Listers, I am in Nigeria for the launch of the Global Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) which I was appointed the Honorary Chair. This is a diverse and truly global coalition committed to driving down the cost of internet access in less developed countries. We believe that, while technological solutions are advancing rapidly, policy and regulations remain a significant barrier to affordable internet. A4AI seeks to create the conditions for open, competitive and innovative broadband markets through a combination of advocacy, research and knowledge-sharing. When we succeed, we will help to lower access costs to meet the UN Broadband Commission target of broadband access priced at less than 5% of monthly income, thereby helping billions more to come online and unlocking significant socio-economic benefits. Why is A4AI needed? “Estimates suggest that as much as two-thirds of the world’s population is not connected to the internet, with penetration rates in less developed countries averaging around 31%. In Africa, this figure drops to 16% (while in in Kenya we are approaching 40% Liberia is at .5%) and in the world’s 49 least developed countries, over 90% of people are not online. (Source: ITU 2013) and (Broadband Commission 2013) “Most often, this is for affordability reasons. In developed nations, the average cost of broadband internet access is around 1-2% of monthly household income - less than a daily coffee. In less developed countries, this figure skyrockets to over 30%, and in 17 countries a basic internet connection can cost well over 100% of average monthly income. Overcoming this digital divide is critical so that technology and innovation can be harnessed to accelerate progress in areas such as education, food security, job creation, public health, and gender equity.” On A4AI’s goals: “Our primary focus is to reach the UN Broadband Commission Broadband Target of entry-level broadband services priced at less than 5% of average monthly income. In doing so, we hope to enable billions of people to come online (with a particular focus on low-income countries) and make universal access a reality. On Strategy: “Innovative technological solutions to affordability challenges are progressing apace. However, the best technologies in the world can’t drive change if quasi-monopolies or regressive policies prevent them from being implemented. Changes to policy can deliver impressive results, fast. So, through a combination of advocacy, research and knowledge-sharing, A4AI will drive policy change by seeking to create the conditions for open, competitive and innovative broadband markets. We are unique in pursuing this approach.” On Specific Activities: “A4AI is focused on creating conditions for open, competitive and innovative broadband markets via regulatory and policy change. Activities include: original research (including the publication of an annual Affordability Report); publication of regulation and policy best practices, and illustrating these via case studies; and in-country engagements including networking and knowledge-sharing. We will work closely with national governments – three to four countries in year one, expanding to 10 - 12 in years two and three.” How are policies keeping prices high? There are numerous examples of how policies keep prices high. Here are just a handful: • Luxury taxes: Tax accounts for more than 20% of the total cost of mobile ownership in at least 13 African countries. (Source: GSMA 2011) Tax reductions on PCs in Colombia have increased PC penetration by 100% in 2 years, and Internet penetration increased 466% from 2005-2008, versus 161% across the region (source: IDC Colombia 2009). • Access to international gateway: In 8 of 20 African countries surveyed by ISOC there is little or no competition on the international gateway. In the same survey, only one of the 20 countries has fully privatized their incumbent telecoms company. In South Africa firms began deploying open-access metro fibre in 2009, and also furnished a link from Johannesburg to the SEACOM (undersea cable) landing station in order to avoid very high charges proposed by Telkom (the state-owned operator). This helped to slash international capacity prices by over 60%. • Universal Service Funds (USF) for Broadband (example of how policy can lower prices): USFs and similar subsidies improve the availability and affordability of broadband for unserved or underserved citizens. Historically focused on basic telephony services in remote areas, USFs are now being adapted to promote the adoption of broadband by subsidizing content, devices, services, and digital training, as well as infrastructure. USFs can serve as a tool to stimulate demand and increase adoption and use. About A4AI’s membership base: “A4AI is a diverse coalition of over 30 private sector, public sector, and not-for-profit organizations who have come together to advance the shared aim of affordable access to both mobile and fixed-line Internet in developing countries. We are the first truly global coalition to tackle this issue and our members are from both developed and less developed nations. The World Wide Web Foundation, established by web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee, initiated the Alliance.” 1. What, exactly, will A4AI do? A4AI will undertake a blend of international advocacy and research, coupled with on-the-ground work. We’ll be working in three pioneer countries by the end of 2013, and will bring together in-country stakeholders to identify obstacles, how to tackle them and we’ll then help to drive implementation. We will be developing advocacy and policy proposals in conjunction with these stakeholders in each country. We will also continue to press at international level on these issues and our work will be informed by original research – with the first edition of our Annual Affordability report being released in December 2013. We’ll also publish case studies, position papers and briefings on lessons learned throughout the year to share knowledge. 2. What is the relationship between Internet.org and A4AI? While A4AI and Internet.org are two separate organisations, there is a common goal (in addition to common partners in Facebook and Ericsson) of making internet access available to more people around the world. A4AI has a clear focus on policy and regulatory issues surrounding access while Internet.org is focused on identifying technical innovations and new business models that can help drive down the cost of data. Wherever possible, we will we collaborate to maximise impact. Regards. Ndemo.

Ndemo, The timing of A4AI is welcomed, we hope it effects reaches all one way or the other in Africa. This is my hope and I personally I think it can achieve a lot especially in supporting regulatory processes and ensuring that the universal access fund can be a reality in many communities that require that especially for the growth in our education and health care delivery. Peace Poncelet On 9 October 2013 17:51, McTim <dogwallah@gmail.com> wrote:

Bwana,

I have been following A4AI for a couple of months now, am glad to hear you are on board.

Listers, FYI, here are the policy positions they are taking:

http://a4ai.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/A4AI-Best-Practices-launch1.pdf

-- Cheers,

McTim "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel

...

Listers,

I am in Nigeria for the launch of the Global Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) which I was appointed the Honorary Chair. This is a diverse and truly global coalition committed to driving down the cost of internet access in less developed countries. We believe that, while technological solutions are advancing rapidly, policy and regulations remain a significant barrier to affordable internet. A4AI seeks to create the conditions for open, competitive and innovative broadband markets through a combination of advocacy, research and knowledge-sharing. When we succeed, we will help to lower access costs to meet the UN Broadband Commission target of broadband access priced at less than 5% of monthly income, thereby helping billions more to come online and unlocking significant socio-economic benefits.

Why is A4AI needed? “Estimates suggest that as much as two-thirds of the world’s population is not connected to the internet, with penetration rates in less developed countries averaging around 31%. In Africa, this figure drops to 16% (while in in Kenya we are approaching 40% Liberia is at .5%) and in the world’s 49 least developed countries, over 90% of people are not online. (Source: ITU 2013) and (Broadband Commission 2013)

“Most often, this is for affordability reasons. In developed nations,

On Wed, Oct 9, 2013 at 1:21 PM, Bitange Ndemo <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote: the

...

average cost of broadband internet access is around 1-2% of monthly household income - less than a daily coffee. In less developed countries, this figure skyrockets to over 30%, and in 17 countries a basic internet connection can cost well over 100% of average monthly income. Overcoming this digital divide is critical so that technology and innovation can be harnessed to accelerate progress in areas such as education, food security, job creation, public health, and gender equity.”

On A4AI’s goals:

“Our primary focus is to reach the UN Broadband Commission Broadband Target of entry-level broadband services priced at less than 5% of average monthly income. In doing so, we hope to enable billions of people to come online (with a particular focus on low-income countries) and make universal access a reality. On Strategy:

“Innovative technological solutions to affordability challenges are progressing apace. However, the best technologies in the world can’t drive change if quasi-monopolies or regressive policies prevent them from being implemented. Changes to policy can deliver impressive results, fast. So, through a combination of advocacy, research and knowledge-sharing, A4AI will drive policy change by seeking to create the conditions for open, competitive and innovative broadband markets. We are unique in pursuing this approach.”

On Specific Activities:

“A4AI is focused on creating conditions for open, competitive and innovative broadband markets via regulatory and policy change. Activities include: original research (including the publication of an annual Affordability Report); publication of regulation and policy best practices, and illustrating these via case studies; and in-country engagements including networking and knowledge-sharing. We will work closely with national governments – three to four countries in year one, expanding to 10 - 12 in years two and three.”

How are policies keeping prices high?

There are numerous examples of how policies keep prices high. Here are just a handful: • Luxury taxes: Tax accounts for more than 20% of the total cost of mobile ownership in at least 13 African countries. (Source: GSMA 2011) Tax reductions on PCs in Colombia have increased PC penetration by 100% in 2 years, and Internet penetration increased 466% from 2005-2008, versus 161% across the region (source: IDC Colombia 2009). • Access to international gateway: In 8 of 20 African countries surveyed by ISOC there is little or no competition on the international gateway. In the same survey, only one of the 20 countries has fully privatized their incumbent telecoms company. In South Africa firms began deploying open-access metro fibre in 2009, and also furnished a link from Johannesburg to the SEACOM (undersea cable) landing station in order to avoid very high charges proposed by Telkom (the state-owned operator). This helped to slash international capacity prices by over 60%. • Universal Service Funds (USF) for Broadband (example of how policy can lower prices): USFs and similar subsidies improve the availability and affordability of broadband for unserved or underserved citizens. Historically focused on basic telephony services in remote areas, USFs are now being adapted to promote the adoption of broadband by subsidizing content, devices, services, and digital training, as well as infrastructure. USFs can serve as a tool to stimulate demand and increase adoption and use.

About A4AI’s membership base:

“A4AI is a diverse coalition of over 30 private sector, public sector, and not-for-profit organizations who have come together to advance the shared aim of affordable access to both mobile and fixed-line Internet in developing countries. We are the first truly global coalition to tackle this issue and our members are from both developed and less developed nations. The World Wide Web Foundation, established by web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee, initiated the Alliance.”

1. What, exactly, will A4AI do?

A4AI will undertake a blend of international advocacy and research, coupled with on-the-ground work. We’ll be working in three pioneer countries by the end of 2013, and will bring together in-country stakeholders to identify obstacles, how to tackle them and we’ll then help to drive implementation. We will be developing advocacy and policy proposals in conjunction with these stakeholders in each country. We will also continue to press at international level on these issues and our work will be informed by original research – with the first edition of our Annual Affordability report being released in December 2013. We’ll also publish case studies, position papers and briefings on lessons learned throughout the year to share knowledge.

