[Africa-ir-public] CHAKULA Issue No. 9, April 2004: Focus on the 'Kenya ICT Week'

Tue May 4 08:31:23 SAST 2004

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CHAKULA
Africa ICT Policy Monitor newsletter from the APC
No. 9, April 2004: Focus on the 'Kenya ICT Week'

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1. Editorial
2. Main feature  ‘Kenya’s draft ICT policy and strategy negates development
goals’
3. Setting aside all the pomp and talk, what was the added value of the
convention?
4. CTO/WSIS Conference, ‘A brief review’
5. Implementing The WSIS Action Plan Conference, ‘What was achieved?'
6. Selected Papers/Presentations from the Kenya ICT Convention
7. Selected Papers/Presentations from the CTO/WSIS Conference
8. APC Comments on the First Draft National ICT Policy for Zambia
9. Other news, resources and notices from the Monitor
10. Subcribing to 'Chakula'

Read the full content version on our website here....
http://africa.rights.apc.org/newsletter.shtml

or Text only version here...
http://africa.rights.apc.org/chakula9_text

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1. EDITORIAL

In this issue of Chakula, we focus on two recent events, the Kenya National
ICT Convention and a  conference on the implementation of the WSIS action
plan –held in Nairobi, Kenya in late March 2004-  organised by the
Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) and dubbed “Kenya ICT
Week”. The  National ICT Convention was intended to provide a platform to
develop a comprehensive national ICT  strategy while the CTO conference was
intended to find ways of practical implementation of the WSIS  plan of
action.

Chakula this month presents some insights into the general outcomes of the
forums beyond the official  declarations and press releases. In particular
we take a special note of the Kenya ICT convention that  brought together
many key players in the Kenya ICT sector to analyse some key issues of Kenya
national  ICT policy as well current dynamics taking place in the county
around policy formulation and strategy  development.

We also include observations from other participants at the Kenya ICT week
and some of the key  presentations made at both forums, with annotations and
highlights about the presentation and/or  speaker as none of this material
is currently available online.

Finally you will also find comments made by APC in response to the first
draft national ICT policy for  Zambia released in November 2003, alongside
comments by others.

APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor Team

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2. ‘KENYA’S DRAFT ICT POLICY AND STRATEGY NEGATES DEVELOPMENT GOALS’

Kenya recently held a national ICT convention aimed at bringing together a
wide group of stakeholders  to discuss Kenya’s information and
communications technology (ICT) policy and most importantly work  towards an
implementation strategy. The convention was organized by the Kenya ICT
Federation (KIF),a  body incorporating many private sector organizations
involved in the sector such the Kenya Private  Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and
the Kenya ICT Board that was recently formed to try and incorporate all the
main actors including civil society organizations.

The convention was held in Nairobi, Kenya at the end of March over a 3-day
period and was funded by  Canada’s International Development Research Centre
(IDRC) and had received endorsement from the highest  office in the country,
with a minister from the Office of the President presiding over the opening
ceremony.

Taking a close look at the profile of the organizers of the convention,
observers could not help  thinking that the presence of a large numbers of
private sector organizations coming together to talk  about ICT policy and
strategy would be enthusiastically supported by the government, which has
been  focusing its ICT policy strategy on the support of private sector
initiatives. However, not even the  business groups present were happy with
the government’s ill-coordinated, non-inclusive attempts to  draft a
national ICT policy and the recent piecemeal introduction and haste to move
towards  implementation of scattered, under-resourced ICT projects.

Few of the groups present –particularly the civil society and community
groups whose interests and  efforts have been ignored in government plans-
were convinced by the organizers calls not to get bogged  down in analysing
the current policy position and instead to focus on developing a strategy
for  implementation.

Will the current ICT policy draft please stand up?

