[kictanet] Bitange for President?DrivingKnowledgeEconomy?OnlineInterviewwith PS Ndemo

Tue Aug 9 19:37:51 EAT 2011

Esther,
We need to develop a commodities exchange platform.  This way at least
both the Media and other Kenyans can see that we have food and we need not
buy from outside only to create a glut.  This is business and lots of
money.  Any entrepreneur out there?

Regards

Ndemo.

> Yesterday I was blessed to meet with another passionate PS who seemed to
> talk from the same script with our PS 'President'. While he is very happy
> at
> the way Kenyans have responded to the current hunger crisis, he is pained
> by
> the amount of food rotting in some parts of Kenya - yet no effort is being
> made to buy these from the hard-working farmers. By result is the farmer
> remains poor, and we continue buying food from across borders.
>
> Do we have to flag off a truck full of food from Nairobi, when we can
> transport the same (or a good mix) from a location like Kitale where we
> have
> lots of maize? How can we utilize ICTs to connect farmers to markets,
> including reliable/affordable transporters? I am aware of a regional
> trading
> platform that was funded by USAID to help reduce food insecurity in the
> region. Can we have a similar one in Kenya that will help our farmers
> access
> markets? My prayer/wish is that the 'Kenyans for Kenya' money can be used
> to
> buy food from the hardworking farmers.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: kictanet-bounces+emuchiri=andestbites.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+emuchiri=andestbites.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On
> Behalf Of bitange at jambo.co.ke
> Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2011 2:56 PM
> To: emuchiri at andestbites.com
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Bitange for
> President?DrivingKnowledgeEconomy?OnlineInterviewwith PS Ndemo
>
> Listers,
> A number of you have asked me to make comments with respects to Media in
> Kenya and how I see its role in the ICT sector.  Media is very critical in
> a developing economy.   They deserve greater freedom.  However, just like
> the society we live in there are bad apples.  The challenge therefore is
> how to distinguish bad apples from the good ones.  In developed countries,
> ethical code of conduct is paramount.
>
> Although our Media is one of the best in Africa, it is lacking in many
> ways and I hope they can accept criticism.  They lack in research and
> analysis.  Let me explain.  Yesterday, I was lucky to get home at 9.30 and
> caught up with Business News.  A number of journalists were interviewing
> the Governor of Central Bank (If he was not an academic, I would not write
> this).  The journalists asked him if he was planning to intervene on the
> declining shilling.  His response was swift and short "there is nothing
> you do with supply side shocks".  There was no follow up question.  I bet
> 80% of TV watchers if not more had no idea with what the Governor was
> saying.
>
> By now Media should have known that to interview someone like the Governor
> you need some research or send someone who can probe further.  His
> statement was significant and indeed it affects every one of us but most
> people did not understand what he meant.  In simple English he was saying
> that if you are attacked from the outside with higher prices of oil and
> food, there is no defense.    In economic terms, he was shifting blame
> from a monetary policy standpoint to fiscal policy (encourage a shift from
> oil dependency to other oil substitutes through tax incentives).   Yet
> whenever there is inflation followed by a risk of wage price spiral,
> economic theorists recommend a raise in interest rates (a monetary policy
> intervention).
>
> KPLC has slapped us with an oil adjustment tax at the time intense
> sunshine is killing livestock in the north.  A good journalist should have
> asked Governor what in his opinion we should do as a country.  I am 100%
> sure the Governor would have made recommendations to encourage Kenyans to
> invest in Solar Energy and in the meantime raised the interest rates.
> Better even they should have asked another economist to interpret what the
> Governor meant and how best we can deal with it.
>
> In the same News Bulletin production of maize from the Tana Delta had
> trebled and farmers had nowhere to take their crop.  They showed some of
> if rotting.  One way of dealing with supply side shocks is greater
> productivity.  This means there will be less dollars required to pay for
> imports.  That implies demand for dollars will drop and if that is the
> case, the price (or the exchange rate) should drop.  Indeed the past few
> weeks the international price per barrel of oil has stabilized and as such
> the demand for dollars is not as high as it was a few weeks ago.
> Therefore, although the journalists had a valid question, they had not
> done their home work (research) to withstand the economics professor and
> give us a better analysis of the situation.  Kenya being a net importer,
> it hurts us any time the shilling drops since we pay more for such things
> as medicine.
