View Full Version : Distribution in Kenya?
Gashikar
January 7th, 2007, 10:08 PM
Hi Guys,
I'm on my first Ubuntu installation and living abroad. I appreciate the African connection to the name, but does anyone in Africa have practical access to it?
Do we have any point of distibution for Ubuntu or any other Linux in Kenya?
If so what is the address.:(
Gashikar
a coffee drinker
EdThaSlayer
January 8th, 2007, 09:07 AM
All I know is that in South Africa there are quite a few people. I think that there are only about 10 or so people max in Kenya that have Ubuntu installed(including me).
I don't think there are any installation parties happening in these places or any form of distribution. Davehat does install Ubuntu on local computers so I have heard(and maybe more people in Africa do that too).
davehat
January 8th, 2007, 04:04 PM
Ed's probably right - as far as I can tell there really very few people using Ubuntu here in Kenya (and doubly the case in Nyanza). I distributed 9 copies of 5.10 around Kisumu and have installed 6.06 on a few machines in a nearby mission that has computing classes (lessons there go a bit further than the usual "how to use MS Office" and includes one on 2how to re-build computers by cannibalising other broken ones...)
I'm probably going to have to switch to using Xubuntu - not due to my machine but due to the fact that many of the people I meet who have computers have machines that either lack the requisite amount of memory or have tiny hard drives.
Repo access is another issue (no at home internet for 99.9999% of the population), though thanks to a handy tip off on another thread here, I'm slowly building an "apt on CD" compilation of the best add on bits. When I start pushing ubuntu on people mercilessly, it won't be long before they want to listen to mp3s and they can't without access to universe repos...
Another thing I'm interested in right now is GPRS support on Ubuntu. It seems to be a little...
...erm
lacking?
Of course, that means I should be offering to pitch in and help (adds another to do to the to mountain)! I'm not a real proper techie (just a hobbiest with fierce determination) so instead of making some fancy new piece of kit, I plan (at some stage soon) to try and get a guide going for how to connect to the internet via GPRS using different phones and different methods (USB/Bluetooth/semaphore/whatever); currently if you search GPRS on ubuntuforums.org right now, you get more or less a world of pain...
roxxy
January 10th, 2007, 07:13 AM
hello guys, anybody knows how i can get a copy of edgy 6.10? i have tried downloading, but it is a real pain.
ronaldotis
January 10th, 2007, 04:49 PM
I think that there are only about 10 or so people max in Kenya that have Ubuntu installed(including me).
I beg to differ with you if I'm to talk from my experience with installations. I do a cuople of installation rounds in Nairobi since late 2005 and precisely I have done 16 installations, distributed around 30-something CDs and a few troubleshoots here and there. Locally we don't have a distribution point for original CDs unless you want FTP downloads.
About GPRS and ubuntu, I'm personally intertested in that coz I can't really wait to have Internet at my home desktop PC ( currently I use college's connection). I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing but I need some advice here: I'm trying to write a device driver for my GPRS enabled nokia phone ( actually I bought this book on writing linux device drivers) and so far I've managed to register it as a character device via mknod. Any suggestions?
davehat
January 10th, 2007, 07:24 PM
Any suggestions?
Don't re-invent the wheel? :)
Long time no and all that Ronald...
First off, what model Nokia do you have, what method are you using to connect (USB, Bluetooth), what software have you installed? Let me know - I'm working on sorting out a 6021 (and a Sonyericsson K510i). According to everyone (Safaricom, Celtel) this 6021 baby has EDGE. Unfortunately, Kisumu doesn't (for PAYG) :(
A good starting point for Linux GPRS etc is here:
http://tuxmobil.org/phones_survey_nokia.html
As ever, it won't get you all the way, but there's hella good tips. I'll kep you posted...
davehat
January 10th, 2007, 07:39 PM
I think Ronald has copies in NBO. I only have the 64bit version right now. I have 6.06 for i386 somewhere I think... If you're interested, PM me.
roxxy
January 11th, 2007, 07:11 AM
I think Ronald has copies in NBO. I only have the 64bit version right now. I have 6.06 for i386 somewhere I think... If you're interested, PM me.
hi ronald how can get hold ubuntu edgy, i have 6.06 for i386 and would like to upgrade to 6.10.
ronaldotis
January 11th, 2007, 07:55 AM
Thanks dave for that link, honestly I've also been away from the net during my holidays so i couldn't get enough resources.
