<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:14pt"><img width="95" height="37" src="file:///C:/Users/Mbugua/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image002.jpg"></span></b><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:14pt"></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:center"><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9pt;color:rgb(23,54,93)">“Industry voice
in Telecommunications, Providing Policy and Direction</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:center"><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:9pt;color:rgb(23,54,93)">within the
Industry and Government”</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="margin-top:2px;width:489px;height:2px"><img width="489" height="2" src="file:///C:/Users/Mbugua/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image003.png"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:14pt">PRESS RELEASE</span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:150%"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:14pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Proposed CCK changes to commercialize ‘.ke’ internet
identity </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-AU"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-AU">Nairobi, 29<sup>th</sup> January 2014….</span></b><span lang="EN-AU">Players in the telecommunications service industry are raising
concerns over the manner in which the Kenyan government is proposing to handle the Commission
Authority of Kenya, transition out of
KENIC- the .ke domain manager.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-AU">The .ke domain
registry has two guarantor shareholders, the industry lobby group
Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK) and
Communications Authority of Kenya formerly CCK. While lauding the move to have
the regulator step down from the board of the domain manager there is a need to
ensure smooth institutional transition and service delivery.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-AU">The association
through its Chairman Mr. Kris Senanu says the CAK should not feel that they can
proceed to change the operations of the organization without due consultations.
The official proposed structure is currently open for public input and
consultations; a process expected to close on 10<sup>th</sup> February 2014. He
adds that at no point in time has the CAK communicated to TESPOK the other
partner in this arrangement on the proposal to commercialise .ke as announced
in yesterday’s Business daily. <span style="color:red"></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-AU">“If CAK attempt
to take the commercialization approach without due consideration of TESPOK, we
will have no choice but put ICANN on notice that any attempt at re-delegation
does not have the support of the industry or any of the stakeholders.” says Mr.
Senanu “We have no problem with CAK proposing another government entity to take
up the government involvement but will not support commercialization.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-AU">The Internet
Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (the ICANN), as part of the
administrative functions associated with management of the domain-name system
root, is responsible for receiving requests for delegation and re-delegation of
top-level domains, investigating the circumstances pertinent to those requests,
and reporting on the requests. In May 2000, a group of Kenyan Internet
stakeholders led by TESPOK launched an initiative to form a participatory,
community-based non-profit organization located in Kenya to manage both the
administrative and technical aspects of the .ke ccTLD registry.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify">The result of these consultations was the Kenya
Network Information Center, Limited (KENIC), organized under Kenyan law as a
company limited by guarantee (a not-for-profit entity). In addition to
performing the technical, administrative, and policy-setting functions for the
.ke registry, a stated objective of KENIC is to "promote, manage and
operate the delegated .ke ccTLD in the interest of the Kenyan Internet
community and being mindful of the global Internet community interest in
consistent with ICANN policies."</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-AU">Unfortunately,
over the last five years interference of CCK in the day to day operations of
KENIC has seen the organization experience unprecedented turnover of both Board
and staff; with 5 CEO changes. The functions of KENIC have continued to be
delivered because TESPOK maintained its commitment to the local industry as per
the ICANN Agreement to provide technical and logistical support to the .ke
manager. It is important for CAK to give
the .ke ccTLD manager the opportunity to deliver on agreed key deliverables
that have not been met in the last five years. Commercialization is not a
solution to meeting the identified and agreed industry gaps within the local
internet community.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-AU">TESPOK has both
the technical and administrative resources necessary to continue as a sole
guarantor of the ccTLD if and when CAK pulls. It has provided such support in
the past. This will evidently lead to consolidating the Internet technical
community shared resources under one umbrella body; a move very similar to, the
consolidation of the various government agencies handling government ICT
deployment and implementation under the Kenya ICT Authority. The scenario would
then consolidate KENIC (the .ke manager), KIXP (Africa’s fastest growing Internet
Exchange Point) and I-CSIRT (Internet Computer Security Incident Response Team)
under the TESPOK stewardship.</span></p></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Jan 28, 2014 at 11:11 AM, Walubengo J <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jwalu@yahoo.com" target="_blank">jwalu@yahoo.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">--------------------------------------------<br>
<div class="im">On Tue, 1/28/14, Grace Githaiga <<a href="mailto:ggithaiga@hotmail.com">ggithaiga@hotmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
@Walu, in your opinion, is this exercise of CCK soliciting for comments an exercise in futility? How do<br>
ensure that stakeholders' input is taken on board?<br>
<br>
</div>@GG,<br>
<br>
CCK exercise for public comment is not in vain. However, they retain the sole perogative or exclusive right on what goes into or out of the published regulations. In other words, even if they agreed with your comments, YOU still do not decide that they are adopted - THEY decide. This is the traditional top-down approach that has so very well worked for the Telco sector. Not sure if it is a good idea for the Internet sector where the bottom-up (consensus) approach is considered the norm.<br>
<br>
Indeed this is "silent" coup that is unfolding. As commercial entities focus on scrambling to be the winning bidder for the domain management, they indirectly trade in their traditional "bottom-up consensus" governance structure for "top-bottom" approach practiced globally by governments. Whether this is good or bad will depend on how the Regulator exercises their extended powers into this sector.<br>
<br>
How to ensure Regulator takes on board public views? Maybe a better question would be - do they have to? :-)<br>
<br>
walu.<br>
<br>
<br>
Subject: [ISOC_KE] Kenya's Internet domain market is set for a shakeup<br>
To: "<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>" <<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>>, "<a href="mailto:isoc@orion.my.co.ke">isoc@orion.my.co.ke</a>" <<a href="mailto:isoc@orion.my.co.ke">isoc@orion.my.co.ke</a>><br>
Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2014, 8:55 AM<br>
<div><div class="h5"><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/Kenyas-Internet-domain-market-is-set-for-a-shakeup/-/1959700/2162422/-/15nmc0nz/-/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/Kenyas-Internet-domain-market-is-set-for-a-shakeup/-/1959700/2162422/-/15nmc0nz/-/index.html</a><br>
"The<br>
regulator, CCK, has published draft framework and<br>
regulations that would<br>
shake up the internet domain market in Kenya. Whereas it has<br>
been its good practice to invite public comments on draft<br>
regulations, it is rare that CCK will change too much from<br>
what it has already drafted".<br>
<br>
@Walu, in your opinion, is this exercise of CCK<br>
soliciting for comments an exercise in futility? How do<br>
ensure that stakeholders' input is taken on board? Well,<br>
I know this might be a rhetorical question but<br>
still...<br>
<br>
</div></div> -----Inline Attachment Follows-----<br>
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