Consumer protection to top ICT body’s agenda

Kenyan internet users will for the first time have their views presented at the highest internet governing body, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

This will enable the country to join the ranks of four other African states whose consumer rights are represented at the organization.

This follows lasts week’s admission, of the ICT consumer Association of Kenya into the civil society organisations Non-commercial Users Constituency (NCUC) as a the country’s consumer rights representative.

NCUC develops and supports Internet policies that favour non-commercial communication and activity on the internet and is a member of the worlds’ internet governing body, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

The criteria used to choose the consumer representative is that the organization must have a track record of fighting for ICT consumer rights and is not funded by either the government or the sector players.

Formed in November 2005, ICT consumer association has been at the forefront of championing consumer rights issues in the country.

Mr Alex Gakuru,the chairman of the organisation spoke with Business Daily about the impact of the organisation joining ICANN and what local internet users should expect.

What role will ICT Consumer Association of Kenya be playing?

Directly reporting on the real issues facing internet end users in Kenya.

These range from users’ online  rights (working with Human Rights Civil Society),  advocacy for a balance between “Intellectual Property” and access knowledge online, online safety, reliable infrastructure, migration to the new internet platform known as IPv6 so as to widen online expression, promoting online trust, among others, and in thinking globally and acting locally — actively engaging the government and regulator in safeguarding users’ internet rights.

What does this mean to the non-commercial organisations that need to register domain names in Kenya?

They should expect a reduction in .or.ke domain prices in tandem with international .org domain pricing. At present .or.ke is charged at the same rate as commercial entities prices.  We shall pressure KENIC on it the reduction.

Non-commercial entities, and all Kenyan end users, will be pleased to know that for the first time now we have a bona fide local voice representing consumers interests at the highest internet policy making process. 

Thus far government, Internet business entities and “Intellectual Property” industry interests have dominated Internet policy making. NCUC elevates end users to Internet policy making global table.