2. What is the relationship between Internet.org and A4AI?

While A4AI and Internet.org are two separate organisations, there is a common goal (in addition to common partners in Facebook and Ericsson) of making internet access available to more people around the world. A4AI has a clear focus on policy and regulatory issues surrounding access while Internet.org is focused on identifying technical innovations and new business models that can help drive down the cost of data. Wherever possible, we will we collaborate to maximise impact.

Regards.

Ndemo.

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

-- Poncelet O. Ileleji MBCS Coordinator The Gambia YMCAs Computer Training Centre & Digital Studio MDI Road Kanifing South P. O. Box 421 Banjul The Gambia, West Africa Tel: (220) 4370240 Fax:(220) 4390793 Cell:(220) 9912508 Skype: pons_utd *www.ymca.gm www.waigf.org www.aficta.org www.itag.gm www.npoc.org http://www.wsa-mobile.org/node/753 *www.diplointernetgovernance.org * *

Congratulations Dr Ndemo for the appointment as the Honorary Chair in A4AI . I have worked with Sonia in the past and the two of you make a formidable team to fight a formidable battle for humanity . thanks also for driving change from where Sir Tim Bernard-lee started off .The battle lines as expressed in the write up are very clear I only have one problem with your strategy -- that build they will come as a strategy need to be re-jigged. As an example, in all countries in Africa, the signal coverage 2G/3G etc is 30-40% more than penetration , the same case for fibre - there are more homes 'passed' than connected . Cost is not the only factor affecting use, indeed empirical research for the communities that can afford the challenge is use value. Content, applications and dynamics of the demand side are very important . I would like to understand A4AI is incorporating demand side component in its strategy . The consumer should not be a passive bystander in your strategy Cheers MM -----Original Message----- From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+muriukimureithi9=gmail.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Bitange Ndemo Sent: 09 October 2013 20:21 To: muriukimureithi9@gmail.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Bringing down the cost of Internet Listers, I am in Nigeria for the launch of the Global Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) which I was appointed the Honorary Chair. This is a diverse and truly global coalition committed to driving down the cost of internet access in less developed countries. We believe that, while technological solutions are advancing rapidly, policy and regulations remain a significant barrier to affordable internet. A4AI seeks to create the conditions for open, competitive and innovative broadband markets through a combination of advocacy, research and knowledge-sharing. When we succeed, we will help to lower access costs to meet the UN Broadband Commission target of broadband access priced at less than 5% of monthly income, thereby helping billions more to come online and unlocking significant socio-economic benefits. Why is A4AI needed? "Estimates suggest that as much as two-thirds of the world's population is not connected to the internet, with penetration rates in less developed countries averaging around 31%. In Africa, this figure drops to 16% (while in in Kenya we are approaching 40% Liberia is at .5%) and in the world's 49 least developed countries, over 90% of people are not online. (Source: ITU 2013) and (Broadband Commission 2013) "Most often, this is for affordability reasons. In developed nations, the average cost of broadband internet access is around 1-2% of monthly household income - less than a daily coffee. In less developed countries, this figure skyrockets to over 30%, and in 17 countries a basic internet connection can cost well over 100% of average monthly income. Overcoming this digital divide is critical so that technology and innovation can be harnessed to accelerate progress in areas such as education, food security, job creation, public health, and gender equity." On A4AI's goals: "Our primary focus is to reach the UN Broadband Commission Broadband Target of entry-level broadband services priced at less than 5% of average monthly income. In doing so, we hope to enable billions of people to come online (with a particular focus on low-income countries) and make universal access a reality. On Strategy: "Innovative technological solutions to affordability challenges are progressing apace. However, the best technologies in the world can't drive change if quasi-monopolies or regressive policies prevent them from being implemented. Changes to policy can deliver impressive results, fast. So, through a combination of advocacy, research and knowledge-sharing, A4AI will drive policy change by seeking to create the conditions for open, competitive and innovative broadband markets. We are unique in pursuing this approach." On Specific Activities: "A4AI is focused on creating conditions for open, competitive and innovative broadband markets via regulatory and policy change. Activities include: original research (including the publication of an annual Affordability Report); publication of regulation and policy best practices, and illustrating these via case studies; and in-country engagements including networking and knowledge-sharing. We will work closely with national governments - three to four countries in year one, expanding to 10 - 12 in years two and three." How are policies keeping prices high? There are numerous examples of how policies keep prices high. Here are just a handful: . Luxury taxes: Tax accounts for more than 20% of the total cost of mobile ownership in at least 13 African countries. (Source: GSMA 2011) Tax reductions on PCs in Colombia have increased PC penetration by 100% in 2 years, and Internet penetration increased 466% from 2005-2008, versus 161% across the region (source: IDC Colombia 2009). . Access to international gateway: In 8 of 20 African countries surveyed by ISOC there is little or no competition on the international gateway. In the same survey, only one of the 20 countries has fully privatized their incumbent telecoms company. In South Africa firms began deploying open-access metro fibre in 2009, and also furnished a link from Johannesburg to the SEACOM (undersea cable) landing station in order to avoid very high charges proposed by Telkom (the state-owned operator). This helped to slash international capacity prices by over 60%. . Universal Service Funds (USF) for Broadband (example of how policy can lower prices): USFs and similar subsidies improve the availability and affordability of broadband for unserved or underserved citizens. Historically focused on basic telephony services in remote areas, USFs are now being adapted to promote the adoption of broadband by subsidizing content, devices, services, and digital training, as well as infrastructure. USFs can serve as a tool to stimulate demand and increase adoption and use. About A4AI's membership base: "A4AI is a diverse coalition of over 30 private sector, public sector, and not-for-profit organizations who have come together to advance the shared aim of affordable access to both mobile and fixed-line Internet in developing countries. We are the first truly global coalition to tackle this issue and our members are from both developed and less developed nations. The World Wide Web Foundation, established by web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee, initiated the Alliance." 1. What, exactly, will A4AI do? A4AI will undertake a blend of international advocacy and research, coupled with on-the-ground work. We'll be working in three pioneer countries by the end of 2013, and will bring together in-country stakeholders to identify obstacles, how to tackle them and we'll then help to drive implementation. We will be developing advocacy and policy proposals in conjunction with these stakeholders in each country. We will also continue to press at international level on these issues and our work will be informed by original research - with the first edition of our Annual Affordability report being released in December 2013. We'll also publish case studies, position papers and briefings on lessons learned throughout the year to share knowledge. 2. What is the relationship between Internet.org and A4AI? While A4AI and Internet.org are two separate organisations, there is a common goal (in addition to common partners in Facebook and Ericsson) of making internet access available to more people around the world. A4AI has a clear focus on policy and regulatory issues surrounding access while Internet.org is focused on identifying technical innovations and new business models that can help drive down the cost of data. Wherever possible, we will we collaborate to maximise impact. Regards. Ndemo. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/muriukimureithi9%40gma il.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. 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.

@Ndemo, Am glad that you now agree with me that the cost of internet particularly in developing countries -including Kenya - is exorbitant. I recall that previously sitting as the policy guy you were quite uncomfortable seeing it this way :-) anyway, I have been trying to study this internet price phenomena over the last 3yrs and perhaps we could meet for coffee and re-compare notes soon. regards. walu. -------------------------------------------- On Wed, 10/9/13, Bitange Ndemo <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote: Subject: Re: [kictanet] Bringing down the cost of Internet To: jwalu@yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Wednesday, October 9, 2013, 8:21 PM Listers, I am in Nigeria for the launch of the Global Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) which I was appointed the Honorary Chair.  This is a diverse and truly global coalition committed to driving down the cost of internet access in less developed countries. We believe that, while technological solutions are advancing rapidly, policy and regulations remain a significant barrier to affordable internet. A4AI seeks to create the conditions for open, competitive and innovative broadband markets through a combination of advocacy, research and knowledge-sharing. When we succeed, we will help to lower access costs to meet the UN Broadband Commission target of broadband access priced at less than 5% of monthly income, thereby helping billions more to come online and unlocking significant socio-economic benefits. Why is A4AI needed? “Estimates suggest that as much as two-thirds of the world’s population is not connected to the internet, with penetration rates in less developed countries averaging around 31%. In Africa, this figure drops to 16% (while in in Kenya we are approaching 40% Liberia is at .5%) and in the world’s 49 least developed countries, over 90% of people are not online. (Source: ITU 2013) and (Broadband Commission 2013) “Most often, this is for affordability reasons. In developed nations, the average cost of broadband internet access is around 1-2% of monthly household income - less than a daily coffee. In less developed countries, this figure skyrockets to over 30%, and in 17 countries a basic internet connection can cost well over 100% of average monthly income. Overcoming this digital divide is critical so that technology and innovation can be harnessed to accelerate progress in areas such as education, food security, job creation, public health, and gender equity.” On A4AI’s goals: “Our primary focus is to reach the UN Broadband Commission Broadband Target of entry-level broadband services priced at less than 5% of average monthly income. In doing so, we hope to enable billions of people to come online (with a particular focus on low-income countries) and make universal access a reality. On Strategy: “Innovative technological solutions to affordability challenges are progressing apace. However, the best technologies in the world can’t drive change if quasi-monopolies or regressive policies prevent them from being implemented. Changes to policy can deliver impressive results, fast. So, through a combination of advocacy, research and knowledge-sharing, A4AI will drive policy change by seeking to create the conditions for open, competitive and innovative broadband markets. We are unique in pursuing this approach.” On Specific Activities: “A4AI is focused on creating conditions for open, competitive and innovative broadband markets via regulatory and policy change. Activities include: original research (including the publication of an annual Affordability Report); publication of regulation and policy best practices, and illustrating these via case studies; and in-country engagements including networking and knowledge-sharing. We will work closely with national governments – three to four countries in year one, expanding to 10 - 12 in years two and three.” How are policies keeping prices high? There are numerous examples of how policies keep prices high. Here are just a handful: • Luxury taxes: Tax accounts for more than 20% of the total cost of mobile ownership in at least 13 African countries. (Source: GSMA 2011)  Tax reductions on PCs in Colombia have increased PC penetration by 100% in 2 years, and Internet penetration increased 466% from 2005-2008, versus 161% across the region (source: IDC Colombia 2009). • Access to international gateway: In 8 of 20 African countries surveyed by ISOC there is little or no competition on the international gateway. In the same survey, only one of the 20 countries has fully privatized their incumbent telecoms company. In South Africa firms began deploying open-access metro fibre in 2009, and also furnished a link from Johannesburg to the SEACOM (undersea cable) landing station in order to avoid very high charges proposed by Telkom (the state-owned operator). This helped to slash international capacity prices by over 60%. • Universal Service Funds (USF) for Broadband (example of how policy can lower prices): USFs and similar subsidies improve the availability and affordability of broadband for unserved or underserved citizens. Historically focused on basic telephony services in remote areas, USFs are now being adapted to promote the adoption of broadband by subsidizing content, devices, services, and digital training, as well as infrastructure. USFs can serve as a tool to stimulate demand and increase adoption and use. About A4AI’s membership base: “A4AI is a diverse coalition of over 30 private sector, public sector, and not-for-profit organizations who have come together to advance the shared aim of affordable access to both mobile and fixed-line Internet in developing countries. We are the first truly global coalition to tackle this issue and our members are from both developed and less developed nations. The World Wide Web Foundation, established by web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee, initiated the Alliance.” 1. What, exactly, will A4AI do? A4AI will undertake a blend of international advocacy and research, coupled with on-the-ground work. We’ll be working in three pioneer countries by the end of 2013, and will bring together in-country stakeholders to identify obstacles, how to tackle them and we’ll then help to drive implementation. We will be developing advocacy and policy proposals in conjunction with these stakeholders in each country. We will also continue to press at international level on these issues and our work will be informed by original research – with the first edition of our Annual Affordability report being released in December 2013.  We’ll also publish case studies, position papers and briefings on lessons learned throughout the year to share knowledge. 2. What is the relationship between Internet.org and A4AI? While A4AI and Internet.org are two separate organisations, there is a common goal (in addition to common partners in Facebook and Ericsson) of making internet access available to more people around the world.  A4AI has a clear focus on policy and regulatory issues surrounding access while Internet.org is focused on identifying technical innovations and new business models that can help drive down the cost of data.  Wherever possible, we will we collaborate to maximise impact. Regards. Ndemo. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. 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.

