<div dir="ltr">Thank you all for your input. <div>I understand that we are still in transition to the new constitutional dispensation but sometimes one gets the feeling that we could do better as a nation, that we could establish norms that would serve us well into the future. In the ICT sector, we had already established consultation as a norm even before the new Constitution. </div><div>I guess the question is how we can have more meaningful participation. I think one practical way is to avail information to citizens so that they can have what it takes to play their part. </div><div><br></div><div>@GG, Generally, it is not a bad thing to have matters interpreted in court as it creates jurisprudence for use by later generations. For example, we now know who is eligible to serve in boards of public bodies thanks to the CA cases. (No, it is not the lawyer in me speaking here). However, court processes tend to be adversarial, time consuming and sort of lock out participation by non parties. We could explore non court means of dispute resolution. BTW, does anyone have information/statistics on how the ADR by KENIC has been working? </div><div><br></div><div>@Meshack, you make a good point about participation and devolution. This is an area with great opportunities for engagement with citizens. I see individual leaders at both national and county level engaging with their "people" on social media about topical issues, but it is yet to catch on as a corporate culture by county government structures. </div><div><br></div><div>@ Barrack, I agree that participation is so important there should be staff dedicated to engaging the public. Perhaps this is a proposal we can suggest to stakeholders at the IGF? </div><div><br></div><div>@Mwendwa, could there also be a lack of awareness or information on USF/USAC? Maybe if we had an idea about the projects and activities, we may be able to appreciate the fund....</div><div><br></div><div>Regards, </div><div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">2015-07-21 5:38 GMT+03:00 Grace Githaiga <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ggithaiga@hotmail.com" target="_blank">ggithaiga@hotmail.com</a>></span>:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div><div dir="ltr"><font size="3">Hi Grace B</font><div><font size="3"><br></font></div><div><font size="3">Let me respond on two questions you have raised.</font></div><div><font size="3"><br></font></div><div><font size="3">On Kenyans being litigious: IMHO many people opt for litigation (which is tiresome and wastes alot of time) if they feel they have no other option(s) to discuss their issue(s). And this may be one way of putting checks on systems. What we should be asking though is, has this been the only way to resolve conflicts in this sector? And if so, why? Did people feel that there was no room to discuss their concerns? And is it possible that there are other forms of conflict resolution that were not considered? Would bringing the complainants onto the table for some negotiation have forestalled the court cases? And how should we take things forward? </font></div><div><font size="3"><br></font></div><div><font size="3">Article 10 of Kenya's Constitution places people at the heart of policy making processes. And lets be fair. CA has for example been buying space in newspapers to call on this or that input, and ICTA has infact on several occasions posted the calls on our lists. However, the call for public participation stops there! There is usually no interaction afterwards. And this is a weakness. We therefore need a </font><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">framework that clarifies on this public participation process. The framework should for example map how views and ideas suggested are reflected in an outcome document of a policy process. If views/suggestions from certain stakeholders are not taken on board, then legitimate reasons for their lack of incorporation (either grounded in law or offensive to public morality) should be provided. This is to avoid suspicion and a feeling from concerned stakeholders who feel the need to participate legitimately in a process, that their time was not wasted and that those calling for public participation were not just giving lip service to article 10 of our constitution.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Rgds</span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">GG</span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><br></span></div><div></div><div><div><br></div><div>Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2015 08:59:37 +0300<br>Subject: [kictanet] #KeIGF15 Online Discussions Day One: Inclusiveness and Diversity<br>From: <a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>CC: <a href="mailto:nmutungu@gmail.com" target="_blank">nmutungu@gmail.com</a><br>To: <a href="mailto:ggithaiga@hotmail.com" target="_blank">ggithaiga@hotmail.com</a><div><div class="h5"><br><br><div dir="ltr"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Listers, </font><div><p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:115%">Since promulgation of the </span><span style="line-height:14.9499998092651px">Constitution</span><span style="line-height:115%">, Kenya has become a litigious society, and the ICT/Internet sector has not been spared. For instance, the processes
used to constitute public ICT bodies was contested while a good part of the digital migration process
also played out in the public galleries. </span></font></p>
<p><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </font></span></p>
<p style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Looking at Kenya's past journey in
ICT/Internet governance, has it been inclusive? </font></span></p>
<p style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Are we presently adhering to Article
10 on public participation in local Internet governance matters? Do the
present mechanisms facilitate meaningful participation of all including those with
disabilities? </font></span></p><p style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></span></p>
<p style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">What are the roles of the various
stakeholders and are they all playing their roles? </font></span></p><div><p style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Is the ICT environment in Kenya
inclusive—that is, with an atmosphere in which all people feel valued and
respected and have access to the same opportunities?</font></span></p>
<p style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><br></p>
<p style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">What is the state of Universal Access and implementation of Universal Service
Fund in Kenya?</span><br></p>
<p style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Are the USF Council members
representative of the Internet community in Kenya? Are all stakeholders'
interests taken into consideration in forming the USF council?</font><font face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size:7.5pt"></font></span></p><p style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></span></p><p style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Welcome to the discussion. </font></span></p><div><br></div>-- <br><div>Grace L.N. Mutung'u <br>Nairobi Kenya<br>Skype: gracebomu<br>Twitter: @Bomu<br><br><br></div>
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</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">Grace L.N. Mutung'u <br>Nairobi Kenya<br>Skype: gracebomu<br>Twitter: @Bomu<br><br><<a href="http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu" target="_blank">http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu</a>><br><br></div>
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