[kictanet] Has the ICT Sector Failed?

Thu Mar 7 22:22:51 EAT 2013

Brian,

We did not inspect any equipment that was being used by IEBC - be it phones
or any termination equipment and as such I am not in a position to answer
to this.

On 7 March 2013 21:53, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe at gmail.com> wrote:

> Wash,
>
> Could the mobile handsets really have been communicating via a VPN? I
> don't think that the features and specification of the handsets could
> support a VPN client? Could it be that they were using a private/dedicated
> APN configured by Safaricom?
>
> Best regards,
>
> Brian
>
> On Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 9:01 PM, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> @Edith,
>>
>> Safaricom cannot explain anything to do with IEBC Servers and laptops and
>> even the Nokia phones IEBC used! I'll try to elaborate slightly:
>>
>> 1. Safaricom gives connectivity, much like a highway to drive on at a
>> certain maximum speed. They ensured that IEBC got this and I must emphasize
>> I was a witness to this, having sat with Bob Collymore and other
>> Safaricom's top
>>     Manager at the Safaricom Network Monitoring Centre (NMC) from 6.30pm
>> on Monday to about 8am on Tuesday. During this time, myself and other
>> representatives of political parties and representative from IEBC had
>> unfettered
>>     access to the NMC and the Engineers on duty to ensure there were no
>> issues affecting the "highway". I don't remember seeing any failures on the
>> highway, and besides there was enough redundancy in place to mitigate that.
>>
>> 2. Safaricom DID NOT have access to IEBC servers - which form the
>> "backend" of the transmission system. Neither did Safaricom have access to
>> the mobile phones that were used as "frontend". These two were communicating
>>     via a VPN. The encryption within this VPN was IEBCs business. IEBC
>> was responsible for configuring the frontend-backend communication. When
>> IEBCs Server disk filled up (ran out of space) it was IEBCs business to
>> fix, not
>>     Safaricoms. I remember when results stopped trickling in, I did raise
>> the question and CORD's representative at the NMC went to Bomas, where he
>> got the information that there had been issues with HDD storage. I also
>> recall
>>     Safaricom's Nzioka Waita rushing to Bomas to get to establish what
>> the real problem was. Of course it was beyond his mandate to manage IEBC's
>> Server.
>>
>> This whole s*^t is IEBCs to answer for, NOT Safaricom. Look at the
>> failure as being on the "Submission System" (frontend-backend) and not on
>> the highway.
>>
>> I am not speaking on behalf of Safaricom, but as one person who has first
>> hand information from Safaricom's NMC while representing a political
>> coalition's interests. Oh, and Jubilee Coalition did not send a
>> representative. I also don't recall seeing someone representing Amani
>> coalition, but they all had invitation to attend.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 6 March 2013 20:10, Edith Adera <eadera at idrc.ca> wrote:
>>
>>>   Despite Safaricom’s press release, they were involved in transmitting
>>> the results. Can they explain why the transmission via their VPN failed?
>>> ****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> Edith****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> *From:* kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=
>>> idrc.ca at lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *Erik Hersman
>>> *Sent:* March 6, 2013 3:02 PM
>>>
>>> *To:* Edith Adera
>>> *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>>> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Has the ICT Sector Failed?****
>>>
>>>  ** **
>>>
>>> Does anyone on the list have the contact information for Dismas Ongondi
>>> at IEBC?****
>>>
>>> *Dismas Ongondi - Director of Information Communication Technology*****
>>>
>>> As head of the ICT department, he has been in charge of the
>>> technological revolution at the commission. The implementation of the an
>>> electronic results transmission technology and biometric voter registration
>>> has been under his docket. He is the man Kenyans will be focusing on
>>> tomorrow when Presidential results are relayed electronically. ****
>>>
>>> Erik Hersman****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> www.ushahidi.com | www.iHub.co.ke <http://www.ihub.co.ke/>****
>>>
>>> www.whiteafrican.com <http://www.afrigadget.com/> | @whiteafrican<http://twitter.com/whiteafrican>
>>> ****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> On Mar 6, 2013, at 1:49 PM, Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni at gmail.com> wrote:**
>>> **
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ****
>>>
>>> I would be curious to know when the selected vendor actually indeed
>>> receive their contract for the work to begin. My experience with public
>>> procurement (GoK, USAID, etc), once the bids are closed, it will usually
>>> take more than 30 days to get everything finalized internal to the buying
>>> organisation for a contract to be issued and hence works to begin.****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> Considering this was a software project for custom tool and several
>>> integration requirements with several third party applications. The
>>> problems were are seeing are really a manifestation of how the preparedness
>>> process went.****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 1:24 PM, Erik Hersman <erik at zungu.com> wrote:****
>>>
