[Kictanet] eCommerce Legislation, so near and yet so far.

Thu Dec 7 16:41:27 EAT 2006

Walu,
strong as it maybe, it has taken ten years, i may have used strong words but in my opinion, the government hasnt shown much commitment apart from singing how ICTs can improve our lives

and you are right, some bills have been passed in record time, yet one maybe tempted to think the government is very committed, but to what extent,

thats just the way i see it!!

Rebecca

John Walubengo <jwalu at yahoo.com> wrote: Rebecca,

Your comment 

''...Kenya has no ICT law, doesn’t seem to care much about
e-commerce whether in country or between Kenya and other
countries''...may be abit on the stronger side.

I believe the relevant Kenyan agencies both in Govt,
Private  Sector and Civil society do care and have made and
continue to make effort towards a legalised eCommerce
environment.

The current Kenyan ICT policy does take cognisance of the
significance that eCommerce has and the draft ICT Bill
(2006) does make attempts to legalise this e-environment.

What could be lacking is a mechanism for fast-tracking the
issues i.e. escalating the time frame between Policy, Bill
and Law.  Indeed, the last bit - enacting law is the
trickiest since it lies at the mercy of Parliamenterians
(MPs)...

Nevertheless, there could be interventions tailored to gain
Parliamentary 'buy-in'.  After all, they have been known to
pass some Bills in record-time, why not the e-Bills?

walu.

--- Florence Etta  wrote:

> Thanks Becky for this valuable and insightful piece. I
> would ask what can KICTANEt and or similar networks do
> about this. This is for me ois the bigger question.
> 
> Cheers,
> FE 
>  
> Florence Etta  
> P.O. Box 14285,00800
> Westlands-Nairobi, Kenya
> Tel: Mobile + 254-733-621851 
> Terrestrial: + 254-20-7121506 
> Fax: + 254-20-7125732 
> Alternative Email:florence.etta at gmail.com
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Rebecca Wanjiku 
> To: feanywhere at yahoo.co.uk
> Sent: Tuesday, 5 December, 2006 9:36:41 PM
> Subject: [Kictanet] IS ICANN IMPORTANT?
> 
> PLAYING THE CATCH UP GAME- AFRICAN STYLE
>   By Rebecca Wanjiku
>   Paul Odhiambo is an ICT officer at the Ministry of
> Education in
>  Kenya . He is used to the technical jargon and all
> issues relating to the information society.
>    
>   But attending the Internet Corporation for Assigned
> Names and Numbers (ICANN) meeting is not that easy for
> Odhiambo. In some of the sessions, he finds himself in
> unfarmiliar territory. Why ? afterall he is a techie !
>    
>   Because at the meetings, participants discuss about ICT
> laws and how they can be made responsive to people´s
> demands and privacies. For instance, during discussions
> on WHOIS, participants discuss issues on how much
> information should be available to the public and whether
> such information should be shared accross the sectors. 
>    
>   Then there are other issues on the menu like security
> concerns and the
>  usual business aspect of e-commerce. Legal issues are
> also discussed regarding applicable laws in case of cross
> country trade. For example, if importing a car from Dubai
> , if it’s damaged at sea and you bought it online, which
> courts can you seek redress? Kenyan court or Dubai .
>    
>   Odhiambo may find himself in unfamiliar territory
> because Kenya has no ICT law, doesn’t seem to care much
> about e-commerce whether in country or between
>  Kenya and other countries.
>    
>   Odhiambo´s story is probably the story of many African
> participants at ICANN meetings. Latin America, North
> America, Europe and Asia seem to be operating on a
> different level compared to Africa .
>    
>   While the rest are discussing progressive issues,
> African delegates can only watch and say, we have our
> issues- access, and policy formulation. 
>    
>   But for how long will Africa cling on to the problems
> as an excuse?
>    
>   Take for example the issue of access, those who were in
> the ICT industry will maybe confirm that some African
> heads have sang this song of the digital divide, lack of
> access and lack of money.
>    
>   But the leaders have gyrated and swung their hips at
> the prospect of development that ICT holds. Whilst the
> question of infrastructure and finance maybe understood,
> what about policy formulation, can that be understood
> too?
>    
>   Many of us stay home and wonder why ICANN meetings are
> important. Some may view it as a travel club or a
> playground for techies. While you wonder what label to
> give them, these guys are making policies that could
> affect you.
>    
>   What are you doing about it?
>    
>   Ends 
>    
>    
> 
> 
> 
> Rebecca Wanjiku,
> journalist,
> p.o box 33515, 
> Nairobi.00600
> Kenya.
> 
> Tel. 254 720 318 925
> 
> blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ 
> 
> 
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Rebecca Wanjiku,
journalist,
p.o box 33515, 
Nairobi.00600
Kenya.

Tel. 254 720 318 925

blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/

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