >>> >>> ** ** >>> >>> *From:* Emmanuel Khisa [mailto:oloo.khisa@googlemail.com] >>> *Sent:* March 19, 2013 9:50 AM >>> *To:* Edith Adera >>> *Cc:* oloo.khisa(a)gmail.com; KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum; KICTAnet >>> ICT Policy Discussions >>> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Cyber Cop**** >>> >>> ** ** >>> >>> +1,**** >>> >>> **** >>> >>> Indeed cyber responsiblilty is not a standalone initiative...cyber >>> exists as a channel for expressing the societal views and does not >>> therefore exist on its on...**** >>> >>> **** >>> >>> The day we realise that gagging the traditional media does not work in >>> the 21st century internet age we will start making steps to tackle the >>> difficult issues the SOUL of the country is struggling with.**** >>> >>> **** >>> >>> We can make noise about responsible internet use but for as long as the >>> media blacks out channels of communications, blogsphere will remain the >>> only media of expression for the populace...**** >>> >>> **** >>> >>> IMHO we are a country that is quick to bury its head in the sand and now >>> we are left with a simmering problem on Agenda 4 which remain unattended to >>> and which is awaiting an opportune time to explode..**** >>> >>> **** >>> >>> Regard**** >>> >>> On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 9:09 AM, Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.ca> wrote:**** >>> >>> Bwana Ndemo,**** >>> >>> **** >>> >>> As I reflected on your unenviable job as a “cyber cop” (watching you on >>> The Trend last Friday) and stumbled on this article by Gaitho entitled “The >>> demented postings on social media must stop before blood flows” >>> http://www.nation.co.ke/blogs/-/446672/1723754/-/ee6vonz/-/index.html >>> it occurred to me that we probably need something deeper, while we must >>> address the madness online.**** >>> >>> **** >>> >>> You’re on record here advocating for policy/decision-making based on >>> empirical/research evidence. I recall your spirited campaign about the >>> Cancer Bill that MPs excitedly passed without the benefit of scientific >>> evidence as to “the actual cause of cancers in Kenya”. You argued that you >>> wished they did not get excited about addressing the symptoms of the >>> problem, but the root cause.**** >>> >>> **** >>> >>> As you crack down on cyber haters (to address the *symptoms* of the >>> problem), could we also ask ourselves a couple of questions (listers, feel >>> free to add more questions) to get to the ROOT CAUSE of this ANGER:**** >>> >>> **** >>> >>> *why are people so angry? **** >>> >>> *is this anger only in cyberspace? **** >>> >>> *If not, to what extent is it a reflection of simmering (unexpressed) >>> anger on the ground?**** >>> >>> *what are the implications of unexpressed anger?**** >>> >>> *why are people comfortable to express such deep anger online and not >>> offline? What are they afraid of?**** >>> >>> *How can long-lasting co-existence be achieved, once and for all?**** >>> >>> * etc etc etc**** >>> >>> **** >>> >>> Someone has work to do as we try to address the short-term symptoms – is >>> it the academic community? or pollsters can have a post-election job to do? >>> I don’t know, but the RROT CAUSE, we must find including the solutions.* >>> *** >>> >>> **** >>> >>> Reflective Edith**** >>> >>> **** >>> >>> **** >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/oloo.khisa%40gmail.com >>> >>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>> >>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.**** >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- **** >>> "Service to Mankind is the greatest form of service"...**** ** ** >>> >>> * >>> Oloo Khisa >>> P.O. Box 24324-00100 >>> Nairobi >>> 0721321086/0731849128 >>> http://ke.linkedin.com/in/olookhisa***** >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/blongwe%40gmail.com >>> >>> >>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >>> >>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/oloo.khisa%40gmail.com >> >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >> >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> > > > > -- > "Service to Mankind is the greatest form of service"... > * > Oloo Khisa > P.O. Box 24324-00100 > Nairobi > 0721321086/0731849128 > http://ke.linkedin.com/in/olookhisa* >

