[kictanet] [KICTAnet] CCK hosting its website abroad

[Brian Munyao Longwe]

Dear all,

I think that one thing that has not been taken into consideration is the
fact that CCK does not operate it's own hosting infrastructure. If I recall
from my ISP days and also assuming that CCK is still a public entity, they
are subject to procurement procedures - and hosting their website was one
of the hotly contested contracts that we used to compete for.

I therefore would like to suggest that, in this case at least, the guns are
pointed at the wrong target. Which ISP has the hosting contract? Could it
be that their hosting infrastructure (like many others) is based in the USA?

Food for thought....

Brian

On Mon, Apr 23, 2012 at 12:46 PM, <agostal at gmail.com> wrote:

> **
> Just to clarify
>
> Am not a top anything (that's for the big boys)... I strongly believe that
> our work should speak for itself
>
> So in building KITOS or whatever we will call that org, we should focus on
> what we can do as a sector... Then govt may follow
>
> Not start asking that all Kenyan projects should be done by Kenyan
> firms... Technically, all these "Kenyan Firms" have foreign shareholders...
>
> Thanks
> Sent from my BlackBerry®
> ------------------------------
> *From: * Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi at gmail.com>
> *Date: *Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:25:11 +0300
> *To: *<agostal at gmail.com>
> *Cc: *KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> *Subject: *Re: [kictanet] [KICTAnet] CCK hosting its website abroad
>
>
>
> On 23 April 2012 12:20, <agostal at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> In all these discussions, I think Kenya should avoid creating some form
>> of affirmative action when it comes to contracts.
>>
>> Companies in Rwanda may grow because foreigners have to work with them...
>> But are they technically competent
>>
>> There are conversations going on right now around 140 friday about how to
>> strengthen the sector... For me, I think we should build good quality stuff
>> or do good quality work and the contracts will flow
>>
>> You win some, you loose some :)
>>
> +1 on Agosta's comments , plus him being one of our top software
> exporters, they should be valid .
>
>>
>> Sent from my BlackBerry®
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Phares Kariuki <pkariuki at gmail.com>
>> Sender: kictanet-bounces+agostal=gmail.com at lists.kictanet.or.keDate:
>> Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:56:52
>> To: Agosta Liko<agostal at gmail.com>
>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] [KICTAnet] CCK hosting its website abroad
>>
>> My comments on the issue:
>>
>> The government does have a prerogative to develop local industries. A
>> simple example is Embraer in Brazil, which grew to it’s current level
>> (with Kenya Airways buying jets from it) primarily from the government
>> purchasing. We don’t want the government to run the companies in the
>> ICT space, just use the taxes it collects from us to develop the very
>> same industries.
>>
>> If the private sector has it’s act together (as is the case with many
>> companies e.g. Cellulant, which has won a contract from the Government
>> of Nigeria recently, Seven Seas etc) and we have the capacity, it’s
>> wrong for the government to outsource the work… The government of
>> Rwanda currently has a model that for large government contracts, you
>> have to work in tandem with a local firm, which has two companies
>> (Rock Global Consulting & Matrix Business Solutions) experience
>> accelerated growth and are now capable of handling a lot of the
>> business the government has without external partnerships. They have
>> grown their capacity. The government loses less money and this in a
>> small way, fixes their balance of trade and increases employment
>> locally.
>>
>> The US government is currently trying as much as possible to end
>> outsourcing with companies like Apple/Cisco etc.
>>
>> I am not saying that we should adopt a model that was used by
>> India/China in the mid-late twentieth Century (extreme market
>> protection) but I believe it should be tempered. Importing milk from
>> Tanzania for example, will simply kill our dairy industry. Market
>> protection has it’s ills as well, but if well done, grows your
>> economy.
>>
>> I agree, to a point, with Joe’s approach, however, with CCK, given the
>> nature of their business, will necessarily have most of their traffic
>> being local. We do have some good local hosting companies. If for
>> instance, the tender was inclusive of all that and a preference for
>> local hosting (if the website were to be local) or international (in
>> this case the US), then this should clearly be specified at the tender
>> stage.
>>
>> The government wants to have 500 companies the size of Seven Seas
>> technologies (according to what I read from the recently ended
>> Connected Kenya Summit – correct me if I’m wrong
>>
>> http://softkenya.com/kenya-ict-board-plans-500-new-firms-by-2017-to-push-kenya-to-top-10-ict-hubs/
>> )
>> which basically means that in the next five years, we will have, 500
>> companies with over 1B KES in revenue (500B KES – 6.01B USD, with
>> current rates). How are we ever going to achieve this if the
