House committees open doors for public scrutiny<br>Nation Reporters<br>July 7 2009<div><p></p><p>Parliamentary committees opened doors to the public and the
media for the first time in Kenya’s history, as the budgetary
allocations of various ministries were being scrutinised</p></div><div><p>In
the past, such sessions were held in camera, with only members of
Parliament, the respective government officials and parliamentary staff
allowed to attend.</p></div><div><p>Even Hansard records – the verbatim
recordings of the proceedings of the House and those of its various
committees – have not been available to the media in the past....</p><p><<a href="http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/-/1064/620926/-/xwugenz/-/index.html">http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/-/1064/620926/-/xwugenz/-/index.html</a>><br>
</p><p></p><p><b>Question:</b> Would this be indicative of a parliamentary will to enact FOI, if tabled soon?<br>
</p></div>Alex<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 6:55 PM, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke">bitange@jambo.co.ke</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Wainaina,<br>
Freedom of Information Bill is needs a few more weeks to go through the<br>
process before it gets to Parliament later in the year. It is one of the<br>
Agenda 4 items and should go through once it gets to Parliament.<br>
<br>
Regards<br>
<br>
<br>
Ndemo.<br>
<div><div></div><div class="h5"><br>
<br>
<br>
> Thanks for such 'espionage' research ;-) .....<br>
><br>
> I hope Dr Ndemo can respond to each matter raised.<br>
><br>
> That said, it has fueled greater interest in the 'Freedom of<br>
> Information Act'. What's the status there?<br>
><br>
> Wainaina<br>
><br>
> On 7/4/09, Gakuru Alex <<a href="mailto:alexgakuru.lists@gmail.com">alexgakuru.lists@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
>> Eunice,<br>
>><br>
>> Consumer public watchdog role of public offices is called for by the ICT<br>
>> Policy. 9.6 (c) "Consumers and users will be expected to participate in<br>
>> ensuring continued review of Government policy in accordance with<br>
>> technological and consumer trends."<br>
>><br>
>> I put it that Ndemo and Eunice are playing around with words to conceal<br>
>> and<br>
>> “manage” public perception of what they are actually implementing all<br>
>> while<br>
>> giving lip service support to FOSS, if not using every evidence and<br>
>> opportunity they get to attempt to discredit FOSS and its local ICT<br>
>> entrepreneurs.<br>
>><br>
>> Ndemo and the Board actually got shs 320 million from the World Bank for<br>
>> proprietary software licenses and surrounding expenses for their<br>
>> projects."Licenses, the management system and the rudimentary data<br>
>> warehouse<br>
>> are estimated at US$4 million" The World Bank required ICT policy (also<br>
>> on<br>
>> software) to be followed. It was not followed and Ndemo's statement<br>
>> “What<br>
>> each party (Proprietary or OSS) does should not concern policy” is thus<br>
>> null<br>
>> and void. Why did they not also have a provision for Open Source<br>
>> Software on<br>
>> the funding proposals?<br>
>><br>
>> Eunice has questioned my credibility I am therefore providing<br>
>> indisputable<br>
>> evidence-right to reply candidly giving my defense at this public court<br>
>> -<br>
>> interpret below document reference in this context. Excuse me for not<br>
>> sending it onlist but you may also ask the World Bank, if you want.<br>
>><br>
>> Courtesy of US Freedom of Information Act (governs World Bank<br>
>> information)<br>
>> on 31 July, 2008, I requested and was directed to the complete “KENYA<br>
>> TRANSPARENCY & COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT (TCIP/CIP 1)” dated<br>
>> 5<br>
>> March, 2007.<br>
>><br>
>> Which I read and observed its stated terms of use: “This document has a<br>
>> restricted distribution and may be used by recipients only in the<br>
>> performance of their official duties. Its contents may not otherwise be<br>
>> disclosed without World Bank authorization.<br>
>> ”<br>
>><br>
>> ----excerpt-----<br>
>> 25.TCIP contribution to connect Government. TCIP will fund the<br>
>> following:<br>
>> The internal LAN connections in two buildings which are shared with<br>
>> government offices (NSSF and Utalii House) along with their connections<br>
>> to<br>
>> the fiber optics network to serve five small Ministries. This is<br>
>> estimated<br>
>> cost US$1 million.<br>
>><br>
>> The enterprise software licenses for government staff and the document<br>
>> management system for government records will be procured and deployed<br>
>> in a<br>
>> manner consistent with the standards and guidelines specified in the<br>
>> Government’s I C T policy, along with the hardware required for storage<br>
>> o f<br>
>> the data. Licenses, the management system and the rudimentary data<br>
>> warehouse<br>