About edgy CDs, I personally don't have one but a friend told me that he managed to download one sometimes last year has them. I hope you're within NBI so that I can hand them to you. I only have a beta release as per now.
roxxy
January 11th, 2007, 06:37 PM
Thanks dave for that link, honestly I've also been away from the net during my holidays so i couldn't get enough resources.
About edgy CDs, I personally don't have one but a friend told me that he managed to download one sometimes last year has them. I hope you're within NBI so that I can hand them to you. I only have a beta release as per now.
thanks let me know how we can get in touch so that i can make a copy too.
EdThaSlayer
January 13th, 2007, 06:21 AM
I beg to differ with you if I'm to talk from my experience with installations. I do a cuople of installation rounds in Nairobi since late 2005 and precisely I have done 16 installations, distributed around 30-something CDs and a few troubleshoots here and there. Locally we don't have a distribution point for original CDs unless you want FTP downloads.
About GPRS and ubuntu, I'm personally intertested in that coz I can't really wait to have Internet at my home desktop PC ( currently I use college's connection). I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing but I need some advice here: I'm trying to write a device driver for my GPRS enabled nokia phone ( actually I bought this book on writing linux device drivers) and so far I've managed to register it as a character device via mknod. Any suggestions?
I thought that getting internet via your phone is expensive :-k
Have you heard of flashcom? or Africa Online?
They offer a service where they give you a phone like hardware where you can call and connect to the internet. It does cost around 3000 ksh a month, and I think you have to buy these "credit" cards or something(to get more than the 40+ hours they give you).
alexmoon
January 15th, 2007, 03:54 PM
I was looking for something else and stumbled across this thread - it really jumped out at me because I'll be in Nairobi in a couple of days (and am still trying to find somewhere to stay for the WSF, but that's another story!).
I'm pretty new to Ubuntu myself, and terribly excited about it. Just wondering if you guys were planning to come to the WSF - I imagine it should have some open source stuff happening, but I have no idea. Or I could try to arrange some distribution CDs, if that's a problem for you...I'm here for another day or two and might manage something.
I guess I really just wanted to say hi and best wishes - very glad Ubuntu's finding its way around the world.
davehat
January 15th, 2007, 09:29 PM
I thought that getting internet via your phone is expensive :-k
You have to ask yourself this... what is "expensive"? ALL internet access here in Kenya is expensive - unless you go to an internet cafe. If you want personal "at home"/"in office" access, you will be paying through the nose. Popote and Flashcom look good, but they are not even available Nairobi wide yet. I also hear rumours they are struggling under the weight of new users (can't verify that though).
If you want to stream media or download torrents etc, then yes, GPRS is expensive and impractical. For just browsing and retrieving email, I'd argue it's the cheapest access going, outside Nairobi at least. On Safaricom PAYG, 1mb is Ksh10. That's about $0.13 (or about £0.07). Unless you have large email attachments and a penchant for youtube, you should be able to keep the costs within reason. I used it for a month (on windows - couldn't get Ubuntu set up :( ) and it was OK. If you're going to use it, I recommend the ImgLikeOpera and flashblock add-ons for firefox (I know, I could have just used opera, but what the hey...) as it gives better control of image handling/downloading. WordPress and MT were a bit of a pain in the bum with it though, I must say. Still, better than dial up and MUCH better than nothing.
What with not prohibitively expensive GPRS/EDGE phones coming out all the time, I'd say it may be worth more people looking to the mobile networks for their internet. GPRS has very wide coverage across Kenya which is a real advantage. The only other alternative in even slightly more remote areas are ADSL and vSAT. The cost of setting up vSAT is very high (as are the monthly fees); ADSL is expensive, requires a nearby telegraph pole (not a given) and is unreliable. Meanwhile CDMA won't be getting out of Kenya's cities any time soon.
Have you heard of flashcom? or Africa Online?
The closest Kisumu has to that right now is a Butteryfly WiFi zone. As far as I can work out, it's only available in a 20 metre radius of the transmitters somewhere in the centre of town. It's not really practical at all for the average user and not cheap either! Moreover, it's being (re-) sold here by SwiftGlobal and they'd much rather you used their expensive vSAT/radio/microwave system which requires about a $400 hardware outlay and close to KSh16,000 a month in access fees.
