[kictanet] Voiceless 'Knowledge Workers'

Fri Jun 13 14:11:39 EAT 2008

Victor,

I wouldn't have responded to this, save for the record. I am not sure which Rwandan 5-star hotel you are talking about (as they are not many), but whatever the case, you and I seem to be talking about 2 different Rwanda's. And btw, 300km of fiber for Rwanda is not the same thing as 300km for Kenya, not that Kenya's laid and functional national fiber is significantly much higher!

Even with the fact that it would be unfair to compare Rwanda's ICT status with Kenya's (given the countries' histories, sizes, populations, and economies), one cannot deny the fact that Rwanda is a miracle story, largely due to leadership and vision. And it is not only limited to ICT: look at governance, gender, security (Kigali is one of the safest of the 40+ African cities am familiar with), cleanliness/environment, good roads, etc. This is not to say Rwanda does not have its flip side; of course it does, e.g. democracy and private sector are still nascent, limited human resource base, etc.

Back to ICT: neither you nor I would be the best judge on whether Rwanda or Kenya is doing better in ICT. But last year's UNCTAD's Global ICT Diffusion Index put Rwanda at per with (if not ahead of) Kenya. If we are talking implementation, sample this:-

1. Rwanda was the 1st Sub-Saharan Africa's country to link its two largest cities by fiber
2. Rwanda's Cabinet sessions are e-ready (a good number of ministers prepare their own power point presentations)
3. Rwanda is the only country I know of where within 24 hrs of a Cabinet meeting, decisions are available on the web (Official Govt website - talk of transparency!)
4. Rwanda's e-Parliament is being used by NEPAD as a model for Africa - Internet-ready/WiFi/WiBro at every point of 'Parliament's' precinct (both Senate and Chamber of Deputies)
5. Rwanda was the first African country where e-Schools was simultaneously launched in all the 6 urban-rural schools with live webcast
6. Nearly 80% Govt offices in Kigali have fiber-to-office
7. About 10 local/district headquarter sites already have functional video-conferencing facilities connected to Kigali
8. Rwanda was first Sub-Saharan Africa to establish an ICT/TechnoPark (already with over a dozen active clients/innovators/companies)
9. Rwanda is the only African country I know of whose IFMIS (Treasury/Ministry of Finance System) is anchored on a locally developed software, by a Rwandan company (talk of supporting local private sector)
10. Telemedicine Network: several major hospitals are already connected
11. With Rwanda's Karisimbi 'Earth Satellite Station' linked to a Transponder in Stockholm, in October 2006 Rwanda was able to negotiate with Intelsat bandwidth rates down from US$ 4,500 per Mbps a month (which is what everybody pays - some countries pay as high as $6,000) to $1,300. COMESA/ADB have now adopted the facility for use for regional air-traffic control and surveillance.
12. On the e-legislation front, Rwanda was one of the first Africa's countries to evolve an IPR Law, and its e-Transactions Law (like ours) is under consideration. 

.... I could go on and on with the list. If these don't constitute 'achievements', then I don't know what does. Btw, several African countries I know of are borrowing one leaf or the other from the Rwandan 'humble' experience (including its plans).

But then again, is it fair for Kenya to compare with Rwanda? Shouldn't we have done much better than we have? I recall a saying that 'one thing's their mother is the best cook in the world until you taste another woman's dish'. Of course am not saying we have done nothing/little; my contention is that there are strategic things we could and should do to make an even greater leap.

Best rgrds,
Shem

--- On Thu, 6/12/08, Victor Maloi <victormaloi3 at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Victor Maloi <victormaloi3 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Voiceless 'Knowledge Workers'
To: shemochuodho at yahoo.com
Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Date: Thursday, June 12, 2008, 1:26 PM

Dear Shem,

I am in utter shock that you want to involve stakeholders from day 0ne.  Havent you ever heard the African saying - "too many cooks spoilt the broath".  Do you want Kenya to go the Rwanda way.  For those who do not know, Rwanda ICT programme cannot be compared to any in East Africa.  It is simply way back.  What they have succeeded with the help of Shem, is to talk about ICTs.  The NICIs.  There is nothing on the ground.  The speeds of internet in any five star hotel are far below what you get in our three star hotels here.  They have laid only 300 Kms of fibre but they have plans all over.

Although I have often criticised our policy mskers here, they have mostly been action oriented with a mix of stakeholder participation.  For example, we all know or have the summary Master Plan that I hear is being expanded.  Had we waited to finish the plan before we start the infrastructure projects, ICTs would still be discussed among the techies.  If you listened to the Budget proposals today, you will know that the ICT programme in Kenya means sereous.  Please Dr. Ndemo do not listen to Shem because he may contaminate you with the Rwandese rhetoric.

Victor.

On 12/06/2008, Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho at yahoo.com> wrote: 

Joseph,

Apologies for a late acknowledgement of your mail.

Well put. I guess the greatest desire for people like Nyong'o, Juma, etc, is to see those dear things they espouse done - not necessarily by them, but done nonetheless. Let's hope that some of the actions being floated in these spaces will some day (sooner or later) see the light of day.

Best rgrds,
Shem

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