[kictanet] Challenges posed by Post-election violence
godera at skyweb.co.ke
godera at skyweb.co.ke
Tue Jan 29 16:25:56 EAT 2008
John,
Let me take this moment to contribute on this very important topic.
I happen to wear two hats- an ISP and Call Centre.
Saying that we have been affected would be an understatement. I would really
not say the situation "is getting out of hand" as Kabenn has said below, it
got out of hand weeks ago!
Like many other businesses in the ICT sector, the ISPs have not been spared.
The unrest in various parts of the country has necessitated the shut-down of
several businesses such as cyber cafes and even offices that use the Internet.
Revenues flow from such areas have scaled down quite substantially.
The outsourcing industry has taken a big hit, especially those of us serving
international clients. Some have lost contracts, some have seen suspension of
work being sent to Kenya and others have simply lost golden opportunities to
run their pilot tests with potential clients who are being very cautious (and
we cannot blame them)to send their work to Kenya having seen the news coverage
on CNN, BBC and other television stations.
It has taken some of us the last 2 and a half years to generate an interest in
Kenya as an off-shore outsourcing destination. Just one month ago, this year
showed promising growth in the industry. Today we are seeing a totally
different scenario unless all this negative headline-making chaos stops. And
even then, it may take time. That is just
I must admit it feels pretty discouraging seeing all our great efforts going
down the drain at this rapid rate.
Gilda Odera
Managing Director
Skyweb Technologies Ltd & Skyweb-Evans Ltd
Tel:254-20-2711446/2711760
Fax:254-20-2713934
URL:www.skyweb.co.ke/www.skywebevans.co.ke
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: Day 2 of 5 - Challenges Posed by Post-ElectionViolence
on
> ICT Organisations (Bernard Mwenda)
> 2. Re: Alari Alare Passes on... (Eric Osiakwan)
> 3. Alari's Fundraiser (Harry Hare)
> 4. Re: Day 2 of 5 - Challenges Posed byPost-ElectionViolence on
> ICT Organisations (Michael Joseph)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:46:37 +0300
> From: Bernard Mwenda <bmwenda at iwayafrica.com>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 2 of 5 - Challenges Posed by
> Post-ElectionViolence on ICT Organisations
> To: John Walubengo <jwalu at yahoo.com>
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Message-ID:
> <8F5B649086B43845822600B44C6AC6C201347AA41693 at mail1.IWAY.LOCAL>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> John,
>
> I know for a fact that our distributors (ISPs) in kenya have recorded very
> low sales for this time of the year compared to previous years. We have also
> had some accounts which have been deactivated, mostly from the hospitality
> industry. Hotels are the worst hit right now and such we expect very little
> business from this sector. I guess we have to live with the situation as is
> or alternatively do something about it.
>
> I think it is time Kenyan professionals from all walks came out and did
> something about this. This situation is now getting out of hand.
>
> Kabenn.
>
> ________________________________________
> From: kictanet-bounces+bmwenda=iwayafrica.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> [kictanet-bounces+bmwenda=iwayafrica.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of
> John Walubengo [jwalu at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 9:45 AM
> To: Bernard Mwenda
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 2 of 5 - Challenges Posed by
> Post-ElectionViolence on ICT Organisations
>
> mmhh, looks like very few contributions. I understand the
> dampened mood. But really, we have to talk. Unless you
> guys want us to bring Koffi Anaan here to make us share...
>
> Anyway, Thanx Alex, Bill, and Brian for your contributions
> so far. I was just thinking at a national level...the
> impact so far.
> 1. Mobile Operators (earlier in the fracas I bought a
> scratch card worth 250sh for 500sh, black market rates)
> 2. BPO projects (whats happening at Kencall and others?)
> 3. ICT Board (with World Bank threatening to hold back
> funds, what happens to the Infrastructure projects that
> were to provide Bandwidth to BPOs and Academia?)
> 4. Media (how are you coping with the live transmission
> ban?)
> 6. ISPs, ASPs, Cybercafes (any impacts)
> 7. Our members in the region UG, RW (any impacts?)
>
> Plse talk, we have only four more days to go. It is
> refreshing to talk about this things. It is part of the
> healing process.
>
> walu.
>
> --- Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > Ok, I was silent because Brain Longwe had earlier
> > asked that the list be what it was meant to be. Since
> > that position has changed, I want to start with
> > "funny" joke. We have a saying in this regard.
> >
> > Have you been one of those who have tried or struggled
> > to guess the tribe of the person sending emails to
> > mailing lists? Please own up:) Last week we considered
> > assessing the psychological consequences the crisis
> > was having on consumers with regard to email and blogs
> > posts.
> >
> > It turned out that some tried to "align" their views
> > on e-mail senders whom they perceived (or imagined?)
