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

Tue Feb 2 19:26:08 EAT 2010

Again, Well done Crystal...

Yours is a  "people empowerment" effort, which should challenge each one of
us.

That is true pragmatism - "Asking not what the country shall do for one, but
rather - what one shall do/can do for his/her country/fellow man"

We can see it in action. Do keep it up, sister..

Harry
  _____  

From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On
Behalf Of Crystal Watley Kigoni
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 12:04 PM
To: harry at comtelsys.co.ke
Cc: ke users; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya ICT board: What is the real problem?

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
<http://www.ict.go.ke/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=68&Itemid=13
3> &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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