+1 Moses.<div><br></div><div>I read that article and was most disappointed with the author and the sentiments from Microsoft. But as you have said it clearly, you cannot expect the Microsofts and Oracles of this world to be happy with any mention of open source deployments more so from big clients like the government itself.</div>
<div><br></div><div>People (and the media) should be educated on what open source is and what it can do. In fact, one of the strengths of open source is better and enhanced security. Who can detect a hole in an open source technology and it is not fixed within two days; courtesy of the community movement? However, the deployment of open source is as good as the implementation and hence training is very key when it comes to open source software and technologies.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Since we like looking to the West and lately East, be informed that the Cabinet Office of the UK has an open source policy, meaning that they have taken open source seriously in their strategic plan. The policy states:'<i>Where appropriate, Government will procure open source solutions</i>'. Check this link - <a href="http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/open-source-procurement-toolkit">http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/open-source-procurement-toolkit</a>.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Also, the Malaysia government deploys everything open source. If there is no open source solution for what they are looking for, they pay Universities and colleges to come up with an open source software for that. Their PM is the patron for this initiative. Check the link - <a href="http://www.oscc.org.my/">http://www.oscc.org.my/</a> - the Malaysia government open source portal for more information.</div>
<div><br></div><div>So open source is here to stay and is a game changer for the ICT industry.</div><div><br clear="all">Best Regards,<br>Davis M Onsakia<br>"One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time."<br>
<br>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 17 September 2012 00:05, Moses Muya <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:mouzmuyer@gmail.com" target="_blank">mouzmuyer@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div>Naturally,if anyone wanted advice on Open Source, Microsoft shouldn't be their first stop! Such F.U.D statements as, " ...<span style="line-height:18px;font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">The Government stands to lose to hackers, freedom to third party modification coming with Free and Open Source Software it plans to adopt increases chances of Internet attacks</span>..." should be totally ignored! The security of a system is only as good as the level of skills of the people setting them up, not whether they are open source or proprietary! But I understand where the gentleman is coming from, if I worked for Microsoft, I would denounce all Open Source systems that I love - without blinking! </div>
<div><br></div><div>Secondly, a lot needs to be done as far as educating stakeholders on how Open Source systems work and their benefits - chief of them all - REDUCED COSTS! I won't bore you with the details of other benefits! Maybe the media should also be included in the stakeholder education. To begin with, the heading 'State warned on ditching copyrighted software' was misleading since it implied that Open Source software CANNOT be copyrighted! </div>
<div><br></div><div>Finally, let no one tell you we lack the skills to set up and maintain Open Source systems! I would be more than glad to give you a long list of people on this mailing list who have deployed Open Source systems for the largest telco in Kenya, Insurance companies, Banks, Micro-Finance institutions and even The National Security Intelligence Service! What is so different about the government that it can't be powered by Open Source software? Which organisation needs more efficient systems than banks? Which organisation needs systems more secure than the ones being used by the N.S.I.S?</div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="im">On 15 September 2012 12:10, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:awatila@yahoo.co.uk" target="_blank">awatila@yahoo.co.uk</a>></span> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div class="im">
Last week, the Government issued a warning that in the next three<br>
years it will move its IT operations to Free and Open Source Software<br>
(FOSS), a move that will reduce cost by more than half in IT expenses.<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000066158&story_title=State-warned-on-ditching-copyrighted-software" target="_blank">http://www.standardmedia.co.<u></u>ke/?articleID=2000066158&<u></u>story_title=State-warned-on-<u></u>ditching-copyrighted-software</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Alex Watila<br>
ICT Manager<br>
Kenya School of Law<br>
Langata-South Road, Karen<br>
P.O. Box 30369 00100<br>
Nairobi<br>
skype: awatila<br>
Telkom Wireless +254(020) 2699581,2699582, 2699583, 2699584, 2699585, 2699586<br>
Tel +254 20 8890 044/94, 8891 399, 8891 200<br>
Fax +254 20 8891 722<br>
“You can visit KSL on the internet at <a href="http://www.ksl.ac.ke" target="_blank">www.ksl.ac.ke</a>” <br>
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</font></span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br>Kind Regards,<div><br></div><div>Moses Muya.</div><br>
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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.<br>
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