[Kictanet] ICT bill .....does it fit the bill?

[frank at ace-media.net]

I'd like to support Rebecca's point of view.   A while back one lister
asked to know what are the actual contents of the draft presented to the
AG.  Are listers in agreement with the version  hosted on
www.information.go.ke? Dated Feb 2006?  Has the bill incorporated the
recommendations by KIF and do we know that for a fact?

Unless I have overlooked something, the version on information.go.ke, dated
feb 06, does not expressly or comprehensively cover data protection,
copyright and intellectual property issues - issues which I think are to
e-commerce (and BPO and IT Outsourcing) what spark plugs and fuel are to an
automobile engine.  

I hear that media owners are not in agreement with the proposed
restrictions on cross-ownership and ownership of newspapers by radio and TV
licence holders (Ahead of an election year, coupled with an anti-media
stance from various quarters in government, perhaps some more questions
should be raised to this as well).

Thus, to expect a bill to be passed in record time may not necessarily be
an indicator of parliament's competence.  The debate envisaged on issues of
broadcasting will only serve to delay its enactment, to the detriment of
the ICT sector.

Francis Hook




From: Rebecca Wanjiku <rebeccawanjiku at yahoo.com>
Subject: [Kictanet] eCommerce Legislation, so near and yet so far.
To: Kenya ICT Policy - kictanet <kictanet at kictanet.or.ke>
Message-ID: <291576.79333.qm at web57710.mail.re3.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

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.


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