@Dr. Ndemo are we now saying that this is also the citizens fault? If I can buy a SIM card without registering, I will. The hustle of registering is a waste of my time since it is of no benefit to me. The information is valuable to the government and so the establishment should be at the fore front of ensuring it is collected correctly. That there are fake IDs being made in river road is also the authorities problem. I Imagine they are always better informed than the regular mwananchi what with their network of informants and NIS agents. Discipline comes from the top. On Wed, Oct 9, 2013 at 7:51 PM, Bernard Kioko [Bernsoft Group] < bkioko@bernsoft.com> wrote:

Well said Daktari,

My mind goes wild everytime I imagine 100% compliance in this registration. The m-commerce and e-commerce opportunities that lie hidden by this.

-----Original Message----- From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+bkioko=bernsoft.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Bitange Ndemo Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2013 7:52 PM To: bkioko@bernsoft.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Did I hear Telco CEOs say Everyone is Registered?

Edith, We are just quarrelsome people. We lack the discipline to: take our responsibilities seriously, obey the law, be part of the solution and above all be our brother's keepers. The Ministry did their best in pushing for the registration. It was even forced to change the law in order to do it legally. It is for us and operators to follow the law.

As for what the registration will do to evade terrorists, let us do our part in securing our people. Traceability is critical in any security arrangement.

Ndemo.

...

Listers,

At the press conference yesterday, did the Teleco CEOs say that everyone is registered? A number of people complaining that their phones were switched off last night and they got automated messages indicating that their phones were not registered.

We need to be honest and run this industry professionally! Have we lost direction?

Edith _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

-- Regards, Mark Mwangi markmwangi.me.ke

At the press conference the CEOs lied shamelessly about NOT having unregistered users. Read: http://www.nation.co.ke/news/SIM-cards-registration-security/-/1056/2026234/... Mobile phone firms on Wednesday blocked unregistered SIM cards from their networks following an order by President Kenyatta. The President on Wednesday ordered immediate mop-up of all unregistered SIM cards to prevent their use by criminals. “Move with speed in ensuring that the unregistered SIM cards are disabled completely. We do not want unscrupulous people to use them in perpetrating criminal activities,” he said during a meeting with mobile phone company bosses at State House, Nairobi. TRIED TO MAKE CALLS Numerous numbers from the Safaricom, Airtel, Orange and yu networks were disconnected on Wednesday morning. Safaricom switched off its network on Tuesday between 11pm and midnight. Subscribers who tried to make calls at the time received a message which said: “We cannot complete your request as your phone is not registered.” Subscribers called the Nation newsroom to complain that they had been switched off. “My yu Sim card was working perfectly until yesterday morning when it suddenly lost network. It was registered by the street vendor who sold it to me,” Mr Anthony Mugo said. Mr Mikah Kiptoo, who had an Orange line, said: “I have been browsing on my Orange line since 7am until around 10:30am when my line lost network. I called customer care and was told to visit the nearest Orange agent. My line was switched off without notification.” Safaricom director of corporate affairs, Mr Nzioka Waita, said that he had not received any complaints of blocked SIM cards. He maintained that the company had no unregistered SIM cards accessing its network. yuMobile chief executive Madhur Taneja told the Nation on phone that the SIM disconnection was part of a regular process conducted among customers whose registration details are not convincing. “If a customer’s documentation is not complete, it is nothing new or different, their lines will automatically be disconnected. We advised the customers to resubmit their details. They could have been 100 or even 1,000 customers,” Mr Taneja said. Airtel did not respond to phone calls from the Nation. Communications Commission of Kenya director-general Francis Wangusi warned at a press briefing at the Hotel InterContinental that it would suspend the licences of mobile phone firms if all unregistered SIM cards on their networks were not terminated. The companies were also cautioned to provide updated call records to the regulator. As a lesson to others, the government should seriously consider revoking their work permits for breaking Kenyan law On Wednesday, October 9, 2013 11:43 PM, Bitange Ndemo <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote: Mark, We all have the responsibility to look after one another.  If you see someone selling fake IDs please report.  If someone is selling to you a sim without registering you, refuse and ask them to follow the law.  This is what happens in other countries.  Enforcement of the law is a collective responsibility.  If you see someone pouring cyanide to the water we drink, do you just walk away that it is not your responsibility? Ndemo.

@Dr. Ndemo are we now saying that this is also the citizens fault? If I can buy a SIM card without registering, I will. The hustle of registering is a waste of my time since it is of no benefit to me. The information is valuable to the government and so the establishment should be at the fore front of ensuring it is collected correctly.

That there are fake IDs being made in river road is also the authorities problem. I Imagine they are always better informed than the regular mwananchi what with their network of informants and NIS agents.

Discipline comes from the top.

On Wed, Oct 9, 2013 at 7:51 PM, Bernard Kioko [Bernsoft Group] < bkioko@bernsoft.com> wrote:

...

Well said Daktari,

My mind goes wild everytime I imagine 100% compliance in this registration. The m-commerce and e-commerce opportunities that lie hidden by this.

-----Original Message----- From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+bkioko=bernsoft.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Bitange Ndemo Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2013 7:52 PM To: bkioko@bernsoft.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Did I hear Telco CEOs say Everyone is Registered?

Edith, We are just quarrelsome people.  We lack the discipline to: take our responsibilities seriously, obey the law, be part of the solution and above all be our brother's keepers.  The Ministry did their best in pushing for the registration.  It was even forced to change the law in order to do it legally.  It is for us and operators to follow the law.

As for what the registration will do to evade terrorists, let us do our part in securing our people.  Traceability is critical in any security arrangement.

Ndemo.

...

Listers,

At the press conference yesterday, did the Teleco CEOs say that everyone is registered? A number of people complaining that their phones were switched off last night and they got automated messages indicating that their phones were not registered.

We need to be honest and run this industry professionally! Have we lost direction?

Edith _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

-- Regards,

Mark Mwangi

markmwangi.me.ke

_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ict.researcher%40yahoo... The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. 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.

