Monthly Archives: January 2009

Best bank for netpreneurs?

This is based on a skunkworks discussion thread and as many answers are welcomed. A growing number of young Kenyans are now making money online from blogs and websites; They often earn money in and receive foreign cheques for $50, $100 or $200 (e.g. from Google Adsense) but have different experiences when they try and encash them. I use Co-op Bank, but the cost of Kshs. 1,000 (losing ~13%) to get funds one month later is something I’m sure another bank can improve on

My questions to the netpreneurs earning from advertising and other online sources is what did you do with your last adsense cheques? Where do you bank them? What kind of bank account do you have? How much does it cost to clear such a cheque and how long before funds are available? and finaly What do you as a young digital entrepreneur /internet like about your bank?

Results (after a week)
Concept says Family Bank – Kshs. 650
I say Co-op Bank – – Kshs 1,000
and KCB Customer Service the only of three dozen banks to reply to e-mail says minimum Ksh.800 maximum Ksh.4800 plus postage charge of Ksh.300. (so Kshs 1,100)

Which Kenyan bank has the best transaction accounts?

I’m looking for a new transactional bank account for the year. Generally need to low cost, quick, pleasant service, forex, standing orders, cheque book, ATM network, probably an introduction credit card etc?

My top choices are Equity, Stanchart or Barclays. Indicate appropriate tariffs and put your comments/reasons below.

Thanks

Media Bill 2008

(Download and read the KCA Bill 2008 (PDF) here)

Regarding the Kenya communication (amendment) bill 2008: Like with the last controversial media bill, getting a copy of the bill that has the media up in arms has not been easy.

I’ve seen one PDF version of the bill, and these are some other aspects of the bill brought forward by now cowed permanent secretary Bitange Ndemo and hapless Minister Samuel Pogishio which was on January 3 2009 signed by President Kibaki who hailed at as a milestone bill for e-commerce
What’s in it?

Content government which produces the most content gets to decide what’s in the in the public interest? Who knows what’s in demand e.g. all TV stations play music videos targeted at youth – and does that meet the requirement to of Kenyan programs that serve children – also set what time programs can be shown – does the CCK have time for this really?

Controversial topics: coverage must be balanced and where a complaint is lodged e.g. on a news story, must take action

E-mail (electronic record) now recognized as official communication. E.g. companies with tens of thousands of shareholders, legal correspondence

Electronic contracts are now recognized in law e.g. by e-mail – they can also can include security features like an e-signature, and can be for official government transactions

Electronic signatures now recognized except for wills, and title deeds
Electronic fraud/forgery now outlawed, but the maximum fine is just 200,000 (~$2,500) or two years in jail

Electronic files now admissible in court if it meets criteria specified e.g. the requirement of banks to provide physical statement and letters in court, can now be substituted by printouts. In addition tasks performed over several computer networks can be deemed t have been on one computer and qualify

Kenya gazette electronic version of the Kenya gazette now recognized as authority

Fair play new restriction include monopoly of programming and unfair competitors may be fined up to 10% of revenue (ii) but also discrimination of some kind is banned – this could be outdated as mobile companies in Tanzania and Uganda have introduced location based discounts – depending on their location at the time of calling and the level of traffic on the network

Hacking now outlawed, but the maximum fine is just 200,000 (~$2,500) or two years in jail. Elsewhere it states a fine of 1 million and jail of 5 years

Infrastructure sharing e.g. mobile phone towers may be shared, where no agreement can be reached between providers minister may mandate this (co-location)
Mobile phone reprogramming outlawed 300,000 or 3 years in jail for those seeking to unlock the I-phone. Elsewhere it has been said even downloading or changing the ring tone on your phone constitute reprogramming

Movie censorship empowers decisions made by the Kenya film censorship board ? to bar/edit films they have reviewed

Pornography outlawed– publication of obscene material online (including forwarding of obscene e-mail) liable to a fine of 200,000 and 2 years jail.

Vernacular radio/TV elevates and restricts vernacular broadcast stations – mandates that members of the community participate in the selection and provision of programs to be broadcast. But also restricts what parts of the country they can be broadcast – what is the interest of one media house to broadcast in several languages?

Summary
– Regulator CCK (communications commission of Kenya) gets powers it does not need nor do the members understand, but they can hold them just in case, or till the day they need them like the next election.
– New tax (i) universal service fund charged on all licenses – mobile phones, television, radio etc. which the minister for information will set. funds raised can be given out as loans or grant for provision of service to rural or under-served areas.

Overall an omnibus bill combines communications and broadcast, good and bad characteristics, it is here to stay and we all have to adapt to it now that it is law

More training needs to be done now, at the judiciary – on the new laws, at banks and companies – on the consequence of e-mail communication since it’s now binding and enforceable, and in offices everywhere – on the sharing of passwords and other secure resources

Banks have a framework for e-commerce; also there’s more government bureaucracy in this bill – a universal service advisory council, and more members to the CCK Board.

Event Blogging from Tanzania

2008 was still a great year for the blog except for my low travel schedule – travel is invigorating and is the my life blood of writing and I really hope to do more out-of-town corporate excursions this new year.

Almost a year ago I was fortunate to get a gig at for AllAfrica (thanks Mental) to cover and write about a factory opening in Arusha.

I had read the authoritative conference blogging guide by Ethan Zuckerman and gratefully hit the road with an interesting group of media types, on a brief escape from the post-election machinations going on in Nairobi

Here’s the two-part report of the factory opening (see also the official factory site)