I think step one is to critically examine the merits and demerits of this project as is happening on other lists. We have had beautiful projects that went down the drain like Nyayo Bus and Nyayo Car that were well thought out and ill conceived, we have another opportunity and a fresh 50 years to start afresh,there is a difference between having laptops in school and using laptops to educate our children, as it is we are too fazed with having laptops in schools that we are forgeting the noble objective of using the laptops to educate. School is an eco-system hence in my humble opinion the first phase is to gather stakeholders in this eco-system and walk with them in the entire project, this is not a government project, neither is it a projects for kids, its for Kenyans because Tax payers will foot the bill. Our immediate Concern as the Internet Society would be CyberSecurity and ensuring the Security of our Children Online, this is what we would need to monitor in our local neighborhoods apart from supporting the teachers. Probably we would start by identifying a list of Volunteers so that we inform the necessary authorities and see how we can complement the efforts of stakeholders in implementing the presidential directive. My two apples On Tue, Jun 4, 2013 at 9:24 PM, WANGARI KABIRU <wangarikabiru@yahoo.co.uk>wrote:

Happy Thursday!

I hope you are all well.

As the " Internet Community" could we start by volunteering time and skills and going into schools to support with Training on user skills for Teachers and pupils... and even within our neighborhoods.

There is high Tech-starvation and truly the big plans for the country in Vision 2030 require another type of Kenyan to survive in it.

Capitalism was replaced by Talentism which is today leveraged by Techism - let us give this generation this great chance to be global from birth , this (may have ) by-passed most of us and we are playig cathc up.

I believe this moment is similar to probably over 50years ago when a then nationalised Government declared that school books would be given free in schools. It must have sounded rather as hypothetics, which version would be given etc- today it is the norm and as the years have evolved, competitive factors have allowed the school books market to be cut-throat and of highier quality than at the start.

Rising up should in no way be mistaken for lukewarm acceptance, room for lack of accountability and low standards or ignorance to other pressing issues. It is actually clarity on what a success this may be. It reminds me of my college President's words " trust the process" or at least do what you must to make it work.

Now has anyone so far invent a trackable computer or one that is anti-theft; where I have been to this would be the main challenge. Or I guess the other option is to make laptops so regular that it is not worth pinching the neighbors or it is easy to get a replacement.

This is the closest we are getting to have "Internet for all in Kenya". There must be a strong start, as the Internet Community it is time to rise up!

Have a pleasant day.

Regards/Wangari

--- 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".

--- On *Tue, 4/6/13, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com>* wrote:

From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [ISOC_KE] [kictanet] President Kenyatta secures Microsoft support for computers To: "Walubengo J" <jwalu@yahoo.com> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>, " isoc@orion.my.co.ke" <isoc@orion.my.co.ke> Date: Tuesday, 4 June, 2013, 15:09

Walu,

I think its time we focused on other issues, seems this project is a foregone conclusion. We will take stock in 2017.

Best Regards

On Tue, Jun 4, 2013 at 2:59 PM, Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com<http://mc/compose?to=jwalu@yahoo.com>

...

wrote:

Whao!

When I grow up, I want to work for M$oft :-)

Sounds like they are concluding the deal to be on 1million laptops next year - as we are busy tweeting on what Software is relevant for pupils in Standard one. Read on @ http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Uhuru-secures-Microsoft-support-for-computers/-...

walu.

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