Persoon
Bildad Kagai
Bildad Kagai is the co-ordinator of the Free Software and Open Source
Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) as well as the CEO of Circuits and
Packets Communications Limited, one of the leading Open Source Software
companies in Kenya. Born in Nairobi, Kenya, 31 years ago, Bildad
studied in public schools and his education culminated in the
University of Nairobi with a degree in Building Economics and
Management.
Bildad started his career at the United Nations Center for Human Settlements (UNHABITAT) in 1997 after graduation as a database consultant. He also consulted for GTZ (German Agency for Technical Cooperation) and the Canadian International Development Research Center (IDRC) where he introduced Adaptive Technology to victims who got visually impaired following the 1998 terrorist twin bombing of the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Bildad has received training on Scripting, Database Management and Web Integration at Freedom Scientific in Tampa, Florida. Bildad started his business career in 2001 as the Business Development Manager of Circuits and Packets Communications Limited where he encountered open source software for the first time. In his endeavours to create a sustainable business model in Open Source Solutions, he realized that to survive in the heavily biased Information Technology market, similar open source businesses across the African continent needed to come together specifically to influence policy change and government tendering procedures to allow equitable participation in this lucrative industry. In November 2002, a number of like minded open source enthusiasts met under the auspices of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and formed the Open Source Task force for Africa. Consequently on 21st February 2002, he helped launch the Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) during the second preparatory meeting of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS PrepCom2) in Geneva, Switzerland. Since then, FOSSFA has been the leading light campaigning for Open Source and Free Software in Africa with tremendous success in various countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, and Namibia amongst others where Open Source initiatives have started to thrive. Bildad is currently based in Nairobi, Kenya as the CEO of Circuits and Packets Communications Limited which also hosts the FOSSFA Secretariat. His primary responsibilities include developing new business strategies for the company.
Bildad started his career at the United Nations Center for Human Settlements (UNHABITAT) in 1997 after graduation as a database consultant. He also consulted for GTZ (German Agency for Technical Cooperation) and the Canadian International Development Research Center (IDRC) where he introduced Adaptive Technology to victims who got visually impaired following the 1998 terrorist twin bombing of the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Bildad has received training on Scripting, Database Management and Web Integration at Freedom Scientific in Tampa, Florida. Bildad started his business career in 2001 as the Business Development Manager of Circuits and Packets Communications Limited where he encountered open source software for the first time. In his endeavours to create a sustainable business model in Open Source Solutions, he realized that to survive in the heavily biased Information Technology market, similar open source businesses across the African continent needed to come together specifically to influence policy change and government tendering procedures to allow equitable participation in this lucrative industry. In November 2002, a number of like minded open source enthusiasts met under the auspices of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and formed the Open Source Task force for Africa. Consequently on 21st February 2002, he helped launch the Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) during the second preparatory meeting of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS PrepCom2) in Geneva, Switzerland. Since then, FOSSFA has been the leading light campaigning for Open Source and Free Software in Africa with tremendous success in various countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, and Namibia amongst others where Open Source initiatives have started to thrive. Bildad is currently based in Nairobi, Kenya as the CEO of Circuits and Packets Communications Limited which also hosts the FOSSFA Secretariat. His primary responsibilities include developing new business strategies for the company.