As various speakers talked about the current national policy, many were
surprised to hear that the  draft national ICT policy released in late 2003,
just prior to the World Summit on the Information  Society in Geneva had in
fact been updated and reviewed and that a ‘new’ draft was in circulation.
The  ‘new’ draft had been issued sometimes in February but only circulated
to a select few on the ‘need to  know’ basis said Charles Nduati, the
Executive Secretary of KIF. Delegates demanded to know why they  had come to
a forum intended to provide a platform to develop a comprehensive national
ICT strategy  when the latest draft of the policy document had not been made
public.

Demands to have the new document copied and distributed were turned down by
the conference organizers  who indicated that since the document was
labelled ‘confidential’ they could be arrested for  distributing a document
that had not been officially released for public distribution. Efforts to
query  the government representatives present at the convention as to the
status of the latest version of the  ICT policy did not bear fruits either
and incredulous delegates were advised to contact the relevant  ministry and
demand a copy as “tax-paying citizens who have the right to access public
policy  documents”.

For more of this story, including;

- Features of the current draft framework
- Failure of policy and strategies to see beyond the private sector
- Over-ambitious e-government strategy
- ICT and economic growth
- Kenya’s draft policy and strategy compared to other countries
- The private sector caught up in the narrow perspectives of ICT as a sector
- Civil society organizations fail to reach out to other stakeholders

Click here to read the rest of the story

http://africa.rights.apc.org/newsletter.shtml

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3. ‘SETTING ASIDE ALL THE POMP AND TALK, - WHAT WAS THE VALUE ADDED OF THE
CONVENTION?’

The Kenya National ICT Convention was billed as a milestone event in the
development of the Kenyan ICT  sector, an opportunity to move the ICT agenda
forward. A coming together of the private sector with  representatives of
the government, civil society, academia and development partners to get to
know each  other, to see who’s doing what, to partner, to support and to
synergise.

The question then is, setting aside all the pomp and talk, what was the
value added of the convention?

http://africa.rights.apc.org/newsletter.shtml

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4. CTO CONFERENCE – IMPLEMENTING THE WSIS ACTION PLAN   ‘A BRIEF REVIEW’

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Telecommunications
Organisation (CTO) conference  on ‘Implementing the WSIS Action Plan’ held
in parallel with Kenya ICT week, the CTO Chief Executive,  Dr. Ekwow
Spio-Garbrah, noted that the conference was an opportunity to “provide all
of us with a  better understanding of the way forward for the adoption of
respective national and institutional  strategies to bridge the digital
divide and to make the information society a reality, throughout the
African continent and beyond.”

For more on this story including;
-	more on the roadmap
-	key presentations delivered

Click here for the rest of the story..
http://africa.rights.apc.org/newsletter.shtml

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5. IMPLEMENTING THE WSIS ACTION PLAN CONFERENCE - WHAT WAS ACHIEVED?

The WSIS/CTO conference was a highly publicised conference for
policy-makers, ICT activists and private  sector organisations, hosted by
the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation at the Safari Park  Hotel,
Nairobi, 25-26 March 2004. and was meant to reassess the outputs and project
themes of the World  Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) held in Geneva
in December 2003 and act as a follow-up  focusing on implementation and best
practices.

But what was achieved?

Click here for the story...

http://africa.rights.apc.org/newsletter.shtml

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6. SELECTED PAPERS/PRESENTATIONS THE KENYA ICT CONVENTION

Papers/Presentations with brief annotations

* Towards a national ICT strategy: by Mike Eldon, Chairman, Kenya ICT
Federation (KIF)

The presentation goes through the background on Kenya’s ICT policy
formulation, role of various  stakeholders and finally proposes mechanism
for moving forward with strategy development. An analysis  of this paper was
in the main feature of Chakula issue No. 9. 2004.
http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18948

* E-Government strategy for Kenya: by Peter Gakunu, Adviser to the Cabinet,
Office of the President.
This presentation covers the process towards the formulation of Kenya’s
e-government strategy, with  details on proposed activities including
partnerships and challenges expected. You will also find some  information
on expected impacts, way forward and opportunities for the private sector as
this group  formed the bulk of the participants at the convention.

