Wanjiku's Take...

• Governance, democracy and role of media...

  Posted: March 25, 2010, 7:11 pm by rebecca

  Governance, democracy and role of media in promoting development in Africa dominated discussions on the first day of Pan African Media conference.

  Democracy and coverage of politics and less policy development took center stage as politicians and media practioners at the conference traded excuses regarding who is to blame.

  "In many cases, politicians have policy and development issues to discuss but the media always focusses on politics for commercial reasons; because that is what sells newspapers," said Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

  Raila was responding to the question whether politicians are to blame for over reliance on politics and why Kenya is more obscessed with politics compared to the other countries in East Africa.

  The conference was discussing serious issues but there was a moment of laughter when the chief guest President Kibaki acknowledged the role of social media in development, trying his best to show that he was still in touch with tech developments.

  “The advent of citizen journalism has become possible because of tools such as SMS, blogs and social networking websites such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Myspace,” said President Kibaki.

  In his speech, the President challenged the participants to examine how new media can be used to promote democracy, fight against corruption, nepotism, and environmental challenges.

  The Pan African Media Conference was organized jointly with Highway Africa and Africa Media Initiative.

  Nation Media Group founder Aga Khan addressed the conference, talking about freedom of the press and the responsibility that comes with it. He noted that media independence does not mean taking sides with the opposition.

  "Let me sound a word of caution. Freedom, in any area of human activity, does not mean the moral license to abuse that freedom.  It would be a sad thing if the people of

  Africa in the name of freedom, were expected to welcome the worst of media practices, whether they are home-grown or imported," said Khan.

  When Khan started the Nation Media at the age of 24 and at that time, he had no journalism training. But he demonstrated commitment to journalism by announcing plans to establish a new Graduate School of Media and Communications based in East Africa.

  The school, will have its first campus in Nairobi by next year and later be integrated in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Aga Khan University to be created in Arusha.

  "The Aga Khan University is planning to establish a new Graduate School of Media and Communications, based in East Africa and dedicated to advancing the excellence of media performance and the strengthening of ethical media practices throughout the developing world," Aga Khan said in his speech.

  The proposed Graduate School of Media will offer a Masters Degree program, serving recent university graduates as well as media owners, managers, and mid-career journalists.

  "This new School will also work on the cutting edge of media technology, embracing especially the new on-line world - its complications and its potentials. The rapid spread of mobile phone technology supports this view - as do recent advances in broadband availability - including the new SEACOM undersea cable development," Khan said in his speech.

  The conference was addressed by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, ex-Presidents Joachim Chissano of Mozambique and Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania, and Information and Communications minister Samuel Poghisio.

  
  

• Interesting job offer for developers...

  Posted: March 24, 2010, 8:50 am by rebecca

  A friend of mine sent me this job advert for qualified developers; deadline this Friday..

  Ever thought of moving your office to the beautiful islands of Seychelles?

  We have a one-of-a-life-time opportunity for professionals to join our young and dynamic software team to design and develop world-class software systems for the local and international tourism industry.

  We are a leading Information Technology company in Seychelles with over 20 years of experience in developing and supporting software and other IT solutions to over 300 customers in the banking, offshore, tourism and other sectors of the Seychelles economy.

  .NET Systems Analyst & Software Engineer/Programmer

  Job Summary:

  •Analyze, research, design, develop, test, implement and support computer software applications.

  Requirements:

  •C# and VB.NET Frameworks

  •2 years minimum commercial experience in .NET languages (ASP.NET, .NET XML Web Services and other .NET Integration technologies, .NET LINQ)

  •2 years experience working with SQL databases (MS SQL or others).

  •Experience with Object Oriented Design and concepts.

  •Building reputable technical skill with SOA Application Design and Implementation

  •Degree in Computer Science subject or equivalent.

  •Have strong and proven analytical/problem-solving skill

  •Ability to speak and write English fluently.

  Preference will be given to candidates with the following knowledge and experience in:

  •MS SQL 2005 upwards, .NET framework 3.5, .NET RIA Services, LINQ, Microsoft Visual Studio 2008, Expression Blend, Microsoft Silverlight, WPF, WWF & WCF, SharePoint & MOSS

  Contract: 1 - 2 years

  Package: Work permit, air fares and accommodation provided.