3 2

Re: [kictanet] Cyber Cop
by meshack emakunat 19 Mar '13

19 Mar '13

Interesting, you are right Bwana Ndemo there is just to much simmering anger among us and just for better expression of my point I will use a phrase that was coined from a previous thread "false peace" and the concept that the media has functioned on two extreme ends freedom and suppression. The fact that we express ourselves and how we feel on the social media no matter how negative our sentiments are, is that we are "slapped" by the false peace when we try to express ourselves offline. I would say that the root cause of this problem is not all the sentiments raised on the platform of social media but rather the fact that we Kenyans have failed in the sense of civic education(we need to know that the leadership that is mostly the theme in such social media discussion is not enshrined on a person rather the office eg-president and presidency ) The truth I may say is that we Kenyans assume that the country cannot run without the highest office legislature yet we know that the executive is separated from the legislature to some point ie the public service can function without the later. A concept that failed to be understood much in 2007-2008. People become so over relient on the election and the public service becomes swallowed in politics that it becomes almost irrelevant in government functioning during this time -the like of 2007-08. In my view this very much manifest itself in social media when the same people cannot differentiate between the person and the office.(people think that if there candidate takes office then they will be favoured more than the rest hence hate) we need to separate our thoughts from nepotism tribalism and the likes. Social media only exposes the ignorance of the people. And these can be done through civic education. Please remember, to understand these look at it as addressing the disease rather than the symptoms ------------------------------ On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 12:08 AM PDT Edith Adera wrote: >John F. Kennedy - "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable" > >From: Emmanuel Khisa [mailto:oloo.khisa@googlemail.com] >Sent: March 19, 2013 9:50 AM >To: Edith Adera >Cc: oloo.khisa(a)gmail.com; KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >Subject: Re: [kictanet] Cyber Cop > >+1, > >Indeed cyber responsiblilty is not a standalone initiative...cyber exists as a channel for expressing the societal views and does not therefore exist on its on... > >The day we realise that gagging the traditional media does not work in the 21st century internet age we will start making steps to tackle the difficult issues the SOUL of the country is struggling with. > >We can make noise about responsible internet use but for as long as the media blacks out channels of communications, blogsphere will remain the only media of expression for the populace... > >IMHO we are a country that is quick to bury its head in the sand and now we are left with a simmering problem on Agenda 4 which remain unattended to and which is awaiting an opportune time to explode.. > >Regard >On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 9:09 AM, Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.ca<mailto:eadera@idrc.ca> wrote: >Bwana Ndemo, > >As I reflected on your unenviable job as a "cyber cop" (watching you on The Trend last Friday) and stumbled on this article by Gaitho entitled "The demented postings on social media must stop before blood flows" http://www.nation.co.ke/blogs/-/446672/1723754/-/ee6vonz/-/index.html it occurred to me that we probably need something deeper, while we must address the madness online. > >You're on record here advocating for policy/decision-making based on empirical/research evidence. I recall your spirited campaign about the Cancer Bill that MPs excitedly passed without the benefit of scientific evidence as to "the actual cause of cancers in Kenya". You argued that you wished they did not get excited about addressing the symptoms of the problem, but the root cause. > >As you crack down on cyber haters (to address the symptoms of the problem), could we also ask ourselves a couple of questions (listers, feel free to add more questions) to get to the ROOT CAUSE of this ANGER: > >*why are people so angry? >*is this anger only in cyberspace? >*If not, to what extent is it a reflection of simmering (unexpressed) anger on the ground? >*what are the implications of unexpressed anger? >*why are people comfortable to express such deep anger online and not offline? What are they afraid of? >*How can long-lasting co-existence be achieved, once and for all? >* etc etc etc > >Someone has work to do as we try to address the short-term symptoms - is it the academic community? or pollsters can have a post-election job to do? I don't know, but the RROT CAUSE, we must find including the solutions. > >Reflective Edith > > > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> >https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/oloo.khisa%40gmail.com > >The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > >KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > > > >-- >"Service to Mankind is the greatest form of service"... > > >Oloo Khisa >P.O. Box 24324-00100 >Nairobi >0721321086/0731849128 >http://ke.linkedin.com/in/olookhisa

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Re: [kictanet] Cyber Cop
by Edith Adera 19 Mar '13

19 Mar '13

John F. Kennedy - "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable" From: Emmanuel Khisa [mailto:oloo.khisa@googlemail.com] Sent: March 19, 2013 9:50 AM To: Edith Adera Cc: oloo.khisa(a)gmail.com; KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Cyber Cop +1, Indeed cyber responsiblilty is not a standalone initiative...cyber exists as a channel for expressing the societal views and does not therefore exist on its on... The day we realise that gagging the traditional media does not work in the 21st century internet age we will start making steps to tackle the difficult issues the SOUL of the country is struggling with. We can make noise about responsible internet use but for as long as the media blacks out channels of communications, blogsphere will remain the only media of expression for the populace... IMHO we are a country that is quick to bury its head in the sand and now we are left with a simmering problem on Agenda 4 which remain unattended to and which is awaiting an opportune time to explode.. Regard On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 9:09 AM, Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.ca<mailto:eadera@idrc.ca>> wrote: Bwana Ndemo, As I reflected on your unenviable job as a "cyber cop" (watching you on The Trend last Friday) and stumbled on this article by Gaitho entitled "The demented postings on social media must stop before blood flows" http://www.nation.co.ke/blogs/-/446672/1723754/-/ee6vonz/-/index.html it occurred to me that we probably need something deeper, while we must address the madness online. You're on record here advocating for policy/decision-making based on empirical/research evidence. I recall your spirited campaign about the Cancer Bill that MPs excitedly passed without the benefit of scientific evidence as to "the actual cause of cancers in Kenya". You argued that you wished they did not get excited about addressing the symptoms of the problem, but the root cause. As you crack down on cyber haters (to address the symptoms of the problem), could we also ask ourselves a couple of questions (listers, feel free to add more questions) to get to the ROOT CAUSE of this ANGER: *why are people so angry? *is this anger only in cyberspace? *If not, to what extent is it a reflection of simmering (unexpressed) anger on the ground? *what are the implications of unexpressed anger? *why are people comfortable to express such deep anger online and not offline? What are they afraid of? *How can long-lasting co-existence be achieved, once and for all? * etc etc etc Someone has work to do as we try to address the short-term symptoms - is it the academic community? or pollsters can have a post-election job to do? I don't know, but the RROT CAUSE, we must find including the solutions. Reflective Edith _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/oloo.khisa%40gmail.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. -- "Service to Mankind is the greatest form of service"... Oloo Khisa P.O. Box 24324-00100 Nairobi 0721321086/0731849128 http://ke.linkedin.com/in/olookhisa

