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Re: [kictanet] Econet Haters.... :-D
by John Maina 09 Oct '08

09 Oct '08

Did we expect something different? Utoto and we know that is why you can rhyme with your ilk much. ----- Original Message ---- From: Brian Munyao Longwe <brian(a)caret.net> To: John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> Cc: Gilda Odera <gildaodera(a)gmail.com>; "godera(a)skyweb.co.ke" <[email protected]>; "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke>; alice <alice(a)apc.org>; Mark Matunga-Microsoft <mmatunga(a)microsoft.com>; Matunda Nyanchama <matunda(a)matunda.org>; Joseph Manthi <jmanthi(a)gmail.com>; Justin Mburu <jt.alliance(a)gmail.com>; Japheth kemboi <kipkirui2002tz(a)yahoo.com>; Jorum <odiemo(a)gmail.com>; joseph james <jjngatia(a)gmail.com>; Caroline Kekobi <caroline(a)kekobi.or.ke>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; amosoba(a)ict.go.ke; Gakuru Alex <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com>; Thomas A. Senaji <tasenaji(a)gmail.com>; John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com>; Wambui Wakarema <wambuiwakarema(a)yahoo.co.uk>; Crystal Watley <crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org>; nicholasnesbitt <nnesbitt(a)kencall.com>; Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho(a)yahoo.com>; Mike Theuri <mike.theuri(a)gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, October 9, 2008 3:17:57 PM Subject: Econet Haters.... :-D I strongly suspected that this was all about KTIG (Kenyan diaspora living in America), their loss of 3rd mobile bid and subsequent clumsy attempts to legally obfuscate the eventual award to Econet. It must really feel bad to see that Econet are finally getting their network live. Woyeeeee.... I remember 3-4 years ago saying that when I see the Econet signal (though I understand they are adopting a different brand name) as an available network in Kenya that I would say a silent prayer for the righteous..... Now maybe I should just laugh hysterically! Brian On Oct 9, 2008, at 2:10 PM, John Maina wrote: ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: "mwananchi(a)hushmail.com" <mwananchi(a)hushmail.com> To: j.maina(a)ymail.com Sent: Thursday, October 9, 2008 7:47:34 AM Subject: PS Ndemo and Econet scandal... John, Interesting discussion on Kictanet, perhaps one should have warned you before hand that Kictanet is laden with vested interests who will gladly forego accountability and transparency as long as they themselves benefit or will benefit from Ndemo's rewards for singing his praises and not holding him to account as the public servant he is. Certainly he has done some good things for the country but he has also enabled the commission of monumentally bad matters. Whenever truth is told, hardcore supporters of Ndemo led by one Brian Longwe (who has interestingly benefited in several ways since Ndemo took office) predictably rush to chant "smear", "smear" in an attempt to obfuscate the truth. God forbid should Longwe ever be appointed to public office for that will mark the improper entrance of an individual who believes that accountability and transparency have no room and should exist in Kenya. You may use the below as you deem fit, the truth needs to be told: ---- If Ndemo is so innocent why doesn't he invite the CID, KACC, the Attorney General's office and any other co-operating law enforcement agencies such as the UK's Serious Fraud Office and independent anti- corruption agencies to investigate the issue while inviting the public to forward any evidence they might have of misconduct, law breaking and corruption to the relevant agencies. Perhaps instead of Brian trying to pull wool over wananchis eyes, he could suggest this solution to the PS to help bring these matters to a logical conclusion once and for all. Facts do not lie, naysayers loudly declaring their unwavering and blind support should present hard exonerating facts that rubbish the tip of the iceberg below or continue in their rather misguided act of aiding and cheering on the commission of corrupt and economic crimes against the nation. The below are just the surface of the scam that the PS has worked tirelessly to keep from public view. Fact 1: Econet sought a gag order against its former Chief Financial Officer, Mwaura Njiri, a Kenyan, who forced by his conscience resigned when Econet sought to force him to sign a falsified affidavit that was aimed at defrauding KNFC of their legitimate shareholding in Econet Wireless Kenya. In attempting to do so Econet filed the following case: CASE NO 05/12059 IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA (Witwatersrand Local Division) Econet Wireless International Limited - 1st Applicant Econet Wireless Kenya Limited - 2nd Applicant Econet Wireless Ventures Limited - 3rd Applicant v Njiri, Elizaphanson Mwaura - Respondent Entire Econet Court Filing: http://rapidshare.com/files/152242137/EconetSA.pdf Respondent Njiri's Entire Court Filing response to Econet lawsuit: http://rapidshare.com/files/152242138/NjiriSA.pdf 5. Re Paragraph 7 "I have no knowledge whether the First Applicant is a subsidiary of the Third Applicant. I do not know when the "group" was founded, but I deny that it a leading telecommunications operator in Africa." 6. Re Paragraph 8 "I admit my citation and place of residence. I was employed by the First Applicant as Chief Financial Officer and also Head of Corporate Finance Development from July 2000 until 26th October 2004 when I resigned, largely due to the deterioration in my relationship with the First Applicant and Wazara. I admit that I played a central role in establishing the Second Applicant for purposes of the said tender." http://rapidshare.com/files/152242138/NjiriSA.pdf Fact 2: Mwaura Njiri under penalty of perjury unequivocally and in his position as CFO stated the following regarding Econet's finances. This is a damning indictment of the regulator for abandoning its fiduciary duties to the Kenyan public by failing to eliminate the licensee at the pre-qualification stage, thus the licensee was licenced contrary to the tender rules considering their true and correct balance sheets did not show a healthy turnover of over US$100m. The secret of the hundreds of millions of dollars in turnover is a story well told only that it neglected to mention that those were worthless Zimbabwean dollars: "17.1 The First Applicant's balance sheet at that point in time was so bad that it was unable to obtain funds from any bank;" http://rapidshare.com/files/152242138/NjiriSA.pdf Deloitte and Touche, Audited Financials of Econet Wireless Limited, the only Econet company that could have claimed to their long lost "Nigerian" operations that never were showing a mere turnover of $8m at the time of licencing in 2003 when it was necessary to show a consortium turnover of $100m which obviously the now insolvent KNFC did not have: http://rapidshare.com/files/152242139/Financials.pdf Fact 3: Mwaura Njiri, Econet CFO since its early days, under penalty of perjury admits the Econet licence was cancelled by the Minister for Information and Communications despite his best efforts to prevent cancellation: "32. Re Paragraphs 43 I admit the allegations contained herein and point out that when this eventuated Masiyiwa then requested me to assist the First Applicant by returning to Kenya and endeavouring to assist the Applicants by requesting the Minister and the Kenyan authorities not to cancel the licence.I agreed to so assist the First Applicant which then provided me with the necessary air ticket to enable me to travel to Nairobi together with the said Wazara for this purpose.While I tried my best to so assist the First Applicant I was unsuccessful in this regard." http://rapidshare.com/files/152242138/NjiriSA.pdf Fact 4: KNFC was essentially bankrupt or near bankruptcy at the time of licensing culminating in KNFC being declared financially insolvent in 2006. Once again the regulator abandoned its fiduciary duties by deliberately allowing parties who could not pay licence fees as proscribed by the tender rules to be licenced contrary to public procurement regulations. "The Minister for Co-operative Development Njeru Ndwiga yesterday confirmed that the Federation, which was said to have owned as much as 80 per cent of Econet’s bid for the their mobile licence, cannot meet its financial obligations. The union is indebted to the tune of Sh40 million against an asset base of Sh25 million. The minister said the cash-strapped Federation cannot honour its financial obligations that include Sh1.3 million in salary arrears, a Sh10 million loan from the Co-operative Bank, Sh5.6 million in statutory deductions and Sh800,000 in lawyers’ fees" - The Standard 29/6/2005 " KNFC has liabilities in excess of 64 million shillings against a total asset value of 20 million shillings." - 21/1/2006 http://www.kbc.co..ke/story.asp?ID=34599 Fact 5: The Chief legal representative of the Government of Kenya is Attorney General, Amos Wako. In 2007, PS Ndemo purported to settle a case the government had already won upholding the cancellation of the Econet licence by the Minister of Information and Communications. The PS further claimed to settle a case that Econet was destined to loose following a court order ordering them to deposit $15million as security for their $1 billion case against the Minister. Econet could not conceivably pay the $15 million for they still owed the government $12 million. Investigations are necessary to establish: a) Whether PS Ndemo upsurped the powers of the Attorney General b) What the Attorney General's role and legal rationale was in arriving at the "settlement" c) Whether PS Ndemo acted against the interests of the Republic d) Whether PS Ndemo defied a binding and final ruling by Kenya's Judiciary e) Whether PS Ndemo through his actions committed abuse of abuse as defined under the Economic and Anti-Corruption Act of 2003 f) Whether PS Ndemo committed any other unlawful acts through is actions g) Whether PS Ndemo by trampling a bonafide court ruling and a Ministerial order contravened the Section 354 of Chapter XIII (Miscellaneous Offences Against Public Authority) of the Laws of Kenya which in states: “Any person who knowingly utters as and for a subsisting and effectual document any document which has by any lawful authority been ordered to be revoked, cancelled or suspended, or the operation of which has ceased by effluxion of time, or by death, or by the happening of any other event, is guilty of an offence of the same kind, and is liable to the same punishment, as if he had forged the document,” Visual proof of PS Ndemo signing the bogus "settlement agreement": http://rapidshare.com/files/152229210/en_bs_250707_econectknfc.mp4 It cannot be wished away that a legal precedent has already been established in Kenya for Government officials who claim to have been acting on orders from above that they remain responsible for actions carried out on the basis of their own personal actions and thus PS Ndemo bears absolute and full responsibility for appending his signature to the sham "settlement agreement" that he appended his signature to on "behalf" of the Republic: Magistrate Aggrey Muchelule had a stern warning to public officers: "It does not pay to take illegal orders from your superiors. However highly placed, you will still be responsible in the fullness of time." http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-13141577_ITM http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3591830.stm It took 14 years after the fact to sentence Somaia and Oluga for their fraud against the Republic, public servants should not chide theselves that the passage of time makes one's illegal actions forgotten. Those they enable to engage in illegal acts might get away but the public servant will nonetheless carry their own cross. Fact 6: The Econet matter has recently been planned for Cabinet discussion. This warrants PS Ndemo's investigation for his role in disenfranchising Kenyans and for continuing to make plans to legalise an illegal act of disenfranchisement into law by arbitrarily gazetting regulations that seek to place foreigners ahead of Kenyans: "When contacted, Nyagah confirmed he had received the letter from the KNFC interim board, seeking their intervention on the issue of the shares, and their participation in rolling out the third mobile operator’s services. Nyagah, whose main docket covers the co-operative movement, said he would address the concerns raised by KNFC at the Ministry and Cabinet level." http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1143995477&cid=14&j=&m=& d= The Cabinet ought to act with no holds barred in looking into PS Ndemo's involvement in the matter as well as his recent pandering to foreign interests at the expense of Kenyans. This is a serious national security matter that involves critical infrastructure in the country particularly coming at a time when foreigners stranglehold exceeds 80% of the economy. The issue of allowing foreigners to own 100% of ICT firms should be submitted to Parliament for those are the elected representatives of the Kenyan people, such critical decisions should not be left in the hands of someone who recently signed away access to the Kenyan Economy to Libyans and frequently echoes his admiration of foreigners. Let PS Ndemo name the foreigners who have approached him and who despise Kenyans so much that they would not dream of partnering with them: "This rule is messing us up in terms of investments. There are large companies which want to invest in this country without partnering with other individuals," Bitange Ndemo, permanent secretary at the Information Ministry, said in an interview. http://africa.reuters.com/business/news/usnJOE4950WH.html Did PS Ndemo sign an agreement with Libyans promising them access to sectors of the Economy? YES http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1143990641&cid=4 Fact 7: In 2006, Econet rushed to court and obtained exparte orders against the Government and the regulator causing a stay of the Minister's decision to cancel the Econet licence by the Minister of Information and Communications. The presiding and ruling judge, Justice Ibrahim Mohammed in his eventual ruling admonished Econet for abusing the court process and upheld the Minister's decision that cancelled the Econet licence while canceling the orders that Econet had improperly obtain. Case No 1640 of 2004 in the High Court of Kenya that the Republic won is the same case PS Ndemo misled the nation was a case in progress that was to be settled: "Upon consideration, I am of the view that in effect, the Order No 5 to all intents and purposes is an ex parte quia timet injunction disguised as “an order of leave operating as a prohibition”. This Court has no jurisdiction to grant such an order in judicial review proceedings and if it had, it has been granted improperly and in breach of the principles of natural justice as there is no returnable date for an inter partes hearing between the parties. It is a permanent injunctive order which was given in violation of all the cardinal principles of natural justice. To allow it to continue to be in force for a minute longer would amount to a total miscarriage of justice. This Court of course, cannot allow this to happen. This court is supposed to be a harbinger and fountain of justice and not a perpetrator of injustice." Entire Copy of Court Ruling upholding the Minister's decision thus permanently cementing the fact that the cancelled Econet licence remained indefinitely cancelled: http://rapidshare.com/files/152242136/Econet_v_Minister.pdf Fact 8: The Econet scam which the PS continues to deliberately aid was named as scandal number 10 in Sir Edward Clay's list of 20 scandals committed against the Republic: http://rapidshare.com/files/152246719/20Scandals.pdf Only the tip of the iceberg.... -- Click for a credit repair consultation, raise your FICO score.. http://tagline.hushmail.com/fc/Ioyw6h4d7lzmxrPK8SDbjIEfKVScUQcpfeHX7tKvMt8q…

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Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Re: PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests
by John Maina 09 Oct '08