  Salary: All salaries are negotiable and commensurate with work experience and qualifications.

  All applicants must be extremely customer-focused, reliable, professional team players.

  Please mail or email a CV to:HR Department

  VCS (Pty) Limited

  PO Box 1000

  Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles.

  Email to: hr@vcsinet.com

  Tel: +248 676000Fax: +248 324056

  
  

• Got a foreign accent? Kenyan media houses will love you..

  Posted: March 23, 2010, 10:11 am by rebecca

  Desire for foreign accents stymies local content.... forget that some have never tracelled out of the country.

  The desire for hollywood content and media personalities with foreign accents has led to low local content in African media.

  Wachira Waruru, Royal Media Services managing director told the Pan African Media Conference that television stations in Kenya are flooded with foreign content that does not add value to African culture.

  “It is sad to say but our media owners are the biggest obstacles to the development of local content on our screens,” said Waruru, who heads the media house with the highest local television content in Kenya (Citizen TV).

  Regarding appreciation of the local people, Waruru said media houses hope to appear "more sophisticated" employing individuals with foreign accents.

  “We do not need hollywood to survive; let us refocus our energies on developing local content for our viewers and listeners for this is where the future of this industry lies,” he said

  Waruru was speaking at a breakfast session on culture and open doors; other parallel sessions included topics in New Media, reporting change and crisis in Africa and environment, media and Africa's responsibility.

  
  

• Do vernacular stations fan violence?

  Posted: March 23, 2010, 7:32 am by rebecca

  Media regulation and the role of vernacular stations in conflict situations was brought into sharp focus as media practitioners examined their role in conflict situations.

  Joseph Odindo, Nation Media Group editorial director narrated how various vernacular stations were indicted for fanning flames of violence during the post election violence in Kenya.

  "How do you deal with the culture of hate speech? Vernacular radio stations reach the grassroots and are well placed, potent ways of mobilizing the public but what happens when they fan flames?" posed Odindo.

  He also explored options such as regulation and banning of such stations but was quick to add that this is not the sole solution. He argued that participants should find a way to inoculate the insect without resulting to drastic measures such as banning.

  During the height of the violence in Kenya, Odindo was torn between using blood spattered pictures and showing the reality to the public and pushing them not to live in ignorance.

  Mathatha Tsedu, one of South Africa's leading editors spoke about South African media's treatment of Nigerians where Nigerians arrested with crime related issues make headlines yet other criminal activity in the country does not always make headlines.

  "In South Africa, if a Nigerian is arrested with 2 grammes of cocaine, the story makes headlines, but if its South African the story is not a headline; there is a level of targeting foreigners," said Tsedu.

  During the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, Tsedu said the Daily Sun characterized the attacks as "alien attacks" and the paper was considered to have used derogatory statements and issues were raised with ombudsman.

  In the afternoon session, journalists tackled the issue of press freedom, whether having leaders who are holding on to power means that the media in that country is muzzled.

  Ends

  
  

• Why Nation Media Group is setting bad precedent by charging journalists accreditation fees

  Posted: March 17, 2010, 5:14 pm by rebecca

  This week, I received a media invite from the Nation Media group about accreditation for the Pan African Media Conference. They were asking for $150 for journalists to cover the event.

  I read the email again, it was not to participate, but to cover the event, you know, the journalists that come in just for the speeches by the big wigs. Before I could digest the shock, another email came, rectifying the figure to Kshs 2,500 (about $30); but I was still in a shock.

  I was in shock because I know media houses have been against charging journalists to cover events. Think about management/motivational events that many people pay lots of money to attend but journalists get in free.

  I was once asked for advice by someone organizing a management talk on those tips they did not teach you at Harvard Business school and i was against journalists paying a fee just to cover the event.

  So, why is the Nation Media Group asking other media houses to pay in order to cover the event?

  I was with some other tech journalists in the morning and we were joking that because the Nation is so big, they can afford to cover the event on their own, across all the platforms.

  For others, it was a way for the Nation to get all the scoops by ensuring that they cover everything and lock out the others.

  Anyway, I am sure the fee is not that much and other media houses can pay but will it be fair to ask other event organizers to allow journalists in free when other media houses charge accreditation fee?

