U.S. FTA Agreement

However you look at it, Kenya is going to be slaughtered at the negotiation
table. At least 12 US companies are representing and negotiating for Kenya
against US. We know where they get their briefing.

I wonder how many Kenyan companies domicile in US are representing US in
negotiating with Kenya.

On Thu, Sep 3, 2020, 2:29 PM Ali Hussein via kictanet <
[email protected]> wrote:

> Fiona
>
> This is great news. However, please allay our fears as I see neither
> TESPOK nor TESPOK members on the list. For ease of reference please see
> attached list.
>
> Regards
>
> *Ali Hussein*
>
> Digital Transformation
>
>
> Tel: +254 713 601113
>
> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>
> Skype: abu-jomo
>
> LinkedIn: ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
> <ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
>
>
>
>
> 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 Thu, Sep 3, 2020 at 12:14 PM Fiona Asonga via kictanet <
> [email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Hallo All
>>
>> TESPOK is representing local ICT companies in the U.S. FTA negotiations.
>> I will however share the issues that arise here by end of day today so that
>> we can have a moderated discussion to gather input from the greater ICT
>> sector. There are several areas that we can give input on, close to 12
>> areas.
>>
>> Kind regards
>>
>>
>> ——————————
>> *From: *\”Beryl Aidi via kictanet\” <[email protected]>
>> *To: *[email protected]
>> *Cc: *\”Beryl Aidi\” <[email protected]>
>> *Sent: *Wednesday, 2 September, 2020 9:59:40 AM
>> *Subject: *Re: [kictanet] U.S. FTA Agreement
>>
>> Hi Listers
>> My two cents on the FTA .
>> The problems with data protection not withstanding, back to the original
>> question Ali asked why there are 9 American companies on the FTA
>> negotiation list; while on the one hand they might argue that these MNCs
>> are also registered here (if that\’s the case), the bigger issue is what is
>> the real benefit to Kenyan companies. This is reminiscent of the problems
>> that the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU caused where
>> local producers ended up being disadvantaged getting the short end of the
>> stick of being relegated to raw material providers, no participation and
>> disadvantaged in costs with lack of government subsidies as opposed to the
>> EU producers. As long as this is the case, the local producers do not get
>> value for their produce, with very little value addition, we end up buying
>> back our own products as imported goods when they are sold back to us as
>> finished products. While this consortium seems to have Kenyan companies, it
>> would be insightful to know the composition of those Kenyan companies, and
>> if the 9 MNCs are representative or take the centre stage at the
>> negotiations as Kenyan companies then that is problematic as there is no
>> real negotiations with no real participation of Kenyan companies – still a
>> case of scoring own goals- another short end of the stick to local
>> producers where we remain relegated to raw materials producers and net
>> importers of finished goods. Our industries can\’t grow under such trade
>> agreements.
>>
>> Regards
>> Beryl
>>
>> On Wed, Sep 2, 2020 at 9:03 AM Ali Hussein via kictanet <
>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> Asante Mugambi.
>>>
>>> *Ali Hussein*
>>>
>>> Digital Transformation
>>>
>>>
>>> Tel: +254 713 601113
>>>
>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>
>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>
>>> LinkedIn: ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>> <ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 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 Wed, Sep 2, 2020 at 8:48 AM Mugambi Laibuta <[email protected]>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> California law does not apply to all states. Also have a look at the
>>>> article I shared
>>>>
>>>> Data Transfers and the Kenya-US Trade Talks
>>>> www.laibuta.com/data-protection/data-transfers-and-the-kenya-us-trade-talks/
>>>>
>>>> Kind regards,
>>>>
>>>> Mugambi Laibuta
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Sep 2, 2020, 08:46 Ali Hussein <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Mugambi
>>>>>
>>>>> I find it hard to believe that the U.S. has no Data Protection laws.
>>>>> Please expound on this. I know for instance that California has a
>>>>> comprehensive Privacy Act. Here is a link to that.
>>>>>
>>>>> California Data Privacy Law.
>>>>> <www.csoonline.com/article/3292578/california-consumer-privacy-act-what-you-need-to-know-to-be-compliant.html>
>>>>>
>>>>> I guess you are referring to Federal law?
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards
>>>>>
>>>>> *Ali Hussein*
>>>>>
>>>>> Digital Transformation
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Tel: +254 713 601113
>>>>>
>>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>>>
>>>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>>>
>>>>> LinkedIn: ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>>> <ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> 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 Wed, Sep 2, 2020 at 8:32 AM Mugambi Laibuta via kictanet <
>>>>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> In a nutshell, with the agreement, there is bound to be challenges in
>>>>>> relation to data transfers. The Data Protection Act provides that transfers
>>>>>> should be to countries that have data laws similar to ours. The US does not
>>>>>> have concrete data protection laws. Will we use the trade agreement to with
>>>>>> away our data to a country that has no data protection laws?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Kind regards,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Mugambi Laibuta