Interestingly there was no mention of any role for civil society or
community groups on e-government  strategy – how sad!
http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18949

* Summary results of consultations & research by ARCC: Paper presented by
Mark Matunga (Rev), Senior  Consultant, Africa Regional Centre for Computing

This presentation covered the results of a survey funded by IDRC and
conducted by Africa Regional  Centre for Computing. The survey was in the
form of a rapid appraisal of ICT policy initiatives in  Kenya, in view of
interviewing key organizations with regard to their roles in policy
formulation.

Key findings were presented and the conclusion indicated that what was
lacking in Kenya was a  centralized coordination of ICT policy formulation
and implementation. It further suggested that all  ICT sub-sectors and
stakeholders should come together to build consensus and create a critical
mass  that can push the policy process forward.

Some mention of the presentation is also included in the main feature of
Chakula.
http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18950

* Kenya’s competitiveness: Presented by Julius Kip’ngetich, Executive
Director, and Investment  Promotion Centre.

Mr. Kip’ngetich did present a wonderful background and current status with
regard to Kenya’s position  in the world in terms of competitiveness as an
investment choice. While the presentation is heavily  focused on investment
cum economic data, it covers clearly various factors that are hindering
Kenya’s  ability to attract investment and highlighted key ICT factors such
as high costs of telecommunications  that contributed to adversely to costs
of doing business. In particular he noted the costs of making  international
telephone calls from Kenya or to Kenya are exorbitantly high as compared to
other  countries that investors might be potentially looking at.
http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18951

* The UN’s Millennium Goals and ICT – The case of Uganda, by Dr Johnson
Nkuuhe, Member of Parliament,  Uganda.

Dr. Nkuuhe is always a pleasure to listen to and his presentation really did
go through a number of  issues very relevant to Kenya and especially in
linking the role of ICTs as a development enabler.  Among some very
interesting comments from his presentation was at the start where he
reiterated the  fact that ICT was not just about computers or services, it
has more to do with knowledge and content  upon which technology enable
their utilization.

It was also very interesting to hear him go through Uganda’s process in ICT
policy formulation and  highlight some key lessons that those going through
the process should take heed. He concluded with a  number of suggestions
among them the need to share knowledge and information among key
stakeholders in  nation building.
http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18952

National ICT Strategy

* “Top-Down” or “Bottom-Up”? Locating ICT Strategy in Kenya’s Growth, Equity
& Poverty Reduction  Agenda: Dennis Kabaara, Executive Director, Institute
of Economic Affairs

Kabaara’s paper focused on rethinking ICT policy and strategy formulation in
the context of economic  growth, equity and poverty reduction agenda or in
simpler words ICT policy and strategy from a  development agenda
perspective. An analysis of his presentation or contribution to the
convention is  covered in the main feature of this edition of Chakula. In
addition, his presentation included a  detailed sector-by-sector
(agriculture, education, health, and so forth) comparison of the economic
recovery strategy, the poverty reduction strategy program and the investment
program.
http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18953

* The National ICT Policy: The missing bits; by Aquinas Wasike, Second
Vice-Chair KIF; Managing  Director, LanTech.

This paper really analysed the ‘new’ ICT policy draft from a private sector
perspective, nonetheless it  offers a basic coverage of what is in the ’
confidential’ draft policy.
http://africa.rights.apc.org

* ICT - Current Policy Issues: by Sammy Buruchara, Chairman, TESPOK

This was another interesting presentation from the private sector
perspective on current ICT policy  issues in particular; the presentation
covers the issue of liberalization and ensuring fair competition  amongst
operators in the country.
http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18954

* National ICT Strategy and Infrastructure, Comparing Kenya with her
Competitors, by Dr Eric Aligula,  KIPPRA and Dr. Katherine Getao of
University of Nairobi.