  By the way, the meeting has allowed some bloggers free, so will this be the first case where social media has trumped mainstream media?

  Read the email sent below...

  RE: PAN AFRICAN MEDIA CONFERENCE JOINTLY ORGANISED BY NATION MEDIA GROUP & AFRICA MEDIA INITIATIVE

  We are pleased to invite you to cover the 2010 Pan African Media Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. The conference with the theme, Media and the African Promise is a collaboration of the Africa Media Initiative and the Nation Media Group and will be held from the 18th-19th March 2010 at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre. The event will reflect on the African media’s past, present and prospects for the future against the challenges of a dynamic globalised environment. The conference has been organised to commemorate Nation Media Group’s 50th Anniversary since the first copy of the Daily Nation rolled off the press.

  This conference will draw attendance from leading media professionals from all over the African continent, speakers representing industry and policy development, as well as academic scholars and thinkers from the global media arena. The forum will encourage contribution and development of robust policy related to the operation and development of media in Africa.

  Participants will explore issues ranging from the advent of citizen journalism where audiences generate and publish news using popular online platforms and new media such as SMS, MMS, MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube, to the role of media and civil society in solving Africa’s challenges, to governance democracy and other perspectives, to the emergence of a global media culture, to reporting change and crisis in Africa, and saving the African environment among others.

  We have a great line-up of speakers including: H.E. Joaquim Alberto Chissano, former President of Mozambique, H.E. John Agyekum Kufuor, President of the Alliance, and former President of Ghana, Dr. Hussein Amin, Professor and former chair of Journalism and Mass Communication at the American University in Cairo, Achim Steiner Acting on the nomination of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Dr. Mohamed "Mo" Ibrahim, Sudanese-born British mobile communications entrepreneur, Professor Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize and Mr. David Dadge, Director of the International Press Institute(IPI among others.

  We invite you to cover the conference. For purposes of accreditation please send a list of the print, broadcast and photo journalists who will cover the event by Friday 12th March to Wanjiru Waithaka at the conference secretariat (wwaithaka@nation.co.ke). For each journalist we will require two (2) passport size photos, an official letter confirming he or she has been assigned to cover the event by your organization and accreditation fee of USD150 (or Sh10,000) payable in advance.

  Follow-up email

  Dear all,

  With regard to the invitation below please note that the accreditation fee has been reduced to Sh2,500 PER journalist.

  Regards,

  Ends

  
  

• ICANN security concerns may have benefitted all parties

  Posted: March 12, 2010, 10:48 am by rebecca

  For the ICANN local organizing committee, today is a great day, it is the last day of the meeting, which by any standards can be considered a success considering the security video produced by ICANN just before the meeting.

  From December last year, the LOC was involved more in answering security questions, whether the ruling coalition will break and whether the Al Shabab terrorist group will get away from the lucrative piracy along the gulf of Aden to attack KICC. No one denied that there were security concerns but thats a common denominator for many countries, rich or poor.

  In retrospect, I think the whole security debate benefitted Kenya and to some extent the continent. ICANN meetings have geographical rotation and am sure issues of security will come up the next time Africa is meant to host the meeting.

  For Kenya, the successful meeting is vital, given that the Internet Governance Forum will be held in the country next year. If the IGF raises the security issues, Kenya can point to ICANN and the security video, and the success that was achieved.

  To ICANN, the remote participation was good, the online participation matrix was shared before the meeting started and the parallel meetings in the US now look a bit ill advised.

  The 100mb bandwidth at the conference venue was very stable, I did not experience any hitches, even during the opening ceremony, where there were at least 100 laptops on; everyone at ICANN at least carries a laptop but not all were on at the time.

  For the ICANN participants who danced at the Carnivore till 4am, it just shows that they were enjoying the hospitality and the good things that the country has to offer. For those who took the Safaris, that is better than the caged animals out there.

  The meeting was optional for many people but for those in the new gTLD debate, it was important to have the two minutes on the mic in the public forum. Even members of the Government Advisory Committee took the mic, led by Bertrard De La Chapelle from France, who took the 2 minute Mic like 20 times, just to emphasize the importance of public sessions.

  For the ICM guys, the Independent Review Committee and those interested in matters of transparency in ICANN, the .xxx debate was important and their presence is vital, even in the face of security concerns.