In the short term, countrywide CDMA provision is dependant on Telkom unbundling local loops and they just plain aren't doing it outside Nairobi (except a few parts of Mombasa and rumours of services starting sometime this year in Kisumu's CBD). Even when Telkom have rolled out CDMA wireless, their prices for data are akin to daylight robbery - they charge KSh5 a minute (I think) - the same as a local call.
I suspect Telkom are holding back cheaper wireless data in fear of losing their high paying ADSL customers. For now the only solution for me and many others is Telkom ADSL. It may cost an arm and a leg ($138+ a month for 128/32kbps). It may require windows - the web portal is only viewable in IE. It may block a number of seemingly innocuous websites - amazon.co.uk... ***? It may fall over twice a day. It may have undergone a 67% pay increase. It may employ help desk staff who don't know what firefox is BUT....... ](*,)
...hang on, what the hell was I talking about :confused:
ED, TELL ME MORE ABOUT FLASHCOM - A MAN CAN DREAM CAN'T HE? :)
/rant
davehat
January 15th, 2007, 09:35 PM
I was looking for something else and stumbled across this thread - it really jumped out at me because I'll be in Nairobi in a couple of days (and am still trying to find somewhere to stay for the WSF, but that's another story!).
I'm pretty new to Ubuntu myself, and terribly excited about it. Just wondering if you guys were planning to come to the WSF - I imagine it should have some open source stuff happening, but I have no idea. Or I could try to arrange some distribution CDs, if that's a problem for you...I'm here for another day or two and might manage something.
I guess I really just wanted to say hi and best wishes - very glad Ubuntu's finding its way around the world.
Hey, sorry, I'm probably not going to be in NBO. I was thinking about it but, as you seem to be hinting at, there's precisely sod all hotel space left in town from next week what with two major conferences (the other at the Panari is full of medical types).
I'm pretty sure if you contacted ronaldodero, he'd be interested in popping along. I also seem to remember we're almost totally devoid of 6.10 discs in Nairobi, so maybe you could bring some.
ronaldodero...?
alexmoon
January 15th, 2007, 11:22 PM
I'll do my best, though I've only got a couple of days left. If you change your mind the methodist guest house still seems to have a few places available, as does the fairview (the latter's horribly expensive, though).
alexmoon
January 16th, 2007, 11:29 AM
I should be able to bring at least a few 6.10 CDs, if anyone wants to meet up with me and get them.
EdThaSlayer
January 16th, 2007, 04:47 PM
Popote and Flashcom look good, but they are not even available Nairobi wide yet. I also hear rumours they are struggling under the weight of new users (can't verify that though).
I also think that they are struggling since one of my friends that uses Flashcom got 25 kbps for more than 3 weeks while he was supposed to get 128 kbps.
Link:[urhttp://www.flashcom.co.ke[/url]
I suspect Telkom are holding back cheaper wireless data in fear of losing their high paying ADSL customers. For now the only solution for me and many others is Telkom ADSL. It may cost an arm and a leg ($138+ a month for 128/32kbps). It may require windows - the web portal is only viewable in IE.
...hang on, what the hell was I talking about :confused:
I use AccesKenya, my speed is 256 kbps during the day and 32 kbps at night. My dad does pay a hefty bill of $125, even though that is much cheaper than what you have to pay but you're not in Nairobi.Mine is connected to some satellite that is nearby through wireless. If only I could have 1 mb and have 256 kbps during the day that would be beautiful(could download Ubuntu packages in a second or two, if something is going wrong I can just download something else that will fix it, most of the time I'm usually waiting for stuff to finish downloading)
ED, TELL ME MORE ABOUT FLASHCOM - A MAN CAN DREAM CAN'T HE? :)
/rant
"Enjoy our affordable tariffs tailored to meet your specific needs
The Flashcom prepaid service is a smart way that allows you to have complete control on your spending.
The Flashcom postpaid tariff allows you to keep in touch and stay connected at all times.
Flashcom Internet bundles give you greater affordability and are designed to meet your specific Internet needs.
Our tariffs are designed with one thing in mind: You saving on call costs.
So get your Flashcom connection today and experience the true joy of communication."
The "true" joy of communication! Hope this sounds good. I'm not sure that they provide access in Kisumu.
It is funny how they seem to have different "flavors" of internet speed on this page:http://www.flashcom.co.ke/unltd_internet.php
davehat
January 17th, 2007, 06:49 PM
I use AccesKenya, my speed is 256 kbps during the day and 32 kbps at night.
