<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif">Dear Mr.President and Deputy President </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif">As you embark on your journey to transform Kenya into a
Digital Country here are a few suggestions, humby submitted:-</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif">1. The idea of giving every child a laptop is a good one but
it must be followed by real efforts to encourage and incubate local content
otherwise we will loose control of what our children read.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif">2. We have made great efforts in improving ICT infrastructure
but alot still needs to be done. Some great initiatives have already been
started. They need your personal attention:-</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif"> a. KENET - Kenya
Education Network (KENET) is a National Research and Education Network that
promotes the use of ICT in Teaching, Learning and Research in Higher Education
Institutions in Kenya. KENET is already rolling out high speed internet in
Universities. This needs to be expanded to all institutions of learning. It is
a shame for example that schools in informal settlements do not have either
computers or internet access in Nairobi. I shudder to think what happens when
we move beyond Nairobi.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif"> b. The Universal
Access Fund - The Kenya Communications (Amendment) Act, 2009, provides for the
establishment of a Universal Service Fund (USF), administered and managed by
CCK. The purpose of the Fund is to support widespread access to ICT services,
promote capacity building and innovations in ICT services in the country. Sources of Funds come from Licensees,
appropriations form Government as well as grants and donations. The USF act of
2009 has been just that....an Act until recently when the Board was
constituted. I humbly ask that this be in your To Do List for the forseeable
future.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif"> c. Husband the
formation of the new Independent Communications Commission of Kenya (ICCK)
which will replace the current CCK. This is in line with the new constitution
and will go a long way in adding much needed gravitas in the regulation of this
important sector (Which I daresay your campaign ably borrowed from during the
electioneering period with the word 'Digital'). This new look ICCK will have
seven commissioners selected through competitive interview process by the
Public Service Commission and the names forwarded to the President for final approval.
Each of the Commissioners will have specific roles like compliance, spectrum
among other roles. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif"> d. Enhance the
Ministry of Information and ensure that the Technocrats leading it are steeped
in the industry, have a track record and able to navigate and steer the country
to truly be the Silicon Savannah of Africa.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif">3. Without a strong educational infrastructure and a culture
of learning all the above will be for nought. I humby request that we relook
closely the current practice of turning all Polytechnics into Universities.
There is a place for all in the educational space. We need academics,
enterpreneurs, professional managers and artisans for us to move this great
nation of ours towards Vision 2030. We must ensure that the whole educational ecosystem
serves all these different needs. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif">4. We must inculcate and encourage a research oriented
Higher Education (Universities) system deeply entrenched in social needs,
business, health etc. Universities should not be set up as profit centres but
centres of excellence where we go to draw from to feed our various needs.
Businesses should be encouraged to partner with Universities to bring out the
best talent and ideas for our country. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif">I am sure that there are other issues to be dealt with but I
humbly submit that this would be a good starting point.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia, serif"> </font></p>
<div><p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font><b><span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif"">Ali
Hussein</span></b></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font><b><span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif"">CEO, 3mice interactive media ltd</span></b></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">
<font><b><span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif""><b><span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif"">Partner, </span></b>Telemedia Africa Ltd<br></span></b></font></p>
<font>
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font> </font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span>T<font>el: +25471360<font>1113</font></font><br></span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span>Twitter: @AliHKassim</span><span></span></span></font></p><font><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">
</span></font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span>Skype: abu-jomo</span></span></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span>LinkedIn: <a href="http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim" target="_blank">http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim</a></span><a href="http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim" target="_blank"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"></span></a></span></font></p>
<font><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"></span></font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">
</p><font><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span>Blog: <a href="http://www.alyhussein.com" target="_blank">www.alyhussein.com</a></span></span></font><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif""></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"></span>
<span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif""></span></div>