Is Kenya Really Going Digital and Open?
Bwana Ndemo, I trust this finds you well in the new year. Today, I patriotically sent someone to the Ministry of Tourism to pick a promotional DVD, Video or other digital products on Kenya for use in an event that will include foreigners so as to portray Kenya in good light thinking I'm being the good Kenyan that we should all be. The librarian asked to speak to me and told me that I must first "write a letter" to the Ministry formally requesting the materials!, then it has to be discussed with the boss and a formal approval given before I can get a copy, which she has. I could not believe my ears! Are we back to the snail mail era where you receive no reply? What will become of your efforts on local content? how about access to information (which in this case is surely far from secret!). They proudly pay CNN millions of dollars to advertise Kenya, while Kenyans making an effort to promote their country, for free, have no access to the materials!! Could you advice me how best I can access the materials I need! Edith
Edith, Perhaps, the process is a way of "vetting" would be genuine "promoters" from those who may have "ulterior" motives - Maybe, there might be genuine concerns (may be misplaced), based on the sensitivity of the information you are seeking. I do not know what rules are employed in the Library there - But again I think some formal process being employed like in other libraries is in order, when picking the material there. Perhaps the issue here is the bureaucracy at play. We have to cut through this "Red Tape' thing of "You have to speak to my superior". I agree, to cut this whole process down, the best thing is to avail content online for public consumption. Harry -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Edith Adera Sent: Friday, January 08, 2010 2:22 PM To: harry@comtelsys.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Is Kenya Really Going Digital and Open? Bwana Ndemo, I trust this finds you well in the new year. Today, I patriotically sent someone to the Ministry of Tourism to pick a promotional DVD, Video or other digital products on Kenya for use in an event that will include foreigners so as to portray Kenya in good light thinking I'm being the good Kenyan that we should all be. The librarian asked to speak to me and told me that I must first "write a letter" to the Ministry formally requesting the materials!, then it has to be discussed with the boss and a formal approval given before I can get a copy, which she has. I could not believe my ears! Are we back to the snail mail era where you receive no reply? What will become of your efforts on local content? how about access to information (which in this case is surely far from secret!). They proudly pay CNN millions of dollars to advertise Kenya, while Kenyans making an effort to promote their country, for free, have no access to the materials!! Could you advice me how best I can access the materials I need! Edith _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: harry@comtelsys.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/harry%40comtelsys.co.ke
Talking of digital content -> having a couple of such videos available online from (e.g) the Min of Tourism website would be useful. I do not see what is sensitive about a video that is similar to what shows as as ad on CNN available from the Min of Tourism. If anything it would be in the country's interest. I think it is 'red tape' though. Regards, -- Josiah Mugambi Mike Ditka <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mike_ditka.html> - "If God had wanted man to play soccer, he wouldn't have given us arms." On Fri, Jan 8, 2010 at 5:13 PM, Harry Delano <harry@comtelsys.co.ke> wrote:
Edith,
Perhaps, the process is a way of "vetting" would be genuine "promoters" from those who may have "ulterior" motives - Maybe, there might be genuine concerns (may be misplaced), based on the sensitivity of the information you are seeking. I do not know what rules are employed in the Library there - But again I think some formal process being employed like in other libraries is in order, when picking the material there.
Perhaps the issue here is the bureaucracy at play. We have to cut through this "Red Tape' thing of "You have to speak to my superior".
I agree, to cut this whole process down, the best thing is to avail content online for public consumption.
Harry
-----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry <kictanet-bounces%2Bharry>=comtelsys.co.ke@ lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Edith Adera Sent: Friday, January 08, 2010 2:22 PM To: harry@comtelsys.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Is Kenya Really Going Digital and Open?
Bwana Ndemo,
I trust this finds you well in the new year.
Today, I patriotically sent someone to the Ministry of Tourism to pick a promotional DVD, Video or other digital products on Kenya for use in an event that will include foreigners so as to portray Kenya in good light thinking I'm being the good Kenyan that we should all be.
