[kictanet] Day 2 of Talk to the Senate (2017-2022 Priorities)

Tue Feb 6 21:05:15 EAT 2018

Can you explain what that means- does it mean if they need more connectivity they'll get more money?

Senior Director
Public Affairs
Huawei Southern Africa
Mobile: +254 790985886
From:kanini mutemi via kictanet
To:Adam Lane
Cc:kanini mutemi
Date:2018-02-06 20:50:58
Subject:Re: [kictanet] Day 2 of Talk to the Senate (2017-2022 Priorities)

Thank you for the comments so far. Allow me to introduce yet another angle. This year the Commission of Revenue Allocation will recommend to the Senate a new formula for division of revenue among counties. Should ICT connectivity be one of the bases of this new formula?

On Tue, 6 Feb 2018 at 20:40, Adam Lane <adam.lane at huawei.com<mailto:adam.lane at huawei.com>> wrote:
Dear all

I may also express hesitation over the ICT Practitioners Bill; in my understanding if the desire was to ensure quality in ICT workforce, there are already existing qualifications that can serve this purpose as well as simple competition in both employment positions and service provision (as contractors/providers of ICT services to customers) which can be expressed not only through existing qualifications but also through experience, references etc as per other marketplaces.

Other Policies that need to be looked at include revising the previous tax exemption for smartphones. It was lauded by many across the world and had a massive impact. Now smartphone penetration is stagnating and costs are not declining any more amongst handsets, similar policies should be considered again.

On the questions below:

a)      No, few Counties are allocating the amount recommended by CRA; meanwhile the coordination between ICT Depts and other depts is usually awful not only leading to duplication of resources but more often waste of resources. Proper budgeting and planning should enable for collaboration between departments and ICT should have a role to play in delivering services in practically every other single budget. If this was done well then other depts would pay the bills and be a “customer” of the ICT department, which would use ICT dept expertise whilst ensuring ownership and implementation by the other (paying) department. The Senate should also look for poor budgeting, planning and coordination between Counties and Central Government.

b)      My understanding is the USF is now being fairly well implemented for rural network expansion, though its resources are not enough, but it should also seek to ensure that its funds meet its own standard (particularly related to ensuring the schools it is connecting get minimum broadband speeds stated in the National Broadband Strategy). However the USF should also broaden its scope and the Senate may enquire into this, i.e. what are the real barriers to broadband adoption (including skills, devices, content, as well as affordability, awareness, attitude etc; not just network) and how can these be solved, and how can various sources of funding address these.

Secondly I would encourage the Senate to enquire into the situation of connectivity for public institutions and see why the schools that now all have electricity cannot also have fiber run over those same cables, for example. Certainly connectivity at schools will not just allow for internet access, but can enable update of the DLP curriculum, interactive content, remote support etc. Also the Senate may enquire as to how the hospitals connected by NOFBI are using the fiber they have.

Regards
Adam

Senior Director, Public Affairs
Huawei Southern Africa
Mobile: +254-7909-85886

From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+adam.lane<mailto:kictanet-bounces%2Badam.lane>=huawei.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:huawei.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke>] On Behalf Of kanini mutemi via kictanet
Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2018 2:31 PM
To: Adam Lane <adam.lane at huawei.com<mailto:adam.lane at huawei.com>>
Cc: kanini mutemi <kaninimutemi at gmail.com<mailto:kaninimutemi at gmail.com>>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 2 of Talk to the Senate (2017-2022 Priorities)

Good afternoon Listers.

Thank you for the contributions coming in so far. Now looking at oversight, it is possible to see the Senate’s role as two-fold; overseeing that national resources allocated to counties are properly and lawfully utilised and protecting counties from harmful conduct by national organs. We see the first limb in the work of the County Public Accounts Committee, county visits by various committees and consideration of the reports of offices such as that of the Auditor General. Through Statements, the Senate is able to seek answers from the executive thereby holding them accountable. They may also move Motions for certain executive action to be taken.

With this in mind I invite comments on–
(a) Are counties allocating enough resources to ICT in their budgets? What could be improved? What ‘leaks’ should the Senate watch out for?

(b) Are there particular questions you would like to propose to be adopted as statements or motions in the Senate seeking clarification on various executive decisions?

What conduct by national bodies is likely to have an negative impact in the counties

On 6 Feb 2018, at 13:32, Sidney Ochieng <sidney.ochieng at gmail.com<mailto:sidney.ochieng at gmail.com>> wrote:

We need a comprehensive data protection law.

On 6 February 2018 at 07:16, kanini mutemi via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>> wrote:
Good morning Listers!

If you are just joining us, this is a series where we tell the Senate ICT Committee what we think should be in their agenda 2017-2022. Today our goal is to give very specific proposals on legislative and oversight interventions informed by the issues we highlighted yesterday. Those of us who gave proposals in their submissions yesterday, please do not tire, you may bring them up again today. By the way, the Day 1 discussion is not closed, please keep adding your contributions.

We will dedicate the earlier part of the day to the legislative role of the Senate. I will come back later on and pose more questions on oversight, budget and sharing of revenue.

I ask–
(a) What ICT laws ought to be passed between now and 2022?
Here you may comment on the Bills currently in circulation or make legislative proposals that the Committee can pick up and commission into the drafting of a Bill. Comments on Bills that would stifle ICT are also welcome.

(b) What laws need to be amended?

Keep in mind that the legislative role of the Senate as stated in Article 96 is limited to Bills concerning counties. Therefore, in your proposals, make a case on how that issue is one that concerns counties. (PS; the definition of that proviso is very controversial).

Let us participate!

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