>> government (currently the largest consumer of ICT Services) does not
>> channel it’s resources into local firms?
>>
>> On Mon, Apr 23, 2012 at 10:07 AM, Eugene Lidede (Synergy)
>> <eugene at synergy.co.ke> wrote:
>> > I find it hypocritical, that we want to be at the forefront of lobbying
>> > government to outsource locally, but when that is done, we in turn
>> outsource
>> > abroad using sleek phrases and acronyms like BPO/ITES, Lack of Capacity,
>> > Costs, Security… the list is endless!
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > While I see the argument you are raising for local support, I think
>> there is
>> > a bigger question as to whether the Internet is local? Also how many of
>> the
>> > local hosting companies are locally owned?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > The Internet is as local as the Internet is abroad and vice-versa. The
>> > question of whether a firm is locally owned or not, is a “local-hosting”
>> > irrelevancy that needs to be addressed differently.  It may be
>> entertaining
>> > to watch Nigerian oga movies  produced in Abuja, it would be better to
>> see a
>> > few Kenyan actors star in those movies and a few scenes shot in
>> Kajiado, the
>> > best experience is to have a hearty laugh watching hilarious Naswa/Pasua
>> > comedy clips.… whether some Nigerian owns the production company behind
>> > Naswa is equally an irrelevancy as far as “local-do-it-ourselves” goes.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > The net effect of every shilling spent in Kenya as opposed to being
>> > converted to dollars and spent abroad, is pretty straight forward I
>> should
>> > think. I find it hypocritical (if not defeatist – and bordering on an
>> > economic crime) that a company “saves” by hosting abroad and later
>> claims to
>> > partake in CSR activities and benefits from Tax incentives for the phony
>> > CSR!
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > It would be great if as an industry we answer some key questions and
>> then
>> > decide whether it is beneficial to use "local" or imported. My phone is
>> > Korean, Laptop Apple (Chinese or US - you decide), Office furniture
>> from a
>> > South African company, imported from Italy etc..
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > I want to believe that the decision to import an Apple computer is more
>> > informed by the lack of a local alternative in functionality,
>> aesthetics,
>> > prestige or some peculiar sentimental value. If only there was a local
>> brand
>> > called Chungwa that could equally tickle your gadgetry taste buds….. The
>> > same “lacking” cannot be claimed for local hosting.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > How many Kenyans are  in the Diaspora and using the Internet.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > What difference does it make? If anything, they ought to be on the
>> frontline
>> > advancing our cause as a “hosting”/ICT destination, while we develop the
>> > requisite capacity to absorb the business they forward our way. I think
>> it
>> > is immoral from a policy perspective to target the Diasporas while 40
>> > million are languishing in traffic Jams and endless dropped calls, just
>> to
>> > mention a few of the “easiest-to-solve” of our local ICT problems…
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > America did not just wake up July 4th and decide to outsource software
>> > development to India or hardware to China. It is the nationals of these
>> > countries residing/visiting America who built their respective cases and
>> > they did so with the confidence that back home there was sufficient
>> capacity
>> > and capability. Unlike in our case, they managed to do so despite
>> language
>> > and accent barriers and differences in political ideology and nuclear
>> > capability. We seem to have our cart in front of the horse, expecting
>> the
>> > IBMs and Googles of this world to come develop capacity for us then
>> swing us
>> > some!
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > I think you are asking the wrong question. You should be asking about
>> the
>> > quality of service to the visitor of the site. Various considerations go
>> > into where to host a service;
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > With respect to CCK hosting, for as long as they are dealing with a
>> middle
>> > man (aka Broker/Reseller) then topics like Security, Quality of Service
>> > ought not to arise, and if they do, then the contract ought to go to a
>> firm
>> > with demonstrated local infrastructure.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Regards
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > From: kictanet-bounces+eugene=synergy.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eugene=synergy.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On
>> > Behalf Of Joseph Mucheru
>> > Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 11:38 PM
>> > To: Eugene Lidede
>> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] CCK hosting its website abroad
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Grace/Wanjiku,
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > While I see the argument you are raising for local support, I think
>> there is
>> > a bigger question as to whether the Internet is local? Also how many of
