[kictanet] {Disarmed} Fw: Re: [NewVisionKenya] Voiceless'Knowledge Workers'

Thu Jun 12 11:32:42 EAT 2008

Paul,

An Idea or two regarding your task below.

"The most interesting task for us has been how to spread ICTs to the mass
market and still retain our relevance among hardcore ICT stakeholders (those
like yourself whose counsel we seek)".

Perhaps you should consider a paradigm shift and work with the organized
groups within each public sector?

In Education for example -

Teachers,

To get to all the science and Maths teachers in Kenya you can seek the
assitance of the SMASSE group (Strengthening of Mathematics and Sceince
Subjects Eduction). They meet every holiday over a two week period. In
exactly two weeks you can reach over 25,000 education professionals in the
very subjects you intend to impact ICT on that are the foundation of
innovation that you seek in your centres of excellence.

All other subject groupings such as humanities also have structured in
service, perhaps not as frequently but still workable.

Students - all over kenya have even more exciting regular activites that can
tie themselves with ICT themes beautifully.

My emerging thread here is simple, try and fit into exisiting
programs within sectors. All our public sectors have systematic groupings
that work like clock work - Health, agriculture, tourism etc.

Why I suggest a paradigm shift is because having attended one of your public
forums at KICC, I saw largely an 'interested' grouping that was seeking
answers to questions they had. I am sure you target that 'other' group that
may not know about ICT in your public fora? that once awakened will be come
your rural ambassador ( I think we have enough urban ones)

Secondly, having learnt a thing or two from the ICT villages idea when it
went out of Nairobi, you may find that your core objective isnt met due to
poor attendance. This is regardless of advertising, by the way.

As for an approach in rural areas you may need to consider their groupings
there as well and work out a way of fitting in, to atleast raise interest
and curiosity, that way they can then attend future open fora that may come
up.

I know it is not as simple as I make it sound, but it has borne fruit as a
short tem strategy for some.

The board must find the hook that will bring the masses on board, and the
hook lies in each individuals day to day activity. That is where the
ownership Shem talks of will come from.

