So Microsoft is thinking about sponsoring a bloggercon for Kenyan bloggers. If you would be interested in attending such a conference, please leave your details here.
EDIT: Wait to get more details about the event first before signing up.
AOB: Thank you, thank you, thank you for your very kind comments on my TED speech. Truly had no idea what an impact it would make on others 
Can anyone put me in touch with Kenyans directly affected by Hurricane Gustav? I’m trying to write a story about them for The Nation.
Many thanks,
KJK:
kevinjaykelley@gmail.com
This is somewhat related but Microsfot seems to be making some good contributions in Kenya. They sponsored the Ugunja Community Resource Centre (UCRC) where I was volunteering in 2006/07. They helped support the Internet, hardware and software at the UCRC.
I would think that the more events like this in Kenya, the better. It’s great to get people together to share ideas face to face. It can be pretty encouraging to get to know people who are doing similar work in person. If I were still in Kenya, I would be there in a heartbeat.
I read this amazing story about a couple who traversed the entire continent of Africa.
From South Africa to Israel : Africa Trek (I read it in its original language: French , but I am excited to see it is coming out in English ).
What an adventure! It seems at first that this couple Alexandre and Sonia are like any other couple who love to travel , adventure and have enough love for one another to endure any hardship together. However what they did is completely out of the ordinary and it is almost a miracle , they were able to cross the entire continent of Africa on foot without assistance, sponsors, barely any money .nor did they know where they were going to be the next day. All they knew was they had to walk north , one foot step at a time.
An adventure that could have failed without the kindness and generosity of the Africans, which helped them to understand what Africa is made of.
It has never been done on foot, they were the first , and it easy to understand why when you read their books (Africa Trek I and Africa Trek II), they comprehend Africa and can teach us so much about it. Walking is the only way to be close to the people, the cultures, traditions with the richest and the poorest.
It is objective and honest information on contemporary Africa and its people
It was a life changing experience for them and could be for the reader. It helps us to better understand this misunderstood continent.
Of course they went through their share of misadventure, sickness, hardship, but this book is more about lessons of life from people who have so little in way of material wealth but make the best of it, about love, about sharing and understanding
If you have not read this book , I wish I could be in your place to relive the excitement of the journey that is awaiting you
check out this link on youtube :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnZRO31vcPc
best regards
This is a good idea.
I’ve just taken a number.
About TED, still haven’t watched the vid I downloaded. But all TEd talks I’ve so far seen are worthwhile.
Will get back once I watch it.
Cheers!
That looks suspiciously like a hoax to me.
1. Microsoft has plenty of infrastructure to put out word about a conference on its own without relying on third parties!
2. Why would Microsoft want to host a blogger conference? Not a technical blogger’s conference. Just an amorphous blogger conference
3. The data being collected is suspect. Physical Address? Phone number? Why?!!
4. Microsoft has had several events in Kenya. Everything is channeled through the local office from information to registration.
5. Why is the guy saying ‘more information later’? Let everything be tabled up front in the interests of transparency
6. Why not provide a link to some official communication of the same from Microsoft. How do we know it is not social engineering to get information for targetted marketing?
But I could be wrong. I know some guys in the EA office so let me inquire if they are aware of any such conference.
@ Kevin…
I don’t think many people were caught in the storm this time around. As you might be aware, hurricane Gustav is now over. It was downgraded to Cat 2 yesterday morning (Monday) and finally everything came down as a tropical storm. New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal did a great job of evacuating people. They did not want a repeat of Katrina. My point is that I don’t think you will be able to get Kenyans who were affected, unless you contact the embassy in Washington DC. They might be able to help. That is if they are registered with the mission.
Regarding the MS Bloggers conference, I have looked at that site and my gut feeling is that something is not right. I have worked with Microsoft products, seminars etc for many years but I have never seen an invitation that has no direct links to MS. If it’s a legit seminar or conference, you will see a “real†MS URL, contacts or something along those lines. I don’t see it here. Also remember that there are no dates and venue for this event. Microsoft does not use such language There is also too much hurry to get people’s contacts. You guys in Kenya please contact Microsoft Kenya and find out what the deal is. They used to have an office around Capital Hill.
Hi M, PLEASE NOTE :my post did not purport to be official communication from Microsoft,its just a blog.They were indeed planning for such an event and inquiring on who to invite ,my role was to recommend on a personal level to one of the organizers, however Microsoft will communicate officially to the attendees when the time is due! cautious as you may be dont rule out everything as a hoax! all the hullabaloo has made them step back for now!