  So, the meeting had lessons and successes for everyone; with more than 1000 people picking their conference bags, I think the meeting was a success and offers vital lessons to others holding meetings in Nairobi.

  Ends

  
  

• ICANN President admits security could have been handled better

  Posted: March 11, 2010, 12:03 pm by rebecca

  In the months leading up to the ICANN meeting in Nairobi, majority of discussions and conference calls were dominated by security concerns and emergency meetings with some people wondering whether the meeting will take place or not.

  Eventually some people decided to stay away. Yes, security is a concern but for everyone and no one can blame anyone for choosing safety over risk. Well, I had my opinions about the security debate, which have been expressed in blog posts scattered online.

  However, it was nice to hear an admnission from Rod Beckstrom, ICANN president and CEO that perhaps the whole security debate was not handled well.

  At a meeting with the Government Advisory Committee, Rod said that ICANN is striving to balance transparency and diplomacy and in this case, that balance may not have been well struck.

  He was responding to the statement by Alice Munyua, CCK board, who alluded to the fact that the whole security saga may not have demonstrated respect to the local organizing committee and that the debate was dominated by security and not by serious issues.

  Here is the verbatim GAC speech by Alice:

  We thank the ICANN board and the ICANN community for resolving to get on with the meeting in Kenya despite the challenges and note that the geographic rotation of meeting locations is an important feature unique and special to ICANN.

  However, we need to ask ourselves “what do these ICANN meetings leave behind in the various regions and/or countries?”

  Kenya had ideals regarding the possible domino effect/impact that this meeting would have had in the EA region in terms of understanding ICANN, increased participation in ICANN and understanding of Internet policy and Internet governance generally (as you probably know, Kenya has offered to host the 2011 IGF). But we spent most of the months leading up to the meeting occupied and dealing with the meetings security issues due to the badly handled communication around it.

  And this is not to deny that there were credible fears around the meeting security, particularly when it touches on the world’s common terrorism incidents, but communicating these same fears and efforts being made to ensure everyone's safety could have been handled more diplomatically and respectfully for  Kenya as host country, as a recognition   the hard work by the local organisers and ICANN staff.

  We note that nearly all of the contracted parties (registries, registrars) are missing (physically) and have chosen to have parallel meetings in NY and Washington. What does this say about the ICANN processes? Has ICANN's foundation commitment to the introduction of competition and diversity in the DNS on the decline? If all of the registries and significant majority of registrars are based in North America what does this say? Is there a competition framework? Is it time to begin to explore the possibilities of a global one perhaps?  What will happen to the new gTLD's with registration costs that are prohibitive for most developing countries’?

  Finally, we congratulate ICANN commitment to the principle of transparency, with the very active use of society networking tools, like twitter but we do believe that issues that affect a country's prospects should be handled more sensitively and respectively because they do tend to have an impact on not only  general effectiveness and efficiency of organising these kind of meetings but the  impact is broader than  the

  internet and includes  issues of investment, tourism among others.

  If the intentions, with the various processes including the AOC are to work towards internationalising ICANN, then ICANN must respect diversity and work more towards understanding other perspectives and interests.

  
  

• Expanding debate on domain costs..

  Posted: March 9, 2010, 11:15 pm by rebecca

  In the debate about the challenges of domains in Africa, the issue of cost becomes a major talking point.

  I have been accused of ripping Kenic and their policies on .ke; I pay Ksh 3000 about $ 40 for my domain, which I consider high. Yes. maybe I may be harping on the cost issue a bit but that has been the feeling of many people who have contributed via twitter and other forums.

  So I decided it would be nice to look at the issue from a different lens; that of the administrators, just to understand why they charge the figure.

  I spoke to Michuki Mwangi, the guy who set up Kenic and the first person who I heard saying that cost is not an issue a while a go. Michuki made very compelling arguments.

  Sample this; the mama who sells vegetables at the local kiosk has a mobile phone that cost Ksh 2,500 and spend about Ksh. 500 on credit every month. Why? Because the mama finds value in the mobile phone and the credit spent brings returns.