09 Oct '08

Joe Thanks alot. I think that Dr Ndemo must come clean and we must not be held hostage by people who think that we must be bowing to crooked foreigners who were paupers and came defrauded the country and now think that we should have all been thieves. Nick Nesbitt couldnt afford kencall. He came and borrowed in Kenyan banks because people like Dr Ndemo allowed him. Joe, as a person who is also setting up a pan African ICT network, you must know whom you are dealing with Ndugu. We respect all people in KICTANET but the truth must come out ndugu. Lets all ask for it and all will be fine. JM ----- Original Message ---- From: Joseph Manthi <jmanthi(a)gmail.com> To: John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, October 9, 2008 6:09:13 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Re: PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests Crystal This is demeaning to Kenyans. You should stop discussing issues about Kenya unless you know what you are talking about. Grameen Bank and Telecom is a Bangladeshi company. Why shouldn't Kenyans own the major telecomms? Is there a law that states only foreigners can own these companies? Anyway I do not want to belittle this discussion by reading what foreigners think about Kenyans. Only Kenyans can solve Kenyan issues. I do not know what John is talking about (and I know John, unlike most of you who do not) and I am waiting to hear a response from PS Ndemo. I think the least we can demand of our public servant is a fair hearing. Let Dr Ndemo speak for himself. And those who are just heckling should step aside. The Moi era when people just spoke good of people in power and never questioned their public actions (rather than private), and Dr Ndemo's pronouncement was a very public action, should be over. At least I hope so. I am looking forward to hearing Dr Ndemo pay us the honor of explaining his official action. This is serious business. We are talking about the giving away of publicly owned rare resources. John et al and Brian et al - stop taking sides and making it personal. It is not personal, it is business. Joe On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 6:06 AM, John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> wrote: Crystal Cheap argument. So Kenya doesnt have small Telekoms? Please stop these roadside mentality We have our small telkoms and know that however long it will take to recover and get the crooks. We will get them JM ----- Original Message ---- From: Crystal Watley <crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org> To: Fred Okono <fredokono(a)cfsk.org> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Sent: Wednesday, October 8, 2008 6:15:39 PM Subject: [ke-internetusers] Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests Kenyans CAN own their own telecom. There is a minority owned telecom in the US and it is huge in Bangladesh. There is no reason why someone couldn't do it in Kenya. Two questions: Who has the vision? Who has the funding? Minority Owned Telecom in the United States http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2006/12/01/8395123/index.htm Grameen Phone in Bangladesh http://www.grameenphone.com/index.php?id=68 Asante sana, Crystal There comes time in everyone's life, where they have to stop talking and start doing.... On Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 9:02 AM, Fred Okono <fredokono(a)cfsk.org> wrote: Dear John, You are abviously a very angry person, shooting straight from the hip - the only redeeming quality of your anger being that on the face of it, it is inspired by a love of country. But can we keep it civil? Indeed Kenyans should own all our strategic and fundamental infrastructure, but nothing is wrong with seeking foreign back-up on our way to that rarefied goal. I'd rather we had fully foreign-owned enterprises operating locally, employing a large number of my compatriots, paying taxes to the government, creating greater consumer utility through competition and generating auxilliary business opportunities both upstream and downstream than have no such investments, locally owned or otherwise. And most importantly, there is no law stopping enterprising Kenyans from making future bids - WHOLLY KENYAN - for such opportunities! Like you rightly pointed out, the Safaricom IPO revealed our hunger for sound investments - what we seem to lack are inspired local entrepreneurs to harness this. We need more TransCenturies then we can effectively take on those foreign investors and competitors without need for extreme protectionist policies. As for PS Ndemo - he is one of our best. The very fact that he is part of and an occassional contributor to this forum speaks of his belief in transparency and accountability. And personal interraction with him reinforces this impression. Please let us not pull down and drag in the mud the few really good people we have! Fredrick Okono Deputy Director ________________________________ Computers for Schools Kenya SemcoBusiness Park | Unit 1, Mombasa Road | P.O. Box 48584-00100 | Nairobi , Kenya | Tel:254(0)202060919, Tel/Fax: 254 (0)20 2060920 Mobile (0)723-527106|Email:[email protected]|Website: www.cfsk.org ----- Original Message ----- From: John Maina To: fredokono(a)cfsk.org Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions ; ke-users Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 2:20 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests Nick You see that its only people like you who are in Kenya not to develope Kenya but to exploit are the ones supporting Ndemo. Crooks like him. You are known and even the BPO society know you as someone who is known not to support the general development and economic improvement of thee country. You are known as someone who even his own staff he has consistently paid poorly. When did Ndemo give Kenyans a chance to buy the companies and they said they couldnt? He wouldd rather go to Libya and go and make secret deals there. Am not suprised that you support him but know that no matter how long it takees. Kenyans will recover Kenya from looters like you JM ----- Original Message ---- From: nicholasnesbitt <nnesbitt(a)kencall.com> To: j.maina(a)ymail.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 7:13:01 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests I agree totally. Sounds like someone needs to do something more productive than try to insinuate there is anything wrong here with Kenya becoming a more investor friendly and respectful environment.... Perhaps this person needs to put their own money where their mouth is and then they will get a very different perspective about how they would like their money to be used if they were to invest in anything substantial in Kenya... It is Econet's investors' money. It is not Kenya's money... Do we want the investment in Kenya, the competition, the jobs, the participation of Essar, or do we want to play a nationalistic game based on rich and passively investing Kenyans getting the lion's share of someone's investment in Kenya, just because they are powerful and the law mandates that they they should have a piece of someone else's hard earned investment? The wananchi wouldn't share in any Econet investment even if it were still required by the law to have a local partner, it would be some Mobiletea kinds of individuals who would slide up to Econet and scare them into partnering with the locals... just the same way as it always has been in Kenya and in such countries that adopt such market distorting and investment unfriendly policies... Bravo, Daktari Ndemo! Nicholas A. Nesbitt Chief Executive Officer KenCall EPZ Ltd P.O. Box 27507 - 00506 Sameer Industrial Park, Mombasa Road Nairobi, Kenya +254.20.660.2000 (office) +254.20.660.2222 (fax) +254.721.458.458 (cell) nnesbitt(a)kencall.com www.kencall.com BEST Non-European Contact Centre 2008 Fastest Growing Top 100 company On Oct 7, 2008, at 7:01 PM, Crystal Watley wrote: I have known Dr. Ndemo for some time now and have found him to be nothing less than a man of integrity. I have seen his name drawn through the mud next to other politicians in the past. Let me be very honest and frank in this matter. When are we in Kenya going to get past this political mud slinging and look at the actual WORK performance of our leaders? When I watch the news I see very few Kenyan political leaders really working. They are always campaigning and pretending THAT is their job. In many cases it IS their way of making money, although it is NOT what we pay them for doing. Most of our political leaders do not have the ACTUAL work performance record of Dr. Ndemo. We know the long hours he works. I have been in his office at 7 am and at 7 pm. Those of us of who know him have seen this is the rule NOT the exception. Someday I hope in Kenya we understand we must judge everyone in public office by their actual work PERFORMANCE. Politicians are OUR employees. They work for the people of Kenya. They should be judged as an employer views an employee. How hard are they working for develoment? What good comes from their initiatives? Are they professional? Are they in the office working? We need to set higher standards for our government. This is not accomplished by breaking the good ones down. Asante sana. Crystal On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 9:32 AM, Brian Munyao Longwe <brian(a)caret.net> wrote: Smells like a smear campaign to me. I see nothing that Ndemo has done wrong. B On Oct 7, 2008, at 8:43 AM, John Maina wrote: > http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=3150#post3150 > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: brian(a)caret.net > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40caret.net _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/crystal%40voicesofafri… -- Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Voices of Africa crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org http://www.voicesofafrica.org/ "You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists..kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: nnesbitt(a)kencall.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/nnesbitt%40kencall.com ________________________________ _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: fredokono(a)cfsk.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/fredokono%40cfsk.org ________________________________ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.173 / Virus Database: 270.7.6/1713 - Release Date: 10/7/2008 6:40 PM _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/crystal%40voicesofafri… -- Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Voices of Africa crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org http://www.voicesofafrica.org/ "You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: jmanthi(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jmanthi%40gmail.com -- Joseph Manthi CEO MEO Ltd http://www.meoltd.com

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Re: [kictanet] Econet Haters.... :-D
by John Maina 09 Oct '08

09 Oct '08

Wachington Please admonish people like Brian also equally ndugu. I have nothing personal against anybody in KICTANET. And know that baring anybody from the list wont solve the problem. Some of us have been in the listserve business long enough and we really respect all of you including Alice, John and others but please know that killing the messenger wont help. You can moderate my messages but the messsage will get through since its very easy to open a new email address each time and send the message. Lets all respect each other but Dr Ndemo shoul come clean JM ----- Original Message ---- From: Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo(a)gmail.com> To: John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> Cc: Gilda Odera <gildaodera(a)gmail.com>; Caroline Kekobi <caroline(a)kekobi.or.ke>; Jorum <odiemo(a)gmail.com>; Thomas A. Senaji <tasenaji(a)gmail.com>; Mark Matunga-Microsoft <mmatunga(a)microsoft.com>; amosoba(a)ict.go.ke; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; joseph james <jjngatia(a)gmail.com>; Matunda Nyanchama <matunda(a)matunda.org> Sent: Thursday, October 9, 2008 6:01:07 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Econet Haters.... :-D On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 5:16 PM, John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> wrote: > Did we expect something different? Utoto and we know that is why you can > rhyme with your ilk much. This doesn't sound like professionals speaking. So let this thread R.I.P. One day, the "dead shall tell tales". For sure. -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" --from a /. post

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Fw: PS Ndemo and Econet scandal...
by John Maina 09 Oct '08

09 Oct '08

----- Forwarded Message ---- From: "mwananchi(a)hushmail.com" <mwananchi(a)hushmail.com> To: j.maina(a)ymail.com Sent: Thursday, October 9, 2008 7:47:34 AM Subject: PS Ndemo and Econet scandal... John, Interesting discussion on Kictanet, perhaps one should have warned you before hand that Kictanet is laden with vested interests who will gladly forego accountability and transparency as long as they themselves benefit or will benefit from Ndemo's rewards for singing his praises and not holding him to account as the public servant he is. Certainly he has done some good things for the country but he has also enabled the commission of monumentally bad matters. Whenever truth is told, hardcore supporters of Ndemo led by one Brian Longwe (who has interestingly benefited in several ways since Ndemo took office) predictably rush to chant "smear", "smear" in an attempt to obfuscate the truth. God forbid should Longwe ever be appointed to public office for that will mark the improper entrance of an individual who believes that accountability and transparency have no room and should exist in Kenya. You may use the below as you deem fit, the truth needs to be told: ---- If Ndemo is so innocent why doesn't he invite the CID, KACC, the Attorney General's office and any other co-operating law enforcement agencies such as the UK's Serious Fraud Office and independent anti- corruption agencies to investigate the issue while inviting the public to forward any evidence they might have of misconduct, law breaking and corruption to the relevant agencies. Perhaps instead of Brian trying to pull wool over wananchis eyes, he could suggest this solution to the PS to help bring these matters to a logical conclusion once and for all. Facts do not lie, naysayers loudly declaring their unwavering and blind support should present hard exonerating facts that rubbish the tip of the iceberg below or continue in their rather misguided act of aiding and cheering on the commission of corrupt and economic crimes against the nation. The below are just the surface of the scam that the PS has worked tirelessly to keep from public view. Fact 1: Econet sought a gag order against its former Chief Financial Officer, Mwaura Njiri, a Kenyan, who forced by his conscience resigned when Econet sought to force him to sign a falsified affidavit that was aimed at defrauding KNFC of their legitimate shareholding in Econet Wireless Kenya. In attempting to do so Econet filed the following case: CASE NO 05/12059 IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA (Witwatersrand Local Division) Econet Wireless International Limited - 1st Applicant Econet Wireless Kenya Limited - 2nd Applicant Econet Wireless Ventures Limited - 3rd Applicant v Njiri, Elizaphanson Mwaura - Respondent Entire Econet Court Filing: http://rapidshare.com/files/152242137/EconetSA.pdf Respondent Njiri's Entire Court Filing response to Econet lawsuit: http://rapidshare.com/files/152242138/NjiriSA.pdf 5. Re Paragraph 7 "I have no knowledge whether the First Applicant is a subsidiary of the Third Applicant. I do not know when the "group" was founded, but I deny that it a leading telecommunications operator in Africa." 6. Re Paragraph 8 "I admit my citation and place of residence. I was employed by the First Applicant as Chief Financial Officer and also Head of Corporate Finance Development from July 2000 until 26th October 2004 when I resigned, largely due to the deterioration in my relationship with the First Applicant and Wazara. I admit that I played a central role in establishing the Second Applicant for purposes of the said tender." http://rapidshare.com/files/152242138/NjiriSA.pdf Fact 2: Mwaura Njiri under penalty of perjury unequivocally and in his position as CFO stated the following regarding Econet's finances. This is a damning indictment of the regulator for abandoning its fiduciary duties to the Kenyan public by failing to eliminate the licensee at the pre-qualification stage, thus the licensee was licenced contrary to the tender rules considering their true and correct balance sheets did not show a healthy turnover of over US$100m. The secret of the hundreds of millions of dollars in turnover is a story well told only that it neglected to mention that those were worthless Zimbabwean dollars: "17.1 The First Applicant's balance sheet at that point in time was so bad that it was unable to obtain funds from any bank;" http://rapidshare.com/files/152242138/NjiriSA.pdf Deloitte and Touche, Audited Financials of Econet Wireless Limited, the only Econet company that could have claimed to their long lost "Nigerian" operations that never were showing a mere turnover of $8m at the time of licencing in 2003 when it was necessary to show a consortium turnover of $100m which obviously the now insolvent KNFC did not have: http://rapidshare.com/files/152242139/Financials.pdf Fact 3: Mwaura Njiri, Econet CFO since its early days, under penalty of perjury admits the Econet licence was cancelled by the Minister for Information and Communications despite his best efforts to prevent cancellation: "32. Re Paragraphs 43 I admit the allegations contained herein and point out that when this eventuated Masiyiwa then requested me to assist the First Applicant by returning to Kenya and endeavouring to assist the Applicants by requesting the Minister and the Kenyan authorities not to cancel the licence.I agreed to so assist the First Applicant which then provided me with the necessary air ticket to enable me to travel to Nairobi together with the said Wazara for this purpose.While I tried my best to so assist the First Applicant I was unsuccessful in this regard." http://rapidshare.com/files/152242138/NjiriSA.pdf Fact 4: KNFC was essentially bankrupt or near bankruptcy at the time of licensing culminating in KNFC being declared financially insolvent in 2006. Once again the regulator abandoned its fiduciary duties by deliberately allowing parties who could not pay licence fees as proscribed by the tender rules to be licenced contrary to public procurement regulations. "The Minister for Co-operative Development Njeru Ndwiga yesterday confirmed that the Federation, which was said to have owned as much as 80 per cent of Econet’s bid for the their mobile licence, cannot meet its financial obligations. The union is indebted to the tune of Sh40 million against an asset base of Sh25 million. The minister said the cash-strapped Federation cannot honour its financial obligations that include Sh1.3 million in salary arrears, a Sh10 million loan from the Co-operative Bank, Sh5.6 million in statutory deductions and Sh800,000 in lawyers’ fees" - The Standard 29/6/2005 " KNFC has liabilities in excess of 64 million shillings against a total asset value of 20 million shillings." - 21/1/2006 http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=34599 Fact 5: The Chief legal representative of the Government of Kenya is Attorney General, Amos Wako. In 2007, PS Ndemo purported to settle a case the government had already won upholding the cancellation of the Econet licence by the Minister of Information and Communications. The PS further claimed to settle a case that Econet was destined to loose following a court order ordering them to deposit $15million as security for their $1 billion case against the Minister. Econet could not conceivably pay the $15 million for they still owed the government $12 million. Investigations are necessary to establish: a) Whether PS Ndemo upsurped the powers of the Attorney General b) What the Attorney General's role and legal rationale was in arriving at the "settlement" c) Whether PS Ndemo acted against the interests of the Republic d) Whether PS Ndemo defied a binding and final ruling by Kenya's Judiciary e) Whether PS Ndemo through his actions committed abuse of abuse as defined under the Economic and Anti-Corruption Act of 2003 f) Whether PS Ndemo committed any other unlawful acts through is actions g) Whether PS Ndemo by trampling a bonafide court ruling and a Ministerial order contravened the Section 354 of Chapter XIII (Miscellaneous Offences Against Public Authority) of the Laws of Kenya which in states: “Any person who knowingly utters as and for a subsisting and effectual document any document which has by any lawful authority been ordered to be revoked, cancelled or suspended, or the operation of which has ceased by effluxion of time, or by death, or by the happening of any other event, is guilty of an offence of the same kind, and is liable to the same punishment, as if he had forged the document,” Visual proof of PS Ndemo signing the bogus "settlement agreement": http://rapidshare.com/files/152229210/en_bs_250707_econectknfc.mp4 It cannot be wished away that a legal precedent has already been established in Kenya for Government officials who claim to have been acting on orders from above that they remain responsible for actions carried out on the basis of their own personal actions and thus PS Ndemo bears absolute and full responsibility for appending his signature to the sham "settlement agreement" that he appended his signature to on "behalf" of the Republic: Magistrate Aggrey Muchelule had a stern warning to public officers: "It does not pay to take illegal orders from your superiors. However highly placed, you will still be responsible in the fullness of time." http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-13141577_ITM http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3591830.stm It took 14 years after the fact to sentence Somaia and Oluga for their fraud against the Republic, public servants should not chide theselves that the passage of time makes one's illegal actions forgotten. Those they enable to engage in illegal acts might get away but the public servant will nonetheless carry their own cross. Fact 6: The Econet matter has recently been planned for Cabinet discussion. This warrants PS Ndemo's investigation for his role in disenfranchising Kenyans and for continuing to make plans to legalise an illegal act of disenfranchisement into law by arbitrarily gazetting regulations that seek to place foreigners ahead of Kenyans: "When contacted, Nyagah confirmed he had received the letter from the KNFC interim board, seeking their intervention on the issue of the shares, and their participation in rolling out the third mobile operator’s services. Nyagah, whose main docket covers the co-operative movement, said he would address the concerns raised by KNFC at the Ministry and Cabinet level." http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1143995477&cid=14&j=&m=& d= The Cabinet ought to act with no holds barred in looking into PS Ndemo's involvement in the matter as well as his recent pandering to foreign interests at the expense of Kenyans. This is a serious national security matter that involves critical infrastructure in the country particularly coming at a time when foreigners stranglehold exceeds 80% of the economy. The issue of allowing foreigners to own 100% of ICT firms should be submitted to Parliament for those are the elected representatives of the Kenyan people, such critical decisions should not be left in the hands of someone who recently signed away access to the Kenyan Economy to Libyans and frequently echoes his admiration of foreigners. Let PS Ndemo name the foreigners who have approached him and who despise Kenyans so much that they would not dream of partnering with them: "This rule is messing us up in terms of investments. There are large companies which want to invest in this country without partnering with other individuals," Bitange Ndemo, permanent secretary at the Information Ministry, said in an interview. http://africa.reuters.com/business/news/usnJOE4950WH.html Did PS Ndemo sign an agreement with Libyans promising them access to sectors of the Economy? YES http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1143990641&cid=4 Fact 7: In 2006, Econet rushed to court and obtained exparte orders against the Government and the regulator causing a stay of the Minister's decision to cancel the Econet licence by the Minister of Information and Communications. The presiding and ruling judge, Justice Ibrahim Mohammed in his eventual ruling admonished Econet for abusing the court process and upheld the Minister's decision that cancelled the Econet licence while canceling the orders that Econet had improperly obtain. Case No 1640 of 2004 in the High Court of Kenya that the Republic won is the same case PS Ndemo misled the nation was a case in progress that was to be settled: "Upon consideration, I am of the view that in effect, the Order No 5 to all intents and purposes is an ex parte quia timet injunction disguised as “an order of leave operating as a prohibition”. This Court has no jurisdiction to grant such an order in judicial review proceedings and if it had, it has been granted improperly and in breach of the principles of natural justice as there is no returnable date for an inter partes hearing between the parties. It is a permanent injunctive order which was given in violation of all the cardinal principles of natural justice. To allow it to continue to be in force for a minute longer would amount to a total miscarriage of justice. This Court of course, cannot allow this to happen. This court is supposed to be a harbinger and fountain of justice and not a perpetrator of injustice." Entire Copy of Court Ruling upholding the Minister's decision thus permanently cementing the fact that the cancelled Econet licence remained indefinitely cancelled: http://rapidshare.com/files/152242136/Econet_v_Minister.pdf Fact 8: The Econet scam which the PS continues to deliberately aid was named as scandal number 10 in Sir Edward Clay's list of 20 scandals committed against the Republic: http://rapidshare.com/files/152246719/20Scandals.pdf Only the tip of the iceberg.... -- Click for a credit repair consultation, raise your FICO score.. http://tagline.hushmail.com/fc/Ioyw6h4d7lzmxrPK8SDbjIEfKVScUQcpfeHX7tKvMt8q…

