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<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Harry, thanks for those probing questions that have kept this discussion going and continue to raise more questions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As a result, our attention has been drawn to a very important document. Kudos to Kerubo for the responses.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Rosemary, the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Africa Platform on Access to Information Declaration</I> is a great document. It is comprehensive and we appreciate your bringing it to our attention. It will contribute to the review of the IRMT/IDRC study on <EM>aligning records management with ICT, e-goverment and freedom of information, </EM>which has been the basis of this e-discussion.</SPAN><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></SPAN> <BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">In your contribution, you point out that access to information cannot succeed unless government takes initiative to develop legislation and ensure its implementation. Harry felt that the State must at all costs avail information. The question to listers is: <o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">What demands would Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation place on government?<o:p></o:p></B></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Henry, you have unpackaged the Right to Information (RTI) concept in a very practical and relevant manner. The local example using Mavoko is on spot. I know listers will take you up on your offer to seek more information on the topic.<o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: #2a2a2a; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">You point out the need to have information in retrievable formats and proactively making as much of such information public. Also, that public servants/officers have a duty to assist citizens who may not know where to find information they may need. <o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: #2a2a2a; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN><BR>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">What strategies could be developed to synchronize Freedom of Information and records management initiatives?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: #2a2a2a; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></SPAN> <BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: #2a2a2a; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">And finally to Harry: did you find out what the citizens’ responsibility would be in all this?<o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: #2a2a2a; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: #2a2a2a; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">A great day to all of you listers. Lets hear your views.<o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: #2a2a2a; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: #2a2a2a; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Rgds<o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: #2a2a2a; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Grace<o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<BR> <BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>If you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is all about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth and rule the World!<BR><BR> <BR>
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From: harry@comtelsys.co.ke<BR>Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:58:44 +0300<BR>Subject: Re: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws/ e- discussion continued<BR>CC: kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<BR>To: ggithaiga@hotmail.com<BR><BR>
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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Many thanks Kurubo/Grace,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>I suppose then, in light of the foregoing, State must at all costs avail "information" under it's possession.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Citing the "Freedom of information" clause within this context however, makes it imperative for State to </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>do so within universally adopted benchmarks. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>But within the same context, what is the citizen's </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>responsibility?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>I could check this out. But does the clause in the same vein confer a mandatory responsibility upon the </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>citizen </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>to </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>ensure their exercise of this "Right to access" does not go to waste, or d</FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>oes he/she have the </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>freedom </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>to </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>exercise </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>this right/liberty liberally.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>One can argue that for instance, a mother who fails to vaccinate her child against polio, because of "<STRONG>failure"</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>to access information as opposed to "<STRONG>lack"</STRONG> of </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>access to information should be held responsible. Is this </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>enforceable in law..? How?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Lastly but not least, State has only a tiny custody of information consumable by the public. I dare say that</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>a lot of information/knowledge sought after by information consumers fall well outside the State domain.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>How do we police those outside, who hoard information desperately needed by consumers...? And what</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>of those who deliberately avail misleading information/knowledge, including state..?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=ecx515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Harry</FONT></SPAN></DIV><BR>
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