>> are estimated at US$4 million.<br>
>><br>
>> The project will also fund the software and hardware required for the IP<br>
>> Platform and the Network Operations Center, also in a manner consistent<br>
>> with<br>
>> the standards and guidelines specified in the Government’s I C T policy.<br>
>> This subcomponent i s estimated at US$7 million.<br>
>><br>
>> Furthermore, TCIP will fund the training, change management and capacity<br>
>> building which will enable the government to take full advantage o f the<br>
>> internal systems and to ensure that they are professionally deployed and<br>
>> maintained. Considerable resources are required, on the order o f US$4<br>
>> million.<br>
>><br>
>> 26.Leveraging other sources of finance. Other development partners have<br>
>> indicated their willingness to fund the National Data Center and the<br>
>> Disaster Recovery Center; it should be noted that success o f the<br>
>> Government<br>
>> o f Kenya’s communication network is contingent on secured funding for<br>
>> all<br>
>> elements described above.<br>
>><br>
>> 27. T U P Component 2d - Support to the Digital Village initiative –<br>
>> US$lO<br>
>> million TCIP will support the scaling-up of successfully piloted Digital<br>
>> Village initiative. Digital villages are e-centers that provide a suite<br>
>> o f<br>
>> services to the public via computers connected to the internet, digital<br>
>> cameras, printers, fax machines and other communication infrastructure.<br>
>><br>
>> These services include, but are not limited to: e-mail and internet<br>
>> access;<br>
>> e-banking (e.g., money transfer services such as Posta Pay); eGovernment<br>
>> (e.g., police abstract forms, tax returns, P3 forms, and driving license<br>
>> applications); e- business (e.g., franchised postal and courier<br>
>> services);<br>
>> e-learning; e-health; e-markets (e.g., agricultural commodity pricing<br>
>> and<br>
>> exchange); and e-monitoring *(e.g., real-time local level monitoring of<br>
>> development funds and projects)*. Pilot Digital Villages are run by<br>
>> private<br>
>> entrepreneurs who obtained training in business and information<br>
>> technology<br>
>> from a certified program. This component will support the Government<br>
>> over 3<br>
>> years to roll out and scale up the successfully piloted Digital Village<br>
>> initiative which aims at providing internet access and e-services at the<br>
>> grassroots level via public-private partnerships.<br>
>><br>
>> 28.TCIP support to include training, a grant facility, I T support, and<br>
>> internet connectivity.<br>
>> The provision o f training programs in business and information<br>
>> technology<br>
>> from a certified program will be supported by the project (US$2<br>
>> million).<br>
>> Prospective entrepreneurs who have obtained certification will be<br>
>> eligible<br>
>> to apply for a Digital Village development loan from a revolving fund:<br>
>> the<br>
>> Digital Village Fund (DVF). The project will contribute US$4 million to<br>
>> the<br>
>> Government funded DVF over a three year period in 3 installments.<br>
>> Although<br>
>> initially envisaged as a grant facility, the DVF could be structured as<br>
>> a<br>
>> revolving fund (the funds allocated to each entrepreneur would be<br>
>> repayable<br>
>> into the DVF over a 3 year period). These funds received by the<br>
>> entrepreneurs will be used to finance set-up costs and the required<br>
>> infrastructure (computers, printers, software etc). The grant facility<br>
>> will<br>
>> be managed by the ICT Board Grant Manager and will follow the governance<br>
>> and<br>
>> disbursement mechanisms set in the Grants Operational Manual (the manual<br>
>> will be formulated as part o f the technical assistance activity<br>
>> specified<br>
>> in l(c) above). Over the first 3 years the project will support the<br>
>> provision o f IT support to Digital Villages (US$2 million) and finance<br>
>> internet connectivity (US$2 million) which are critical to support the<br>
>> incubation o f the initiative and ensure sustainability. Overall it i s<br>
>> expected this project component will support the establishment of 300<br>
>> Digital Villages over a 3 year period.<br>
>><br>
>> -- end citation --<br>
>><br>
>> Conclusions:<br>
>><br>
>> 1.Digital Villages funding need not be 'loans' to the entrepreneurs<br>
>> since as<br>
>> 'grants' was provided for. What was the rationale used by the ICT board<br>
>> to<br>
>> decide all Digital Villages funds should be loaned to the entrepreneurs<br>
>> and<br>
>> persons with disabilities? (In as much as it was also provided for)<br>
>><br>
>> 2. We appreciate the power of Freedom of Information law.<br>
>><br>
>> 3. I highly doubt Dr. Ndemo's commitment to our Freedom of Information<br>
>> law<br>
>> legislation.<br>
>><br>
>> 4.It is not proper for the PS to lay claim on “A good policy levels the<br>
>> play<br>
>> ground.”<br>
>><br>
