Orange, Wordcamp host blogging event

COMPUTING

Orange is the title sponsor of this year’s WordCamp Kenya Conference, set for November 10-11, 2012.

As the platinum sponsor of the event, Orange’s contribution will go towards the organisation of the franchise conference, for the world’s most popular blogging and online publishing software, WordPress.

Speaking during the sponsorship presentation to the event organisers, Telkom Kenya’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Angela Ng’ang’a-Mumo, reiterated the support and efforts from Orange to actively engage with various stakeholders on the social media and blogging scene, as the integrated telecommunications company increases data penetration levels in the country.

 “Orange is proud to be associated with this year’s conference and we believe our support will go a long way in ensuring the success and continuity of this event,” she said. “Orange has been at the forefront of building local content as Kenya moves towards a new frontier in the integration of social media in the country,” she added.
The theme of this year’s conference “Responsible Blogging and Positive Influence on Social Media” will focus primarily on the role of the social media as an emerging medium of communication as well as other aspects of blogging, social media and digital publishing. 

Social media’s accessibility and the freedom of speech and expression as enshrined in the Kenyan constitution have helped grow Kenya’s online presence. This has led to more people being able to freely express themselves by way of the internet, reaching wide audiences both locally and globally. 

While the focus of the conference will be to equip attendees on knowledge to impact their blogging/social media experience in the long-term, it also aims to give special attention to responsible political blogging and social interaction. 

“This is a positive change that could end up being used as a channel of incitement and abuse of these fundamental rights if used irresponsibly, more so as Kenya prepares for its first general elections after the 2007/2008 violence,” said David Mugo, one the key organiser of the WordCamp 2012. 

This year’s WordCamp that will also be streamed live to sitting audiences in Uganda and Tanzania, will host varied professionals: Marketers, ICT professionals, Web developers and Bloggers .