The librarian asked to speak to me and told me that I must first "write a letter" to the Ministry formally requesting the materials!, then it has to be discussed with the boss and a formal approval given before I can get a copy, which she has. I could not believe my ears! Are we back to the snail mail era where you receive no reply?
What will become of your efforts on local content? how about access to information (which in this case is surely far from secret!). They proudly pay CNN millions of dollars to advertise Kenya, while Kenyans making an effort to promote their country, for free, have no access to the materials!!
Could you advice me how best I can access the materials I need!
Edith _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: harry@comtelsys.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at
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Edith, While it's not my wish to believe there is a thick red tape in our govt, I find it rather amusing to note that not all departments are willing to go digital. Red tape is making Kenyans fear our govts for any service. I hope someone is listening to these legitimate grievances! On 08/01/2010, Harry Delano <harry@comtelsys.co.ke> wrote:
Edith,
Perhaps, the process is a way of "vetting" would be genuine "promoters" from those who may have "ulterior" motives - Maybe, there might be genuine concerns (may be misplaced), based on the sensitivity of the information you are seeking. I do not know what rules are employed in the Library there - But again I think some formal process being employed like in other libraries is in order, when picking the material there.
Perhaps the issue here is the bureaucracy at play. We have to cut through this "Red Tape' thing of "You have to speak to my superior".
I agree, to cut this whole process down, the best thing is to avail content online for public consumption.
Harry
-----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Edith Adera Sent: Friday, January 08, 2010 2:22 PM To: harry@comtelsys.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Is Kenya Really Going Digital and Open?
Bwana Ndemo,
I trust this finds you well in the new year.
Today, I patriotically sent someone to the Ministry of Tourism to pick a promotional DVD, Video or other digital products on Kenya for use in an event that will include foreigners so as to portray Kenya in good light thinking I'm being the good Kenyan that we should all be.
The librarian asked to speak to me and told me that I must first "write a letter" to the Ministry formally requesting the materials!, then it has to be discussed with the boss and a formal approval given before I can get a copy, which she has. I could not believe my ears! Are we back to the snail mail era where you receive no reply?
What will become of your efforts on local content? how about access to information (which in this case is surely far from secret!). They proudly pay CNN millions of dollars to advertise Kenya, while Kenyans making an effort to promote their country, for free, have no access to the materials!!
Could you advice me how best I can access the materials I need!
Edith _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: harry@comtelsys.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/harry%40comtelsys.co.ke
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-- Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau P.O. Box 19343 - 00202 Nairobi Cell: (+254-0) 735 431041 Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the same way to the side of a hill! AND It is better to die in dignity than in the ignomity of ambiguous generosity! http://dawn-in-kenya.blogspot.com http://smiley2.wordpress.com http://mburu.sikika.co.ke
Edith, While it's not my wish to believe there is a thick red tape in our govt, I find it rather amusing to note that not all departments are willing to go digital. Red tape is making Kenyans fear our govt for any service. I hope someone is listening to these legitimate grievances! On 08/01/2010, Solomon Mburu Kamau <solo.mburu@gmail.com> wrote:
Edith, While it's not my wish to believe there is a thick red tape in our govt, I find it rather amusing to note that not all departments are willing to go digital. Red tape is making Kenyans fear our govts for any service. I hope someone is listening to these legitimate grievances!
On 08/01/2010, Harry Delano <harry@comtelsys.co.ke> wrote:
Edith,
Perhaps, the process is a way of "vetting" would be genuine "promoters" from those who may have "ulterior" motives - Maybe, there might be genuine concerns (may be misplaced), based on the sensitivity of the information you are seeking. I do not know what rules are employed in the Library there - But again I think some formal process being employed like in other libraries is in order, when picking the material there.
Perhaps the issue here is the bureaucracy at play. We have to cut through this "Red Tape' thing of "You have to speak to my superior".
