On Wed, Jul 13, 2011 at 8:12 PM, Paul Kukubo <pkukubo@ict.go.ke> wrote:

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?

I hope you've added my request for the debt datasets.

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.

This is the whole problem right here with a wrong approach by developing countries governments. Please stop burying your heads in the sand.. How can Kenyan developers or companies compare developments level to match that of Socrata ( Most likely VC funded, development investments probably running into millions of dollars ) or Google ( a multi-million dollar global industry leader on its own ). How are you expecting kenyan developers/companies to put literally millions of shillings into a system over night that there is no base foundation to build upon? The VC system works in developed countries, it will not work here in the technology sector, that is why there is not much happening in the software development sectors. It is imperative for the Govt to be the critical catalyst in early stages of such projects and also provide the financial rewards for creativity. When is the Govt going to announce a developer challenge for the creation and hosting of the replacement of the Socrata system with our own definitions of requirements and rollout for local companies to participate in the creation of the ultimate core system?

Let this be a beginning of what the future of Kenya holds for local development, which will compliment the Open Data Initiative.