Dr Joseph Sevilla, Miss Maureen Olembo and Mr Tonny Omwansa, all lecturers in the Faculty of Information Technology prepared a report on Internet Governance based on the East African Internet Governance Forum (EAIGF) that was held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) between 10th and 12th November.

The forum was a follow up to the national Internet Governance Forums (IGFs) held in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda at earlier dates. Dr Sevilla moderated some sessions while Ms Olembo and Mr Omwansa prepared the reports for all the sessions.

The discussions were under themes like: Global Perspective of Internet governance, National Internet Governance Fora, Access to internet - Supply, Demand and Development, content for the internet - Development, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Localization, Management of Critical Internet Resources, Cyber security, Privacy and Trust and Governance.

The presenters came from many different organizations such as The Center for Global Communications (GLOCOM), Communication Commission Kenya, International Telecommunications Union, Sharing with other people Network (SWOPNet), Kenya College of Communications Technology (KCCT), Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC) , Google, and the Internet Society - ISOC. There were also representatives from all the East African countries.

Among the issues identified as common to the countries in the region included affordable and available access to the Internet, capacity building in Internet Governance (IG) issues, a legislative framework for IG in East Africa, Cyber security and Critical Internet Resources like East African Internet exchange point (EAIXP).

While prioritizing the issues to be presented during the international internet governance forum, access came first while others followed in this order: capacity building, legislative framework for the information society, cyber security, critical internet resources. The recommendations made will be discussed at the Global IGF, to be held in Hydrabad, India in December.

See: http://www.eaigf.or.ke/component/content/article/1-latest-news/56-2008eaugf.html