[kictanet] Government acts on driving e-commerce growth

Thu Mar 21 09:42:22 EAT 2013

This is something that should have happened already and I wish those
involved godspeed in the implementation. Its god that the government is
taking this initiative and it will be interesting to see exactly how CCK is
planning to get the private sector to participate. Lets have that
information soon.

At the same time, just a word of caution, PKI is not a silver bullet for
security.  I am not sure if PKI will reduce the instance of cyber
insecurity, other than providing for non-repudiation and authenticity. The
implementation is much more than just getting the vendor to install the
technology. There are many pitfalls and challenges. Then there is there is
the education of users, in this case the entire population. Encryption is
one of the most complicated subjects there is.

Just my thoughts.
Evans

On Thu, Mar 21, 2013 at 8:23 AM, Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni at gmail.com> wrote:

> Sounds very good..can you please share with us envisaged use cases
> especially for Government-2-Citizen, e-commerce providers deploying SaaS
> solutions.
>
> Alternatively, please give us a link to more detailed information on
> services accessible via the infrastructure to application developers.
>
> On Wed, Mar 20, 2013 at 4:59 PM, Phyllis Nyambura <pnyambura at ict.go.ke>wrote:
>
>> *Government acts on driving e-commerce growth*
>>
>>
>> **
>>
>> *Establishment of a secure online environment will be implemented come
>> October
>> *
>>
>>
>> **
>>
>> *Nairobi 20th March, 2013: *The government through the Kenya ICT board,
>> Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) and Directorate of E-government,
>> today held a forum with stakeholders to sensitise them on what it will take
>> to secure online transactions. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), is the
>> national system that the government is implementing to provide digital
>> certification services.
>>
>>
>> Through the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), the government will set up
>> an online identity and verification system where each citizen will be
>> issued with a unique online identity (digital certificate) that will be
>> required whenever they take part in online transactions. The project is
>> being implemented by Korea technology company Samsung SDS.
>>
>>
>> “Electronic signing is the most ensuring method to help solve a lot of
>> the on-line crimes we see such as hacking, identity theft and forgery of
>> sensitive information. Interested individuals will apply for a digital
>> certificate using their name and ID number and later called in for a
>> face-to-face authentication process by the Accredited Certificate
>> Authority. Following the verification process, the applicants will then be
>> authorized to download the digital certificate to the PC or USB (HSM
>> token),” explained Evans Kahuthu, Project Manager Information Security at
>> the Kenya ICT Board.
>>
>>
>> The online certificate will be a unique Internet ID (a cryptographic key)
>> that will facilitate access to on-line government services leading to
>> increased online business.
>>
>>
>>
>> “Going forward, we will be getting into complex, sophisticated and very
>> hard to investigate organized cybercrime. It is therefore prudent that the
>> government readies itself to tackle these new challenges,” said Francis
>> Mwaura, Senior Assistant Director, and Directorate of E-Government.
>>
>>  “As the government moves to automate and digitize its records,
>> e-government will handle a lot of sensitive data, and this calls for
>> security of these records,” added Francis Mwaura.
>>
>>
>>
>> The project expected date of completion is October and it will be piloted
>> at the Kenya Revenue Authority before a roll-out to other government
>> agencies and ministries. This will mean that those applying for KRA online
>> services e.g tax returns and pin certificates will have to apply for
>> digital certificates before they are allowed to transact.
>>
>>
>> “Internet users have to struggle with a trade-off between convenience and
>> security. As countries all over the world are making progress in
>> e-government, all offline activities are being changed into online ones
>> like e-commerce, e-banking, e-procurement and e-bidding through the
>> internet. That’s why PKI is so crucial at this time,” said Samsung SDS Vice
>> President, Sungwon Han.
>>
>>
>>    “Kenya is taking the lead in East Africa,” said Michael Katundu,
>> Director Information Technology at CCK, who also chairs the Cyber Security
>> Steering Committee in the region. CCK will be the root certification
>> authority and will also accredit private companies who will issue
>> certification to online users on their behalf. Full details of who
>> qualifies to be an accreditter will be published on CCK website (www.*cck
>> *.go.ke).
>>
>>
>> Immediate beneficiaries of PKI are those that rely heavily on
>> e-transactions among them; Banks, Tax bodies (KRA), online businesses and
>> those that hold sensitive information like Medical service providers, legal
>> entities and government ministries like the Immigration and Lands.
>>
>>
>> In *2009*, Kenya passed the amendment legislation introducing the
>> regulation of Electronic Signatures (E-Signature) into the Kenya
>> Information and Communications Act, *Cap 411A *(as part of
>> e-transactions).
>>
>> Subsequent *subsidiary legislation* to operationalise this framework was
>> designed in 2010 in the form of Kenya Information and Communications
>> (Electronic Certification and Domain Name Administration) Regulations, 2010.
>>
>>
>>
>> *For more information contact pnyambura at ict.go.ke*
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Phyllis Nyambura
>> Communication Writer
>> Kenya ICT Board
>>
>> Telposta Towers, 12th Floor, Kenyatta Ave
>> P.O. Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
>> t: + 254-020-2211960/62 | m: + 254 (0) 789396433 | e: pnyambura at ict.go.ke
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Muthoni
>
> My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/
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> 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.
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> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
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-- 
*----------------------------------------------------
Kind Regards,
Evans Ikua,*
lanetconsulting.com,
lpi-eastafrica.org,
ict-innovation.fossfa.net,
Skype: @ikuae
Cell: +254-722-955831
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