[kictanet] 1 million Laptops for who?

Thu Dec 11 16:19:01 EAT 2008

Dear Mr Brian,

Thank you for the explanation on policy,

I think the point here is not on the policy per se, but the plan of action. I am sure even Policies require one?

Its all very well to talk of a connected Kenya and launch a 1 million laptop facilitation policy. I think that Laptops will be the 3rd or 4th tier of this policy realization, wont you agree?

Its like starting off by icing a cake, then gathering the ingredients to bake it. Icing ( laptops) can easily be decided by the contents of the cake ( ingredients required to make an edible cake)

Its a simple example , the mail sent to Mr Ndemo was simply seeking to understand the ingredients that concluded what icing we needed this is all.

For real developement to the rural areas - there are issues of energy, Infrastructure, capacity building ( ICT) , Human resource planning ( through education system right through to degree programs offered at Uni level). One can easily say that the last stage mentioned is not necessary but ideal, but 1 milliion laptops to rural folk is too blanket a policy statement to get loud ayes from some of us without a G Plan.

I dont plan to take on Dr Ndemo or anyone else regarding this thread but for Policy to arise it must come forwad for facilitation purpose, to open up a new area, regulate an exisitng ,market , liberalize it etc etc.

I certainly dont get that impression from the article in the papers nor the response  therafter. Hence the questions raised.
 Ms. Basly

Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:27:34 +0530From: blongwe at gmail.comSubject: Re: [kictanet] 1 million Laptops for who?CC: kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.keTo: basly1 at hotmail.comSeems 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/Policyor A broad course of action or statements of guidance adopted by the government at the national level in pursuit of national objectiveshttp://www.answers.com/topic/national-policyEssentially 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 PMSubject: [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 YaweKAY System Technologies LtdPhoenix House, 6th FloorP O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200Kenya 

Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 

From: "bitange at jambo.co.ke" <bitange at jambo.co.ke>To: robertyawe at yahoo.co.ukCc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>Sent: Wednesday, 10 December, 2008 20:42:00Subject: Re: [kictanet] 1 million Laptops for who?Dear Faima Basly,You are asking good questions pessimistically.  what I said is that weshall start a one Million lap top campaign early next year.  In otherwordswe want at least one million laptops/notebooks in the hands of Kenyansfrom all walks of life.  The strategy is to partner with whoever alignsthemselves with our main policy direction - to lower the cost of accessingtechnology in Kenya - and specifically encouraging local assembly in orderto develop capacity.  Government has no intention of making anyprocurement arrangement for the public..  This is private sector work. Ours is to facilitate.  If Intel lowers cost for Laptops chips as part ofof our camapign and they intend to do that, that is good since that willbenefit all assemblers.We are looking at the issue from a macro level as we want as many Kenyansaccess technology.  We are pretty sure Broadband would be affordable inless than one year from today.  Having broadband will make every Kenyan aclerk 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>> _______________________________________________kictanet mailing> listkictanet at lists.kictanet.or.kehttp://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> _________________________________________________________________> Discover the new Windows Vista> http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=windows+vista&mkt=en-US&form=QBRE> ----------------------------------------------> This message has been scanned for viruses and> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is> believed to be clean.> ---------------------------------------------> "easy access to the world">> _______________________________________________> kictanet mailing list> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet>> This message was sent to: bitange at jambo.co.ke> Unsubscribe or change your options at> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke>---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses anddangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and isbelieved to be clean.---------------------------------------------"easy access to the world" _______________________________________________kictanet mailing listkictanet at lists.kictanet.or.kehttp://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanetThis message was sent to: robertyawe at yahoo.co.ukUnsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.uk_______________________________________________kictanet mailing listkictanet at lists.kictanet.or.kehttp://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanetThis message was sent to: blongwe at gmail.comUnsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/blongwe%40gmail.com-- Brian Munyao Longwee-mail: blongwe at gmail.comcell:  + 254 722 518 744blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.commeta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com
_________________________________________________________________
Invite your mail contacts to join your friends list with Windows Live Spaces. It's easy!
http://spaces.live.com/spacesapi.aspx?wx_action=create&wx_url=/friends.aspx&mkt=en-us
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/attachments/20081211/48902ca9/attachment.htm>