The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) initiated the regional East Africa Internet Governance Forum (EA-IGF) in 2008, in response to the lack of participation from East Africans in the global Internet governance processes.  The regional forum was preceded by national IGFs held in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.  The second EA-IGF will be held in Nairobi from 7-9th September 2009.

The EA-IGF process develops through a simple model of inclusive multistakeholder discussions. Each country holds a series of online discussions to identify basic positions and needs; these then provide the basis for the agendas of respective national IGF face-to-face meetings, which in turn are used as the building block for the regional EA-IGF meeting.

Among the issues discussed during the 2009 Kenya national IGF was the review of the global UN IGF. The discussions were held between April 27 and May 12, 2009. 

Following comments are a summary of discussions about the IGF review:

Kenya's online discussions reached broad agreement that the multi-stakeholder processes underpinning the IGF continue to make it a globally unique environment for the constructive and open exchange of ideas without the limitations imposed by the pressures of negotiation and governmental bureaucracy. The IGF has proven to be a unique and successful experiment in multi-stakeholder engagement enabling information sharing and dialogue on topics critical to fostering the sustainability, robustness, security, stability and development of the Internet. 

There was general consensus that the IG forum had been a success so far, both internationally and as exemplified by the East Africa Regional and National initiatives. Participants noted that the East Africa initiatives demonstrated that the spirit of the IGF as enunciated in the Tunis Agenda can be replicated at the grass-roots local level, greatly expanding the scope of those whose input will shape the future of the governance of the Internet. 

Some participants commented that while the IGF has been labelled a "talk show", it has been successful in fostering the spirit of cooperation and diplomacy, and that there were actions and remarkable accomplishments arising from IGF despite "all the talk". However, there was concern that the forum had to be given more 'teeth', with some participants suggesting it be moved under the auspices of an appropriate United Nations agency. 

Some participants also commented on the need to put the IGF on a stronger and sustainable financial footing and to pay more attention to the concerns and needs of developing countries. If the IGF mandate is to be extended, priorities for funding should include ensuring the IGF secretariat has adequate resources. There is still a great need for awareness raising, capacity and skills development and encouraging, new participants.

More resources must therefore, be made available to support  multi-stakeholder participants from developing countries particularly the national and regional IGF activities, which are proving to be one of the IGFs most significant successes.  

One participant felt that while these regional and national initiatives have received a lot of praise and are considered very positive outcomes of the global IGF, there is still no support for them or a more concrete way in which they are being included and integrated within the global IGF.