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

Tue Jul 15 14:50:45 EAT 2008

Wainaina,

Rising fuel and food prices, struggling economies, policy obstacles
that make it difficult for locals to become new market entrants while
non-locals seem to get in "easily" are factors fueling some of the
sentiments. Far from extreme positions, attacking persons ie foreigners
rather than addressing policies and frameworks is counterproductive and
futile. (take the case of Zim and SA for example, are they better off today
than they were a few months ago?). While we can't correct the past, we
can plan for the future.

FDI in whatever form including intellectual is necessary to a country's
economy be it in the developing or developed world. For instance, were it
not for FDI, Citibank might have collapsed or become a takeover target.
What's needed are policies to ensure that locals have more than just a
token stake in the country's national cake to ensure that FDI also benefits
both locals (not just salaries but also ownership) and outsiders
substantially. Otherwise the old adage "a hungry man is an angry man" is
likely to manifest itself in forms of protest, some civil and others
uncivil.

We should be appreciative of our international colleagues who contribute to
and support the growth of our economic sectors, but we must also be willing
through leadership to bring about policy changes that promote local
ownership in the economy eg an AFC equivalent for the ICT sector. If our
international colleagues are at the helm today, let us emulate them by
working at being at the helm tomorrow or complement their efforts by showing
initiative in policy and decision making. If we sit back then we will only
have ourselves to blame if our non-local colleagues become the most
prominent in sectors of our economy.

On Tue, Jul 15, 2008 at 2:06 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>
>>> 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: <Email%3Aflorence.etta at gmail.com>
>>>> florence.etta at gmail.com*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----
>>>> From: Brian Munyao Longwe < <brian at caret.net>brian at caret.net>
>>>> To: <feanywhere at yahoo.co.uk>feanywhere at yahoo.co.uk
>>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions < <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>>>> 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>
>>>> 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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>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Joseph Manthi
>>> CEO
>>> MEO Ltd
>>> <http://www.meoltd.com/>http://www.meoltd.com
>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Joseph Manthi
>> CEO
>> MEO Ltd
>> http://www.meoltd.com
>>
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