On Tuesday 08 March 2005 09:47, Begumisa Gerald M wrote: > Summary: The Board of Directors of the "UCC of Kenya" seems to have been > dissolved.
These are the fruits of corruption... Mark. > > I received this on one of the AfriNIC (apologies to folks who are on that > forum as well). > > Rgds, > Gerald > > > Read below > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Press Release > > For Immediate Release > > Tuesday, March 8, 2005 > > The 7th of March 2005 will go down in history as one of the darkest days in > Kenya's and Africa's communications sectors. This is the day that the > Kenyan Government, in a totally incomprehensible manner dissolved the > Communications Commission of Kenya's Board of Directors and relieved the > Director General of his duties. > > The actions taken by the government can only be construed as intrusive, > obstructive shortsighted and diversionary as they come in the midst of an > ongoing liberalisation of the sector, end of exclusivity of Telkom Kenya > and fast convergence of technologies that are currently presenting > regulators worldwide with unforseen challenges. > > It is our contention, on behalf of the industry, that this was a hurried, > unplanned and poorly thought out action. The ongoing disputes within the > sector which have been prompted by the newly opened market demand that the > country have a stable, objective and level-headed regulator. The immediate > former Board of Directors and Director-General had successfully managed > Kenya's transition into a competition framework. > > Besides this, the immediate former Director General is the current Chairman > of the International Telecommunications Union Council which oversees > telecommunications worldwide. This is due to recognition by the > International community of CCK's outstanding efforts to reform Kenya's > regulatory environment from one of the worst in the world to the current > status where we are being emulated by countries such as South Africa > because of our exemplary and progressive regulations. > > This action by the Government has thrown the entire industry into disarray. > The CCK Board plays such a crucial role that now no further licenses can be > issued, no disputes can be settled and no formal regulatory interventions > can take place and there is no clear communication from the Government as > to how affairs within the sector are to be managed. > > Currently over 100 companies await the processing of their licenses in > order to establish business, employ Kenyans and bring communications > facilities and services to the economy. This has all been cut short by > interference from the very Government that committed itself to economic > reforms, improved employment and support for private-sector driven > development. > > The appointment of an acting Director-General from a Ministerial department > also raises questions as to the sincerity of the Government in providing > for an independent regulator as mandated by the Law (KCA '98). > > We do not need to emphasise the fact that the same Government has failed in > it's primary role of providing policy guidance for the sector over the past > 4 years and instead has resorted to frustrating and now completely > disabling the only agency that has promoted investment and development > within Kenya's communications sector. > > On hearing this news, the Chairman of the African ISP Association, Mr. W. > Stucke, who is based in South Africa reacted by saying "Good grief! Now > watch investments in Africa as a whole, not just Kenya wither up and blow > away in the wind..." > > It is our understanding that the position of Director General has tenure of > office under the Communications Act '98 and his removal from active duty > without any explanation begs the question as to whether the government > really respects the Law. This same law has safeguards to protect the > regulator from interference but these seem to have been completely ignored > by the Government who today are interested parties in the communications > sector. > > We hereby express our outrage at the way in which this matter has been > handled and demand an immediate explanation from the Government regarding > it's actions and it's plans to restore confidence and stability in the > communications sector in the shortest time possible. > > Mr. Joseph Mucheru, > For Telecommunications Service Providers of Kenya > > Chairman > For more details, Call +254 20245630 _______________________________________________ LUG mailing list [email protected] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug %LUG is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