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#140Friday talking point: How important is the human factor in IT System implementation?
by Brian Munyao Longwe 19 Mar '13

19 Mar '13

#140friday <http://140friday.com> » How important is the human factor in IT system implementation? March 18, 2013 How important is the human factor in IT system implementation? In #140Friday over the past several days we have been discussing issues and challenges that face the implementation of IT systems, with special focus on “Public Service” IT systems. This attention has largely been triggered by the failure of Kenya’s Independent Election and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Results Transmission System (RTS). Last week #140Friday had a face-to-face meeting at the Nailab which brought together a diverse group of professionals from various backgrounds to discuss the subject. As the group talked about “what went wrong” and “what could have been done better” with regards to various Public IT systems one key point that consistently came up was the importance of the human factor. [image: godfinger]<http://140friday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/godfinger.jpg>Most IT system implementations apply project management techniques in order to have a higher success rate, better performance management, efficient management of time and resources and better communication amongst key stakeholders. But research and experience have shown that tools, processes and analytics only show about half of the picture, the most critical (and least obvious) is what we can call the “human factor”. All projects consist of people with needs, wants, desires, issues and time constraints. This “human factor” must be addressed in order to ensure higher levels of project success. As more details emerge about the IEBC RTS project it becomes evident that the human factor probably contribute to most, if not all of the problems that led to the projects failure. There appear to have been a number of blunders, both big as well as small which affected the entire process from beginning to end. Ranging from personal pride (or should we call it obstinacy?) amongst key members of IEBC top management, who turned away advice and offers of assistance to address problems that became evident weeks and months prior to the election. The lack of electricity at tallying and polling stations and the failure to take appropriate measures to ensure that electronics being used had stable power supply points to poor planning and preparation. The locations where tallying and polling stations would be located were known many months prior to the elections. It would have been a simple task to allocate a team the task of ensuring that there was reliable power in each and every room that would be used for the election, unfortunately this issue was never addressed or came to the fore too late for anything meaningful to be done about it. This is a perfect example of an oversight that comes as a result of the human factor. It has been humorously stated that all project failures have 6 phases: 1. Enthusiasm 2. Disillusionment 3. Panic 4. Search for the guilty 5. Punishment of the innocent 6. Praise and honors for the non-participants Interestingly enough, the IEBC RTS projects seems to be going through these phases with the entire country acting as judge, jury and executioner. While all the details are still not in the public domain, it is safe to say that this particular project shall go down in the annals of Kenyan ICT history as a classic example of how *NOT* to do things. Some recommendations on how to address human factor challenges (from Kim Resch “Using The Human Factor To Launch Products”) *Management Buy-In* 1. The larger the project the more management support is needed 2. Get and keep management involved in the right projects at the right time – don’t wear out your welcome 3. First thing, gain the clear understanding of the manager’s highest level goals and desires 4. On a regular basis meet one-on-one with management to up-date and ask for support 5. Meet with, face-to-face, each manager of each person assigned to the project – gain commitment 6. When priorities shift re-commit with all levels of management 7. Gain outward signs of approval & support from management *Team Dynamics* 1. Get to know each person on your team, including personal likes, interests, etc. & share about yourself too 2. Get buy-in – sell hard when necessary 3. Trust the people on your team and show them you trust them 4. Give them a chance to shine and get recognition – ‘relinquishing power’ 5. Define their strengths & weaknesses 6. Spend time explaining the importance of the project – to the bigger picture 7. Write thank-you notes and take time to have a snack/lunch with the team 8. Go out of your way to care and be personal 9. Never let family or the individual come second 10. And at the same time, push them through example and challenge them beyond what they think they can do *Essential Communications* 1. After leadership the second most important role you will play 2. Watch for issues, build-up and possible explosions – only way to know is via talking, seeing and sharing 3. E-mail is the scourge of proper and effective communications – great for documentation, horrible for getting the right out-come 4. Communicate often with the key team members and (on larger or fast projects, do so every day), with the larger circle of members at minimum weekly 5. Utilize all forms of communications 6. Involve upper management in formal & relaxed moments 7. Restate the mission, goals, business impact, etc. 8. At start of program develop a scope document that includes the business value and the ‘why it is important’ 9. Handwrite thank-you notes along the way *Convert Mountains into Molehills* 1. Obstacle remover 2. Work the team to bring expectations into alignment 3. Shut down gossip and trash-talk 4. Address problems head on – first to the immediate person then go up the chain 5. Clarify, define and bring into prospective 6. Feel the pain, but move beyond to the result – generate a positive outcome 7. When a person is blocking the project’s success, after attempts to correct the behavior, have them removed – nothing and no one is untouchable 8. Keep the mission visible and the end result alive 9. Don’t let scope creep & ‘fix all the ills of the business’, change the project’s desired result *Keep spirits up* 1. Utilize recognition & incentives 2. Non-cash rewards are better 3. Both team and individual rewards & recognition 4. Reward for each milestone or important result 5. Say thank you, in writing and in group settings 6. Hold up performers 7. Hold a kick-off meeting followed up with an activity 8. Reward positive behaviors openly, handle poor behaviors privately and one-on-one (use as a learning experience) 9. Get management to ‘stop by’ performing individuals’ cubes/offices or meetings to say ‘I heard and wanted to say…’ 10. Create performance legends & stories 11. The positive spirit begins with you *Velocity & Vision* 1. Determine upfront how much or little the specific project requires – the tools, tracking and formal processes 2. Create a vision the team can believe in, including how fast and why 3. Create a sense of urgency and action (if it can be done now then do it) 4. Important means speed – velocity only comes with a clear understanding of where you started and where you are going 5. Make it real, make it tangible 6. The pace of the leader sets the pace of the pack!

