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

Fri Aug 22 17:15:25 EAT 2014

Dear Mark,

We will agree to disagree on the importance of controlling the state's
monitoring ability.

I agree that debate can focus on whether we should be spending billions on
a system that can be done just as well manually. I think we just went
through this with the voter ID kits which were very expensive and failed
miserably.

Mark has a good point about the potential for corruption here.

Yours, Rigia

On Fri, Aug 22, 2014 at 9:10 AM, Mark Mwangi via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> 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
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
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>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> kictanet mailing list
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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.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> 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
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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.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> 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
>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
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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.
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> kictanet mailing list
>> 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.
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Mark Mwangi
>
> markmwangi.me.ke
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/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
--------------------------------------------------
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