Fatma

On 6/11/08, Paul Kukubo <pkukubo at ict.go.ke> wrote:
>
> Shem
>
> The ICT board will very soon subjecting the draft strategic plan to
> stakeholder review.
>
> This might be one intervention point and your direct participation as a key
> player in the ICT space will be highly appreciated.
>
> ICT as a sector and as an enabler of other sector.
>
> One comment you did make in an ealier post is worth revisiting. The issue
> of marketing ICTs. (You did indicate that you were quoting someone). The
> board sees marketing of ICTs as one very important activity. This debate we
> are having here is being widened through the ICT board's Public Panels and
> Open Forums. Soon we will be going country wide listening to people as they
> express what they understand about ICT and exposing them to ICT
> opportunities.
>
> There are different audiences/markets for our programs. The most
> interesting task for us has been how to spread ICTs to the mass market and
> still retain our relevance among hardcore ICT stakeholders (those like
> yourself whose counsel we seek).
>
> Most Kenyans are not yet part of this debate. This is the divide our
> programs seek to bridge.
>
>
> Paul Kukubo
> Sent from my BlackBerry(R) smartphone provided by Celtel Kenya
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho at yahoo.com>
>
> Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:49:49
> To:pkukubo at ict.go.ke <To%3Apkukubo at ict.go.ke>
> Cc:New Vision List <newvisionkenya at yahoogroups.com>,KICTAnet ICT Policy
> Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Fw: Re: [NewVisionKenya] Voiceless
>        'Knowledge Workers'
>
>
> Bw PS,
>
> Once again allow me to say it is commendable to see you being 'responsive'
> online.
>
> On ICT development, I don't think what we are complaining of is 'inaction';
> No. There are lots of good 'projects' happening. Our/My concern is that they
> are not coherent, or rather there is no overarching 'comprehensive' or
> 'integrated' plan portraying the 'bigger picture' than individual projects
> or initiatives do. Examples of African countries with such comprehensive
> Masterplans include Rwanda, Tunisia and Mozambique. If we have (such) a
> master plan, I am not aware, and I would be more than delighted to see it.
> Otherwise, good strategies like that for the BPO's, the E-Govt Strategy,
> etc, should only be sub-components of the 'Masterplan'.
>
> As for lacking entrepreneurs, am not sure I entirely agree, either. Once
> again allow me to contend that Kenya has got some of the most 'enterprising'
> human resources. What they lack are opportunities and an enabling
> environment. I know some strides have been made, but we still have a long
> way to go. Just for instance, Tanzania gives up to 15% advantage to local
> firms when they bid for Govt projects (or so am told). Unless Kenyan rules
> have changed, I don't think such a provision exists. But that's just one
> area for improving the environment. There are several others, some specific
> to ICT, others of a more general nature. Developing a 'Masterplan' would
> create an opportunity for sufficient engagement with diverse 'Stakeholders'
> (including 'Professionals' and 'Entrepreneurs') that would unearth more
> comprehensively areas of improvement that the ICT private sector requires to
> fly.
>
> Finally, I don't think Govt can run away from building, creating and
> utilizing capacity. Of course it doesn't do it alone; it does it in
> collaboration with other players. But it is incumbent, as a starting point,
> upon Govt to come up with a comprehensive 'Human Capacity Development and
> Utilization Plan'. And rumour has it one could be in the offing; if that is
> true, that would be great. If the rumour is not true, then something needs
> to be done about it.
>
> My 2 cents worth.
>
> Warmest rgrds,
> Shem
>
> --- On Wed, 6/11/08, bitange at jambo.co.ke <bitange at jambo.co.ke> wrote:
> From: bitange at jambo.co.ke <bitange at jambo.co.ke>
> Subject: Re: {Disarmed} [kictanet] Fw: Re: [NewVisionKenya] Voiceless
> 'Knowledge Workers'
> To: shemochuodho at yahoo.com
> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Date: Wednesday, June 11, 2008, 8:07 AM
>
> Dear Shem/Lucy, Reading the write up here, I concluded that you are really
> behind on what is happening in the ICT landscape that I cannot do justice by
> using a balckberry to respond. However, in summary there are focused
> strategies to grow our sector. 2006 a bpo strategy that has given rise to
> part of vision 2030. Aggressive ICT infrastructure development. Complete
> legal and regulatory framework that is waiting for Parliament to do their
> part. Centers of excellency to build capacity created. Many more projects
> being implemented by th ICT Board and yes there is a master plan. What we
> neen now are entrepreneurs. Although government can help build capacity, it
> cannot create them. This requires both role models and ability to take risk.
> We must also remove the negative attitude whereby we approach all issues
> from a negative angle. Asante. Ndemo Sent from my BlackBerry(R) -----Original
> Message----- From: Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho at yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 8 Jun
> 2008 09:34:33 To:bitange at jambo.co.ke <To%3Abitange at jambo.co.ke>Cc:KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: {Disarmed} [kictanet] Fw: Re:
> [NewVisionKenya] Voiceless 'Knowledge Workers'   Sorry for cross-posts. ---
> On Sun, 6/8/08, Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho at yahoo.com> wrote: From: Shem
> Ochuodho <shemochuodho at yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [NewVisionKenya] Voiceless
> 'Knowledge Workers' To: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Sunday, June 8, 2008, 5:04 AM Lucy,