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Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections
by Edith Adera 19 Mar '13

19 Mar '13

Listers, For the 2007 elections, Bwana Ndemo is on record here (KICTANET) condemning the role of the media in fueling the violence. In 2013, the media played a different role. If you now reflect back - deep and hard - it occurred to me that the over-rated, over-hyped, over-done "call for peace" was actually a "tool of oppression"!! Why do I say this? Many a Kenyans found themselves speechless and voiceless....you were not given a chance to speak your mind, to question, to freely air your opinions or liberally reflect on the going ons. You were promptly slapped with the "peace call" which immediately silenced you! Why should I feel silenced by "a call for peace"? Our national anthem talks of "peace and liberty", what happened to "liberty" during this period? Most Kenyans locked themselves in their houses, scared stiff of the unknown. Reflecting back it was truly a "silence tool". In my view, what is going on in Kenya is God's birth of a NEW KENYA. It is NOT (and I repeat NOT) about THE WINNER or THE LOSERS (Do NOT get me wrong - I don't mind about that). It is about laying a NEW FOUNDATION for Kenya that is built on TRUTH (RIGHTEOUSNESS) and JUSTICE, especially during this Jubilee period (50 years of our existence as a nation as we enter into the next 50 years - the next Jubilee). >From now on, and as our national anthem aptly states, JUSTICE will truly be our SHIELD and DEFENDER. Sustainable peace (not FALSE PEACE) is built on the foundations of TRUTH (righteousness) and JUSTICE. Reflective Edith Quote: I should like to be able to love my country and still love justice (Albert Camus)

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Fwd: KEPSA ROLE OF BMO DEVELOPMENT (Kenya ICT Federation)
by Ali Hussein 18 Mar '13

18 Mar '13

> Dear listers > > As a member of KEPSA (Kenya Private Sector Alliance) I receive regular email updates on its activities. So it was with interest (and a sense of disconnect?) that I received this morning an email update on strengthening of BMOs (I think that stands for Business Membership Organizations). > > It seems like that KEPSA recognizes an organization called the Kenya ICT Federation (KIF) and gives it support as a stakeholder within KEPSA as a BMO. Please see attachment. > > The list has had some very heated and interesting discussions about an association that represents the ICT Sector from #140Friday discussions to how we can improve the Computer Society of Kenya to KITOS etc etc. > > How can we engage with KIF in a more substantive way? Who are the key stakeholders? Office Bearers etc. Anyone on the list with information on this please share. > > Thanks > > Ali Hussein > CEO | 3mice interactive media Ltd > Principal | Telemedia Africa Ltd > > +254 773/713 601113 > > "The future belongs to him who knows how to wait." - Russian Proverb > > Sent from my iPad > > Begin forwarded message: > >> From: "KEPSA CEO" <ceo(a)kepsa.or.ke> >> Date: March 18, 2013, 8:09:37 AM GMT+03:00 >> Cc: <pkagunda(a)kepsa.or.ke> >> Subject: KEPSA ROLE OF BMO DEVELOPMENT >> >> Dear Valuable Members, >> >> From 2005, KEPSA embarked on implementation of one of its key mandate of BMO development. We are pleased to share with you attached report giving an update on the engagement so far. >> >> Best regards. >> >> >> Carole Kariuki, HSC, MBS >> Chief Executive Officer >> Kenya Private Sector Alliance | 5th Flr, Shelter Afrique Building, Mamlaka Rd >> P.O Box 3556 - 00100 Nairobi >> Office: +254 20 2730371/2/2727936 | Fax: +254 20 2730374 >> Cell: 0720-340949, 0735-999979 >> Emaill: ceo(a)kepsa.or.ke >> www.kepsa.or.ke | In Pursuit of an Enabling Business Environment >> >> >> >>

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Internet Governance Forum Preliminary workshop proposal submission form is now online
by Alice Munyua 17 Mar '13

17 Mar '13

Dear All, The preliminary workshop proposal submission form is now online. Please visit: http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/proposals Best Alice

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Re: [kictanet] Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections
by meshack emakunat 16 Mar '13

