[kictanet] 1 million Laptops for who?

Thu Dec 11 15:57:34 EAT 2008

Seems you are missing the point. One principal role of Government is to
set/define a policy agenda. This can be interpreted as a policy statement. A
definition follows:

"A policy is a deliberate plan of action to guide decisions and achieve
rational outcome(s). The term may apply to government, private sector
organizations and groups, and individuals. ..."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policy<http://www.google.co.ke/url?sa=X&start=3&oi=define&q=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policy&usg=AFQjCNEycuB7SO25OFEg-TdVo3Esy5O-LQ>

or

A broad course of action or statements of guidance adopted by the government
at the national level in pursuit of national objectives
http://www.answers.com/topic/national-policy

Essentially policy is necessary as a foundation against which other actors,
both state and non-state can align their priorities, set their strategies,
coordinate and collaborate for the fulfilment of the policy's stated
objectives.

One of KICTANET's main roles is to facilitate open dialogue on policy issues
- and where necessary undertake interventions as necessary to provoke
action.

The vision of a connected Kenya - driven by an empowered information society
which includes citizens from all walks of life including those who are
disadvantaged due to gender, domicile (rural, underserved), disabilities and
others - is an ideal to which KICTANET encourages all participants to aim
towards.

It is our hope that we can build this vision, one block at a time.

This is why we encourage positive contributions, objective criticism and
constructive dialogue.

