[kictanet] Kenyan Blockchain Start-up BitPesa Featured in Citibank Research

Fri Jul 1 18:30:16 EAT 2016

Hi Elizabeth,

Many thanks for this timely intervention. Kindly peruse the draft
policy and check whether the digital currencies are well captured on
the Jadili platform:
http://jadili.ictpolicy.org/docs/kenya-ict-policy.

Regards

On 7/1/16, Elizabeth Rossiello via kictanet
<kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
> Greetings Listers
>
> Today I am truly happy to hear so much open dialogue about blockchain,
> bitcoin and digital currencies in Kenya.  When we founded BitPesa in
> Nairobi in October 2013, we were at the start of a long, slow uphill climb
> with a brand-new technology.  There was a lack of knowledge, a lot of
> rumors, and an unwillingness to hear that the future might look very very
> different from the past.
>
> Yesterday, Citi Global Research featured BitPesa as an exceptional business
> case for blockchain technology.  (Report attached). This is a proud moment
> for a start-up begun in Nairobi in 2013.  It is not easy to build a company
> with technology that nobody has heard of - but we have continued to press
> forward, growing our customers, obtaining a license from the UK FCA,
> expanding to Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, the DRC and soon Senegal - and
> increasing transaction volumes every month, averaging over 30% MOM growth.
> We remain the largest company in Africa that uses blockchain technology.  I
> would be happy to meet with any team or company that is interested in
> learning more.
>
> We have presented to six Central Banks across Africa and have been readily
> welcomed in five of them.  We have shown that digital currency technology
> can be used in many different ways -- in itself it is not a business.
> Companies will use this technology in different ways - and Central Banks
> and the Private Sector should learn to differentiate the different types of
> businesses that use this technology to make their business models more
> efficient.
>
> Very excited for the open eyes, ears, minds and hearts of the tech
> community on this topic!
>
> Elizabeth
>
>
>
> On Fri, Jul 1, 2016 at 3:41 PM, Timothy- Coach- Oriedo via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>> As we contribute on the topic today let me  make aware that we currently
>> have a Kenyan start up called Inuka Pap that is currently participating
>> in
>> the Barclays Techstars Accelerator Program in Capetown.
>>
>> It is a social entrepreneur company with  a
>> VAS proposition to  SACCO members that enables them to access instant
>> loans, cash advances, credit/debit card
>> services as well other consumer services such as prepaid power, airtime,
>> insurance all
>> from Inuka mobile wallet.
>>
>> The instant loan mobile wallet is accessible through both USSD and mobile
>> application. The loan can be withdrawn to M -pesa or from an ATM
>> through  Debit/credit cards -  which are integrated with our systems,
>> saving customers more than half the average transaction cost. Through the
>> platform the  SACCO can lend their own money or have iNuka Pap provide
>> the
>> float at an agreed shared interest.
>>
>> Founded by Waweru, George and Rachel I have asked admin to add them to
>> the
>> Listing. We will want to here from them also on the policy and how its
>> affecting their innovation which they are configuring around the block
>> chain technology.
>>
>> Let's appreciate them and refer as many Saccos as possible to subscribe
>> to
>> the platform. Here is the you tube link of the Demo Day they had in cape
>> town yesterday....
>>
>> https:// <https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YF9Xp_I0aes>m.youtube.com
>> <https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YF9Xp_I0aes>/watch?v=YF9Xp_I0aes
>> <https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YF9Xp_I0aes>
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Timothy Oriedo
>> ICF Certified Coach, Chartered Marketer, Technology, Media & Telco
>> Enthusiast
>> FB, Linkedln- Timothy Oriedo
>> Skype, Twitter @timoriedo
>> 0722 816171
>> Thank you Barrack,
>>
>> Though I have to admit I am not sure how I can tamper with such policy
>> documents so professionally crafted :D
>>
>> Mine will be to suggest what I think is also needed to be done and I am
>> sure the Kictanet community with the CS will be able to understand how it
>> fits within the context of the document.