16 Mar '13

------------------------------ On Fri, Mar 15, 2013 6:23 AM PDT Edith Adera wrote: >Bwana Ndemo, > >Why do you say " The problem therefore is not the government. The problem is US (sisi)." I did not talk about government. I talked about the media. why are you afraid? > >My argument was about OVER self-regulation of the media that they seem to operate at two different EXTREME ends in two different elections. You refer to it as "Freedom...................vs.................Suppression". This time the Kenyan media struggled, really struggled, to maintain a balance between these two extreme ends. > >We must maintain a balance and not "silence" people with false peace calls. > >Bwana Ndemo, where do you place your current campaign to fight cyber haters - who have gone overboard (and it needs to be tamed) and to crack down on international press along the continuum you used "Freedom...................vs.................Suppression"? > >Edith > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke [mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke] >Sent: March 11, 2013 7:08 PM >To: Edith Adera >Cc: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke; KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >Subject: Re: [kictanet] Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections > >Edith, >Answers to your questions lie in the Communications Amendment Act 2009 and the Media Act 2007. The two legal instruments were meant to streamline the Broadcast sector in this country and enable self-regulation of Media, diversity of opinion and a pluralist broadcast regime. Nowhere in these legislations that you find government curtailing freedom of speech. Many people including David were opposed to the implementation of these laws. >The subsidiary legislation supporting these laws were borrowed from The UK's communications regulator as well as from the Federal Communications Commission in the US word for word. > >The problem therefore is not the government. The problem is US (sisi). >Like you put it for Ghana we speak not with facts but opinion. Rumour spreads faster than anything in Africa simply because we do not have the culture of verifying things. There is nothing wrong in promoting peace if everybody seeks to understand the balance between freedom (liberty) and supression. In Britain for example, News of The World was closed down by the government. Was this suppression of speech? Every British citizens understood that the News Corp had become irresiponsible. > >For sure I know the Government wants to know (and I have been asked as to what may have gone wrong) exactly what went wrong with the IEBC systems. >The Ghanaian and Nigerian ones too had problems. If you recall, the systems were procured at the last minute even when IEBC had expressed desire to go manual due to lengthy procurement processes. The manufacturer hurriedly tried to meet the short deadlines. > >Even in this forum we are making opinions as if they are facts. It would help if we have some analyst give us the facts upon which we can advance our opinions. If you watched the US elections carefully, they were more into analytics and building trajectories that helped citizens understand. >Take for example four constituencies say, Kilome, Rarieda, Mathioya and Konoin. Knowing the trend in these constituencies, we could have very easily built a trajectory for all neighbouring constituencies using average turnout and registered voters. This will give you better insight to ask intelligent questions that will make great news than the way we handle such issues to the extent media would think it is propaganda. > >My point is that we had far too much data to make great stories that do not point to violence or hate message. No mews media that can dismiss a good argument and especially when it is different fresh and logical. In essence convert data into information. > > >Regards > > >Ndemo. > > > > >> Listers, >> >> For the 2007 elections, Bwana Ndemo is on record here (KICTANET) >> condemning the role of the media in fueling the violence. >> >> In 2013, the media played a different role. If you now reflect back - >> deep and hard - it occurred to me that the over-rated, over-hyped, >> over-done "call for peace" was actually a "tool of oppression"!! >> >> Why do I say this? Many a Kenyans found themselves speechless and >> voiceless....you were not given a chance to speak your mind, to >> question, to freely air your opinions or liberally reflect on the >> going ons. You were promptly slapped with the "peace call" which >> immediately silenced you! Why should I feel silenced by "a call for >> peace"? Our national anthem talks of "peace and liberty", what >> happened to "liberty" during this period? >> >> Most Kenyans locked themselves in their houses, scared stiff of the >> unknown. Reflecting back it was truly a "silence tool". >> >> In my view, what is going on in Kenya is God's birth of a NEW KENYA. >> It is NOT (and I repeat NOT) about THE WINNER or THE LOSERS (Do NOT >> get me wrong >> - I don't mind about that). It is about laying a NEW FOUNDATION for >> Kenya that is built on TRUTH (RIGHTEOUSNESS) and JUSTICE, especially >> during this Jubilee period (50 years of our existence as a nation as >> we enter into the next 50 years - the next Jubilee). >> >> From now on, and as our national anthem aptly states, JUSTICE will >> truly be our SHIELD and DEFENDER. >> >> Sustainable peace (not FALSE PEACE) is built on the foundations of >> TRUTH >> (righteousness) and JUSTICE. >> >> Reflective Edith >> >> Quote: I should like to be able to love my country and still love >> justice (Albert Camus) _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mai > > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/memakunat%40yahoo.com > >The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > >KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.

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....Back to 1963
by bantu wachanga 16 Mar '13

16 Mar '13

wazalendo Allow me to share with you a piece of history...Kenya's first cabinet under founding president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta President.........................Mzee Jomo Kenyatta Vice-President................... J. Oginga Odinga Finance...........................James Gichuru External affairs..................Joseph Murumbi Economic Planning..................Tom J. Mboya Internal security, defence.........D.Njoroge Mungai Agriculture&Animal husbandry.......Bruce R. Mackenzie Education..........................Mbiyu Koinange Health&Housing.....................J.D. Otiende Local Government...................Lawrence G.H.Sagini Commerce&Industry..................Dr. Julius G. Kiano Labour&Social Services.............E.N. Mwendwa Information,Broadcasting&Tourism...Ramogi A. Oneko Lands&Settlement...................Jackson H. Angaine Natural resources&Wildlife.........S.O. Ayodo Home Affairs.......................Daniel T. arap Moi Co-operative&Marketing..............Paul J. Ngei Attorney Genaral...................Charles M. Njonjo Cabinet Secretary..................Duncan N. Ndegwa Deputy Cabinet Sec.................William Wamalwa At that time, both women and black people in the US had no voting rights. Which perhaps explains why in Kenya, the core of governemnt was purely a ...meeting for men...affair. While there will be gender spicing in the next government, as someone has correctly pointed out here, what will matter when it comes to appointments is numbers in the House. Key dockets requiring technical skills will go to the right people...as for the rest, descendants of the above will be spiced with those who formed the second layer of governemnt in 1963. Some loyalists will benefit also. I could be wrong but... Remember, politicians think about the next election(2017) its only statesmen who think about the next generation.