>> 5.'Problem solving postponement' routine while the PPDA, 2005 law is in<br>
>> place? “That is why we need the procurement rules change to give<br>
>> everybody<br>
>> an equal chance.” is a mere 'perception management' path/decoy.<br>
>><br>
>> 6.Elsewhere, we strongly differ on ethics as regards Public Office use<br>
>> to<br>
>> promote private interests and own gain. The PS now reportedly appears<br>
>> Safaricom (private mobico) television commercials and obviously “he<br>
>> received<br>
>> something.” He responds saying that he sees nothing wrong with that,<br>
>> “apologies for what?” he asks.<br>
>><br>
>> 7.If you want to know what local technical community feels of the<br>
>> current<br>
>> ICT leadership in government, a local mailing member recently wrote<br>
>> “Ideas<br>
>> and issues should be floated regularly and resoundingly so that at the<br>
>> end<br>
>> of the day there are no excuses why in some countries you can receive<br>
>> almost<br>
>> all services online while here we fondly believe 'download and print' is<br>
>> e-government.<br>
>><br>
>> 8.Perhaps the 2006 ICT Policy may have erred in professing Kenya had<br>
>> automagically found High Level ICT leadership and calling for it to be<br>
>> “protected” . Previous ICT Policy drafts lamented absence of high level<br>
>> leadership.<br>
>><br>
>> 9.Processes and leaderships that suppress (irrepressible) truths only<br>
>> serve<br>
>> to entrench public resentment of government culminating to disasters<br>
>> like<br>
>> early last year's. We should work hard to avoid their repeat..<br>
>><br>
>> Above document refers to 300 digital villages and up until Eunice's<br>
>> message<br>
>> the ICT Board training materials developed were proprietary<br>
>> software-base,<br>
>> none were on FOSS.<br>
>><br>
>> I hope for specific responses to all above issues raised.<br>
>><br>
>> Gakuru<br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> On Fri, Jul 3, 2009 at 9:15 AM, <<a href="mailto:eunicekariuki@ict.go.ke">eunicekariuki@ict.go.ke</a>> wrote:<br>
>>> Dear Alex,<br>
>>> I am not sure why you got your information about the ICT board having<br>
>> rolled out 300 digital Villages with proprietary software from these are<br>
>> not<br>
>> fact based.<br>
>>><br>
>>> When that time comes, the entrepreneurs will be free to procure<br>
>>> whichever<br>
>> computer brands with whichever operating systems they prefer they feel<br>
>> will<br>
>> enable them operate the digital villages.<br>
>>><br>
>>> This is why the board is training entrepreneurs who will be capable of<br>
>> making prudent business decisions on their own.<br>
>>><br>
>>> After the training they will apply for grants from the board, through<br>
>>> an<br>
>> agency, with which to procure what they need to be able to run their<br>
>> digital<br>
>> villages.<br>
>>><br>
>>> I believe Dr Ndemo clarified the government policy and Sang raised<br>
>> pertinent issues to chew on.<br>
>>><br>
>>> It would be good to comment on issues based on facts.<br>
>>><br>
>>> Ek<br>
>>><br>
>>><br>
>>><br>
>>> , because the board has<br>
>>> Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone from Zain Kenya<br>
>>><br>
>>> -----Original Message-----<br>
>>> From: Gakuru Alex <<a href="mailto:alexgakuru.lists@gmail.com">alexgakuru.lists@gmail.com</a>><br>
>>><br>
>>> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:34:24<br>
>>> To: <<a href="mailto:eunicekariuki@ict.go.ke">eunicekariuki@ict.go.ke</a>><br>
>>> Cc: <<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>><br>
>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fw: RE: One subject,<br>
>>> varying quality - We lack an accreditation system for ICT<br>
>> courses<br>
>>><br>
>>><br>
>>> It is not and in fact the law reinforces it. But while Section 34 of<br>
>>> the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2005 is very clear on<br>
>>> procurement, public officials continually break this law by choosing<br>
>>> to purchase proprietary software. Those in the know say that savings<br>
>>> on proprietary licences, in one year alone, are enough to bring<br>
>>> elevate 1 district's ICT to the level Nairobi enjoys. What motivates<br>
>>> government procurement officials to insist on spending public funds on<br>
>>> proprietary software?<br>
>>><br>
>>> Also consider the case of ICT Board 300+ "digital villages" all rolled<br>
>>> out on proprietary software. This means those entrepreneuers will<br>
>>> every year pay Operating syetem and surrounding sofwtare licences ad<br>
>>> infinitum. Talk of unnecessary cost burdens...<br>
>>><br>
>>> Despite local Open Source Software community calling on the ICT Board<br>
>>> to inform and train them on the abundantly available FOSS options.<br>
>>><br>
>>> Over to Uhuru Kenyatta and treasury public expenditure cost-saving<br>
>> officials...<br>
>>> ---<br>
>>><br>
>>> "Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta Thursday directed the Public<br>