Mark, Who is the government? Who puts these leaders in their positions? Who vets these leaders before being appointed in Government? Who votes in the MPs? Who are responsible in making them accountable? Who turn the other way when "their person" is on the seat and doing these wrong things? THE BUCK STOPS WITH THE 40 MILLION KENYANS. Time for Kenyans to smell the salt and wake up. Regards, Gilda Odera From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+godera=skyweb.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Mark Mwangi Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2013 9:10 AM To: godera@skyweb.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Did I hear Telco CEOs say Everyone is Registered? Dr.Ndemo, True we are all in this together but what is the point of leadership if it does not lead? My point is that throwing the problem back to the collective gets the government off the hook. Take Westgate mall and Ukay being built on a riparian reserve. We have NEMA, courts of law, Police, Ministries and various other bodies that could have put a stop to this but we now want to throw it back to the corrupt nature of the public? I know it is not very noble to point fingers away from yourself however the buck has to stop somewhere and I doubt it is with 40 million citizens. The government needs support from the public to implement policies but it must be perceived to be acting for the public good and errant officials no matter how high or connected should be punished. We can't keep saying Kenyans need to change as though the Govt is powerless. Everybody's fault is nobody's fault. On Thu, Oct 10, 2013 at 12:48 AM, ICT Researcher <ict.researcher@yahoo.com> wrote: At the press conference the CEOs lied shamelessly about NOT having unregistered users. Read: http://www.nation.co.ke/news/SIM-cards-registration-security/-/1056/2026234/ -/u58ibgz/-/index.html Mobile phone firms on Wednesday blocked unregistered SIM cards from their networks following an order by President Kenyatta. The President on Wednesday ordered immediate mop-up of all unregistered SIM cards to prevent their use by criminals. "Move with speed in ensuring that the unregistered SIM cards are disabled completely. We do not want unscrupulous people to use them in perpetrating criminal activities," he said during a meeting with mobile phone company bosses at State House, Nairobi. TRIED TO MAKE CALLS Numerous numbers from the Safaricom, Airtel, Orange and yu networks were disconnected on Wednesday morning. Safaricom switched off its network on Tuesday between 11pm and midnight. Subscribers who tried to make calls at the time received a message which said: "We cannot complete your request as your phone is not registered." Subscribers called the Nation newsroom to complain that they had been switched off. "My yu Sim card was working perfectly until yesterday morning when it suddenly lost network. It was registered by the street vendor who sold it to me," Mr Anthony Mugo said. Mr Mikah Kiptoo, who had an Orange line, said: "I have been browsing on my Orange line since 7am until around 10:30am when my line lost network. I called customer care and was told to visit the nearest Orange agent. My line was switched off without notification." Safaricom director of corporate affairs, Mr Nzioka Waita, said that he had not received any complaints of blocked SIM cards. He maintained that the company had no unregistered SIM cards accessing its network. yuMobile chief executive Madhur Taneja told the Nation on phone that the SIM disconnection was part of a regular process conducted among customers whose registration details are not convincing. "If a customer's documentation is not complete, it is nothing new or different, their lines will automatically be disconnected. We advised the customers to resubmit their details. They could have been 100 or even 1,000 customers," Mr Taneja said. Airtel did not respond to phone calls from the Nation. Communications Commission of Kenya director-general Francis Wangusi warned at a press briefing at the Hotel InterContinental that it would suspend the licences of mobile phone firms if all unregistered SIM cards on their networks were not terminated. The companies were also cautioned to provide updated call records to the regulator. As a lesson to others, the government should seriously consider revoking their work permits for breaking Kenyan law On Wednesday, October 9, 2013 11:43 PM, Bitange Ndemo <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote: Mark, We all have the responsibility to look after one another. If you see someone selling fake IDs please report. If someone is selling to you a sim without registering you, refuse and ask them to follow the law. This is what happens in other countries. Enforcement of the law is a collective responsibility. If you see someone pouring cyanide to the water we drink, do you just walk away that it is not your responsibility? Ndemo.

@Dr. Ndemo are we now saying that this is also the citizens fault? If I can buy a SIM card without registering, I will. The hustle of registering is a waste of my time since it is of no benefit to me. The information is valuable to the government and so the establishment should be at the fore front of ensuring it is collected correctly.

That there are fake IDs being made in river road is also the authorities problem. I Imagine they are always better informed than the regular mwananchi what with their network of informants and NIS agents.

Discipline comes from the top.

On Wed, Oct 9, 2013 at 7:51 PM, Bernard Kioko [Bernsoft Group] < bkioko@bernsoft.com> wrote:

...

Well said Daktari,

My mind goes wild everytime I imagine 100% compliance in this registration. The m-commerce and e-commerce opportunities that lie hidden by this.

-----Original Message----- From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+bkioko <mailto:kictanet-bounces%2Bbkioko> =bernsoft.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Bitange Ndemo Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2013 7:52 PM To: bkioko@bernsoft.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Did I hear Telco CEOs say Everyone is Registered?

Edith, We are just quarrelsome people. We lack the discipline to: take our responsibilities seriously, obey the law, be part of the solution and above all be our brother's keepers. The Ministry did their best in pushing for the registration. It was even forced to change the law in order to do it legally. It is for us and operators to follow the law.

As for what the registration will do to evade terrorists, let us do our part in securing our people. Traceability is critical in any security arrangement.

Ndemo.

...

Listers,

At the press conference yesterday, did the Teleco CEOs say that everyone is registered? A number of people complaining that their phones were switched off last night and they got automated messages indicating that their phones were not registered.

We need to be honest and run this industry professionally! Have we lost direction?

Edith _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo. co.ke

The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus

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...

The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

-- Regards,

Mark Mwangi

markmwangi.me.ke

_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ict.researcher%40yahoo .com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. 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. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mwangy%40gmail.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. 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. -- Regards, Mark Mwangi markmwangi.me.ke

Mark, If it were not for Prof. Wangari Maathai, there will be no Uhuru Park or Karura Forest. The reason why we always have a balance of power in any democracy is because when one makes either genuine or unintended mistake the other will correct it. If all three do the same, we have civil society to do the job. This is why it is futile to try blame anybody now. The fact is that we are all in it and we should guard against that happening once more. Ndemo.

Dr.Ndemo,

True we are all in this together but what is the point of leadership if it does not lead?

My point is that throwing the problem back to the collective gets the government off the hook. Take Westgate mall and Ukay being built on a riparian reserve. We have NEMA, courts of law, Police, Ministries and various other bodies that could have put a stop to this but we now want to throw it back to the corrupt nature of the public?

I know it is not very noble to point fingers away from yourself however the buck has to stop somewhere and I doubt it is with 40 million citizens. The government needs support from the public to implement policies but it must be perceived to be acting for the public good and errant officials no matter how high or connected should be punished.

We can't keep saying Kenyans need to change as though the Govt is powerless. Everybody's fault is nobody's fault.

On Thu, Oct 10, 2013 at 12:48 AM, ICT Researcher <ict.researcher@yahoo.com>wrote:

...

At the press conference the CEOs lied shamelessly about NOT having unregistered users.

Read: http://www.nation.co.ke/news/SIM-cards-registration-security/-/1056/2026234/...

Mobile phone firms on Wednesday blocked unregistered SIM cards from their networks following an order by President Kenyatta. The President on Wednesday ordered immediate mop-up of all unregistered SIM cards to prevent their use by criminals.

“Move with speed in ensuring that the unregistered SIM cards are disabled completely. We do not want unscrupulous people to use them in perpetrating criminal activities,” he said during a meeting with mobile phone company bosses at State House, Nairobi. * * *TRIED TO MAKE CALLS*

Numerous numbers from the Safaricom, Airtel, Orange and yu networks were disconnected on Wednesday morning.

Safaricom switched off its network on Tuesday between 11pm and midnight.

Subscribers who tried to make calls at the time received a message which said: “We cannot complete your request as your phone is not registered.”

Subscribers called the Nation newsroom to complain that they had been switched off.

“My yu Sim card was working perfectly until yesterday morning when it suddenly lost network. It was registered by the street vendor who sold it to me,” Mr Anthony Mugo said.

Mr Mikah Kiptoo, who had an Orange line, said: “I have been browsing on my Orange line since 7am until around 10:30am when my line lost network. I called customer care and was told to visit the nearest Orange agent. My line was switched off without notification.”

Safaricom director of corporate affairs, Mr Nzioka Waita, said that he had not received any complaints of blocked SIM cards. He maintained that the company had no unregistered SIM cards accessing its network.

yuMobile chief executive Madhur Taneja told the Nation on phone that the SIM disconnection was part of a regular process conducted among customers whose registration details are not convincing.

“If a customer’s documentation is not complete, it is nothing new or different, their lines will automatically be disconnected. We advised the customers to resubmit their details. They could have been 100 or even 1,000 customers,” Mr Taneja said.

Airtel did not respond to phone calls from the Nation.

Communications Commission of Kenya director-general Francis Wangusi warned at a press briefing at the Hotel InterContinental that it would suspend the licences of mobile phone firms if all unregistered SIM cards on their networks were not terminated. The companies were also cautioned to provide updated call records to the regulator.

As a lesson to others, the government should seriously consider revoking their work permits for breaking Kenyan law

On Wednesday, October 9, 2013 11:43 PM, Bitange Ndemo < bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote: Mark, We all have the responsibility to look after one another. If you see someone selling fake IDs please report. If someone is selling to you a sim without registering you, refuse and ask them to follow the law. This is what happens in other countries. Enforcement of the law is a collective responsibility. If you see someone pouring cyanide to the water we drink, do you just walk away that it is not your responsibility?

Ndemo.

...

@Dr. Ndemo are we now saying that this is also the citizens fault? If I can buy a SIM card without registering, I will. The hustle of registering is a waste of my time since it is of no benefit to me. The information is valuable to the government and so the establishment should be at the fore front of ensuring it is collected correctly.

That there are fake IDs being made in river road is also the authorities problem. I Imagine they are always better informed than the regular mwananchi what with their network of informants and NIS agents.

Discipline comes from the top.

On Wed, Oct 9, 2013 at 7:51 PM, Bernard Kioko [Bernsoft Group] < bkioko@bernsoft.com> wrote:

...

Well said Daktari,

My mind goes wild everytime I imagine 100% compliance in this registration. The m-commerce and e-commerce opportunities that lie hidden by this.

-----Original Message----- From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+bkioko=bernsoft.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Bitange Ndemo Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2013 7:52 PM To: bkioko@bernsoft.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Did I hear Telco CEOs say Everyone is Registered?

Edith, We are just quarrelsome people. We lack the discipline to: take our responsibilities seriously, obey the law, be part of the solution and above all be our brother's keepers. The Ministry did their best in pushing for the registration. It was even forced to change the law in order to do it legally. It is for us and operators to follow the law.

As for what the registration will do to evade terrorists, let us do our part in securing our people. Traceability is critical in any security arrangement.

Ndemo.

...

Listers,

At the press conference yesterday, did the Teleco CEOs say that everyone is registered? A number of people complaining that their phones were switched off last night and they got automated messages indicating that their phones were not registered.

We need to be honest and run this industry professionally! Have we lost direction?

Edith _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo . co.ke

The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder

...

for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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

platform privacy,

...

do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.

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...

The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder

...

for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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

platform privacy,

...

do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.

-- Regards,

Mark Mwangi

markmwangi.me.ke

...

_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

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https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke

...

The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder

platform

...

for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus

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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.

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus

<snip>.

That there are fake IDs being made in river road is also the authorities

Where in River Road are fake IDs made? </snip>

problem. I Imagine they are always better informed than the regular mwananchi what with their network of informants and NIS agents.

