[kictanet] The Kenya Communications Amendment Bill

[Alex Gakuru]

Dear Dr. Ndemo,

It is terrible the media called a dog! but thank you
very much for easing the weight of responsibility...  
    
http://www.isoc.or.ke

Certainly, I would really appreciate if my full
confidence were restored considering frighteningly it
appears communication is under attack across Africa:
The New Struggle for Press Freedom in Africa
http://allafrica.com/stories/200708201115.html and
stories like "Botswana, Kenya and Zimbabwe pass
tyrannical Bills"
http://www.eastandard.net/archives/index.php?mnu=details&id=1143973075&catid=4

I trust you understand why I have to stay put
regarding the Communication Amendment Bill - concerned
because since March 2006, the top five most popular
Ethiopian web sites (including CyberEthiopia) and
several blogs have been blocked and are inaccessible
across Ethiopia. The apparent objective is to prevent
the dissemination of information that is critical of
the current regime.

See
http://www.cyberethiopia.com/net/docs/internet_repression_in_ethiopia.html

RSF had also reported the censorship along with other
media watchdogs and had called on the relevant
ministries in Ethiopia, but no reaction so far.
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=17783

I am only afraid that foreign companies may not trust
their outsourcing to our entrepreneurs if only and
just government were remotely perceived "packet
sniffing"    regime. I have no doubt all of us in
Kenya wish nothing came in our way of vision 2030. 

Lord forbid but should Kenya sink, we all go under and
I want to stay afloat with my head above the water for
a long time.   

Regards,

Alex

--- bitange at jambo.co.ke wrote:

> Dear Alex,
> There is no crisis or tension in the ICT legislative
> process.  I was
> pointing out the opportunities that are available to
> you in ensuring that
> the piece of legislation you want is passed.  As far
> as I am concerned all
> of us have representation in parliament and we
> should utilize that
> opportunity instead of blaming the Government.
> 
> The Safari Park proposals shall be given to the MPs.
>  The Thursday date
> was set anticipating that parliament will go on
> recess.  Now that they are
> not going on recess, they have proposed August 30th
> and 31st.  We are
> looking for resources for a venue in Mombasa and
> shall revert to you.
> 
> 
> Regards
> 
> 
> Bitange.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > May I suggest we ask Eng. Rege to help diffuse ICT
> > tensions now bottling up? Borrow his experince on
> > dealing with government, stakeholders,
> steakholders,
> > and others? Just thinking aloud and welcome
> comments.
> >
> > Alex
> >
> > --- Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >> Thanks Alex i appreciate your response your
> >> arguments are valid though
> >>
> >> On 8/17/07, Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru at yahoo.com>
> >> wrote:
> >> > Barrack,
> >> >
> >> > My apologies if I appeared to harass the
> Permanent
> >> > Secretary. The gist of my, I believe justified,
> >> > request for information was to know the fate of
> >> our
> >> > Safari Park contributions considering that the
> >> > expected legislators could not come because of
> >> said
> >> > Parlimentary Procedures.
> >> >
> >> > I needed to know whether we should assume that
> >> those
> >> > contributions we made needed to be repeated
> should
> >> an
> >> > opportunity to meet with the Committee present
> >> itself
> >> > especially if the ministry could not
> incorporate
> >> them.
> >> >
> >> > I interpret Dr. Ndemo's advice as "they have
> them,
> >> > because we gave them but now lobby hard
> yourselves
> >> to
> >> > ensure your interests are captured"
> >> >
> >> > I am sufficiently pleased with his reply, his
> >> > voluntary additional information, and await
> >> > confirmation on how the committee sees best fit
> to
> >> > receive any outstanding   stakeholders'
> concerns
> >> on
> >> > the bill as promised today.
> >> >
> >> > Please understand that I consider myself of the
> >> issue
> >> > focussed, not the person, nature and I would
> >> seriously
> >> > err to substitute any clause, error,
> commission,
> >> or
> >> > omission with "Bitange Ndemo":)
> >> >
> >> > Have a laughly day!
> >> >
> >> > Alex
> >> >
> >> > --- Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>
> >> wrote:
> >> >
> >> > > Good effort bwana Ndemo, Alex i bet you
> >> understand
> >> > > how our legislators
> >> > > operate take it easy on bwana Ndemo, bwana Ps
> >> try
> >> > > your level best to ensure
> >> > > that Stakeholder expectations are met, so far
> i
> >> > > guess you deserve a pat
> >> > > Regards
> >> > >
> >> > > On 8/16/07, Benjamin Makai
> <benmakai at yahoo.com>
> >> > > wrote:
> >> > > >
> >> > > > Dr.Ndemo
> >> > > > This information is very necessary and
> >> important.
> >> > > Kindly could you also
> >> > > > outline to the level or rather phases
> >> pertaining
> >> > > the same sir.
> >> > > >
> >> > > > This gives us the the auditable elements of
> >> the
> >> > > process for the few whom
> >> > > > may not be aware of the process and yet
> they
> >> may
> >> > > want to shout loundest..
> >> > > >
> >> > > >
> >> > > >
> >> > > > All is about the welfare of our countr
> >> y(personal
> >> > > sentiments and not about
> >> > > > who shouts loundest and in some situations
> or
> >> > > least solutions. ICT is all
> >> > > > bout solutions and world wide tested and
> >> proven
> >> > > best practices)
> >> > > >
> >> > > > Regards
> >> > > >
> >> > > >
> >> > > > *bitange at jambo.co.ke* wrote:
> >> > > >
> >> > > > Dear Alex,
> >> > > > I tried to explain how parliament works
> >> earlier in
> >> > > the week. We cannot
> >> > > > revise the bill here. We have taken the
> >> proposals
> >> > > to the committee for
> >> > > > consideration.
> >> > > >
> >> > > > Luckily today the committee sumoned me to
> >> > > parliament. They want to have a
> >> > > > stakeholder's meeting either on Tuesady or
> >> > > Thursday next week in Mombasa.
> >> > > > I shall confirm this to you tomorrow. Any
> >> changes
> >> > > now must go through the
> >> > > > committee since the bill belongs to
> >> parliament.
> >> > > You have this window to
> >> > > > make the necessary changes. The safari Park
> >> > > proposals are already with
> >> > > > them but they may decide that they do not
> want
> >> to
> >> > > include them. This is
> >> > > > where we need the stakeholders to push.
> >> > > >
> >> > > > I hope you do not leave this window of
> >> opportunity
> >> > > to pass and blame us
> >> > > > later.
> >> > > >
> >> > > >
> >> > > > Regards
> >> > > >
> >> > > >
> >> > > > Ndemo.
> >> > > >
> >> > > >
> >> > > >
> >> > > >
> >> > > > > Dr. Ndemo,
> >> > > > >
> >> > > > > You invited us to Safari Park Hotel and
> on
> >> > > information
> >> > > > > and belief, we were coming to meet the
> >> > > Parliament
> >> > > > > Committee. We understood your at the
> venue
> >> > > explanation
> >> > > > > why they could not come.
> 
=== message truncated ===



       
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