[kictanet] [Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Kenya's fibre optic cable project queried]

Thu Mar 15 10:54:36 EAT 2007

Dr. Ndemo,

Thank you for the detailed explanation. Two comments, first to the media for
following up and asking the right questions. I think it is great first that
the cable is being noticed in the media and I hope they will continue to
give it due coverage not just because of the cash $$$ involved but also the
significant strategic position the cable holds for us as Kenyan. So Wakabi
and others, please continue to ensure full transparence is maintained.

Second comment; Alongside that and at the risk of creating more questions
than answers. China and Dubai for example were able to grow as fast as they
did as their decision making and implementation process were not subject to
lengthy procurement processes (The Democracy we enjoy). They basically went
ahead and build. ICT is such that we need to move at a very fast pace and to
remain competitive. I am certain that is why there are the three procurement
options you outlined below by the PS.

With the kind of competition in this space, both internal and external, we
must ensure as much as possible not to delay the implementation of the cable
projects.

Finally Bwana PS, I am sure like many others in the list your last comment
created some excitements and I would want more details on the progress so
far. Three months to connection would be a great day for us.

> My friend we
> need a serious talk.  Seriously, if I had my way, I would give the entire
> works as a tunkey project.  By now we could be at least three months to
> getting connected.
> 

Where are we in reality.v

--
Joseph Mucheru
Executive Director
mucheru at wananchi.com

> From: <bitange at jambo.co.ke>
> Reply-To: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <kictanet at kictanet.or.ke>
> Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2007 09:09:46 +0300 (EAT)
> To: <mucheru at wananchi.com>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Kenya's fibre optic cable
> project queried]
> 
> Dear Wakabi,
> Thank you for raising the question on whether the Ministry ignored best
> practices in procurement.  The answer is No.  There are three approved
> methods of procurement, that is, open tender, selective tender and single
> sourcing.  Open tender you have got to adverise and any interested party
> can bid to supply service.  It is a lengthy procedure (takes a minimum 45
> days).  It is the most competitive of all.  Logically it applies to goods
> that can be obtained from many sources.
> 
> Selective tendering however, is mostly applied to a sitiation where the
> popolation of the suppliers is limited as in Marine works.  There are two
> companies, that is, Tyco and Alcatel that have the necesary experience to
> do such jobs.  There are three other companies, that is, NEC, Fujistu and
> Global Marine/Huaweii that are usually subcontracted by the larger two.
> They have limited experience compared to the big two.  Therefore it would
> have been absolutely non sense and wasteful to advertise for the the works
> in the local papers.
> 
> Single sourcing is used where there is only one supplier of service/good
> or where there is an emergence.  The committee which is tasked with the
> Teams project comprising the Investment Secretary, Director, Directorate
> of Procurement, MD Telkom, Solocitor General, and CCK Director General
> agreed to fast track the project by seeking authority from Treasury to
> procure Detailed Feasibility Study (DFS), Detailed Technical Study (DTS),
> and The Mirine Survey (MS)using the later methods and subjected Financial
> Arrager (FA) tender to an open tender.
> 
> If you look at the overall project, the four services DFS, DTS, MS and FA
> are crucial to determining the time the project takes.  Three of these
> projects DFS, DTS, and FA are complete and once the MS is complete, it
> would enable us to procure the supply contract with sufficient knowledge.
> Secoindly, whoever is awarded the contract, will actually immediately
> procure the material since all the information is available.
> 
> The argument that the MS is given along with the Suply contract does not
> hold water since there are many cable networks that have used the model.
> EASSY for example will not know the material requirement until the MS is
> complete.  In technical terms they are several months behind Teams.
> 
> You must understand that there are several interested parties, some who
> want to make quick bucks.  Ask yourself:  what is it they are seeing that
> our people can't see?  Consider Germany cable operators bagging in more
> that 6 billion euros in the last world cup in one month.  My friend we
> need a serious talk.  Seriously, if I had my way, I would give the entire
> works as a tunkey project.  By now we could be at least three months to
> getting connected.
> 
> 
> Regards
> 
> 
> Bitange Ndemo.
> 
> 
> 
> 
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