Kenya skips the African Internet Summit – again

Kenya is without doubt one of the most democratic countries in Africa.

Other than Ghana, Zambia and perhaps South Africa one would barely find any other country in Africa that has entertained real competitive politics for over twenty years. By extension, the Kenyan people eat, sleep and drink politics – but only at a local level.

At an international level, Kenya has not found nor defined its strategy where it matters most. In the recently concluded African Internet Summit 2013 in Lusaka Zambia, Kenya's absence was conspicuous.

The African Internet Summit brings together the key stakeholders that shape the evolution and future of the Internet in Africa.

These key stakeholders include AfNOG, AfREN, AfTLD, AfriNIC.

AfNOG is the body that brings together Network Operation Groups (NOG) in Africa. Basically, the technical personnel that design, deploy and maintain Internet networks in various African countries come together to learn and share experiences for a better, safer and stable African Internet.

AfREN brings together the Research and Network (REN) groups in Africa.  Essentially, the folks who manage and run University and Research networks in Africa come together and share experiences for a better, safer and stable Internet within the higher education sector.

AfTLD is the body that brings together Top Level Domain (TLD) organisations in Africa.  The abbreviations dot.KE, dot.UG or dot.TZ found in various Internet names gives you the idea of how valuable this organisation would be.

AfriNIC, African Network Information Centre, is the globally mandated body to manage that unique internet resource known as the Internet Protocol (IP) Address. Without this unique number being assigned to your Internet device (Computer, Touchpad, Mobile Phone), you will not be able to connect to the Internet.

Now, over the last five years, Kenya like all other African countries has always been invited to attend this meeting that brings together all these key stakeholders - who essentially manage the Internet ecosystem in Africa. On all occasions, Kenya's official government representatives have only showed up once, while Egypt, South Africa, Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria have been more consistent.

The lack of participation on the part of the Kenya government is based on the false belief that Internet matters can be initiated, discussed and concluded only at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) where Kenya's presence and leadership role is respected and well documented.

So while Kenya continues to enjoy its self induced slumber, arising from this misplaced belief in the ITU, other states such as Egypt, South Africa, Ghana and Senegal have warmed their way up into top leadership roles within these African Internet Summit Organisations. They have done so without losing their privileged positions at the ITU. 

These States have indeed defined and struck the correct international political strategy – that is to be present and strong in both systems of governance.

Perhaps in line with its agenda of being a digital government, the Jubilee administration should wake up and begin to define and protect its Internet interests - not just at the ITU but also at the subsequent African Internet Summits.