Dear All,

The Kenya ICT Board will be holding the Kenya Content Conference dubbed "TANDAA 2008". Tandaa is Kiswahili for spread or network

(verb). Tandaa '08 is to be a platform for Kenyan entrepreneurs, educationists, policy makers and others to discuss the emerging

opportunities that are being facilitated by better internet access in Kenya.

Tandaa's theme this year is 'Telling our Story… The Kenyan Story'.

The Kenya ICT Board will be discussing its Local Content Development programme that is geared towards stimulating the development of Local Content by Kenyans for the Kenyan and global marketplace. This programme is complimentary to the board's rural inclusion programme, the Pasha Centre project, that is going to assist entrepreneurs to set up internet telecentres in all parts of Kenya.

The Ministry of Information and Communication has been implementing the development of ICT Infrastructure – including the undersea fibre optic cable that will connect Kenya to the global internet grid and the National Optic Fibre network both of which are expected to be

completed by mid-2009. In line with this, the Kenya ICT Board has targeted to grow internet usage by 50% annually from the current 3

Million users to 12 Million users in 2012.

Some of the major issues that will be discussed at Tandaa '08 include:-

1. Once the fibre optic cable networks are in place and the question of access to high speed internet is sorted out, what will Kenyans view, read and interact with online? What information, services and goods will they be able to access? The dearth of local content on local web sites to be used for education, entertainment and business presents opportunities for Kenyans of all walks of life.

2. The e-Government secretariat will be presenting the ongoing initiatives by government to provide e-services as well as the opportunities for content developers to interface with government processes to add value to their web content.

3. To encourage entrepreneurs to invest in local content development, there will be a discussion regarding the development and

stimulation of a venture capital framework and the strengthening of incubation in Kenya to stimulate entrepreneurship.

4. A number of presentations will also deal with the ways in which Kenyans can identify the opportunities and build viable economic

structures for the development of local content.

Speakers at Tandaa '08 include:-

Dr. Bitange Ndemo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications; Dr. Juma Oketch, Secretary, eGovernment (Office of the President); Paul Kukubo, CEO, Kenya ICT Board, Patrick Spencer, Cisco IBSG; Joseph Mucheru, Google Kenya; Ian Fernandez, Nation Media Group; Chris Kirubi, MD, Capital Group; Aly-Khan Satchu, RICH.co.ke; Andrew Muigai, africapoint.com; Nik Nesbitt, Kencall Ltd, among others.

REGISTRATION

All are invited to the conference. Please register on tandaa.co.ke or

email: tandaa08@ict.go.ke.

Lucy Gachui-Odhiambo

Communications Manager

Kenya ICT Board

12th Floor Telposta Towers

Koinange Lane

PO Box 27150 - 00100
Nairobi, Kenya

Cell 0737- 839047

Tel: 254-020-2093040