Friends Standards that allow data interchange should be a core component of this discussion. On freedom of information and how it is applied in the western world, the basis is that citizens have right of access to information, especially information used to reach decisions that impact the citizenry. It is rooted in the need for transparency and used as a weapon against those that may take advantage of their positions for the benefits of specific interests. Indeed, implied in this is inherent suspicion of government that can become wayward (Nixon in the white house or rogue experiments like Tuskegee, etc) and hence should be held in check. While confidentiality of information is a necessity, especially in matters of national security, courts in the west have been used to strike the balance between a right to know and national interest/security/privacy/etc. One last comment: I read recently an article where the author talks of  about factors that would have a competitive edge in the future for nations. The author's conclusion  (I cannot find it now) is that those that are able to transform data to knowledge which then informs decisions will be ahead. We have yet to see the commoditization of knowledge as (say) manufacturing and I am not sure we will ever get there; and for reasons that what we infer from a data set is purely based on our own prior knowledge, and the filters we apply to the data. We are on the right cause when we challenge policy and decision makers to ground their work in knowledge derived from experiences and realities. Baadaye.   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, CISSP; mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.;  www.aganoconsulting.com; Twitter: nmatunda;  Skype: okiambe ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be prepared to face ICT Security failures & know how to respond when they happen! Call: +1-888-587-1150 or info@aganoconsulting.com  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk I have a workstation…" - Anonymous ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). 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Thank you. ________________________________ From: "kictanet-request@lists.kictanet.or.ke" <kictanet-request@lists.kictanet.or.ke> To: mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 5:00 AM Subject: kictanet Digest, Vol 53, Issue 114 Send kictanet mailing list submissions to     kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit     http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to     kictanet-request@lists.kictanet.or.ke You can reach the person managing the list at     kictanet-owner@lists.kictanet.or.ke When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of kictanet digest..." Today's Topics:   1. Re: Freedom of Information laws and records management/More       questions (Grace Githaiga) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:53:10 +0000 From: Grace Githaiga <ggithaiga@hotmail.com> To: <jwamukoya1@yahoo.com> Cc: kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke Subject: Re: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and records     management/More questions Message-ID: <BAY151-W192052C2F1445A45C85144B4EE0@phx.gbl> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Great ideas Wamukoya and Dr. Ndemo Wamukoya, you raise the same concern that Dr Ndemo raised earlier in this discussion on how we manage information. The question that still remains unanswered is: In what formats should this information be stored in? I agree with you on the need for institutions to have proper structures of managing information and I have in mind institutions such as the Judiciary and the Ministry of Lands.  You are on spot on the need for government bodies to have a systematic approach towards information management. This question needsd further discussion: How do we incorporate records management into discussions about ICT development, e-government and development generally? Dr. Ndemo, in your contribution, you provide this vital information that the government is already working on data standards for the open data. Could you kindly provide more information on the process, and for example can people (read listers) make input? You raise the issue that there is need for apps that will make it easier for the public to navigate through and find information they are looking for. Are you tapping on local talent say from the ihub? Listers, please feel free to discuss these questions and those that have been raised in this debate on aligning records management with ICT e-government and freedom of information, that you feel need elaboration. In the meantime we will start putting together points that have emerged and share once we complete compiling. Have a great week. Rgds GG ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is all about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth and rule the World! Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2011 08:03:54 +0100 From: jwamukoya1@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and records management/More questions raised by Dr Ndemo and Harry Delano CC: kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke To: ggithaiga@hotmail.com Thanks Dr. Ndemo for your thoughts.It is true that organizations public as well as private need to manage their information as well as records well enough that citizens can have access to quality information that will enable them ascertain their various rights. This will require a more systematic approach in the way we automate our registries to ensure provision of quality information. Currently, government efforts in various information sectors such as ICT, e-Government, Records Management and FOI are disjointed and not adequately coordinated. Professionals in each sector are doing their own thing without paying attention to what is happenning in other sectors. We can certainly take this country places by having in place a more systematic and integrated approach towards information management with more attention being paid to standards. Have  a good day. Justus From: "bitange@jambo.co.ke" <bitange@jambo.co.ke> To: justus wamukoya <jwamukoya1@yahoo.com> Cc: "kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Friday, 21 October 2011, 21:05 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and records management/More questions raised by Dr Ndemo and Harry Delano Justus, You are right. The Government actually is a head in this endeavor considering the fact that most registries would be digitized before the law is in place. On open data we are working on data standards. We need more apps to make it easier for the public to navigate through and find what they want. People generally would need information that affects their day to day life. Personally I would need more data or information from utilities. Here we shall need for example smart grid so that I can understand my energy consumption. I need to verify what KPLC or City Council bill me. I need to compare what my physician charges me. I need the hospital to itemise their billing. This is where we shall have a problem since most of these organization have no idea what the impact of access to information is all a bout. Soon on open data we post school performaces and qualification of teachers. This will help provide better analtics on why some schools or students perform better than others. We simply have to have all the information in digital format. It will be easier to manage the databases and create more software development jobs. Digital records are easier to manage, search and greater sharing of information. Ndemo.