<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><DIV>This security issue and the meeting is multifaceted. However, security assessments are often made in regard to context (i.e Adam's question if Friday and worse will recur). I think the answer to that question, in regard terrorists, would be similar in any country. The probability is 50:50. Europe got a bomber on a US bound flight...No one, anywhere in the world, can be guranteed that a terrorist will not strike them. The Kenya govt., long before ICANN Nrb plans, has been working closely with Americans on terrorism - so intelligence is as good as it can be.</DIV>
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<DIV>There are broader issues here that make Kenya a very weak partner to ICANN. A board meeting is being planned to discuss security in Kenya and the input of local organisers is not central to that meeting. This is an unfair set up that is likely to work against the meeting being held in Nairobi. This naming and numbering institution needs to be democratised so that all players have equal power. Then no one will be threatening to cancel a meeting (without good and objective reason) where govt agencies (who already have enough to do) are already in planning mode.</DIV>
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<DIV>rgds, Wamuyu<BR></DIV>
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<B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Adam Peake <ajp@glocom.ac.jp><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> wamuyulearn@yahoo.co.uk<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Cc:</SPAN></B> KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Wed, 20 January, 2010 16:50:39<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [kictanet] ICANN meeting and security concerns<BR></FONT><BR><BR>At 12:36 PM +0000 1/20/10, Grace Bomu wrote:<BR>>This would be unreasonable. There are many high profile meetings going<BR>>on in Nairobi despite our insecurity problems. In addition, conference<BR>>tourists who come to Nairobi venture out to social spots in search of<BR>>entertainment on their own.<BR>>It is a high time we got more reps into the decision making organs of<BR>>ICANN. Any Kenyans running?<BR><BR><BR>Grace, Hi. Good
idea, and ICANN's nominating <BR>committee is taking applications for candidates <BR>now <<A href="http://nomcom.icann.org/" target=_blank>http://nomcom.icann.org/</A>><BR><BR>I too hope the meeting happens. Looking forward <BR>to seeing many of you in a couple of months, and <BR>hopefully at the KICC or a bar in town, not stuck <BR>on a bus for hours on the way to or from the UN <BR>:-)<BR><BR>How many local people would bother to attend of <BR>the meeting was at the UN? Understand from <BR>Rebecca's comment it's something like a separate <BR>country and a pain to get in. ICANN meetings <BR>should be open. That's one of the requirements of <BR>the request for proposals for holding a meeting. <BR>And I think McTim's right, the host country <BR>paying for a gala dinner is another requirement <BR>(ICANN picks up the rest of the bill for the <BR>meeting, everything from conference rooms to <BR>power.)<BR><BR>A thought, or really a question about last
<BR>Friday's disturbances. Were they a one off, or <BR>might they happen again? Is this a permanent or <BR>semi-permanent change, or will the trouble pass <BR>and be over when the Jamaican guy is deported and <BR>things calm down? I know this is impossible to <BR>answer 100%, and I'm definitely not looking for <BR>an official position on this, but what do those <BR>of you in Nairobi think? If I were an ICANN <BR>board member thinking about the meeting, this <BR>might be useful to hear comments on.<BR><BR>Adam<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>>On 1/20/10, <A href="mailto:alice@apc.org" ymailto="mailto:alice@apc.org">alice@apc.org</A> <<A href="mailto:alice@apc.org" ymailto="mailto:alice@apc.org">alice@apc.org</A>> wrote:<BR>>> Home<BR>>><BR>>> About<BR>>><BR>>> Contact<BR>>><BR>>> ICANN meeting and security concerns<BR>>><BR>>> 20 01
2010<BR>>> By rebecca wanjiku<BR>>> Comments: 0<BR>>><BR>>> Available in: English<BR>>><BR>>> In March 2008, Nairobi was supposed to host Internet Corporation for<BR>>> Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) meeting. This is a huge meeting, ICANN<BR>>> uses about $ 2 million for these meetings, am sure you know what it means<BR>>> for the economy.<BR>>><BR>>> But the events that followed the 2007 elections meant that the meeting was<BR>>> cancelled, it was such a shame but that was understandable; after all, you<BR>>> do not want the people who control internet resources to fall into the traps<BR>>> of rival tribal gangs or to be caught in the cross fire.<BR>>><BR>>> After another round of presentations last year, the Kenya delegation led by<BR>>> Kenic and the Communications
Commission of Kenya was able to convince the<BR>>> ICANN community that Kenya is safe enough, and they agreed to host the<BR>>> meeting this March.<BR>>><BR>>> We have been busy sweeping the roads and upgrading the hotels just to make<BR>>> sure that the most important ICANN community is happy, but they have never<BR>>> been, and I do not think they will ever be, if you ask me. I have been<BR>>> talking to sources within the organizing committee and ICANN has always had<BR>>> one niggling problem after another.<BR>>><BR>>> Last Friday's fracas with the muslims seems to have tipped the balance;<BR>>> ICANN now is contemplating moving the meeting to another safer city.<BR>>><BR>>> But if you ask me or any other ordinary Kenyan, I think ICANN does not<BR>>> understand the country and how it operates. Since
