Thanks for great moderation. I would like to share with the Senator some pointers that I had shared earlier with CS Mucheru when he was confirmed by the president for his second term as CS.
1. The ICT Policy 2016. This is at the cabinet level. In your own words. We urge you to do your utmost to have it on the first cabinet meeting agenda.
How can the Senate assist the CS to actualize this?
2. I will be asking KICTANet to put together a list of critical bills we feel deserve to be tabled in parliament before the first quarter is over. We intend to crowdsource this and help your ministry craft the best language for them that is in the best interest of the ICT community and the country.
We would like to ensure we coordinate with the Senate to enable us avoid any Silos effect. Ours is be able to assist as citizens to move this ICT Policy engagement to another level so that we truly live up to our Silicon Savannah Title.
3. The Universal Access Fund. The country is not feeling the impact of these billions. It needs an injection of Steroids. We urge you to pay close attention to this fund and it’s activities. Many Kenyans are being disenfranchised because of connectivity issues. The current CA Statistics in my humble opinion is the stuff of fiction. Internet connectivity penetration at 112% (51 million users)? :-)
No need to emphasize this more. I believe the point is made.
4. Representation and public participation in major decisions affecting our industry. We are stakeholders. We humbly ask that the ministry looks beyond KEPSA when it talks of stakeholders. We commit to engage with respect, vigor and with an open mind.
We humbly ask the Senate to continue in this spirit. Senator Halake has shown great leadership and we applaud her for this engagement. Let us continue to engage widely as enshrined in our constitution.
5. Policy direction. This touches on the ICT Policy document now at Cabinet. Once this document is ready for execution we expect it to be implemented with vigor. We are your soldiers on this.
As it is with the Senate. Consider us your foot soldiers.
Ali Hussein
Principal
Hussein & Associates
+254 0713 601113
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." ~ Aristotle
Sent from my iPad
Good morning Listers!
If you are just joining us, this is a series where we tell the Senate ICT Committee what we think should be in their agenda 2017-2022. Today our goal is to give very specific proposals on legislative and oversight interventions informed by the issues we highlighted yesterday. Those of us who gave proposals in their submissions yesterday, please do not tire, you may bring them up again today. By the way, the Day 1 discussion is not closed, please keep adding your contributions.
We will dedicate the earlier part of the day to the legislative role of the Senate. I will come back later on and pose more questions on oversight, budget and sharing of revenue.
I ask–
(a) What ICT laws ought to be passed between now and 2022?
Here you may comment on the Bills currently in circulation or make legislative proposals that the Committee can pick up and commission into the drafting of a Bill. Comments on Bills that would stifle ICT are also welcome.
(b) What laws need to be amended?
Keep in mind that the legislative role of the Senate as stated in Article 96 is limited to Bills concerning counties. Therefore, in your proposals, make a case on how that issue is one that concerns counties. (PS; the definition of that proviso is very controversial).
Let us participate!