>
> It is even more serious to continue with further imports when food supply
> is stabilizing from improved productivity.  This would undermine local
> farmers to the extent that the next season they will boycott planting
> since they are not able to sell their crop.  This is how we create cycle
> of poverty.  Much as we say that irrigation would help, it is not the
> solution.  We must deal with: the greed first, post production and supply
> chain.  It is also unfortunate that most writers keep on recommending
> irrigation from Lake Turkana yet from our geography we know that the lake
> is one of the largest saline lakes in Africa.  Simple research will make
> us more informed.  I wonder what foreigners think of us when you see so
> many articles in our respected newspapers peddling falsehood.
>
> In It we have something we call mash up.  This is where you mix several
> different variables in order to explain a single phenomenon.  Our media
> lacks this completely.  Take for example recent reporting on hunger.
> Everybody in the world knows Turkana is in crisis where in fact the crisis
> covers the Northern Kenya.  Northern Kenya is not Turkana and vice versa.
> There are people in Kacheliba and Wajir who are as hungry as those in
> Turkana.  If you talk to politicians from the area they will tell you that
> we are seeing politics of 2012 and that Media is being used as attack dogs
> and they are not seeing it.  My Minister has given a statement to this
> effect.   Even though I am writing as "candidate" I am not political but I
> invite you to apply the mash up theory.  It is for media to research on
> this, analyze recent events and inform the public.
>
> In conclusion, Media has a great role to play in stabilizing our fledgling
> democracy.  Just like every one of us they need to grow.  We must give
> them space to nature their growth but they must do it responsibly.  They
> must uphold highest standards of ethics because if they fail, we shall all
> perish.
>
>
>
> Regards
>
>
> Ndemo.
>
>
>
>
>
>> Harry,
>>
>>> to rally relevant support for these projects at the grassroots level.
>>> Again
>>> it's a firm belief the much of this opposition is premised on
>>> ignorance,
>>> and
>>> possibly illiteracy plus meaningless local politics..
>>
>> In one of my previous life and now the current job it is there in the
>> ToRs that I undertake extensive civic education regarding nuclear
>> power generation and to lobby support from key stakeholders such as
>> Central Organization of Trade Unions, Federation of Kenya Employers,
>> Kenya Association of Manufacturers, and the civil society;
>>
>> Our communications, if I take nuclear energy as an example, need not
>> be alarmist.  During the process of planning for nuclear, it is
>> important that the public has to be communicated with. They are
>> entitled to precise, simple, accurate and accessible information. The
>> countries having big and successful nuclear programme have a high
>> levels of support from the public by constantly engaging them. It is
>> upon us, as Africans, to learn and adopt the experiences from these
>> successful countries, and determine our communication strategy to
>> connect and stay connected with the public. The public is the main
>> shareholder of the nuclear program in any country as they can make or
>> break the program.
>>
>> So on sweeter areas like ICT which have no adverse environmental
>> impacts the above should be a piece of cake! Never take people to be
>> ignorant, illiterate and non political! The public is the main
>> shareholder and they can make or break what is alien to them!
>>
>> Kind regards,
>>
>> David
>>
>> On 8/9/11, Harry Delano <harry at comtelsys.co.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> Thank you. Hope the efforts bear fruit. Walu, pse update.
>>>
>>> Let's do all that's within our means to not throw away these
>>> investments..
>>>
>>> Where possible, as Robert suggested,I suppose a number of us would be
>>> willing
>>> to rally relevant support for these projects at the grassroots level.
>>> Again
>>> it's a firm belief the much of this opposition is premised on
>>> ignorance,
>>> and
>>> possibly illiteracy plus meaningless local politics..
>>>
>>> Harry
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: bitange at jambo.co.ke [mailto:bitange at jambo.co.ke]
>>> Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 11:47 AM
>>> To: harry at comtelsys.co.ke
>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Bitange for
>>> President?DrivingKnowledgeEconomy?OnlineInterviewwith PS Ndemo
>>>
>>> Harry,
>>> At the Konza meeting this morning I repeated what I wrote yesterday.
>>> Walubengo attended.  Perhaps you need to write about it.  The wazees
>>> were
>>> there and I sort of scolded them for letting this opportunity.  I also
>>> asked
>>> IFC to follow up with them.  We can try.
>>>
>>> I also learnt that even after Kengen paid for the Land in Olkaria, the
>>> people there are demanding more since it was their ancestral land.  I
>>> will
>>> never understand Kenyan people and Land.
>>>
>>> Ndemo.