Regards,

Brian

2008/12/11 Lobore Junior <jlobore at yahoo.com>

> Guys,
>
> You have just lost me completely.Could you please make this clear
>
> Do you mean the Minsitry of information  and Communication does not have
> the capacity to provide the one million laptops which the private sector has
> ? if yes why does the ministry of information needs to facilitate the
> provision of the one million laptops to kenya byn the private sector? is the
> private sectors missing capacity to facilitate this?
>
> or this is 50-50 participation from both Government and the private sector
> as ameans to providing ICT to all kenyas ?
>
>
> Regards.
>
> Loa
>
>  ------------------------------
> *From:* robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk>
> *To:* jlobore at yahoo.com
> *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> *Sent:* Thursday, December 11, 2008 2:53:24 PM
> *Subject:* [kictanet] 1 million Laptops for who?
>
>  Hi Dr. Ndemo,
>
> Yet another of your safe answers to a very tricky question.
>
> So we will you be organising a session with "private sector" to plan the
> way forward?
>
> Regards
>
>
> Robert Yawe
> KAY System Technologies Ltd
> Phoenix House, 6th Floor
> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
> Kenya
>
>
> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
>
>  ------------------------------
> *From:* "bitange at jambo.co.ke" <bitange at jambo.co.ke>
> *To:* robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk
> *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, 10 December, 2008 20:42:00
> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] 1 million Laptops for who?
>
> Dear Faima Basly,
> You are asking good questions pessimistically.  what I said is that we
> shall start a one Million lap top campaign early next year.  In otherwords
> we want at least one million laptops/notebooks in the hands of Kenyans
> from all walks of life.  The strategy is to partner with whoever aligns
> themselves with our main policy direction - to lower the cost of accessing
> technology in Kenya - and specifically encouraging local assembly in order
> to develop capacity.  Government has no intention of making any
> procurement arrangement for the public..  This is private sector work.
> Ours is to facilitate.  If Intel lowers cost for Laptops chips as part of
> of our camapign and they intend to do that, that is good since that will
> benefit all assemblers.
>
> We are looking at the issue from a macro level as we want as many Kenyans
> access technology.  We are pretty sure Broadband would be affordable in
> less than one year from today.  Having broadband will make every Kenyan a
> clerk but indeed help many to participate in the global economy.
>
> Asante.
>
>
> Ndemo.
>
>
>
>
> >
> > Mr Robert,
> >
> > I read the article in the papers yesterday and couldn't help but echo
> some
> > of your questions on this mail list that unfortunately have not yet been
> > responded to.
> >
> > Of key interest is the following:
> >
> > Whats the plan for procurement? tender or 'donated'? To me this is a
> > perfect opportunity to set up a partnership for local assembly with any
> of
> > the big boys - Acer, Dell, HP etc to set up an assembly plant with a 2
> > year clear handover to Kenyans, part of the deal should have initial 80%
> > local employment with clear skill transfer built in so that in 18 months
> > you have 99% local employment at the plant. Do the math 1,000,000*40,000
> > kshs ( assumed price) = Lots of money. This is a deal that anyone would
> > salivate for.
> > Will the computers have MS Office or Linux - Again do the math as its
> > likely to be the former.
> > What about capacity building? Planned for or just wish ful thinking?
> > Was there a need analysis carried out to determine that it is indeed
> > Laptops required?
> >
> > So to me procurement of laptops should never be an option. As we already
> > have the madaraka project in place, why not up skill and upscale this to
> > meet this demand for the 1 million laptops. Or is Madaraka over?
> >
> > Secondly , the target group, I think you have it right, whats this about
> > 'rural'? What is rural in Kenya? is it Turkana, Marsabit, Wajir, Nyeri,
> > Malindi, Kibira? We need a clear cut definition and probably a sector by
> > sector prioritization based on Vision 2030 and logically what will reap
> > benefit to the Kenyan economy. Don't get me wrong we must develop Kenyans
> > consistently with a strong plan not hide behind the Rural Urban divide.
> > I raise some of these concerns because last week I was eavesdropping on a
> > launch at one of our Key hotels in Kenya . A Major computer chip
> > manufacturer was launching their East African offices. They showcased
> > their effort being a certain school in Nairobi having received some
> > special student laptops and the school was showing how learning was
> > improved. All good, but the purpose of the Launch? To make an appeal to
> > the PS MOE to consider 'partnering' with this company to sell 240,000
> > laptops to the teachers in Kenya( wow I thought what a marketing gimic is
> > this how it's done?)Will this lead to a pronounce from MOE of some
> 240,000
> > Laptops for teachers???? Hook and bait? Anything further than this would
> > be speculation.
> >
> > I agree teachers need laptops (computers maybe), but once again can we
> > plan collectively as a government to work in unison and benefit locals on
> > employment and empowerment? It CAN be done.
> >
> > Which brings me to the reason for this email.
> >
> > Shouldnt there be some kinds of checks and balances in place in our
> > Ministries? Is there a way that 'we' can be involved before some of these
> > utterances are made?
> >
> > We have two PS's of different Ministries each thinking along the same
> > paths both with good ideas, but I worry on the path to execution. Of
> these
> > 1 million Laptops Ndemo speaks of - what percentage for his fellow
> > teachers? Jua Kali artisans?, Medical students. Is there a master plan
> > being followed? or is it pure chance ?
> >
> > Dr Ndemo,I am sure there is a simple enough response to the queries
> raised
> > above. I sincerely hope you will take the time to respond, and put my
> mind
> > and probably others as well? at rest.
> >
> > Ms. Basly.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________________
> >
> > Hi Dr. Ndemo,I felt it would not be fair to close the year with one final
> > outburst on your ministries policies.It was good to see that the
> > governement will be giving laptops to youth in the rural area.
> >
> http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/-/1006/499894/-/jh30hdz/-/index.html
> > Last time I checked 80% of the students in the University are from the
> > "rural areas" would it not make more sense to first equip them with the
> > necessary tools.  I recently talked to IT degree students at Nairobi
> > university and was shocked to  find that less than 5% have computers
> > dedicated to them and this are not provided by the institution but have
> > been bought privately.It is good to talk of empowering the rural folk but
> > is this the best way, should we not begin at the top and work our way
> > down.  This computers would also provide greater mileage if we example
> > they where to be giving to to students in teacher training colleges so
> > that they can take technology to the schools, country wide that they will
> > be posted to after they graduate?Also do not forget the medical students
> > who would be able to provide better medical services if they knew how to
> > use and had access to the internet's resources.Another major issue that
> is
> > lacking from the story is how the laptops are to be procured, is there
> any
> > likelihood that they will be assembled locally as if they are we shall be
> > killing to birds with 1 stone.
> >  Robert YaweKAY System Technologies LtdPhoenix House, 6th FloorP O Box
> > 55806 Nairobi, 00200Kenya
> > Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
> >
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-- 
Brian Munyao Longwe
e-mail: blongwe at gmail.com
cell:  + 254 722 518 744
blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com
meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com
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