[kictanet] Digital villages

Tue Mar 8 12:22:57 EAT 2011

Daktari,

I agree that baseless negativity and cynicism as opposed to positive
contribution on issues when information is readily available is not right.

That said, if progress reports from/on such initiatives were proactively
made available to stakeholders by government, there would not be grounds for
myself or anyone to become negative (read inquisitive).

Here are a few examples of most interest to myself:

1. There is a BPO/ITES working group in the PMs office for instance that has
been in existence for a second year now. Much as it might be doing a lot of
good there, it's near impossible to keep track of the progress being made by
the public. If communication on successes and challenges from this group
were to come from the group (proactively) instead of wait for the public to
prompt them every time to respond, negativity will cease.

2. The KICTB BPO section - I have been in the BPO industry for quite a while
now, and have seen several initiatives to jump start this sub-sector being
undertaken or said to have been undertaken. The least that a stakeholder
such as myself expects is some progress updates on what is happening; there
was a strategic plan that was developed by the board, and never was it
shared (as much as I am aware of) with industry players; the list is
elaborate.

It is therefore the burden of government to give reason to the public to be
positive, not the other way around!

Best Regards,

Edwin 

-----Original Message-----
From: kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On
Behalf Of bitange at jambo.co.ke
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2011 8:21 AM
To: Edwin
Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions'
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Digital villages

Cynicism and negativity will take us nowhere.  Simply ask where these DVs
are and you will be shown.

Ndemo.

> I am just wondering, is the digital villages, BPO and other grand
> initiatives that have since stalled as a result of GOK is diverting funds
> to
> political initiatives instead? E.g. shuttle diplomacies!
>
>
>
> Best Regards,
>
>
>
> Edwin
>
> From: kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On
> Behalf Of warigia bowman
> Sent: Monday, March 07, 2011 3:47 PM
> To: Edwin
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Digital villages
>
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> I did try to visit a digital visit in Sagana with little success. If the
> PS
> can kindly give me a clear list of digital villages, including location, a
> contact person, and a cell phone, I would really like to visit as many as
> possible and report back to you. If any Kenyan academic would like to
> coauthor a paper on the same, I would enjoy that. Please contact me. .
>
> Sincerely, Warigia
>
> On Mon, Mar 7, 2011 at 12:30 PM, George Nyabuga <gnyabuga at uonbi.ac.ke>
> wrote:
>
> In January 2007, the Nation published the story (below) indicating that
> the government was in the process of setting up digital villages across
> the country. What happened to these digital villages and plans? Dr Bitange
> Ndemo, Paul Kokubo and others were reported to have been driving this
> process. But as far as I know there are hardly any 'digital villages' in
> the 210 constituencies. Empty promises?
>
> George
>
>
> Story by JUSTUS ONDARI
> Publication Date: 8/01/2007
>
> Several communication firms will jointly set up hubs in villages around
> the country, in project meant to close the huge gap in Internet access
> between rural and urban areas.
> In the first phase of the programme, Telkom Kenya, Kenya Data Network and
> Popote Wireless will each establish digital villages in 54 constituencies
> under an initiative that aims to cover the remaining 156 constituencies by
> December this year.
> The Government will subsidise broadband access for the villages under a
> Sh670 million World Bank loan, that seeks to stimulate demand for
> broadband uptake over a three year period. Entrepreneurs will get credit
> through the Youth Fund to buy the locally assembled computers going for an
> average of Sh25,000 a piece. The initiative, known as Rural Digital
> Village "Marshall Plan", also aims to rope in mobile service providers,
> Safaricom and Celtel Kenya.
> The two have already agreed, in principal, to take part in the first phase
> of the programme, said Mr Peter Kimacia, one of the coordinators of the
> initiative. Mr Kimacia is the chief executive of ICTvillage.com, an
> industry-driven Web site and business lobby that aims to make Kenya the
> information and communication technology (ICT) hub of Africa.
> "At the end of Phase Two of the initiative in December 2008, each of the
> telecommunications service providers will have at least a digital village
> in all the 210 constituencies in the country," he said.
> He was speaking at the Nairobi Serena Hotel during the launch of the
> initiative.
> Launching the concept, Information and Communications permanent secretary,
> Bitange Ndemo said each of the constituencies will have a digital centre,
> two digital schools, and four digital kiosks within the next 100 days
> under what he called a "Rapid Results Response".
> A digital centre will have between 10 and 20 computers, while a digital
> school will have five to 10 computers, and a digital kiosk one to five
> computers.
> Also present at the launch were Information and Communication Assistant
> minister David Were and permanent secretaries David Nalo (Trade and
> Industry), and Kinuthia Murugu (Youth Affairs).
> The programme will be overseen by the newly appointed Kenya Information
> and Communication Technology Board chaired by Ms Catherine Ngahu, and
> managing director, Paul Kokubo of 3Mice Interactive Media Limited.
> The villages will offer services like data collection, cyber cafes,
> training and merchandising. Other services are business outsourcing,
> franchising and bureau services.
>
>
>
> --
> Dr George Nyabuga
> Associate Director
> School of Journalism & Mass Communication
> University of Nairobi
> Education Building
> Harry Thuku Road
> PO Box 30197 - 00100
> Nairobi, Kenya
> Tel: +254(0)20 318262 Fax: +254(0)20 2229168
> Mobile: +254 (0)72151 6573
> Email: gnyabuga at uonbi.ac.ke, gnyabuga at yahoo.co.uk
> www.uonbi.ac.ke
>
>
>
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