[kictanet] State to partner with Israeli firm to create online database of Kenyans

Mark Mwangi mwangy at gmail.com
Fri Aug 22 17:10:43 EAT 2014


For starters the government does not need a biometric database to stop
movement or find you if it so wished.

We don't live in vacuums. There are neighbours, friends, workmates, M Pesa,
and your friendly neighbourhood informant ready to rattle off your patterns
and habits.

Govt has these details anyway if you have been issued with an ID.

Debate should be on why we need a fangled system worth billions to simply
take fingerprints again and a passport photo.




On Fri, Aug 22, 2014 at 4:56 PM, S.M. Muraya via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Civil society pushed a constitution that will be used to turn some
> counties into theocracies.
>
> We have already heard some Kenyans state their religion is above the
> law/constitution, knowing well it is exempted from the bill of rights.
> On Aug 22, 2014 4:18 PM, "Warigia Bowman via kictanet" <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>> Yes, I would rather have a database in civil society's hands. And
>> further, there is no need to have the database be biometric, unless your
>> goal is to track people, find out whether they are crossing borders and
>> controlling their movements.
>>
>> Imagine if Moi had a biometric database of dissidents?
>>
>> Now, a basic database of citizens that was open is a different matter.
>>
>> Yours, Rigia
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Aug 21, 2014 at 10:40 PM, mkawasi <mkawasi at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Warigia,
>>>
>>> I agree. Citizen databases are a control tool for govt. That's why they
>>> should not be in the hands of governments. In citizens' hands, they can be
>>> a great empowering tool (mobilization & organization, brain-banking,
>>> lobbying, etc). It would be the most powerful tool for diaspora. Mk
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> From my Android phone on T-Mobile. The first nationwide 4G network.
>>>
>>> Warigia Bowman <warigia at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Mpendwa Ndugu Kariuki
>>>
>>> It is never too late in the day to fight for our freedom. You are very
>>> correct that we need an appropriate legal and institutional framework to
>>> deal with the matter, as well as a vigorous public debate about the pros
>>> and cons of this policy.
>>>
>>> I think that my US passport is connected to a biometric database, but my
>>> US drivers' license is not.
>>>
>>> I remain skeptical. I think that biometric databases are a form of
>>> command and control of the population. Check out the book Seeing Like A
>>> State by Scott.
>>>
>>> Sincerely, Warigia
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Aug 21, 2014 at 1:10 PM, John Kariuki <
>>> ngethe.kariuki2007 at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Warigia,
>>>>
>>>> I see where you are going and I ,with very good reasons, share your
>>>> concerns. However,it is a bit late in the day to go that way because a
>>>> substantial number of governments even  in democratic countries have
>>>> already implemented biometric databases.
>>>> What we lack in Kenya is the appropriate legal and institutional
>>>> framework to deal with the matter.This include lack of any(let  alone
>>>> adequate) legislation on personal data protection.When prepared this would
>>>> require to be bechmarked with the best international practices,  including
>>>> UNGA Guidelines for the Regulation of Computerised Personal Data
>>>> Files,Resolution 45/95 of 14 December 1990,CoE Convention on Data
>>>> Protection and EU Directive 95/46/EC on Data Protection.
>>>>
>>>> My 2 cents,
>>>>
>>>> John Kariuki.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>    On Monday, 18 August 2014, 22:35, Warigia Bowman via kictanet <
>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  Dear colleagues,
>>>>
>>>> I think creating biometric databases of all citizens can reduce our
>>>> civil liberties, but others may disagree.
>>>>
>>>> Thoughts?
>>>>
>>>> Rigia
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sun, Aug 17, 2014 at 2:54 AM, Ngigi Waithaka via kictanet <
>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> This is interesting,  why?
>>>> 1. PPPs should be guided by an open and transparent process where GoK
>>>> advertises for those with intent to partner to apply.
>>>> This didn't happen.
>>>> 2. If there is no competition, how do we ensure we are getting value
>>>> for money?
>>>> 3. Whatever happened to building some of these solutions locally. Yet
>>>> another 1000 software engineers jobs we have exported to Israel to help
>>>> them build more bombs to break up Gaza!
>>>> Waithaka Ngigi
>>>> Alliance Technologies
>>>> Nairobi, Kenya
>>>> www.A1.io <http://www.a1.io/>
>>>> On 17 Aug 2014 01:04, "S.M. Muraya via kictanet" <
>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Not sure why we need Israelis to build this database for Kenya. They
>>>> could guide/train us but it is not for non Kenyans to lead its development
>>>> and management.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> http://www.nation.co.ke/business/Online-Database-Technology-Public-Servants-Profile/-/996/2421390/-/svf5fw/-/index.html
>>>>
>>>> Kenyan State to partner with Israeli firm to create online database of
>>>> Kenyans
>>>>
>>>> Note comments made in 2009.....
>>>>
>>>> *Israel Poised To Pass National I.D. Database Law*
>>>>
>>>> By Nathan Jeffay
>>>>
>>>> Published August 12, 2009, issue of August 21, 2009.
>>>>
>>>> HAIFA, ISRAEL — Israel may become the only democratic country to take
>>>> biometric information from all citizens and store it in a database.
>>>>
>>>> The plan, approved by a Knesset committee and set for a final vote in
>>>> the fall, is expected to pass easily, as the largest opposition party and
>>>> the government support the bill. But that apparently won’t prevent outraged
>>>> human rights organizations, academics and grass-roots activists from
>>>> spending the rest of the summer protesting the plan.
>>>>
>>>> Champions of the database say it is crucial for Israel’s security. “The
>>>> danger to the state in the present situation, in which there is no database
>>>> of biometric information, is critical,” according to Kadima lawmaker Meir
>>>> Sheetrit, who drafted the bill.
>>>>
>>>> But opponents say that it actually will jeopardize security. “If such a
>>>> database gets in the hands of a foreign country or terrorist organization,
>>>> they will be able to identify any Israeli anywhere by their fingerprints or
>>>> their picture,” claimed computer security expert Eli Biham, dean of
>>>> computer science at Israel’s leading high-tech research institution, the
>>>> Haifa-based Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.
>>>>
>>>> Read more:
>>>> http://forward.com/articles/112033/israel-poised-to-pass-national-id-database-law/#ixzz3AavDDUx5
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> 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/ngigi%40at.co.ke
>>>>
>>>> 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
>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>>
>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/warigia%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.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Dr. Warigia Bowman
>>>> Assistant Professor
>>>> Clinton School of Public Service
>>>> University of Arkansas
>>>> wbowman at clintonschool.uasys.edu
>>>> -------------------------------------------------
>>>> View my research on my SSRN Author page:
>>>> http://ssrn.com/author=1479660
>>>>
>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> 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/ngethe.kariuki2007%40yahoo.co.uk
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 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.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Dr. Warigia Bowman
>>> Assistant Professor
>>> Clinton School of Public Service
>>> University of Arkansas
>>> wbowman at clintonschool.uasys.edu
>>> -------------------------------------------------
>>> View my research on my SSRN Author page:
>>> http://ssrn.com/author=1479660
>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Dr. Warigia Bowman
>> Assistant Professor
>> Clinton School of Public Service
>> University of Arkansas
>> wbowman at clintonschool.uasys.edu
>> -------------------------------------------------
>> View my research on my SSRN Author page:
>> http://ssrn.com/author=1479660
>> --------------------------------------------------
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/murigi.muraya%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
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mwangy%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.
>



-- 
Regards,

Mark Mwangi

markmwangi.me.ke
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/attachments/20140822/e7c5d375/attachment.htm>


More information about the KICTANet mailing list