[kictanet] Commodity Exchange System

Thu Sep 23 11:54:13 EAT 2010

Any  innovation does/should go through some beta testing! That said, whether
the system is developed in Silicon Valley or a backstreet in N’Djamena is
immaterial. As a user, all I want is a system that meets my needs and is
priced right

Edwin

From: kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On
Behalf Of Andrea Bohnstedt
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 11:14 AM
To: Edwin
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Commodity Exchange System

Robert, I think you missed my point. 

I wear clothes by Kenyan fashion designers, shoes made locally, use mugs
made here, and I have had all my office furniture made on Ngong Road. 

If my locally made furniture is a bit out of shape because the wood wasn't
dried properly, no harm done. If a trading system messes up, potentially
massive harm done. 

I recall discussions a week or two ago, on this very list, about mobile
operators' billing and other systems, and how people got very worked up that
this wasn't working properly. And rightly so. How is this different from a
trading system? 

In conclusion: I honestly don't care where the system comes from. I need it
to work. That's the beauty of a global economy: you have the choice to buy
whatever works best for you. If Kenyan companies compete on that level:
excellent. If they don't - I'll buy from someone else. 

Andrea 

On 23 September 2010 10:23, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

Hi,

Who had tested the DOS operating system, Windows OS and closer to home
MPesa/MKesho/PAP?  Even God created Adam and used him as a prototype for
testing.

All systems must begin somewhere, at some point there was nothing but did
the fellows who developed the NSE's ATS system begin with a fully tested and
proven solution, NO.

Lets stop belittling ourselves, I got children without having to pass an
exam on parenting so why do we think that we cannot develop a reliable
solution from scratch, we are baby cries all we do is complain, complain,
complain and when an opportunity presents itself we crucify it, stone it and
finally burn it at the stake.

This can only be explained with the great words of our mighty President, "hi
ni u kumbafu" and as interpreted, by one Hon. Michuki, for the uninitiated
like Andrea "ni mutu ambaye anajua kile anatakiwa kufanya lakini anakataa
kukifanya, huyo ni KUBAFU".

We we cannot pull ourselves out of this importation quagmire lets stop
consuming bandwidth that the ISPs have sworn never to reduce in price.

Lets all have a good day dressed in our imported suites, using imported
software, on imported computers and sitting on imported chairs.

Asimuamushe alielala . . .

Regards 

Robert Yawe
KAY System Technologies Ltd
Phoenix House, 6th Floor
P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
Kenya

Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

  _____  

From: Andrea Bohnstedt <andrea.bohnstedt at ratio-magazine.com>
To: robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Sent: Thu, 23 September, 2010 9:35:41

Subject: Re: [kictanet] Commodity Exchange System

Hey all, 

Both the NSE and a future commodity exchange are trading platforms, and I
think it's crucial, absolutely crucial, that they have flawless technology
behind them - look at it from the perspective of anyone who trades on them,
whether small retail investors (of which Kenya has hundreds of thousands) or
large brokers. 

I actually don't care where such a system comes from, whether it's built
locally or abroad. But I don't think these are the right places to
experiment with new systems. It has to be tried and tested and reliable.  

Have a lovely Thursday, 
Andrea 

On 23 September 2010 09:23, Edith Adera <eadera at idrc.or.ke> wrote:

In other African countries, even where such large projects are outsourced to
foreigners, twinning is done with local IT firms as a requirement and
subsequent roll-out to branch offices are done entirely by locals - I'm
aware of a massive systems deployment within government in a neighboring
country where such twinning is being done and the system roll-out will be
done by locals. NCPB is a government agency, correct? If so, the government
should look inward first! 

Dr Ndemo, any comment? You've always been an advocate of local innovation.

Why do we have global award winners who can't be tried and tested locally?
what policy should be in place to encourage local software innovation? The
argument that local firms are free to competet alongside international firms
at this stage of our development is a "tired" argument in my view. Some
"affirmative action" policy may be necessary.

Edith

________________                                    

Edith Ofwona Adera 

Senior Program Specialist 

ICT4D Program and Climate Change & Water Program

International Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches pour le
développement international

Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa

Tel: +254202713160 | Fax/Téléc: +254202711063 | Skype: edithadera

eadera at idrc.or.ke |  <http://www.idrc.ca/> www.idrc.ca |
<http://www.crdi.ca/> www.crdi.ca

Error! Filename not specified.

  _____  

From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
[kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of
Mwololo Tim [timwololo at gmail.com]
Sent: 23 September 2010 08:26
To: Edith Adera

Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions

Subject: Re: [kictanet] Commodity Exchange System

Hi everyone,
Let us instead push for a policy that is supportive of local software
development. Giving up is not an option. Rgds. tm

On Tue, Sep 21, 2010 at 2:22 PM, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

Hi,

The National Cereals and Produce Board together with the East African Grain
Council are working towards the creation of a commodity exchange to trade
futures.

This process is at an advanced stage which begun with a process called
warehouse receipting and currently Equity Bank offers credit against the
receipts.

What does this have to do with us in the IT field?  When the Nairobi Stock
Exchange tendered for the automated trading system (ATS) and more recently
for the Broker Back-office System no local IT company made it past the 1st
round.  

The fact that companies like Virtual City are winning international awards
for systems development and others like PesaPal are receiving large direct
foreign investments means that we do have the skills to develop world class
solutions.

This is an appeal to all ICT experts in the country to prepare ourselves to
make sure that the grain exchange system is locally developed and we stop
being spectators in our own country.  I know it is said that a prophet is
never recognised in his own town, it is time we made this phrase redundant.

NCPB and others are already shopping overseas for a solution so be warned
that time is not in our hands and if we are to have an impact we need to
move quickly.

The proposed system is supposed to provide a trading platform, depository
system, GIS for land information, settlement system, warehouse management,
weather monitoring and seed planting information system (acreage, seed type,
fertiliser, etc).

Lets get off our high horses and put a together a world class solution for a
local problem.  No tears after the horse has bolted.

Useful links

http://dn.nationmedia.com/DN/DN/2010/09/03/ArticleHtmls/03_09_2010_030_014.s
html

http://allafrica.com/stories/200904271171.html

http://www.ratin.net/mainfeature.asp?id=40

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Business/Smart%20Money/-/688614/899436/-/bypmdxz/-/
index.html

http://www.unctad.info/upload/SUC/LusakaWorkshop/WarehouseServicesKenya.pdf

Robert Yawe
KAY System Technologies Ltd
Phoenix House, 6th Floor
P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
Kenya

Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 

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