  Michuki's argument is very clear that if we grow the value added services, then the cost of the domain is not the issue; make it worth the while and people will spend. If local electronic commerce is developed, just like the way mobile phones have grown, people will find it easy and effective to conduct business online and so long as returns are guaranteed, then cost will not be an issue per se.

  Then there is the other side of the coin. Here is a response I got from Francis hook, who was commenting on the topic:

  Lets examine the numbers...according the a recent economic survey, there are about 50,000 businesses in Kenya - all the way from KQ, KCB....to the small scale SMMEs....that's 50,000...assume 5% of internet users (i.e. abt 5 million) want a .co.ke for whatever reason....and 5% is really stretching it...given a good chunk (say 50%) are students/young people/job seekers/etc doing FB, SN, IM, email, etc.... ...anyway, thats 250,000 users. Lets say its 2.5% that is 125,000 plus 50,000 (and again we are assuming even that small chips shop on Ronald Ngala gets a domain...) - 175,000 x US$2 = US$ 350,000 @ ROE 75 = 26.2 million...

  I am sure the debate on domains will go on, Lets hear different scenarios!

  
  

• ICANN: Africa must work hard too...

  Posted: March 8, 2010, 5:41 pm by rebecca

  There are many African governments and citizens who do not understand the role of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.

  For some, ICANN should operate in the bottom later ensuring that we have internet access and that the pipes are faster. Others think that ICANN should be involved in the running of domain registries, which are in shambles and in some cases fighting over petty issues. Others think that ICANN is there to fund them; talk of reliance on aid.

  Of course ICANN has no role in all these things and what it points is that more outreach is needed and maybe ICANN should have an office in Africa.

  But how? According to Rod Beckstrom, 90 percent of ICANN contributions come from North America, so that may be the reason why we have 3 offices in the US and none in Africa.

  That makes sense; if Africa does not contribute anything, how will the office be supported? So, for Africa to be on level terms, then we must also be willing to contribute, but am not sure how when our registry operations are still manual.

  I was chatting with Rafik Dammak, who accuses me of complaining or whining too much but then, what do I do?

  Rafik told me of how the various constituencies within ICANN are always looking for participants but what do you do when they dont contribute to those meetings and in some cases stay outside within the coffee houses instead of meeting rooms?

  Yes, its good to have geographical representations but we also need to start bringing something on the table and contributing to the debate more than we do currently.

  Regarding the financial contributions, I have no words; will leave it for the others.

  Ends

  
  

• After the security farce....first day of ICANN

  Posted: March 8, 2010, 5:08 pm by rebecca

  In the last few weeks, members of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and numbers were fixated on the security issues in Kenya, the threats by Al Shabab was the reason many of the attendees stayed home to participate online.

  But I must say am impressed with the people that turned up, actually I thought it would have been a nice time to pass some controversial stuff because you would have lesser people but alas....many of them came.

  I was starting to feel it for the local organizers with all the preparations with dancers and dinner at Carnivore; its a popular tourist destination and its only fair that ICANN participants taste the goods.

  But the lack of faith in local anything was so salient, in the morning, there was a blackout, every other place at KICC had power except the meeting room, so I asked what was the issue.

  I was told that ICANN insisted that they did not want the generator provided by KICC and they had their own provided by the US embassy in Nairobi. But that generator did not work, and am sure no one said that that was not the fault of KICC.

  It reminded me of the value of local knowledge and the kind of advise you get from the guys on the street.

  Anyway, am happy with the turn out today; it validates so many other things that were said before.

  Ends

  
  

• France Telecom must shape up to challenge big telcos in East Africa

  Posted: March 4, 2010, 7:56 am by rebecca

  I am sure we have all heard how France Telecom plans to dominate the East Africa region. They have bought and operate Orange brand in Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius and recently Ethiopia.

  The desire to challenge MTN and Vodafone in the region is great but what surprises me is how hard it is to get a comment from anyone from France Telecom. No one seems to know how to get France Telecom representatives in the region.

  Sample this; for the last three weeks, I have been trying to get anyone at France Telecom to comment on an article I want to do. At least I knew Ogilvy PR handles Telkom Kenya, so I thought if I asked for their help, they will lead me to the right person.

  In response, the guys at Ogilvy said they are trying but till now, no response to my emails on whether you can get a France Telecom rep in the region. I was starting to wonder whether its that hard to get France Telecom.

