[kictanet] Kenya ICT board: What is the real problem?

Tue Feb 2 13:21:46 EAT 2010

Crystal

first ... kudos ... your heart is in the right place (Kimilili, Sirisia,
Kanduyi) :)

Question ... are these RIK's sustainable ? do they make money ?

Or donors will have to keep funding them for years to come ...

Thanks

On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 12:03 PM, Crystal Watley Kigoni <
crystal.kigoni at intersat.ae> wrote:

> Dear Paul and Edith,
>
> Since you have mentioned other projects rolling out ICT for development in
> Kenya, I would like to mention our work with the Rural Internet Kiosks
> (RIKs) once again.
>
> We are rolling out the RIK as an alternative form of cybercafe or digital
> village in a number of locations in Kenya this year. The first will be in
> Msambweni constituency in Coastal province, followed by 8 in Webuye
> constituency and 1 in Kimilili at the local library. We are also working on
> projects in Siaya, Sirisia, and Kanduyi. Hopefully the list will grow as we
> are able to finalize our funding streams. This year our goal is to implement
> at least 20 sites will our eyes towards the skies for many more. As of yet
> we have not had any support from the ICT Board, however, we would appreciate
> their participation. Perhaps this could be a complementary PASHA model.
>
> The kiosks are equipped with local WiFi to make true digital villages with
> access for all.
>
> Please see the attached file for a presentation with images of the Rural
> Internet Kiosk and the documentary we created on YouTube at
> http://www.youtube.com/user/ruralinternetkiosks.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Crystal Kigoni
>
> --
> Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Kigoni
> Executive Director
> Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development
> crystal at voicesofafrica.org
> http://www.voicesofafrica.org/
>
> Intersat Africa, Ltd
> Rural Internet Kiosks
> Project Coordinator
> crystal.kigoni at intersat.ae
>
> Society for New Communications Research Fellow 2010
> http://sncr.org/
>
> Twitter: VOA_Crystal
> Skype: crystal.naliaka
> Facebook group: Voices of Africa
>
> "You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi
> On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 11:11 AM, Paul Kukubo <pkukubo at ict.go.ke> wrote:
>
>> Edith
>>
>> Thanks for the questions. we have been through Telecentres extensively. We
>> have developed partnerships to understand the model as best as we can and
>> therefore the Pilot Pashas have support from both Cisco, Telkom
>> Kenya. Extensive planing has been undertaken.
>>
>> The key issue with the Pasha Model is sustainability. The project
>> objectives are to extend the reach of connectivity and government services
>> as well as provide a model for grassroots communities to develop an ICT
>> based livelihood. It is an entrepreneurial model.
>>
>> To answer the question someone else asked, we shall raise communication to
>> rural communities via mass media only when the project actually starts going
>> into full roll-out later this year.
>>
>> it would be an interesting to receive some comments from the experiences
>> of the private sector digital villages project operators, as this exists as
>> well.
>>
>>
>> Paul Kukubo
>> Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board
>> PO Box 27150 - 00100
>> Nairobi, Kenya
>>
>> 12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street
>>
>> Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960
>>
>> Fax: +254 20 2211962
>> Cell: + 254 735 180001
>>
>> website: www.ict.go.ke
>> skype: kukubopaul
>> googletalk: pkukubo
>> ____________________
>> Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub
>>
>> Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT,
>> through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for
>> socio economic enrichment
>> Sent from Nairobi, Kenya
>>
>> On Mon, Feb 1, 2010 at 10:58 PM, Edith Adera <eadera at idrc.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>>>  Dear Kukubo,
>>>
>>> Thanks for this update - it would be nice to get these more regularly and
>>> other KICTB projects, otherwise stakeholders get very anxious!
>>>
>>> I recall that KICTB had committed to 10 pasha centres in the first round
>>> - are those and more still in the plan with the target of one per
>>> constituency. why 5 only?
>>>
>>> There are very many documented experiences with telecentres (which pasha
>>> centres really are) - are efforts in place to learn from the past mistakes -
>>> I worry that some of the challenges you've mentioned here were known 10
>>> years ago. what's new?
>>>
>>> telecentre.org offers numerous lessons and there are various research
>>> studies done in early 2000s to mid 2000s about such centres including
>>> studies on business models - it will help to draw on these rich resources.
>>>
>>> I would also argue that a stand alone centre should not be categorized as