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from my BlackBerryR
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: "Harry Delano" <harry at comtelsys.co.ke>
>>> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>> Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2011 09:56:59
>>> To: <bitange at jambo.co.ke>
>>> Reply-To: harry at comtelsys.co.ke
>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Bitange for President?
>>> 	DrivingKnowledgeEconomy?OnlineInterviewwith PS Ndemo
>>>
>>>
>>> Am still seething....
>>>
>>> Bw Ps, is there any way we can convince these investors to come back. I
>>> sincerely
>>> believe there are other potential areas they can pitch these
>>> investments.
>>> I'm sure
>>> a lot of us (on this list)can in a way or other get involved in
>>> lobbying/educating
>>> our local communities.
>>>
>>> We need not let a tiny handful of self seekers ruin the potential that
>>> this
>>> country
>>> holds, esp for future generations.
>>>
>>> Harry
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On
>>> Behalf Of lordmwesh
>>> Sent: Sunday, August 07, 2011 10:51 PM
>>> To: harry at comtelsys.co.ke
>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Bitange for President?
>>> DrivingKnowledgeEconomy?OnlineInterviewwith PS Ndemo
>>>
>>> Dr. Ndemo,
>>> I believe GoK has a law allowing it to take any land, anywhere, so long
>>> as
>>> its for the common good of the whole society, and compensate the owners
>>> in
>>> due course. With or without politics, why was this law not used?
>>>
>>> We saw this law being used in to the maximum in the titanium project in
>>> Coast province!
>>>
>>> Regards
>>> Lordmwesh
>>>
>>> On 07/08/2011, Harry Delano <harry at comtelsys.co.ke> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> This is shockingly beyond belief.....!!. An injection of $1 Billion
>>>> worth of FDI into our economy just gone up in smoke like that out of
>>>> sheer politik intransigence is so appalling that any Kenyan reading
>>>> this should be Very Angry..!! What a missed opportunity...?
>>>>
>>>> I can only sum this up in two words; "shortsightedness and
>>>> selfishness.."
>>>>
>>>> Unfortunately, it also seems that the "man eat man" syndrome thrives
>>>> in our midst with abandon, and often times now it appears, the more
>>>> disenfranchised the populace is in empowerment, the more the
>>>> opportunities arise to capitalize on their illiteracy and
>>>> disinformation to exploit them for our own Selfish interests; and this
>>>> by our so called "leaders" is so shameful..
>>>>
>>>> Listers this is an eye opener, to apply ICT and ICT driven solutions
>>>> to disseminate information and ensure empowerment at the grassroots.
>>>> This is of utmost priority...
>>>>
>>>> Harry
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: bitange at jambo.co.ke [mailto:bitange at jambo.co.ke]
>>>> Sent: Sunday, August 07, 2011 8:43 PM
>>>> To: harry at comtelsys.co.ke
>>>> Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions'; bitange at jambo.co.ke
>>>> Subject: RE: [kictanet] Bitange for President?
>>>> DrivingKnowledgeEconomy?OnlineInterviewwith PS Ndemo
>>>>
>>>> Listers,
>>>> Allow me to say a few things about unemployment:
>>>>
>>>> From basic economics, we know how to reduce unemployment - spend money
>>>> on public investments - that is roads, rail, energy,
>>>> telecommunications, urban development etc and other non government
>>>> investments such as the new Aga Khan Hospital expansion, Delta
>>>> Property investments in Kenya, National Oil Refinery expansion, Kenya
>>>> Breweries expansion, investment in value added services etc.  Creating
>>>> jobs in a developing country should be what Americans call a no
>>>> brainer.  In developing countries lies many opportunities but the
>>>> scale
>>>> of
>>> greed far exceeds national interests.
>>>>
>>>> Some three months ago, I met with top officials of Fedex, a worldwide
>>>> logistics company.  They expressed interest in creating Kenya a
>>>> regional hub that would serve both Middle East, parts of Asia and
>>>> Africa.  They needed several acres of land within an Airport.  I also
>>>> got wind that Boeng were considering Kenya as a regional hub for
>>>> Repair
>>> and Maintenance.
>>>>  I liaised with IFC top officials and one VP came to see me over this
>>>> lucrative investment.  He concurred with me that we needed a
>>>> Greenfield airport.  I contacted my counterpart in Transport we
>>>> started a search for an ideal location with the help of the
>>>> Directorate of Civil Aviation.  The result was land adjacent to Konza.