  Then I thought maybe the guy from Ogilvy doesn't want to help me, after all, it is Telkom Kenya who are the clients and not France Telecom International, though I thought they are in the same extended family.

  To cast the net wider, I contacted the corporate communications head at Telkom Kenya to see if I can get some help on that end, after much optimism, nothing has come out of it.

  Now am left wondering; is it that France Telecom does not know that they can decline to comment, or is it that there are no France Telecom reps in the region, or maybe the company likely to operate in a ghostly manner.

  Whatever it is, I think if France telecom is to challenge the domination of other bigger companies, they need to start acting like them, in response to the public, otherwise their silence does not smell like they are contenders.

  I will still continue following up, will share more frustrations....and successes as they come along....

  Ends

  
  

• Why debate on women in tech should digress from normal whining...

  Posted: March 2, 2010, 2:29 pm by rebecca

  The other day I had an interesting discussion with Juliana Rotich about the women's movement and the activism on issues. From the talk, she is not very amused with some of the issues advanced.

  Juliana reminded me one post I always wanted to write; on whether the debate about women needs to be tilted or changed, especially when it comes to tech issues. She feels that women's movement has this feeling of entitlement, especially from men.

  I do also understand that for women in engineering and science courses, affirmative action did not give you the high grades, you had to work hard and measure up, which means that you are not a victim, you have earned it.

  Juliana had a point, I wanted to disagree just to raise the debate a bit but we were in the middle of Ushahidi meeting so I thought I should reflect and write this post.

  I have very high regard for activists on women issues; coming from a village that until about 30 years ago did not appreciate the need of women going to high school, I know that the benefits I enjoy today is a result of activism and awareness by the women of those days.

  That is why I have done my share of coverage of women issues and helped where I can. That is also why I was also excited when I was asked about women's issues in internet governance.

  But I did not strike a very nice cord with the women's issues advocates when I argued that some of the issues are gender neutral and it would indeed raise the debate higher if women were to take up the issues.

  Take for instance the cost of domains, lack of electronic commerce growth, online content etc...these are issues that affect both men and women, but if the women took it up and said...hey we will break more boundaries if domains are cheaper or e-commerce is made easier, people will start discussing such issues, maybe even wondering why they are important to women.

  My argument was that women don't have to be victims anymore; ten years ago, the story was that women don't have access to this and that, men have the power over this and that, this protocol has not been signed among many other issues.

  The growth of mobile in Africa has extinguished many of those myths, women have adopted technology, whether they understand what GSM works or not, they know opportunities in mobile money, they operate call kiosks and some of then charge their phones at a fee...while still at home.

  I am always inspired when I go to my village and see how mobiles have opened opportunities, with mobile money, you can sell credit, send money, pay bills at the convenience of your shamba, you just need to be shown how it works.

  Women are not victims, we take opportunities when presented, and I think the activism now should be on how to identify these opportunities that women can participate in.

  While at the Africa Union Summit in January, I challenged one of the women to raise the debate by challenging RASCOMSATAR-QAF, the owners of RASCOMSTAR-1 satellite to provide bandwidth to women NGOs who are paying lots of money for connectivity, which I think would make many people want in.

  RASCOM-QAF, the consortium, has an engineering fellowship or some training where African engineers are trained to operate the satellites, it would make a lot of sense if the women movement was to advocate for a third of women engineers to be admitted to the program, this am sure would attract even the women who are not interested in women matters.

  RASCOM is owned by 47 African countries and they even have a giant online masters course project with India which I think would benefit many of us in rural areas with no access to some of the facilities.

  Anyway, I was just trying to raise some of the issues in tech that am sure many women would be interested in. And am not sure I got a lot of supporters on that, I was talking to myself.

  My argument still stands, the debate needs to change, am not sure how but am getting tired of same arguments especially when tech presents such opportunities.

  Ends

  
  

• Is there anything like 'Women's issues in Internet Governance'?

  Posted: March 2, 2010, 10:01 am by rebecca

  The other day, a women’s group asked me to outline women’s issues in Internet Governance, based on my experience. Tech issues have always sounded geeky and out of touch for many people so I thought I should be as simple and basic as possible.

  This is what I wrote, and in a separate post, I will tell you why the women’s group did not take me seriously……..

