[kictanet] Fwd: Open Data - Where does it sit?

[robert yawe]

Hi,

Why should the data be sitting in Kenya is really the question?

I will begin with an analogy that will make the concepts clear to even those 
guys in marketing; a rich person (politically correct statement) who has a plot 
on the 10th row from the main road currently served by a some-weather road is 
planning to put up a new palatial home.

To improve access the plot there are 2 options;


1.  Have the access from the main road to the plot developed to an all weather 
standard (State lodge Sagana)2.  Build a helipad and descend down from above to 
the house (Ol Pajeta Farm - Adnan Khashoggi)

These questions bring forth the issue of Maria Antoinette and the case of having 
bread or cake for the peasants a.k.a wanainchi, a condition currently being 
suffered by the blue eyed boys/girls of the post Moi regime.  

With reference to option 1, the government had the option of buying a 
presidential chopper for getting him/her to the lodge but instead the road was 
tarmacked.

By tarmacking the road we provide access for all those along the road who would 
not individually have been able to improve their access.  I believe this is what 
is referred to as natural justice that is practised by even the Hyena.

It is the mandate of KICTB to market Kenya as a destination for other peoples 
data therefore sending our data out is clearly a breach of its mandate.  Being 
the first African country to open its data we have given the rest of the 
continent the wrong message, nyinyi ni wanainchi lakini kuna wenyeinchi.  Even 
President Obama concurs that when Kenya sneezes Africa gets a cold.
The KICTB have opted for option 2 where what matters is how they, the few, can 
get access to the location without considering how the shamba boy will get to 
the premises.  

I am that shamba boy and KICTB has decided that it is not there concern how I 
get to work, all that matters is that I have been given a job.

The government is not a profit making organisation, its mandate is to invest 
where there is maximum return and benefit to the citizens without creating large 
disparities amongst the citizenry, therefore we can not look at the local 
hosting for government as we would when considering Barclay's or Total.  

The government is supposed to act for the greater good of its people and not 
to fulfil the whims and desires of a few.  If what you are indicating that the 
data is for use by Kenyans then your hosting overseas is contradictory to your 
statement.

A data centre to host the data already exists in ministry of planning where the 
censors data is currently housed or treasury where IFMIS is hosted, Simba works 
fine therefore connectivity within country is not an issue, the national fibre 
optic network is lit so the data should be accessible across all provincial head 
quarters and at 500+ post offices (remember PMG in waiting) country wide so why 
then are we made to believe that we do not have the capacity to host the open 
data kwani how big are the bytes.

Mr. Kukubo, please do not trivialise this issue with smack statements that are 
intended on making those contributing seem like nincompoops (always wanted to 
use that word in a sentence).  You have turned the industry into a bunch of 
pathologists who can only deal with cadavers so do not fain shock when we seem 
disrespectful to the flesh after all there is no intention of putting it back 
together.

@Mr. Kukubo When does the data come BACK home? 


Robert Yawe
KAY System Technologies Ltd
Phoenix House, 6th Floor
P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
Kenya


Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696




________________________________
From: Paul Kukubo <pkukubo at ict.go.ke>
To: robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Sent: Wed, 13 July, 2011 20:12:33
Subject: [kictanet] Fwd:  Open Data - Where doe it sit?

I would like to shift the discussion if I may to what people can do
with the data? What data is missing? how citizens are using it. What
possible value additions we can have?

Socrata.com is an online hosted service that enables data to be
visualized to enable graphs and charts and data comparisons with ease.
This visualization is what gives meaning to the data in a way that the
common citizens can view it. The benefits of doing this quickly for
launch and citizen access far outweigh the cost of waiting for the
time it would have taken for us to develop a similar online
application locally. One the same website we have published the same
lists of data in their original formats.

Indeed we have spoken to many software developers who have suggested
that they can replicate this The data is there for anyone to replicate
it on any website. What we have indicated to software developers is to
take the plunge into imagining solutions that are based on have access
to that data.  This is where the greatest value is.

The issue of local hosting has our attention and we will resolve it,
not just with a local data centre, that is not the limitation, but the
replication of a similar online tool to visualize the data.

