[kictanet] Cryptocurrency Trading

Thu Nov 23 11:48:48 EAT 2017

Dorcas and all

One thing that I'd like to note is this:-

Regulation and Policy ALMOST ALWAYS lags behind innovation. There are rare
times when the wheels of government move in tandem with innovation. This is
not unique to Kenya. Its a global thing.

The thing about Kenya that we have that is going for us is this:-

1. Almost always those in government understand the positive effects of
innovation especially in Technology and normally stay clear away and let
things move forward with least resistance. Players in the sectors involved
then get together with government to craft policy and regulation (where
necessary) to reign in rogue players.

2. The Kenyan Startup Scene is acknowledged to be one of the most vibrant
not just in Africa but the world.

Let's push these envelopes in the right direction and we will emerge
winners. Always.

Regards

*Ali Hussein*

*Principal*

*Hussein & Associates*

Tel: +254 713 601113

Twitter: @AliHKassim

Skype: abu-jomo

LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
<http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>

13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing,

Chiromo Road, Westlands,

Nairobi, Kenya.

Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely
mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the
organizations that I work with.

On Thu, Nov 23, 2017 at 11:41 AM, Dorcas Muthoni via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Noted with thanks Barrack,
>
> Definitely something that needs to mature sooner rather than later.
>
> On Nov 23, 2017 11:39 AM, "Barrack Otieno" <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi Dorcas , hi Ali,
>>
>> I think you are on the same page. I recall the last townhall meeting at
>> Dusit which validated the blockchain policy brief was attended by a number
>> of Stakeholders from all stakeholder groupings. That the CS Joe Mucheru
>> alongside a number of officers from his ministry attended is testament to
>> the interest and appreciation of the Government as a stakeholder in the
>> technology. The list of participants in the meeting was multi stakeholder.
>> Some Stakeholders such as the CBK Governor have been uneasy about
>> Blockchain but seem to be warming up over time. In my humble opinion it
>> would be good to build on the steps that have been made as we chart the way
>> forwad. In 2016 blockchain was a key topic in the Kenya Internet Governance
>> Forum attended by more than 250 stakeholders physically and many more
>> remotely. A number of local block chain companies and experts participated
>> in panels that interrogated the technology. It might be that what we are
>> witnessing is the ripple effect of the awareness efforts created in the
>> last three years. In the usual Kenyan spirit there are those that have
>> decided to capitalize on the emerging technology. We are at a good place in
>> that we can no longer bury our heads in the sand. Concrete actions or
>> responses are needed from various stakeholders such as the government and
>> independent regulatory agencies. They can tap into the feedback received
>> from various Conferences hosted locally from 2016 as well as papers and
>> policy briefs that have been written since then in consultation with the
>> stakeholders. We don't need to reinvent the wheel since the bus is moving.
>>
>> Best Regards
>>
>> On Thu, Nov 23, 2017 at 11:24 AM, Dorcas Muthoni via kictanet <
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks Ali,
>>>
>>> I have been with kictanet since it's birth so I definitely understand. I
>>> definitely appreciate the effort you have put. But we have not even
>>> scratched the surface on this one.
>>>
>>> What is needed now is movement in terms of support for Blockchain and
>>> not hypervigilance as is being seen.
>>>
>>> While private sector players can be proactive, it will be a futile
>>> effort and a danger to investments if regulators and government come later
>>> with more restrictions in response. Hence the need for a repeat success
>>> story of kictanet as a multi-stakeholder forum.
>>>
>>> I think everyone is here in one way or the other. In essence, I am
>>> speaking of the need for a conducive policy environment and action needs to
>>> get to that.
>>>
>>> Thanks! Muthoni
>>>
>>> On Nov 23, 2017 11:03 AM, "Ali Hussein" <ali at hussein.me.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Dorcas
>>>>
>>>> We at KICTANet can only provide direction, intellectual engagement and
>>>> lobby to have a policy in place (not necessarily regulation) for this to be
>>>> adopted by the Government and mainstream industry players. I would however
>>>> add that players in the Startup Scene in Kenya and some big ticket players
>>>> like IBM are not waiting.
>>>>
>>>> They are already moving ahead with a number of initiatives. I
>>>> understand that there now exists the Blockchain Association of Kenya.
>>>>
>>>> And this is as it should be.
>>>>