>>> Agosta,****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> I think it's clear that we all understand that tech issues happen, on
>>> this list we understand that better than most.  However, how are you
>>> supposed to help if you don't know what's wrong?****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> That's really what's at issue here.  It's about understanding how it
>>> works first, then who's involved, then what's wrong, then what (if
>>> anything) we can do.  Do you find something wrong in that train of thought?
>>> ****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> Erik Hersman****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> www.ushahidi.com | www.iHub.co.ke <http://www.ihub.co.ke/>****
>>>
>>> www.whiteafrican.com <http://www.afrigadget.com/> | @whiteafrican<http://twitter.com/whiteafrican>
>>> ****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> On Mar 6, 2013, at 1:01 PM, Agosta Liko <agostal at gmail.com> wrote:****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>>  Daudi
>>>
>>> My point is when people work on complex systems ... like the election
>>> system, things fail and most times they recover.
>>>
>>> Lets not have a public hazing exercise -- Unless we say we know for a
>>> fact what the problem is
>>>
>>> and in that case, first step would be to offer help to IEBC - or the
>>> staff there. We know them !!
>>>
>>> There are too many of us who are now offering solutions on blogs,
>>> websites etc etc
>>>
>>> Maybe this will bring in more grants .....
>>>
>>> Thanks****
>>>
>>> On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 12:55 PM, Daudi Were <daudi.were at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> On 6 March 2013 09:56, Agosta Liko <agostal at gmail.com> wrote:****
>>>
>>> about the RFP ...
>>>
>>> ----------------------------------------****
>>>
>>> THIS REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) IS THE EXCLUSIVE, CONFIDENTIAL,
>>> PROPRIETARY PROPERTY OF THE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR ELECTORAL SYSTEMS
>>> (IFES). IT MAY NOT BE COPIED, TRANSMITTED, OR DISCLOSED BY ANY MEANS
>>> WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF IFES . BY ACCEPTING A COPY HEREOF,
>>> RECIPIENT AGREES TO (I) BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED
>>> HEREIN (INCLUDING BUT NO T LIMITED TO THE CONFIDENTIALITY PROVISONS), (II)
>>> USE THE RFP (AND ANY RELATED DOCUMENTS) SOLE LY FOR EVALUATION PURPOSES AND
>>> FOR RESPONDING TO THIS RFP, AND (III) RETURN OR DESTROY THE RFP (AND ANY
>>> RELATED DOCUMENTS) UPON IFES REQUEST OR UPON YOUR DECISION NOT TO RESPOND
>>> TO THIS RFP
>>>
>>> ----------------------------------------****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> Liko,****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> The RFP maybe belong to IFES (and that can be disputed), the election
>>> and the electoral process belongs to Kenyans. ****
>>>
>>> We not only have the right, we have the RESPONSIBILITY to question what
>>> is going on with the ICT systems at Bomas. ****
>>>
>>> Since you keep telling us to expect things to fail and then expect them
>>> to be fixed why don't you tell us WHAT failed and WHAT is being fixed.
>>> Simple enough. If you don't want to tell us what is failing and what is
>>> being fixed then tell us WHY you can not tell us. Is it that you don't
>>> know, in which case you should join is trying to find out WHAT is going on.
>>> ****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> The integrity of our election is much more important that a warning IN
>>> CAPS about which obscure company owns which document. ****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> We ask these questions are patriots, as concerned citizens who want our
>>> electoral commission to succeed. Obscure confidentially clauses or not.
>>> ****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> D****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> kictanet mailing list
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet****
>>>
>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/erik%40zungu.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
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>>>
>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmuthoni%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.****
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> --
>>> Muthoni
>>>
>>> My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/
>>> --------------------------------------------
>>> Mahatma Gandhi once said:-
>>>
>>> First they ignore you,
>>> Then they laugh at you,
>>> Then they fight you,
>>> AND THEN YOU WIN!!! ****
>>>
>>> ** **
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
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>>>
>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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>>>
>>>
>>> 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.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Best regards,
>> Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
>> Nairobi,KE
>> +254733744121/+254722743223
>> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
>> I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> kictanet mailing list
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>
>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>> https://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.
>>
>
>

-- 
Best regards,
Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
Nairobi,KE
+254733744121/+254722743223
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler.
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