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{
    "id": 1055643,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1055643/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 201,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, ANC",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Godfrey Osotsi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13172,
        "legal_name": "Godfrey Osotsi",
        "slug": "godfrey-osotsi"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for the opportunity to comment on the Bill. This Bill wants to amend the Kenya Information and Communication Act, popularly known as the KICA Bill, by recommending three things. First, is the split of telecommunication into separate business entities, and secondly, the issue of penalties for mobile call drops. Thirdly, the utilisation of the Universal Fund. I would like to look at these three issues very objectively and make my very objective comments. But one thing I would like to say is that the sentiments of Hon. Elisha Odhiambo, who is my good friend, in this Bill, reflects the thinking of many people out there. What we must interrogate is how viable the proposals are. I will start by commenting on the first one, which is the split of telecommunications into separate entities. As has been said by the Chair of the Committee, the provisions in Clause 25(a) are contrary to the provisions of the Company Act which allow the company to engage in lawful businesses. Companies are required to have memorandums where they define what they are supposed to do. You can say you will be selling mandazis or constructing roads. Whatever you want, you can say there. So, these provisions want to limit the services of the telecommunications to particular services. The second aspect, from an IT point of view, and I am privileged to be an expert in this area, is that I disagree with this concept of splitting telecommunications into several entities. The world is going towards ICT convergence where ICT systems are becoming more integrated and more converged. Even now we have a concept called internet of things where you seek to connect as many ICT services and devices so that they can give you as many services as possible."
}