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

Tue Oct 25 23:06:00 EAT 2011

I second...

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 Edith Adera
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 6:10 PM
To: harry at comtelsys.co.ke
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and records
management/More questions

Standards for records management are key to ensuring people DON'T keep
records in whatever format they wish!!! What constitutes international best
practice standards for records keeping? Does Kenya have this in place? What
are the gaps? If Wamukoya and his team could point out the main gaps for the
case of Kenya - we can then begin to make progress towards rectifying the
situation. I agree with Harry for suggesting a structure face to face with
clear action plan for moving forward to correct the problems.

Gaitho, "proactive disclosure" may be the way to go for some of these
important pieces of information - that may not be classified as "in the
interest of national security". For e.g. Canada has proactive disclosure on
1) the travel and hospitality expenses of senior government officials and
the legislation requires that these are published on the websites of the
corporations; 2) contracts entered into by the Government for amounts over
$10,000 (with only limited exceptions such as national security); 3)
position reclassifications etc etc. 

According to Lit, the main areas to consider when dealing with FOI include:

. FOI response process/system

. Costs of compliance

. Time spent processing requests and

backlogs

. FOI training and awareness for public

authorities

. Senior management's role

. Recordkeeping as key to FOI's

success

Records management again is KEY!

From: Macharia Gaitho [mailto:mgaitho at ke.nationmedia.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 5:43 PM
To: Edith Adera
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: RE: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and records
management/More questions

Dear Listers,

We are still mixing up two quite separate issues. The librarians and
archivists and registry clerks will store their records in whatever formats
they find most suitable. That is maybe a technical challenge. 

Some of us are more concerned about Freedom of Information as a basic right.

If, for instance, I wanted records from the Communications Commission of
Kenya on idle broadcast licenses and frequencies hoarded by briefcase
operators, or information from the Dept of Defense on corrupt contract
establishing Project Nexus, I should not turned away on ground that I am too
thick to make use of the information. 

Regards,

Macharia

From: kictanet-bounces+mgaitho=nation.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+mgaitho=nation.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On
Behalf Of Edith Adera
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 5:30 PM
To: Macharia Gaitho
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and records
management/More questions

The challenge should be thrown to Bwana Ndemo/ICT Board/e-Government
Secretariat to host such a forum.and soon. Any seconders?

Edith

From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf
Of Harry Delano
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 5:42 PM
To: Edith Adera
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and records
management/More questions

Grace,

Based on what I have seen on this list to date,  I think if we are to accord
this very important topic

the magnitude it deserves, we may need a much more larger, multi-stakeholder
forum to tackle

information management. Perhaps we can dub it "Information Value chain
management for

socio-economic and political development". 

Then this way, we can tap some of the progressive minds we have in this
country, including our

very own PS to help us put into sharp focus a more "Knowledge-based" society
that will drive

forward a "Knowledge-based Economy/Socio-Political agenda"

We need to scale this to a level at which we can start seeing action and
realizing clearly laid-out

objectives going forward. Stakeholders really need to stand out and be
counted.

My final take..

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 Grace Githaiga
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 12:53 AM
To: harry at comtelsys.co.ke
Cc: kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws and records
management/More questions

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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If you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is
all about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth
and rule the World!

  _____  

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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