>>>> Check out the two links below to get a glimpse of whats happening.
>>>>
>>>> 1. https://developer.ibm.com/blockchain/sandbox/
>>>>
>>>> 2. https://ipdb.io/foundation/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Incidentally KICTANet is a Founder Caretaker of the IPDB Foundation.
>>>>
>>>> Regards
>>>>
>>>> *Ali Hussein*
>>>>
>>>> *Principal*
>>>>
>>>> *Hussein & Associates*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Tel: +254 713 601113
>>>>
>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>>
>>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>>
>>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>> <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing,
>>>>
>>>> Chiromo Road, Westlands,
>>>>
>>>> Nairobi, Kenya.
>>>>
>>>> Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely
>>>> mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the
>>>> organizations that I work with.
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Nov 23, 2017 at 10:48 AM, Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> The arrest of the individuals is a good opportunity to move the
>>>>> conversation to the next level.
>>>>>
>>>>> Engagement towards implementation of an actual policy in a
>>>>> multi-stakeholder approach.
>>>>>
>>>>> Having the document on the website is good but action time is now.
>>>>> BTC is more adopted and provides a good example on the disruptions expected
>>>>> from Blockchain.
>>>>>
>>>>> What is the actual roadmap Ali to achieving this? We need this to move
>>>>> forward.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks!
>>>>>
>>>>> On Nov 23, 2017 10:39 AM, "Ali Hussein" <ali at hussein.me.ke> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> @Dorcas and others
>>>>>>
>>>>>> This list is ahead in trying to formulate a way forward on this most
>>>>>> current conversation. My take is this:-
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Conversations around Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies cannot be held
>>>>>> in isolation of the core Technology driving this revolution. This
>>>>>> Technology is called Blockchain.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Please check out the policy brief that KICTANet did in collaboration
>>>>>> with various stakeholders including MOICT, IBM, Tech entrepreneurs and
>>>>>> other stakeholders.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> <https://www.kictanet.or.ke/documents/KICTANet/Blockchain_Policy_Brief.Final.October.2017.pdf>
>>>>>> KICTANet Blockchain Policy Brief
>>>>>> <https://www.kictanet.or.ke/documents/KICTANet/Blockchain_Policy_Brief.Final.October.2017.pdf>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I agree Dorcas. The conversation must be expanded and a critical
>>>>>> path mapped.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regards
>>>>>>
>>>>>> *Ali Hussein*
>>>>>>
>>>>>> *Principal*
>>>>>>
>>>>>> *Hussein & Associates*
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Tel: +254 713 601113
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>>>>
>>>>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>>>> <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Chiromo Road, Westlands,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Nairobi, Kenya.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are
>>>>>> purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the
>>>>>> organizations that I work with.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Thu, Nov 23, 2017 at 10:24 AM, Dorcas Muthoni via kictanet <
>>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi listers,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Going by some events connected to arrest of some BTC traders, time
>>>>>>> is ripe for a new policy engagement exercise.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Over to you Alice Munyua!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It reminds me of the days when VoIP and Skype specifically was
>>>>>>> illegal.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> We cannot refuse that the fourth industrial revolution is on and
>>>>>>> rolling.  What happened to the initial discussions on this?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Muthoni
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m
>>>>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.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.
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>
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>>> ailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%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.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Barrack O. Otieno
>> +254721325277 <0721%20325277>
>> +254733206359 <0733%20206359>
>> Skype: barrack.otieno
>> PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/
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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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