I agree, to cut this whole process down, the best thing is to avail content online for public consumption.
Harry
-----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Edith Adera Sent: Friday, January 08, 2010 2:22 PM To: harry@comtelsys.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Is Kenya Really Going Digital and Open?
Bwana Ndemo,
I trust this finds you well in the new year.
Today, I patriotically sent someone to the Ministry of Tourism to pick a promotional DVD, Video or other digital products on Kenya for use in an event that will include foreigners so as to portray Kenya in good light thinking I'm being the good Kenyan that we should all be.
The librarian asked to speak to me and told me that I must first "write a letter" to the Ministry formally requesting the materials!, then it has to be discussed with the boss and a formal approval given before I can get a copy, which she has. I could not believe my ears! Are we back to the snail mail era where you receive no reply?
What will become of your efforts on local content? how about access to information (which in this case is surely far from secret!). They proudly pay CNN millions of dollars to advertise Kenya, while Kenyans making an effort to promote their country, for free, have no access to the materials!!
Could you advice me how best I can access the materials I need!
Edith _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: harry@comtelsys.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/harry%40comtelsys.co.ke
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-- Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau P.O. Box 19343 - 00202 Nairobi Cell: (+254-0) 735 431041
Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the same way to the side of a hill!
AND
It is better to die in dignity than in the ignomity of ambiguous generosity!
http://dawn-in-kenya.blogspot.com http://smiley2.wordpress.com http://mburu.sikika.co.ke
-- Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau P.O. Box 19343 - 00202 Nairobi Cell: (+254-0) 735 431041 Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the same way to the side of a hill! AND It is better to die in dignity than in the ignomity of ambiguous generosity! http://dawn-in-kenya.blogspot.com http://smiley2.wordpress.com http://mburu.sikika.co.ke
Dear Colleagues - sorry to interject your lively discussions for info on USTTI courses. The US Telecommunications Training Institute (http://ustti.org) has just published its 2010 training schedule and this could be of interest to some. Please visit the site. The USTTI is a non-profit joint venture between leading US based communications and IT corporations and leaders of the Federal government who together provide tuition-free management, policy and technical training for talented professionals from the developing world. A number of Kenyans have gained from the training in the past so feel free to carefully review the diverse 2010 curriculum and apply. One of the exciting offerings will be an Analog to Digital Television seminar in May. Kind Regards, Waudo What is possible must be done; what is impossible can be done.
Edith, I hear you but I believe and hope this is not the norm. I believe during my undergraduate days the lady in question would have been referred to as an 'information sink'. I also think Harry has a point, but hey couldn't we marry the two and just send an email that could easily be responded to in less than 24 hours. The email could be to the Librarian copied to the Boss... then we can boast that we are really part of the Digital Age. However, you must follow up with a phone-call to such institutions to ensure your email has been read. Nevertheless, I can slowly see the debate on Local Content issues creeping in.........maybe it is about time we ironed out some of these issues. Happy New Year y'all, Nyaki ________________________________ From: Harry Delano <harry@comtelsys.co.ke> To: elizaslider@yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Fri, January 8, 2010 5:13:41 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Is Kenya Really Going Digital and Open? Edith, Perhaps, the process is a way of "vetting" would be genuine "promoters" from those who may have "ulterior" motives - Maybe, there might be genuine concerns (may be misplaced), based on the sensitivity of the information you are seeking. I do not know what rules are employed in the Library there - But again I think some formal process being employed like in other libraries is in order, when picking the material there. Perhaps the issue here is the bureaucracy at play. We have to cut through this "Red Tape' thing of "You have to speak to my superior". I agree, to cut this whole process down, the best thing is to avail content online for public consumption. Harry -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Edith Adera Sent: Friday, January 08, 2010 2:22 PM To: harry@comtelsys.