> That's precisely the problem: we are not distinguishing 'Professionals' from
> 'Stakeholders'. We are all 'Medical Stakeholders', but we are certainly not
> all 'Medical Professionals'. ... I am reactivating my Kictanet account, just
> in case.   Bw PS, glad to see you active online. But we need not be
> defensive on this. I am up to date with the sites you mention. I think our
> main problem at present is neither a policy nor strategy; they may require
> updating, but those you/the Govt already has. What is needed most urgently
> is a comprehensive implementation plan/blueprint/master plan. There are a
> whole lot of good projects being implemented, but they appear haphazard.
> They are not part of a 'coherent bigger whole'. A senior official of one of
> the major ICT associations who might for whatever reason prefer anonymity
> contends: 'we are busy marketing ICT''.   It would be unfortunate to sweep
> some of these issues under the carpet.   Back to my original posting: I
> think there are fundamental issues raised, that would be nice to address
> (just to mention a few):-   1. Has Vision 2030 been sufficiently debated by
> Kenyans for it to be launched? 2. Was 51% sale of Telkom Kenya justified
> under the circumstances? 3. Does Kenya consider its unique 'human capital' a
> competitive advantage, and if so, are we considering developing a 'Human
> Capacity Development & Utilization Plan'? 4. Are we working towards
> 'Professionalizing' ICT?   Best rgrds,Shem  --- On Sat, 6/7/08, Lucy Kimani
> <LKIMANI at YAHOO.COM> wrote: From: Lucy Kimani <LKIMANI at YAHOO.COM> Subject:
> [NewVisionKenya] Re: [shemochuodhoforparliament2007] Voiceless 'Knowledge
> Workers' To: shemochuodhoforparliament2007 at yahoogroups.com, "New Vision
> List" <newvisionkenya at yahoogroups.com> Date: Saturday, June 7, 2008, 11:28
> AM Shem,   The ICT community is very active and far from being "voiceless" I
> was sure I had seen your contribution on kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists. kictanet. or.ke <mailto:kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> http://lists. kictanet. or.ke/mailman/ listinfo/ kictanet <
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> if not, I suggest
> you get onto the list because thats where all the ICT Professionals/
> Stakeholders discuss everything ICT Sample discussion,, ,, ------------
> --------- ------- Original Message ------------ --------- ------- Subject:
> Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic From:    bitange at jambo. co.ke <mailto:
> bitange at jambo.co.ke> Date:    Wed, November 28, 2007 9:28 am
> Cc:      "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists. kictanet.
> or.ke <mailto:kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> > ------------ ---------
> --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------- Dear Yawe, I am
> sorry for assuming that you were aware of the National Optic Fibre Broadband
> network that is being built by Sagem, Huaweii and ZTE.  The project will be
> finished by August next year.  The Digital Village project will benefit from
> this network that is to link all District HQs.  The netwotk shall be run by
> the operators and hopefully take control of it if they see a business case
> in it.  Otherwise this was basically the Government wide area network.  We
> are now hoping that operators would come up with the last mile solutions.
> Phase two of our plans is to partner with the private sector to build data
> centers and disaster recovery centers.  This will ensure cheaper local
> hosting capability.  The biggest challenge is going to be local content. On
> the Government side, by June next year we should have tons of content
> online.  We need to pass the Freedom of Information Bill for the public to
> benefit from most of GoK data. We shall still need the international Fibre
> optic for research to both ends, that is, the rest of the world and our own
> research.  We cannot develop on a cocoon. I hope I have responded to your
> questions.  If you are not satisfied, please let me know. Asante sana.
> Bitange Ndemo. Shem, you have a lot of catching up to do my friend, so here
> are some good starting point:   http://www.informat ion.go.ke/ <
> http://www.information.go.ke/>   For Kenya's National Policy please see:
> http://www.informat ion.go.ke/ docs/ICT% 20Policy. pdf <
> http://www.information.go.ke/docs/ICT%20Policy.pdf>   Hey we even have a
> strategy: http://www.informat ion.go.ke/ docs/Kenya% 20ICT%20Strategy .pdf
> <http://www.information.go.ke/docs/Kenya%20ICT%20Strategy.pdf>   Actually,
> there were a couple of ICT bills already tabled last year, and what was in
> fact missing was the Ministry of Finance to complete the picture by amending
> the "Banking" Act which is way out dated and doesnt recognize electronic
> transactions hence the lack of a "Payment" Gateway -- Great opportunity for
> anyone ready to go as soon as they amend the Banking Act!  So I dont
> understand why the Accountant Bill when the Banking act is the one that
> needs immediate attention!  Until there is E-Commerce in full swing in
> Kenya, Kenyans will still look at the internet as a luxury and not a
> necessity limiting the subscriber base to just a few while it should be for
> everybody!   There is also the Kenya ICT Board actively involved in selling
> Kenya as the next Call Center/BPO Outsourcing Centre   http://www.ict.
> go.ke/inner. php?cat=news <http://www.ict.go.ke/inner.php?cat=news> Also,
> David Otwuoma is now in Kenya and actively involved in the ICT arena Shem
> Ochuodho <shemochuodho@ yahoo.com> wrote: An edited version of the article
> below appeared in today's edition of the Standard.   Rgrds, Shem   ------
> Where is the Voice of the Kenyan ICT Professional? -----
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