>>>> Quickly I called the leaders from the area including the Ranch
>>>> cooperative leaders.  They control more than 100,000 hectares of empty
>>>> land.  We needed only 20,000 acres for an Aerotropolis which will have
>>> encompassed Konza.
>>>>
>>>> IFC did not want an outright purchase of Land considering the kind of
>>>> publicity we went through in acquiring Konza.  They offered equity in
>>>> the project and promised to source for the initial $1 billion to start
>>>> the project.  They needed to start the legal process while at the same
>>>> time doing the feasibility study.  When the feasibility study team
>>>> came from Washington, there was nobody to meet on the ground.  We were
>>>> told the Chairman was consulting with the Ministry of Cooperative.  I
>>>> followed up the matter with the Ministry and I got to know that they
>>>> had
>>> no problem.
>>>> The team was played around and they never got to start the
>>>> feasibility.  I went back to the area leadership and was told all was
>>>> well.  Later I got to learn that some rich people wanted to buy out
>>>> the poor farmers then negotiate with IFC.  The farmers hit the roof
>>>> and called an AGM.  I sent my senior officers to the AGM to explain
>>>> this directly.  Unfortunately, when they got there they were
>>>> threatened and asked to sit silent.  The resolution on the ground was
>>>> to sub divide the land into two acre pieces and if anyone wanted the
>>> 20,000 acres they are to deal with individual owners.
>>>>
>>>> In the meantime we have shelved a project that would have 1) created
>>>> thousands of sustainable jobs, 2) increased the value of the remaining
>>>> land and 3) brought good infrastructure.  Leave alone the pull effect
>>>> on agriculture it would have created to the poor people around the
>>> airport.
>>>> Now a Member of Parliament has asked a question to be answered in due
>>>> course "what the Ministry has done in securing land adjacent to Konza
>>>> Technology for any further Development".  We cannot compulsorily
>>>> acquire this land since these leaders would use the same poor people
>>>> to create trouble.  I have been warned by various leaders that such a
>>>> move will fail.  You cannot blame the Government when the local
>>>> leadership cannot see opportunity or tapper their greed to allow
>>>> greater
>>> good for the greater number of people.
>>>>
>>>> The causes of unemployment are not what you see in text books.  It is
>>>> not poverty as many academicians would tell you.  It is greed, it is
>>>> lack of trust among those who represent people's interest, it is lack
>>>> of vision, it is the minimalist mentality that we have come to
>>>> embrace.  We must move from this hopeless state to greater and
>>>> collective thinking.  If the poor people became shareholders of such a
>>>> mega project, you change their lives forever, you improve your own
>>>> security as each one of your neighbor would have the basic needs and
>>>> more.  Allow me to deal with other causes of unemployment then propose
>>> some solutions.
>>>>
>>>> The rate of our population growth is worrisome.  It will both impact
>>>> not only on food security but our future employability.  The recent
>>>> study on education published in the East African showed while you can
>>>> get good education in Kenya, it is not everybody who can access that
>>>> good
>>> education.
>>>> Good education comes with better chances of being employed anywhere on
>>>> the planet and you need to pay.  Even if Free Education were to be
>>>> improved significantly, you need fewer numbers of children that you
>>>> can afford to give sufficient love.  You cannot pay attention to 12
>>>> kids let alone understanding the psychological problems they are going
>>> through.
>>>>  Parenting is a greater component in the success of any child and the
>>>> way you are brought up increases your chances of employability.  This
>>>> where issues such as values come in.
>>>>
>>>> In recent years, we have messed our Education system.  Like in Germany
>>>> we must retain tertiary institutions.  This is where you get the
>>>> technicians to do Kazi ya Mkono.  Earlier I talked of investments like
>>>> Aga Khan.  I was deliberate because a number of jobs created by the
>>>> expansion will not be taken up by Kenyans.  When an X-ray machine
>>>> breaks down, we call for technicians to come from Germany yet we have
>>>> thousands of trainable youth who can be able to undertake the job at
>>>> cheaper costs.  The cost of bringing in a foreign technician is passed
>>>> on to the consumer.  This is how India has become a cheaper
>>>> destination
>>> for mundane medical issues such as diagnostics.
>>>>
>>>> Further we say we need Nuclear plants but we have not even started to
>>>> build capacity.  If we did start the project today, virtually all the
>>>> experts will be foreign.  We lack a comprehensive skills inventory.