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We Want to hear from Ndemo not some crooked foreigners
by John Maina 09 Oct '08

09 Oct '08

Guys Lets not lie to each other. I have nothing personal against Ndemo but let me tell you that the way Ndemo is running the ICT is wrong for the Kenyans. The fact that Crystal Watley can wax lyrical how she is too Kenyan just because she is in love with Kongoni who is a young confused man while Nick Nesbitt who is known even within the BPO society to be arrogant and never a team player will show you what kind of people we are dealing with. We dont need to be on what is happening. Just this morning if you read the thread you will get all the facts plus all the court cases and injunctions which the PS is not respecting. Is that what KICTANET wants? Walubengo is it that when truth is told with all the policy documents and evidence then we retreat to the corner of KICTANET being sijui what? PLease lets be democratic and know that Kenya is for us all aand not for the arrogant and cheap things we see from Nick Nesbitt andd the like. Nick Nesbitt didnt have the money to invest in Kenya. He borrowed it in Kenyan banks. Telkom France had to beg the government of Kenya to give them money. Did they have money? No. they got it from Kenyan tax payers. So dont tell me about Kenyans not able to buy these companies and run them. We know the truth fellow Kenyans and the best thing we can do is respect divergent opinions and not rush to the defence of people like Crystal and Nesbitt and Longwe who is also a not crook in the Kenyan ICT sector. I dont owe anybody an apology. Lets all be fair to each other and stop licking toes of Ndemo just because you dont want to loose him from the list. More infforrmation about the corruption cases have been added even this morning on http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=3370#post3370 JM ----- Original Message ---- From: Justin Mburu <jt.alliance(a)gmail.com> To: John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, October 9, 2008 8:33:02 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests AND WHO IS THIS PROFESSOR JOHN MAINA? Professor in what? RUMOUR-MONGERING???? Leave PS Ndemo alone and get a life! PS Ndemo has been doing an incredible job!!! kudos Daktari Ndemo Justin 2008/10/7 John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=3150#post3150 _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: jt.alliance(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jt.alliance%40gmail.com

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Solving Scandals
by Bill Kagai 09 Oct '08

09 Oct '08

On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 9:56 AM, John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > I think the point on online etiquette has been made and we should let this > thread rest. > And there we go. A leading African ICT think-tank has solved the crisis by orchestrating a turn-around based on etiquette...insinuating, now the PS and Maina can meet on the periphery and form an ICT grand coalition thing. I do not condone prosecution in the public domain without establishing the facts, but a professional courtesy call to understand Maina's [maybe miscontrued] thoughts and protocol driven clarification from the PS, would have left us all in better place rather than blanket censure for or against the aggrieved party, which is not clear at this stage. Its pathetic, how we have solved this problem.

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PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal and Vested Interests - Closed.
by Samuel Gichuru 09 Oct '08

09 Oct '08

Ladies and Gentlemen of this forum, I think its time this thread was rested as the moderator had suggested (Thank you Moderator), Mr Ndemo has proved his worth time and time again, put it to rest and lets discuss more progressive issues, Bwana PS our apologies for letting this drag this long. Thank you PS: The last time this happened Michael Joseph stopped contributing to this forum, Can he be invited back, his contribution is invaluable. -- Warm Regards -------------------------------------- Sam Gichuru CVO We Design websites that build business, Register .COM, .co.ke, .NET, .ORG, .INFO and .BIZ domain names for FREE. unlimited email addresses. Business Webhosting and Internet Marketing services for only Kshs. 1,000 a month. Ideas Africa Limited - The Web Design and Hosting Company Tel : 020-221199, 230663 - Cell: 0722-730565 Web: www.ideasafrica.com

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Locales for over 100 African languages
by Dorcas Muthoni 09 Oct '08

09 Oct '08

For those with passion for seeing Kikuyu, Dholuo, Kikamba, etc on your computers, you cam join the group below: >> ANLoc, the African Network for Localization, has started an initiative to build locales for over 100 African languages. The project is now ready to line up volunteers and get to work. You can view a presentation about the initiative at: http://kamusiproject.org/en/100locales The main requirements for a volunteer are: 1) literate in the target language 2) comfortable using computers 3) can volunteer about 1 or 2 hours 4) finishes what they start If you are willing and able to help, please look through these lists of languages, and contact locales(a)africanlocalization.net if you can work on one that does not yet have a volunteer: * West Africa: http://is.gd/3nJZ * Nigeria: http://is.gd/3nKk * Central Africa: http://is.gd/3nHO * Tanzania and Indian Ocean: http://is.gd/3nJ7 * Great Lakes and Kenya: http://is.gd/3nGQ * Horn of Africa: http://is.gd/3nJd * Southern Africa: http://is.gd/3nJj (Note that we do NOT need volunteers for South Africa, because those languages already have good locales.) You can also help by letting your colleagues from other African language communities know about the project. We want to build all of these locales in a few months, so please let me know quickly if you can help out! Thanks, Martin Benjamin -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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Kenya Internet Governance Forum (Kenya IGF) - Reminder
by Harry Hare 08 Oct '08

08 Oct '08

Just a reminder for those wishing to attend this forum to register as advised. Kindest Regards Harry +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dear Colleagues The Kenya ICT Board (KICTB) in conjunction with the Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC), the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), the East African ICT for Development Network (EA ICT4D) and other participating organisations are pleased to announce the Kenya Internet Governance Forum (Kenya IGF) to be held on the 14th of October, 2008 at the Jacaranda hotel in Westlands. The Kenya IGF will offer a central forum through which Internet stakeholders in Kenya can contribute to the global Internet Governance Forum. The Kenya IGF is a follow up to the KICTANet mailing list discussions on Internet Governance, which were held in August 2008, and aimed at beginning to identify and explore national level Internet Governance issues. The national forum aims at: · creating awareness on IGF issues, · instituting a consensus building process to develop a common understanding of Kenyan Internet Governance issues and · building policy capacity in order to enable meaningful participation in global Internet policy, governance and development. The outcome of the Kenya IGF will be collated with that from the other national IGF¹s which will take place in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, to form the agenda for the East African IGF (EAIGF) scheduled for 10th-12th November 2008, Nairobi Kenya. As a key player in the Internet industry, it is my pleasure to invite you to the Kenya IGF. Below is a summary of the programme: ++++++++++++++++++++++ 08:45 - 09:00 Registration 09:00 - 09:10 Opening Remarks - Paul Kukubo, CEO, KICTB 09:10 - 09:30 What is internet governance and why should we care? - Brian Longwe/KENIC 09:30 - 10:00 Kenyan stakeholders IG issues: KICTANet Online Discussion Report; validating issues discussed John Walubengo/Mwende Njiraini 10:00 - 10:10 Government & the IGF Charles J. K. Njoroge, Director General, CCK 10:10 - 10:30 Official Launch of Kenya IGF - Dr. Bitange Ndemo, PS, Ministry of Information & Communications 10:30 - 11:00 Coffee Break 11:00 - 11:30 So what are Kenya¹s Priority IG issues? Issue Prioritization & Consensus - KICTANet/KENIC 11:30 - 12:00 What Policy and Technical capacity do we need to engage? Identifying Issues for Capacity Building John Walubengo/Mwende Njiraini 12:00 - 12:30 Closing Remarks/Vote of Thanks - EAICT4D Harry Hare 12:30 Lunch +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Kindly confirm your participation by sending an email to <evelyne(a)kictanet.or.ke> Regards, Harry Hare

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Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests
by John Maina 08 Oct '08

08 Oct '08

Nick You see that its only people like you who are in Kenya not to develope Kenya but to exploit are the ones supporting Ndemo. Crooks like him. You are known and even the BPO society know you as someone who is known not to support the general development and economic improvement of thee country. You are known as someone who even his own staff he has consistently paid poorly. When did Ndemo give Kenyans a chance to buy the companies and they said they couldnt? He wouldd rather go to Libya and go and make secret deals there. Am not suprised that you support him but know that no matter how long it takees. Kenyans will recover Kenya from looters like you JM ----- Original Message ---- From: nicholasnesbitt <nnesbitt(a)kencall.com> To: j.maina(a)ymail.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 7:13:01 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests I agree totally. Sounds like someone needs to do something more productive than try to insinuate there is anything wrong here with Kenya becoming a more investor friendly and respectful environment... Perhaps this person needs to put their own money where their mouth is and then they will get a very different perspective about how they would like their money to be used if they were to invest in anything substantial in Kenya... It is Econet's investors' money. It is not Kenya's money... Do we want the investment in Kenya, the competition, the jobs, the participation of Essar, or do we want to play a nationalistic game based on rich and passively investing Kenyans getting the lion's share of someone's investment in Kenya, just because they are powerful and the law mandates that they they should have a piece of someone else's hard earned investment? The wananchi wouldn't share in any Econet investment even if it were still required by the law to have a local partner, it would be some Mobiletea kinds of individuals who would slide up to Econet and scare them into partnering with the locals... just the same way as it always has been in Kenya and in such countries that adopt such market distorting and investment unfriendly policies... Bravo, Daktari Ndemo! Nicholas A. Nesbitt Chief Executive Officer KenCall EPZ Ltd P.O. Box 27507 - 00506 Sameer Industrial Park, Mombasa Road Nairobi, Kenya +254.20.660.2000 (office) +254.20.660.2222 (fax) +254.721.458.458 (cell) nnesbitt(a)kencall.com www.kencall.com BEST Non-European Contact Centre 2008 Fastest Growing Top 100 company On Oct 7, 2008, at 7:01 PM, Crystal Watley wrote: I have known Dr. Ndemo for some time now and have found him to be nothing less than a man of integrity. I have seen his name drawn through the mud next to other politicians in the past. Let me be very honest and frank in this matter. When are we in Kenya going to get past this political mud slinging and look at the actual WORK performance of our leaders? When I watch the news I see very few Kenyan political leaders really working. They are always campaigning and pretending THAT is their job. In many cases it IS their way of making money, although it is NOT what we pay them for doing. Most of our political leaders do not have the ACTUAL work performance record of Dr. Ndemo. We know the long hours he works. I have been in his office at 7 am and at 7 pm. Those of us of who know him have seen this is the rule NOT the exception. Someday I hope in Kenya we understand we must judge everyone in public office by their actual work PERFORMANCE. Politicians are OUR employees. They work for the people of Kenya. They should be judged as an employer views an employee. How hard are they working for develoment? What good comes from their initiatives? Are they professional? Are they in the office working? We need to set higher standards for our government. This is not accomplished by breaking the good ones down. Asante sana. Crystal On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 9:32 AM, Brian Munyao Longwe <brian(a)caret.net> wrote: Smells like a smear campaign to me. I see nothing that Ndemo has done wrong. B On Oct 7, 2008, at 8:43 AM, John Maina wrote: > http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=3150#post3150 > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: brian(a)caret.net > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40caret.net _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/crystal%40voicesofafri… -- Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Voices of Africa crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org http://www.voicesofafrica.org/ "You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: nnesbitt(a)kencall.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/nnesbitt%40kencall.com

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skunkworks@innovation event recap
by Josiah Mugambi 08 Oct '08

08 Oct '08

http://blog.my.co.ke/?p=88 Regards Josiah -- Josiah Mugambi +254 738 504418 Blog: http://blog.josiahmugambi.com

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Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests
by Japheth kemboi 08 Oct '08

08 Oct '08

Dear all, Assuming that this is 'gossip' or ' a smear' as someone might have called it, wouldn't it be better to hear from PS Ndemo? Just to clear the air but not a to put up a defence. I would really like to believe that that there is no foul play at the PS office or is there a dent in the 'work performance' of our PS but I am forced to start thinking 'Lisemwalo lipo na kama hamna basi ......' Thanks, Kipkirui. ----- Original Message ---- From: Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org> To: kipkirui2002tz(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Sent: Wednesday, October 8, 2008 8:38:44 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests Dear All, I seen to notice a very disturbing trend here...why is the Kenyan Diaspora angry about anything and anyone that seems to be working or doing something. I have noticed that most of the KICTANet flame comes from people in Diaspora. If they feel that strongly about the country, I why not come back home and build the nation from here. Or better still, stop distracting people who are working for the nation. Kindest Regards Harry On 10/7/08 8:57 AM, "Joseph Manthi" <jmanthi(a)gmail.com> wrote: Absolutely astounding. WHat is going on in the old motherland? 2008/10/7 John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=3150#post3150 _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: jmanthi(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jmanthi%40gmail.com

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Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Re: PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests
by Gakuru Alex 08 Oct '08

08 Oct '08

For Your Information, Those intending to continue with this conversation please remove ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> from your circulation. I have just suspended John from that mailing list and we do not wish to receive any more messages under this thread. Thank you Alex Gakuru On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 8:11 PM, Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: > John, > > I am afraid I am forced to suspend your subscription from this list > and will not allow this conversation to continue. > > Regards, > > Alex > > 2008/10/7 John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com>: >> And you dont have to boast of your Kenyanness because having an American >> Tatoo will never make me an American nor is having to exploit a young >> ignorant African >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ---- >> From: Crystal Watley <crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org> >> To: nicholasnesbitt <nnesbitt(a)kencall.com> >> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; >> ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> >> Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 7:34:47 PM >> Subject: [ke-internetusers] Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand >> Vested Interests >> >> Again. I like honesty. I know how a real Kenyan lives, obviously there is >> much you don't know about me, and I would never use a personal smear in such >> a discussion. Well, then maybe you are RIGHT. If that is the mark of a >> Kenyan. >> >> I have suffered poverty and hunger in the village alongside women. I have >> carried water on my head for kilometers. Every day for over a year I hiked >> everywhere with my three year old daughter tied to my back in a kanga. >> >> Sir, what is the mark of a Kenyan? >> >> I have given everything I owned to Kenya twice. Once when I moved here and >> once when I had to evacuate the post-election violence. How many would be >> willing to give up everything they owned and live in poverty in a rural >> village to understand Kenya? >> >> I respect you as a professional, but you have no right to judge my >> "Kenyanness" through a list forum. >> >> Thank you. >> >> Crystal >> >> On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 11:13 AM, nicholasnesbitt <nnesbitt(a)kencall.com> >> wrote: >>> >>> I agree totally. >>> Sounds like someone needs to do something more productive than try to >>> insinuate there is anything wrong here with Kenya becoming a more investor >>> friendly and respectful environment... Perhaps this person needs to put >>> their own money where their mouth is and then they will get a very different >>> perspective about how they would like their money to be used if they were to >>> invest in anything substantial in Kenya... >>> It is Econet's investors' money. It is not Kenya's money... >>> Do we want the investment in Kenya, the competition, the jobs, the >>> participation of Essar, or do we want to play a nationalistic game based on >>> rich and passively investing Kenyans getting the lion's share of someone's >>> investment in Kenya, just because they are powerful and the law mandates >>> that they they should have a piece of someone else's hard earned investment? >>> The wananchi wouldn't share in any Econet investment even if it were still >>> required by the law to have a local partner, it would be some Mobiletea >>> kinds of individuals who would slide up to Econet and scare them into >>> partnering with the locals... just the same way as it always has been in >>> Kenya and in such countries that adopt such market distorting and investment >>> unfriendly policies... >>> Bravo, Daktari Ndemo! >>> >>> Nicholas A. Nesbitt >>> Chief Executive Officer >>> KenCall EPZ Ltd >>> P.O. Box 27507 - 00506 >>> Sameer Industrial Park, Mombasa Road >>> Nairobi, Kenya >>> +254.20.660.2000 (office) >>> +254.20.660.2222 (fax) >>> +254.721.458.458 (cell) >>> nnesbitt(a)kencall.com >>> www.kencall.com >>> BEST Non-European Contact Centre 2008 >>> >>> >>> Fastest Growing Top 100 company >>> On Oct 7, 2008, at 7:01 PM, Crystal Watley wrote: >>> >>> I have known Dr. Ndemo for some time now and have found him to be nothing >>> less than a man of integrity. I have seen his name drawn through the mud >>> next to other politicians in the past. Let me be very honest and frank in >>> this matter. >>> >>> When are we in Kenya going to get past this political mud slinging and >>> look at the actual WORK performance of our leaders? When I watch the news I >>> see very few Kenyan political leaders really working. They are always >>> campaigning and pretending THAT is their job. In many cases it IS their way >>> of making money, although it is NOT what we pay them for doing. >>> >>> Most of our political leaders do not have the ACTUAL work performance >>> record of Dr. Ndemo. We know the long hours he works. I have been in his >>> office at 7 am and at 7 pm. Those of us of who know him have seen this is >>> the rule NOT the exception. >>> >>> Someday I hope in Kenya we understand we must judge everyone in public >>> office by their actual work PERFORMANCE. Politicians are OUR employees. They >>> work for the people of Kenya. They should be judged as an employer views an >>> employee. How hard are they working for develoment? What good comes from >>> their initiatives? Are they professional? Are they in the office working? We >>> need to set higher standards for our government. This is not accomplished by >>> breaking the good ones down. >>> >>> Asante sana. >>> >>> Crystal >>> >>> On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 9:32 AM, Brian Munyao Longwe <brian(a)caret.net> >>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Smells like a smear campaign to me. >>>> >>>> I see nothing that Ndemo has done wrong. >>>> >>>> B >>>> >>>> On Oct 7, 2008, at 8:43 AM, John Maina wrote: >>>> >>>> > http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=3150#post3150 >>>> > >>>> > _______________________________________________ >>>> > kictanet mailing list >>>> > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>> > >>>> > This message was sent to: brian(a)caret.net >>>> > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ >>>> > mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40caret.net >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> kictanet mailing list >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>> >>>> This message was sent to: crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org >>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/crystal%40voicesofafri… >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Crystal "Naliaka" Watley >>> Voices of Africa >>> crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org >>> http://www.voicesofafrica.org/ >>> >>> "You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> This message was sent to: nnesbitt(a)kencall.com >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/nnesbitt%40kencall.com >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> Crystal "Naliaka" Watley >> Voices of Africa >> crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org >> http://www.voicesofafrica.org/ >> >> "You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> ke-internetusers mailing list >> ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net >> http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers >> >> > _______________________________________________ > ke-internetusers mailing list > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers >