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Is Kenya Really Going Digital and Open? Bwana Ndemo, I trust this finds you well in the new year. Today, I patriotically sent someone to the Ministry of Tourism to pick a promotional DVD, Video or other digital products on Kenya for use in an event that will include foreigners so as to portray Kenya in good light thinking I'm being the good Kenyan that we should all be. The librarian asked to speak to me and told me that I must first "write a letter" to the Ministry formally requesting the materials!, then it has to be discussed with the boss and a formal approval given before I can get a copy, which she has. I could not believe my ears! Are we back to the snail mail era where you receive no reply? What will become of your efforts on local content? how about access to information (which in this case is surely far from secret!). They proudly pay CNN millions of dollars to advertise Kenya, while Kenyans making an effort to promote their country, for free, have no access to the materials!! Could you advice me how best I can access the materials I need! Edith _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: harry@comtelsys.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/harry%40comtelsys.co.ke _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: elizaslider@yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizaslider%40yahoo.com
Hey Liz, True, true.. and this "Digitization" would ultimately save everyone quite alot... While at it, it reminds me Bob's email this morning on Digitalizing Traffic management. Some chopper this evening kept criss-crossing the city's' skies, ostensibly to keep an eye on traffic, I suppose. Can we purposely, and quickly offer help here, to save the millions being burnt up obove our heads...? Ultimately, strategically placed Traffic Cameras can relay the relevant info on the situation on the ground much faster, and cost effectively so that we can move forward on the gains so far achieved in the industry Harry _____ From: Catherine Adeya [mailto:elizaslider@yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 2:15 PM To: harry@comtelsys.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Is Kenya Really Going Digital and Open? Edith, I hear you but I believe and hope this is not the norm. I believe during my undergraduate days the lady in question would have been referred to as an 'information sink'. I also think Harry has a point, but hey couldn't we marry the two and just send an email that could easily be responded to in less than 24 hours. The email could be to the Librarian copied to the Boss... then we can boast that we are really part of the Digital Age. However, you must follow up with a phone-call to such institutions to ensure your email has been read. Nevertheless, I can slowly see the debate on Local Content issues creeping in.........maybe it is about time we ironed out some of these issues. Happy New Year y'all, Nyaki _____ From: Harry Delano <harry@comtelsys.co.ke> To: elizaslider@yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Fri, January 8, 2010 5:13:41 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Is Kenya Really Going Digital and Open? Edith, Perhaps, the process is a way of "vetting" would be genuine "promoters" from those who may have "ulterior" motives - Maybe, there might be genuine concerns (may be misplaced), based on the sensitivity of the information you are seeking. I do not know what rules are employed in the Library there - But again I think some formal process being employed like in other libraries is in order, when picking the material there. Perhaps the issue here is the bureaucracy at play. We have to cut through this "Red Tape' thing of "You have to speak to my superior". I agree, to cut this whole process down, the best thing is to avail content online for public consumption. Harry -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Edith Adera Sent: Friday, January 08, 2010 2:22 PM To: harry@comtelsys.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Is Kenya Really Going Digital and Open? Bwana Ndemo, I trust this finds you well in the new year. Today, I patriotically sent someone to the Ministry of Tourism to pick a promotional DVD, Video or other digital products on Kenya for use in an event that will include foreigners so as to portray Kenya in good light thinking I'm being the good Kenyan that we should all be. The librarian asked to speak to me and told me that I must first "write a letter" to the Ministry formally requesting the materials!, then it has to be discussed with the boss and a formal approval given before I can get a copy, which she has. I could not believe my ears! Are we back to the snail mail era where you receive no reply? What will become of your efforts on local content? how about access to information (which in this case is surely far from secret!). They proudly pay CNN millions of dollars to advertise Kenya, while Kenyans making an effort to promote their country, for free, have no access to the materials!! Could you advice me how best I can access the materials I need! Edith _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: harry@comtelsys.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/harry%40comtelsys.co.ke _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: elizaslider@yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizaslider%40yahoo.com