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Re: [kictanet] Is Public Vetting Of Cabinet Secretaries (ICT) Possible? rumour mill
by ICT Researcher 15 Mar '13

15 Mar '13

Amongst one of Kenya‘s many tribes is a saying which states, “ as you point a finger at others always remember that four other of your own point back right at you.“ Very humbling in deed. ------------------------------ On Fri, Mar 15, 2013 11:22 AM MSK Edith Adera wrote: >Anyone with profile and performance record of Information - Eng. Johnson ole Nchoe (Chief Manager, CIO - KPLC). Not heard of him. > >For « Transport - Dr. Titus Naikuni (current MD KQ) », what happened to the KQ court cases? > >Edithi

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Lego or Microsoft for Konza
by robert yawe 15 Mar '13

15 Mar '13

Hi, Might it be that we are targeting the wrong companies to come and setup in Konza http://bloom.bg/ZOxGkl? Lego is older than Microsoft and will likely out live it, they sell very basic product, they are able to provide us with the opportunity to commercialize those games we played as children such a muringari. Regards PS. I developed by creativity on Lego and so have my children, the madness is of my own doing Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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Technical Maverick Moments
by Andrea Bohnstedt 15 Mar '13

15 Mar '13

'Countries that have achieved the phase-shift (like Japan and Singapore) have diverse institutional characters, with highly differing levels of unfinished business where institutional reform is concerned, but they all share high levels of tolerance for fast-paced technical change, technology adoption and, above all, a strong culture of punishing technical failure. The meritocracy of these nations hinges on one’s conformity to new technical values.' From http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2013/03/14/guest-post-africa-stop-catching…

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Fwd: Informatics (IS/ICT) Masters Scholarship from Manchester University
by Alice Munyua 14 Mar '13

14 Mar '13

The 2013 Development Leaders Scholarship - worth £15,200 - is available for developing country applicants to the _one-year MSc ICT4D programme_ <http://www.sed.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses/06237/?code=062…>; creating ICT4D champions. It is also tenable on the _MSc Management and Information Systems programme_ <http://www.sed.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses/01388/index.asp…>; which develops "hybrid" information systems professionals. Applicants apply first for the programme. On receipt of an offer, send a scholarship application statement by June 2013. Scholarship covers all tuition fees. Details at: _http://www.sed.manchester.ac.uk/idpm/postgraduate/taught/funding/_ If you know someone interested in studying either ICT4D or M&IS at MSc level, could you please let them know about this? They are welcome to contact me with questions. Thanks Richard ------------------------------------------------------------ Prof. Richard Heeks Director Centre for Development Informatics IDPM, SED, University of Manchester Arthur Lewis Building Manchester M13 9PL U.K. Phone: +44-161-275-2870 Fax: +44-161-275-2898 Email: richard.heeks(a)manchester.ac.uk Web: _http://www.manchester.ac.uk/research/richard.heeks/_ Centre Web: _http://www.manchester.ac.uk/cdi_ Our new one-year Masters in ICTs for Development: _http://www.sed.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses/06237/index.asp_ Blog: _http://ict4dblog.wordpress.com_ <http://ict4dblog.wordpress.com/> Twitter: _http://twitter.com/CDIManchester_ _Publications list on Google Scholar_ <http://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?hl=en&user=Iazl9wYAAAAJ>

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GERMANY SECRET WEAPON
by charles nduati 14 Mar '13

14 Mar '13

Hi Listers, I don't know if you are aware that Germany is the only country in Europe that hasn't so far experienced economic meltdown. There trick is that two thirds of Germany University students work as apprentices which are arranged by the government. In other words, their education policy is that you acquire skills first then sharpen them with degrees later. For me, all I want is whichever coalition that can implement these kind of policies that are already tried and tested. me two cents CHARLES N. NDUATI DIRECTOR, REVENUE GENERATION AND ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT -KENYATTA UNIVERSITY MOBILE:254-722728815 EMIAL:charlesnduati2002@yahoo.co.uk,cnduati@gmail.com,

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Promoting Kenya ... KTB should just pay for this
by Agosta Liko 14 Mar '13

14 Mar '13

http://youtu.be/0g9poWKKpbU What else ?

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What’s up? Network Monitoring for Public IT Systems
by Brian Munyao Longwe 14 Mar '13

14 Mar '13

#140friday <http://140friday.com> » Uncategorized<http://140friday.com/?cat=1>» What’s up? Network Monitoring for Public IT Systems March 14, 2013 Network monitoring within the public sector has unique challenges and these challenges have to be addresed through delivery of unique solutions. Public IT systems need to be accessible to a greater number of people and need to be reliable with minimal or no system down time. At any given time a public IT system can be serving tens, hundreds or thousands of simultaneous concurrent requests. Public IT systems need to support a wide range of various technologies and services, and at the same time accountability and traceability is important for legal reasons. Best practice dictates that public sector systems be widely networked and shared geographically and/or between numerous municipalities or administrations. Without proper system monitoring this can be a nightmare to manage. System monitoring allows operators and administrators to pick up network anomalies quickly, pintpoint problems and engage rapid response mechanisms to address issues which could affect service delivery. Our question today, what kind of monitoring do you think could have helped with the recent IEBC IT system failure?

