Re: [kictanet] Day 3 of 3: 2016 ICT Year in Review Feedback - Information Infrastructure Issues
Blessed new month! Kindly find comments, with thanks! Blessed day. Regards/Wangari Re: [kictanet] Day 3 of 3: 2016 ICT Year in ReviewFeedback - Information Infrastructure IssuesFrom: Walubengo J via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke > To: jwalu@yahoo.com Cc: Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2016 7:23 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 2(a) of 3: 2016 ICT Year in Review Feedback- Human Capital Feedback Thanx Bomu, Wangari, Rop, Barrack, Wambui and others for yourreactions...the floor is actually open for belated reactions on previousthematic areas, just keep the subject line in context. Today we share the feedback on the last thematic area :- InformationInfrastructure as given below. a) 86% of the respondents felt that governmentdigitization (Huduma Centers, eCitizen portal, etc) program has been useful toa very large extent. 12% felt it was moderately useful with a very smallminority1.5 thinking it has not been useful.The usefulness isundoubted when you look at access, possibly when you compare with a past whenit was not as efficient.Kenya has won awardsand honourable global recognition for some of the initiatives such as HudumaCenters.Let us move thediscourse forward now. Is this the best there is?- Could we define afuture then gauge from it- What other practicesare there in other countries- How is the businessand technical community riding on this “like over the top services”Areas to interrogate;- Local supply- Local labourWhat are the declared hiddencosts;- The user pays the feefor the service- There is anadministration fee e.g business name search went higher. What are the undeclaredhidden costs;- Buy a phone that iscompliant- The user absorbs theother hidden costs – internet bundles, cybercafé charge – cybers charge Ksh200-500 to assist with PIN registry plus cybercafé per minute charges- Centralised servicesaway from our local chiefs means transport costs - These undeclaredhidden costs are poverty propagators – the well to do seeking for efficiencymay not feel the pinch loudly, what of the hard-pressed?- Who is benefiting – Phonecompanies, ISPs, local cybersb) 48% of the respondents felt that thedigitization of government operations has gone to the other sectors to amoderate extent. 30% felt this cross-sector absorption of ICTs has not reallyhappened while 10% feel it has to a very large extent.A wholesome survey on the national state would aidto respond to this with affirmative- This is where CSOs plug in and conduct a neutralsurveyPR is important- Discussions in public recently were on how IFMISis said to propagate fraud by senior officials – Governors who definemwananchis mindset a lot. Leaders should be held accountable c) 52% of the respondents felt that the localcontent industry has NOT been well supported. 34% felt it has been moderatelysupported while only 8% felt it has been supported to a very large extent.We need a sharedappreciation of local content – and to broaden the scope- This has been takento be for TV, Radio mainly in the arts. - This would elicit heavy emotions versusrationalisation- Universities and higher level institutions can take this one d) 70% of the respondents felt that the issue ofinformation security has not been adequately addressed. 25% thought it had beenmoderately addressed while only 4% felt it had been addressed to a very largeextent.This must get into the Internet Governanceconversations- Lack of security or protection negates and reduces thethrust of ICTs driving the economyGod is merciful to us certainly because the day “saidfraudstar types” descend, Kenyans are in trouble- As a general public, awareness on security evenphysical security is not an every day factor- This makes digital security a farfetched subjectto most- Until money is involved- Data is conceptualPrivate sector as the provider of services must beincreasingly liable to protect its customers. Consumers trust that the produceris in the market and certified because they offer a good product – which includesprotection from all harm- Might this be a factor in increase in cost ofsome services - Consumer education should be reinforced. ByGovernment, CSOs and private sector – the way a product/service is broadcasted,the dangers should be highlighted tood) The following werementioned as key info-infrastructure interventions that have not beenaddressed/misaddressed: Misguided/aggressive e-Content regulation maybecounter-productive to local content industry. Security surveillance withoutData Protection Act is counter-productive. The Government Shared Serviceconcept still not effective, particularly at County levels. Expand eGovServices to be accessible thro USSD, Improve the user-interface on mostGovernment websites, enhance cyber security and offer public awareness programson the same. The detailed report is attached and we have until tomorrow mid-day toclose this up. --- Pray God Bless. 2013Wangari circa - "Being of the Light, We are Restored Through Faith in Mind, Body and Spirit; We Manifest The Kingdom of God on Earth".
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WANGARI KABIRU