Brian Longwe Munyao has played a vital role
in the transformation of ICT landscape in the
country. His astute performance in the sector
has seen him put on number of hats since he plunged
himself into the industry in the mid 90’s. This has
seen him not only head organizations that represents
Kenya’s ICT interests but also Africa in general.
His outstanding contribution has led to the growth
of internet services and development of the sectors
policies framework regionally.
Currently he is the Chief Executive Officer InHand Limited.
InHand is a provider of specialized communications and
information technology equipment and services. These
include next generation IP PBX systems, data protection
systems, computer forensic systems, handheld computers
(also known as personal digital assistants - PDAs) and Smart
phones (which are PDAs with in-built GSM telephony).
InHand also provides a range of consulting services
including outsourced IT management, project management,
and systems analysis and troubleshooting among others.
Brian is also a board member of African Network Information
Centre (AfriNIC), a non-government, not-for-profit,
membership based organization, located in Mauritius to
serve African Internet Community. AfriNIC is the Regional
Registry for Internet Number Resources for Africa and
is responsible for the administration and allocation of
Internet Protocol Addresses as well as Autonomous System
Numbers.
Other than that Brian is the Director, African Internet
Service Providers Association (AfrISPA) – Nairobi, KE,
Internet Service Providers Association that acts as the
umbrella body for African Internet Service Provider
Associations. With a Pan African scope, the Association acts
as the voice of industry in International for a, representing African positions. It also promotes best practice and the
establishment of critical infrastructure such as Internet
Exchange Points for Africa’s Internet.
Between 1999 and 2005Brian was the Chief Technology
Officer for ISP Kenya, one of Kenya’s leading Internet
Service Providers. Rated as “ISP of the Year 2000” by
the Computer Society of Kenya, ISP Kenya continues to stand
out in the crowd of Kenyan ISPs (currently 57).
During the same period Brian was the, Director & Chief
Technology Officer Telecommunications Service Providers
of Kenya (TESPOK), Nairobi, KE, Kenya and Internet
Exchange Point KIXP respectively. TESPOK represents
the interests of Kenyan Network Operators, ISPs and other
licensees providing facilities and services in the Kenyan
telecommunications sector. The organization has also been an
active force in the liberalization of Kenya’s communications
sector and in the ongoing policy reforms.
Brain established the Kenyan Internet Exchange (KIXP)
in December 2000 and subsequently served as key resource
person for KIXP. His responsibilities included ensuring
operational performance of the exchange, monitoring
members’ compliance with the technical requirements and
policies of the exchange point. Troubleshooting BGP policy
and assisting members with their system confi gurations
in order to minimize service interruptions, router flaps
and other interferences. Collection and analysis of system
statistics, performance data and bandwidth utilization.
While the KIXP is the facility which keeps Kenyan Internet
traffic within Kenya. KIXP allows Kenyan Internet Service
Providers and users to easily exchange traffic within Kenya,
while improving connectivity and services for their customers.
KIXP is run and operated by the Telecommunication Service
Providers of Kenya (TESPOK), an association of Kenyan
ISPs.
Brian spent four years as the Manager of MAF-Europe,
MAFnet, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Chad, Madagascar.
MAFnet is an e-mail service designed for Christian groups,
such as churches and missions, as well as for nonprofit relief
organizations. Especially suited to groups and individuals
planning to live and work in places that are beyond the end
of the road for the information superhighway.
He served as Information Services Manager in the Kenya
Programme. His key duties included Mail administration,
support and troubleshooting, integration of proprietary platforms into an open, friendly environment. Management
of the Nairobi Information Services staff. General network
administration, TCP/IP LAN and WAN administration and
the setup of hubs in remote areas including surrounding
countries and the UK.
In the year 1997 he served as a Systems & Network Manager
in Form-Net Africa Nairobi.(Now KenyaWeb) Form Net
Africa was one of Kenya’s fi rst Internet Service Providers.
Having started from a UUCP store-and-forward email
based service, Form-Net Africa implemented one of Kenya’s
first digital IP links in 1996 and started offering dial-up
and
dedicated internet access.
Here he served as the System and Network Manager. His
duties included Cisco router administration, management
of World Group BBS system, operation and maintenance of
Linux systems, DNS servers, Mail servers, WWW servers,
NNTP news feeds, fi rst time training of technical personnel
in internet installation and support skills.
At 36 Brian Longwe is a prime example of contribution the
youth can make to has participated in the development of
the ICT sector in the country and regionally. Brian was
inducted into the Hall of Fame for his contribution to the
professional area of ICT in Kenya.