> > to be of the same or "friendly" tribes. Our
> > conclusion, listers were not tribal, yet the stress,
> > politics and media had forced them to seek tribal
> > alignments. We were happy to discover that.
> >
> > Next we discussed tensions at workplace Telkom Kenya
> > being our sample. We learnt how badly it had divided
> > staff there. We overheard employee conversations! We
> > wished companies would hold extra parties to lessen
> > tensions at work. I have just noticed a ke-users
> > lister has posted a very positive message. Their HR
> > department today held an organisation-wide
> > counselling session. That was excellent. All companies
> > should start similar initiatives. Thanks Saidimu!
> >
> >
> > Terrible for us because when we engaging Telcos and
> > ISPs we never ask for okuyu, jang or kale etc tariffs
> > or quality of service standards. Our engagement covers
> > coast to lake, Turkana to Namanga, Garissa to Busia.
> >
> > At such moments, Information and Communications
> > Consumer protection is more than ever necessary. We
> > are battling rights of the people know on one hand, on
> > the other we are urging responsibility to accompany
> > freedom of expression, fighting against ban on live
> > broadcasts also aware of the dangers of misuse,
> > against sms sniffing very aware of misinformation
> > dangers.
> >
> > We noted and appreciated the media's own intervention
> > early and responsibility but also appreciate the role
> > of government to protect everyone.
> >
> > This thread is on the challenges hence I stop there
> > for now to hear others' lest I be accused of
> > monopolising on opinion. I will be back;)
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> >
> > Alex
> >
> >
> > --- John Walubengo <jwalu at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
_______________________________________________________________________________
_____
> > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
> > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
> >
>
>
>
>
>
_______________________________________________________________________________
_____
> Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
>
> _______________________________________________
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> This message was sent to: bmwenda at iwayafrica.com
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>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:38:07 +0300
> From: Eric Osiakwan <eric at afrispa.org>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Alari Alare Passes on...
> To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Message-ID: <BD0C2FE0-3B36-4E2C-A7C3-73AEAECD2888 at afrispa.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> He left a MARK in TIME and posterity would forever uphold his being
> and work....
>
> Rest in absolute peace, Brother Alari.
>
> Eric here
>
>
> On 28 Jan 2008, at 08:28, John Walubengo wrote:
>
> > Just read in today's East African standard (offline
> > edition) that one of our KICTANet members and ICT
> > journalist Alari passed on over the weekend. Some road
> > accident along Mombasa Road. I ask that you observe a
> > miniutes silence in memory of his contribution to the ICT
> > community both online and offline.
> >
> > May God rest his soul in peace.
> >
> > walu.
> > Becky (fellow journalist), plse keep the community uptodate
> > on anything they may do to assist or join his family in
> > this time of mourning.
> >
> >
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________________
> > ______________
> > Be a better friend, newshound, and
> > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://
> > mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > kictanet mailing list
> > kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
> >
> > This message was sent to: eric at afrispa.org
> > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/
> > mailman/options/kictanet/eric%40afrispa.org
> >
>
> Eric M.K Osiakwan
> Executive Secretary
> AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org)
> Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031
> Fax: + 233.21.258811
> Cell: + 233.244.386792
> Handle: eosiakwan
> Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North
> Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North
> Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/
> Slang: "Tomorrow Now"
>
>
>
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:03:42 +0300
> From: "Harry Hare" <harry at africanedevelopment.org>
> Subject: [kictanet] Alari's Fundraiser
> To: "'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions'"
> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Message-ID:
> <!~!
UENERkVCMDkAAQACAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgAAAAAAAAAf5kKXqPsykKdoh4JL19qFsKAAAAQAAAArqv
qWoLXuUGEqqKcd/7YQgEAAAAA at africanedevelopment.org>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
>
>
> I have information that friends and well wishers are convening at Tanager
> Restaurant (Kaunda Street---I think) in the city centre on Thursday 31st
> January from 6:00pm. Should you need further information please contact
> Henry Ochieng on 0725 777708.
>
>
>
> Kindest Regards
>
> Harry
>
>
>
> African eDevelopment Resource Centre
>
> 3rd Floor, Nelleon Place
>
> Raphta Road, Westlands
>
> PO Box 49475 00100
>
> Nairobi, Kenya
>
> Cel +254 725 650044
>
> Land +254 20 4453445
>
> www.africanedevelopment.org
>
>
>
> ***********************************************************
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:09:21 +0300
> From: "Michael Joseph" <MJoseph at Safaricom.co.ke>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 2 of 5 - Challenges Posed
> byPost-ElectionViolence on ICT Organisations
> To: "John Walubengo" <jwalu at yahoo.com>
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Message-ID:
> <1038C5210F27D54DBEDB0713B993A6631935DA at SFCMAIL01.safaricom.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> I think we are all trying to deal with the crisis which seems to grow
> every day with no-one seemingly concerned enough to stop it.
