[kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and records management/More questions

Mon Oct 24 17:33:10 EAT 2011

Friends

Standards that allow data interchange should be a core component of this discussion.

On freedom of information and how it is applied in the western world, the basis is that citizens have right of access to information, especially information used to reach decisions that impact the citizenry. It is rooted in the need for transparency and used as a weapon against those that may take advantage of their positions for the benefits of specific interests. Indeed, implied in this is inherent suspicion of government that can become wayward (Nixon in the white house or rogue experiments like Tuskegee, etc) and hence should be held in check.

While confidentiality of information is a necessity, especially in matters of national security, courts in the west have been used to strike the balance between a right to know and national interest/security/privacy/etc.

One last comment: I read recently an article where the author talks of  about factors that would have a competitive edge in the future for nations. The author's conclusion  (I cannot find it now) is that those that are able to transform data to knowledge which then informs decisions will be ahead. We have yet to see the commoditization of knowledge as (say) manufacturing and I am not sure we will ever get there; and for reasons that what we infer from a data set is purely based on our own prior knowledge, and the filters we apply to the data. 

We are on the right cause when we challenge policy and decision makers to ground their work in knowledge derived from experiences and realities.

Baadaye.

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Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 5:00 AM
Subject: kictanet Digest, Vol 53, Issue 114

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Freedom of Information laws and records management/More
      questions (Grace Githaiga)

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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:53:10 +0000
From: Grace Githaiga <ggithaiga at hotmail.com>
To: <jwamukoya1 at yahoo.com>
Cc: kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and records
    management/More questions
Message-ID: <BAY151-W192052C2F1445A45C85144B4EE0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Great ideas Wamukoya and Dr. Ndemo

Wamukoya, you raise the same concern that Dr Ndemo raised earlier in this discussion on how we manage information. The question that still remains unanswered is: In what formats should this information be stored in?

I agree with you on the need for institutions to have proper structures of managing information and I have in mind institutions such as the Judiciary and the Ministry of Lands.  You are on spot on the need for government bodies to have a systematic approach towards information management. This question needsd further discussion: How do we incorporate records management into discussions about ICT development, e-government and development generally?

Dr. Ndemo, in your contribution, you provide this vital information that the government is already working on data standards for the open data. Could you kindly provide more information on the process, and for example can people (read listers) make input? 

You raise the issue that there is need for apps that will make it easier for the public to navigate through and find information they are looking for. Are you tapping on local talent say from the ihub?

Listers, please feel free to discuss these questions and those that have been raised in this debate on aligning records management with ICT e-government and freedom of information, that you feel need elaboration. In the meantime we will start putting together points that have emerged and share once we complete compiling. 

Have a great week.

Rgds
GG

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Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2011 08:03:54 +0100
From: jwamukoya1 at yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and records management/More questions raised by Dr Ndemo and Harry Delano
CC: kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
To: ggithaiga at hotmail.com

Thanks Dr. Ndemo for your thoughts.It is true that organizations public as well as private need to manage their information as well as records well enough that citizens can have access to quality information that will enable them ascertain their various rights. This will require a more systematic approach in the way we automate our registries to ensure provision of quality information. Currently, government efforts in various information sectors such as ICT, e-Government, Records Management and FOI are disjointed and not adequately coordinated. Professionals in each sector are doing their own thing without paying attention to what is happenning in other sectors. We can certainly take this country places by having in place a more systematic and integrated approach towards information management with more attention being paid to standards. 

Have  a good day.

Justus

From: "bitange at jambo.co.ke" <bitange at jambo.co.ke>
To: justus wamukoya <jwamukoya1 at yahoo.com>
Cc: "kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Sent: Friday, 21 October 2011, 21:05
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and records management/More questions raised by Dr Ndemo and Harry Delano

Justus,
You are right. The Government actually is a head in this endeavor considering the fact that most registries would be digitized before the law is in place. On open data we are working on data standards. We need more apps to make it easier for the public to navigate through and find what they want.

People generally would need information that affects their day to day life. Personally I would need more data or information from utilities. Here we shall need for example smart grid so that I can understand my energy consumption. I need to verify what KPLC or City Council bill me. I need to compare what my physician charges me. I need the hospital to itemise their billing. This is where we shall have a problem since most of these organization have no idea what the impact of access to information is all a bout.

Soon on open data we post school performaces and qualification of teachers. This will help provide better analtics on why some schools or students perform better than others.

We simply have to have all the information in digital format. It will be easier to manage the databases and create more software development jobs. Digital records are easier to manage, search and greater sharing of information.

Ndemo.

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