Hi, Why should the data be sitting in Kenya is really the question? I will begin with an analogy that will make the concepts clear to even those guys in marketing; a rich person (politically correct statement) who has a plot on the 10th row from the main road currently served by a some-weather road is planning to put up a new palatial home. To improve access the plot there are 2 options; 1. Have the access from the main road to the plot developed to an all weather standard (State lodge Sagana)2. Build a helipad and descend down from above to the house (Ol Pajeta Farm - Adnan Khashoggi) These questions bring forth the issue of Maria Antoinette and the case of having bread or cake for the peasants a.k.a wanainchi, a condition currently being suffered by the blue eyed boys/girls of the post Moi regime. With reference to option 1, the government had the option of buying a presidential chopper for getting him/her to the lodge but instead the road was tarmacked. By tarmacking the road we provide access for all those along the road who would not individually have been able to improve their access. I believe this is what is referred to as natural justice that is practised by even the Hyena. It is the mandate of KICTB to market Kenya as a destination for other peoples data therefore sending our data out is clearly a breach of its mandate. Being the first African country to open its data we have given the rest of the continent the wrong message, nyinyi ni wanainchi lakini kuna wenyeinchi. Even President Obama concurs that when Kenya sneezes Africa gets a cold. The KICTB have opted for option 2 where what matters is how they, the few, can get access to the location without considering how the shamba boy will get to the premises. I am that shamba boy and KICTB has decided that it is not there concern how I get to work, all that matters is that I have been given a job. The government is not a profit making organisation, its mandate is to invest where there is maximum return and benefit to the citizens without creating large disparities amongst the citizenry, therefore we can not look at the local hosting for government as we would when considering Barclay's or Total. The government is supposed to act for the greater good of its people and not to fulfil the whims and desires of a few. If what you are indicating that the data is for use by Kenyans then your hosting overseas is contradictory to your statement. A data centre to host the data already exists in ministry of planning where the censors data is currently housed or treasury where IFMIS is hosted, Simba works fine therefore connectivity within country is not an issue, the national fibre optic network is lit so the data should be accessible across all provincial head quarters and at 500+ post offices (remember PMG in waiting) country wide so why then are we made to believe that we do not have the capacity to host the open data kwani how big are the bytes. Mr. Kukubo, please do not trivialise this issue with smack statements that are intended on making those contributing seem like nincompoops (always wanted to use that word in a sentence). You have turned the industry into a bunch of pathologists who can only deal with cadavers so do not fain shock when we seem disrespectful to the flesh after all there is no intention of putting it back together. @Mr. Kukubo When does the data come BACK home? Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ________________________________ From: Paul Kukubo <pkukubo@ict.go.ke> To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wed, 13 July, 2011 20:12:33 Subject: [kictanet] Fwd: Open Data - Where doe it sit? I would like to shift the discussion if I may to what people can do with the data? What data is missing? how citizens are using it. What possible value additions we can have? Socrata.com is an online hosted service that enables data to be visualized to enable graphs and charts and data comparisons with ease. This visualization is what gives meaning to the data in a way that the common citizens can view it. The benefits of doing this quickly for launch and citizen access far outweigh the cost of waiting for the time it would have taken for us to develop a similar online application locally. One the same website we have published the same lists of data in their original formats. Indeed we have spoken to many software developers who have suggested that they can replicate this The data is there for anyone to replicate it on any website. What we have indicated to software developers is to take the plunge into imagining solutions that are based on have access to that data. This is where the greatest value is. The issue of local hosting has our attention and we will resolve it, not just with a local data centre, that is not the limitation, but the replication of a similar online tool to visualize the data. This campaign has to be about the benefits of open data. Knowledge, empowerment, commerce entrepreneurship, citizen participation. By crusading for, lobbying and obtaining data that was previously only in thick books, PS Dr Ndemo has broken ground for us. By launching this HE President Kibaki has demonstrated Kenya's commitment to citizen access. Once the entrepreneurs developers have a system that can replicate or even improve or add value to Socrata, or even improve on Socrata and Google's public data tools, the hosting decisions will be easy. As an implementing agency, we are committed to working with all to make this happen. There is much to be done. Thank you to those who have emailed us with specific suggestions of encouragement and improvements to this process. The journey has just began. Sent from my iPad Paul Kukubo CEO Kenya ICT Board Tweeter: @pkukubo On 13 Jul 2011, at 17:04, Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau <solo.mburu@gmail.com> wrote:
This is indeed a healthy discussion which I really appreciate. However, as a layman, just as someone pointed out, what exactly is a (open) data centre? And how does it differ to what NBK, KPLC(?), Equity bank have? Where the Kenya Govt Open Data is, sets a curios question: doesn't the govt have plans to have it located locally? And if there are challenged reeling, can't it be brought to the fore, so that we may put our heads together and brainstorm? The idea of some sections of the government classifying information does not go well since the government is nopt an exclusive members club. If by what has been said, of Paul Kukubo 'sitting' on some resources, then it would be prudent to look at the matter in a sober manner and see how they can be put into good use. And, if there are no plans for Kenya to have the data centres locally based for the next three years, then why are we talking of Konza (Malili) ICT City, which would be a perfect place for piloting this DC? A lot of deliberation needs to be made, to realize the establishment of our own DC here.
My 2 cents.
On 13/07/2011, Michuki Mwangi <michuki.mwangi@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Robert,
On 7/13/11 3:31 PM, robert yawe wrote:
Hi Michuki,
Thank you for the information, please give us the following missing information.
1) An Operators license from CCK - ISP, Mobile, etc
I will follow up on the license requirements from CCK but out of curiosity what license do UNON, KRA & NBK have (http://www.tespok.co.ke/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77&Itemid=92 2 <http://www.tespok.co.ke/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77&Itemid=92>) ) just to get a better understanding of the entire process?
Unfortunately our agreement with our members does not permits me to disclose this information. As such, i would defer you to CCK or the members directly to get this information.
2) Fill in the Membership forms
What are the membership fees for application, monthly and annual?
Maybe i should have called them subscription forms and agreements. Fees are payable for on a monthly basis for KIXP peering services.
3) Pay Services fees based on port speed required 10/100/1000 Mbps per month
What are the charges for the various bandwidth connections?
This is an administrative question that you would have to consult the Admin office directly to inquire.
However according to information available on the TESPOK website its Kshs 30,000 for minimum entry which is 10Mbps.
5) lease a circuit from KIXP back to your Premise
Who are the available providers with nodes at KIXP and can provide the backhaul?
Currently there are Jamii, KDN, TKL, Access Kenya, Wananchi Online and Safaricom. As i mentioned earlier - KIXP is carrier neutral facility. Any provider is welcome to build infrastructure to KIXP facilities if they are not there yet.
6) Bring a Router to KIXP for connecting to other Members.
What are the minimum requirements for the router apart from just BGP capability?
In any network, the engineering team should have the skills to determine what router minimum specifications would be sufficient for the organizations peering needs and when upgrades are due etc.
Therefore our specifications are based on wh
-- Paul Kukubo Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board PO Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya 12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960 Fax: +254 20 2211962 website: www.ict.go.ke local content project: www.tandaa.co.ke, www.facebook.com/tandaakenya twitter:@tandaaKENYA BPO Project: www. doitinkenya.co.ke Digital Villages Project: www.pasha.co.ke personal contacts _______________ Cell: + 254 717 180001 skype: kukubopaul googletalk: pkukubo personal blog: www.paulkukubo.co.ke personal twitter: @pkukubo ____________________ Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.u... The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.