[kictanet] Fw: Re: [NewVisionKenya] Voiceless 'KnowledgeWorkers'

Fri Jun 13 08:20:46 EAT 2008

Knowledge-based start-ups have a central role in generating the future
economy of Kenya, however, they are being impeded by various challenges such
as the ones mentioned by Marwanga.

The most vibrant economies in the world are the ones that have policies and
structures that motivate entrepreneurs towards greater innovative
activities. The United States economy for instance, has developed a strong
entrepreneurial culture and constantly strives to create policies and
regulations that encourage effective entrepreneurship. Strong state support
systems are in place to advance enterprise development. These include
funding, access to information resources, enterprise education and so forth.
SME's occupy 85% of firms in the US and create the majority of jobs.

In the United Kingdom, the government has developed and implemented regional
policies on entrepreneurship so as to provide effective small business
support. The regeneration of urban and rural areas through SME's is
encouraged. There is also a strong emphasis on research so as to understand
the dynamics of the SME sector and develop suitable support systems.

In Kenya, we are making progress, but still have long way to go.  A lot more
needs to be done by the govt in order to create the enabling environment for
entrepreneurship to thrive.

Dr Ndemo, we entrepreneurs in the BPO sector are looking forward to the day
when government will outsource various processes such as digitisation of the
millions of records in the various govt departments. This will go a long way
in encouraging the growth of the fledgling BPO sector in Kenya.

Peres Were

From: kictanet-bounces+pwere=cascadegl.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+pwere=cascadegl.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf
Of Shem Ochuodho
Sent: 12 June 2008 15:27
To: pwere at cascadegl.com
Cc: New Vision List; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fw: Re: [NewVisionKenya] Voiceless
'KnowledgeWorkers'

Daktari,

Many thanks for sharing additional examples of the practical challenges our
entrepreneurs face. Would be nice to find a catalogue of those impediments,
and even more importantly, the interventions (if any) being undertaken to
stem them.

Best rgrds,

Shem

--- On Wed, 6/11/08, R. O. Marwanga <rom105 at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: R. O. Marwanga <rom105 at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: {Disarmed} [kictanet] Fw: Re: [NewVisionKenya] Voiceless
'Knowledge Workers'
To: bitange at jambo.co.ke, NewVisionKenya at yahoogroups.com
Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>, "New
Vision List" <newvisionkenya at yahoogroups.com>
Date: Wednesday, June 11, 2008, 2:01 PM

Shem & others: Good to see this dabate on ICT and encouraging to see Dr.
Ndemo participating. I just have two comments regarding entrepreurship in
Kenya and the govt's role. a) First, as an entrepreneur myself and as one
interested in developing entrepreurship in Kenya, my experience has been
both positive and negative in the past several months. First, Kenya is
excellent in terms of availability of human resources. The attitude towards
taking risk is somewhat positive and there are some efforts, albeit
disjointed, towards creating an environment for risk-taking. Howeever, on
the gov't side both central and local, I find the attitude towards
entrepreneurship negative, almost hostile despite all the pronouncements to
the contrary. A comparison here will show why: I have been running a
consulting firm in the US since 1998 and all that time, I have never seen a
local govt official or IRS come to knock on my door about taxes or anything
like that. Besides the initial registration fees which is minimal, I simply
declare to IRS and pay taxes if any, each quarter. But in Kenya, I set up my
office last October and since then City Council Askaris & people from KRA
have come to my office demanding one thing or another! I have had to pay
exhobitant fees for which I cannot see what I get back, for example KSH 20K
annual City license fee! I get similar horror stories all the time from my
students in an Executive MBA class at Strathmore, many of whom run their own
businesses. There is clearly a need for change of attitude on the govt side
towards promoting entrepreneurship which I find lacking right now.  b)
Second, it is my opinion that a gov't has the role of both helping to create
capacity and also participating in the creation and use of capacity,
particularly in capital intensive areas like ICT. For example the US gov't
creates capacity, helps others to create capacity and is one of the biggest
consumers of the capacity created. Hope this is the direction Kenya is
moving.

Thanks

R. O. Marwanga                

--- On Wed, 6/11/08, Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho@ yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho@ yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: {Disarmed} [kictanet] Fw: Re: [NewVisionKenya] Voiceless
'Knowledge Workers'
To: bitange at jambo. co.ke
Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists. kictanet. or.ke>,
"New Vision List" <newvisionkenya@ yahoogroups. com>
Date: Wednesday, June 11, 2008, 10:49 AM

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@ 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 BlackBerryR

Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho@ yahoo.com> wrote: 

An edited version of the article below appeared in today's edition of the
Standard. 

Rgrds, 
Shem 

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