Telcos regulator seeks to monitor WhatsApp + Plenipot Issues (Kenya\’s Position)

Hi Ali,

I am glad you understand the process. Indeed CA and the MOICT works in the interest of the country and we shall continue to do so with vigour. Given that these positions have been discussed over two years, I may not do justice by trying to summarize over 200 proposed resolutions of the PP on an email . We will commit to convene a forum to share the outcomes. On a separate note, You may want to know that we are developing a stakeholder engagement strategy as CA so in future, we shall have more inclusive engagements on many fronts.

In the meantime, I would like remind you that the decision by Kenya at the WCIT was reversed by Government given the negative impact. Kenya signed the ITRs in 2014 and reverted to support the African positions. Moving as a bloc is important as we engage in issues that have such high stakes.

We appreciate the continuous engagement with KICTANET.

Regards,

Rachel

From: Ali Hussein <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Date: Wednesday, November 7, 2018 at 6:21 AM
To: Rachel <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Cc: KICTAnet Discussions <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Telcos regulator seeks to monitor WhatsApp + Plenipot Issues (Kenya\’s Position)

Rachel

I know how the process works. I was involved in the WCIT Conference in Dubai, 2012, when the ITRs (International Telecommunications Regulations) were being review. This was where the then PS for ICT, Dr. Bitange Ndemo went against the Common Positions articulated by ITU and the AU for obvious reasons which I don\’t really want to go into. Suffice it to say that when the CA and ICT Ministry holds brief for all Kenyans in such meetings it behoves you to break it down for us.

What are we signing on? What are the implications for Kenyans and the Ecosystem? And how has the process arrived at the Common Position been? Did we push back? Or did we fall victim to herd mentality? Simply put, we want to be involved as it is our right and responsibility as per our new constitution.

Having said that, I\’m hoping that you guys will now break it down for us?

Ali Hussein

Principal

AHK & Associates

Tel: +254 713 601113

Twitter: @AliHKassim

Skype: abu-jomo

LinkedIn: ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim<ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>

13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing,

Chiromo Road, Westlands,

Nairobi, Kenya.

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.

On Tue, Nov 6, 2018 at 10:58 PM Alwala, Rachel <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Hi Ali,

There is nothing so strange with this. Multilateral processes these days call for consolidation of positions at regional level to enable the meetings to arrive at decisions quicker and to also have larger impact. ITU is no exception. All the regions of the ITU, i.e. Africa, Asia Pacific, Arab region, Americas, CIS and Europe, all bring their positions to such a meeting, as blocs ( for the most part). Africa’s positions are what we refer to as African Common Proposals. Individual countries may bring their positions too, but in many cases , garnering the necessary support of the conference becomes harder.

Hope this provides a glimpse.

The ITU PP-18 is a meeting held every four years to provide general policy direction for its 193 member states , elect officials and also approve the strategic and financial plans. The proposals to the conference have to do with any issue that the plenipotentiary handles. Just take a little time and read, that will give you insights into the issues under discussion. In any case these are proposals and will still undergo discussions until the conference arrives at a consensus on final texts which are thereafter confirmed as the decisions of the conference. Having attended the WCIT in 2012, I am sure you can resonate with this process.

Regards,

Rachel

From: kictanet <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> on behalf of KICTAnet Discussions <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Reply-To: KICTAnet Discussions <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Date: Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at 2:50 PM
To: Rachel <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Cc: Ali Hussein <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Telcos regulator seeks to monitor WhatsApp + Plenipot Issues (Kenya\’s Position)

Chief

CA should synthesize that for us bana… 🙂 Not sure where to start boss..

Regards

Ali Hussein

Principal

AHK & Associates

Tel: +254 713 601113

Twitter: @AliHKassim

Skype: abu-jomo

LinkedIn: ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim<ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>

13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing,

Chiromo Road, Westlands,

Nairobi, Kenya.

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.

On Tue, Nov 6, 2018 at 2:38 PM Wainaina Mungai via kictanet <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
See African Common Proposals at
www.itu.int/md/T13-WTSA.16-C-0042/en

On Tuesday, November 6, 2018, Ali Hussein via kictanet <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Rachel

How about you start by telling us what the African Common Proposals are?

Regards

Ali Hussein

Principal

AHK & Associates

Tel: +254 713 601113

Twitter: @AliHKassim

Skype: abu-jomo

LinkedIn: ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim<ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>

13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing,

Chiromo Road, Westlands,

Nairobi, Kenya.

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.

On Tue, Nov 6, 2018 at 2:20 PM Rachel Alwaa via kictanet <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Hi Barrack,

Indeed Kenya is aligned to the African Common proposals but I am not aware of any resolution that focuses on the regulation of the internet. Could you share the specific resolution that proposes to do what you are alleging, then we can respond appropriately?

