IGF Week Day 2 Discussion – Digital Inclusion

Dear Victor,

Many thanks for todays discussions. Kindly find my thoughts inline below.

On Tue, Jul 30, 2019 at 11:31 AM Victor Kapiyo via kictanet <
[email protected]> wrote:

> Good morning listers,
>
> As we approach this year\’s Kenya Internet Governance Forum on 1 August
> 2019, we would like to continue today\’s discussion in line with the theme One
> Kenya. One Net. One Vision.
>
> Today\’s sub-theme is Digital Inclusion. Digital Inclusion is about both
> identifying those with less or no access to the Internet (e.g. underserved
> communities, marginalized groups, the minorities, people with disabilities
> or people lacking digital literacy) and it is about activities related to
> the achievement of an inclusive information society.
>
> We would appreciate your thoughts on the following:
>
> – How can we tackle access and affordability issues, and what
> improvements need to be made?
>
> We need to embrace and fund more local evidence based Research in our
Policy Development processes. This will ensure Policy addresses the real
challenges Citizens are facing and is not driven by vendors as has been the
case in the recent past. I have been working in different Counties in the
course of the month and can attest to the fact that quality of service is
wanting. I think the Communications Authority needs to step up its quality
audits beyond Nairobi. Citizens can only embrace a service that is secure,
affordable , stable and available

>
> – How can we better utilize primary and secondary schools and tertiary
> institutions to promote and to deliver on digital literacy programmes?
>
> Primary, secondary and tertiary institutions have always been the cradles
of capacity building in Kenya. Our GDP is largely driven by the informal
sector. Most of this guys who include the estate mechanics that fix our AI
driven cars have not gone beyond Primary Secondary and Tertiary
Institutions yet we don\’t see the need to equip our primary, secondary
schools and tertiary institutions with laboratories and adequate
infrastructure that can enable our students to leverage technology for
research and learning. We need to fund the Kenya Education Network and
avoid a Scenario where our schools get msaada and kadogo Internet through
the Universal Service Fund as it seems to be the case. We need to stop this
obsession with Pilot Studies and Initiatives and provide adequate
infrastructure and support that will allow our academic and tertiary
institutions to leverage the Internet and related technologies.

>
> – How do we ensure that Internet governance processes are truly
> inclusive?
>
> We should endevour to extend the Internet Governance Conversation beyond
Nairobi. Conversations around Governance of the Internet should be
encouraged in County Assemblies and other social gatherings just as the
Government deed with the Huduma number.

>
> – What needs to be done to enhance the capacity of different actors?
>
> Capacity building is key. We need to embrace online delivery mechanisms in
local languages as well as braille and other forms of communication that
bring on board people with disability.

>
> – How do we ensure that these skills and employment opportunities are
> equitable to all on an equal footing?
>
> Uptake of the Internet and Technology will facilitate access to
information which will create more opportunities.

> We look forward to hearing from you.
>
Asante

> Regards
> *Victor Kapiyo*
> Partner | *Lawmark Partners LLP*
> *Suite No. 8, Centro House, Westlands, Nairobi | **Web: www.lawmark.co.ke
> <www.lawmark.co.ke> *
> ====================================================
>
> *“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude” Zig
> Ziglar*
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