Discipline comes from the top.

On Wed, Oct 9, 2013 at 7:51 PM, Bernard Kioko [Bernsoft Group] < bkioko@bernsoft.com> wrote:

...

Well said Daktari,

My mind goes wild everytime I imagine 100% compliance in this registration. The m-commerce and e-commerce opportunities that lie hidden by this.

-----Original Message----- From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+bkioko=bernsoft.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Bitange Ndemo Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2013 7:52 PM To: bkioko@bernsoft.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Did I hear Telco CEOs say Everyone is Registered?

Edith, We are just quarrelsome people. We lack the discipline to: take our responsibilities seriously, obey the law, be part of the solution and above all be our brother's keepers. The Ministry did their best in pushing for the registration. It was even forced to change the law in order to do it legally. It is for us and operators to follow the law.

As for what the registration will do to evade terrorists, let us do our part in securing our people. Traceability is critical in any security arrangement.

Ndemo.

...

Listers,

At the press conference yesterday, did the Teleco CEOs say that everyone is registered? A number of people complaining that their phones were switched off last night and they got automated messages indicating that their phones were not registered.

We need to be honest and run this industry professionally! Have we lost direction?

Edith _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

-- Regards,

Mark Mwangi

markmwangi.me.ke

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva twitter.com/lordmwesh google ID | Skype ID: lordmwesh On 9 October 2013 20:16, Mark Mwangi <mwangy@gmail.com> wrote:

@Dr. Ndemo are we now saying that this is also the citizens fault? If I can buy a SIM card without registering, I will. The hustle of registering is a waste of my time since it is of no benefit to me. The information is valuable to the government and so the establishment should be at the fore front of ensuring it is collected correctly.

That there are fake IDs being made in river road is also the authorities problem. I Imagine they are always better informed than the regular mwananchi what with their network of informants and NIS agents.

Discipline comes from the top.

On Wed, Oct 9, 2013 at 7:51 PM, Bernard Kioko [Bernsoft Group] < bkioko@bernsoft.com> wrote:

...

Well said Daktari,

My mind goes wild everytime I imagine 100% compliance in this registration. The m-commerce and e-commerce opportunities that lie hidden by this.

-----Original Message----- From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+bkioko=bernsoft.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Bitange Ndemo Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2013 7:52 PM To: bkioko@bernsoft.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Did I hear Telco CEOs say Everyone is Registered?

Edith, We are just quarrelsome people. We lack the discipline to: take our responsibilities seriously, obey the law, be part of the solution and above all be our brother's keepers. The Ministry did their best in pushing for the registration. It was even forced to change the law in order to do it legally. It is for us and operators to follow the law.

As for what the registration will do to evade terrorists, let us do our part in securing our people. Traceability is critical in any security arrangement.

Ndemo.

...

Listers,

At the press conference yesterday, did the Teleco CEOs say that everyone is registered? A number of people complaining that their phones were switched off last night and they got automated messages indicating that their phones were not registered.

We need to be honest and run this industry professionally! Have we lost direction?

Edith _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

-- Regards,

Mark Mwangi

markmwangi.me.ke

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

"He asks which team I support and when I tell him none, he then says that is why you will never go to world cup." Brilliant :) On Wed, Oct 9, 2013 at 11:54 PM, Bitange Ndemo <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

Three days in Nigeria Standing outside Abuja Airport in the soaring temperatures you get amazed on how similar to Kenya Nigeria is. This is Africa's most populous country. People idling around and women talking animatedly with their hands akimbo and they are larger than you can see in Kenya. I had missed the person who was to pick me up. Oga! Those who walked by me remarked. I assumed it was some greetings to a brother. Colours of their clothing is similar to ours and perhaps the only difference with Kenya is that more men wore multi-colour kanzus. Open shoes, Akala type are more prevalent here.

I walk towards the taxis. They are gentler than I have read in Nigerian literature. They were honest too with the fare to the cities. I had begun to settle down and give Nigeria the benefit of doubt but my mind takes me back to Odili, the narrator in Achebe’s 1966 novel, Man of the People. Also not forgetting the many stories told about Nigerians.

For a while I savor the beauty of Abuja scenery. Green everywhere. It must be within the rain forest. Land is expanse and untilled. I turn my attention to my driver Oku Moses. An affable young man perhaps in his early 30’s. I tell him I am from Kenya and in Abuja for the CTO conference. He smiles broadly and asked me what I thought of Nigeria as if he had read my mind. I said so far so good and immediately I divert his train of thought to football. I tell him Nigeria is the main hindrance to Kenya’s quest to get to World cup. We became friends instantly as he opened up to tell me more.

You see that road, he says it leads to nowhere. Corruption is the only problem here he adds as his tone begin to sound angrier. I calm him down and tell him it happens all over Africa. The 50 kilometer super highway from the airport to Abuja is as good as it gets, actually better than Nairobi Thika highway. The Hotel I am headed to, is called Chelsea, named after the English league team Chelsea. Oku is a fan of Arsenal another English league team. He knows all the players. He asks which team I support and when I tell him none, he then says that is why you will never go to world cup.

At the hotel Oku bids me farewell and hands me his card. Call me he says. I will show you the best of Nigeria. It is still hot and my room was steaming with heat. This three star hotel does not have a centralized AC but I could do with an old cranky stand-alone cooling system. As I cranked it up, it made more noise that I could not listen to news on TV. Then suddenly the lights went off – blackout!!. Outside it was raining heavily. I said Geez this is home but soon some generator boomed just outside my room to bring light. I wished they had shut it down.

Dinner time I joined other colleagues, Sonia, Karin, Robert and John for Dinner. Me and Sonia were the vegetarians and so requested for pasta, the only vegetarian dish on the menu. Alas! when the food came there was chicken on pasta instead of tomato. The young waitress tells me she decided on chicken since there were no tomatoes. After a few exchanges she seems to remember something and says I can make it vegetarian. Wala! like magic she comes back with pasta alone. I said thank you but as I start to eat, I discover or rather the waitress had forgotten that the base was chicken and she had only removed the toppings of chicken. She meant well and wanted to do well but she missed the point.

As I watched Nigerian channels that evening, I say to myself, Nigeria is Kenya and Kenya is Nigeria. We were colonized by the British. We attained independence at about the same time in the 1960s. We have new constitutions with devolved powers. Just like Kenya, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although in Kenya’s 2008 as in Nigeria’s 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, but both countries are experiencing relative peace interrupted by the Al-Shabab and Boka Haram respectively.

On Nigerian TV as in Kenya politicians complain that they need more power to states and counties. They seem not to understand that they are the ones with the power to change legislation and so when they complain, the masses have no representation. They also need more money yet they are the ones who appropriate resources. They complain about soaring crime yet they are the ones who have the mandate to bring better security legislation. On the roads, motor bikes ride on the assumption that every motorist should watch on them. Careless and dangerous like in Kenya. If you admire the cleanliness of Abuja while driving, you will for sure hit one of them. Public places including hotels are guarded by armed policemen.

In my speech at the conference I said I was glad to visit Nigeria, land of Okonkwo from Umuofia (one of a fictional group of nine villages in Nigeria, inhabited by the Igbo people). Only a handful of the people in the audience who knew that I was referring to Achebe’s 1958 novel, Things Fall Apart. Later Funke, a prominent Nigerian businesswoman and friend tells me that intellectualism died in Nigeria. There was a time in Nigeria prominent writers were the role model of society. These were the people who put our oral history on paper but we decided to chase them away. It is sad that Achebe had to die in foreign land alone without his people. I tell Funke, it is so strikingly similar to Kenya that our prominent writers are getting old and wasted away in foreign lands.

Haruna is driving me back to the airport. He like Oku is polite but with much better intellect than an ordinary driver. His grasp of African matters is excellent. Out of the blue he tells me, you worked with government. I tell him yes and I quickly ask him why. No I just wanted to know, he says. Then he tells me that he is driving a car (VX Land Cruiser) that he will never afford to buy in his entire life. I note the ambition in him and tell him that if you know then you are capable of buying the car. I am not in government, he says. I tell him you do not need to be in government to buy the car. You see I was in government but I still cannot drive such a thing. He looks at me then he says, it is by choice on your part. I tipped him $20 and bade him farewell. He was stunned.

I leave Nigeria with many fond memories. It was three days but enough to grasp the dreams of other people. Their desires. Their hopes. We are all the same and hopefully one day we shall change the stigma of corruption by improving the fortunes of our Africa. God bless Africa.

Ndemo.

University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

This is a well written article Daktari. Your power of observation and penchant for detail are an indication that you have other talents outside ICT. I like the irony that when you start off your speech with a joke about Okonkwo, most of the (Nigerian) audience appears not to know who or what you are talking about. Then immediately linking this as a metaphor for the death of intellectualism in Africa is brilliant. Otherwise congratulations on your honorary chairmanship and best wishes to attaining the set goals. Waudo On Wed, Oct 9, 2013, at 11:54 PM, Bitange Ndemo wrote:

Three days in Nigeria Standing outside Abuja Airport in the soaring temperatures you get amazed on how similar to Kenya Nigeria is. This is Africa's most populous country. People idling around and women talking animatedly with their hands akimbo and they are larger than you can see in Kenya. I had missed the person who was to pick me up. Oga! Those who walked by me remarked. I assumed it was some greetings to a brother. Colours of their clothing is similar to ours and perhaps the only difference with Kenya is that more men wore multi-colour kanzus. Open shoes, Akala type are more prevalent here.

I walk towards the taxis. They are gentler than I have read in Nigerian literature. They were honest too with the fare to the cities. I had begun to settle down and give Nigeria the benefit of doubt but my mind takes me back to Odili, the narrator in Achebe’s 1966 novel, Man of the People. Also not forgetting the many stories told about Nigerians.

For a while I savor the beauty of Abuja scenery. Green everywhere. It must be within the rain forest. Land is expanse and untilled. I turn my attention to my driver Oku Moses. An affable young man perhaps in his early 30’s. I tell him I am from Kenya and in Abuja for the CTO conference. He smiles broadly and asked me what I thought of Nigeria as if he had read my mind. I said so far so good and immediately I divert his train of thought to football. I tell him Nigeria is the main hindrance to Kenya’s quest to get to World cup. We became friends instantly as he opened up to tell me more.