You have higher speeds during the day? That's plain odd... :-k
EdThaSlayer
January 18th, 2007, 04:24 PM
You have higher speeds during the day? That's plain odd... :-k
](*,) A big typo!!! I meant 256 kbps during the night and 32 kbps during the day!
](*,) Happens to me when I write a lot, and forget to review what I wrote.
roxxy
January 19th, 2007, 05:38 PM
I should be able to bring at least a few 6.10 CDs, if anyone wants to meet up with me and get them.
i would like to get hold of a copy 6.10, let me know how we can hook up.
ronaldotis
January 22nd, 2007, 02:26 PM
Alexmoon if you manage to read this before you leave the country, please give details on how you can be contacted. I have tried checking you at both Fairview hotel and Methodist guest house in vain.
dnyaga
February 14th, 2007, 12:39 PM
Hi Guys!
That '10 users max' estimate may not be THAT accurate. I am an Ubuntu user (since 5.04 - serial upgrades all the way to 6.10). I got my first Ubuntu CD from a pal of mine (all I wanted was a linux cd). There could be a couple of fellows like me - quiet Ubuntuers.
I'm thrilled by the existence of a Kenyan Ubuntu forum. Actually, when I came to this site, I was coming to CREATE one.
I like the idea of creating an 'apt-on-cd' repository for things like multimedia codecs. I usually update the packages on my Ubuntu laptop by lugging it all the way to a LAN with internet, then sitting through hours of painfully slow downloads. For the Desktop, i've had to go through the pain of manually moving .deb files, then sorting out the dependencies manually. Ouch!
Is there anybody working on it now? if there isn't, i will volunteer for the job.
Cheers!
zsh
February 14th, 2007, 05:20 PM
I agree with dnyaga there are probably hundreds of linux users out there especially on servers. Linux (and opensource in general)is also popular with college and univeristy students particularly those in IT related courses.
there are a few companies that support open source in kenya i know of 2, www.openworld.co.ke and www.circuitspackets.co.ke.
ronaldotis
February 15th, 2007, 06:34 AM
Linux (and opensource in general)is also popular with college and univeristy students particularly those in IT related courses.
Actually at the university where I am, we have this huge room that is supposed to be a computer lab but still has RJ45s hanging out from sockets. This is where students with laptops do go to browse and I know of a handful who have downloaded Ubuntu related stuffs. Right now I have managed to collaborate with one student with a laptop that can write ( I don't have one of my own) so that we be downloading some of them.
I'm now asking those who need downloads to give their specifications as we will look into this, right now I have just downloaded edgy but haven't yet got a machine to run it on.
bizres
March 12th, 2007, 09:48 AM
I think Ronald has copies in NBO. I only have the 64bit version right now. I have 6.06 for i386 somewhere I think... If you're interested, PM me.
Hi everyone,
I've been trying to download Ubuntu for the past 2 weeks now, but every download ends up with an unmatching checksum. Each download takes about 2-3 days with the slow net speeds and breaks in the download process.
Would anyone be having a LiveCD of ubuntu-6.10-desktop-i386
I'm based in Mombasa and if any of you have a copy, I wouldn't mind sending you a blank CD to make a copy for me.
Regards
Gashikar
March 15th, 2007, 03:31 PM
Hi everyone,
I've been trying to download Ubuntu for the past 2 weeks now, but every download ends up with an unmatching checksum. Each download takes about 2-3 days with the slow net speeds and breaks in the download process.
Would anyone be having a LiveCD of ubuntu-6.10-desktop-i386
I'm based in Mombasa and if any of you have a copy, I wouldn't mind sending you a blank CD to make a copy for me.
Regards
Hi,
I have both 6.10 desktop and also 6.06.01. I could get a few LiveCD coming to Nairobi via a friend but only in about three weeks(latest mid April).-Anything you want: ubuntu, kubuntu Edubuntu etc.Just stay put and we'll communicate later for mailing details once all is ready.:)
Contemplator
March 23rd, 2007, 11:06 AM
I was downloading 6.10 at a cyber, and the guys there applied 'ghost' to the computer coz of viruses. This resulted in deletion of the download..