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Wed, Sep 2, 2020, 08:29 Grace Githaiga <[email protected]>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> @Mugambi Laibuta <[email protected]>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Please give us some of the highlights…for the quick reader.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ———————————————————————————-
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> *Grace Githaiga*
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Twitter: @ggithaiga
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Skype: gracegithaiga
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/gracegithaiga
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> .*..**the most important office in a democracy is the citizen. So,
>>>>>>> you see, that’s what our democracy demands. It needs you!—-Barrack Obama.*
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ——————————
>>>>>>> *From:* kictanet >>>>>>> [email protected]> on behalf of Mugambi Laibuta via
>>>>>>> kictanet <[email protected]>
>>>>>>> *Sent:* 02 September 2020 8:23 AM
>>>>>>> *To:* [email protected] <[email protected]>
>>>>>>> *Cc:* Mugambi Laibuta <[email protected]>
>>>>>>> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] U.S. FTA Agreement
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I wrote on the aspect of data transfers –
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Data Transfers and the Kenya-US Trade Talks:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> www.laibuta.com/data-protection/data-transfers-and-the-kenya-us-trade-talks/
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Mugambi Laibuta
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Wed, Sep 2, 2020, 08:20 Ali Hussein via kictanet <
>>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Dear Listers. The above refers.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> So the Kenya government has been negotiating a Free Trade Agreement
>>>>>>> with the U.S. Government. below is the high-level Vision for the
>>>>>>> #FTA
>>>>>>> <www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=fta&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6706564288401686528>
>>>>>>> :-
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> *To conclude an agreement with Kenya that can serve as a model for
>>>>>>> additional agreements in Africa, leading to a network of agreements that
>>>>>>> contribute to Africa’s regional integration objectives. In addition, the
>>>>>>> goal is to conclude an agreement that builds on the objectives of #AGOA
>>>>>>> <www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=agoa&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6706564288401686528> and
>>>>>>> will serve as an enduring foundation to expand U.S -Africa trade and
>>>>>>> investment across the continent.*
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA)
>>>>>>> <www.linkedin.com/company/kenya-private-sector-alliance-kepsa/> in
>>>>>>> its wisdom chose a number of companies to be in the consortium of the
>>>>>>> US-Kenya FTA negotiations/conversations.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Now…Is it just me or don\’t I understand International Trade?
>>>>>>> Someone, please explain to me why in that group of companies you have 9
>>>>>>> American companies on the list? Including IBM
>>>>>>> <www.linkedin.com/company/ibm/>, The Coca-Cola Company
>>>>>>> <www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company/>, and Citi
>>>>>>> <www.linkedin.com/company/citi/>.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> This is like scoring an own goal before starting the game! Or am I
>>>>>>> wrong? Please explain to me the rationale?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Join the conversation.
>>>>>>> <www.linkedin.com/posts/alihkassim_kepsa-consortium-on-the-us-kenya-fta-activity-6706564288401686528-4zlk>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> *Ali Hussein*
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Digital Transformation
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Tel: +254 713 601113
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> LinkedIn: ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>>>>> <ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 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.
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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.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable
>>>>>> behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people\’s times and
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>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> 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
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>>>
>>
>>
>> —
>> Beryl
>> ***********************************************
>> Beryl Aidi
>> Freelance Campaign and Communication Specialist
>> Skype: beryl.aidi
>> Twitter: @thespannergal
>>
>> Darkness cannot put out the Light. It can only make God brighter. —Author
>> Unknown.
>>
>>
>>
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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.
>>
>> 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.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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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.
>>
>> 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.
>>
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> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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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.
>
> 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.
>

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