Dear all,

I've gone through the proposed bill.

My quick comments /observations:

  1. The issue of who is an ICT professional (or practitioner) - whatever you're inclined to, has been raised a couple of times, even on this list. Don't forget that. This probably needs to be answered by us. Sweeping it under the carpet might not do, it seems like.
  2. ICTAK to nominate five members to the Council. Really? Why them? Better question, wrong audience? But since the drafter(s) of this bill is/are an 'ICT Practitioner' better s/he explains. Any idea who s/he is? 
  3. The bill is signed off by Aden Duale, as Majority Leader. Who has links to him? Some petition presentation like Kivuva has mentioned might help. But a heart-to-heart chat with him can be a good start, for those 'closer to power'. You know information is power and the bill reeks lack of.
  4. Some of the propositions are plain preposterous, for lack of a better term. The bill forgets how to do deal with aspiring 'ICT Practitioners', those between graduation square and three years experience. Why such a gap? 
  5. Is this the most urgent bill affecting the IT industry in Kenya? My expectation is: Data Protection Bill, Information Bill, Cyber-security bill ... in some logical order. Surely is this the most important thing. Really? That licensing of who does what in the ICT industry? That is why I'm proposing that chat in (3) above.
  6. Overall, the bill looks like a money minting machine: form a Council, get staff, license the 'Practitioners', who pay annual fees etc. Kenya is doing well (although we can do better) in terms of IT development, and some form of an can only derail that journey.
But remember we owe the initiators of this bill an answer to question one, or some education. That, the ICT Professionals only can do!

For those who have the links, do inform the drafters to consult more and better.

My two cents on this, for now!

Best Regards,
Davis M Onsakia
"One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time."

On 6 July 2016 at 09:18, Ahmed Mohamed Maawy via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
Yeah, if you just think about it they definitely used Microsoft Word on a Microsoft Windows machine to draft this bill itself, then go on to dismiss the credentials of the same person who gave them the platforms to do everything electronic. Says a lot. #JustSaying

On Wed, Jul 6, 2016 at 8:23 AM, Stellar Murumba <nstellarnelly@gmail.com> wrote:
Haha I like this one Ahmed. If someone can still deliver to the core even without a degree, does his level of education really matter? Convince me...

Sent from my iPhone

On 6 Jul 2016, at 6:25 AM, Ahmed Mohamed Maawy via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

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Perhaps the other simple question should be: If this was to happen. Shouldn't the ICT Ministry and ICT Authority get directly involved?

I also have one more concern. With the technology arena, why are we going back to hacking Degrees and Diplomas as a pre-requisite to be a fully qualified practitioner? No offence, but doesn't that disqualify Bill Gates and Steve Jobs?

On Wed, Jul 6, 2016 at 1:21 AM, Erick Mwangi via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
Wow seems this has morphed tremendously..

I agree re-Twitter, it will create the necessary traction needed.

Regards,

Eric

On Tue, Jul 5, 2016 at 9:01 PM, Dennis Muthuri via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
Hi Listers,

If you desire to take this to Twitter in protest, kindly use the hashtag #KillTheICTBill

Thanks Mr Mwendwa for those sentiments. Very insightful.

Regards

On 5 Jul 2016, at 10:44 PM, Mwendwa Kivuva <Kivuva@transworldafrica.com> wrote:

Well, I have read the bill so that I cannot say "nilisomewa". It's quite short and I encourage everybody who is affected by it to read it.

Some preliminary issues on the Bill after reading it:
1. There is established an ICT Practitioners Institute
2. Information Communication Technology Association of Kenya nominates 5 people on the Board of the Institute. How many guys here are members of the ICT Association? Is it the bonafide body to represent all ICT practitioners in Kenya?
3. All ICT practitioners must be registered and licensed as ICT practitioners on payment of annual fees. 
4. You must have a Diploma or Degree to qualify for registration as an ICT partitioner. Just think about Bill Gates and Zuckerberg. Non of them graduated from college, but they changed the world in their own small way.
5. You must have five years experience to practice ICT.
5. The example of Bill Gates and Zuckerberg is the best yet, of permission-less innovation 
6. A person shall not operate an ICT firm unless it is registered by the Institute and has paid annual membership.
7. A person shall not be entitled to recover a fee for ICT services, unless such person is licensed under this Act.

So my mechanic diagnoses my car using a computer, and does computerised wheel balancing. They may now be prepared to get licensed. 

Well this bill affects all techies and consultants alike. The bill makes it illegal to practice your trade without being licensed. It's preposterous at best, morally criminal maybe. It locks out opportunities for the young passionate innovators who do wonders without ever stepping in college. ICT allows these young fellows permission-less innovation. They sit behind a computer and write beautiful code that changes the world. It is heart-aching that those who thrived in an open dynamic ICT environment in Kenya now want to lock up the industry as a preserve of the few. Washindwe kabisa.

Well, the constitutions allows enough consultation before any bill is passed in parliament. If you feel your interests are not taken care by the new bill, then now is the time to raise your voice or forever keep your cool. We will deliver our petition to the relevant offices.

Peace.


______________________
Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
twitter.com/lordmwesh



On 5 July 2016 at 22:16, Dennis Muthuri via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
Hi Listers,

This is a google doc(https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lZ8m3WSH2JQSzTMBC8bkLRH8y2zzjyM9TzuUhGzOW0s/edit) that has been created by Nanjira(https://twitter.com/NiNanjira). Kindly fill it with all questions you have regarding the Bill.

Thanks. 


Dennis Muthuri Mburugu
Skype: dennis.muthuri | Tel: +(254)714590654






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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.



--
Ahmed Maawy
Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
Curator - Global Shapers Mombasa Hub
Ambassador - Open Knowledge
Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
(KE) +254 714 960 627
Skype: ultimateprogramer

swahilibox.co.ke
globalshapers.org
www.okfn.org
startupgrind.com
ajplus.net
www.everylayer.com

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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.