Dear Mark, 

We will agree to disagree on the importance of controlling the state's monitoring ability. 

I agree that debate can focus on whether we should be spending billions on a system that can be done just as well manually. I think we just went through this with the voter ID kits which were very expensive and failed miserably. 

Mark has a good point about the potential for corruption here. 

Yours, Rigia


On Fri, Aug 22, 2014 at 9:10 AM, Mark Mwangi via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
For starters the government does not need a biometric database to stop movement or find you if it so wished. 

We don't live in vacuums. There are neighbours, friends, workmates, M Pesa, and your friendly neighbourhood informant ready to rattle off your patterns and habits.

Govt has these details anyway if you have been issued with an ID. 

Debate should be on why we need a fangled system worth billions to simply take fingerprints again and a passport photo. 




On Fri, Aug 22, 2014 at 4:56 PM, S.M. Muraya via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

Civil society pushed a constitution that will be used to turn some counties into theocracies.

We have already heard some Kenyans state their religion is above the law/constitution, knowing well it is exempted from the bill of rights.

On Aug 22, 2014 4:18 PM, "Warigia Bowman via kictanet" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
Yes, I would rather have a database in civil society's hands. And further, there is no need to have the database be biometric, unless your goal is to track people, find out whether they are crossing borders and controlling their movements. 

Imagine if Moi had a biometric database of dissidents? 

Now, a basic database of citizens that was open is a different matter. 

Yours, Rigia


On Thu, Aug 21, 2014 at 10:40 PM, mkawasi <mkawasi@gmail.com> wrote:
Warigia, 

I agree. Citizen databases are a control tool for govt. That's why they should not be in the hands of governments. In citizens' hands, they can be a great empowering tool (mobilization & organization, brain-banking, lobbying, etc). It would be the most powerful tool for diaspora. Mk




From my Android phone on T-Mobile. The first nationwide 4G network.

Warigia Bowman <warigia@gmail.com> wrote:
Mpendwa Ndugu Kariuki

It is never too late in the day to fight for our freedom. You are very correct that we need an appropriate legal and institutional framework to deal with the matter, as well as a vigorous public debate about the pros and cons of this policy.

I think that my US passport is connected to a biometric database, but my US drivers' license is not.

I remain skeptical. I think that biometric databases are a form of command and control of the population. Check out the book Seeing Like A State by Scott.

Sincerely, Warigia




On Thu, Aug 21, 2014 at 1:10 PM, John Kariuki <ngethe.kariuki2007@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Warigia,

I see where you are going and I ,with very good reasons, share your concerns. However,it is a bit late in the day to go that way because a substantial number of governments even  in democratic countries have already implemented biometric databases.
What we lack in Kenya is the appropriate legal and institutional framework to deal with the matter.This include lack of any(let  alone adequate) legislation on personal data protection.When prepared this would require to be bechmarked with the best international practices,  including UNGA Guidelines for the Regulation of Computerised Personal Data Files,Resolution 45/95 of 14 December 1990,CoE Convention on Data Protection and EU Directive 95/46/EC on Data Protection.

My 2 cents,

John Kariuki.


On Monday, 18 August 2014, 22:35, Warigia Bowman via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:


Dear colleagues,

I think creating biometric databases of all citizens can reduce our civil liberties, but others may disagree.

Thoughts?

Rigia


On Sun, Aug 17, 2014 at 2:54 AM, Ngigi Waithaka via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
This is interesting,  why?
1. PPPs should be guided by an open and transparent process where GoK advertises for those with intent to partner to apply.
This didn't happen.
2. If there is no competition, how do we ensure we are getting value for money?
3. Whatever happened to building some of these solutions locally. Yet another 1000 software engineers jobs we have exported to Israel to help them build more bombs to break up Gaza!
Waithaka Ngigi
Alliance Technologies
Nairobi, Kenya
On 17 Aug 2014 01:04, "S.M. Muraya via kictanet" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
Not sure why we need Israelis to build this database for Kenya. They could guide/train us but it is not for non Kenyans to lead its development and management. 


Kenyan State to partner with Israeli firm to create online database of Kenyans

Note comments made in 2009..... 

Israel Poised To Pass National I.D. Database Law

By Nathan Jeffay

Published August 12, 2009, issue of August 21, 2009.

HAIFA, ISRAEL — Israel may become the only democratic country to take biometric information from all citizens and store it in a database.

The plan, approved by a Knesset committee and set for a final vote in the fall, is expected to pass easily, as the largest opposition party and the government support the bill. But that apparently won’t prevent outraged human rights organizations, academics and grass-roots activists from spending the rest of the summer protesting the plan.

Champions of the database say it is crucial for Israel’s security. “The danger to the state in the present situation, in which there is no database of biometric information, is critical,” according to Kadima lawmaker Meir Sheetrit, who drafted the bill.

But opponents say that it actually will jeopardize security. “If such a database gets in the hands of a foreign country or terrorist organization, they will be able to identify any Israeli anywhere by their fingerprints or their picture,” claimed computer security expert Eli Biham, dean of computer science at Israel’s leading high-tech research institution, the Haifa-based Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.


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Dr. Warigia Bowman
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Clinton School of Public Service
University of Arkansas
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--
Dr. Warigia Bowman
Assistant Professor 
Clinton School of Public Service
University of Arkansas
-------------------------------------------------
View my research on my SSRN Author page:
http://ssrn.com/author=1479660
--------------------------------------------------



--
Dr. Warigia Bowman
Assistant Professor 
Clinton School of Public Service
University of Arkansas
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View my research on my SSRN Author page:
http://ssrn.com/author=1479660
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Regards,

Mark Mwangi

markmwangi.me.ke





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Assistant Professor 
Clinton School of Public Service
University of Arkansas
wbowman@clintonschool.uasys.edu
-------------------------------------------------
View my research on my SSRN Author page:
http://ssrn.com/author=1479660
--------------------------------------------------