[kictanet] #KeIGF15 Online Discussions Day One: Inclusiveness and Diversity

Tue Jul 21 09:38:50 EAT 2015

GG

You raise an important issue regarding the framework and process of public
participation and engagement. I sometimes get the distinct feeling that we
pay lip service to this important aspect of our new constitution. A few
examples:-

1. Notices for important public discussions being sent out 48 hours before
the event. Almost as if whoever does this wants to give as short a notice
as possible so that you can have as little participation as possible.

2. Zero follow up after the engagement. Or when there's follow up you get
the distinct feeling that the engagement was just for cosmetics.

3. Major engagements where only the 'politically correct' are involved.

My take is that Multi Stakeholderism is like the bitter pill that one needs
to take to cure an ailment and once taken its easier on the body and your
health dramatically improves.

Ali Hussein
Tel: +254 713 601113
On Jul 21, 2015 5:38 AM, "Grace Githaiga via kictanet" <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Hi Grace B
>
> Let me respond on two questions you have raised.
>
> On Kenyans being litigious: IMHO many people opt for litigation (which is
> tiresome and wastes alot of time) if they feel they have no other option(s)
> to discuss their issue(s). And this may be one way of putting checks on
> systems. What we should be asking though is, has this been the only way to
> resolve conflicts in this sector? And if so, why? Did people feel that
> there was no room to discuss their concerns? And is it possible that there
> are other forms of conflict resolution that were not considered? Would
> bringing the complainants onto the table for some negotiation have
> forestalled the court cases? And how should we take things forward?
>
> Article 10 of Kenya's Constitution places people at the heart of policy
> making processes. And lets be fair. CA has for example been buying space in
> newspapers to call on this or that input, and ICTA has infact on several
> occasions posted the calls on our lists. However, the call for public
> participation stops there! There is usually no interaction afterwards. And
> this is a weakness. We therefore need a framework that clarifies on this
> public participation process. The framework should for example map how
> views and ideas suggested are reflected in an outcome document of a policy
> process. If views/suggestions from certain stakeholders are not taken on
> board, then legitimate reasons for their lack of incorporation (either
> grounded in law or offensive to public morality) should be provided. This
> is to avoid suspicion and a feeling from concerned stakeholders who feel
> the need to participate legitimately in a process, that their time was not
> wasted and that those calling for public participation were not just giving
> lip service to article 10 of our constitution.
>
> Rgds
> GG
>
>
> Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2015 08:59:37 +0300
> Subject: [kictanet] #KeIGF15 Online Discussions Day One: Inclusiveness and
> Diversity
> From: kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> CC: nmutungu at gmail.com
> To: ggithaiga at hotmail.com
>
> Listers,
>
> Since promulgation of the Constitution, Kenya has become a litigious
> society, and the ICT/Internet sector has not been spared. For instance, the
> processes used to constitute public ICT bodies was contested while a good
> part of the digital migration process also played out in the public
> galleries.
>
>
>
> Looking at Kenya's past journey in ICT/Internet governance, has it been
> inclusive?
>
> Are we presently adhering to Article 10 on public participation in local
> Internet governance matters?  Do the present mechanisms facilitate
> meaningful participation of all including those with disabilities?
>
>
> What are the roles of the various stakeholders and are they all playing
> their roles?
>
> Is the ICT environment in Kenya inclusive—that is, with an atmosphere in
> which all people feel valued and respected and have access to the same
> opportunities?
>
>
> What is the state of Universal Access and implementation of Universal
> Service Fund in Kenya?
>
> Are the USF Council members representative of the Internet community in
> Kenya? Are all stakeholders' interests taken into consideration in forming
> the USF council?
>
>
> Welcome to the discussion.
>
> --
> Grace L.N. Mutung'u
> Nairobi Kenya
> Skype: gracebomu
> Twitter: @Bomu
>
>
>
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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.
>
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