You see that road, he says it leads to nowhere. Corruption is the only problem here he adds as his tone begin to sound angrier. I calm him down and tell him it happens all over Africa. The 50 kilometer super highway from the airport to Abuja is as good as it gets, actually better than Nairobi Thika highway. The Hotel I am headed to, is called Chelsea, named after the English league team Chelsea. Oku is a fan of Arsenal another English league team. He knows all the players. He asks which team I support and when I tell him none, he then says that is why you will never go to world cup.

At the hotel Oku bids me farewell and hands me his card. Call me he says. I will show you the best of Nigeria. It is still hot and my room was steaming with heat. This three star hotel does not have a centralized AC but I could do with an old cranky stand-alone cooling system. As I cranked it up, it made more noise that I could not listen to news on TV. Then suddenly the lights went off – blackout!!. Outside it was raining heavily. I said Geez this is home but soon some generator boomed just outside my room to bring light. I wished they had shut it down.

Dinner time I joined other colleagues, Sonia, Karin, Robert and John for Dinner. Me and Sonia were the vegetarians and so requested for pasta, the only vegetarian dish on the menu. Alas! when the food came there was chicken on pasta instead of tomato. The young waitress tells me she decided on chicken since there were no tomatoes. After a few exchanges she seems to remember something and says I can make it vegetarian. Wala! like magic she comes back with pasta alone. I said thank you but as I start to eat, I discover or rather the waitress had forgotten that the base was chicken and she had only removed the toppings of chicken. She meant well and wanted to do well but she missed the point.

As I watched Nigerian channels that evening, I say to myself, Nigeria is Kenya and Kenya is Nigeria. We were colonized by the British. We attained independence at about the same time in the 1960s. We have new constitutions with devolved powers. Just like Kenya, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although in Kenya’s 2008 as in Nigeria’s 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, but both countries are experiencing relative peace interrupted by the Al-Shabab and Boka Haram respectively.

On Nigerian TV as in Kenya politicians complain that they need more power to states and counties. They seem not to understand that they are the ones with the power to change legislation and so when they complain, the masses have no representation. They also need more money yet they are the ones who appropriate resources. They complain about soaring crime yet they are the ones who have the mandate to bring better security legislation. On the roads, motor bikes ride on the assumption that every motorist should watch on them. Careless and dangerous like in Kenya. If you admire the cleanliness of Abuja while driving, you will for sure hit one of them. Public places including hotels are guarded by armed policemen.

In my speech at the conference I said I was glad to visit Nigeria, land of Okonkwo from Umuofia (one of a fictional group of nine villages in Nigeria, inhabited by the Igbo people). Only a handful of the people in the audience who knew that I was referring to Achebe’s 1958 novel, Things Fall Apart. Later Funke, a prominent Nigerian businesswoman and friend tells me that intellectualism died in Nigeria. There was a time in Nigeria prominent writers were the role model of society. These were the people who put our oral history on paper but we decided to chase them away. It is sad that Achebe had to die in foreign land alone without his people. I tell Funke, it is so strikingly similar to Kenya that our prominent writers are getting old and wasted away in foreign lands.

Haruna is driving me back to the airport. He like Oku is polite but with much better intellect than an ordinary driver. His grasp of African matters is excellent. Out of the blue he tells me, you worked with government. I tell him yes and I quickly ask him why. No I just wanted to know, he says. Then he tells me that he is driving a car (VX Land Cruiser) that he will never afford to buy in his entire life. I note the ambition in him and tell him that if you know then you are capable of buying the car. I am not in government, he says. I tell him you do not need to be in government to buy the car. You see I was in government but I still cannot drive such a thing. He looks at me then he says, it is by choice on your part. I tipped him $20 and bade him farewell. He was stunned.

I leave Nigeria with many fond memories. It was three days but enough to grasp the dreams of other people. Their desires. Their hopes. We are all the same and hopefully one day we shall change the stigma of corruption by improving the fortunes of our Africa. God bless Africa.

Ndemo.

University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

Can easily be converted into a book On 10/10/2013, Mark Mwangi <mwangy@gmail.com> wrote:

@Dr. Ndemo I suggest you start a blog and pen down these thoughts for consumption by the public. KICTANET is a great platform but limited in users. I would be the first to subscribe and engage you in the comments instead of filling up peoples mailboxes. Please consider this. It would be an addition to the local content pool (wink wink)

On Thu, Oct 10, 2013 at 8:14 AM, waudo siganga <emailsignet@mailcan.com>wrote:

...

This is a well written article Daktari. Your power of observation and penchant for detail are an indication that you have other talents outside ICT. I like the irony that when you start off your speech with a joke about Okonkwo, most of the (Nigerian) audience appears not to know who or what you are talking about. Then immediately linking this as a metaphor for the death of intellectualism in Africa is brilliant.

Otherwise congratulations on your honorary chairmanship and best wishes to attaining the set goals.

Waudo

On Wed, Oct 9, 2013, at 11:54 PM, Bitange Ndemo wrote:

...

Three days in Nigeria Standing outside Abuja Airport in the soaring temperatures you get amazed on how similar to Kenya Nigeria is. This is Africa's most populous country. People idling around and women talking animatedly with their hands akimbo and they are larger than you can see in Kenya. I had missed the person who was to pick me up. Oga! Those who walked by me remarked. I assumed it was some greetings to a brother. Colours of their clothing is similar to ours and perhaps the only difference with Kenya is that more men wore multi-colour kanzus. Open shoes, Akala type are more prevalent here.

I walk towards the taxis. They are gentler than I have read in Nigerian literature. They were honest too with the fare to the cities. I had begun to settle down and give Nigeria the benefit of doubt but my mind takes me back to Odili, the narrator in Achebe’s 1966 novel, Man of the People. Also not forgetting the many stories told about Nigerians.

For a while I savor the beauty of Abuja scenery. Green everywhere. It must be within the rain forest. Land is expanse and untilled. I turn my attention to my driver Oku Moses. An affable young man perhaps in his early 30’s. I tell him I am from Kenya and in Abuja for the CTO conference. He smiles broadly and asked me what I thought of Nigeria as if he had read my mind. I said so far so good and immediately I divert his train of thought to football. I tell him Nigeria is the main hindrance to Kenya’s quest to get to World cup. We became friends instantly as he opened up to tell me more.

You see that road, he says it leads to nowhere. Corruption is the only problem here he adds as his tone begin to sound angrier. I calm him down and tell him it happens all over Africa. The 50 kilometer super highway from the airport to Abuja is as good as it gets, actually better than Nairobi Thika highway. The Hotel I am headed to, is called Chelsea, named after the English league team Chelsea. Oku is a fan of Arsenal another English league team. He knows all the players. He asks which team I support and when I tell him none, he then says that is why you will never go to world cup.

At the hotel Oku bids me farewell and hands me his card. Call me he says. I will show you the best of Nigeria. It is still hot and my room was steaming with heat. This three star hotel does not have a centralized AC but I could do with an old cranky stand-alone cooling system. As I cranked it up, it made more noise that I could not listen to news on TV. Then suddenly the lights went off – blackout!!. Outside it was raining heavily. I said Geez this is home but soon some generator boomed just outside my room to bring light. I wished they had shut it down.

Dinner time I joined other colleagues, Sonia, Karin, Robert and John for Dinner. Me and Sonia were the vegetarians and so requested for pasta, the only vegetarian dish on the menu. Alas! when the food came there was chicken on pasta instead of tomato. The young waitress tells me she decided on chicken since there were no tomatoes. After a few exchanges she seems to remember something and says I can make it vegetarian. Wala! like magic she comes back with pasta alone. I said thank you but as I start to eat, I discover or rather the waitress had forgotten that the base was chicken and she had only removed the toppings of chicken. She meant well and wanted to do well but she missed the point.

As I watched Nigerian channels that evening, I say to myself, Nigeria is Kenya and Kenya is Nigeria. We were colonized by the British. We attained independence at about the same time in the 1960s. We have new constitutions with devolved powers. Just like Kenya, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although in Kenya’s 2008 as in Nigeria’s 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, but both countries are experiencing relative peace interrupted by the Al-Shabab and Boka Haram respectively.

On Nigerian TV as in Kenya politicians complain that they need more power to states and counties. They seem not to understand that they are the ones with the power to change legislation and so when they complain, the masses have no representation. They also need more money yet they are the ones who appropriate resources. They complain about soaring crime yet they are the ones who have the mandate to bring better security legislation. On the roads, motor bikes ride on the assumption that every motorist should watch on them. Careless and dangerous like in Kenya. If you admire the cleanliness of Abuja while driving, you will for sure hit one of them. Public places including hotels are guarded by armed policemen.

In my speech at the conference I said I was glad to visit Nigeria, land of Okonkwo from Umuofia (one of a fictional group of nine villages in Nigeria, inhabited by the Igbo people). Only a handful of the people in the audience who knew that I was referring to Achebe’s 1958 novel, Things Fall Apart. Later Funke, a prominent Nigerian businesswoman and friend tells me that intellectualism died in Nigeria. There was a time in Nigeria prominent writers were the role model of society. These were the people who put our oral history on paper but we decided to chase them away. It is sad that Achebe had to die in foreign land alone without his people. I tell Funke, it is so strikingly similar to Kenya that our prominent writers are getting old and wasted away in foreign lands.

Haruna is driving me back to the airport. He like Oku is polite but with much better intellect than an ordinary driver. His grasp of African matters is excellent. Out of the blue he tells me, you worked with government. I tell him yes and I quickly ask him why. No I just wanted to know, he says. Then he tells me that he is driving a car (VX Land Cruiser) that he will never afford to buy in his entire life. I note the ambition in him and tell him that if you know then you are capable of buying the car. I am not in government, he says. I tell him you do not need to be in government to buy the car. You see I was in government but I still cannot drive such a thing. He looks at me then he says, it is by choice on your part. I tipped him $20 and bade him farewell. He was stunned.

