[kictanet] Digital Villages

Fri Apr 4 19:40:58 EAT 2008

Jane Wambui,
I politely sought to discuss this issue before any resources are disbursed
or commited.  Where does corruption come in?  I suppose you wanted to make
suggestions that there is indeed confusion then you proceed to make
recommendations.  When you start hitting hard and being judgemental we
lose the whole point of making this country a better than we found it. 
The purpose of this forum is to analyse issues and make value adding
recommendations.

Regards

Ndemo.

> Edith and all
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I join Edith in congratulating the ICT board. However, Dr. Ndemo says
> "...  I know there are other private initiatives outside of operators
> intending to support the DV project but we are still grabbling with how
> this can be distinctively done without causing confusion..."
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I am and believe others on this list are confused, what is the
> difference between the ICT board Digital villages and the ICT villages
> that are being promoted by ictvillage.com the on line/business portal
> that belongs to a member of the ICT board?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Is this not conflict of interest and does it not go against the
> principles of good/accountable corporate governance? Pray I ask, how are
> KICTANet stakeholders
> expected to play a role/commit to an initiative that is already
> corrupt/ed/conflicted as it is and how does the ICT board intend to
> deal with this discrepancy?
>
>
>
>
>
> Could we hear from the ICT board and from Dr. Ndemo on this?
>
>
>
>
>
> regards
>
>
>
>
> On 03/04/2008, Edith Adera <eadera at idrc.or.ke> wrote:
>  Dr Ndemo,
>
>  It's good to learn of this new development and to know that things are
>  moving towards implementation. Kudos to the ICT Board!
>
>  May I ask whether there is any plan to share with stakeholders (and the
>  public) the DV Program implementation model that is envisaged for
> discussion
>  and feedback? Has there been some in-country background research to
>  determine the needs and potential areas for locating the DVs?
>
>  Having been funders of similar telecentres and community-owned networks
> for
>  the last decade across Africa, there are some hard lessons worth sharing
>  (some of which have already been  shared directly with the Board), but I
>  believe others have invaluable lessons and experiences to share.
>
>  An opportunity to publicly discuss the model will be useful.
>
>  Edith
>
>
>
>
>
>
>  -----Original Message-----
>  From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>  [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On
> Behalf
>  Of bitange at jambo.co.ke
>  Sent: 02 April 2008 21:07
>  To: eadera at idrc.or.ke
>  Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>  Subject: [kictanet] Digital Villages
>
>  Dear All,
>  In today's Daily Nation, the ICT Board advertised (p 18) for Digital
>  Village Entrepreneurs.  This is very significant in the sense that we are
>  now very close to involving our rural folks in creating wealth through
> ICT
>  enterprise.  In the past few months since the idea of DVs was mooted, we
>  have learnt a great deal and new rural technologies have emerged.
>  Private sector is beginning to see opportunities in our rural areas.
>  Similar programs elsewhere have often been taken up by the private sector
>  and escalated Broadband penetration.
>
>  In Slovakia for example Government direct subsidies to rural areas has
>  helped the country achieve the greatest broadband density in Europe.  The
>  subsidy drove demand for broadband beyond any estimates.  In Chile direct
>  subsidy, intense government local content coupled with tax incentives for
>  rural infrastructure helped the country take broadband to the even
>  sparsely populated Tundra regions of the Andes.  Farmers in the region
>  have as much as 11 MB broadband to homes.  Operators are happy and
>  productively utilizing rural Base Stations without additional subsidies.
>
>  Although in our case we have managed some sort of subsidy, we need more
>  especially tax incentives on rural infrastructure.  With incentives, it
>  will be attractive for operators to take up rural connectivity on
>  commercial basis.  We shall be through with the supply side of ICTs when
>  the undersea, the terrestrial fibre, data centers, disaster recovery
>  centers and network operation centers are ready in the next few months.
>  Some of these projects are being undertaken by the private sector and
>  where necessary the Government may intervene marginally.
>
>  The challenge now lies on the Demand side.  The risk is that operators
> may
>  concentrate to provide for the bent up demand in urban areas forgetting
>  rural areas.  Yet Mpesa shows us that the money is in rural areas.  The
>  purpose of this e-mail therefore, is to seek for your support in
>  identifying youth from your rural areas (that is if you come from a
>  village like me) and recommend them to Victor at the ICT Board.  I know
>  there are other private initiatives outside of operators intending to
>  support the DV project but we are still grabbling with how this can be
>  distinctively done without causing confusion.  Knowing that we have a
>  great resource in you (Kictanet) I am confident that your contribution
>  would enhance the efforts to scale up ICTs in our country.
>
>  Asante.
>
>
>  Bitange Ndemo.
>
>
>
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