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Tusker, Flaming and Google's Mail Goggles
by Francis Hook 08 Oct '08

08 Oct '08

On a very light note - and because someone mentioned Tusker at some point in a recent post. Google are working to ensure "responsible posting" where EABL's "responsible drinking" can't reach ...online see the link: http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/new-in-labs-stop-sending-mail-you-lat… kictanet-request@ lists.kictanet.or .ke To Sent by: FHook(a)idc.com kictanet-bounces cc +fhook=idc.com@li sts.kictanet.or.k Subject e kictanet Digest, Vol 17, Issue 13 10/08/2008 02:22 PM Please respond to kictanet(a)lists.ki ctanet.or.ke Send kictanet mailing list submissions to kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke You can reach the person managing the list at kictanet-owner(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of kictanet digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests (John Maina) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 04:20:47 -0700 (PDT) From: John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests To: nicholasnesbitt <nnesbitt(a)kencall.com> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>, ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Message-ID: <507379.23402.qm(a)web59514.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Nick You see that its only people like you who are in Kenya not to develope Kenya but to exploit are the ones supporting Ndemo. Crooks like him. You are known and even the BPO society know you as someone who is known not to support the general development and economic improvement of thee country. You are known as someone who even his own staff he has consistently paid poorly. When did Ndemo give Kenyans a chance to buy the companies and they said they couldnt? He wouldd rather go to Libya and go and make secret deals there. Am not suprised that you support him but know that no matter how long it takees. Kenyans will recover Kenya from looters like you JM ----- Original Message ---- From: nicholasnesbitt <nnesbitt(a)kencall.com> To: j.maina(a)ymail.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 7:13:01 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests I agree totally. Sounds like someone needs to do something more productive than try to insinuate there is anything wrong here with Kenya becoming a more investor friendly and respectful environment... Perhaps this person needs to put their own money where their mouth is and then they will get a very different perspective about how they would like their money to be used if they were to invest in anything substantial in Kenya... It is Econet's investors' money. It is not Kenya's money... Do we want the investment in Kenya, the competition, the jobs, the participation of Essar, or do we want to play a nationalistic game based on rich and passively investing Kenyans getting the lion's share of someone's investment in Kenya, just because they are powerful and the law mandates that they they should have a piece of someone else's hard earned investment? The wananchi wouldn't share in any Econet investment even if it were still required by the law to have a local partner, it would be some Mobiletea kinds of individuals who would slide up to Econet and scare them into partnering with the locals... just the same way as it always has been in Kenya and in such countries that adopt such market distorting and investment unfriendly policies... Bravo, Daktari Ndemo! Nicholas A. Nesbitt Chief Executive Officer KenCall EPZ Ltd P.O. Box 27507 - 00506 Sameer Industrial Park, Mombasa Road Nairobi, Kenya +254.20.660.2000 (office) +254.20.660.2222 (fax) +254.721.458.458 (cell) nnesbitt(a)kencall.com www.kencall.com BEST Non-European Contact Centre 2008 Fastest Growing Top 100 company On Oct 7, 2008, at 7:01 PM, Crystal Watley wrote: I have known Dr. Ndemo for some time now and have found him to be nothing less than a man of integrity. I have seen his name drawn through the mud next to other politicians in the past. Let me be very honest and frank in this matter. When are we in Kenya going to get past this political mud slinging and look at the actual WORK performance of our leaders? When I watch the news I see very few Kenyan political leaders really working. They are always campaigning and pretending THAT is their job. In many cases it IS their way of making money, although it is NOT what we pay them for doing. Most of our political leaders do not have the ACTUAL work performance record of Dr. Ndemo. We know the long hours he works. I have been in his office at 7 am and at 7 pm. Those of us of who know him have seen this is the rule NOT the exception. Someday I hope in Kenya we understand we must judge everyone in public office by their actual work PERFORMANCE. Politicians are OUR employees. They work for the people of Kenya. They should be judged as an employer views an employee. How hard are they working for develoment? What good comes from their initiatives? Are they professional? Are they in the office working? We need to set higher standards for our government. This is not accomplished by breaking the good ones down. Asante sana. Crystal On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 9:32 AM, Brian Munyao Longwe <brian(a)caret.net> wrote: Smells like a smear campaign to me. I see nothing that Ndemo has done wrong. B On Oct 7, 2008, at 8:43 AM, John Maina wrote: > http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=3150#post3150 > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: brian(a)caret.net > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40caret.net _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/crystal%40voicesofafri… -- Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Voices of Africa crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org http://www.voicesofafrica.org/ "You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: nnesbitt(a)kencall.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/nnesbitt%40kencall.com

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Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests
by John Maina 08 Oct '08

08 Oct '08

Brian Stop protecting thieves. If you dont have facts, ask for them. PS Ndemo knows what he has done wrong ----- Original Message ---- From: Brian Munyao Longwe <brian(a)caret.net> To: John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 5:32:10 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests Smells like a smear campaign to me. I see nothing that Ndemo has done wrong. B On Oct 7, 2008, at 8:43 AM, John Maina wrote: > http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=3150#post3150 > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: brian(a)caret.net > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40caret.net

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Kenyan banks and stock market
by aki 08 Oct '08

08 Oct '08

The global slow down is on. Asian markets have headed down steeply today morning. Kenya is not an island in the global economy. Anyone aware of steps already taken by the Govt/ Companies/Banks to protect/stabilize local market and prevent a crash or closures?

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Webcast Tomorrow: Disaster Risk Management in the Information Age, Oct 8-9
by Harry Hare 08 Oct '08

08 Oct '08

Fyi...might interest some of you. Cheers Harry ------ Forwarded Message From: <edevelopment(a)worldbank.org> Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 19:23:55 -0400 To: <e-Development_TG_External(a)worldbank.org>, <e-Development_TG_External_1(a)worldbank.org> Subject: Webcast Tomorrow: Disaster Risk Management in the Information Age, Oct 8-9 Dear colleagues We invite you to participate in the live webcast of a workshop on ?Disaster Risk Management in the Information Age? organized by the World Bank's Global Information Communication and Technology Department, infoDev, Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), and the Latin American Disaster Risk Management team. Jointly we have put together an exciting program of panel discussions on different aspects of using ICT to assess, mitigate, prepare, and recover from disasters. You can also post comments and questions on our new eDevelopment Blog: http://edevelopmentblog.org Disaster Risk Management in the Information Age Oct. 8-9, 2008, 9:00 - 1:30 pm ET LIVE WEBCAST: http://www.worldbank.org/edevelopment/live All workshop materials will be available at: http://www.worldbank.org/edevelopment Program Description Between 1980 and 2006, natural disasters killed more than 2 million people worldwide and reported damages totaled 1.2 trillion USD. For example, the 2005 Pakistan earthquake caused about $5 billion damages. There were 5,210 disasters worldwide between 1991 and 2005. The World Bank has a large lending portfolio of natural disaster risk management projects: 195 active and pipeline projects amounting to USD 8248 Million. How does the information revolution change the way we deal with disasters? The key objective of this workshop is to raise awareness on the opportunities to improve the impact of disaster risk management projects via innovative and effective use of ICT and to help understand better key lessons learned, success factors and good practices. A series of case studies and presentations will discuss the enabling and transformational role of ICT applications throughout the full cycle of Disaster Risk Management activities: risk assessment, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. The Workshop will identify challenges and key issues, best practices and critical success factors, latest trends, solutions and technologies, as well as the policy recommendations and opportunities for mainstreaming and more effective use of ICT in the World Bank disaster risk management portfolio. How to make ICT a transformational enabler of better disaster risk management? What are the critical success factors for effective application of ICT in this area? What is the role of open source, mobile and other Web 2.0 tools? What is the role of Public Private Partnerships? The workshop will feature a number of distinguished experts: Alta Haggarty (UN OCHA) Gianluca Bruni (UN World Food Program, via VC from Rome) Chanuka Wattegama (LIRNEasia, formerly with UNDP) Paul Margie (Telecom Sans Frontiers) Charles Scawthorn (Kyoto University) Carmelle Terborgh (ESRI) Inderjit Claire (RMSI) Eric Rasmussen (InSTEDD) Gisli Olafsson (Microsoft) Andrew Levy (IBM) S. Rangarajan (World Space) John C. Scott (Center for Public Service Communications) Ken Zita (Network Dymanics Associates) Bill Gail (Microsoft) Saroj Jha (GFDRR/World Bank) Francis Ghesquiere (World Bank) Philippe Dongier (World Bank) Valerie D'Costa (infoDev) Deepak Bhatia (World Bank) Uwe Deichmann (World Bank) Samia Melhem (World Bank)) Hemang Karelia (GFDRR) Ramesh Siva (World Bank))) Sanjaya Bhatia (GFDRR) Edward Anderson (World Bank)) Trond Vedeld (World Bank) Reza Firuzabadi (World Bank)) ------ End of Forwarded Message

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Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Re: PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests
by Crystal Watley 08 Oct '08

08 Oct '08

Is this professional? Please see below. On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 11:57 AM, John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> wrote: And you dont have to boast of your Kenyanness because having an American Tatoo will never make me an American nor is having to exploit a young ignorant African Sir, My husband is a well educated Kenyan who is two years my senior. You have no right to make such remarks on list or off. Again, is mud slinging what you consider to be the mark of being a Kenyan? The problem in Kenya is that people turn on each other instead of focusing on the problems and addressing them together. This leads to hate and violence that is uncalled for. Until we all commit to making a change in our mentalities and attitudes, from one of victimhood and name calling to one of empowerment, nothing will change. HOW TO GET RID OF A BAD EMPLOYEE First, you determine if their actual work performance is worth keeping them in your company, organization, or GOVERNMENT. Second, if they are found lacking, confront them directly in a calm and civilized manner based on factual evidence. Third, if the factual evidence shows a breach in their "contract" for employment, dismiss them. Fourth, if they have broken laws take them to court. Hold them accountable. Crystal Is this professional? Please see below. On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 11:57 AM, John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> wrote: And you dont have to boast of your Kenyanness because having an American Tatoo will never make me an American nor is having to exploit a young ignorant African > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Crystal Watley <crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org> > To: nicholasnesbitt <nnesbitt(a)kencall.com> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; > ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> > Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 7:34:47 PM > Subject: [ke-internetusers] Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand > Vested Interests > > Again. I like honesty. I know how a real Kenyan lives, obviously there is > much you don't know about me, and I would never use a personal smear in such > a discussion. Well, then maybe you are RIGHT. If that is the mark of a > Kenyan. > > I have suffered poverty and hunger in the village alongside women. I have > carried water on my head for kilometers. Every day for over a year I hiked > everywhere with my three year old daughter tied to my back in a kanga. > > Sir, what is the mark of a Kenyan? > > I have given everything I owned to Kenya twice. Once when I moved here and > once when I had to evacuate the post-election violence. How many would be > willing to give up everything they owned and live in poverty in a rural > village to understand Kenya? > > I respect you as a professional, but you have no right to judge my > "Kenyanness" through a list forum. > > Thank you. > > Crystal > > On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 11:13 AM, nicholasnesbitt <nnesbitt(a)kencall.com>wrote: > >> I agree totally. >> Sounds like someone needs to do something more productive than try to >> insinuate there is anything wrong here with Kenya becoming a more investor >> friendly and respectful environment... Perhaps this person needs to put >> their own money where their mouth is and then they will get a very different >> perspective about how they would like their money to be used if they were to >> invest in anything substantial in Kenya... >> >> It is Econet's investors' money. It is not Kenya's money... >> >> Do we want the investment in Kenya, the competition, the jobs, the >> participation of Essar, or do we want to play a nationalistic game based on >> rich and passively investing Kenyans getting the lion's share of someone's >> investment in Kenya, just because they are powerful and the law mandates >> that they they should have a piece of someone else's hard earned investment? >> The wananchi wouldn't share in any Econet investment even if it were still >> required by the law to have a local partner, it would be some Mobiletea >> kinds of individuals who would slide up to Econet and scare them into >> partnering with the locals... just the same way as it always has been in >> Kenya and in such countries that adopt such market distorting and investment >> unfriendly policies... >> Bravo, Daktari Ndemo! >> >> >> Nicholas A. Nesbitt >> Chief Executive Officer >> KenCall EPZ Ltd >> P.O. Box 27507 - 00506 >> Sameer Industrial Park, Mombasa Road >> Nairobi, Kenya >> >> +254.20.660.2000 (office) >> +254.20.660.2222 (fax) >> +254.721.458.458 (cell) >> >> nnesbitt(a)kencall.com >> www.kencall.com >> >> BEST Non-European Contact Centre 2008 >> >> >> >> *Fastest Growing Top 100 company* >> >> On Oct 7, 2008, at 7:01 PM, Crystal Watley wrote: >> >> I have known Dr. Ndemo for some time now and have found him to be nothing >> less than a man of integrity. I have seen his name drawn through the mud >> next to other politicians in the past. Let me be very honest and frank in >> this matter. >> >> When are we in Kenya going to get past this political mud slinging and >> look at the actual WORK performance of our leaders? When I watch the news I >> see very few Kenyan political leaders really working. They are always >> campaigning and pretending THAT is their job. In many cases it IS their way >> of making money, although it is NOT what we pay them for doing. >> >> Most of our political leaders do not have the ACTUAL work performance >> record of Dr. Ndemo. We know the long hours he works. I have been in his >> office at 7 am and at 7 pm. Those of us of who know him have seen this is >> the rule NOT the exception. >> >> Someday I hope in Kenya we understand we must judge everyone in public >> office by their actual work PERFORMANCE. Politicians are OUR employees. They >> work for the people of Kenya. They should be judged as an employer views an >> employee. How hard are they working for develoment? What good comes from >> their initiatives? Are they professional? Are they in the office working? We >> need to set higher standards for our government. This is not accomplished by >> breaking the good ones down. >> >> Asante sana. >> >> Crystal >> >> On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 9:32 AM, Brian Munyao Longwe <brian(a)caret.net>wrote: >> >>> Smells like a smear campaign to me. >>> >>> I see nothing that Ndemo has done wrong. >>> >>> B >>> >>> On Oct 7, 2008, at 8:43 AM, John Maina wrote: >>> >>> > http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=3150#post3150 >>> > >>> > _______________________________________________ >>> > kictanet mailing list >>> > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> > >>> > This message was sent to: brian(a)caret.net >>> > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ >>> > mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40caret.net >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> This message was sent to: crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/crystal%40voicesofafri… >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> Crystal "Naliaka" Watley >> Voices of Africa >> crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org >> http://www.voicesofafrica.org/ >> >> "You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: nnesbitt(a)kencall.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/nnesbitt%40kencall.com >> >> >> > > > -- > Crystal "Naliaka" Watley > Voices of Africa > crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org > http://www.voicesofafrica.org/ > > "You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi > > -- Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Voices of Africa crystal(a)voicesofafrica.org http://www.voicesofafrica.org/ "You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 17, Issue 9
by Francis Hook 07 Oct '08