>>
>> Ahmed
>>
>> On Fri, Jul 1, 2016 at 1:55 PM, Ali Hussein via kictanet <
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>>> Grace
>>>
>>> On the mark and on point. Maswali nyeti unayouliza.
>>>
>>> *Ali Hussein*
>>> *Principal*
>>> *Hussein & Associates*
>>> +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375
>>>
>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>
>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>
>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>
>>>
>>> "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 1 Jul 2016, at 10:36 AM, Grace Githaiga via kictanet <
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>> The issue of virtual Money/BlockChains is gaining traction all over the
>>> World. I was in a meeting recently and one question that most people
>>> asked
>>> me when they learnt I was Kenyan was on what were my thoughts around
>>> block
>>> chain technology disrupting our famous mpesa. Unfortunately I had no
>>> answer
>>> for them but it got me thinking. I am glad that someone on this list
>>> shared
>>> this link
>>> https://followmyvote.com/online-voting-technology/blockchain-technology/
>>> which
>>> explains clearly how it works, at least for those who are not
>>> conversant.
>>> It is a worthy read.
>>>
>>> My questions:
>>> 1. Considering that Kenya has taken a lead in issues of technology,
>>> should we be concerned about block chain technology considering it kinda
>>> provides a platform where no one organisation owns the data? And in
>>> light
>>> of KRA wanting to compel safaricom to share the data of its subscribers?
>>>
>>> 2. Will it disrupt Mpesa?
>>>
>>> 3. Where is Central bank in this matter? Is central bank concerned that
>>> technology is about to change the way it does business or will it wait
>>> to
>>> make some unfortunate comment like it did recently on bloggers being
>>> responsible for the withdrawals at Chase Bank?
>>>
>>> 4. And where is Treasury in this debate? Is it concerned with financial
>>> technology?
>>>
>>> 5. Considering that this might be an idea whose time has come,  do we
>>> need policy direction on this issue?
>>>
>>> I believe we have an opportunity with this ICT policy to be futuristic.
>>> Ama niaje?
>>>
>>> Rgds
>>> GG
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------
>>> Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2016 06:13:08 +0300
>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Draft National ICT Policy Discussions Day 8 of
>>> 10: Emerging Issues ( Big Data, Bitcoin, Internet of Things)
>>> From: kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>> CC: ultimateprogramer at gmail.com
>>> To: ggithaiga at hotmail.com
>>>
>>> I think there is a huge statement being made by Samsung with their move
>>> to Tizen
>>> <http://venturebeat.com/2015/09/02/samsung-has-shown-its-serious-about-tizen-but-is-it-yet-the-os-of-everything/>,
>>> and apparently bold statements being made with regards to Android (and
>>> that
>>> Tizen will be the platform of choice). Outwardly the world will tell
>>> Samsung that they can not openly compete with Google on this.
>>>
>>> But then there’s something we are not seeing in this whole equation -
>>> the
>>> future of technology and computing.
>>>
>>> Major players are all looking to invest in IoT and Big Data. Because in
>>> a
>>> world of 6 Billion people in the Information and Knowledge revolution,
>>> IoT
>>> is not something that may happen. It will. Because according to IBM
>>> <https://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/bigdata/what-is-big-data.html> -
>>> Every day, we create 2.5 quintillion bytes of data. And this is why
>>> Samsung
>>> might win big. They are not building for now. They are building for the
>>> next 2 to 5 years to come.
>>>
>>> Kenya faces a magnitude of challenges home made technology can solve.
>>> And
>>> technology does exist for us to create sustainable solutions - and
>>> create
>>> markets for sustainable solutions, as SwahiliBox had demonstrated close
>>> to
>>> a year back when we had very much earlier predicted the marriage between
>>> Big Data and IoT
>>> <http://swahilibox.co.ke/blog/2015/06/open-data-and-the-iot-bootcamp--mombasa--june-2015>
>>> and we had developed prototypes that were even open sourced
>>> <https://github.com/SwahiliBox/OpenDataIoT> to demonstrate how easy and
>>> sustainable it can be to develop next generation solutions making use of
>>> both Big Data and IoT.
