[kictanet] [Security Forum] #KeIGF15 Online Discussions Day Three: Internet Economy

[Barrack Otieno]

Many thanks Fred and Grace for contributing to the discussion thread.
We welcome more input from  colleagues as we move along. A while back
i came across information that COFEK was working on a Consumer
protection act similar to the South African one. It would be good to
know where they reached or got stuck. The Communications Authority had
also launched a series of campaigns to protect consumers which seem to
have slowed down after the organization re-branded. However it would
be usefull to know the impact such initiatives made in the sector as
well. It is my hope that we can get an update from COFEK on the
progress made with the bill.

Thank you

Best Regards

On 7/22/15, fredrick Wahome <frewah85 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Unfortunately those in the leadership will just draft something when it
> deems appropriate time for them without involving the stakeholders n end
> users.
>
> The document will just sit at CA shelves and life  goes on. For now am
> concentrating on educating users how to be safe.
> On Jul 22, 2015 11:46 AM, "Grace Mutung'u (Bomu) via Security" <
> security at lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
>
>> Hi Barrack,
>> Thank you for the the questions.
>> @ Fred on the issue of taxation for the Internet economy....
>>
>> I was listening to a representative from Jumia the other day on radio. By
>> her presentation, the volume of merchandise moved per day is quite high
>> and
>> this business is really catching on in Kenya. If I remember they had an
>> increase of 900%in turnover in Africa. While they warn that the high
>> sales
>> have not yet translated into profit, the whole business model is
>> interesting and at some point the government will want a share of the
>> profits. The same will happen to the cloud economy and other Internet
>> businesses, if what happened in Chicago is anything to go by.
>>
>> However, more needs to be done on consumer education and protection. For
>> example, when one buys a phone online and it is faulty, should the online
>> company collect, repair or replace the phone or should the consumer take
>> the phone to the service centre?
>> Consumer protection can either be done through self regulation where the
>> online companies make very good policies on dealing with consumer
>> complaints. Otherwise , the companies cannot be responsive, then the
>> law/its enforcement must be strengthened.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>>
>> 2015-07-22 7:42 GMT+03:00 Barrack Otieno via kictanet <
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>:
>>
>>> Listers,
>>>
>>> The rise of the Internet economy in Kenya has been defined by
>>> different strokes. On  one hand there are small entrepreneurs doing
>>> their side hustles from offices, small shops and car boots. They
>>> advertise their merchandise and services on social media and in a
>>> rudimentary form, some deliver merchandise in backpacks from door to
>>> door.
>>> Enter the bigger players who have large websites from where goods and
>>> services are purchased. Their business models differ. We have
>>> companies like  OLX, Cheki  that provide a platform for users to
>>> interact. They make their money from advertising. Others such as Rupu
>>> and Jumia offer services and merchandise at  reduced prices.
>>>
>>> Questions
>>>
>>> 1. Does  an adequate legal framework exist to protect consumers from
>>> fraud, deficient goods and services and to assure consumer rights in
>>> the budding Internet economy?
>>> 2. Since the bigger players in the sector are doing well, is time ripe
>>> for the local Internet economy to be taxed to raise money for
>>> government services?
>>> 3. Should other services in the Internet economy such as cloud
>>> services, international online purchases etc be taxed?
>>> 4. As a stakeholder , what are your recommendations on how the
>>> Internet economy can be improved?
>>>
>>> The floor is open, feel free to continue contributing to the
>>> discussions of the previous days.
>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Grace L.N. Mutung'u
>> Nairobi Kenya
>> Skype: gracebomu
>> Twitter: @Bomu
>>
>> <http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu>
>>
>>
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>


-- 
Barrack O. Otieno
+254721325277
+254-20-2498789
Skype: barrack.otieno
http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/