07 Oct '08

I agree with Brian. I recall covering the econet issue before Dr Ndemo became PS. we have since moved in leaps and bounds. Mischief at work here. We have all seen in recent months unsubstantiated claims (outside ICT) with people becoming needlessly emotional and regurgitating ill digested 'facts' - to little avail. ----- Original Message ----- From: kictanet-request Sent: 07/10/2008 20:08 ZE3 To: Francis Hook Subject: kictanet Digest, Vol 17, Issue 9 Send kictanet mailing list submissions to kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke You can reach the person managing the list at kictanet-owner(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of kictanet digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests (John Maina) 2. Re: [ke-internetusers] Re: PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests (Crystal Watley) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 09:48:16 -0700 (PDT) From: John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests To: David Otwoma <otwomad(a)gmail.com> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>, ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Message-ID: <421239.17908.qm(a)web59511.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" David Dont just beg PS Ndemo because he is your boss. Know the facts. Do you think that what Ndemo did with the libyans, french, Moi family and all the crooks is nice? Is that the kind of boss you want? I see you protecting your tusker but others also have to live and niot be denied a chance by crooks like Ndemo JM ----- Original Message ---- From: David Otwoma <otwomad(a)gmail.com> To: John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 7:31:32 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests Hi John, That is a bit too strong coming from a Professor. If you have facts the law enforcers should be given as this forum may not be able to arrest/act accordingly etc. on anyone who breaks the 10 commandments (of the Xtian holy book). Otherwise keep off from what I drink (tusker) if it makes you think of the river songs. Kind regards, Daudi On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 6:21 PM, John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> wrote: Brian Stop protecting thieves. If you dont have facts, ask for them. PS Ndemo knows what he has done wrong ----- Original Message ---- From: Brian Munyao Longwe <brian(a)caret.net> To: John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 5:32:10 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests Smells like a smear campaign to me. I see nothing that Ndemo has done wrong. B On Oct 7, 2008, at 8:43 AM, John Maina wrote: > http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=3150#post3150 > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: brian(a)caret.net > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40caret.net _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: otwomad(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otwomad%40gmail.com -- David Otwoma, Chief Science Secretary, National Council for Science and Technology, Utalii House 9th Floor, Mobile tel: +254 722 141771, Office tel: +254 (0)20 2346915, P. O. Box 29899 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya email: otwomad(a)gmail.com & otwoma(a)ncst.go.ke www.ncst.go.ke

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Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests
by John Maina 07 Oct '08

07 Oct '08

David Dont just beg PS Ndemo because he is your boss. Know the facts. Do you think that what Ndemo did with the libyans, french, Moi family and all the crooks is nice? Is that the kind of boss you want? I see you protecting your tusker but others also have to live and niot be denied a chance by crooks like Ndemo JM ----- Original Message ---- From: David Otwoma <otwomad(a)gmail.com> To: John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 7:31:32 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests Hi John, That is a bit too strong coming from a Professor. If you have facts the law enforcers should be given as this forum may not be able to arrest/act accordingly etc. on anyone who breaks the 10 commandments (of the Xtian holy book). Otherwise keep off from what I drink (tusker) if it makes you think of the river songs. Kind regards, Daudi On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 6:21 PM, John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> wrote: Brian Stop protecting thieves. If you dont have facts, ask for them. PS Ndemo knows what he has done wrong ----- Original Message ---- From: Brian Munyao Longwe <brian(a)caret.net> To: John Maina <j.maina(a)ymail.com> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 5:32:10 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] PS Ndemo, ECONET Scandal aand Vested Interests Smells like a smear campaign to me. I see nothing that Ndemo has done wrong. B On Oct 7, 2008, at 8:43 AM, John Maina wrote: > http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=3150#post3150 > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: brian(a)caret.net > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40caret.net _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: otwomad(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otwomad%40gmail.com -- David Otwoma, Chief Science Secretary, National Council for Science and Technology, Utalii House 9th Floor, Mobile tel: +254 722 141771, Office tel: +254 (0)20 2346915, P. O. Box 29899 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya email: otwomad(a)gmail.com & otwoma(a)ncst.go.ke www.ncst.go.ke

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Norwegian standards body implodes over OOXML controversy
by waudo siganga 04 Oct '08

04 Oct '08

Hi All - Last time some 3 colleagues from KEBS TC attended a meeting in Geneva. Is this thing over or what? [1]http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081003-norwegian-standa rds-body-implodes-over-ooxml-controversy.html Waudo =C References 1. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081003-norwegian-standards-body-impl… Life is but a series of decisions and consequences therefrom

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skunkworks@innovation tomorrow
by Gakuru Alex 03 Oct '08

03 Oct '08

You are most welcome! A free event for everyone to discover great technologies, learn about the best software solutions Kenya has to offer and meet the community that develops it. Visit a range of exhibitors, solutions, and meet some great people and projects along the way. We have a wonderful line-up of technologies including • Mobile devices communications solutions • Games • ERPs • content applications, • educational applications • Demonstration of FOSS-based locally developed software • Demonstration of proprietary-based locally developed software Come and explore the new world of technology freedom 8AM TO 5PM SAT 4TH OCTOBER, PANAFRIC HOTEL Regards, Alex

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Digital quality of life
by John Maina 03 Oct '08

03 Oct '08

http://www.itif.org/files/DQOL.pdf

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Computer for sale...
by Mike Bullut 02 Oct '08

02 Oct '08

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Michael Kipsang Bullut <kipsangb(a)gmail.com> Date: 2008/10/2 Subject: Computer for sale... To: Africa ICT Network <africaICTnet(a)googlegroups.com>, Consolata Youth Group <consolata_youth_group(a)yahoogroups.com>, Jomo Kenyatta University Agriculture & Technology Alumni <jkuatalumni(a)yahoogroups.com>, Keeping It Real <keepingitrealafrica(a)yahoogroups.com>, Kenya Computers < kenya-computers(a)googlegroups.com>, Young Kenyan Talent < young-kenyan-talent(a)googlegroups.com>, Young Professionals Kenya < youngprofessionals_ke(a)googlegroups.com> Cc: mike.bullut(a)gmail.com ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Michael Kipsang Bullut <kipsangb(a)iconnect.co.ke> Date: 2008/10/2 Subject: Fw: Re: My e-mail address... To: kipsangb(a)gmail.com -- Original message -- From: "jevis" <jevis(a)iconnect.co.ke> To: "Michael Kipsang Bullut" <kipsangb(a)iconnect.co.ke> Date: Thursday 2 October 2008 07:33:47 Subject: Re: My e-mail address... Hi. compaq monitor - pentium 3. compaq keyboard - ups , cpu, printer Epson LQ870 - dot matrix black & white. all at 12,000/= k.shs. deepti. - Michael Kipsang Bullut wrote: This is Michael from Internet Solutions, we've just spoken on the phone. Please send me the details for the computer you want to sell. Thank you. --- ___________________________________________ Sent with eCorrei - http://ecorrei.sf.net/ -- "To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wildflower...hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour..." ~ William Blakeg. -- -- "The computer programmer . . . is a creator of universes for which he alone is the lawgiver. . . . No playwright, no stage director, no emperor, however powerful, has ever exercised such absolute authority to arrange a stage or a field of battle and to command such unswervingly dutiful actors or troops." ~ Joseph Weizenbaum... --

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Kenya Internet Governance Forum (Kenya IGF): Opening the Internet Governance Debate in East Africa: ³Thinking Globally; Acting Locally²
by Harry Hare 02 Oct '08

02 Oct '08

Dear Colleagues The Kenya ICT Board (KICTB) in conjunction with the Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC), the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), the East African ICT for Development Network (EA ICT4D) and other participating organisations are pleased to announce the Kenya Internet Governance Forum (Kenya IGF) to be held on the 14th of October, 2008 at the Jacaranda hotel in Westlands. The Kenya IGF will offer a central forum through which Internet stakeholders in Kenya can contribute to the global Internet Governance Forum. The Kenya IGF is a follow up to the KICTANet mailing list discussions on Internet Governance, which were held in August 2008, and aimed at beginning to identify and explore national level Internet Governance issues. The national forum aims at: · creating awareness on IGF issues, · instituting a consensus building process to develop a common understanding of Kenyan Internet Governance issues and · building policy capacity in order to enable meaningful participation in global Internet policy, governance and development. The outcome of the Kenya IGF will be collated with that from the other national IGF¹s which will take place in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, to form the agenda for the East African IGF (EAIGF) scheduled for 10th-12th November 2008, Nairobi Kenya. As a key player in the Internet industry, it is my pleasure to invite you to the Kenya IGF. Below is a summary of the programme: ++++++++++++++++++++++ 08:45 - 09:00 Registration 09:00 - 09:10 Opening Remarks - Paul Kukubo, CEO, KICTB 09:10 - 09:30 What is internet governance and why should we care? - Brian Longwe/KENIC 09:30 - 10:00 Kenyan stakeholders IG issues: KICTANet Online Discussion Report; validating issues discussed John Walubengo/Mwende Njiraini 10:00 - 10:10 Government & the IGF Charles J. K. Njoroge, Director General, CCK 10:10 - 10:30 Official Launch of Kenya IGF - Dr. Bitange Ndemo, PS, Ministry of Information & Communications 10:30 - 11:00 Coffee Break 11:00 - 11:30 So what are Kenya¹s Priority IG issues? Issue Prioritization & Consensus - KICTANet/KENIC 11:30 - 12:00 What Policy and Technical capacity do we need to engage? Identifying Issues for Capacity Building John Walubengo/Mwende Njiraini 12:00 - 12:30 Closing Remarks/Vote of Thanks - EAICT4D Harry Hare 12:30 Lunch +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Kindly confirm your participation by sending an email to <evelyne(a)kictanet.or.ke> Regards, Harry Hare

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ICANN 10 years old
by alice＠apc.org 01 Oct '08

01 Oct '08

ICANN: 10 Years Old Today A decade of multi-stakeholder decision-making and coordination 30 September 2008 ICANN is ten years old today. On 30 September 1998, ICANN's articles of incorporation were officially filed, recognizing "a nonprofit public benefit corporation...not organized for the private gain of any person." One month later, the first organizational meeting of the Board of Directors was held in New York at the Holiday Inn JFK and named Michael Roberts as the Interim President and CEO, and Esther Dyson as Chairman. Since then there have been two more chairman, two new CEOs, dozens of Board members, Committee members and Advisory Group members, 153 official meetings of the Board, 32 international public meetings, and, of course, thousands of individuals that have all contributed to making ICANN a leading, global, multi-stakeholder organization that runs the domain name system through a process of coordination not control. Current chairman Peter Dengate Thrush reflected today: "Ten years ago, there were 100 million people that used the Internet. Its inventors originally thought the network would only ever have to cater for one million users. But in the creation of ICANN, the Internet community and the US Government recognized they needed to privatize the domain name system to increase competition and international participation. "Thanks to that decision, and with nearly one-and-a-half billion people online, the network goes from strength to strength. And we hope, with the plans we have laid on the table, that the next ten years of extraordinary growth also occurs seamlessly for ordinary Internet user." So, what has ICANN done in the past decade? * Back in 1998, there was a single registrar, charging $50 a year for domain names; now there are over 900 ICANN-accredited registrars 1 and a domain costs from just $6 2 * Helped the domain name system grow from roughly three million domains a decade ago to over 160 million today 3 * Expanded the Internet's generic top-level domains from three (dotcom, dotnet and dotorg) to 16, including .info, .biz, .cat, .asia, .mobi and .name 4 * Seen over 35,000 domains go through the Uniform Dispute Resolution Process 5, a faster, cheaper and more efficient alternative to the law courts for ownership disputes * Developed policies with the full involvement of governments, business, the technical community and individual Net users that make the Internet's addressing system able to adapt to the radical new uses that the network is put to every year President and CEO of ICANN, Paul Twomey, said: "ICANN now represents a truly international organization. We have offices in Los Angeles, Brussels and Washington, as well as presences in a number of other countries. Board and Committee members come from every corner of the planet and the ICANN community is as diverse as the Internet itself. I look forward to seeing ICANN's success continue for the next 10 years and beyond." About ICANN: To reach another person on the Internet you have to type an address into your computer - a name or a number. That address has to be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN coordinates these unique identifiers across the world. Without that coordination we wouldn't have one global Internet. ICANN is responsible for the global coordination of the Internet's system of unique identifiers like domain names (like .org, .museum and country codes like .uk) and the addresses used in a variety of Internet protocols that help computers reach each other over the Internet. ICANN was formed in 1998. It is a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation from all over the world dedicated to keeping the Internet secure, stable and interoperable. It promotes competition and develops policy on the Internet's unique identifiers. ICANN doesn't control content on the Internet. It cannot stop spam and it doesn't deal with access to the Internet. But through its coordination role of the Internet's naming system, it does have an important impact on the expansion and evolution of the Internet. Media Contacts: Jason Keenan Media Advisor, ICANN P: +1 310 382 4004 E: jason.keenan(a)icann.org

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6th Open Acess International Conference
by Boster Sibande 30 Sep '08

30 Sep '08

Dear Colleagues, The Information and Communication Technologies Association of Malawi (ICTAM) in collaboration with The Royal Swedish Institute of Technology (KTH) and The Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) will host the 6th International Conference on Open Access at Crossroads Hotel, Lilongwe, Malawi from 12th to14th November 2008. This will be preceded by the UbuntuNet Alliance Connect Conference: Driving effective Research and Education Networking in Africa at the same venue on 11th November 2008. The workshop on Fiber for Open Access that was supposed to be held in Nairobi, Kenya has also been moved to Lilongwe and will be held as a parallel session to the main Open Access Conference. YOU ARE INVITED. Please register to share experiences, plans or hypotheses under validation on various themes and sub themes. For more information visit http://www.wideopenaccess.net . Thanks, Boster.

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Consultancy Opportunity: Request of Interest
by Brian Longwe 30 Sep '08

30 Sep '08

Dear All, Please find attached the ToRs for the two regional consultancy opportunities for the upcoming East African IGF. We request that you circulate to your networks. The deadline for submission of interest is this coming Friday 3rd October. My apologies for the short notice. Please send your responses to: Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org> Regional Coordinator East African ICT4D Network Regards, Brian -- Brian Munyao Longwe e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com cell: + 254 722 518 744 blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com

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ict@innovation FOSS Certification
by Judy Okite 27 Sep '08

27 Sep '08

FYI, Kind Regards, Today's Topics: 1. ict@innovation FOSS Certification Survey (Andrea Goetzke) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:33:11 +0200 From: Andrea Goetzke <andrea.goetzke(a)newthinking.de> Subject: [Fossfa] ict@innovation FOSS Certification Survey To: fossfa(a)fossfa.net Message-ID: <48DC9E47.3000503(a)newthinking.de> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-15; format=flowed Dear FOSSFA members and other mailing list readers, particularly - people with FOSS training and certification experience, greetings from the ict@innovation programme (http://ict-innovation.fossfa.net/) ict@innovation is currently planning an initiative to increase opportunities for certification and related quality trainings in the area of Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) in Africa. Now, we need the help of people with experience in FOSS training and certification and an overview of the ICT market and skills needs in the different countries. Such expertise will help us design the programme with a focus: - on skills that are most needed, - on certification criteria that will be valuable to both the student and employers, - and on schemes that local training organizations, such as yours, would be interested in integrating into their portfolio. Answering this brief set of questions would be a tremendous help for us: 1. YOUR TRAINING + CERTIFICATION EXPERIENCE - Which are the most popular ICT trainings and FOSS trainings that your training institution is currently offering? - Do you get requests for FOSS certifications at your institution? If so, for which type of certificate? - Do you have experience in FOSS certification? If so, please share an advantage and a disadvantage of the type(s) of certification you are offering. - Do you offer your own local certifications or internationally recognised certifications? 2. ICT SKILLS NEEDS IN YOUR COUNTRY - In general, which types of ICT skills are currently most needed in your local/national market? - In particular, which types of FOSS skills are most needed in your local/national market? - Where do the skills needs mostly come up (government, private sector ..) and how are they currently met (local SME, large vendors, foreign or national companies ..) ? - Do you see a skills gap in the near future, and in which area? Suggestions for your answer: ICT skills can be classified in * desktop related skills, * system/network administration skills, * specific application skills, however you can be more specific in your answers. 3. DEMAND FOR FOSS TRAINING + CERTIFICATION IN YOUR COUNTRY - How do you assess the interest for FOSS certification in your country (from the perspective of students, employers, and clients)? And at which level is the interest greatest (desktop, system/network administration, specific applications ..)? 4. YOUR FUTURE ACTIVITIES + POTENTIAL LINK TO ICT@INNOVATION - Would you be interested in integrating further FOSS training and certification in your training portfolio? - Which training + certification would you like to integrate? We have also opened an online discussion space on the FOSS Certification topic on our website, that we encourage you to use to express further views on the topic: < http://ict-innovation.fossfa.net/forum/public-forums/foss-certification-for… > http://ict-innovation.fossfa.net/forum/public-forums/foss-certification-for… . Please send your responses to the questionnaire by reply to this email to andrea.goetzke [at] newthinking.de, by October 6, 2008. If you know others who might be interested in participating in the survey, you are welcome to forward this email. We look forward to hearing from you, best regards, Andrea Goetzke ict@innovation international coordinator on behalf of the ict@innovation team ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Fossfa mailing list Fossfa(a)fossfa.net http://fossfa.net/mailman/listinfo/fossfa_fossfa.net End of Fossfa Digest, Vol 6, Issue 5 ************************************ -- "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

