[kictanet] Who is ICT Board? - Capacity Building

Tue Apr 6 10:32:35 EAT 2010

Hi Lilian,

Just wanted to clarify an issue, government has some of the best trained ICT fellows and I know because I have regularly interacted with them for over 10 years.  Do not be deceived by the fact that they are no fancy websites or iphone applications the men and women who keep the government systems running are basically miracle workers.

How they do it is beyond my comprehension and the last thin they need is a capacity building what they need like all with the other areas of government is a co-ordinator or a Deputy Prime Minister IS.  Hon Raila has definitely moved government efficiency a notch higher and without a "dream team" or expatriate consultants all he did was dust off the diamonds within. 

Government has a beautiful retention strategy which is we pay you for 2 hours a day and we expect you to only deliver the paid for work, if you are unable to find something profitable to do with the balance 6 hours then that is your problem.

What we need is a deputy prime minister information systems or ICT or BPO whatever the name of which KICTB has proven not to be to "desilo" (term coined by Dr. Ndemo during the PM Round table meeting) the government activities.

Can you government ICT gurus stick your heads out and defend your selves, I know many of you are on this listing, so be warned that next time I need to put the record strait on your behalf I will actually name names.
 Robert Yawe
KAY System Technologies Ltd
Phoenix House, 6th Floor
P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
Kenya

Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

________________________________
From: Lilian Karanja <l_wkaranja at yahoo.com>
To: robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Sent: Mon, 5 April, 2010 16:58:41
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Who is ICT Board? Hijacked

Dear PS:

It is a little discouraging to hear you say that the issues discussed in this topic are 'kuchongoana tu'. We look up to you, and others in Government and also in the private sector who are so passionate about the use of ICTs and the Internet to create opportunities for all, in Kenya, and see that ICT remains a reliable vehicle for economic growth and development. So, please don't stop listening to us, patiently and we beseech you to continue in your wisdom in dealing with these matters.

This topic, 'Who is ICT Board?' as well as that of 'eGovernment is it a myth or reality?' have raised important questions that should be addressed with 'a big heart' and an open mind. As you have noted, a town hall meeting is good and always welcome. However, moving forward, it needs to be clear how ICT Board interacts with Government and how it promotes the existence of an Institutional Framework for ICT management in Government. Clearly, the ICT Board manages of a huge chunk of donor funds for ICT growth in Kenya, eGovernment and the likes (through the KTCIP), but still the Government lags behind in their ICT technical know-how and skills.

While one of their mandate (the ICT Board) is Capacity Building (Providing GoK and other stakeholders with skills, capacity and funding for anchor implementation of ICT projects for development) over time we have only seen laxity in the management of ICT by Government i.e. poor websites, unsatisfactory performance of legacy systems, inconsistent DNS & IP address management, meagre IT Security (web, network, etc), little or no R&D and M&E of ICT & eGovt, etc. But may be it is not deliberate laxity, it is that the Government Officers who manage IT issues in Government are not continuously trained in all pertinent areas to raise experts and skillful personnel.

I hope this is an area ICT Board can address, when they say that part of their mandate is Capacity Building, otherwise we have Government Officers who cannot do much to use broadband properly and strategically as well as make eGovernment a reality. The cabilities of these Officers should be close to, if not better than those in the private sector. And when GoK finally has real experts and engineers in ICT, a retention strategy MUST be adopted to keep them and recompense them accordingly. This is the future of Government IT, 'people who are knowledgeable and focused on a bright future'.

LILIAN

--- On Sun, 4/4/10, bitange at jambo.co.ke <bitange at jambo.co.ke> wrote:

>From: bitange at jambo.co.ke <bitange at jambo.co.ke>
>Subject: Re: [kictanet] Who is ICT Board? Hijacked
>To: "Lilian" <l_wkaranja at yahoo.com>
>Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>Date: Sunday, April 4, 2010, 9:42 AM
>
>
>Barrack,
>Several posts have come by on the role of ICT and I think it will be wise
>if we sorted this in a town hall meeting similar to one we had on Malili. 
>Honestly it feels as though some Neanderthal decided to create these
>agencies without putting some thought to it.  Criticisms are good only
>when you point out where there are gaps.
>
>The other day I posted a policy proposal for comments but only one person
>did respond.  What it means then is that this forum ni ya kuchongoana tu. 
>Which really is unfortunate.  I have four other policy proposals that I
>really think should push through then arouse sufficient interest from the
>membership here.
>
>
>Ndemo.
>
>
>> This is truly "Jicho Pevu", i think some answers to this questions are
>> very much in order as we celebrate Easter, can someone provide us with
>> a list of all agencies involved in ICTs and ICT4D so
> that we can do
>> some tooth comb analysis, i saw a  post from Paul on what the board
>> has achieved early this year, that was very much in order we need
>> something from NCS as well plus any other agencies.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> On Sat, Apr 3, 2010 at 12:50 PM, Vitalis Olunga <volunga at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> There is also another body , National Communications Secretarait. What
>>> is
>>> the diffrence between NCS and ICT Baord and how do the two bodies relate
>>> with respect to  advisory services to the governement on ICT matters?
>>>
>>> Regards
>>>
>>>
>>> Vitalis
>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>> From: robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk>
>>> To: volunga at yahoo.com
>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>>> Sent: Sat, April 3, 2010 12:03:22 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Who is ICT Board? Hijacked
>>>
>>> Hi,
>>> I rest my case on this issue, the ICT Board is a monolith, Try
>>> reading this... (pdf file), as I feared it is mandated to do anything
>>> and
>>> everything under the sun that could be called ICT which includes your
>>> microwave oven and
> copier.
>>> Functions of Kenya ICT Board
>>> The core functions of Kenya ICT Board as documented in the Kenya Gazette
>>> Legal Notice No 26 of the May 2007:
>>> •  To advice the government on all relevant matters pertaining to
>>> development, coordination  (remember the PM post) and promotion of ICT
>>> industries in the country.
>>> •  Promote both locally and internationally the opportunities for
>>> investments in ICT technology
>>> •  Facilitate and manage ICT industrial incubation parks and technology
>>> parks together with associated facilities on sites, estates and land.
>>> •  Partner with agents within and without the country to carry out such
>>> functions as it may consider necessary.
>>> •  To transform and empower society through deployment and use of
> ICTs.
>>> •  Carry out any other activity to promote and develop ICT products and
>>> services.
>>> Have a restful Easter as we await the limited range 4G, yes you guessed
>>> it I
>>> still have a 3G issue and I am in Nairobi.
>>> Regards
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> kictanet mailing list
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Barrack O. Otieno
>> Geneva
>> Skype: barrack.otieno
>>
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