>>> Procurement Oversight Authority - PPOA to develop guidelines that will<br>
>>> ensure that procurement of public goods and services is done<br>
>>> transparently while safeguarding public funds from misuse.<br>
>>><br>
>>> Uhuru who addressed a news conference immediately after reading the<br>
>>> budget estimates to parliament, said the Public Procurement Oversight<br>
>>> Authority has to ensure transparency among government departments that<br>
>>> deal with procurement."<br>
>>> <<a href="http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=57928" target="_blank">http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=57928</a><br>
>>><br>
>>> regards,<br>
>>><br>
>>> Alex<br>
>>><br>
>>> On Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 8:02 AM, Mwololo Tim<<a href="mailto:timwololo@gmail.com">timwololo@gmail.com</a>><br>
>>> wrote:<br>
>>>> Listers,<br>
>>>><br>
>>>> Our 2006 national ICT policy is silent on open source software (OSS).<br>
>>>> As<br>
>> we<br>
>>>> think of a review of this policy, which according to me is due due to<br>
>>>> a<br>
>>>> number of issues (Vision 2030, BPO, and many other developments), we<br>
>> should<br>
>>>> think seriously about a section on OSS policy.<br>
>>>><br>
>>>> tim mwololo<br>
>>>><br>
>>>><br>
>>>> On 6/29/09, Evans Ikua <<a href="mailto:ikua@lpakenya.org">ikua@lpakenya.org</a>> wrote:<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> There is also Camara Kenya (the local office of <a href="http://camara.ie" target="_blank">camara.ie</a>) that has<br>
>>>>> done<br>
>>>>> tremendous work in the area of putting hardware in schools, both<br>
>>>>> Primary<br>
>> and<br>
>>>>> Secondary, installing open source software, supporting them, and<br>
>> training<br>
>>>>> the teachers. This in a short period of time.<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> Their work has mainly been in the coast region but they are also<br>
>>>>> getting<br>
>>>>> into the hinterland. They have about 150 volunteers from Ireland who<br>
>> have<br>
>>>>> just come in and they will conduct trainings for about a month.<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> They have equipped schools in the whole of Lamu island, and many<br>
>>>>> schools<br>
>>>>> at the coast.<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> They are achieving much more by using FOSS as a computer installed<br>
>>>>> with<br>
>>>>> Linux gives much more to a student as opposed to one installed with<br>
>> Windows.<br>
>>>>> Because they are not spending a penny on software licenses, they are<br>
>> able to<br>
>>>>> supply like twice the number of PCs than if they were to have the<br>
>> schools<br>
>>>>> buy licenses.<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> Ikua<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> --<br>
>>>>> Evans Ikua<br>
>>>>> Linux Professional Association of Kenya<br>
>>>>> Tel: +254-20-2250381, Cell: +254-722 955 831<br>
>>>>> Eagle House, 2nd Floor<br>
>>>>> Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House<br>
>>>>> <a href="http://www.lpakenya.org" target="_blank">www.lpakenya.org</a><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> Quoting Walubengo J <<a href="mailto:jwalu@yahoo.com">jwalu@yahoo.com</a>>:<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>>> forwarded--- On Thu, 6/25/09, Emmanuel Khisa<br>
>>>>>> <<a href="mailto:emmanuel.khisa@kadet.co.ke">emmanuel.khisa@kadet.co.ke</a>> wrote:<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>> From: Emmanuel Khisa <<a href="mailto:emmanuel.khisa@kadet.co.ke">emmanuel.khisa@kadet.co.ke</a>><br>
>>>>>> Subject: RE: [kictanet] One subject,varying quality - We lack an<br>
>>>>>> accreditation system for ICT courses<br>
>>>>>> To: "'Walubengo J'" <<a href="mailto:jwalu@yahoo.com">jwalu@yahoo.com</a>><br>
>>>>>> Date: Thursday, June 25, 2009, 10:11 AM<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>> And Project Discovery Kenya has been able to train more that 200<br>
>> primary<br>
>>>>>> school teachers over the last five years in conjunction with<br>
>>>>>> Institute<br>
>> of<br>
>>>>>> Software technologies...I also know that similar training went on in<br>
>> Yala<br>
>>>>>> Division last April for Primary school teachers in the division<br>
>> organised<br>
>>>>>> by<br>
>>>>>> the Computers for Schools.<br>
>>>>>> On the subject of lack of adequate professors, I will leave that to<br>
>>>>>> Academicians and those keen on interrogating academics, I however<br>
>>>>>> would<br>
>>>>>> like<br>
>>>>>> the ICT training to move from over concentration with the academics<br>
>>>>>> and<br>
>>>>>> more<br>
>>>>>> to the more handson...more like incubator based learning<br>
>> approach...While<br>
>>>>>> the Far East economies have good universities, they still put more<br>
>>>>>> premium<br>
>>>>>> on handson skills...It is sad that even our graduate engineers let<br>
>> alone<br>
>>>>>> IT<br>
