[kictanet] [PK] Kshs 8.5 billion on just CCTV cameras within Nairobi?

Fri Nov 30 10:10:21 EAT 2012

Evans,

Proprietary systems can claim R&D investment on things like these. My point
is not on efficacy of platforms but the cost passed on to customers.
Proprietary system vendors will use their claims to justify high prices and
that's why I don't thing its surprising a price tag of 8.5b has been
slapped on this project. Regardless of whether it runs on Windows or Linux,
would you expect a western vendor selling 'military grade' surveillance
infrastructure to provide it at what we would collectively describe as an
affordable price?

Kind regards,

Muchiri Nyaggah | LEAD FELLOW, CODE4KENYA
@muchiri
Cell: +254 722 506400
Skype: mrmuchiri
WWW.CODE4KENYA.ORG

On Fri, Nov 30, 2012 at 6:33 AM, Matunda Nyanchama <
mnyanchama at aganoconsulting.com> wrote:

> Friends
>
> National Task Force on Police Reforms (created following the post-election
> violence of 2008) was presented with various views and made certain
> recommendations. I have included below some views and recommendations
> pertaining to technology.
>
> May be the Kenyan Police have a roadmap towards effective use of ICTs. For
> example what would be priority: automating the occurrence book (and use of
> intelligent data mining to design effective/efficient solutions), HR,
> Finance, etc or CCTV?
>
> On our part, we did prepare an unsolicited proposal in which we suggested
> a diligent approach to technology needs for policing, which would result in
> prioritization. We later learnt that the priority they had was acquiring
> CCTV, an idea we felt was being pushed by CCTV vendors rather than security
> priorities.
>
> NB: Kshs 8.5 billion? I hope someone has a good rationale.
>
> Here are the police views according to the report
> *a)   **Communication equipment within the police, particularly in rural
> areas, were found to be either absent, non-functional, or poor and
> outdated. This directly undermines the ability by members to access telephones,
> mobile phones or internet facilities to enable them to undertake their
> normal policing functions. Police investigators routinely use their
> personal mobile phones for official purposes, as they have no access to
> police communication systems. The Task Force was also informed that some
> criminals have superior communication equipment to that of the police,
> which enables them to intercept police communications. *
> *b)   **The investigative function of the police has been weakened by
> inadequate crime intelligence, lack of modern technology, reduced
> operational autonomy of the CID, transfer practices, and a re-active ‘fire
> fighting’ approach to policing.*
>
>  The Task Force noted that:
> *a)   **Information and Communication Technology (ICT): **The police
> services lack the basic ICT knowledge and skills, equipment and
> infrastructure. The lack of an effective electronic network and
> communication system, which connects police stations, undermines the
> ability of the police to use simple and cheap communication systems for
> policing purposes. The police are further not able to key in and preserve
> crucial information and data that would ordinarily help them not only track
> criminals but also to inform them on crime patterns or trends as well as
> assisting in case management.  *
> *b)   **Cyber crime**: **This Task Force noted the increase in the use of
> information technology in the commission of crimes including complex
> frauds, computer hacking, credit cards scams, spreading of computer
> viruses, facilitation of human trafficking and child pornography using
> internet. It was clear that most police officers lack the most basic I.C.T.
> knowledge. *
> The Task Force recommended, *inter alia*,****
> *(a)**That the tooling, logistical and technological capacity of the
> police services be reviewed to establish the exact needs and specification
> in order to bring policing to international standards. Consideration should
> be given to prioritizing Communication and information technology and
> transportation.*
> *(b)**That the use of CCTV cameras as a policing component particularly
> in major cities and our highways be incorporated in the National Policing
> Plan. The police should coordinate with the private sector to maximize and
> synchronize the use of CCTV to combat crime.*
> *(c) ** Legislation needs to be developed to make electronic,
> audio-visual, computer data and photographic evidence to be admissible in
> court.  *
> *(d)**That the capacity of Forensic Science Service Department (FSSD) be
> enhanced within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to be staffed by
> civilian experts to enable the police concentrate on their core duties.*
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, CISSP; mnyanchama at aganoconsulting.com
> Agano Consulting Inc.;  www.aganoconsulting.com; Twitter: nmatunda;
> <http://twitter.com/#%21/nmatunda>Skype: okiambe
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Be prepared for ICT security failures & know how to respond when they
> happen!
> Call: +1-888-587-1150 or info at aganoconsulting.com
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> "The best revenge is massive success" - Frank Sinatra
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