[kictanet] The Kenya Communications Amendment Bill

John Kariuki jnkariuki at gmail.com
Wed Aug 22 07:31:06 EAT 2007


Alex,
For your information,the original Internet was not regulated. However, after
commercialization in the early 1990's we see a lot of regulation, not by
laws passed by legislators or regulators BUT by the "Codes"made by
programmers who determine what you can or cannot do on the Internet.

JN


On 8/21/07, Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> I disagree with Sam Vaknin's arguments "Regulate the
> Internet!"
>
> "It is time for legislators and regulators to step in.
> Even a moderate dose of legislation and the
> willingness not to succumb to either to mob or to
> business pressures will go a long way towards
> restoring the Internet to its original purpose: the
> civilized and lawful - not to mention pleasurable -
> exchange of information and opinion over computer
> networks."
>
> http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=34976
>
> But Greek and Latin owe their humbling philosophical
> esteem to regard, value, and placing the essence of a
> good debate far above time-tied points of view. Thus,
> I am happy in Kenya recently I attended a meeting only
> to find all asked to satisfactorily justify their
> support of THE OPPOSITE point of view. How clever of
> them....
>
> "Democracy is hard, perhaps the most complex and
> difficult of all forms of government. It is filled
> with tensions and contradictions, and requires that
> its members labor diligently to make it work.
> Democracy is not designed for efficiency, but for
> accountability; a
> democratic government may not be able to act as
> quickly as a dictatorship, but once committed to a
> course of action it can draw upon deep wellsprings of
> popular support,"
>
> http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/democracy/
>
> This is the space all citizens are obliged to
> aggressively defend and not so quickly entrust it to
> powerful government leaders submerged in own
> interests.
>
> Let's debate some more Brian!
>
> --- Brian Longwe <brian at isisweb.nl> wrote:
>
> > SMS is not allowed in Ethiopia - let alone media
> > freedom or conducive
> > legislation ..... it is not fair to compare a
> > country with such
> > advanced civil liberties as Kenya with a dictatorial
> > regime.
> >
> > It is also important to look at the other side of
> > the coin and
> > challenge/question our media as to why they would
> > want to blacken our
> > country's good record and reputation on the
> > international arena.
> > Please be assured that we have enemies who would use
> > any means to
> > make us look bad ..... don't take anything that
> > appears in print as
> > gospel ......
> >
> > 'nuff said,
> >
> > Brian
> >
> > On Aug 20, 2007, at 8:55 PM, Alex Gakuru wrote:
> >
> > > 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:
> > >>>>>
> >
> === message truncated ===
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Eng.J.N. Kariuki,
Tel.+254-20-2719953
P.O.Box 72748,
NAIROBI 00200, KENYA
e-mail: jnkariuki at gmail.com;John.Kariuki at ties.itu.int;kibubuti at yahoo.co.uk
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