>>> a digital village - digital villages should provide radius of connectivity -
>>> and anyone within that radius can then get connected wirelessly - these are
>>> the innovative first mile solutions that we should pursue (and ensure local
>>> capacity is built to deploy and maintain them - hence the term "first
>>> mile"). We'll create jobs and build our innovation systems.
>>>
>>> just some thoughts
>>>
>>> Edith
>>>  ------------------------------
>>> *From:* Paul Kukubo [pkukubo at ict.go.ke]
>>> *Sent:* 01 February 2010 12:22
>>>
>>> *To:* Edith Adera
>>> *Cc:* ke users; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>>> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Kenya ICT board: What is the real problem?
>>>
>>>  Edith
>>>
>>>  The digital villages project (Pasha)  is still on track.
>>>
>>>  The Board sends out regular communication to those who underwent the
>>> first lot of entrepreneurship training in October 2009, as well as other
>>> trainees applicants due to be trained in the next phases over the next two
>>> years.. The portal www.pasha.co.ke is also active and is updated to keep
>>> all informed on the progress. This portal is being enhanced continuously.
>>>
>>>  A 2nd lot of 1500 people from all over the country are due to be
>>> trained in this first quarter of this year. The eventual target for training
>>> is 7500 in the next 2 years.
>>>
>>>  The board has now finalized the Grants Manual, a document that provides
>>> the basis of how the funding for this grant to entrepreneurs will be
>>> administered. Each entrepreneur will have an opportunity to competitively
>>> apply for a grant to fund his start-up costs (or expansion costs for those
>>> who have some level of establishment). The board will also provide a
>>> technical support arrangement for the centers across the country for a fixed
>>> period.
>>>
>>>  These Pasha centers will be self sustaining
>>> and entrepreneurs themselves will determine what specific services they
>>> provide based on their local circumstances. They will also act as one of the
>>> main gateways for government online services.
>>>
>>>  There are 5  Pasha Pilot centres. in Kangundo, Gairrisa, Malindi,
>>> Mukuru (industrial Area), Meru,  We continue learning about specific issues
>>> on the ground from these sites. Issues such as business model,
>>> infrastructure requirement, public uptake and demand for services. One key
>>> learning so far is that this project is in great demand for varying reasons
>>> across the country and that even if there is no 'one size fits all',
>>> citizens will adopt the centers to suit their needs.
>>>
>>>  For details about the actual Pasha process visit this link on ours
>>> site
>>> http://www.ict.go.ke/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=68&Itemid=133
>>>
>>>  We welcome further questions and comments and encourage you to help us
>>> maintain public interest in this important project, which even we at the
>>> board are the first to admit, has taken longer than originally envisioned.
>>> Indeed projects such as this do take a long time and stakeholder anxiety is
>>> to be expected.
>>>
>>>  We shall keep you informed more regularly.
>>>
>>> Paul Kukubo
>>> Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board
>>> PO Box 27150 - 00100
>>> Nairobi, Kenya
>>>
>>> 12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street
>>>
>>> Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960
>>>
>>> Fax: +254 20 2211962
>>> Cell: + 254 735 180001
>>>
>>> website: www.ict.go.ke
>>> skype: kukubopaul
>>> googletalk: pkukubo
>>> ____________________
>>> Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub
>>>
>>> Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT,
>>> through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for
>>> socio economic enrichment
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Feb 1, 2010 at 10:44 AM, Edith Adera <eadera at idrc.or.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>>>  Good questions Rebecca - whatever happened to the digital village
>>>> projects - is it a case of failed promises?
>>>>
>>>> It would be nice to get official updates on some of these initiatives
>>>> critical for this country.
>>>>
>>>> Edith
>>>>
>>>>  ------------------------------
>>>> *From:* kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke[kictanet-bounces+eadera=
>>>> idrc.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Rebecca Wanjiku [
>>>> rebeccawanjiku at yahoo.com]
>>>> *Sent:* 01 February 2010 06:33
>>>> *To:* Edith Adera
>>>>
>>>> *Cc:* ke users; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>>>> *Subject:* [kictanet] Kenya ICT board: What is the real problem?
>>>>
>>>>     The promise of BPO marketing, digital villages.....
>>>>
>>>>  www.wanjiku.co.ke
>>>>
>>>> Tel. 254 720 318 925
>>>>
>>>> blog: wanjiku.co.ke
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
>>
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>
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