Nairobian, in this day and age pf phishing and social engineering it is incumbent upon us to take extra care where and when we give out our information. You may be acting in good faith but your approach my friend is working against you.
1. You say that the communication is from Microsoft. You may know that but how can we? You’ve not given at least a reference or a contact or the PR agency in question. How do *we* know? Take a step back and think about it. Even those Nigerian hoaxes purport to be from Microsoft (and I’m not saying you’re hoaxing us). You can’t just drop the name ‘Microsoft’ and expect it to allay suspicion. That is precisely the MO of social engineering scams.
2. I’d be very surprised if the ‘hullabaloo’ made them step back if they were serious about it. I’ve just asked for additional information and some references. All in the interests of transparency. Why would an international company conscious of security and its image take that as a slight?
3. I got in touch with Microsoft WECA (West, Eastern and Central Africa) and asked for more information about this conference. They (or at least the people I talked to) appeared to be unaware of any such initiative. So again I ask, give us some more info. If it is a legitimate initiative they will have nothing to hide and will be happy to avail a contact at their PR office to answer all these queries
@ Nairobian – I think your approach was not well thought. You scared folks when you asked for their private information. In this age people tend to suspect such requests.
@ M above – I concur with your assessment. Microsoft will not use third party PR companies in Africa; they have worldwide locations that will do the ground work. Additionally, these offices don’t go out asking for people’s information. They will set up a training/seminar and send out invitations. I am tempted to call Microsoft in Redmond to inquire about this, but they are likely to refer me to their East African offices. I will try though…
Sometimes companies like Microsoft do us PR companies for events so lets give him the benefit of the doubt but details should be forthcoming…even if Microsoft is just thinking about it…
Nairobian, might help next time if you get information you get it in writing, and every step should have someone sign off on it. I wonder if anyone would have signed off on using the link you provided, and if they did you are covered reputation wise.
Also, is it a conference that Microsoft sponsors, or a conference that Microsoft will be one of the corporate sponsors?
Its true, there is something like a tech/bloggers conference in the works. It is only that it has not assumed the right shape.
Time is gone when the only official communication could only be channeled through the official bureaucratic means. People have lightened and press advertisements are not the only way a company could prove to be serious or not.
Look out for details, the post is not wrong……just timing
B
Rebecca, no one is asking for a press advertisement, just a few more details – they could also have used skunkworks etc. Post may be right, but details provided to Nairobian were too scanty, that’s all we are quibbling about.
@Rebecca – you’re completely missing the point. No one said anything about press releases. All we want is a contact or an additional source of information. You can’t just write a post and say its from Microsoft and then ask for our phone numbers and physical addresses! Have we learnt nothing from emails purporting to be from Abacha/Moi/Mobutu/Rawlings’ widows?
Dear all,
On a different note, I think Nairobian may have spoiled the party for all techies/bloggers , the idea was just being mooted and there were no official confirmations, the last time I heard, it was just an idea, nothing firm, and thats why no one blogged about it, because for anyone to do it, you need firm details as requested.
Now, only time will tell if it will actually be held….
Yeah, I agree with the above.
Information from Microsoft would naturally be channeled via their office in Nairobi.
The site that was collecting that information just looked suspect and those irrelevant details – physical address and phone number just gave whoever was behind this thing away.
The online world is just messed up. People, take care!
Hi people!
Now, we run the newest and hippest (allow me to pride in this) bloggers paradise in Kenya….ok at least that is what we really aim to be.
But as of september 1st, we began a competition where we were giving away 10,o00, 5,000 and 3,000 shillings to bloggers. It may seem like bribery, but we are positively serious about promoting a blogging culture and other 2.0 activities in the country.
So if you are a blogger…don’t hesitate.
come to the site, register and vote! (sorry if this sounds like an ad…it really is:lol:)
thanks!
You all very well know that the love of many have waxed cold and Kenyans have turned against Kenyans. God knew this and forewarned and allowed technology to be used to completely demolish barriers to communications.
My dear people maximize this technology to keep warning the world that times are not good. Blog and blog to keep together. Be your brother’s and sister’s keeper by blogging. As for me and myself, I would blog for development here, I would blog for social justice, I would blog for good governance and most importantly I would blog for Jesus and remind ourselves that we are passing through the evil world to our home.
May God bless you.
If you wish for to grow our know-how only keep visiting this site
and be updated with tthe latest news update posted here.