| ICTs FOR DEVELOPMENT |
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The formulation of the Kenya National Information
and Communications Technology (ICT) Policy is
currently underway. Scores of stakeholders have
been deeply involved in this process. So far,
civil society groups, industry players in the
ICT sector and government mandarins appear to
be the main players. The media, who are actually
a major component in ICTs are nowhere to be
seen. If anything they appear to be Johnny-come-latelies.
This is indeed a dangerous trend as whatever
will be spelt out in the final policy will definitely
have spill-over effects on the media industry
players.more»
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It is
only seven months away before the world converges
again for the second phase of the World Summit
on the Information Summit (WSIS) in Tunis, Tunisia.In
readiness for this momentous occasion for the
world, a series of meetings have been taking place
in various major cities across the globe. The
intention of these meetings has been to generally
hammer out differences, come up with concrete
proposals and include views from hitherto ignored
stakeholders.more»
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| The Eastern African
Submarine Cable System better known, as EASSy
Cable will be Africa’s last ICT frontier, should
it be actualized by 2007. The colossal benefits
tugging along for the people in the region can
be quantified in two words, rapid development.more» |
The issue
of infrastructure is the single most important
issue when it comes to Information, Communication
Technologies (ICT) matters.The reason for this
is pretty obvious. Without adequate infrastructure
there is no access to these all-important information
services, which are proving to becoming ‘basic
needs’ rather than ‘wants’. On infrastructure
again the twin roles of private and public sector
come into play as both must complement each other
when it comes to financing the roll-out of communications
so as to enhance connectivity in the rural backwaters.more»
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For sometime
now Kenyans have been discussing the contents
of the National ICT Policy. Apparently this facet
is unknown to many Kenyans.How this has happened
is due to poor publicity by the concerned ministry,
public perceptions on ICTs and exclusivity of
the process. The second reason of public perceptions
on ICTs can be allowed to pass. However the latter
two remaining reasons cannot be wished away. The
Ministry of Information and Communications under
which the media and the ICT policy falls has failed
miserably in utilizing its own media channels
in championing for an all-inclusive and broader
presentation in the ICTs issues.more»
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A third
of the world’s population – two billion people
– who live in the third world have no access to
electricity. This is the sad news about energy.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation
(FAO) fuel wood and other agricultural residues
are the main forms of energy in much of the third
world’s rural homes, with the bulk being found
in Africa. For industrialization to take place,
which is the main agenda of many African countries,
energy is a key component. It is for this reason
that Africa must rethink its energy priorities.
And, Kenya is no exception.more»
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