<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I am just wondering, is the digital villages, BPO and other grand initiatives that have since stalled as a result of GOK is diverting funds to political initiatives instead? E.g. shuttle diplomacies!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Best Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Edwin <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] <b>On Behalf Of </b>warigia bowman<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, March 07, 2011 3:47 PM<br><b>To:</b> Edwin<br><b>Cc:</b> KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [kictanet] Digital villages<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Hi all,<br><br>I did try to visit a digital visit in Sagana with little success. If the PS can kindly give me a clear list of digital villages, including location, a contact person, and a cell phone, I would really like to visit as many as possible and report back to you. If any Kenyan academic would like to coauthor a paper on the same, I would enjoy that. Please contact me. . <br><br>Sincerely, Warigia<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Mon, Mar 7, 2011 at 12:30 PM, George Nyabuga <<a href="mailto:gnyabuga@uonbi.ac.ke">gnyabuga@uonbi.ac.ke</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In January 2007, the Nation published the story (below) indicating that<br>the government was in the process of setting up digital villages across<br>the country. What happened to these digital villages and plans? Dr Bitange<br>Ndemo, Paul Kokubo and others were reported to have been driving this<br>process. But as far as I know there are hardly any 'digital villages' in<br>the 210 constituencies. Empty promises?<br><br>George<br><br><br>Story by JUSTUS ONDARI<br>Publication Date: 8/01/2007<br><br>Several communication firms will jointly set up hubs in villages around<br>the country, in project meant to close the huge gap in Internet access<br>between rural and urban areas.<br>In the first phase of the programme, Telkom Kenya, Kenya Data Network and<br>Popote Wireless will each establish digital villages in 54 constituencies<br>under an initiative that aims to cover the remaining 156 constituencies by<br>December this year.<br>The Government will subsidise broadband access for the villages under a<br>Sh670 million World Bank loan, that seeks to stimulate demand for<br>broadband uptake over a three year period. Entrepreneurs will get credit<br>through the Youth Fund to buy the locally assembled computers going for an<br>average of Sh25,000 a piece. The initiative, known as Rural Digital<br>Village “Marshall Plan”, also aims to rope in mobile service providers,<br>Safaricom and Celtel Kenya.<br>The two have already agreed, in principal, to take part in the first phase<br>of the programme, said Mr Peter Kimacia, one of the coordinators of the<br>initiative. Mr Kimacia is the chief executive of ICTvillage.com, an<br>industry-driven Web site and business lobby that aims to make Kenya the<br>information and communication technology (ICT) hub of Africa.<br>“At the end of Phase Two of the initiative in December 2008, each of the<br>telecommunications service providers will have at least a digital village<br>in all the 210 constituencies in the country,” he said.<br>He was speaking at the Nairobi Serena Hotel during the launch of the<br>initiative.<br>Launching the concept, Information and Communications permanent secretary,<br>Bitange Ndemo said each of the constituencies will have a digital centre,<br>two digital schools, and four digital kiosks within the next 100 days<br>under what he called a “Rapid Results Response”.<br>A digital centre will have between 10 and 20 computers, while a digital<br>school will have five to 10 computers, and a digital kiosk one to five<br>computers.<br>Also present at the launch were Information and Communication Assistant<br>minister David Were and permanent secretaries David Nalo (Trade and<br>Industry), and Kinuthia Murugu (Youth Affairs).<br>The programme will be overseen by the newly appointed Kenya Information<br>and Communication Technology Board chaired by Ms Catherine Ngahu, and<br>managing director, Paul Kokubo of 3Mice Interactive Media Limited.<br>The villages will offer services like data collection, cyber cafes,<br>training and merchandising. Other services are business outsourcing,<br>franchising and bureau services.<br><br><br><br>--<br>Dr George Nyabuga<br>Associate Director<br>School of Journalism & Mass Communication<br>University of Nairobi<br>Education Building<br>Harry Thuku Road<br>PO Box 30197 - 00100<br>Nairobi, Kenya<br>Tel: +254(0)20 318262 Fax: +254(0)20 2229168<br>Mobile: +254 (0)72151 6573<br>Email: <a href="mailto:gnyabuga@uonbi.ac.ke">gnyabuga@uonbi.ac.ke</a>, <a href="mailto:gnyabuga@yahoo.co.uk">gnyabuga@yahoo.co.uk</a><br><a href="http://www.uonbi.ac.ke" target="_blank">www.uonbi.ac.ke</a><br><br><br><br>-----------------------------------------<br>This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner,<br>and is believed to be clean.<br><br>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br> UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED<br><br>The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all<br>its clients. 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