<p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Listers</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br>
</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"">The Kenya ICT Board PASHA
Project has now entered the selection and implementation stage for the first
phase during which we anticipate to disburse 47 loans (one per county) to Pasha
Entrepreneurs by mid 2011.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"">�</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"">At the close of the
loan application on 25<sup>th</sup> February 2011, Family Bank received 689
applications out of a total of 800 inquiries that had been made. Most
applications were submitted on the last day. The Kenya ICT Board has allowed close
to a month for loan submissions from 24<sup>th</sup> January 2011 when the call
for Applications was made.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">� </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"">�</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"">Applications received
have been widespread across all counties. Important to note is that 25% of the
applicants have been by women and we look forward to growing this in the future.
We further note that business plans received from entrepreneurs who had
previously participated in the nationwide Pasha business planning training
offered by the KICTB tended to be very comprehensive. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif""><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"">The Kenya ICT Board
is working well with all network operators to ensure all centres have access to
reliable internet connectivity and have the ability to offer citizens a suite
of relevant and compelling services. Entrepreneurs will be able to offer services
such as operator retail offers, e-learning, selling of accessories, faxing,
internet access, etc, from within the PASHA centers. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif""><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"">The Kenya ICT Board
will conduct evaluations of the applications received on 11<sup>th</sup> of
April 2011 and announce final successful loan applicants shortly thereafter.
This is only the first phase of the Pasha Loan scheme; we eventually want to
create a Pasha centre in every constituency, likely by end 2011.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"">�</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"">The Pasha project
falls under the Kenya ICT Board�s digital inclusion pillar which aims to
increase access to ICTs by citizens across Kenya. It complements the other Kenya
ICT Board agenda to stimulate job and wealth creation in ICT through
entrepreneurship. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes">�</span>This in line with
Kenya� Vision 2030.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"">ends</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"">�</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"">�</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px; ">�</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"">�</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"">�</span></p>Paul Kukubo<br>Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board<br>PO Box 27150 - 00100<br>Nairobi, Kenya<br><br>12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street<br><br>Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960 <br>
Fax: +254 20 2211962<br>website: <a href="http://www.ict.go.ke">www.ict.go.ke</a><br>local content project: <a href="http://www.tandaa.co.ke">www.tandaa.co.ke</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/tandaakenya">www.facebook.com/tandaakenya</a><br>
twitter:@tandaaKENYA<br>BPO Project: www. <a href="http://doitinkenya.co.ke">doitinkenya.co.ke</a><br>Digital Villages Project: <a href="http://www.pasha.co.ke">www.pasha.co.ke</a><br><br><br>personal contacts<br>_______________<br>
<br>Cell: + 254 717 180001<br><br><br><br>googletalk: pkukubo<br>personal blog: <a href="http://www.paulkukubo.co.ke">www.paulkukubo.co.ke</a><br>personal twitter: @pkukubo<div>facebook: facebook/pkukubo<br><br><br>____________________<br>
Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub<br><br>Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment <br>
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