>> the
>> > local hosting companies are locally owned? I think you should evaluate
>> the
>> > total economic impact to Kenya and not base it on face value. It would
>> be
>> > great if as an industry we answer some key questions and then decide
>> whether
>> > it is beneficial to use "local" or imported. My phone is Korean, Laptop
>> > Apple (Chinese or US - you decide), Office furniture from a South
>> African
>> > company, imported from Italy etc.. back to the subject of local hosting
>> > ..... How many Kenyans are  in the diaspora and using the Internet.  I
>> think
>> > you are asking the wrong question. You should be asking about the
>> quality of
>> > service to the visitor of the site. Various considerations go into
>> where to
>> > host a service;
>> >
>> > 1) Cost
>> >
>> > 2) Security
>> >
>> > 3) Quality of Service - where is your primary audience, what devices
>> (mobile
>> > (feature or smart phone?, desktop, tablet )
>> >
>> > 4) Search Engine Ranking and optimisation - Discoverability
>> >
>> > 5) others ...
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Who is best positioned to provide this kind of comparison data? Can you
>> > investigate and give us feedback?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Thanks
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Joe Mucheru
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > On Sun, Apr 22, 2012 at 11:01 PM, Grace Githaiga <ggithaiga at hotmail.com
>> >
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Quoting the article by Rebecca Wanjiku...
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > For a regulator like the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), you
>> would
>> > expect them to be promoting services if the whole talk of how
>> infrastructure
>> > has improved and how it is getting better.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Read more...
>> >
>> > http://www.wanjiku.co.ke/2012/04/cck-hosting-its-website-abroad/
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Rgds
>> >
>> > GG
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > kictanet mailing list
>> > kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>> >
>> > Unsubscribe or change your options at
>> >
>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mucheru%40google.com
>> >
>> > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>> for
>> > people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>> development.
>> >
>> > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>> > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>> bandwidth,
>> > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy,
>> do
>> > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Joe Mũcherũ
>> > Regional Lead, Sub-Saharan Africa
>> > Google Kenya
>> > 7th Floor, Purshottam Place
>> > Westlands Road
>> > P O Box 66217 - 00800 Westlands
>> > Nairobi,
>> > KENYA
>> >
>> > +254 20 360 1701 Office
>> > +254 20 360 1100 Fax
>> > +254 20 360 1000 Switch Board (Regus)
>> >
>> > +254 722522135 Mobile
>> >
>> >
>> > http://www.google.com
>> >
>> > This email may be confidential or privileged.  If you received this
>> > communication by mistake, please don't forward it to anyone else, please
>> > erase all copies and attachments, and please let me know that it went
>> to the
>> > wrong person.  Thanks.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > kictanet mailing list
>> > kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>> >
>> > Unsubscribe or change your options at
>> >
>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/pkariuki%40gmail.com
>> >
>> > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>> for
>> > people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>> development.
>> >
>> > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>> > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>> bandwidth,
>> > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy,
>> do
>> > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Warm Regards,
>>
>> Phares Kaboro Kariuki
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> kictanet mailing list
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>
>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/agostal%40gmail.com
>>
>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>
>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>> _______________________________________________
>> kictanet mailing list
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>
>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmbuvi%40gmail.com
>>
>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>
>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>
>
>
>
> --
> with Regards:
>
> blog.denniskioko.com <http://www.denniskioko.com/>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/blongwe%40gmail.com
>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>



-- 
Brian Munyao Longwe
e-mail: blongwe at gmail.com
cell:  +254715964281
blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com
meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com

"Give us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand
for, because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything."
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/attachments/20120423/6a04bc62/attachment.htm>