This was another of the interesting papers comparing Kenya with South
Africa, Mauritius, Malaysia and  India. An analysis of the presentation has
been covered on the main feature of Chakula.
http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18956

* Involving civil society in ICT policy: Paper by Emmanuel Njenga Njuguna,
Co-ordinator, Africa ICT  Policy Monitor Project, Association for
Progressive Communications (APC)

Main focus of the paper was the role of ICT in development and importance of
involving civil society in  ICT policy formulation and implementation.
http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18957

* Convention Declaration: The Roadmap for Kenya’s National ICT Strategy,
James Gachui, First  Vice-Chairman, Kenya ICT Federation; Chairman, Wananchi
Online.

The official convention declaration, observed that the national ICT policy
formulation process lacks  transparency and the current known drafts reveal
a reluctance to pursue liberalization on key service  delivery areas. The
declaration also noted that private sector has been addressing and
articulating  certain policy issues and concluded with a call for policy
development be inclusive, with the  involvement of the private sector and
civil Society for it to be meaningful and successful.
http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18958

Other Papers/Presentations
* E-Governance: Success Stories from around the World, by Owino Magana
E-governance Consultant, E-Kazi  Africa.
http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18959

* Priorities for ICT in Government, by DR. W.K. Sitonic, Director,
Government Information Technology  Services (GITS).
http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18960

National ICT Infrastructure

* Universal Access as a Medium-Term Strategy for ICT. By Presentation By Mr.
Alex Kahindi,  Communications Commission of Kenya
http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18961

* Broadband access development between Kenya and the world, by Joseph Ogutu,
Chief - Strategy and  Regulations & PA to MD, Telkom Kenya Ltd
http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18962

National ICT Strategy and Human Resources

* Perspectives on ICT Human Resources; Dr Catherine Getao, Institute of
Computer Sciences, University  of Nairobi,
http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18965

National ICT Strategy and e-Commerce

* Introduction: eCommerce & the National ICT Policy: Robert Wakaba,
E-commerce Association of Kenya
http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18966

* Security Aspects Of E-Government In Kenya; Andrew Gakiria, Consultant to
the Office of the President  / e-Government Task Force
http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18968

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7. SELECTED PAPERS/PRESENTATIONS FROM THE CTO/WSIS CONFERENCE

    * WSIS Follow-up. Building the Information Society: a global challenge
in the new Millennium.
      By Pierre Gagné, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18971

Governments

    * Uganda’s strategies to achieve the WSIS vision.
      By Hon. John M. Nasasira, Minister of Works, Housing and
Communications, Uganda.
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18972

    * Policy Formulation In Africa: A Regional Overview And Country Case
Study On Egypt.
      By Prof. Nadia Hegazi, Consultant to Minister of ICT Consultant to
Minister of Education.
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18973

    * Telecommunications policy in a rapidly evolving market.
      By Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of Communications and Technology,
Ghana.
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18974

    * Senegal’s roadmap for the WSIS vision.
      By Hon Mamadou Diop, Minister of Information & Pan-Co-operation for
New Information & 		 Communication Technologies.

http://www.apc.org/francais/rights/africa/resources-content.shtml?x=18975

The Challenge for Regulators

    * Developing Strategies For The Implementation Of The WSIS Action Plan:
A West African Perspective  on the Challenges for Regulators.
      By Ernest Ndukwe CE, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) &
Chairman, West African  Telecommunications Regulators Association (WATRA).
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18976

    * Uganda’s Regulatory Innovations.
      By Patrick F. Masambu, Executive Director, Uganda Communications
Commission.
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18977

    * Implementing the WSIS Action Plan, The Challenge for Regulators.
      By Brian Longwe, CTO, ISP Kenya & GM, African ISP Association
(AfrISPA).
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18978

    * Implementing the WSIS Action Plan “Surviving Regulatory Uncertainty as
an Operator”.
      By Karl-Barth Xhanti Socikwa, CEO, Transtel (a Division of Transnet
Limited).
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18980