>>>> This will become a guide on what training we need and when we need it
>>>> in order to increase the number of employable youth.  The Government
>>>> can for example provide incentives to students who study in areas that
>>>> are strategic to our economic development.  This skills inventory
>>>> thing has been going on for the past four years.  Although I am a
>>>> member of the task I am not able to impact its fast tracking and my
>>>> proposal of doing it via ICT did not work.  Per diem requirements
>>>> seems to dictate the pace.  We must have the skills inventory in order
>>>> to
>>> address the labour demand-supply mismatch that ails our economy.
>>>>
>>>> You cannot talk about unemployment in this country without talking
>>>> about Trade Unions.  It is a sad picture out there.  The Union
>>>> leadership have adopted a psychological warfare that has nothing to do
>>> with employment.
>>>> They are harsh and can destroy your reputation in a split second.
>>>> Media loves this and to some extent fear disclosing the rot in the
>>> movement.
>>>> Our labour leaders are some of the richest in this country.  If
>>>> Lumumba were to mount a street protest on account of their life style
>>> audit, I
>>>> will join him.    This closed club protects firms and non performing
>>>> employees in equal measure.  We need to be more productive to increase
>>>> opportunities for more jobs.  The unions have not understood this
>>>> simple theory of labour economics.  Had they allowed modern equipment
>>>> to pick tea in Kericho, Tea estates will be more productive and most
>>>> of those jobs would have shifted into value added services and
>>>> manufacturing.  Just like the introduction of IT has increased jobs
>>>> better than we thought in early 80's when computers were banned.
>>>>
>>>> We therefore need to quickly deal with our educational system, begin
>>>> to plan for future employment opportunities now, remove information
>>>> asymmetries that deny the poor employment opportunities, deal with
>>>> labour regulation and regulatory efficiencies including trade unions,
>>>> as for greed we need to pray to God since sometimes you are not able
>>>> to understand how it attacks.  In the day you have the support of all
>>>> the leadership while at night they undermine every move you make.
>>>> Overall we can deal with this menace.  Get a better "Candidate" come
>>>> next
>>> year.  One Kenya.
>>>>
>>>> Regards
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Ndemo.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Bwana Ps,
>>>>>
>>>>> First and foremost our condolences, for the loss....
>>>>>
>>>>> Secondly, I'd really wish to commend the moderator who set this
>>>>> thread off.
>>>>> For once we have a lively healthy debate, modelled alongside the live
>>>>> presidential hopeful debates often times held elsewhere in more
>>>>> mature democracies.This is the way to go and it heralds exciting
>>>>> times
>>> ahead.
>>>>> I suppose this forum is so well poised to play a leading role in the
>>>>> National discourse aimed at building a better Kenya. So let's keep
>>>>> this up, and perhaps rope in the other "contenders".
>>>>>
>>>>> But 3rdly, this "Sumptuous" debate is also turning out to be highly
>>>>> educative and hugely informational for most of our silent listeners
>>>>> on the list, who are furiously "taking notes". Dr.Ndemo,many of us
>>>>> are just realizing to our utter amazement how much level of knowledge
>>>>> you possess and are willing to share, and your amount of energy is so
>>>>> infectious, that somehow I in my opinion feel we need not limit you
>>>>> to this forum,but find ways in which we can have you engage an even
>>>>> wider and more larger audience out here especially those from the
>>>>> generation Y segment. Listers any ideas...?  Would Townhall style
>>>>> lectures suffice...? Just thinking..
>>>>>
>>>>> I couldn't help noticing an earlier debate touching on infrastructure
>>>>> and feeding our nation, and in the same vein I have also taken a hard
>>>>> look at the events taking place across our country right now,and the
>>>>> greater horn of Africa,and it would be an understatement when I say
>>>>> it's really infuriating to say the least. It defeats any imagination
>>>>> why after independence, 51 yrs down the line we are not self
>>>>> sufficient in food production, with several corners of the nation
>>>>> marginalized such that even humanitarian aid donated by other well
>>>>> meaning Kenyans can not reach those who need it most because there is
>>>>> no infrastructure such as roads and communication to even talk about
>>>>> in the first place... It's maddening..
>>>>>
>>>>> How do you plan to balance infrastructural development across the
>>>>> land, to avoid over-concentration in specific zones at the expense of
>>>>> the rest...?
>>>>>
>>>>> At the same time, what kind/quality of advisers would you be looking
>>>>> for to help you shape policy/decision making.
