<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">Dear all </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">This list is moving dangerously close to being used for personal attacks disguised as 'Policy Advocacy'. We need to be careful otherwise we shall lose the whole essence of why this list was founded:-</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">To engage in discourse around ICT Policy, Interventions, etc. Granted. Sometimes stuff may get very heated but nowhere is it OK to cast aspersions on personalities. Let's focus on issues. Abuse and derision against individuals are totally uncalled for.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">Let's refocus ourselves.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">Regards</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><b><font face="georgia, serif" size="2">Ali
Hussein</font></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><b><font face="georgia, serif" size="2">Principal</font></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="georgia, serif" size="2"><b>AHK & Associates</b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font size="2"> </font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span>T<font size="2">el: +254 713 60<font size="2">1113</font></font><br></span></span></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span>Twitter: @AliHKassim</span><span></span></span></font></p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">
</span></font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span>Skype: abu-jomo</span></span></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font size="2"><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><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></span></font></p><p style="font-size:small;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:georgia;color:black">13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing,</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:arial"></span></p><p style="font-size:small;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:georgia;color:black">Chiromo Road, Westlands,</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:arial"></span></p><p style="font-size:small;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:georgia;color:black">Nairobi, Kenya.</span></p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span><br><font size="1">Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with.</font></span></span></font><span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif";font-size:11pt"></span><span style="font-size:11pt"></span>
<span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif""></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Jun 14, 2019 at 7:52 AM Barrack Otieno via kictanet <<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">Patrick,<div><br></div><div>Can we steer clear of ad hominem attacks?, this list has thousands of people with different interests and various levels of expertise which has made it useful in the last decade it has existed. Attacking people and questioning their integrity before knowing them or affording them a right of reply is out of order , this is what all this responses are telling you. No body has questioned the analysis you have been making on various topical issues that have been discussed on the list yet those are personal opinions. Lets stay focused and have some netiquette.</div><div><br></div><div>Regards</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Jun 14, 2019 at 2:20 AM Patrick A. M. Maina via kictanet <<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div class="gmail-m_7071002917184035729gmail-m_7562994056025662947ydp4e5b5db3yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><div></div>
<div>Dear Grace, Listers,<br></div><div><br></div><div>What I am noticing (and it's quite concerning) is an attempt to divert attention away from the <u>high-profile information security risks</u> that I have raised - rather than to <u>address the substance of the issues.<br></u></div><div><br></div><div><div><div>1. Are we comfortable with the idea of <u>unofficial versions of important policy-related documents</u>
that have not been independently vetted or certified - and which are targeted at
"time-poor (sic)" policy practitioners? <br></div><div><br></div><div><span>2. Are we not concerned that such an approach promotes the <u>entrenchment of high-risk habits</u> that prime policy
practitioners for targeted disinformation and malware?</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>3. <span>What is the basis for concluding that policy makers / practitioners cannot understand plain-language documents? Is there a study that shows this? </span><br></div><div><br></div><div>4. In the case of <a shape="rect" href="https://digitalcooperation.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://digitalcooperation.org/</a> report , what is wrong with their <u>official 4-page Executive Summary which is plainly written, in six UN languages</u>)? <br clear="none"></div><div><u><br clear="none"></u></div><div>5. Are we OK with the risks of a non-institutionalized framework (without independent checks and controls) that <span>purports to simplify things for policy practitioners who may not have time / inclination / capacity to ascertain the veracity of the dumbed-down information? <br></span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>Does this not contribute to further <u>entrenching corruption and nepotism</u> even deeper - by hiding the associated problems (e.g. incompetence), as well as creating avenues for third party manipulation of policy agendas? <br></span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span></span></div>5. Do we not care about: The methodology are they using to summarize? Where did it come from / how was it made? The basis for choosing what is
important and what is not? Do they have a vetting framework? <span>How do they choose what reports/event to cover or not to cover? </span>What
tools do they use to create & scan the document? Do they have
resources to protect themselves from being targeted as unwitting virus
dissemination vectors?<div><br></div><div>These are legitimate professional issues. Anyone care to give a professional response?</div><div><br></div><div>Brgds,</div><div>Patrick.<br></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><div><div>Patrick A. M. Maina</div><div>[Cross-domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]</div></div><br></div><div><br></div>
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On Friday, June 14, 2019, 1:25:56 AM GMT+3, Grace Bomu <<a href="mailto:nmutungu@gmail.com" target="_blank">nmutungu@gmail.com</a>> wrote:
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<div><div id="gmail-m_7071002917184035729gmail-m_7562994056025662947ydpbe00a6b1yiv7705599344"><div>Careful Patrick. The same questions may be asked of you- who are you and what is your interest?<div><br clear="none"><div class="gmail-m_7071002917184035729gmail-m_7562994056025662947ydpbe00a6b1yiv7705599344yqt8044823269" id="gmail-m_7071002917184035729gmail-m_7562994056025662947ydpbe00a6b1yiv7705599344yqt30900"><div><div><br clear="none">On Thursday, 13 June 2019, Patrick A. M. Maina via kictanet <<a shape="rect" href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"><blockquote class="gmail-m_7071002917184035729gmail-m_7562994056025662947ydpbe00a6b1yiv7705599344gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><div></div>
<div><div><div>As I read some worrisome replies here, I'm starting to wonder... have foxes been guarding our hen-house? <br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Brgds,</div>Patrick.</div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div>
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On Thursday, June 13, 2019, 5:58:36 PM GMT+3, McTim <<a shape="rect" href="mailto:dogwallah@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dogwallah@gmail.com</a>> wrote:
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<div><div><div><div dir="ltr"><div>Hi, Let me help you.</div><div><br clear="none"></div><br clear="none"><div><div dir="ltr">On Thu, Jun 13, 2019 at 10:38 AM Patrick A. M. Maina via kictanet <<a shape="rect" href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a> > wrote:<br clear="none"></div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div><div></div>