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KENYA ICT BOARD LAUNCHES THE KENYA BPO VALUE PROPOSITION AS KENCALL WINS TOP GLOBAL BPO AWARD
by Lucy Odhiambo 26 Sep '08

26 Sep '08

*KENYA ICT BOARD NEWS* KENYA ICT BOARD LAUNCHES THE KENYA BPO VALUE PROPOSITION AS KENCALL WINS TOP GLOBAL BPO AWARD * * *Nairobi, 25th September 2008* The Kenya ICT Board led a delegation of 19 Kenyans comprising BPO Operators, BPO Society, CCK, and government officials to the Birmingham Call Centre Focus Expo September 17th-18th, 2008. *The Kenya Delegation* * * 1. Catherine Ngahu – Chairperson Kenya ICT Board 2. Eunice Kariuki – Deputy CEO Marketing, Kenya ICT Board 3. Cynthia Kahumbura- Marketing Assistant Kenya ICT Board 4. Ernest Kerich –Director, Department of Film Services 5. Peter Alubale – Senior Deputy Secretary – Ministry of Information and Communications 6. Gilda Odera – Chairperson – Kenya BPO&CC Society 7. Peres Were – Marketing – Kenya BPO&CC Society 8. Christopher Wambua CCK – Head of Communications 9. Nik Nesbitt – Kencall 10. Eric Nesbitt – Kencall 11. Pauline Kamande- Kencall 12. Munjal Shah – Kentech Data ( BPO Operator) 13. Evan Mwangi – Kentech Data( BPO Operator) 14. Lucy Mwatibo Kentech ( BPO Operator) 15. Joan Ambutu – Potential investor 16. Aloisius Obare – Consumer Kenya ( BPO Operator) 17. Joe Kigara – Preciss International ( BPO Operator) 18. Bonny Butaji – Department of Film Services 19. Francis Gatho - Databit On Monday 16th September, Kenya ICT Board along with a delegation of Kenyan industry players and stakeholders launched the country's BPO Value proposition to the European market at the Call Centre Expo in Birmingham. Business Process Outsourcing has been identified as the sixth pillar of the economy in Vision 2030, delivering wealth and job creation to Kenyans. The board invested over Ksh 11million to ensure that Kenya's participation was world class. The cost included an impressive stand, a cocktail in Birmingham and another in London for the Diaspora and travel allowances for the delegation. The Deputy CEO marketing ,Eunice Kariuki explained that the Kenya BPO value proposition spells out Kenya's BPO and Off-shoring value Proposition which is summarised under 3 broad areas namely a thriving economy, a growing BPO industry and public sector commitment to the growth of the outsourcing industry. On Tuesday, 16 September 2008, only a day after the launch of the country's BPO value proposition, Kencall, the largest call center in Kenya, bagged the prestigious award of the Non-European Call Centre of the Year at the European Call Center Awards, 2008. The glamorous 2008 European Call Center Awards was held in Birmingham, UK. It was a proud day for Kenya as Kencall emerged the winner after beatingthree others finalists - 24-7 (India) who were also the winners of the award last year, EMP Marketing and Promotion (UAE) and Vodacom (South Africa). Nik Nesbit, CEO Kencall received the award a before a crowd of over 1,000 people drawn from the prestigious European Call Centre Industry, confirming that Kenya is indeed a real contender in this multibillion dollar industry. Nik Nesbitt, Kencall's CEO commented 'This is a milestone for Kencall. We owe this great achievement to the hard work and dedication of our staff at Kencall. Their thorough training and commitment to quality has been recognized as the best in the world. Congratulations to the team!' Catherine Ngahu, Kenya ICT Board's chairperson speaking at the awards dinner commented, "Kencall has outperformed some of the world's top BPO industry players, demonstrating that the Kenya BPO product stands for quality, and excellence. This is a victory for the industry and the country on the whole. We congratulate them for achieving this notable achievement and we would like to reiterate our support for all the industry players.' Business process Outsourcing (BPO) is the contracting of a third party to perform non-core functions e.g. call centre, data entry so as gain some competitive advantage such as cost saving. The main worldwide recognized BPO hubs have traditionally been Asian countries. The expo was an eye opener for BPO Operators exposing them to the international world of outsourcing. They had a chance to meet personnel from BPO companies all over the world, gain an understanding of the investment requirements to compete on a global scale and know what is available in terms of software and hardware to support their business. The Kenya ICT Board launched the Kenya Value proposition to the Diaspora on 19th September, 2008 at a cocktail at the Hilton Kensington, after a successful participation in the 10th annual Call Center Expo in Birmingham. Kenyans in London showed up in the hundreds and were exceedingly interested in BPO in Kenya. Speaking at the Expo, Eunice Kariuki the boards Deputy Managing Director in charge of marketing, reiterated the boards support for the industry saying 'Kenya ICT board is committed to marketing Kenya as an ICT destination - we have a strong value proposition and we call upon the diaspora to take advantage of the enormous opportunity and invest in the sector.' And with the opportunities in the industry explained to them, it is expected that the Diaspora will play a key role in boosting the BPO industry. The Kenya Delegation returned on 23rd September, 2008. We congratulate them on all their great achievements. - ENDS - *Enquiries* Lucy Odhiambo Email: lodhiambo(a)ict.co.ke Tel: +254 20 2093040 / 0737 839047 About Kenya ICT Board: The Kenya ICT Board was established by HE President Mwai Kibaki, as a state corporation under the State Corporations Act Cap. 446 on 19th February 2007. The achievement of an information-based society is one of the main priorities of the Government towards the realization of national development goals and objectives for wealth and employment creation. ICT is one of the fastest growing sectors in the country. Harnessing of ICT will therefore help the Government to realize a number of its key public policy objectives. The objectives of the Kenya ICT Board include: To develop, launch and sustain a globally compelling brand marketing campaign for Kenya ICT, To develop and promote competitive ICT industries in Kenya, To develop world class Kenyan ICT institutions and To increase ICT access. www.ict.go.ke About Call Center Expo, 2008 Call Center Expo has been dubbed Europe's number 1 Exhibition for customer contact solutions. It is held every year at the NEC from 16th -17th Sept in Birmingham, UK from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m daily. The Expo has four main tracks that run concurrently: Customer Management Expo, CCF Conference, Service Management Expo and European Call Centre Awards. * * This year, KenCall (www.kencall.com) has bagged the Top Non-European Call Centre Award against centers from around the world. www.callcentre-expo.co.uk -- Lucy Gachui Odhaimbo Communications Manager Kenya ICT Board 12th Floor Telposta Towers PO Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Cell 0722 839049 Tel: 254-020-2093040 www.ict.go.ke

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Acumen Fund Fellow.
by Jose' 25 Sep '08

25 Sep '08

The Acumen Fund Fellows programme is an annual programme that seeks to recruit and post to our investee companies 10-12 talented young professionals. Through the Fellows Programme, Acumen Fund provides an opportunity for young professionals to bring a range of management skills to our investee companies in South Asia and East Africa , introducing them to social investment, and supporting our investment mandate globally. We are now in the process of recruiting the Acumen Fund Fellows Class of 2009-2010. I am especially keen to see applicants from the African diaspora apply to this programme, as it gives our young professionals an opportunity to make a contribution to the development sphere, while introducing them to social investment and entrepreneurship. Please pass around the attached materials to prospectives that you feel would add value to our Fellows Programme. For additional information on the Fellows Programme, visit our website: http://www.acumenfund.org/get-involved/fellows-program/become-a-fellow.html. Please note that the application deadline is October 20, 2008. Thanks very much for your support, and should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. Best, Nthenya Nthenya Mule| East Africa Manager| Acumen Fund 3rd Floor Scripture Union Centre, Hurlingham off Argwings Kodhek Road P.O. Box49946-00100GPO, Nairobi , Kenya + 254-20-206-9851/9 (t) +254-722-762992 (c) Skype: nthenyam nmule(a)acumenfund.org|www.acumenfund.org| www.acumenfundblog.org Please consider our environment before printing this email… Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri | Readiness | Availability | Uptake | Impact |

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Will Africa Ever Own her share of Space??
by alice＠apc.org 25 Sep '08

25 Sep '08

http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/feature /Will_Africa_ever_own_her_share_of_space_72009.shtml Will Africa ever own her share of space? OTHIENO JOSEPH Over the years, space exploration has yielded diverse interests globally. Now scientists endeavour to bring to earth new findings about the outer space and its untapped potential, which potential has given rise to a debate and scrabble for the real estate in the sky. At the centre of the debate is the geostationary orbit located 35, 900 kilometres directly over the Equator. Because the rotational period here equals that of the earth, objects appear stationary over a fixed point when viewed from the earth?s surface. This property makes this geosynchronous space home to artificial satellites, which to date have found a myriad uses ranging from communication, weather forecasting and navigation to espionage, remote sensing and space sporting and tourism by the developed countries. Equator, the imaginary line dividing the earth equally into the northern and southern hemispheres and which passes through six African nations, is already at the centre of a global scramble. Once again, Africa will be caught at crossroads just as it happened during the First and Second World Wars. Like any natural resource and one up for grabs, the equatorial space territory is limited and therefore can?t accommodate the feet of every nation that wants to leave an imprint. Now, the lack of accompanying rules on such a valuable resource is a recipe for conflict and space analysts fear that it might trigger the next World War. The writing is on the on the wall as China is embroiled in a space conflict with the US. Actually, the competition for the geostatic space isn?t a new phenomenon. It was envisioned in 1967 and a treaty signed which, in summary, said that outer space isn?t subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty. As if in protest, nine out of the 12 states lying on the equator (Gabon and Somalia weren?t represented) in 1976 held a conference in Bogota, Colombia, and came up with another declaration that authorised them to exercise national sovereignty over the arcs of the geostationary orbit. However, they cannot enforce this claim due to lack of financial and technical know-how, weakness that will certainly give colonial- era style land-grabs a replay in the space. Borrowed infrastructure The stage is already set because not a single equatorial country in Africa has a satellite to its name ?logically locking them out of the global outer space ownership debate. This is why Kenyans and Ethiopians cheered their long distance runners in the Beijing Olympics via a borrowed infrastructure. In the current information society, communication is a valued global activity and one that Africa has gobbled up in earnest. Almost all African countries have gone, e-governance, e-commerce, e- everything, but on a weak ?foreign? and enslaving foundation by putting their much proclaimed sovereignty at the mercy of their sympathisers. Currently over 80 per cent of Internet communication in Africa is routed through satellite Internet, yet only six out of the 54 countries that make up the continent have their own artificial satellites in space. Of the 3,275 (as of June 2008) artificial satellites 10 are from African countries. The satellite Internet connectivity is relatively expensive considering that most of the countries are poor. High band width fibre optic cable would have been an economical alternative but this is an innovation yet to reach many African countries, as retrogressive politics stand in the way to its use. A timely example is the East African Submarine System, a project sponsored by World Bank and African Development Bank. Upon its completion it is expected to link South Africa, Mozambique, Somalia, Sudan and Djibouti. Dr Othieno is freelance science journalist

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ECONET: Govt transparency and independence of the judiciary
by John Maina 25 Sep '08

25 Sep '08

Guys This is very interesting. I dont know what the PS might say on this Check the story here http://www.wananchiforums.com/showthread.php?p=2738#post2738 John

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Parliament vote paves way for Single Telecoms Market in Europe
by alice＠apc.org 24 Sep '08

24 Sep '08

Today the European Parliament in its plenary session voted on the European Commission's proposals of November 2007 to reform the EU Telecom rules, in place since 2003. The EU Telecoms Reform aims to create a Single EU Telecoms Market with improved rights for consumers and businesses by reinforcing competition and investment and boosting the take-up of cross-border services and wireless high-speed broadband for all. "Today's vote is good news for European consumers," said Viviane Reding, the EU Telecoms Commissioner. "The European Parliament has today voted in favour of a strong and competitive Single Telecoms Market without borders for cross-border services, competition and investment in Europe. This will level the playing field for telecoms operators in Europe, enhance legal certainty, and broaden consumer choice." "Yesterday, the European Commission had to propose new rules to bring down the excessive prices of SMS and data roaming in the EU (IP/08/1386). These proposals will provide a fast cure to one of the most dramatic symptoms of the lack of a single telecoms market under which European companies and consumers are suffering at the moment. Today, the European Parliament has gone an important step further by proposing to tackle once and for all the root of the problem: by paving the way for a single market in regulatory terms. "I welcome in particular the fact that, after an intense debate, the European Parliament today voted in favour of establishing a European telecoms regulator. Although the new body is smaller than proposed by the Commission ? it will not have any responsibility for network security, which I regret ? the Parliament's amendments have made sure that the new European telecoms regulator will be fit for purpose, namely to deal efficiently with the remaining business obstacles and consumer problems in the single market. I welcome in particular that Parliament has confirmed that the new body will be financed from the EU budget in order to strengthen its independence and to ensure equality among national regulators. The European Parliamentarians also ensured that the new European telecoms regulator will be able to operate independently in the interest of everyone in the EU while at the same time being sufficiently close to the market. The proposal that half of the European telecoms regulator's staff should be seconded from national telecoms regulators, thus working alongside experts which the new European body would recruit itself, is a very constructive improvement on the Commission's initial proposal that I fully support." "Although work is still needed on the details, I support the Parliament's proposal to modify the Article 7 procedure. By voting for a system of 'checks and balances' Parliament ensures that measures proposed by a national telecoms regulator ? like market analyses and regulatory remedies ? cannot be adopted when called into question by both the new European telecoms regulator and the European Commission. In so doing, Parliament has found a sound compromise between consistency and subsidiarity in the interest of an efficiently functioning Single Market that I very much appreciate." "I also thank Parliament for its strong support for greater independence of national regulators. Independent national regulators are the backbone of an efficient application of telecoms rules for fair competition and tangible consumer benefits. Despite its importance, in reality it cannot be taken for granted, as seen last week with the surprisingly blunt interference with the independence of the Romanian telecoms regulator." "I strongly welcome the European Parliament's support for adding the new remedy of functional separation ? which requires an incumbent operator to separate its network infrastructure from its services branch ? to the toolbox of national regulators. This last-resort remedy has the capacity to rapidly improve competition in markets while maintaining incentives for investment in new networks, as shown in the UK where it has already been implemented. The Parliament's vote will contribute legal certainty to countries where functional separation is already under discussion, especially Sweden, Poland and Greece." "At the same time, the European Parliament has today opened new opportunities for investment in high-speed fibre optical broadband networks. The Parliament has confirmed and reinforced EU law on this important matter. On the one hand, it has clearly rejected all calls for 'regulatory holidays', as new monopolies would stifle competition and investment into fibre. On the other hand, it wants telecoms operators to receive a fair return on investment for allowing access to new fibre optic networks, including a substantial risk premium. I welcome this, and the Commission intends to give more detailed regulatory guidance on such next generation access networks at the beginning of next year." (IP/08/1370) "Competition brings lower prices, better-quality services and more choice, so consumers are the real winners in today's vote. Increased transparency and information for consumers, better access to services for users with disabilities, a more efficient 112 European emergency number and number portability within one day ? all these Commission proposals have received strong support in Parliament, for which I am very grateful." "Some important questions remain open. On number portability ? the consumer's ability to change their fixed or mobile operator while keeping their phone number ? I welcome the Parliament's overall approach supporting the one-day limit proposed by the Commission. But we need to ensure that the option now given to national regulators to extend the period for number portability will not reduce the benefits of a competitive market where consumers benefit from choosing different operators when they make better offers." "More will also have to be done on spectrum policy if we want to attract investment to new wireless services in Europe. The Commission's proposal to reform the management of radio spectrum intends to facilitate the roll out of such services, especially high speed wireless broadband connections that can reach less populated and rural areas to help achieve 'Broadband for All' in Europe. I welcome the support expressed by the European Parliament for more flexibility and harmonisation in spectrum use, but I hope that even more ambitious solutions can be agreed so that Europe gets the most efficient and consistent management of spectrum possible in order to bring about 'Broadband for All Europeans'. I also support Parliament's intention to increase its involvement in the EU's spectrum strategy, and will continue to work with Parliament and Council to reach a satisfactory solution that provides more certainty for forthcoming EU decisions on distributing the so-called 'digital dividend' - the additional radio spectrum made available as a result of the transition from analogue to digital TV." "I would like to thank the rapporteurs in the ITRE Committee, Catherine Trautmann (France, PSE) and Pilar del Castillo Vera (Spain, EPP-ED) and in the IMCO Committee, Malcolm Harbour (United Kingdom, EPP-ED), for their constructive work. The Parliament's reports, as adopted today by its plenary, are a very solid basis for its negotiations with the Council of Telecoms Ministers." "I will now continue working with the European Parliament and the Council to ensure the adoption of the package before the end of this Parliament's term in 2009. Agreement is needed if consumers are to be adequately protected in a Single EU Telecoms Market and if operators can expect Europe to offer them a level playing field for telecoms investments." Background: The European Commission tabled its proposals for the reform of the Telecoms Reform Package on 13 November 2007 (IP/07/1677). Before the summer, the Council of Telecoms Ministers expressed its views on the Commission proposals (MEMO/07/522, MEMO/08/384) and the European Parliament debated the reform first at Committee level (MEMO/08/491) and then during its plenary session on 2 September. Following today's European Parliament vote, it is again up to the Telecoms Ministers to give their views. For further details, see MEMO/08/551: EU Telecoms Reform: the 6 Most Important Issues Still Open MEMO/08/552: EU Telecoms Reform: 7 Very Concrete Improvements for European Consumers Next steps: 27 November 2008: the Council could reach a first political agreement on the EU Telecoms Reform.

