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The 5th International Conference on Open Source Systems (OSS 2009)
,----[ Quote ]
| Over the past decade, the Free and Open Source Software (F/OSS) phenomenon
| has had a global impact on the way organisations and individuals create,
| distribute, acquire and use software and software-based services. F/OSS has
| challenged the conventional wisdom of the software engineering and software
| business communities, has become a useful instrument for educators and
| researchers as well as an important
`----
http://www.coss.fi/node/228
Kenya hosts first Open Source Awards
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| The Linux Professional Association of Kenya and ICT Consumers Association of
| Kenya will be hosting Kenya's first Open Source Awards. The ceremony will be
| held at the Panafric Hotel, Nairobi, on 27 May 2009.
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http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/111/16/36077.html
Recent:
Open source software cheaper option for government bodies
,----[ Quote ]
| Linux Professional Association on Kenya, a group of local software
| developers, has embarked on a sensitisation programme among government bodies
| with the aim of wooing them to use Free Open Source Software (FOSS).
|
| Among government bodies targeted are the Public Procurement Oversight
| Authority (PPOA) and the Kenya ICT board. PPOA is mandated to enforce and
| oversee the implementation of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act. An Act
| which the organisation says is being flouted, thus locking them out of public
| tenders.
|
| Linux says the use of open source software will not only save the Government
| lots of money, but also create employment for small and medium entrepreneurs
| engaged in software development locally.
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http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11880&Itemid=5847
Linux and Us Kenyans - Part II
,----[ Quote ]
| Also in stock are the following;
|
| 1) Linux Mandriva 2007 DVD (for both 32-bit and 64-bit platforms)
|
| 2) PCLinux OS (tiny me) for 32-bit and 64-bit platforms), superlight weight
| (only 190MB) which can be loaded into RAM and the OS runs from there. Basic
| resources, Opera browser, audio player, photo viewer, excellent graphics,
| best distro for a quick “What is Linux” demonstration, one can install all
| the stuff they want and then remaster the system i.e create an installable CD
| with the installed applications already therein.
|
| 3) Zenlive 5 (32-bit and 64-bit platforms), another lightweight Linux CD but
| with much more than PCLinux OS (tinyme). It includes browsers, DVD/CD
| burners, an Office suite, pdf reader, media players, basic hardware support
| etc.
|
| 4) Ubuntu 8.10(64-bit platform)
|
| 5) Mandriva 2008.1 CD (for both 32-bit and 64-bit platforms)
|
| 6) Mandriva 2009.0 CD (for both 32-bit and 64-bit platforms)
|
| 7) Zencafe Linux, the perfect solution for cybercafes. This is an operating
| system specifically tailored to provide and manage services(for the client
| and server machine respectively),efficient accounting system, maximum
| security, efficient deployment of services, and excellent network
| adminstration at the servers end.
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http://mwendariungu.wordpress.com/2008/11/28/linux-and-us-kenyans-part-ii/
Kenya: Copyright Board Takes Piracy War to Cyber Cafes
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| Cyber café operators within Nairobi are torn between legalising their
| Microsoft software operating system, shifting to Open Source Code or closing
| shop all together following the crack down on illegal software.
|
| [...]
|
| According to Mr Kasani, the software will manage all aspects of cyber café
| billing such as Internet time, printing, items, accounts, discounts, the
| programme will be across platform , it will be possible to run it on both
| Linux and Windows computers connected on the same cyber works.
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http://allafrica.com/stories/200711262040.html
Linux cutting software costs in Kenya
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| Entrepreneurs in Kenya are putting Linux to work to cut costs and maximise
| profits as they look for new ways to bring computing to users.One of these
| entrepreneurs is Patrick Mathenge, CEO of Mullard Electronic Limited, a firm
| trading in hardware and software from its Mombasa Road offices. The company
| is distributing Linux software that can turn a single computer into up to 10
| workstations.
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http://www.tectonic.co.za/?p=2392
Open source opportunity on the road to Nairobi
http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=1725
Microsoft Denies Threatening to Withdraw Funding
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| However, the denial was a contradiction to comments by Bitange Ndemo,
| permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication, who
| said that Microsoft may have made comments regarding funding, though not
| directly or in writing.
|
| "They may have said something to that effect though not directly and not in
| writing. Microsoft cannot threaten us. In any case, our policy is very clear,
| we encourage people to use open-source software and those who want to use
| proprietary software are at liberty to do so" Ndemo said.
|
| There was heated debate in Kenya's technology sector before the decision to
| abstain. The decision was made by a 12-member committee. Some experts felt
| that the committee was comprised of a majority of Microsoft partners.
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http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/144898/microsoft_denies_threatening_to_withdraw_funding.html
Kenya: How Software War Will Hurt Consumers
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| Rather than buy Microsoft software or pay royalty fees to the company, most
| cyber-cafes around the country are choosing to instal free, open source
| software.
|
| This follows the start of an aggressive campaign by the software giant in
| October last year, which targeted cyber-cafes that are illegally using its
| software and denying it the right to benefit from many years of research.
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http://allafrica.com/stories/200805150945.html
Kenya Linux Group Challenges Procurement Policies
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| After losing out on many software tenders to the government, the Linux
| Professional Association (LPA) will engage the Public Procurement Oversight
| Authority (PPOA) in Kenya over procurement rules, according to the
| association chairman.
|
| The association members have been locked out of government tenders because
| the requests for proposals are usually skewed toward Microsoft products,
| therefore locking out open-source software developed locally, says LPA
| Chairman Evans Ikua.
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http://www.cio.com/article/367113/Kenya_Linux_Group_Challenges_Procurement_Policies
Related:
Africa: 'Microsoft is Imperialistic' Says Open Source Advocates
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft Corporation's products have been locked out of the
| on-going World Social Forum (WSF) in Nairobi Kenya.
|
| With over 300 computers provided for participants and the press,
| organizers of the WSF have preferred to provide open source
| software products and blocked all Microsoft related products for
| the forum's usage and its related activities.
|
| [...]
|
| Activists at the forum also believe that since Microsoft is a
| corporate brand from the United States of America, a country
| they believe has intentions of maintaining the status quo of
| a unipolar world over which it is above international law and
| the UN, the brand should be locked out.
|
| [...]
|
| "The open source movement is providing Linux, a robust free
| software. Everybody owns it and it can be shared. And this
| is what WSF is all about - a free society, a movement
| fighting for ownership of free resources" he adds.
`----
http://allafrica.com/stories/200701230831.html
Swahili Blogosphere: State of education in Tanzania, M-Pesa and Open Source
Movement in Kenya
,----[ Quote ]
| Maitha, who blogs at Mawazo na Mawaidha, writes about M-Pesa and open
| source movement in Kenya. Recently, he, used M-Pesa service. He points
| out an incorrect Swahili phrase used by the service and wonders why
| they did not consult a Swahili linguist.
|
| He posts links to three Kenyan websites dedicated to the promotion of
| open source software. He believes that the websites will contribute to
| the growth of open source movement in Kenya.
`----
http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/05/06/swahili-blogosphere-state-of-education-in-tanzania-m-pesa-and-open-source-movement-in-kenya/
http://tinyurl.com/2nne3r
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