I leave Nigeria with many fond memories. It was three days but enough to grasp the dreams of other people. Their desires. Their hopes. We are all the same and hopefully one day we shall change the stigma of corruption by improving the fortunes of our Africa. God bless Africa.

Ndemo.

University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

-- Regards,

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markmwangi.me.ke

-- ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva twitter.com/lordmwesh kenya.or.ke | The Kenya we know

Daktari, This is good prose. You should seriously consider a platform for this kind of writing where you weave a narrative with personal observations during formal engagements. A welcome break from your usual policy-style writing. As a parting shot, maybe you should have quoted the more contemporary Chimamanda Adichie instead of Achebe. :) John Masiwe -----Original Message----- From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+jmasiwe=bluegate.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Bitange Ndemo Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2013 11:54 PM To: jmasiwe@bluegate.co.ke Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' Subject: Re: [kictanet] Three days in Nigeria Three days in Nigeria Standing outside Abuja Airport in the soaring temperatures you get amazed on how similar to Kenya Nigeria is. This is Africa's most populous country. People idling around and women talking animatedly with their hands akimbo and they are larger than you can see in Kenya. I had missed the person who was to pick me up. Oga! Those who walked by me remarked. I assumed it was some greetings to a brother. Colours of their clothing is similar to ours and perhaps the only difference with Kenya is that more men wore multi-colour kanzus. Open shoes, Akala type are more prevalent here. I walk towards the taxis. They are gentler than I have read in Nigerian literature. They were honest too with the fare to the cities. I had begun to settle down and give Nigeria the benefit of doubt but my mind takes me back to Odili, the narrator in Achebe's 1966 novel, Man of the People. Also not forgetting the many stories told about Nigerians. For a while I savor the beauty of Abuja scenery. Green everywhere. It must be within the rain forest. Land is expanse and untilled. I turn my attention to my driver Oku Moses. An affable young man perhaps in his early 30's. I tell him I am from Kenya and in Abuja for the CTO conference. He smiles broadly and asked me what I thought of Nigeria as if he had read my mind. I said so far so good and immediately I divert his train of thought to football. I tell him Nigeria is the main hindrance to Kenya's quest to get to World cup. We became friends instantly as he opened up to tell me more. You see that road, he says it leads to nowhere. Corruption is the only problem here he adds as his tone begin to sound angrier. I calm him down and tell him it happens all over Africa. The 50 kilometer super highway from the airport to Abuja is as good as it gets, actually better than Nairobi Thika highway. The Hotel I am headed to, is called Chelsea, named after the English league team Chelsea. Oku is a fan of Arsenal another English league team. He knows all the players. He asks which team I support and when I tell him none, he then says that is why you will never go to world cup. At the hotel Oku bids me farewell and hands me his card. Call me he says. I will show you the best of Nigeria. It is still hot and my room was steaming with heat. This three star hotel does not have a centralized AC but I could do with an old cranky stand-alone cooling system. As I cranked it up, it made more noise that I could not listen to news on TV. Then suddenly the lights went off - blackout!!. Outside it was raining heavily. I said Geez this is home but soon some generator boomed just outside my room to bring light. I wished they had shut it down. Dinner time I joined other colleagues, Sonia, Karin, Robert and John for Dinner. Me and Sonia were the vegetarians and so requested for pasta, the only vegetarian dish on the menu. Alas! when the food came there was chicken on pasta instead of tomato. The young waitress tells me she decided on chicken since there were no tomatoes. After a few exchanges she seems to remember something and says I can make it vegetarian. Wala! like magic she comes back with pasta alone. I said thank you but as I start to eat, I discover or rather the waitress had forgotten that the base was chicken and she had only removed the toppings of chicken. She meant well and wanted to do well but she missed the point. As I watched Nigerian channels that evening, I say to myself, Nigeria is Kenya and Kenya is Nigeria. We were colonized by the British. We attained independence at about the same time in the 1960s. We have new constitutions with devolved powers. Just like Kenya, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although in Kenya's 2008 as in Nigeria's 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, but both countries are experiencing relative peace interrupted by the Al-Shabab and Boka Haram respectively. On Nigerian TV as in Kenya politicians complain that they need more power to states and counties. They seem not to understand that they are the ones with the power to change legislation and so when they complain, the masses have no representation. They also need more money yet they are the ones who appropriate resources. They complain about soaring crime yet they are the ones who have the mandate to bring better security legislation. On the roads, motor bikes ride on the assumption that every motorist should watch on them. Careless and dangerous like in Kenya. If you admire the cleanliness of Abuja while driving, you will for sure hit one of them. Public places including hotels are guarded by armed policemen. In my speech at the conference I said I was glad to visit Nigeria, land of Okonkwo from Umuofia (one of a fictional group of nine villages in Nigeria, inhabited by the Igbo people). Only a handful of the people in the audience who knew that I was referring to Achebe's 1958 novel, Things Fall Apart. Later Funke, a prominent Nigerian businesswoman and friend tells me that intellectualism died in Nigeria. There was a time in Nigeria prominent writers were the role model of society. These were the people who put our oral history on paper but we decided to chase them away. It is sad that Achebe had to die in foreign land alone without his people. I tell Funke, it is so strikingly similar to Kenya that our prominent writers are getting old and wasted away in foreign lands. Haruna is driving me back to the airport. He like Oku is polite but with much better intellect than an ordinary driver. His grasp of African matters is excellent. Out of the blue he tells me, you worked with government. I tell him yes and I quickly ask him why. No I just wanted to know, he says. Then he tells me that he is driving a car (VX Land Cruiser) that he will never afford to buy in his entire life. I note the ambition in him and tell him that if you know then you are capable of buying the car. I am not in government, he says. I tell him you do not need to be in government to buy the car. You see I was in government but I still cannot drive such a thing. He looks at me then he says, it is by choice on your part. I tipped him $20 and bade him farewell. He was stunned. I leave Nigeria with many fond memories. It was three days but enough to grasp the dreams of other people. Their desires. Their hopes. We are all the same and hopefully one day we shall change the stigma of corruption by improving the fortunes of our Africa. God bless Africa. Ndemo. University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jmasiwe%40bluegate.co. ke The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. 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. __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 8897 (20131009) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 8900 (20131010) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com

Daktari, I'm waiting for your blog and book :) Josiah On Thu, Oct 10, 2013 at 3:35 PM, Bitange Ndemo <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

John, Thanks. Achebe is more significant having been the first African to write about Africa in English. We should all remember the icon.

Ndemo.

...

Daktari,

This is good prose. You should seriously consider a platform for this kind of writing where you weave a narrative with personal observations during formal engagements. A welcome break from your usual policy-style writing. As a parting shot, maybe you should have quoted the more contemporary Chimamanda Adichie instead of Achebe. :)

John Masiwe

-----Original Message----- From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+jmasiwe=bluegate.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Bitange Ndemo Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2013 11:54 PM To: jmasiwe@bluegate.co.ke Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' Subject: Re: [kictanet] Three days in Nigeria

Three days in Nigeria Standing outside Abuja Airport in the soaring temperatures you get amazed on how similar to Kenya Nigeria is. This is Africa's most populous country. People idling around and women talking animatedly with their hands akimbo and they are larger than you can see in Kenya. I had missed the person who was to pick me up. Oga! Those who walked by me remarked. I assumed it was some greetings to a brother. Colours of their clothing is similar to ours and perhaps the only difference with Kenya is that more men wore multi-colour kanzus. Open shoes, Akala type are more prevalent here.

I walk towards the taxis. They are gentler than I have read in Nigerian literature. They were honest too with the fare to the cities. I had begun to settle down and give Nigeria the benefit of doubt but my mind takes me back to Odili, the narrator in Achebe's 1966 novel, Man of the People. Also not forgetting the many stories told about Nigerians.

For a while I savor the beauty of Abuja scenery. Green everywhere. It must be within the rain forest. Land is expanse and untilled. I turn my attention to my driver Oku Moses. An affable young man perhaps in his early 30's. I tell him I am from Kenya and in Abuja for the CTO conference. He smiles broadly and asked me what I thought of Nigeria as if he had read my mind. I said so far so good and immediately I divert his train of thought to football. I tell him Nigeria is the main hindrance to Kenya's quest to get to World cup. We became friends instantly as he opened up to tell me more.

You see that road, he says it leads to nowhere. Corruption is the only problem here he adds as his tone begin to sound angrier. I calm him down and tell him it happens all over Africa. The 50 kilometer super highway from the airport to Abuja is as good as it gets, actually better than Nairobi Thika highway. The Hotel I am headed to, is called Chelsea, named after the English league team Chelsea. Oku is a fan of Arsenal another English league team. He knows all the players. He asks which team I support and when I tell him none, he then says that is why you will never go to world cup.

At the hotel Oku bids me farewell and hands me his card. Call me he says. I will show you the best of Nigeria. It is still hot and my room was steaming with heat. This three star hotel does not have a centralized AC but I could do with an old cranky stand-alone cooling system. As I cranked it up, it made more noise that I could not listen to news on TV. Then suddenly the lights went off - blackout!!. Outside it was raining heavily. I said Geez this is home but soon some generator boomed just outside my room to bring light. I wished they had shut it down.

Dinner time I joined other colleagues, Sonia, Karin, Robert and John for Dinner. Me and Sonia were the vegetarians and so requested for pasta, the only vegetarian dish on the menu. Alas! when the food came there was chicken on pasta instead of tomato. The young waitress tells me she decided on chicken since there were no tomatoes. After a few exchanges she seems to remember something and says I can make it vegetarian. Wala! like magic she comes back with pasta alone. I said thank you but as I start to eat, I discover or rather the waitress had forgotten that the base was chicken and she had only removed the toppings of chicken. She meant well and wanted to do well but she missed the point.

As I watched Nigerian channels that evening, I say to myself, Nigeria is Kenya and Kenya is Nigeria. We were colonized by the British. We attained independence at about the same time in the 1960s. We have new constitutions with devolved powers. Just like Kenya, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although in Kenya's 2008 as in Nigeria's 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, but both countries are experiencing relative peace interrupted by the Al-Shabab and Boka Haram respectively.

