[kictanet] [isoc_ke] Why is Kenya indifferent to how Africa's internet is managed?

Sun May 31 08:52:34 EAT 2015

Badru

Thanks for your response. I read Walu's article and I saw it a little bit differently. For me the issue is more meaningful discourse between government and the private sector on the softer issues of policy and engagement on critical ICT Infrastructure. And here I don't necessarily mean the 'dishing' out of board seats, tenders on installation and management of critical infrastructure. 

I mean softer but equally important issues to do with Net Neutrality, Multi-Stakeholder engagement etc. These are being ignored. Or people who engage in them labelled 'Activists'.Let me explain:-

1. Internet.org. Is the regulator even interested in the damage this can do to our painstakingly built startup ecosystem? Not to mention the issue of potentially killing local content? We have asked what the country position is on this. We will probably discuss it at the Kenya IGF in July but without meaningful participation by the government side this will be another exercise in futility.

2. Net Neutrality. The telcos in this country are breaking all sorts of rules regarding Net-Neutrality. What is the regulator's response? Nothing. Let me rephrase this. What is our position on this? There has been very vigorous debate in India on this issue. We have the same (Albeit much smaller) ecosystem as them. Why are we not paying hid to this important issue?

I can go on and on..

Badru, I think the point Walu was trying to bring across is this malaise in government and the private sector in our region regarding these critical issues. And there I think he hit the Bulls Eye.

Ali Hussein
Hussein & Associates
+254 770 906375 / 0713 601113

Twitter: @AliHKassim
Skype: abu-jomo
LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
Blog: www.alyhussein.com

"Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi

Sent from my iPad

> On May 30, 2015, at 8:44 AM, Badru Ntege via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
> 
> @ Barrack @Ali
> 
> I read Walu’s article with interest but I think he has left out some pertinent details.  
> 
> Walu has been representing the East African region alongside myself on the Afrinic board.  He first joined the board in 2010 and was re-elected as an alternate board member in 2013.  The same time I was also elected on the board as a primary board member.
> 
> When the incident of disconnection happened all board members were given prior notice to inform members not in good standing to fix or make solid commitments.  Unfortunately for Kenya this was not done in time.
> 
> In fact Walu played a key role in getting Kenya back online.   And it helped that Kenya was represented an board level.
> 
> Board representation is not by country but by Region.  I have been the board member for the region since 2013 and the region has been represented.  I’have business interest in the Telecom space in all East African countries and I have been active in the region for over 8 years.    I believe the whole region is represented.
> 
> I would say Kenya has been well represented over that period.   A number of kenyans have also been very active in the Africa internet space for quite a long time.  I remember I was introduced into the Internet space back in the 2002 by kenyans like, Michuki, Mucheru, Lwongwe, Alice to name but a few.   These and many are names that make us in the East African Region proud.
> 
> So I think the article is slightly not fare to the many kenyans very active and making the internet what is today.
> 
> The issue with government
> 
> The internet community have this love hate relationship.  On one side we want them near but on the other we do not want them anywhere near the internet.  Its like come but please just seat in the corner and look pretty.
> 
> We are definitely a strong community in the African internet space and as Board member I have made sure that our impact is felt and as they say the struggle continues, we have to build on what our many veterans like the one I named above to build our regional internet in a proactive and co-operative way.
> 
> I’m standing for re-election this year and hope to be given the mandate to continue representing the entire region.  If the community feels they are areas key I have and continue to listen thus my being active on various lists.
> 
> I hope this helps us clarify.
> 
> regards
> 
> 
> 
> 
> <A6B4555D-F867-4A2F-A9F9-BAF29039D12B[5].png>
> 
> 
> On 5/26/15, 11:05 AM, "Ali Hussein via kictanet" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
> 
> Barrack
> 
> Thanks for sharing this information. 
> 
> Walu, thanks for bringing up this critical issue.
> 
> My humble view is this has been a major bone of discussion on this list.
> 
> Policy makers in this country are abdicating their responsibilities by not addressing these critical issues. We have asked and discussed issues of critical importance to this country without their participation. These ‘soft’ issues don’t seem to be at the forefront of the key decision makers in this country.
> 
> Its high time these issues are given the importance they deserve.
> 
> Thanks & Regards
> 
> Ali Hussein
> ali at hussein.me.ke
> 
> +254 770 906375
> Twitter: @AliHKassim
> Skype: Abu-Jomo
> LinkedIn: http//ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
> Blog: www.alyhussein.com
> 
>> On May 26, 2015, at 12:56 PM, Barrack Otieno via isoc <isoc at lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
>> 
>> Listers,
>> 
>> 
>> http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/walubengo/-/2274560/2729620/-/yrlji4z/-/index.html
>> 
>> 
>> Regards
>> 
>> -- 
>> Barrack O. Otieno
>> +254721325277
>> +254-20-2498789
>> Skype: barrack.otieno
>> http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> isoc mailing list
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>> http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/isoc
> 
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