Dear All. Happy new year. The post from Ms Adera is what I would term as critical to success of any Digital Initiative that any company or country wishes to undertake. But I'd like to let Dr Ndemo off the hook this once. There are obviously many layers to going 'digital' many of which lie outside of the technical realm per se. To every employee in the ministry of tourism, promotion of local as well international tourism should permeate every employees conscious to a point where, CD, brochures etc should to dished out to all visitors in the ministry as a matter of course not of a conscious plan to 'go digital'. Its why the ministry exists!SO obviously going digital is not to blame. I would go as far as saying lack of initiative and fear of doing some work are the culprits right there! I do believe that Dr Ndemo has his work cut out for him in a few ways, but the real challenge is not his per se. It would be a mockery of the system if as a result of Ediths post some 'action' to put the librarian in place was achieved. Knee jerk reactions wont solve the problem. As long as the Public officers do not see themselves as needing to work for a living, we will always face red tape which if you were to look for the procedures of the ministry might not even exist in the first place. I bring this up to illustrate the 'special' status that the public officers are often given ( or give themselves) in this whole going digital discussion. There is often a lot of talk on the need for seminars, training, over the top procurement of simple equipment etc in their corridors as part of a 24 month implementation initiative. There is also a lot of talk of internet access to public offices etc. with bandwith subsidy almost choking the finance departments! But is this the crux of the matter? Isnt it time that we looked at the whole issue differently? We need to realise that there needs to be real attitude shifts talking into account that although processes will not change just move faster, that the digital world will mean faster decision making ( on simple commonsense items like promotional CD's at the very least?). More awareness of ones role in their work places and A real customer orientation as information access has expanded exponentially already? We also need to take into account that there is real technophobia leading to techno-rejection and even in some cases techno-sabotage albeit subconsciously. As an example to support my wild assertion in the above paragraph. Note how slowly ICT related activity and projects are implemented? One may say this is the norm but I work intimately with one public office that has been in the media a lot lately, and I have watched with amusement how all ICT related projects are treated with a real sense of fear like they are an epidemic about to happen specifically to Ministry staff only. As a last note I would like to point out that going digital is not as expensive both financially and Human resource wise as it will always be made to look by our public offices. It also has little to do with age of the digital convertees - so to speak- It is really about change in attitude and the need to put a price on public jobs - and creative some service orientation in the systems. I never heard of Nokia or samsung holding classes anywhere for their soon to be users. Nor did I ever go to a Nokia shop and wait for the sales person to get permission to let me try out a new phone or get a brochure. Is this commons sense or consciousness of role? Are we really dealing with the real issues here? I'll bet that the librarian who 'assisted' Edith's representative has a mobile phone which she uses very confidently - is that not a huge step in going digital ???? regards Faima On Fri, Jan 8, 2010 at 2:22 PM, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke> wrote:
Bwana Ndemo,
I trust this finds you well in the new year.
Today, I patriotically sent someone to the Ministry of Tourism to pick a promotional DVD, Video or other digital products on Kenya for use in an event that will include foreigners so as to portray Kenya in good light thinking I'm being the good Kenyan that we should all be.
The librarian asked to speak to me and told me that I must first "write a letter" to the Ministry formally requesting the materials!, then it has to be discussed with the boss and a formal approval given before I can get a copy, which she has. I could not believe my ears! Are we back to the snail mail era where you receive no reply?
What will become of your efforts on local content? how about access to information (which in this case is surely far from secret!). They proudly pay CNN millions of dollars to advertise Kenya, while Kenyans making an effort to promote their country, for free, have no access to the materials!!
Could you advice me how best I can access the materials I need!
Edith _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: fbasly1@gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/fbasly1%40gmail.com
participants (7)
-
Catherine Adeya -
Edith Adera -
Faima Basly -
Harry Delano -
Josiah Mugambi -
Solomon Mburu Kamau -
waudo siganga