On Nigerian TV as in Kenya politicians complain that they need more power to states and counties. They seem not to understand that they are the ones with the power to change legislation and so when they complain, the masses have no representation. They also need more money yet they are the ones who appropriate resources. They complain about soaring crime yet they are the ones who have the mandate to bring better security legislation. On the roads, motor bikes ride on the assumption that every motorist should watch on them. Careless and dangerous like in Kenya. If you admire the cleanliness of Abuja while driving, you will for sure hit one of them. Public places including hotels are guarded by armed policemen.

In my speech at the conference I said I was glad to visit Nigeria, land of Okonkwo from Umuofia (one of a fictional group of nine villages in Nigeria, inhabited by the Igbo people). Only a handful of the people in the audience who knew that I was referring to Achebe's 1958 novel, Things Fall Apart. Later Funke, a prominent Nigerian businesswoman and friend tells me that intellectualism died in Nigeria. There was a time in Nigeria prominent writers were the role model of society. These were the people who put our oral history on paper but we decided to chase them away. It is sad that Achebe had to die in foreign land alone without his people. I tell Funke, it is so strikingly similar to Kenya that our prominent writers are getting old and wasted away in foreign lands.

Haruna is driving me back to the airport. He like Oku is polite but with much better intellect than an ordinary driver. His grasp of African matters is excellent. Out of the blue he tells me, you worked with government. I tell him yes and I quickly ask him why. No I just wanted to know, he says. Then he tells me that he is driving a car (VX Land Cruiser) that he will never afford to buy in his entire life. I note the ambition in him and tell him that if you know then you are capable of buying the car. I am not in government, he says. I tell him you do not need to be in government to buy the car. You see I was in government but I still cannot drive such a thing. He looks at me then he says, it is by choice on your part. I tipped him $20 and bade him farewell. He was stunned.

I leave Nigeria with many fond memories. It was three days but enough to grasp the dreams of other people. Their desires. Their hopes. We are all the same and hopefully one day we shall change the stigma of corruption by improving the fortunes of our Africa. God bless Africa.

Ndemo.

University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 8897 (20131009) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

http://www.eset.com

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The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

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University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

-- Josiah Mugambi

@Ndemo I really enjoyed reading your write-up, which was entertaining and enlightening. I also noted that it was published by the Daily Nation "Outside the box" http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/Fond-memories--My-three-days-in-Nigeria/-... ... kudos!! I would also like to congratulate you for been nominated as the Honorary Chair of A4AI. As you work with other stakeholders to help create conditions for open, competive and innovative broadband markets in less developed countries, we would also be glad to support you and A4AI on your mission. It is encouraging to see that Rwanda is setting the pace and moving in the right direction through their public private partnership dubbed "Smart Kigali" http://allafrica.com/stories/201309231105.html Lawrence

Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2013 23:54:05 +0300 From: bitange@jambo.co.ke Subject: Re: [kictanet] Three days in Nigeria CC: kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke To: lnjogu@hotmail.com

Three days in Nigeria Standing outside Abuja Airport in the soaring temperatures you get amazed on how similar to Kenya Nigeria is. This is Africa's most populous country. People idling around and women talking animatedly with their hands akimbo and they are larger than you can see in Kenya. I had missed the person who was to pick me up. Oga! Those who walked by me remarked. I assumed it was some greetings to a brother. Colours of their clothing is similar to ours and perhaps the only difference with Kenya is that more men wore multi-colour kanzus. Open shoes, Akala type are more prevalent here.

I walk towards the taxis. They are gentler than I have read in Nigerian literature. They were honest too with the fare to the cities. I had begun to settle down and give Nigeria the benefit of doubt but my mind takes me back to Odili, the narrator in Achebe’s 1966 novel, Man of the People. Also not forgetting the many stories told about Nigerians.

For a while I savor the beauty of Abuja scenery. Green everywhere. It must be within the rain forest. Land is expanse and untilled. I turn my attention to my driver Oku Moses. An affable young man perhaps in his early 30’s. I tell him I am from Kenya and in Abuja for the CTO conference. He smiles broadly and asked me what I thought of Nigeria as if he had read my mind. I said so far so good and immediately I divert his train of thought to football. I tell him Nigeria is the main hindrance to Kenya’s quest to get to World cup. We became friends instantly as he opened up to tell me more.

You see that road, he says it leads to nowhere. Corruption is the only problem here he adds as his tone begin to sound angrier. I calm him down and tell him it happens all over Africa. The 50 kilometer super highway from the airport to Abuja is as good as it gets, actually better than Nairobi Thika highway. The Hotel I am headed to, is called Chelsea, named after the English league team Chelsea. Oku is a fan of Arsenal another English league team. He knows all the players. He asks which team I support and when I tell him none, he then says that is why you will never go to world cup.

At the hotel Oku bids me farewell and hands me his card. Call me he says. I will show you the best of Nigeria. It is still hot and my room was steaming with heat. This three star hotel does not have a centralized AC but I could do with an old cranky stand-alone cooling system. As I cranked it up, it made more noise that I could not listen to news on TV. Then suddenly the lights went off – blackout!!. Outside it was raining heavily. I said Geez this is home but soon some generator boomed just outside my room to bring light. I wished they had shut it down.

Dinner time I joined other colleagues, Sonia, Karin, Robert and John for Dinner. Me and Sonia were the vegetarians and so requested for pasta, the only vegetarian dish on the menu. Alas! when the food came there was chicken on pasta instead of tomato. The young waitress tells me she decided on chicken since there were no tomatoes. After a few exchanges she seems to remember something and says I can make it vegetarian. Wala! like magic she comes back with pasta alone. I said thank you but as I start to eat, I discover or rather the waitress had forgotten that the base was chicken and she had only removed the toppings of chicken. She meant well and wanted to do well but she missed the point.

As I watched Nigerian channels that evening, I say to myself, Nigeria is Kenya and Kenya is Nigeria. We were colonized by the British. We attained independence at about the same time in the 1960s. We have new constitutions with devolved powers. Just like Kenya, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although in Kenya’s 2008 as in Nigeria’s 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, but both countries are experiencing relative peace interrupted by the Al-Shabab and Boka Haram respectively.

On Nigerian TV as in Kenya politicians complain that they need more power to states and counties. They seem not to understand that they are the ones with the power to change legislation and so when they complain, the masses have no representation. They also need more money yet they are the ones who appropriate resources. They complain about soaring crime yet they are the ones who have the mandate to bring better security legislation. On the roads, motor bikes ride on the assumption that every motorist should watch on them. Careless and dangerous like in Kenya. If you admire the cleanliness of Abuja while driving, you will for sure hit one of them. Public places including hotels are guarded by armed policemen.

In my speech at the conference I said I was glad to visit Nigeria, land of Okonkwo from Umuofia (one of a fictional group of nine villages in Nigeria, inhabited by the Igbo people). Only a handful of the people in the audience who knew that I was referring to Achebe’s 1958 novel, Things Fall Apart. Later Funke, a prominent Nigerian businesswoman and friend tells me that intellectualism died in Nigeria. There was a time in Nigeria prominent writers were the role model of society. These were the people who put our oral history on paper but we decided to chase them away. It is sad that Achebe had to die in foreign land alone without his people. I tell Funke, it is so strikingly similar to Kenya that our prominent writers are getting old and wasted away in foreign lands.

Haruna is driving me back to the airport. He like Oku is polite but with much better intellect than an ordinary driver. His grasp of African matters is excellent. Out of the blue he tells me, you worked with government. I tell him yes and I quickly ask him why. No I just wanted to know, he says. Then he tells me that he is driving a car (VX Land Cruiser) that he will never afford to buy in his entire life. I note the ambition in him and tell him that if you know then you are capable of buying the car. I am not in government, he says. I tell him you do not need to be in government to buy the car. You see I was in government but I still cannot drive such a thing. He looks at me then he says, it is by choice on your part. I tipped him $20 and bade him farewell. He was stunned.

I leave Nigeria with many fond memories. It was three days but enough to grasp the dreams of other people. Their desires. Their hopes. We are all the same and hopefully one day we shall change the stigma of corruption by improving the fortunes of our Africa. God bless Africa.

Ndemo.

University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus

_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

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.

Edith, We are saying the same thing. I say that enforcement of any law is a collective action. The police alone cannot do it and it has never been done anywhere on the globe without collaboration with the governed. Yes the operators should have done what they were supposed to do especially when we had to do everything to have it in law. We should have as citizens sounded an alarm that the operators are not following the law. Further they cannot self incriminate. Let us hear their story first. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. As far as I am concerned we have all fallen short of glory. This below average thing is a disease we must deal with as a people. That is why I am not ready to pass the buck to anybody yet. Ndemo.

Bwana Ndemo,

My beef is with CEOs not telling the truth in public!! You condone it?

We're good at shifting blame. Telcos and CCK have to play their part, period. If it was not done, they should be held liable.

We are too used to getting away with "below average" in Kenya.

If the system worked, no unregistered SIM would have been active anyway, you get my point?

Edith ________________________________________ From: Bitange Ndemo [bitange@jambo.co.ke] Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2013 12:51 PM To: Edith Adera Cc: bitange@jambo.co.ke; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Did I hear Telco CEOs say Everyone is Registered?

Edith, We are just quarrelsome people. We lack the discipline to: take our responsibilities seriously, obey the law, be part of the solution and above all be our brother's keepers. The Ministry did their best in pushing for the registration. It was even forced to change the law in order to do it legally. It is for us and operators to follow the law.

As for what the registration will do to evade terrorists, let us do our part in securing our people. Traceability is critical in any security arrangement.

Ndemo.

...

Listers,

At the press conference yesterday, did the Teleco CEOs say that everyone is registered? A number of people complaining that their phones were switched off last night and they got automated messages indicating that their phones were not registered.

We need to be honest and run this industry professionally! Have we lost direction?

Edith _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

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University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus

University of Nairobi Business School, Lower Kabete Campus