>>>>>> graduates (who by the way take a lot of flack) cannot invent or<br>
>>>>>> think<br>
>>>>>> outside the box...I mean no invention ever comes out of these highly<br>
>>>>>> restricted courses yet only a select few universities dare to<br>
>>>>>> venture<br>
>>>>>> into...<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>> The answer in my opinion lies in building skills that are more<br>
>> practical<br>
>>>>>> and<br>
>>>>>> focussed on creating entrepreneural opportunities.<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>> Rgds,<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>> Manu<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>> "New opinions are always suspected and usually opposed, without any<br>
>> other<br>
>>>>>> reason but because they are not already common."<br>
>>>>>> P Before printing, think about the Environment and your<br>
>> responsibilities<br>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----<br>
>>>>>> From:<br>
>>>>>> kictanet-bounces+emmanuel.khisa=<a href="http://kadet.co.ke" target="_blank">kadet.co.ke</a>@<a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
>>>>>> [mailto:<a href="mailto:kictanet-bounces%2Bemmanuel.khisa">kictanet-bounces+emmanuel.khisa</a><kictanet-bounces%2Bemmanuel.khisa><br>
>> =<a href="http://kadet.co.ke" target="_blank">kadet.co.ke</a>@<a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>]<br>
>>>>>> On<br>
>>>>>> Behalf Of Walubengo J<br>
>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 8:41 AM<br>
>>>>>> To: <a href="mailto:emmanuel.khisa@kadet.co.ke">emmanuel.khisa@kadet.co.ke</a><br>
>>>>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br>
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] One subject,varying quality - We lack an<br>
>>>>>> accreditation system for ICT courses<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>> I agree that something is happening within the High-School teaching<br>
>>>>>> fraternity. Last April, Multimedia University College trained 80<br>
>>>>>> high<br>
>>>>>> school<br>
>>>>>> headteachers from Samburu and I think Transmara Districts, giving<br>
>>>>>> them<br>
>>>>>> basic<br>
>>>>>> ICT skills...am aware Strathmore University, IAT etc also do such<br>
>>>>>> trainings<br>
>>>>>> regularly...It may not be enough, but its definitely a good kick in<br>
>>>>>> the<br>
>>>>>> right direction.<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>> As for the University Level IT faculty staff. Unfortunately the<br>
>>>>>> statistics<br>
>>>>>> are likely to be true. You can count the number of IT Professors in<br>
>> this<br>
>>>>>> country on your three fingers ;-)<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>> walu.<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>> --- On Wed, 6/24/09, Barnabas K. Sang <<a href="mailto:bksang@education.go.ke">bksang@education.go.ke</a>><br>
>>>>>> wrote:<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> From: Barnabas K. Sang <<a href="mailto:bksang@education.go.ke">bksang@education.go.ke</a>><br>
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We lack an<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>> accreditation system for ICT courses<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> To: <a href="mailto:jwalu@yahoo.com">jwalu@yahoo.com</a><br>
>>>>>>> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions"<br>
>>>>>>> <<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>><br>
>>>>>>> Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 11:32 PM<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Betty,<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Thanks for your response on the article<br>
>>>>>>> mentioned below. Will go<br>
>>>>>>> through it and perhaps respond on key issues raised, which<br>
>>>>>>> ICT in Education has<br>
>>>>>>> already done or planned. I hope it will minimize fears all<br>
>>>>>>> of us have or may be<br>
>>>>>>> persuaded to think all is totally misplaced and lost.<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> ?ICT Integration? is currently Ministry<br>
>>>>>>> of Education focus, and<br>
>>>>>>> steps already put in place are expected to make Kenya<br>
>>>>>>> improve both teaching and<br>
>>>>>>> learning environment, with better education ?products?<br>
>>>>>>> across all levels.<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Kind regards<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> B. K. Sang<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> From:<br>
>>>>>>> kictanet-bounces+bksang=<a href="http://education.go.ke" target="_blank">education.go.ke</a>@<a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
>>>>>>> [mailto:<a href="mailto:kictanet-bounces%2Bbksang">kictanet-bounces+bksang</a> <kictanet-bounces%2Bbksang>=<br>
>> <a href="http://education.go.ke" target="_blank">education.go.ke</a>@<a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>]<br>
>>>>>>> On<br>