I was wondering 2 things:
- Where in Nairobi I can get Ubuntu 6.10 free
- How hard it is, to become a distributor
Kay The Bantu
April 4th, 2007, 01:12 PM
Hi I have the ubuntu 6.06 Lts and in Nai if any one's interested just send me a line at muragurikay@gmail.com I'll hook you up with a free copy. I'm also looking for more cds to sambaza to guyz so if you have any please hook me up
EdThaSlayer
April 4th, 2007, 05:23 PM
I was downloading 6.10 at a cyber, and the guys there applied 'ghost' to the computer coz of viruses. This resulted in deletion of the download..
I was wondering 2 things:
- Where in Nairobi I can get Ubuntu 6.10 free
- How hard it is, to become a distributor
It should be easy to get a 128 kbps of internet via one of those special phones that Popete and Flashcom offer. I heard its around $50 per month for unlimited 128 kbps[24/7].
njukey
April 5th, 2007, 09:25 AM
I agree with dnyaga there are probably hundreds of linux users out there especially on servers. Linux (and opensource in general)is also popular with college and univeristy students particularly those in IT related courses.
there are a few companies that support open source in kenya i know of 2, www.openworld.co.ke and www.circuitspackets.co.ke.
I am one of those quite ubuntuers, but have now joined the ubuntu forums to make my contribution, i am a freelance web developer and have configured ubuntu server to run mail, web and proxy servers on several machines. I love the idea of creating and avenue of distributing ubuntu CDs and would love to contribute, i have all versions (Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu & Ubuntu CE ( Christian edition) ) from Hoary to the beta release of Feisty, am in eldoret and if you want one get in touch i will toast you one.
Just want to bring to your attention the launch of www.osskenya.org which aims to create an online community of Kenyan open source users of which i am a co-founder and webmaster, the site is still fresh ( has the default drupal theme) and needs a lot of improvement, content and input from the community ( i intend for every member to have a blog space on the site), check it and give me your suggestions...
karachuonyo
April 7th, 2007, 02:01 PM
i would like to get hold of a copy 6.10, let me know how we can hook up.
Have you tried ubuntu shippit. I believe they will send you a copy free of any charges (including the postage costs) to the address provided. I think with the prohibitive costs in internet access in most parts of Africa it may be godsend if they able to deliver.
Oops , sorry just realised that ubuntu shippit will only send the older cd (dapper drake 6.06) with long term support.
roxxy
April 7th, 2007, 06:03 PM
Hi I have the ubuntu 6.06 Lts and in Nai if any one's interested just send me a line at muragurikay@gmail.com I'll hook you up with a free copy. I'm also looking for more cds to sambaza to guyz so if you have any please hook me up
I also have a couple of 6.06 LTS cds, if u know anyone let me know.
qwelegen
March 12th, 2008, 02:11 PM
Hi Guys,
I'm on my first Ubuntu installation and living abroad. I appreciate the African connection to the name, but does anyone in Africa have practical access to it?
Do we have any point of distibution for Ubuntu or any other Linux in Kenya?
If so what is the address.:(
Gashikar
a coffee drinker
Just use ubuntu shipit you get it free.
or if you have an internet connection, you can upgrade
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
qwelegen
March 12th, 2008, 02:15 PM
why are you still using 6.06
davidgutu
April 20th, 2008, 01:26 PM
Thanks Gashikar for organising cds for me. U still remember me? Now I'm comfortable with Linux
HtechB
July 7th, 2008, 03:29 PM
I'm currently trying to put together a power pc and i would really like to avoid having to use vista, I need alot of power.
So does anyone know where I can get an ubuntu distro hopefully ubuntu 8 (or anything real close).
+downloading for me at the moment is totally out of the question am on safcom broadband, so 700 megs would mean no connection of a month unless I pay ALOT!!!!! extra over that.
EdObie
October 27th, 2008, 11:10 AM
Does LPA or any other organization distribute. Would like about 300CD's for distribution with a student magazine. Advertising would be provided for donating institution/company.
Edward
kibaya
February 24th, 2010, 07:17 PM
hey gashikar yes we have ubuntu distribution infact the latest version in CAMARA-KENYA located in msa
kibaya
February 24th, 2010, 07:21 PM
An ngo located in msa has the latest distribution plus the updates wasee mkuje mtaget hizo problem zenyu zote solved :D
Maraboo
April 5th, 2010, 08:44 PM
Im a student at jkuat juja and i also give away cds for free ryt nw i have ubuntu and kubuntu 9.10 any1 who might want one cn gt it for free provided u come with a blank cd
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