[kictanet] Kenya ICT Sector Stakeholder Public Forum (was Re: Legislation and Discipline & Ethics

Tue Jul 15 12:30:01 EAT 2008

Wainaina,

To add to your list: the anti-foreigner attacks in Europe, in the
US... is there a bigger picture evolving across those continents?

Google search "european xenophobia" and you'll see.

Have you tried being a Turk in Germany, an Algerian/Moroccon in
France, a Mexican in the US, an immigrant in Switzerland? Remember
Jorg Haider in Austria, Le Penn in France?

It is in the long-term interest of foreign investors (whether
primarily of labor as in the cases above, or of cash/technology as in
the Kenyan situation) to comprehensively address some of the issues
raised in this forum. I for one wouldn't be comfortable knowing my
investments might unravel in the near/far future due to feelings of
encroachment by the local populace, however misplaced one may think
those feelings are.

Saidi

On Tue, Jul 15, 2008 at 10:06 AM, Wainaina Mungai
<wainaina.mungai at gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> The anti-foreigner attacks in South Africa, Zimbabwe, other African
> countries...and now Kenya....
>
> Is there a bigger picture evolving across the continent?
>
> Wainaina
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 9:05 PM, Joseph Manthi <jmanthi at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Brian
>> We take exception to our country being run by foreigners because we know
>> what it means to live in their midst. You come and live in the US - or ask
>> those Kenyans who have studied in India and could not find a single job in
>> India to do not because they did not have skills but because they were not
>> Indian - and you will tell me what you think.
>>
>> A foreign born national - especially Africans - will not be allowed the
>> kind of access and influence you guys seem to be abrogating to self declared
>> foreigners leave alone those ones who are quiet and do not want to be found
>> out. And when qualified Kenyans want to return home they find everything
>> being run by foreigners and doors closed.
>>
>> Joe
>>
>> On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 1:50 PM, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Now Joseph that was entirely uncalled  for. Do you begin to have even the
>>> slightest clue as to the extent that this country has benefitted from
>>> Florence "Mama ICT's" sweat, blood and tears.
>>> The question that is lurking in the bcak of my mind is why does it only
>>> (or mainly) seem to be our diaspora who are taking exception to the
>>> "visitors" in our midst? Could it be some kind of misplaced aggression?
>>> If Dr. Henry Chassia was talked about or treated by the South Africans
>>> the way you guys are addressing our valued friends then both Mandela and
>>> Mbeki would not benefit from his incredible input in their Presidential
>>> Advisory Committee on ICTs.
>>> Please desist from these kind of racial slurs....
>>> Brian
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> On 14 Jul 2008, at 7:27 PM, "Joseph Manthi" <jmanthi at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Florence:
>>> Don't you think you should let Kenyan's deal with their own stuff instead
>>> of you foreigners interfering? This is equivalent to you being invited to
>>> someone's else's house and asking to sleep in the parent's bed. It is high
>>> time you let us do our own things for our benefit.
>>>
>>> Brian, I vote no to this.
>>>
>>> Joe
>>>
>>> On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 11:40 AM, Florence Etta <feanywhere at yahoo.co.uk>
>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> My dear Brian,
>>>>
>>>> May I humbly publicly offer my services to facilitate such a Forum since
>>>> I am NOT Kenyan I wil not take sides.
>>>>
>>>> Besides, I am passionate about developments in this sector and in the
>>>> continent at large and I love to bring people together to discuss
>>>> constructiuvely. Trust me.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Cheers,
>>>> Florence Etta
>>>>
>>>> Alternative Email:florence.etta at gmail.com
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----
>>>> From: Brian Munyao Longwe <brian at caret.net>
>>>> To: feanywhere at yahoo.co.uk
>>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>>>> Sent: Monday, 14 July, 2008 4:39:57 PM
>>>> Subject: [kictanet] Kenya ICT Sector Stakeholder Public Forum (was Re:
>>>> Legislation and Discipline & Ethics)
>>>>
>>>> Hi all,
>>>> We are proposing a Public Forum on Thursday 31st of July to be held at a
>>>> suitable venue in Nairobi. The objective will be to provide all the
>>>> different ICT stakeholder organisations within Kenya a chance to introduce
>>>> themselves and their policies to the public.
>>>> There will also be opportunity to evaluate Kenya's ICT ecosystem,
>>>> especially with regards to the different entities, their missions, roles and
>>>> goals. As well as provide organisations such as KEPSA with an opportunity to
>>>> share their view/vision on how they expect ICT sector input/engagement.
>>>> Formal announcement will be posted once details have been worked out,
>>>> but in the meantime please pencil this into your schedules. We can also
>>>> explore the possibility of an IP stream for the Diaspora... if there is
>>>> interest in tracking this.
>>>> Warm regards,
>>>> Brian
>>>> On Jul 14, 2008, at 2:48 PM, Bill Kagai wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Daktari,
>>>>
>>>> I agree with you to some extent. If I were to chronicle the genesis of
>>>> the problem, some organisations were/are feeling choked by KIF especially in
>>>> relation to KEPSA. In my opinion, this means that KIF has managed to do many
>>>> things better than others to get where they are. However, that should not
>>>> mean that KIF now becomes the blanket representative of the industry in
>>>> matters pertaining to KEPSA. Other specialised organisations e.g.
>>>> Skunkworks, CSK, Kictanet etc should have equal opportunity to adress their
>>>> sector specific concerns with any stakeholder. [Government/Industry/Public].
>>>> E.g. If a foreign software house came to Government seeking advice on how to
>>>> partner with the local industry, why should KIF seize the opportunity when
>>>> we know that Skunkworks is more adept in those matters?? [Caveat -
>>>> organisations mentioned for purpose of elaboration only]
>>>>
>>>> The crux of the matter is that these new organisations do not come up
>>>> because of sector specific concerns they wish addressed...service,
>>>> bandwidth, policy, payment gateways etc but because officials running
>>>> established organisations have become 'Mugabes' resisting change and growing
>>>> old [literally] in those positions.
>>>>
>>>> You are best placed to provide leadership here by insisting that you
>>>> will only engage with organisations that run efficient structures with clear
>>>> mandates from their electorates and I will follow by paying membership in
>>>> all organisations that I feel will help air my business concerns in the
>>>> industry. Actually, I will be comfortable dealing with your ministry through
>>>> my sector organisation instead of all us queueing at your reception. And I
>>>> will hold my organisation leader responsible and thus create more time for
>>>> you to engage with others.
>>>>
>>>> Waudo::: You know what am talking about. Be brave...wachia vijana
>>>> usukani.
>>>>
>>>> Bill
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 4:30 PM, <bitange at jambo.co.ke> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Bill,
>>>>> In my view, such fracases are an indication of the level of activity in
>>>>> our sector.  We however must exercise our freedom of speech with
>>>>> responsibility.  If nothing was happening, nobody will feel squeezed.
>>>>>
>>>>> We must show the world that inspite of our differences, we are able to
>>>>> remain focused.  I wish we spent more energy on diffusion of technoloy.   We
>>>>> have limitless opportunities in this sector that we must encourage more
>>>>> foreign equity participation to ensure a flow of technology transfer.  This
>>>>> is what the NICs did.
>>>>>
>>>>> Asante.
>>>>>
>>>>> Ndemo.
>>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Joseph Manthi
>>> CEO
>>> MEO Ltd
>>> http://www.meoltd.com
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Joseph Manthi
>> CEO
>> MEO Ltd
>> http://www.meoltd.com
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