>>>>>>> Behalf Of Betty Ogange<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 4:31 PM<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> To: Barnabas K. Sang<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality<br>
>>>>>>> - We lack an<br>
>>>>>>> accreditation system for ICT courses<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Hallo David,<br>
>>>>>>> Last week there was furore in this forum<br>
>>>>>>> about media<br>
>>>>>>> misrepresentation of the Kenyan situation. The article<br>
>>>>>>> that you make<br>
>>>>>>> reference to in today?s Standard (24.06.09) may be<br>
>>>>>>> accurate in the areas that<br>
>>>>>>> you have highlighted. However, I wish to take issue with<br>
>>>>>>> a few points raised<br>
>>>>>>> in the article.<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>><br>
>> <a href="http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316" target="_blank">http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316</a><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> ?Unlike other academic fields, very<br>
>>>>>>> little has been done<br>
>>>>>>> to train most teachers in ICT skills. Currently, no<br>
>>>>>>> primary teacher training<br>
>>>>>>> college offers comprehensive pre-service training in<br>
>>>>>>> information technology.?<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Anyone with a modest interest in education in<br>
>>>>>>> Kenya would not<br>
>>>>>>> miss something as obvious as a subject in the national<br>
>>>>>>> curriculum when reporting<br>
>>>>>>> in a national daily. Prior to the year 2004, a few<br>
>>>>>>> colleges had ICT skills<br>
>>>>>>> courses for pre-service teachers based on in-house<br>
>>>>>>> curricula that were<br>
>>>>>>> independently developed by each college. The Primary<br>
>>>>>>> Teacher Education (PTE)<br>
>>>>>>> ICT curriculum developed by the Kenya Institute of<br>
>>>>>>> Education has been in<br>
>>>>>>> force since the year 2004 and ICT is taught as a<br>
>>>>>>> compulsory subject in all<br>
>>>>>>> primary teacher training colleges. It is examined<br>
>>>>>>> internally at the end of<br>
>>>>>>> the first year and all students must pass in the subject,<br>
>>>>>>> among other<br>
>>>>>>> subjects, in order to proceed to second year. There are<br>
>>>>>>> several<br>
>>>>>>> implementation hitches in this programme arising from the<br>
>>>>>>> fact that ICT is<br>
>>>>>>> being taught as a discrete subject in the curriculum and<br>
>>>>>>> has yet to be<br>
>>>>>>> mainstreamed in the other subjects in the PTE curriculum.<br>
>>>>>>> The debate around<br>
>>>>>>> ICT- pedagogy integration in education and how to<br>
>>>>>>> operationalise it right<br>
>>>>>>> from curriculum development to classroom level<br>
>>>>>>> implementation continues in<br>
>>>>>>> the education circles.<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> ?In-service training is often<br>
>>>>>>> provided by trainers who<br>
>>>>>>> are just barely literate in<br>
>>>>>>> computers?<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> In my knowledge, this has happened especially<br>
>>>>>>> in instances when<br>
>>>>>>> some hardware providers ?dangle? teacher training as<br>
>>>>>>> an additional offer to<br>
>>>>>>> the institution. TTCs used to hire ICT technicians to<br>
>>>>>>> teach the course, but<br>
>>>>>>> in the last 2 years, the Teacher Service Commission has<br>
>>>>>>> posted trained<br>
>>>>>>> lecturers of ICT to a number of TTCs. There have also<br>
>>>>>>> been some highly<br>
>>>>>>> professional training offered to college lecturers by<br>
>>>>>>> Microsoft (in<br>
>>>>>>> conjunction with the Institute of Advanced Technology -<br>
>>>>>>> IAT) and the Kenya<br>
>>>>>>> Technical Teachers College. Computers for Schools Kenya<br>
>>>>>>> and the Nepad<br>
>>>>>>> e-schools teacher training programmes have also reached<br>
>>>>>>> teachers in selected<br>
>>>>>>> secondary schools. Lack of co-ordination (as with the<br>
>>>>>>> rest of the ICT<br>
>>>>>>> initiatives in Kenya ), lack of clear training targets<br>
>>>>>>> and time-lines have<br>
>>>>>>> compromised continuity and impact of some of these<br>
>>>>>>> training programmes.<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> ?The<br>
>>>>>>> entire ICT education is in tatters?<br>
>>>>>>> An interesting analogy there. But I see a<br>
>>>>>>> sector that is struggling<br>
>>>>>>> with what some scholars in educational reform have called<br>
>>>>>>> an ?implementation<br>
>>>>>>> dip? ? that for a number of reasons things normally<br>
>>>>>>> tend to get worse before<br>
>>>>>>> they can get better. There are lots of difficulties in<br>
>>>>>>> implementing large<br>
>>>>>>> scale ICT initiatives in the education sector world over.<br>
>>>>>>> In our country,<br>
>>>>>>> there have been positive efforts by the Ministry of<br>
>>>>>>> Education, the KIE and a<br>
>>>>>>> number of stakeholders in education, and these do count.<br>
>>>>>>> On the other hand,<br>