This campaign has to be about the benefits of open data. Knowledge,
empowerment, commerce entrepreneurship, citizen participation. By
crusading for, lobbying and obtaining data that was previously only in
thick books, PS Dr Ndemo has broken ground for us. By launching this
HE President Kibaki has demonstrated Kenya's commitment to citizen
access.

Once the entrepreneurs developers have a system that can replicate or
even improve or add value to Socrata, or even improve on Socrata and
Google's public data tools, the hosting decisions will be easy. As an
implementing agency, we are committed to working with all to make this
happen. There is much to be done.

Thank you to those who have emailed us with specific suggestions of
encouragement and improvements to this process. The journey has just
began.


Sent from my iPad

Paul Kukubo
CEO Kenya ICT Board
Tweeter: @pkukubo

On 13 Jul 2011, at 17:04, Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau <solo.mburu at gmail.com> wrote:

> This is indeed a healthy discussion which I really appreciate.
> However, as a layman, just as someone pointed out, what exactly is a
> (open) data centre? And how does it differ to what NBK, KPLC(?),
> Equity bank have?
> Where the Kenya Govt Open Data is, sets a curios question: doesn't the
> govt have plans to have it located locally? And if there are
> challenged reeling, can't it be brought to the fore, so that we may
> put our heads together and brainstorm?
> The idea of some sections of the government classifying information
> does not go well since the government is nopt an exclusive members
> club.
> If by what has been said, of Paul Kukubo 'sitting' on some resources,
> then it would be prudent to look at the matter in a sober manner and
> see how they can be put into good use.
> And, if there are no plans for Kenya to have the data centres locally
> based for the next three years, then why are we talking of Konza
> (Malili) ICT City, which would be a perfect place for piloting this
> DC?
> A lot of deliberation needs to be made, to realize the establishment
> of our own DC here.
>
> My 2 cents.
>
> On 13/07/2011, Michuki Mwangi <michuki.mwangi at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi Robert,
>>
>> On 7/13/11 3:31 PM, robert yawe wrote:
>>> Hi Michuki,
>>>
>>> Thank you for the information, please give us the following missing
>>> information.
>>>
>>> 1) An Operators license from CCK - ISP, Mobile, etc
>>>
>>> I will follow up on the license requirements from CCK but out of
>>> curiosity what license do UNON, KRA & NBK have
>>>(http://www.tespok.co.ke/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77&Itemid=92
>>>2
>>><http://www.tespok.co.ke/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77&Itemid=92>)
>>>)
>>> just
>>> to get a better understanding of the entire process?
>>>
>>
>> Unfortunately our agreement with our members does not permits me to
>> disclose this information. As such, i would defer you to CCK or the
>> members directly to get this information.
>>
>>> 2) Fill in the Membership forms
>>>
>>> What are the membership fees for application, monthly and annual?
>>>
>>
>> Maybe i should have called them subscription forms and agreements. Fees
>> are payable for on a monthly basis for KIXP peering services.
>>
>>> 3) Pay Services fees based on port speed required 10/100/1000 Mbps per
>>> month
>>>
>>> What are the charges for the various bandwidth connections?
>>>
>>
>> This is an administrative question that you would have to consult the
>> Admin office directly to inquire.
>>
>> However according to information available on the TESPOK website its
>> Kshs 30,000 for minimum entry which is 10Mbps.
>>
>>> 5) lease a circuit from KIXP back to your Premise
>>>
>>> Who are the available providers with nodes at KIXP and can provide the
>>> backhaul?
>>>
>>
>> Currently there are Jamii, KDN, TKL, Access Kenya, Wananchi Online and
>> Safaricom. As i mentioned earlier - KIXP is carrier neutral facility.
>> Any provider is welcome to build infrastructure to KIXP facilities if
>> they are not there yet.
>>
>>> 6) Bring a Router to KIXP for connecting to other Members.
>>>
>>> What are the minimum requirements for the router apart from just BGP
>>> capability?
>>>
>>
>> In any network, the engineering team should have the skills to determine
>> what router minimum specifications would be sufficient for the
>> organizations peering needs and when upgrades are due etc.
>>
>> Therefore our specifications are based on wh


-- 
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
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personal contacts
_______________

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____________________
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