The Challenge for Development Partners

    * Co-ordinating ICT initiatives across Africa.
      By Mohammed Timoulali, UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18981

    * The WSIS Action Plan: The role of governments in developing countries.
      By Mohammad Shahid Uddin Akbar, Co-ordinator, ICT for Development
Programme, Bangladesh.
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18979

The Challenge for the Private Sector

    * The Global Broadband Satellite Infrastructure (GBSI) Initiative: A way
to implement the WSIS  objectives.
      By Jose Toscano Director, External Affairs International
Telecommunications Satellite  Organization.
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18982

    * Voice over IP as an Enabler of Cost-Effective Telephony.
      By Mike van den Bergh, Vice-Chairman, Africa, International Telecoms
User Group.
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18983

    * VSAT in Kenya: Ensuring our villages become global.
      By Patrick Ruah, CEO, Ruatek Online International, Kenya.
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18984

    * An effective Model for Technical Coordination in the Globalising
Internet.
      By Anne-Rachel Inne.
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=19035

The Role of Civil Society

    * Implementing the WSIS Action Plan -The Kenya WSIS Caucus perspective.
      By James Nguo, Regional Co-ordinator, Arid Lands Information Network,
Kenya.
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18985

    * WSIS as a catalyst for Nigeria’s ICT policy process.
      By John Dada, Chairman, Fantsuam Foundation, Nigeria.
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18986

    * Engineering all forces for the implementation of WSIS.
      By Eric Osiakwan, Ghana New Ventures Competition, Ghana.
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18987

    * A civil society African regional action plan and monitoring mechanisms
for WSIS.
      By Alice Munyua, Co-ordinator, Africa ICT Policy Monitor Project,
Association for Progressive  Communications (APC).
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18988

    * Developing the skills needed to participate in the Information
Society.
      By Rodwyn Grewan, SchoolNet, South Africa.
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18989

    * The WSIS challenge for women.
      By Constantine Obuya, Executive Director, African Centre for Women,
Information & Communication  Technology (ACWICT), Kenya.
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18990

Conclusion and the Nairobi Accord

    * Presentation of key conference conclusions and moving forward with the
WSIS Action Plan.
      By Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Chief Executive Officer, CTO
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18969

    * The Nairobi Accord
      http://africa.rights.apc.org/resources-content.shtml?x=18991

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8. APC Comments on the First Draft National ICT Policy for Zambia

First Draft National Information and Communication Technology Policy for
Zambia, November 2003

Comments by APC (Association for Progressive Communications), 30 April 2004
Contact: Emmanuel Njenga Njuguna - africa.rights at apc.org

1. General comments
The APC wants to commend the drafting team for their efforts and for
disseminating the document via the  internet and for making it possible for
members of the public to submit their comments. We also value  that broad
definition of ICT adopted early in the document: “ICT for purposes of this
document is a  generic term used to express the convergence of
telecommunications, computer science, broadcasting,  postal and information
services in the delivery of social and economic services and products.”

We found Chapter 2, which provider an overview of the current ICT context
and institutional and  regulatory framework very helpful.

Click here to read our general comments including some specific Policy
Issues of Concern to the APC
http://africa.rights.apc.org/newsletter.shtml

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9. OTHER NEWS, RESOURCES AND NOTICES FROM THE MONITOR

* APC seeks a manager for our Communications and Information Programme

APC is looking for a strategic thinker with experience in and understanding
of global and regional  level ICT policy issues to run our 'CIPP' programme.
The successful candidate will understand how ICT  policy issues relate to
development and social justice and have a proven background in civil society
networking.

 A minimum five year’s experience in project management is necessary and
fundraising experience is  essential. As APC is a truly virtual
organisation, excellent computer and internet skills and  familiarity with
working in an online environment are important as well as sound academic
qualifications. Deadline for applications is May 9 2004.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18526

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Contact: chakula at apc.org for questions,comments and contributions Africa IR
Policy Monitor Project

- Chakula: Africa ICT Policy Monitor newsletter -

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