>>>
>>> Bwana Waziri, I think as a market this is one of the major areas we need
>>> to focus on - and that we are seriously neglecting. We can not keep on
>>> innovating on top of ERPs and M-Pesas and that is just it. Silicon
>>> Valley's
>>> innovative potential does not just encompass systems like Adobe
>>> Photoshop,
>>> but also innovations on top of IoT and Big Data
>>> <http://www.crn.com/slide-shows/networking/300079090/the-ten-coolest-iot-startups-of-2015.htm>.
>>> We need to innovate hardware that can be relevant within the African
>>> Context - Hardware that can then hook up with the ERPs and M-Pesas, and
>>> maybe bring to life a whole different export channel to other countries
>>> and
>>> governments looking for sustainable hardware solutions. And Kenya can do
>>> this.
>>>
>>> We need to push more resources into innovating around Big Data, Cloud
>>> and
>>> IoT. As a market we can only achieve maximum innovative potential in
>>> adopting the trends that players like Samsung, Intel, IBM, and the likes
>>> are investing billions of dollars to get right.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Jul 1, 2016 at 5:30 AM, Ali Hussein via kictanet <
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>> Barrack and all
>>>
>>> For the first time Net Neutrality is being given a voice. But not far
>>> enough. We need clear direction on this important issue. Where do we
>>> stand
>>> on:-
>>>
>>> *Net Neutrality*
>>> 1. Third party liability?
>>> 2. Fair and equitable treatment of Internet traffic?
>>> 3. Zero rating of services?
>>> 4. I understand that Tespok did a study that showed an increase in data
>>> revenue from OTT and messaging services like YouTube and WhatsApp. It
>>> would
>>> be interesting if we could see that report or failure of which (as
>>> Tespok
>>> is a member based Organisation and may choose not to share it with the
>>> general public) CA may need to step in.
>>> 5. Finally can the new regime tell us once and for all whether Kenya
>>> finally signed WCIT12 and what prompted the change of heart?
>>>
>>> *Mobile Money and the new reality of Blockchain Technology.* Let's not
>>> beat about the bush here. The very leadership position that has been
>>> achieved by our adaption of Mobile Money is at risk by burying our heads
>>> in
>>> the sand when it comes to Blockchain Technology.
>>>
>>> We need to stop thumping our chests about the phenomenal success of
>>> Mpesa. The reality is that Mpesa is only successful here in Kenya and a
>>> few
>>> other countries. Mpesa stopped innovating in this space years ago. It's
>>> time for a new reality. Mpesa is yesterday's news. Let's start creating
>>> a
>>> new narrative. We need a Global Champion. The likes of PayPal, eBay,
>>> Google
>>> etc. and we have it in us to do it.
>>>
>>> Kenya, and Africa are again at risk of being left behind. No other than
>>> the Governor of the Central Bank is on record saying that we shall wait
>>> and
>>> see what the West does before jumping in. I respect the man alot but I
>>> think engagement with the nascent Fintech Space in Nairobi together with
>>> the ICT Ministry is long overdue. We MUST chart our own path - And it
>>> needs
>>> to be a pioneering path not a follower path. We need a clear policy
>>> statement from the ICT Ministry on this.
>>>
>>> I'm reliably informed that the ICT Ministry and the Central Bank has
>>> formed or will form a joint committee to look into the adaption of
>>> BlockChain Technology. I may have missed this but is there a
>>> representative(s) from the private/banking/Fintech space? Sometimes I
>>> get
>>> the feeling that this country's leaders still don't get the spirit of
>>> the
>>> New Constitution we promulgated in 2010. I would like to humbly remind
>>> ourselves of this:-
>>>
>>> The *constitution* was presented to the Attorney General of *Kenya* on 7
>>> April 2010, officially published on 6 May 2010, and was subjected to a
>>> referendum on 4 August 2010. The *new Constitution* was approved by 67%
>>> of *Kenyan* voters. The *constitution* was promulgated on 27 August
>>> 2010.