Regards, Rachel

> On Nov 5, 2018, at 20:58, Barrack Otieno via kictanet <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>
> Greetings Mr. Wambua,
>
> Many thanks for your prompt and elaborate responses as always. Permit
> me to behave like a mosquito and ask another question before we put
> the matter to rest. I was chatting with a friend who passed by the
> Plenipot in Dubai. I understand African Governments are unanimous
> about the need to regulate the Internet and are making arrangements to
> conduct similar studies, is this a correct position?. What is Kenya\’s
> position on Internet Regulation once again has it changed?
>
> Congratulations to the Kenyan delegation for bagging another chance to
> seat on the ITU Council.
>
> Best Regards
>
> On 11/2/18, Wambua, Christopher via kictanet
> <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>> Listers
>>
>> For purposes of clarity on the objects of the tender in question, I wish to
>> refer listers to the public tender document which is available on CA’s
>> website at
>> ca.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Consultancy-Services-For-The-Study-On-Over-The-Top-OTTs-Technologies-Services-In-Kenya.pdf
>>
>> In brief, the Authority, under its strategic objective of enabling
>> widespread deployment of infrastructure and services through promotion of
>> new and emerging technologies, plans to undertake a study to determine the
>> regulatory mechanisms that can be employed to cater for new and emerging
>> areas with specific focus on over the top services. The consultant shall be
>> expected to propose the regulatory approach that the Authority can take in
>> respect to OTTs. CA takes this opportunity to invite listers who meet the
>> requirements set out in the tender documents to submit their bids by 14th
>> November 2018.
>>
>> CA wishes to assure listers that we have not interest whatsoever in snooping
>> into your WhatsApp conversations as that would be against the spirit and
>> letter of the constitution. We have however noted that the headlines on the
>> articles on this tender are misleading, and the Authority is taking up this
>> matter with the respective editors.
>>
>> I hope this clarification puts this matter to rest.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Christopher Wambua
>>
>> Ag. Director/Consumer & Public Affairs | Consumer and Public Affairs
>>
>> [Description: Description:
>> http://digital.scanad.com/casignature/img/logo.png]
>>
>> Tel: +254 20 4242000/284
>> Office Mobile: +254 730 042284/
>> +254 730172284
>>
>> P.O. Box 14448 Nairobi 00800
>>
>>
>> [Description: Description:
>> http://digital.scanad.com/casignature/img/mail.png][email protected]<digital.scanad.com/casignature/img/mail.png%[email protected]>
>> [Description: Description:
>> http://digital.scanad.com/casignature/img/facebook.png] Communications
>> Authority of Kenya<www.facebook.com/CAOKenya?ref=hl> [Description:
>> Description: http://digital.scanad.com/casignature/img/twitter.png] ca_kenya
>> [Description: Description:
>> http://digital.scanad.com/casignature/img/web.png] www.ca.go.ke<www.ca.go.ke>
>> <www.ca.go.ke/>
>>
>> [Description: Description: http://digital.scanad.com/signature/banner.jpg]
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> From: kictanet
>> <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:kictanet-bounces+wambua<mailto:kictanet-bounces%2Bwambua>[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>>
>> on behalf of KICTAnet Discussions
>> <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>>
>> Reply-To: KICTAnet Discussions
>> <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>>
>> Date: Friday, 2 November 2018 at 05:07
>> To: Christopher Wambua <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>>
>> Cc: Ali Hussein <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>>
>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Telcos regulator seeks to monitor WhatsApp
>>
>> @GG
>>
>> Thanks for sharing. I’m curious as to what the world is coming to. Everyone
>> wants to snoop and regulate. Can the CA tell us what’s the major value
>> proposition to increasing snooping on us?
>>
>> Regulators need to spend more time enabling the sector they are supposed to
>> grow and the CA has really been progressive in many ways. Once in a while
>> though they try to go back to the bad old KANU days. The onus is on us to
>> remind them that Kenyans shut that door kitambo sana.
>>
>> Ali Hussein
>> Principal
>> AHK & Associates
>> +254 0713 601113
>>
>>
>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>
>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>
>> LinkedIn: ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>
>> \”We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a
>> habit.\” ~ Aristotle
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>> On 1 Nov 2018, at 10:57 PM, Grace Githaiga via kictanet
>> <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Kenya is considering regulating online services such as WhatsApp and Skype
>> in a radical move that could force the internet-based service providers to
>> share data with the government.
>>
>> The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) is in search of a consultant to
>> study and determine how the so-called over-the-top services (OTTS) operated
>> by groups such as Facebook, which runs WhatsApp, and Skype owner Microsoft,
>> could be regulated.
>>
>> Read on:
>> www.nation.co.ke/business/Telcos-regulator-seeks-to-monitor-WhatsApp/996-4833020-fn9u7s/index.html
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Best regards
>>
>>
>> Githaiga, Grace
>>
>>
>> Co-Convenor
>> Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet)
>> Twitter:@ggithaiga
>> Tel: 254722701495
>> Skype: gracegithaiga
>> Alternate email: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
>> Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/gracegithaiga
>> www.kictanet.or.ke<www.kictanet.or.ke><www.kictanet.or.ke>
>>
>> \”Change only happens when ordinary people get involved, get engaged and come
>> together to demand it. I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to
>> bring about change – but in yours\”—Barrack Obama.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> kictanet mailing list
>> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
>> lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet
>> Facebook: www.facebook.com/KICTANet/
>> Domain Registration sponsored by
>> www.eacdirectory.co.ke<www.eacdirectory.co.ke><www.eacdirectory.co.ke>
>>
>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>> lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com
>>
>> 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.
>>
>> 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.
>>
>
>
> —
> Barrack O. Otieno
> +254721325277
> +254733206359
> Skype: barrack.otieno
> PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
> lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet
> Facebook: www.facebook.com/KICTANet/
> Domain Registration sponsored by www.eacdirectory.co.ke<www.eacdirectory.co.ke>
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/rdalwala%40gmail.com
>
> 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.
>
> 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.

_______________________________________________
kictanet mailing list
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KICTANet/
Domain Registration sponsored by www.eacdirectory.co.ke<www.eacdirectory.co.ke>

Unsubscribe or change your options at lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com

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.

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.
_______________________________________________
kictanet mailing list
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KICTANet/
Domain Registration sponsored by www.eacdirectory.co.ke<www.eacdirectory.co.ke>

Unsubscribe or change your options at lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com

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.

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.

_______________________________________________
kictanet mailing list