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Fwd: Is Public Vetting Of Cabinet Secretaries (ICT) Possible?
by Adam Nelson 13 Mar '13

13 Mar '13

IMHO, the best solution to this is: 1. For KICTANet to work with other civil society groups to create the expectation that the National Assembly will have a deliberative process around the approval of cabinet secretaries. This will give time for people to evaluate the candidate and respond to the nomination. This should happen now. 2. A committee of people from this group should be formed. This should happen now. 3. For cabinet positions were ICT is a major component of the job responsibility, the committee should evaluate the candidate and make a public determination of support, neutrality, or disapproval. That's my two cents at least, but I'm an outsider here and don't have any of the contacts or status to move something like this forward. -Adam https://twitter.com/varud https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamcnelson On Wed, Mar 13, 2013 at 3:34 PM, Sam Gichuru <gichuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Listers > Had a brief discussion with Jessica of Mzalendo that led me to write this > short blog post, but we have seen the kind of impact a Cabinet position > can have if the right people, who are competent are selected for the right > jobs, > > http://140friday.com/?p=429 > > again, I stand to be corrected, I am still young and I might be immature > on how some of this processes are undertaken.. > > > -- > Warm Regards, > ------------------------ > Sam Gichuru > > > twitter: | @samgichuru <http://twitter.com/samgichuru> > Blog: | www.samgichuru.com > Facebook: | Sam.gichuru <http://www.facebook.com/sam.gichuru> > Skype: Sam.gichuru > Cellphone: | +254-722-730565 > > Co-founder/ Director /Nailab Incubation > Location: | Nairobi > Website: | www.nailab.co.ke > twitter: | @thenailab > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/adam%40varud.com > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >

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#140Friday "Public Service IT Systems" Invitation
by Brian Longwe 13 Mar '13

13 Mar '13

I'd like to share this event with you! Event: Public Service IT Systems Date: Friday, March 15, 2013 Location: George Padmore Lane Nairobi Kenya Hosted By: Nailab

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Our Response to Systematic ICT Systems Failure at IEBC
by Harry Delano 13 Mar '13

13 Mar '13

Aye..! Could someone please aver what the furor was all about on this list when systems failed at IEBC last week. I thought it was so that we could address systemic issues in that part of the election process..? Please someone correct me, but I seem to be settling on this conclusion that we collectively only raise hue and cry when the system(s) are perceived to be working against "us", or not in "our" interests - whichever side of divide each one of us sits. Once they serve 'our' interests, we quickly move on.. So where is posterity in all this..? A pattern emerges where well calculated intellectual arguments everywhere nowadays, that thinly veil and mask the real motives in us. We completely bury our heads in the ground and deny that we have deeply rooted issues that stem from tribe, class etc and as a result, we are caught up in this vicious cycle that we cannot seem to free ourselves from and which clouds our entire vision as a nation. Who will free us, if we do not take initiative ourselves..? How and when will we as a nation confront this 'monster' head on, by first of all acknowledging it exists. Then moving to deal with it. Can this list be at the forefront of it..? If so, let's start now.. Harry

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The ICT industry is sick
by robert yawe 13 Mar '13

13 Mar '13

Hi, In Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) the first step that suffering alcoholics must take is to accept that they are alcoholics. It is time that we as an industry accept that we are very sick and then ask for help, which must come from outside the industry as the infection has permeated too deep into the rest of us. From all the monologues going on it is clear that the IEBC system was bound to fail from day one but all we did was defend the capabilities of those given the responsibility for the system because Kenya had given the World MPesa and Ushahidi, Now the same people whose capabilities we applauded a few weeks ago are the ones we are now crucifying, reminds me of the events of Palm Sunday and Good Friday. Peter Kenneth thought that the followers he had on facebook would translate into votes, Mutoro made the mistake of coming onto a digital forum to ask for people to physically demonstrate on the street to evict the government printer he got many +1s, I saw a post on facebook this morning asking people to go and show their support at the Supreme Court for the CORD appeal, I can see the venue from my office and so far there is only the usual crowd but the request on facebook as over a thousand likes. Since I am as sick as the rest of you I cannot offer much assistance if there is someone out there who is still not afflicted please come to our rescue as all we are doing is murdering bits and bytes. Regards PS. The posts of CEO and Deputy CEO of the Kenya ICT Board are soon to become vacant are we looking for how we can influence the appointment or are we waiting for the person to be appointed and then we discuss the flawed process, inexperience of the person . . . . Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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My reflections on #140Friday and the (failed) Policy Paper
by Brian Munyao Longwe 13 Mar '13