>
> With regard to the scratch card prices, the problem was, and is still to
> some extent, the disruption of our supply lines due to the violence and
> the closing of the banking network for more than 10 days. In a, mostly,
> informal economy, the impact of lengthy bank closures has a significant
> impact on the economy and is even outlawed in some countries. The
> problem is that stocks are kept to a minimum due to cash flow and
> security problems. So if there is a minor blip this does lead to
> significant shortages. We are looking, as are others, for alternative
> solutions to deal with this problem.
>
> At one point we became a bank and collected billions of shillings in
> cash (and stored them in our vaults) from dealers in order to get the
> supply process going.
>
> Fortunately we never experienced severe disruption to our network except
> for some areas in Western (where else) due to the inability to get
> diesel fuel to some key sites. But the threat was always there.
>
> The other threat worth mentioning is the ever increasing hostile hate
> SMSs which were circulating after the elections and continue to
> circulate. We are introducing a filtering system which will hopefully
> stop some of them, but we must realize that the communications networks
> are vital in times of unrest and if we are forced to close down some
> elements to stop these hate messages, the impact could be felt even more
> widely and may even introduce panic. We must guard our freedom but we
> must also act responsibly to protect that freedom. I know I am preaching
> to the choir, and may even encourage some debate, but it is a fine line
> in these critical times.
>
> Regards,
>
> Michael
>
> CEO
> Safaricom Limited
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke]
> On Behalf Of John Walubengo
> Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 9:45 AM
> To: Michael Joseph
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 2 of 5 - Challenges Posed
> byPost-ElectionViolence on ICT Organisations
>
> mmhh, looks like very few contributions. I understand the
> dampened mood. But really, we have to talk. Unless you
> guys want us to bring Koffi Anaan here to make us share...
>
> Anyway, Thanx Alex, Bill, and Brian for your contributions
> so far. I was just thinking at a national level...the
> impact so far.
> 1. Mobile Operators (earlier in the fracas I bought a
> scratch card worth 250sh for 500sh, black market rates)
> 2. BPO projects (whats happening at Kencall and others?)
> 3. ICT Board (with World Bank threatening to hold back
> funds, what happens to the Infrastructure projects that
> were to provide Bandwidth to BPOs and Academia?)
> 4. Media (how are you coping with the live transmission
> ban?)
> 6. ISPs, ASPs, Cybercafes (any impacts)
> 7. Our members in the region UG, RW (any impacts?)
>
> Plse talk, we have only four more days to go. It is
> refreshing to talk about this things. It is part of the
> healing process.
>
> walu.
>
> --- Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > Ok, I was silent because Brain Longwe had earlier
> > asked that the list be what it was meant to be. Since
> > that position has changed, I want to start with
> > "funny" joke. We have a saying in this regard.
> >
> > Have you been one of those who have tried or struggled
> > to guess the tribe of the person sending emails to
> > mailing lists? Please own up:) Last week we considered
> > assessing the psychological consequences the crisis
> > was having on consumers with regard to email and blogs
> > posts.
> >
> > It turned out that some tried to "align" their views
> > on e-mail senders whom they perceived (or imagined?)
> > to be of the same or "friendly" tribes. Our
> > conclusion, listers were not tribal, yet the stress,
> > politics and media had forced them to seek tribal
> > alignments. We were happy to discover that.
> >
> > Next we discussed tensions at workplace Telkom Kenya
> > being our sample. We learnt how badly it had divided
> > staff there. We overheard employee conversations! We
> > wished companies would hold extra parties to lessen
> > tensions at work. I have just noticed a ke-users
> > lister has posted a very positive message. Their HR
> > department today held an organisation-wide
> > counselling session. That was excellent. All companies
> > should start similar initiatives. Thanks Saidimu!
> >
> >
> > Terrible for us because when we engaging Telcos and
> > ISPs we never ask for okuyu, jang or kale etc tariffs
> > or quality of service standards. Our engagement covers
> > coast to lake, Turkana to Namanga, Garissa to Busia.
> >
> > At such moments, Information and Communications
> > Consumer protection is more than ever necessary. We
> > are battling rights of the people know on one hand, on
> > the other we are urging responsibility to accompany
> > freedom of expression, fighting against ban on live
> > broadcasts also aware of the dangers of misuse,
> > against sms sniffing very aware of misinformation
> > dangers.
> >
> > We noted and appreciated the media's own intervention
> > early and responsibility but also appreciate the role
> > of government to protect everyone.
> >
> > This thread is on the challenges hence I stop there
> > for now to hear others' lest I be accused of
> > monopolising on opinion. I will be back;)
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> >
> > Alex
> >
> >
> > --- John Walubengo <jwalu at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ____________
> > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
> > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
> >
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ____________
> Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
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