Hi,

I finally got a chance to look through the presentation you sent me concerning the marine cable issue, which was comprehensive.

My suggestion is that you call all the ISPs and give them this presentation so that they can stop, once and for all, passing the buck for failing the Nation and keeping us in the stone age of connectivity.

From the presentation it is clear that the marine cable on its own was not the panacea for high internet charges and slow connectivity, we did not understand that the model for Internet access in the US cannot be applied in countries outside that continent as the bulk of the content is resident in the US.

For a long time, over 12 years ago when I wrote an article for an IT magazine that was called Micro Computer Guide, I was called the village madman for advocating about the need to develop local content.  I was incensed by the action by the then Karisa Communications (Makatiani & Ngeno) later AfricaOnline to shut down their bulleting board based service to provide us with the so called Internet connection yet we where on the right track as we created local content out of necessity.

Today I believe I stand exonerated as ISP’s finally confirm that the marine cable is not going to bring down the cost of Internet access, you wonder why we have wasted the past 3 years singing its praises.

I say PS Ndemo, in his personal capacity and on behalf of all the agencies under his ministry (ICT board, e-government, CCK & other), owes the country an apology for taking us on a wild goose chase. PS Ndemo the creation of local content falls smack in your docket and I have said this before all the government has to do is digitize all those reports in their possession beginning with the constitution, sessional papers, census, exam results, list of village polytechnics and the presidents diary then we can all move from their.

Again thanks Walubengo.