>>>
>>> In the spirit of Uzalendo and moving this country forward let us share
>>> more and consult more extensively. This exercise of subjecting the new
>>> ICT
>>> Policy to this level of public scrutiny and intellectual discourse on a
>>> list like Kictanet is unprecedented. And highly commendable, This
>>> certainly
>>> shows the willingness and openness of the leadership of CS Mucheru. It's
>>> not a coincidence that he and PS Victor Kyalo are founder members of
>>> Kictanet. Intellectual discourse, sharing and engagement is in their DNA.
>>> I
>>> must however caution them that they must shine daylight into
>>> *EVERYTHING*
>>> that involves the public good. This new discussion on Blockchains is
>>> good for the public and the nascent FinTech community. We *CANNOT* and
>>> *MUST
>>> NOT *let vested interests prevail in the corridors of power at the
>>> detriment of the country at large.
>>>
>>> It may well be that this country decides that BlockChain Technology will
>>> do more harm than good to us. However, I humbly suggest that decision
>>> should not be left to a few individuals. No matter their station in life
>>> or
>>> government. A robust platform of discussion and consultation spearheaded
>>> by
>>> the ICT and Treasury Ministries must be held. And this must be kicked
>>> off
>>> as soon as possible because time's a-wastin'.
>>>
>>> My humble two cents..
>>>
>>> *Ali Hussein*
>>> *Principal*
>>> *Hussein & Associates*
>>> +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375
>>>
>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>
>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>
>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>
>>>
>>> "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 1 Jul 2016, at 1:33 AM, Barrack Otieno via kictanet <
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>> Day 8 of 10:
>>>
>>> * Internet of Things, M2M
>>> * Net Neutrality & OTT
>>> * Big Data
>>> * Virtual Money/BlockChains
>>>
>>> The Background:
>>>
>>> Internet of Things is a vision (now a reality) of physical objects
>>> (machines, vehicles, buildings, etc) fitted with sensors that allow
>>> them to  communicate with each other.  The smart-city concept
>>> envisions sensors continuously reporting status (e.g Traffic status,
>>> Pollution Status, Maintenance Status) of the different objects to
>>> allow for efficient management response. A lot of data exchanges
>>> arises hence the term Big Data with its associated data analytics
>>> requirements.
>>>
>>> Meanwhile, Virtual Money/Currency (Bitcoin, etc) threatens to disrupt
>>> the need for a centralised banking institutions. Over The Top (Skype,
>>> Twitter, FB, Youtube) have been around longer but the need to regulate
>>> or NOT to regulate them continues to be debated.
>>>
>>> Given recent developments on the KiCTANET list on Virtual money  what
>>> should  our position on these and other emerging issues be from a
>>> policy perspective ? is there need to embrace the issues?
>>>
>>> Your comments are welcome
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Barrack O. Otieno
>>> +254721325277
>>> +254733206359
>>> Skype: barrack.otieno
>>> PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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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
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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.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> *Ahmed Maawy*
>>> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
>>> Curator - Global Shapers Mombasa Hub
>>> Ambassador - Open Knowledge
>>> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
>>> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
>>> (KE) +254 714 960 627
>>> Skype: ultimateprogramer
>>>
>>> swahilibox.co.ke
>>> globalshapers.org
>>> www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/>
>>> startupgrind.com
>>> ajplus.net
>>> www.everylayer.com
>>>
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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
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>>> privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
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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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>>> 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.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> *Ahmed Maawy*
>> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
>> Curator - Global Shapers Mombasa Hub
>> Ambassador - Open Knowledge
>> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
>> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
>> (KE) +254 714 960 627
>> Skype: ultimateprogramer
>>
>> swahilibox.co.ke
>> globalshapers.org
>> www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/>
>> startupgrind.com
>> ajplus.net
>> www.everylayer.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> kictanet mailing list
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>
>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timoriedo%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.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> kictanet mailing list
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>
>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizabeth%40bitpesa.co
>>
>> 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.
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Elizabeth Rossiello
> CEO and Co-Founder
> *BitPESA*
> Nigeria: +234 909 345 4135
> Kenya: +254 710 891 851
> Skype: erossiello
>

-- 
Barrack O. Otieno
+254721325277
+254733206359
Skype: barrack.otieno
PGP ID: 0x2611D86A