13 Mar '13

Every once in a while you find a cause or initiative that resonates with your values, passions and interests. That is what happened when, last year a heated debate on twitter between techies, IT entrepreneurs and the public sector led to a call for a physical face-to-face meeting to thrash out the issues. The main focus of the debate was the question of why most of the juicy IT deals tend to go to multinationals or overseas IT companies. Over the course of the online debate a number of issues came to the fore, these included shortcomings or weakness that hindered local IT companies from obtaining large projects; other issues also included public procurement policy and practice which effectively locked out local companies. Once there was consensus to have a face-to-face meeting I was nominated to pull it together, make it happen and effectively facilitate the whole engagement. The Nailab, a leading incubator, offered their offices as a venue for the meeting. In preparing, I not only reached out to key players in industry, government and civil society but also involved the media. We were able to get the attention of Nation Media's CEO Linus Gitahi and he approved our use of one of their business anchors, Larry Madowo, as a moderator for the face to face debate. The first debate was very well attended, the issues well articulated, the dialogue fresh and frank. A number of actions points came out of the first debate and these included: - ICT businesses (both large, small and startup) needed to organize themselves into a single industry body that could act as an interface between government and industry - Develop a policy paper for presentation to Government which captured a vision for the growth and development of the ICT industry in Kenya as well as a roadmap of actions that could get us there. Strangely and somewhat unexpectedly, the responsibility for coordinating the above two action points fell to me. I did not shrink from the task but made it clear that since I did not have an IT business of my own, and was not at the time part of any local company that I would simply try to act as a facilitator but that actions would have to come from the stakeholders themselves. We then brainstormed and figured out that it would be best for the industry association to be prioritized, as the drafting of the policy paper proceeded in order that the industry body would be the one that presented the completed paper. A target was set of presenting the paper at the Connected Kenya Summit which was to take place in the first week of April. In the process of thinking about how best to handle the industry body action point, an organization called KITOS (Kenya IT and Outsourcing Services) offered itself as the vehicle which could be used to bring industry together. This was received fairly well by most, albeit with some concern that the organization had been primarily known as being representative of those active in the BPO and ITES sector. These concerns were waived by the incumbent officials at KITOS who said that a simple name change could totally transform the perception and make the organization's name sound more representative. This then led to a few meetings where KITOS introduced itself to industry stakeholders in the #140Friday process. In these meetings discussions on membership criteria, membership fees etc were discussed. After it was clear that dialogue had been established between KITOS and it's potential members I exited from the scene as it was now up to them to thrash things out and make it happen. A parting shot that I left was that I felt that the membership categories and accompanying fees did not provide an entry point for poor startups or freelancers to join, and that they were an equally important part of the value chain and industry. I then carried on with focus meetings with various individuals to crystallize the policy paper draft which would be presented at the Connected summit. This process went well and eventually time for the event arrived. But KITOS asked me to present on their behalf as they had not yet finalized their stuff. With a lot of support from Mike Macharia of Seven Seas and advice from Paul Kukubo of the ICT Board I presented the draft. It was my expectation that KITOS would thereafter continue with the role and actions that were agreed on in the first #140Friday meeting. Including finalizing/polishing the policy paper for formal submission to Government It therefore came as a big surprise to me when I heard very recently that I had failed to deliver a policy paper from industry to Government. I HAD FAILED! This is what has lead me to write this account, not to vindicate myself but to put the facts out there for scrutiny for anyone who might have given ear to those who for whatever reason are seeking to cast aspersion upon me. I may have many failings but I will not sit down and take responsibility for the failings of others. This year, the Nailab and I have decided to pick up, dist off and relaunch the lively #140Friday ICT debates as they proved a very effective tool to galvanize debate, discussion and action on current affairs in the ICT sector.

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Tech Spectator Syndrome ?
by Sam Gichuru 13 Mar '13

13 Mar '13

Please allow me to post this as a new thread... Added - My concern has been our reactions to the IEBC system failure, I applaud the doers in this country, I applaud those who bid and lost and those who won the contract to implement the system, I applaud them for their failure which means we are still alive and crawling but we will soon learn to talk and say baba and mama as the tech industry in Kenya, but my major concern is the rest of us... What I am seeing and I stand to be corrected is the spectator syndrome, when everything is ok and the international press highlight Kenya as a tech destination, Mpesa is praised, Ushahidi and startups with all our Mvitus, we celebrate, claim our team (#teamtech/ICT) is winning and write long blog posts and gazillion tweets etc This only last as long as nothing goes wrong, but when it does, suddenly the conversation changes from "we" to "them", they have failed, they dint consult, they dint test, they... not us. This is what most football fans/Spectators do, they love their football team only when its winning, which basically makes one wonder are we players or are we fans of this game? But to bring this home, we have a bigger problem, if this community started asking about the procurement process, the system architect and the companies that were selected to implement the IEBC system only after it failed, we are not engaging enough, are we saying that nobody in this list bid for this system? nobody tried? ... doesn't that mean we are just talking ..... and talk is cheap. I would like to challenge the community to engage more with an aim to problem solve, to tender and bid for local contracts, to build more open source solutions, to fundraise with an aim to seed fund startups, if we dont... we are going to be running around in circles and then move to Rwanda and guess what we will all say ..... they dint do xyz... Let ask Ourselves ... who is they? PS: I will stick to shorter posts in the future :) -- Warm Regards, ------------------------ Sam Gichuru twitter: | @samgichuru <http://twitter.com/samgichuru> Blog: | www.samgichuru.com Facebook: | Sam.gichuru <http://www.facebook.com/sam.gichuru> Skype: Sam.gichuru Cellphone: | +254-722-730565 Co-founder/ Director /Nailab Incubation Location: | Nairobi Website: | www.nailab.co.ke twitter: | @thenailab

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