Standards for records management are key to
ensuring people DON’T keep records in whatever format they wish!!! What
constitutes international best practice standards for records keeping? Does
Kenya have this in place? What are the gaps? If Wamukoya and his team could
point out the main gaps for the case of Kenya – we can then begin to make
progress towards rectifying the situation. I agree with Harry for suggesting a
structure face to face with clear action plan for moving forward to correct the
problems.
Gaitho,
“proactive disclosure” may be the way to go for some of these important pieces
of information – that may not be classified as “in the interest of national
security”. For e.g. Canada has proactive disclosure on 1) the travel and
hospitality expenses of senior government officials and the legislation requires
that these are published on the websites of the corporations; 2) contracts entered into by the Government for amounts over $10,000 (with
only limited exceptions such as national security); 3) position reclassifications
etc etc.
According
to Lit, the main areas to consider when dealing with FOI
include:
•
FOI response
process/system
•
Costs of
compliance
•
Time spent
processing requests and
backlogs
•
FOI training and
awareness for public
authorities
•
Senior management’s
role
• Recordkeeping as key to
FOI’s
success
Records management
again is KEY!
From: Macharia Gaitho
[mailto:mgaitho@ke.nationmedia.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011
5:43 PM
To: Edith Adera
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy
Discussions
Subject: RE: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and
records management/More questions
Dear
Listers,
We
are still mixing up two quite separate issues. The librarians and archivists and
registry clerks will store their records in whatever formats they find most
suitable. That is maybe a technical challenge.
Some
of us are more concerned about Freedom of Information as a basic right.
If,
for instance, I wanted records from the Communications Commission of Kenya on
idle broadcast licenses and frequencies hoarded by briefcase operators, or
information from the Dept of Defense on corrupt contract establishing Project
Nexus, I should not turned away on ground that I am too thick to make use of the
information.
Regards,
Macharia
From:
kictanet-bounces+mgaitho=nation.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+mgaitho=nation.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf
Of Edith Adera
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 5:30
PM
To: Macharia Gaitho
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy
Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and
records management/More questions
The
challenge should be thrown to Bwana Ndemo/ICT Board/e-Government Secretariat to
host such a forum…and soon. Any seconders?
Edith
From:
kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of
Harry Delano
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 5:42 PM
To:
Edith Adera
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re:
[kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and records management/More
questions
Grace,
Based on
what I have seen on this list to date, I think if we are to
accord this very important topic
the magnitude
it deserves, we may need a much more larger, multi-stakeholder forum to
tackle
information
management. Perhaps we can dub it "Information Value chain management
for
socio-economic
and political development".
Then
this way, we can tap some of the progressive minds we have in this country,
including our
very own
PS to help us put into sharp focus a more "Knowledge-based" society
that will drive
forward
a "Knowledge-based Economy/Socio-Political agenda"
We need
to scale this to a level at which we can start seeing action and realizing
clearly laid-out
objectives
going forward. Stakeholders really need to stand out and be
counted.
My final
take..
Harry
From:
kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On
Behalf Of Grace Githaiga
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 12:53
AM
To: harry@comtelsys.co.ke
Cc:
kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Freedom of
Information laws and records management/More questions
Great ideas Wamukoya
and Dr. Ndemo
Wamukoya, you raise the same concern
that Dr Ndemo raised earlier in this discussion on how we manage
information. The question that still remains unanswered is: In what formats should this
information be stored in?
I agree with you on the
need for institutions to have proper structures of managing information and I
have in mind institutions such as the Judiciary and the Ministry of Lands.
You are on spot on the need for government bodies to have a systematic approach
towards information management. This question needsd further discussion:
How do we incorporate
records management into discussions about ICT development, e-government
and development generally?
Dr. Ndemo, in your
contribution, you provide this vital information that the government is already
working on data standards for the open data. Could you kindly provide
more information on the process, and for example can people (read
listers) make input?
You raise the issue that there is need
for apps that will make it easier for the public to navigate through and
find information they are looking for. Are you tapping on local talent say
from the ihub?
Listers, please feel free to discuss
these questions and those that have been raised in this debate on aligning records management with
ICT e-government and freedom of information, that you feel need
elaboration. In the meantime we will start putting together points that have
emerged and share once we complete compiling.
Have a great
week.
Rgds
GG
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If
you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is all
about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth and rule
the World!
Date: Sat, 22 Oct
2011 08:03:54 +0100
From: jwamukoya1@yahoo.com
Subject: Re:
[kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and records management/More questions
raised by Dr Ndemo and Harry Delano
CC: kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke
To:
ggithaiga@hotmail.com
Thanks
Dr. Ndemo for your thoughts.It is true that organizations public as well as
private need to manage their information as well as records well enough that
citizens can have access to quality information that will enable them ascertain
their various rights. This will require a more systematic approach in the way we
automate our registries to ensure provision of quality information. Currently,
government efforts in various information sectors such as ICT, e-Government,
Records Management and FOI are disjointed and not adequately coordinated.
Professionals in each sector are doing their own thing without paying attention
to what is happenning in other sectors. We can certainly take this country
places by having in place a more systematic and integrated approach towards
information management with more attention being paid to
standards.
Have a good day.
Justus
From:
"bitange@jambo.co.ke" <bitange@jambo.co.ke>
To: justus wamukoya
<jwamukoya1@yahoo.com>
Cc: "kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke"
<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Sent: Friday, 21 October 2011,
21:05
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and records
management/More questions raised by Dr Ndemo and Harry Delano
Justus,
You are right. The Government actually is a head
in this endeavor considering the fact that most registries would be digitized
before the law is in place. On open data we are working on data standards. We
need more apps to make it easier for the public to navigate through and find
what they want.
People generally would need information that affects
their day to day life. Personally I would need more data or information from
utilities. Here we shall need for example smart grid so that I can understand my
energy consumption. I need to verify what KPLC or City Council bill me. I need
to compare what my physician charges me. I need the hospital to itemise their
billing. This is where we shall have a problem since most of these organization
have no idea what the impact of access to information is all a bout.
Soon
on open data we post school performaces and qualification of teachers. This will
help provide better analtics on why some schools or students perform better than
others.
We simply have to have all the information in digital format. It
will be easier to manage the databases and create more software development
jobs. Digital records are easier to manage, search and greater sharing of
information.
Ndemo.
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