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Parliament vote paves way for Single Telecoms Market in Europe
by alice＠apc.org 24 Sep '08

24 Sep '08

Telecoms Reform: Parliament vote paves way for Single Telecoms Market in Europe Reference: MEMO/08/581 Date: 24/09/2008 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/08/581&format=… MEMO/08/581 Brussels, 24 September 2008 Telecoms Reform: Parliament vote paves way for Single Telecoms Market in Europe Today the European Parliament in its plenary session voted on the European Commission's proposals of November 2007 to reform the EU Telecom rules, in place since 2003. The EU Telecoms Reform aims to create a Single EU Telecoms Market with improved rights for consumers and businesses by reinforcing competition and investment and boosting the take-up of cross-border services and wireless high-speed broadband for all. "Today's vote is good news for European consumers," said Viviane Reding, the EU Telecoms Commissioner. "The European Parliament has today voted in favour of a strong and competitive Single Telecoms Market without borders for cross-border services, competition and investment in Europe. This will level the playing field for telecoms operators in Europe, enhance legal certainty, and broaden consumer choice." "Yesterday, the European Commission had to propose new rules to bring down the excessive prices of SMS and data roaming in the EU (IP/08/1386). These proposals will provide a fast cure to one of the most dramatic symptoms of the lack of a single telecoms market under which European companies and consumers are suffering at the moment. Today, the European Parliament has gone an important step further by proposing to tackle once and for all the root of the problem: by paving the way for a single market in regulatory terms. "I welcome in particular the fact that, after an intense debate, the European Parliament today voted in favour of establishing a European telecoms regulator. Although the new body is smaller than proposed by the Commission ? it will not have any responsibility for network security, which I regret ? the Parliament's amendments have made sure that the new European telecoms regulator will be fit for purpose, namely to deal efficiently with the remaining business obstacles and consumer problems in the single market. I welcome in particular that Parliament has confirmed that the new body will be financed from the EU budget in order to strengthen its independence and to ensure equality among national regulators. The European Parliamentarians also ensured that the new European telecoms regulator will be able to operate independently in the interest of everyone in the EU while at the same time being sufficiently close to the market. The proposal that half of the European telecoms regulator's staff should be seconded from national telecoms regulators, thus working alongside experts which the new European body would recruit itself, is a very constructive improvement on the Commission's initial proposal that I fully support." "Although work is still needed on the details, I support the Parliament's proposal to modify the Article 7 procedure. By voting for a system of 'checks and balances' Parliament ensures that measures proposed by a national telecoms regulator ? like market analyses and regulatory remedies ? cannot be adopted when called into question by both the new European telecoms regulator and the European Commission. In so doing, Parliament has found a sound compromise between consistency and subsidiarity in the interest of an efficiently functioning Single Market that I very much appreciate." "I also thank Parliament for its strong support for greater independence of national regulators. Independent national regulators are the backbone of an efficient application of telecoms rules for fair competition and tangible consumer benefits. Despite its importance, in reality it cannot be taken for granted, as seen last week with the surprisingly blunt interference with the independence of the Romanian telecoms regulator." "I strongly welcome the European Parliament's support for adding the new remedy of functional separation ? which requires an incumbent operator to separate its network infrastructure from its services branch ? to the toolbox of national regulators. This last-resort remedy has the capacity to rapidly improve competition in markets while maintaining incentives for investment in new networks, as shown in the UK where it has already been implemented. The Parliament's vote will contribute legal certainty to countries where functional separation is already under discussion, especially Sweden, Poland and Greece." "At the same time, the European Parliament has today opened new opportunities for investment in high-speed fibre optical broadband networks. The Parliament has confirmed and reinforced EU law on this important matter. On the one hand, it has clearly rejected all calls for 'regulatory holidays', as new monopolies would stifle competition and investment into fibre. On the other hand, it wants telecoms operators to receive a fair return on investment for allowing access to new fibre optic networks, including a substantial risk premium. I welcome this, and the Commission intends to give more detailed regulatory guidance on such next generation access networks at the beginning of next year." (IP/08/1370) "Competition brings lower prices, better-quality services and more choice, so consumers are the real winners in today's vote. Increased transparency and information for consumers, better access to services for users with disabilities, a more efficient 112 European emergency number and number portability within one day ? all these Commission proposals have received strong support in Parliament, for which I am very grateful." "Some important questions remain open. On number portability ? the consumer's ability to change their fixed or mobile operator while keeping their phone number ? I welcome the Parliament's overall approach supporting the one-day limit proposed by the Commission. But we need to ensure that the option now given to national regulators to extend the period for number portability will not reduce the benefits of a competitive market where consumers benefit from choosing different operators when they make better offers." "More will also have to be done on spectrum policy if we want to attract investment to new wireless services in Europe. The Commission's proposal to reform the management of radio spectrum intends to facilitate the roll out of such services, especially high speed wireless broadband connections that can reach less populated and rural areas to help achieve 'Broadband for All' in Europe. I welcome the support expressed by the European Parliament for more flexibility and harmonisation in spectrum use, but I hope that even more ambitious solutions can be agreed so that Europe gets the most efficient and consistent management of spectrum possible in order to bring about 'Broadband for All Europeans'. I also support Parliament's intention to increase its involvement in the EU's spectrum strategy, and will continue to work with Parliament and Council to reach a satisfactory solution that provides more certainty for forthcoming EU decisions on distributing the so-called 'digital dividend' - the additional radio spectrum made available as a result of the transition from analogue to digital TV." "I would like to thank the rapporteurs in the ITRE Committee, Catherine Trautmann (France, PSE) and Pilar del Castillo Vera (Spain, EPP-ED) and in the IMCO Committee, Malcolm Harbour (United Kingdom, EPP-ED), for their constructive work. The Parliament's reports, as adopted today by its plenary, are a very solid basis for its negotiations with the Council of Telecoms Ministers." "I will now continue working with the European Parliament and the Council to ensure the adoption of the package before the end of this Parliament's term in 2009. Agreement is needed if consumers are to be adequately protected in a Single EU Telecoms Market and if operators can expect Europe to offer them a level playing field for telecoms investments." Background: The European Commission tabled its proposals for the reform of the Telecoms Reform Package on 13 November 2007 (IP/07/1677). Before the summer, the Council of Telecoms Ministers expressed its views on the Commission proposals (MEMO/07/522, MEMO/08/384) and the European Parliament debated the reform first at Committee level (MEMO/08/491) and then during its plenary session on 2 September. Following today's European Parliament vote, it is again up to the Telecoms Ministers to give their views. For further details, see MEMO/08/551: EU Telecoms Reform: the 6 Most Important Issues Still Open MEMO/08/552: EU Telecoms Reform: 7 Very Concrete Improvements for European Consumers Next steps: 27 November 2008: the Council could reach a first political agreement on the EU Telecoms Reform. _______________________________________________

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Proposed ICANN Bylaws Revision Open For Comment
by alice＠apc.org 24 Sep '08

24 Sep '08

Proposed Bylaws Revision Open For Comment 23 September 2008 Today ICANN is opening a public comment period on a proposed bylaw revision [PDF, 21K] from the ICANN Nominating Committee. The proposed revision would update the diversity requirements for selecting ICANN Board members to include domicile with country of citizenship. Over the past several years, the Nominating Committee has expressed concern that being required to count more than one country of citizenship for diversity purposes often makes it difficult to select the best candidates for the Board seats that the Nominating Committee is mandated to fill. In carrying out its responsibilities to fill Seats 1 through 8, the Nominating Committee shall seek to ensure that the ICANN Board is composed of members who in the aggregate display diversity in geography, culture, skills, experience, and perspective, by applying the criteria set forth in Bylaws. The Nominating Committee also noted that some of the candidates have often lived in a country for many years, and thereby better represent the interests of that country than any country of which the candidates may be citizens. In the proposal, domicile, not just citizenship, is to be considered in the diversity calculation. The Nominating Committee members unanimously agreed that the proposed Bylaws revisions would alleviate the concerns. During the 28 August 2008 meeting of the ICANN Board of Directors, the Board passed the following resolution: Whereas, the Nominating Committee has expressed concern that, pursuant to the Bylaws mandated diversity requirements that no more than five Board members be citizens of any one geographic region, the Nominating Committee is required to count all countries of citizenship for each candidate. Whereas, the Nominating Committee has noted that the requirement to count all countries of citizenship has caused some selection difficulties each year over the past several years. Whereas, the Nominating Committee has also expressed concern that the calculation is presently limited to citizenship given that many people have lived for long periods of time in, and represent the interests of, countries in which they may not be citizens. Whereas, making a diversity calculation pursuant to the ICANN Bylaws as it relates to Board member selection for seats 1 through 14 should be consistent. It is hereby resolved (2008.08.28.03) that the following proposed revisions to Article VI, Sections 2.2 and 2.3, shall be posted for public comment in accordance with ICANN's normal process for proposed Bylaw revisions. Comments on the proposed bylaw revision may be submitted to nomcom-bylaw-revision(a)icann.org will be considered until 23 October 2008 23:59 UTC. Comments may be viewed at http://forum.icann.org/lists/nomcom-bylaw-revision/.

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FW: LINK CENTRE: REMINDER: MM(ICTPR) 2009 - Applications now open
by Edith Adera 23 Sep '08

23 Sep '08

FYI _____ From: link-info-bounces(a)lists.wits.ac.za [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Charley Lewis Sent: 23 September 2008 13:01 To: link-info(a)lists.wits.ac.za Cc: Sue-Ellen Donough Subject: LINK CENTRE: REMINDER: MM(ICTPR) 2009 - Applications now open With Heritage Day upon us, the end of the year is just around the corner, and the closing date for MM(ICTPR) applications is equally not far off. What are your plans for 2009? Will you be studying further to grow your skills, enrich your capacity and increase your pay cheque? Look no further than the LINK Centre at the University of the Witwatersrand. Applications are now open for the 2009 intake into Africa's only residential Master's level degree with a dedicated focus on policy and regulation in the ICT sector. See the attached brochure for further information. The sooner you get your application in, the sooner you will receive your notification of acceptance (subject to you meeting the required criteria), and the sooner your future in 2009 will be assured. Please also pass this information on to those of your colleagues and associates who may be planning on further study in 2009. For more information please contact Sue-Ellen Donough on +27 11 717-3698. Charley Lewis Senior Lecturer, LINK Centre URL: http://link.wits.ac.za Mwalimu House, School of Public & Development Management, University of the Witwatersrand 2 St David's Place, Parktown, 2193, SOUTH AFRICA ==> Master of Management in ICT Policy & Regulation: <blocked::http://link.wits.ac.za/training/training4.html> http://link.wits.ac.za/training/training4.html ==> Certificate in Telecomms Policy, Regulation & Management: http://link.wits.ac.za/training/tc1.html This communication is intended for the addressee only. It is confidential. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately and destroy the original message. You may not copy or disseminate this communication without the permission of the University. Only authorized signatories are competent to enter into agreements on behalf of the University and recipients are thus advised that the content of this message may not be legally binding on the University and may contain the personal views and opinions of the author, which are not necessarily the views and opinions of The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All agreements between the University and outsiders are subject to South African Law unless the University agrees in writing to the contrary.

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Consumer Affairs: Call Drops/Call Fails
by Eric Aligula 20 Sep '08

20 Sep '08

All: Over the last six months I have experienced a number of call fails/call drops on the Safaricom network. Or you call, the line goes through and there is no reception of voice from the person being called? I would like to know whether there are consumers out there on this list or elsewhere on the local networks who have experienced the same? What solutions have been proffered? Are there any financial implications related to these call fails or call drops? In other words, am I charged for a call fail or call drop? What remedies they may have applied and what recourse consumers would have in respect of the various providers? Kind regards Eric Aligula Magolo, PhD Senior Analyst Infrastructure and Economic Services Division Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) P.O. Box 56445, 00200 Nairobi, Kenya Telephone: +254-20-2719933/4 Fax: +254-20-2719951 E-mail: jairah(a)kippra.or.ke <mailto:[email protected]> URL: www.kippra.org <http://www.kippra.org/> Proudly Kenyan "In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility..........I welcome it." John F. Kennedy "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke "Far better to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory, nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt "Ex Africa semper aliquid novi"

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Review, identify gaps and enhance the quality of the Certificate of ICT (CICT) qualification
by Al Kags 20 Sep '08

20 Sep '08

The Kenya ICT Board and KASNEB have formed a partnership to review, identify gaps and enhance the quality of the Certificate of ICT (CICT) qualification that is managed by KASNEB and offered by various ICT institutions in Kenya. This collaboration will cover, among other areas:- - Working together towards enhancing quality ICT skills in the country - Marketing CICT to get industry buy in and endorsement at the same level as CPA. - Collaborate in conducting a baseline study/survey to determine the deficiency of ICT skills and type of skills required. - Collaborate to lobby for appropriate legal provisions for the establishment of an Institute for the CICT graduates, recognizing KASNEB as the examining and the certification body for ICT graduates. - Work to gain industry acceptance of CICT certification on same quality rating as CPA. The Kenya ICT Board wishes to convene an ICT Public Panel to develop industry and stake holder input into the review. We invite the participation of key sector players in the industry on a voluntary basis, as represented below:- - Industry players (IT products and services suppliers/manufactures including Developer Community, Skunkworks etc) - 5 representatives - Business Process Outsourcing and Call Centres - 2 representatives - Colleges representatives - 3 representatives - University representatives - 3 representatives - Student representatives – 5 - Related government ministry's representatives - 3 - Multinational Corporations - 2 TORs of the Panel. To review the state of ICT skills in Kenya with a view to identifying gaps and therefore make recommendations for addressing those gaps as seen in a global context. The Public Panel deliberations will be made out of a maximum of three meetings at the Kenya ICT Board Offices on Waiyaki way specifically on: - - Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 10 am - Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 10 am - Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 10 am The recommendations will be presented to KASNEB for the review of the Certification Curriculum, on September 26, 2008 at a venue to be communicated closer to the date. This initiative is guided by the Kenya ICT Board's Strategic Objectives, mainly: - To develop and promote competitive ICT Institutions in Kenya - To develop and promote competitive ICT industries in Kenya TO PARTICIPATE To participate, kindly contact the Public Panels team on publicpanels(a)ict.go.ke . Please attach a brief profile of yourself and the sector that you represent. The Board will then formally invite you to participate in the Panel. While the formal invitations will be issued entirely at the discretion of the board, the broad criteria for participation is as follows:- - Demonstrated experience and knowledge in the sub-sector - Expressed willingness to serve pro bono - Demonstrated general understanding of the educational offering in the sector. We also welcome via email to publicpanels(a)ict.go.ke written submission on this topic, representations and opinions from the sector towards this important exercise and they will also be collated with the report.