>>>>>>> there has been the tendency (by education leaders)<br>
>>>>>>> towards elaborate policy<br>
>>>>>>> documents, ?ICT networks? and trust funds whose<br>
>>>>>>> mandates remain<br>
>>>>>>> indeterminate. All these need to be researched and<br>
>>>>>>> accurately presented.<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Accurate reporting by the media and objective<br>
>>>>>>> analysis of both<br>
>>>>>>> the positives and difficulties are important in helping<br>
>>>>>>> the public target<br>
>>>>>>> their attention and effort. Besides the inaccuracies, the<br>
>>>>>>> use of expressions<br>
>>>>>>> such as ?in tatters? ?the situation is bad?,<br>
>>>>>>> ?alarmed professionals?<br>
>>>>>>> ?obsolete hardware? to describe ICT in education in<br>
>>>>>>> Kenya sounds to me fairly<br>
>>>>>>> sensational.<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Betty<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> --- On Wed, 6/24/09, David Otwoma<br>
>>>>>>> <<a href="mailto:otwomad@gmail.com">otwomad@gmail.com</a>><br>
>>>>>>> wrote:<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> From: David Otwoma <<a href="mailto:otwomad@gmail.com">otwomad@gmail.com</a>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Subject: [kictanet] One subject, varying quality - We<br>
>>>>>>> lack an accreditation<br>
>>>>>>> system for ICT courses<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> To: <a href="mailto:ogange@yahoo.com">ogange@yahoo.com</a><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions"<br>
>>>>>>> <<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 9:32 AM<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> .....universities<br>
>>>>>>> offer many degrees but their quality and market demand<br>
>>>>>>> differ......<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Although<br>
>>>>>>> nearly all universities offer degrees, only the<br>
>>>>>>> University of Nairobi, Jomo<br>
>>>>>>> Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and<br>
>>>>>>> Strathmore have<br>
>>>>>>> Master?s programmes and only UON and Jkuat teach at<br>
>>>>>>> doctoral level.<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> There<br>
>>>>>>> is a diminishing number of staff with PhDs in ICT<br>
>>>>>>> departments. According to<br>
>>>>>>> Prof Rodrigues, UoN has the highest number of full-time<br>
>>>>>>> lecturers with PhDs<br>
>>>>>>> in ICT that stands at eight of 18, while Jkuat has three<br>
>>>>>>> of six, which is the<br>
>>>>>>> same number for Strathmore.<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Kenyatta<br>
>>>>>>> University has nine full-time but none of them have a PhD<br>
>>>>>>> or an equivalent<br>
>>>>>>> qualification, while none of the Kabarak?s eight<br>
>>>>>>> lecturers have a PhD. Two of<br>
>>>>>>> six of United States International University has<br>
>>>>>>> doctoral degrees.<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Many<br>
>>>>>>> lecturers have no experience as ICT professionals as<br>
>>>>>>> engineers, software<br>
>>>>>>> developers or in the emerging area of computer and<br>
>>>>>>> network security.<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> See<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>><br>
>> <a href="http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316&" target="_blank">http://www.eastandard.net/education/InsidePage.php?id=1144017693&cid=316&</a><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> for full story<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> --<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> David Otwoma,<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Chief Science Secretary,<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> National Council for Science and Technology,<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Utalii House 9th Floor,<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Mobile tel: +254 722 141771,<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Office tel: +254 (0)20 2346915,<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> P. O. Box 5687 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> email: <a href="mailto:otwomad@gmail.com">otwomad@gmail.com</a> & <a href="mailto:otwoma@ncst.go.ke">otwoma@ncst.go.ke</a><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> <a href="http://www.ncst.go.ke" target="_blank">www.ncst.go.ke</a><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> -----Inline Attachment Follows-----<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> kictanet mailing list<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> <a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> This message was sent to: <a href="mailto:ogange@yahoo.com">ogange@yahoo.com</a><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>> <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ogange%40yahoo.com" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ogange%40yahoo.com</a><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> -----Inline Attachment Follows-----<br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>>_______________________________________________<br>
