[kictanet] [ISOC_KE] Kenya's Internet domain market is set for a shakeup

Wed Jan 29 16:59:37 EAT 2014

 *"Industry voice in Telecommunications, Providing Policy and Direction*

*within the Industry and Government"*

*PRESS RELEASE*

*Proposed CCK changes to commercialize '.ke' internet identity *

*Nairobi, 29th January 2014....*Players in the telecommunications service
industry are raising concerns over the manner in which the Kenyan
government is  proposing to handle the Commission Authority  of Kenya,
transition out of KENIC- the .ke domain manager.

The .ke domain registry has two guarantor shareholders, the industry lobby
group Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK)
and Communications Authority of Kenya formerly CCK. While lauding the move
to have the regulator step down from the board of the domain manager there
is a need to ensure smooth institutional transition and service delivery.

The association through its Chairman Mr. Kris Senanu says the CAK should
not feel that they can proceed to change the operations of the organization
without due consultations. The official proposed structure is currently
open for public input and consultations; a process expected to close
on 10thFebruary 2014. He adds that at no point in time has the CAK
communicated to
TESPOK the other partner in this arrangement on the proposal to
commercialise .ke as announced in yesterday's Business daily.

"If CAK attempt to take the commercialization approach without due
consideration of TESPOK, we will have no choice but put ICANN on notice
that any attempt at re-delegation does not have the support of the industry
or any of the stakeholders." says Mr. Senanu "We have no problem with CAK
proposing another government entity to take up the government involvement
but will not support commercialization."

The Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (the ICANN), as part
of the administrative functions associated with management of the
domain-name system root, is responsible for receiving requests for
delegation and re-delegation of top-level domains, investigating the
circumstances pertinent to those requests, and reporting on the requests.
In May 2000, a group of Kenyan Internet stakeholders led by TESPOK launched
an initiative to form a participatory, community-based non-profit
organization located in Kenya to manage both the administrative and
technical aspects of the .ke ccTLD registry.

The result of these consultations was the Kenya Network Information Center,
Limited (KENIC), organized under Kenyan law as a company limited by
guarantee (a not-for-profit entity). In addition to performing the
technical, administrative, and policy-setting functions for the .ke
registry, a stated objective of KENIC is to "promote, manage and operate
the delegated .ke ccTLD in the interest of the Kenyan Internet community
and being mindful of the global Internet community interest in consistent
with ICANN policies."

Unfortunately, over the last five years interference of CCK in the day to
day operations of KENIC has seen the organization experience unprecedented
turnover of both Board and staff; with 5 CEO changes. The functions of
KENIC have continued to be delivered because TESPOK maintained its
commitment to the local industry as per the ICANN Agreement to provide
technical and logistical support to the .ke manager.  It is important for
CAK to give the .ke ccTLD manager the opportunity to deliver on agreed key
deliverables that have not been met in the last five years.
Commercialization is not a solution to meeting the identified and agreed
industry gaps within the local internet community.

TESPOK has both the technical and administrative resources necessary to
continue as a sole guarantor of the ccTLD if and when CAK pulls. It has
provided such support in the past. This will evidently lead to
consolidating the Internet technical community shared resources under one
umbrella body; a move very similar to, the consolidation of the various
government agencies handling government ICT deployment and implementation
under the Kenya ICT Authority. The scenario would then consolidate KENIC
(the .ke manager), KIXP (Africa's fastest growing Internet Exchange Point)
and I-CSIRT (Internet Computer Security Incident Response Team) under the
TESPOK stewardship.

On Tue, Jan 28, 2014 at 11:11 AM, Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com> wrote:

> --------------------------------------------
> On Tue, 1/28/14, Grace Githaiga <ggithaiga at hotmail.com> wrote:
> @Walu, in your opinion, is this exercise of CCK  soliciting for comments
> an exercise in futility? How do
>  ensure that stakeholders' input is taken on board?
>
> @GG,
>
> CCK exercise for public comment is not in vain.  However, they retain the
> sole perogative or exclusive right on what goes into or out of the
> published regulations. In other words, even if they agreed with your
> comments, YOU still do not decide that they are adopted - THEY decide.
>  This is the traditional top-down approach that has so very well worked for
> the Telco sector.  Not sure if it is a good idea for the Internet sector
> where the bottom-up (consensus) approach is considered the norm.
>
> Indeed this is "silent" coup that is unfolding. As commercial entities
> focus on scrambling to be the winning bidder for the domain management,
> they indirectly trade in their traditional "bottom-up consensus" governance
> structure for "top-bottom"  approach practiced globally by governments.
> Whether this is good or bad will depend on how the Regulator exercises
> their extended powers into this sector.
>
> How to ensure Regulator takes on board public views? Maybe a better
> question would be - do they have to? :-)
>
> walu.
>
>
>  Subject: [ISOC_KE] Kenya's Internet domain market is set for a shakeup
>  To: "kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>, "
> isoc at orion.my.co.ke" <isoc at orion.my.co.ke>
>  Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2014, 8:55 AM
>
>
>
>
>
> http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/Kenyas-Internet-domain-market-is-set-for-a-shakeup/-/1959700/2162422/-/15nmc0nz/-/index.html
>  "The
>  regulator, CCK, has published draft framework and
>  regulations that would
>  shake up the internet domain market in Kenya. Whereas it has
>  been its good practice to invite public comments on draft
>  regulations, it is rare that CCK will change too much from
>  what it has already drafted".
>
> @Walu, in your opinion, is this exercise of CCK
>  soliciting for comments an exercise in futility? How do
>  ensure that stakeholders' input is taken on board? Well,
>  I know this might be a rhetorical question but
>  still...
>
>  -----Inline Attachment Follows-----
>
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