CCK to be disbanded and replaced

IT News Africa reports that the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) is to be disbanded and replaced by a regulator that is free of government and commercial influence. The Independent Communications Commission of Kenya Bill 2011 is in its final draft stage before being ready for public debate by the end of this month. It is expected to pave the way for the creation of a new watchdog with seven commissioners each being responsible for a different aspect of the industry, including compliance, spectrum and pricing. ‘A commissioner may not vote at, attend or in any other manner participate in, any meeting or hearing of the commission, nor be present at the place where the meeting is held if in relation to an application relating to a license, he or she or his or her family member is a director, member or business partner or associate of or has an interest in the business of the applicant,’ the draft bill states.