>>>>>>> kictanet mailing list<br>
>>>>>>> <a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
>>>>>>> <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>> This message was sent to: <a href="mailto:jwalu@yahoo.com">jwalu@yahoo.com</a><br>
>>>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>> <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com</a><br>
>>>>>>><br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>>_______________________________________________<br>
>>>>>> kictanet mailing list<br>
>>>>>> <a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
>>>>>> <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>> This message was sent to: <a href="mailto:emmanuel.khisa@kadet.co.ke">emmanuel.khisa@kadet.co.ke</a><br>
>>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at<br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>><br>
>> <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/emmanuel.khisa%40kadet" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/emmanuel.khisa%40kadet</a>.<br>
>>>>>> <a href="http://co.ke" target="_blank">co.ke</a><br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>>><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>>_______________________________________________<br>
>>>>> kictanet mailing list<br>
>>>>> <a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
>>>>> <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> This message was sent to: <a href="mailto:timwololo@gmail.com">timwololo@gmail.com</a><br>
>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at<br>
>>>>><br>
>> <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.com" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.com</a><br>
>>>><br>
>>>><br>
>>>>_______________________________________________<br>
>>>> kictanet mailing list<br>
>>>> <a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
>>>> <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
>>>><br>
>>>> This message was sent to: <a href="mailto:alexgakuru.lists@gmail.com">alexgakuru.lists@gmail.com</a><br>
>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at<br>
>>>><br>
>> <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alexgakuru.lists%40gmail.com" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alexgakuru.lists%40gmail.com</a><br>
>>>><br>
>>>><br>
>>><br>
>>> _______________________________________________<br>
>>> kictanet mailing list<br>
>>> <a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
>>> <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
>>><br>
>>> This message was sent to: <a href="mailto:eunicekariuki@ict.go.ke">eunicekariuki@ict.go.ke</a><br>
>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at<br>
>> <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eunicekariuki%40ict.go.ke" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eunicekariuki%40ict.go.ke</a><br>
>>><br>
>><br>
><br>
> --<br>
> Sent from my mobile device<br>
><br>
> ---<br>
> <a href="http://www.bungesms.com" target="_blank">http://www.bungesms.com</a><br>
><br>
> <a href="http://www.madeinkenya.org" target="_blank">http://www.madeinkenya.org</a><br>
><br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
> kictanet mailing list<br>
> <a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
> <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
><br>
</div></div>> This message was sent to: <a href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke">bitange@jambo.co.ke</a><br>
<div class="im">> Unsubscribe or change your options at<br>
</div>> <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke</a><br>
<div class="im">><br>
> ----------------------------------------------<br>
> This message has been scanned for viruses and<br>
> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is<br>
> believed to be clean.<br>
> ---------------------------------------------<br>
> "easy access to the world"<br>
><br>
><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</div>----------------------------------------------<br>
<div class="im">This message has been scanned for viruses and<br>
dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is<br>
believed to be clean.<br>
---------------------------------------------<br>
"easy access to the world"<br>
<br>
<br>
</div><div><div></div><div class="h5">_______________________________________________<br>
kictanet mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
<br>
This message was sent to: <a href="mailto:alexgakuru.lists@gmail.com">alexgakuru.lists@gmail.com</a><br>
Unsubscribe or change your options at <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alexgakuru.lists%40gmail.com" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alexgakuru.lists%40gmail.com</a><br>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br>