[kictanet] Fw: Re: [NewVisionKenya] Voiceless'Knowledge Workers'

Thu Jun 12 17:05:40 EAT 2008

Fatma,

I could not have put it as well. Sometimes the State (and this does not apply only in Kenya) assumes that its subjects - aka Wanjiku and Onyango (especially in the rural areas) are just zombies to be dragged along, after 'thinking and designing for them'. However, it is amazing sometimes what interesting results one gets when the bottoms-up approach is adopted.

Best rgrds,
Shem

--- On Thu, 6/12/08, Fatma Bashir <fatma.bashir at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Fatma Bashir <fatma.bashir at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Fw: Re: [NewVisionKenya] Voiceless'Knowledge Workers'
To: "Shem Ochuodho" <shemochuodho at yahoo.com>
Cc: "New Vision List" <newvisionkenya at yahoogroups.com>, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Date: Thursday, June 12, 2008, 4:32 AM

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® 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
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

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