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Advanced FOSS E-Learning portal
by Gakuru Alex 19 Sep '08

19 Sep '08

"Open Source & More IT for African Business" - release of advanced e-learning courses on Information Technology InWEnt/it@ab releases a series of advanced e-learning courses on Information Technology (IT)- "Open Source & More IT for African Business" focussing on the needs of business related IT consultancy in Africa. "Open Source & More IT for African Business" has been developed by it@ab, the Southern African Network on "Information Technology in African Business", a project of InWEnt - Capacity Building International, Germany, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). For more information on it@ab, please see: http://www.it-ab.org. Learning "Open Source & More IT for African Business" is a compilation of advanced e-learning courses covering six topics related to business & IT consultancy in an African context. The courses introduce relevant and adapted key concepts and applications such as 1. E-Business Applications & Architecture 2. IT Security 3. Open Source IT (including lessons on Ubuntu Linux Installation, Multimedia, Web Server, Groupware, Network Printing) 4. Web Publishing 5. E-Learning as well as 6. Zope & the Collaborative Learning Environment CLE2. The focus lies on "Free and Open Source Software" (FOSS) as a key technology to drive innovation, add local value and create sustainable and affordable ICT-solutions. The courses are organized as online modules for self-study and include lessons, tests and selected references. They provide an overview of and introduction to important concepts from intermediate to advanced level. This way, they address a wide range of potential users. These include both IT specialists and executive staff from IT businesses in Africa and beyond, technology-savvy development practitioners as well as power users of IT. The courses are available at: - http://cle2.it-inwent.net/LearningSpace/osam/ (CLE) or at - http://gc21.inwent.org/OpenSource (Global Campus 21, Login and password: "guest"). <http://ict-innovation.fossfa.net/blog/petra/open-source-more-it-african-bus…>

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Application Round Opens for ICANN Mexico City Meeting Fellowships
by alice 19 Sep '08

19 Sep '08

Application Round Opens for Mexico City Meeting Fellowships Program supports global representation at ICANN's International Public Meetings 18 September 2008 *MARINA DEL REY, Calif.*: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has launched its latest round of fellowship program applications for its 34th International Public Meeting to be held in Mexico City from 1-6 March 2009. "ICANN is a global organization and our work touches every country on the planet," said Theresa Swinehart , ICANN's Vice President, Global and Strategic Partnerships. “Our fellowship program ensures that as many countries as possible can take part in the ICANN meeting and in the variety of public forums that will be held.” An example of the diversity supported by the Fellowship program is the upcoming meeting in Cairo. At that meeting there will be 30 fellows from 25 countries, chosen from 89 applications received. There are 12 fellowship alumni, 11fellows are first-time attendees to an ICANN meeting and the remaining 7 have attended past meetings, but are first time fellows. Priority is given to applicants who are current residents of developing and least developed nations and interested in participating in ICANN and its supporting organizations, such as the Governmental Advisory Committee, the Country Code Names Supporting Organization, and the Generic Names Supporting Organization. The fellowship will assist in covering airfare, hotel and a stipend. Recipients will be expected to actively participate in and contribute to ICANN processes. As always, registration for ICANN's meetings is free for anyone wanting to attend. Applications for Mexico City will be accepted from now until 1200 PDT (UTC -7) on 27 October. More information, as well as a link to the application for a fellowship, is available online at: http://www.icann.org/en/fellowships/ <http://www.icann.org/en/fellowships> -30- *About ICANN: * ICANN is responsible for the global coordination of the Internet's system of unique identifiers like domain names (like .org, .museum and country codes like .uk) and the addresses used in a variety of Internet protocols that help computers reach each other over the Internet. Careful management of these resources is vital to the Internet's operation, so ICANN's global stakeholders meet regularly to develop policies that ensure the Internet's ongoing security and stability. ICANN is an internationally organized, public benefit non-profit company. For more information please visit: www.icann.org <http://www.icann.org/>. *Media Contacts: * Jason Keenan Media Adviser, ICANN (USA) Ph: +1 310 382 4004 E: jason.keenan(a)icann.org <mailto:[email protected]> International: Andrew Robertson Edelman (London) Ph: +44 7921 588 770 E: andrew.robertson(a)edelman.com <mailto:[email protected]> --- You are currently subscribed to aisi-l as: [alice(a)apc.org] To unsubscribe, forward this message to leave-aisi-l-84914M(a)lyris.bellanet.org

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ICT Legislation In Kenya: Mukimwo or Buffet?
by Brian Munyao Longwe 18 Sep '08

18 Sep '08

Hi all, We at a workshop in Mombasa to look at the "Mukimwo" that has been made in the form of the Communications Amendment Bill. What is "mukimwo" some of you might ask? Also known as "Kienyeji" - it is a mix of maize corn, potatoes, green leaves (mchicha?) and often a variety of other things including meat, tomatoes, bananas, onions, cabbage etc...the thoroughly mashed together. Well, this - in my view - is kind of what we are looking at here. A single bill which combines many different issues in an attempt to satisfy the deep hunger in the ICT sector with one meal. Well, some of us are of the opinion that it is better to have a buffet of ICT legislation. Separate, discrete laws that deal to the necessary depth with issues as diverse as cybercrime, computer misuse/fraud, electronic transactions, digital signatures, privacy and personal information etc. Without trying to mash them all together as the current draft does. So my question is, do you prefer Mukimwo or Buffet? Brian Sent from my iPhone

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Not Mukimwo after all
by Brian Munyao Longwe 18 Sep '08

18 Sep '08

Hi all, Seems I had my meals mixed up. We are actually discussing electronic transactions. Regards, Brian Sent from my iPhone

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IFIP Technical Committee on Human Computer Interaction
by waudo siganga 18 Sep '08

18 Sep '08

Dear Colleagues, Prof. Annelise Mark Pejtersen, the Chair of the IFIP Technical Committee on Human-Computer Interaction -TC.13 - ([1]http://csmobile.upe.ac.za/ifip/) has asked me to appoint a Kenyan for that Committee. Please visit the link if you are interested to learn more about that TC or [2]www.ifip.org to learn generally about IFIP and its other committees. The work will include one annual physical meeting with possibility of travel support. TC.13 is also responsible for the annual conference INTERACT, of which the next one will be held in Uppsala, Sweden in 2009. IFIP work will suit those with a Scientific/Academic/Research/Application bias. If you are interested please drop me a one-paragraph note indicating how you fit into the area of Human-Computer Interaction. Kind Regards, Waudo References 1. http://csmobile.upe.ac.za/ifip/ 2. http://www.ifip.org/ Life is but a series of decisions and consequences therefrom

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Fwd: [Physical] Vodacom Launches Three New Exciting "Speaking Phones" for Persons with Visual Impairment
by Judy Okite 18 Sep '08

18 Sep '08

FYI I think this is the coolest thing...its a high time we saw more initiatives like this! Media Release for Immediate Publication Nikki van der Westhuizen [mailto:[email protected]] *Vodacom Launches Three New and Exciting "Talking Phones" for Persons with Special Needs, Especially those who are Blind or Partially Sighted* * * *18 September 2008* * * Vodacom has launched three new Vodacom Speaking Phones as part of its drive to make cellular communication accessible to people with specific needs, specifically customers who are blind or partially sighted. "Vodacom is proud to be the first operator in South Africa to increase accessibility to cellular communication products and services in line with our Specific Needs Initiative launched in 2004," says Dot Field, Chief Communications Officer, Vodacom Group. Text-to-speech software is loaded onto the Vodacom Speaking Phones that converts the information displayed on the cellphone screen to speech, including text messages and contacts. This software also enables the user to check other information, including battery life and signal strength. Speaking phones are available on Vodacom Contract-, Top Up- and Prepaid packages and are available at participating Vodacom approved outlets. "Vodacom Speaking Phone users will not pay extra for the text-to-speech software as Vodacom has subsidised this cost," says Field. The focus of the Specific Needs Initiative is accessibility: access to the company, access to information and access to Vodacom's products and services for all. Karen Smit, Senior Specialist for Specific Needs and Employment Equity at Vodacom Group and a disabled Vodacom employee herself, highlights the need for such products and services within the cellular industry, "We are proud to be the pioneers of this service in South Africa, and on the continent as a whole. At Vodacom, accessibility is always top of mind and as a disabled person I understand how important independence, accessibility and mobility is." Vodacom will continue to offer the "voice bill" service which allows visually impaired or blind customers access to their itemised billing electronically through reader software on their computers. For more information on Vodacom Speaking Phones, customers can contact Vodacom's dedicated Specific Needs Contact Centre, which aims to provide information and assistance on their products and services to customers with disabilities. The Specific Needs Contact Centre can be reached on 12580, free from a Vodacom cellphone, or on 082 12580 from any other phone (standard rates apply). Customers can also send an SMS to 12580 (free from a Vodacom cellphone) or email to 12580(a)vodacom.co.za. Information is available on the Vodacom website: www.vodacom.co.za, under the Specific Needs section. Ends Issued on behalf of: Dot Field Chief Communications Officer Vodacom Group ##### For Further Information, Please Contact: Nikki van der Westhuizen Meropa Communications +27 11 772 1029 * * __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3450 (20080918) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com _______________________________________________ Physical mailing list Physical(a)napsa.org.za http://lists.napsa.org.za/mailman/listinfo/physical -- "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

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FW: announced: MacArthur Foundation Competition on Participatory Learning (US$2m in awards, international applicants now eligible)
by Edith Adera 18 Sep '08

18 Sep '08

FYI -----Original Message----- From: mtrucano(a)worldbank.org [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 18 September 2008 01:30 To: mtrucano(a)worldbank.org Subject: announced: MacArthur Foundation Competition on Participatory Learning (US$2m in awards, international applicants now eligible) INFORMATIONAL ONLY -- NO NEED TO RESPOND In case it might be of interest to you or someone you know ... -M http://www.dmlcompetition.net/ (Embedded (Embedded image image moved moved to file: to file: pic07950.jpg) pic27594.gif) (Embedded image moved to file: pic16343.gif) $2 Million Digital Media & Learning Competition The MacArthur Foundation, the University of California, Irvine, Duke University, and the virtual network HASTAC announced today a second $2 million competition that focuses on participatory learning, creates an award category for Young Innovators aged 18-25, and for the first time extends eligibility to international applicants. The competition is part of MacArthur's $50 million digital media and learning initiative that aims to help determine how digital technologies are changing the way young people learn, play, socialize, and participate in civic life. Competition winners will join an existing community of awardees that convenes regularly online to participate in webinars on new technology, novel approaches to social networking, and other issues pertinent to participatory learning. They will be invited to showcase their work at an annual conference to include venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, educators, and new media experts seeking the best ideas about digital media and learning. Visit the competition's website for more information on how to apply. (Embedded image moved to file: pic00754.gif) (Embedded image moved to file: pic02481.jpg) (Embedded image moved to file: pic01012.gif) (Embedded image moved to file: pic11672.gif) (Embedded image moved to file: pic23439.jpg) www.macfound.org Connie Yowell Director, Education MacArthur Foundation www.spotlight.macfound.org

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Re: [kictanet] [Skunkworks] Big Bang Replay
by Mike Bullut 17 Sep '08

17 Sep '08

David et al., If I may ask you: *What is the significance of research? *Or more deeply: *What is the purpose of meaning?* I'll leave you to answer the latter question for yourselves. I'm a staunch advocate of research for the reason being most of mankind's greatest advancements wouldn't have seen the light of day if a certain man/woman hadn't taken the initiative to investigate better ways on how to execute certain/everyday tasks. Here are a few of them: - *Alexander Graham Bell & his invention of the telephone. [Communication] * - *Alexander Flemming & his discovery of penicillin. [Medicine]* - *Thomas Edison & his invention of the electric bulb. [Engineering?] * In the advancement of knowledge: - *Albert Einstein & his theory of relativity. [Physics] * - *Alfred Wegner & his theory of continental drift. [Geology, Geography]* - *Charles Darwin & his theory of evolution. [Biology] * - *Nicolaus Copernicus & his theory of heliocentric cosmology. [Astronomy] * Onto the subject of the experiments being conducted at the *Large Hadron Collider <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider>* situated at * CERN, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CERN>* their raison d'être is to scrutinize The Big Bang Theory. One of science's (& life's) greatest mysteries is the origin of everything (the universe, life itself etc). There are two schools of thought that try to illustrate this: Religion & Science. The former explains that the universe was created by a supreme being, God, at the beginning of time & took six days with our Heavenly Father resting on the seventh day. The latter explains that the universe was created in a cataclysmic explosion originating from the most infinitesimal particle of matter which has expanded (over the course of fifteen billion years & counting) to what we observe today through telescopes. Of course, these schools of thought have their respective weaknesses. Religion can't describe how God executed the creation process e.g. did he just snap his fingers when an idea came to mind or did he follow a procedure which culminated in an entity (star, planet, black hole etc)? Forgive me for offending/insulting my fellow Christians but what most of them don't understand is that the Bible is just a chronological series of events & not a biographical-like text. Picture this: the book of Genesis tells us the world was created in six days. How supremely confident are we that these are six *Earth days?* My quagmire is this: *Does time pass at the same rate between us & God?* My answer: *Time Dilation,* i.e. from the perspective of any observer within the same frame of reference & without reference to another frame of reference, time always passes at the same rate. *"According To The Evidence" * <http://www.legendarytimesbooks.com/product.php?productid=179> by Erich Von Daniken gives a good case of this. Science, on the other hand, explains how matter operates (from the atomic level) which answers questions as how the ozone layer is depleted, how the sun creates its energy that sustains life on Earth (though partly) etc though it can't explain who kick-started creation. My school of thought combines both religion & science to explain the origin of everything. My proposition is this: *Science explains how God created & Religion explains why God created.* God used science to create the universe & religion explains why we are here in the first place. Peter, understand why the physicists are conducting these experiments. They just want to find answers to questions that have plagued us since time immemorial. Whether or not they succeed, they'll definitely uncover knowledge that could be beneficial in our comprehension of the universe. Mike. *My blog: http://kipsang.wordpress.com/ * 2008/9/11 David Kago <kago(a)ultimate-security.net> > I have been watching the big bang experiment with interest and was amazed > when they finally announced on the media that they have been able get the > proton beam to go all the way into the supercooled (-273C) 27km tunnel. > While this is a scientific and engineering marvel, the sums spent to set up > the largest machine on earth together are stupendous, $10 billion is not > your everyday lump of cash, that's kenya's 2008/2009 budget; all in the name > of proving a theory... Of whose benefit will it be if they finally prove > that antimatter and dark energy exists... what will quark gluon plasma and > bosons mean to the everyday earthling. I believe science should be used for > the betterment of the human race, not to prove a theory that is infinitely > larger than us. I can see all those suffering masses in the third world who > would have benefited greatly from such funds... > > On a side note, the data produced in the experiment is being channeled > through the other internet (the Grid). Who wouldnt want to download > whole hard disks from halfway around the globe in a few seconds...!!! > > _______________________________________________ > skunkworks mailing list > skunkworks(a)my.co.ke > http://ole.kenic.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks > Blog http://skunkworks-ke.blogspot.com > Beta Blog http://blog.my.co.ke > Get Skunkworks RSS Feeds: http://www.jahazi.com/rss/ > * -- "The computer programmer . . . is a creator of universes for which he alone is the lawgiver. . . . No playwright, no stage director, no emperor, however powerful, has ever exercised such absolute authority to arrange a stage or a field of battle and to command such unswervingly dutiful actors or troops." ~ Joseph Weizenbaum... --*

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Contacts for mpesa / sokotele service
by Patrick Mburu 16 Sep '08

16 Sep '08

Dear good people, Would anyone have contacts for the developers of these services? Or perhaps they r part of this list? Best! Patrick Sent from my iPhone

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Fwd: United States Peace Corps looking for ICT trainer and others...
by waudo siganga 16 Sep '08

16 Sep '08

Hello All - Could interest someone. Sorry if any crosspost. On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:14:33 +0300, "Othieno, Louis" <LOthieno(a)ke.peaceco rps.gov> said: Hello all, Pardon me for emailing without your consent. I need your assistance in getting the information in the attachment to people you might know that are qualified and interested in a short term assignment to train American ICT professionals -mostly context stuff related to application of ICT in developing country situations in general, and Kenya in particular. The job of these Volunteers numbering about 10 will be to locate in a rural setting and use their knowledge of ICT to bring the benefits of ICT to the population within which they are living. This requires them to understand intimately the barriers between people and information technology in rural developing country contexts - and appreciate how they can use their generic knowledge of the technology within our technical context to harness ICT for the benefit of the communities to which the Peace Corps will assign them. If you know someone who is able to engage effectively at these three levels i.e * Moving the technology to the people * Moving the people to the technology * Kenya's technical and policy context with regards to ICT Kindly encourage them to apply before the 24th of September, 2008. I appreciate it. Peruse also the e-leaflet I attach for a quick understanding of what these American Volunteers do. (The leaflet covers business Volunteers as well). If you know of any social-benefit projects needing programmers, computer graphics people, web designers, computer maintenance or plain IT teachers etc - to work for them while located away from Nairobi - send them to me... I appreciate it Cheers all Louis Othieno Associate Director Small Enterprise Development and ICT U.S. PEACE CORPS IN KENYA "The cost of everything has to be paid for somehow. Our human travails, most of the time, avail only in changing who pays, when and how" <<ICT TTF VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT 2008 Sept 09.doc>> <<PROMOTION FLYER.doc>> People make a plan work, a plan alone seldom makes people work (Confucius).

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Kenyan gov't sets up $39 million venture capital fund
by Rebecca Wanjiku 15 Sep '08

15 Sep '08

In case you are interested in daily roundups of tech news, please subscribe to the daily newsletter on the site. Its coming daily. http://computerworld.co.ke/articles/2008/09/15/kenyan-govt-sets-39-million-… Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/

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