  During the World Summit on Information Society in 2003, delegates were highly polarized over issues of who should govern the internet and its critical resources. Opinions were divided over whether the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) which was under USA’s Department of Commerce should continue managing the internet or the role should be handed over to the ITU, an inter governmental body.

  By the time the second phase of WSIS was held in Tunis in 2005, it was clear that there was need for a body, with no governmental affiliations. After discussions and negotiations, it was agreed that the Internet Governance Forum should be convened, to run from 2006-2010.

  Africa has been largely represented within IGF, although most of the people have no access to affordable ICT. Given the historical imbalances, women have suffered most.

  The IGF addresses issues and policies such as redelegation of African domains, investment in critical internet infrastructure such as Internet Exchange Points, Cyber security, censorship and the extent of government control among other issues.

  In matters technology, women are largely absent; there are few female telecommunications engineers, either because they are not given opportunities or are left out.

  But one of the major issues is the lack of capacity, most of the IG issues relate to technical jargon, which is not simplified enough for people to understand. For instance, policies on Cyber security affect what is accessible online by children, issues of pornography and what the government should do is discussed in cyber security meetings.

  Apart from policies, African governments have not invested in critical infrastructure or have not given it the priority it deserves. Failure to subsidize the cost of hosting and domain names has affected the online market places that women can access and has stifled electronic commerce.

  E-commerce is considered a tool for women especially in areas where women have multiple roles or are not allowed to leave their homes for businesses. With e-commerce, women can buy and sell without any challenges.

  Ends

  
  

• Has your work been plagiarized?

  Posted: March 1, 2010, 6:35 pm by rebecca

  I am sure for many people accessing information online, all you want is knowledge and for some it does not matter how you get it- its just information.

  Some may ask; so what if they picked it from one site and reproduced it on another?

  Well, am usually a bit liberal, I allow people to just pick from my blog so long as they honor the source but a news organization such as www.computerworld.co.ke has its own rules on that.

  So, whats the problem?

  Well, for most news sites, they pride themselves in giving you first-hand information written by their analysts and all that. They pay those analysts to write because they have to make calls this and that.

  So, what happens when one site copy-pastes your work and does not want to admit it, using flimsy excuses to get away with it. If it was just a matter of sharing info, why not just share the link and let people go to that other site?

  For instance; this article on IT News Africa plagiarized my work, but they defended themselves saying that they quoted The Citizen in Tanzania, which first plagiarized the work.

  This is how our email conversations went:

  Rebecca

  Dear Editor,

  I think its rude that you picked from my story and did not care to mention it. While the stuff may have come from Telkom Kenya, I am the only one who talked to Nekessa and the quote in this story http://www.itnewsafrica.com/?p=5552 is similar to this one [www.computerworld.co.ke]

  Unless you have a way to convince me otherwise.......

  From a news organization, I think you ought to do better.

  I need an apology...

  RESPONSE

  Hi Rebecca,

  As per introduction, I am Denisa Oosthuizen, editor at ITNewsAfrica.com. We have used the article from The Citizen as a source, here is the link [thecitizen.co.tz].

  In the future we could use your services directly, should you wish to do so.

  Denisa Oosthuizen

  Online Editor

  MY RESPONSE

  Hi,

  I dont write for Citizen and if your defense is that since Citizen plagiarized then it's ok....don't you find it odd?

  For a long time I thought IT news is a credible site, but just compare the two pieces and my work was not honored

  FOLLOW-UP

  Hi Rebecca,

  Denisa brought this to my attention. As stated in her email, we got the story from The Citizen and gave credit to the source in our story.

  Without prejudice - I have instructed her to add your name as a source.

  I hope you will continue to think highly of us.

  Best Regards

  
A. Wakama
Publisher

  MY RESPONSE

  I find the excuse lame; just because Citizen plagiarized that should make it ok?

  WAKAMA REPLY

  What do you want Madam???

  Just notice the question marks on the question, am not sure whether am supposed to be scared or intimidated, I was wronged, not the other way round, the arrogance just baffled me, I did not get even an apology.

  So, my question still stands, just because Citizen Plagiarized first, does that make it right?

  Ends

  
  

Blah blah blah

Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.

The end of the fish cakes