1998, Kenya has never been<BR>>> secure, according to US and UK embassies, yet its their installations that<BR>>> make us targets.<BR>>><BR>>> For whatever reasons, the country has always been rated poorly security<BR>>> wise, but which city is safe? New York? J' Burg? Cairo? Cassablanca? Am sure<BR>>> this is open to debate.<BR>>><BR>>> I think ICANN has its double standards; if they were truly concerned about<BR>>> the security, the meeting in Seoul would not have taken place; South Korea<BR>>> is always under alert because of North Korea nuclear intentions.<BR>>><BR>>> The meeting in Mexico city would not have gone on, after all every one there<BR>>> is said to carry a gun and the senior executives within ICANN membership<BR>> > were at risk of kidnappings. But the meetings took
place.<BR>>><BR>>> So, why all the security farce about Nairobi?<BR>>><BR>>> I would love to point out a similar incident during the 2005 or around there<BR>>> Cricket world cup, where New Zealand forfeited their match with Kenya in<BR>> > Nairobi because of security situation. Sri Lanka agreed to play their match<BR>>> in Nairobi provided they were given top notch security, the government<BR>> > obliged.<BR>>><BR>>> By the time the plane carrying the Sri Lanka cricket team entered the Kenyan<BR>>> air space, they were escorted by helicopter gunships and all the other stuff<BR>> > you see in the movies. But Sri Lanka soon realized that no one was bothered<BR>>> with them; we whipped them and by the time they were going back to the<BR>>> airport, they took taxis and realized that no one
cares.<BR>>><BR>>> In short, ICANN should know that they will come, they will hold their<BR>>> meeting, they will go away, and no one will probably remember they were<BR>>> here. How many people know about ICANN and what it does? How many people<BR>>> know that the people present are online millionaires?<BR>>><BR>>> ICANN has made demands that the meeting be moved to the UNEP Complex in<BR>>> Gigiri, and that the government should pay for all the charges bla bla... I<BR>>> think this is a move to alienate themselves from the ordinary kenyans.<BR>>> Getting to Gigiri is hectic let alone getting through the mean UN security<BR>>> staff.<BR>>><BR>>> Trust me, I have had my share of security incidences in Nairobi, but I do<BR>>> not think its worth canceling a meeting.<BR>>><BR>>> >From my
sources, I am told the government is paying for the gala dinner and<BR>>> all that, in other countries, ICANN has paid for that. So I think this is<BR>>> just a way for ICANN to make their demands and demonstrate their authority.<BR>>><BR>>> I am not saying that security measures should be ignored, but just know that<BR>>> poor security rating means more hardship allowance for the UN and embassy<BR>>> staff, so its in their interest to show Kenya on fire all the time.<BR>>><BR>>> One thing you should know that Kenya is a highly political company, all year<BR>>> round, stupid politics and we the media love it and exalt it, so deal with<BR>>> that. When you come and when you go, we will remain the same, and it does<BR>>> not mean ICANN will change anything, so get over it.<BR>>><BR>>> By the way, most people who will
come will be holed up in lavish 5-star<BR>>> hotels where the thugs will not reach. The insecurity problem is for people<BR>>> like us who will have to walk home and deal with the neighborhood thugs.<BR>>><BR>>> The upshot of it is that ICANN should come, hold their meeting, give us the<BR>>> revenue, visit Maasai Mara and all the other areas, and go home. I am sure<BR>>> there will be enough cops guarding everywhere.<BR>>><BR>>> So, insecure or not, I think the meeting should go on. If you guys are not<BR>>> convinced, then you can move the meeting to wherever you want!<BR>>><BR>>> Ends<BR>>><BR>>> by rebecca<BR>>><BR>>><BR>>> Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone from Zain Kenya<BR>>> _______________________________________________<BR>>> kictanet mailing
list<BR>>> <A href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" ymailto="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:nmutungu@gmail.com" ymailto="mailto:nmutungu@gmail.com">nmutungu@gmail.com</A><BR>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at<BR>>> <A href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/nmutungu%40gmail.com" target=_blank>http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/nmutungu%40gmail.com</A><BR>>><BR>><BR>>--<BR>>Sent from my mobile device<BR>><BR>>Grace L.N. Mutung'u (Bomu)<BR>>+254721898732<BR>>+254736091242<BR>> Kenya<BR>><BR>>_______________________________________________<BR>>kictanet mailing
list<BR>><A href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" ymailto="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:ajp@glocom.ac.jp" ymailto="mailto:ajp@glocom.ac.jp">ajp@glocom.ac.jp</A><BR>>Unsubscribe or change your options at <BR>><A href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ajp%40glocom.ac.jp" target=_blank>http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ajp%40glocom.ac.jp</A><BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>kictanet mailing list<BR><A href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" ymailto="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:wamuyulearn@yahoo.co.uk" ymailto="mailto:wamuyulearn@yahoo.co.uk">wamuyulearn@yahoo.co.uk</A><BR>Unsubscribe or change your options at <A href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wamuyulearn%40yahoo.co.uk" target=_blank>http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wamuyulearn%40yahoo.co.uk</A><BR></DIV></DIV><!-- cg16.c41.mail.ird.yahoo.com compressed/chunked Fri Jan 15 05:02:45 PST 2010 --></div><br>
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