<div>Listers, <br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>This model of "<i>don't worry, we'll read the policy/research for you and summarize</i>" (i.e. dumbing down research & policy for negligent/lazy/disorganized policy practitioners) is very dangerous in many ways. It is not a wise solution to "tl;dr" (too long didn't read) and should be actively discouraged. <br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div></div></div></blockquote><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Nonsense, it is extraordinarily useful.</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div> </div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div><div></div><div>Rationale: (and I invite cyber-security and internet safety experts to quip in with their thoughts/perspective please):</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>1. The idea of <u>unofficial versions of important policy documents</u> that have not been independently vetted or certified - and targeted at "time-poor (sic)" policy practitioners - should trigger alarm bells in this day and age. In the case of <a shape="rect" href="https://digitalcooperation.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://digitalcooperation. org/</a> report , what is wrong with their <u>official 4-page Executive Summary which is plainly written, in six UN languages</u>)? If policy practitioners can't understand it, perhaps the question to discuss is whether we have a competence problem?<br clear="none"></div></div></div></blockquote><div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Yes, it is a competence problem. I prefer the Sam Dickinson version....always.</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>She is a trusted and experienced practioner, knows the politics and policy inside and out.</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div> </div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div><div></div><div><u><br clear="none"></u></div><div>An experienced, high-profile internet policy consultant <u>should know this</u> and <u>avoid doing it </u>because it promotes the entrenchment of high-risk habits that prime policy practitioners for targeted disinformation and malware.</div></div></div></blockquote><div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>It is part of her business model.</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div> </div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>2. The premise of Nissaba.net is that official policy documents are too complex or too long. </div></div></div></blockquote><div><br clear="none"></div><div>no, not the premise. The premise and biz model is that she goes to Geneva and sits through week long events so I don't have to!</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div> </div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div><div>So <span><span><span>Nissaba.net</span></span></span> hopes to attract the tl;dr audience (people who don't like reading or are cognitively lazy or presumably are "too busy" to read important things that affect them). Do you see the danger here? </div></div></div></blockquote><div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>I only see the upside.</div><div> </div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div><div>This model gives the site owner(s)<u> immense power</u> as an information gatekeepers and influencers - with a target audience of cognitively lazy (or negligent) individuals. <br clear="none"></div></div></div></blockquote><div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>nonsense. </div><div> </div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div><div></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>This kind of high-profile nannying, if deemed necessary due to realities like nepotism/corruption (which guarantee incompetence) is something that can only be done credibly by transparent multilateral organizations that have independent checks and measures. Policy activists should be combating incompetence - not enabling it.<br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>3. Besides the raised concerns above, there needs to be clarity on: What methodology are they using to summarize. How do they choose what is important and what is not? Do they have a vetting framework? <span>How do they choose what reports/event to summarize and what not to cover? </span>What tools do they use to create & scan the document? Do they have resources to protect themselves from being targeted as unwitting virus dissemination vectors?</div></div></div></blockquote><div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>OH FFS. If you are paying, you get to ask these questions. If you aren't a client of her consulting biz, then you don't get to ask these questions!</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div> </div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>4. Why is she not running this as a non-profit organization that can be subjected to non-profit rules and scrutiny?</div></div></div></blockquote><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Becasue there is no way to raise funds for an NGO? Why are non-profit rules and scrutiny better?</div><div> </div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div><div> Her credentials and incredible levels of access (and exposure) don't paint her as a blundering amateur. Is this the result of reckless negligence or an excited rush to implement a half-baked idea?</div></div></div></blockquote><div> </div><div>neither</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div> </div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div><div>It doesn't make sense. What's going on?<br clear="none"></div></div></div></blockquote><div><br clear="none"></div><div>it makes total sense if you understand that she goes to events and reports on them as part of her consulting biz.</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div> </div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div><div></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>5. If she got the idea from somewhere, she should have consulted the idea originator for implementation <span>(execution) </span> strategies that would not increase the danger of turning a bad situation into something far much worse. It could be that the idea originator (if not her) protected the idea by not reveling the most critical aspects of its execution.<br clear="none"></div></div></div></blockquote><div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>it is not a bad situation.</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div> </div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div><div></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>We cannot claim to be promoting internet health - and then we appear to do things that worsen internet health, just because we are known/trusted in policy circles!</div></div></div></blockquote><div><br clear="none"></div><div>This does zero to worsen Internet "health"...whatever that means! </div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>What am I missing here?<br clear="none"></div></div></div></blockquote><div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>the point man, you are missing the entire bloody point! </div><div><div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div><div><div><div><div><br clear="none"></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div></div><div>-- <br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr"><div>Cheers,</div><br clear="none"><br clear="none">McTim<br clear="none">The 'name' of a resource indicates *what* we seek, an 'address' indicates *where* it is, and a 'route' tells us *how to get there*.</div></div></div></div></div>
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</div></div></blockquote></div></div></div></div><br clear="none"><br clear="none">-- <br clear="none"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div>Grace Mutung'u <br clear="none">Skype: gracebomu<br clear="none">@Bomu<br clear="none"><span style="font-size:12.8px">PGP ID : 0x33A3450F</span><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div></div></div></div></div></div><br clear="none"></div></div></div>
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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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</blockquote></div><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail-m_7071002917184035729gmail_signature">Barrack O. Otieno<br>+254721325277<br>+254733206359<br>Skype: barrack.otieno<br>PGP ID: 0x2611D86A<br> <br><br><br><br></div>
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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>
<br>
KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.<br>
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