>>>>> A presidency or leadership is just as good or bad as the quality of
>>>>> the courtiers that gather around.
>>>>>
>>>>> Harry
>>>>>
>>>>>   _____
>>>>>
>>>>> From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>>> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke]
>>>>> On Behalf Of bitange at jambo.co.ke
>>>>> Sent: Saturday, August 06, 2011 9:01 PM
>>>>> To: harry at comtelsys.co.ke
>>>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>>>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Bitange for President?
>>>>> DrivingKnowledgeEconomy?OnlineInterviewwith PS Ndemo
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Aki,
>>>>> We are meeting Konza Technology City possible underwriters (local
>>>>> Banks) on Monday morning 7am at Serena. Please come. Many of the
>>>>> quesions you ask will be answered then you can make a summary for the
>>>>> listers.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Ndemo.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Sent from my BlackBerryR
>>>>>
>>>>>   _____
>>>>>
>>>>> From: aki <aki275 at gmail.com>
>>>>> Date: Sat, 6 Aug 2011 19:45:44 +0300
>>>>> To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>>>>> Cc: <bitange at jambo.co.ke>
>>>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Bitange for President? Driving
>>>>> KnowledgeEconomy?OnlineInterview with PS Ndemo
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Dr Ndemo,
>>>>>
>>>>> While we look forward to a comprehensive response on the High Tech
>>>>> Sector/ Malili as soon as you have some time, I believe that you
>>>>> mentioned that completion is about 3 years away. That seems is not a
>>>>> lot of time to get e.g at least 50 companies who have significant
>>>>> turnovers coming close to about Kshs 500 million with a % on exports.
>>>>> I think there may be a need for a review. I already read that IBM
>>>>> super-team is in the country and done some indepth research and
>>>>> assessment into e-Govt, it maybe a good time to ask them to re-access
>>>>> the current trends. Mobile, Web and Social technologiy development
>>>>> platforms trends may only produce slim domestic interest with
>>>>> extremely small turnovers and virtually impossible that either can
>>>>> later contribute to significant economic growth.
>>>>>
>>>>> There could an alternative which would be to look at Comesa/Igad or
>>>>> other markets within our region, create Govt/Private ICT or other
>>>>> sector development action groups to be based at Malili which would
>>>>> also provide Venture Capitalists/Investors an avenue for serious
>>>>> interests. I've had a look at very basic Comesa data, seems
>>>>> Agricultural engineering would do well here. I think JUKAT has the
>>>>> foundations of producing such engineers.
>>>>> However, there is not enough data to full research what Agricultural
>>>>> Engineering and ICT development can do.
>>>>>
>>>>> Also the topic of electricity generation has raised a manufacturing
>>>>> interest. Is any Kenyan company manufacturing the High Voltage Lines
>>>>> insulators ( ceramic/glass based in many cases ) or are we importing
>>>>> these?
>>>>> Each High/Low Power line on every mounted pole needs these isolators.
>>>>> http://knol.google.com/k/overhead-line-insulators
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you.
>>>>>
>>>>> Rgds.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, Aug 5, 2011 at 10:54 AM, aki <aki275 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you Dr Ndemo, and will await to read the comprehensive
>>>>> response.
>>>>> :-)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, Aug 5, 2011 at 9:45 AM, <bitange at jambo.co.ke> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Aki,
>>>>> Whereas by chance one of the aaplications developed here may become a
>>>>> global brand, we do not want to leave to chance. That is why we are
>>>>> developing centers of excellency, standards and incubators to make
>>>>> sure we part of global standards. There is much learning that we must
>>>>> go through. The reason we should seek to collaborate while guarding
>>>>> our inventions.
>>>>>
>>>>> As I write, we are working on a digital economy policy. We shall come
>>>>> up with a specific legislation in this emerging sector. Create
>>>>> special incentives that would propel it to greater levels.
>>>>>
>>>>> We also must deal with Universities inorder to create the triple
>>>>> helix that has worked in many parts of the world. Strathmore is
>>>>> leading in the right direction. We want to fully their patnership
>>>>> with Sumsang and Safaricom.
>>>>> Through such arrangement we create capacities that lead to new other
>>>>> enterprises.
>>>>>
>>>>> This is an area I have the greatest interest and would want to
>>>>> explore. I am using the annoying Blackberry so please allow me to
>>>>> respond more comprehensively when I get to a real keyboard.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Ndemo.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Sent from my BlackBerryR
>>>>>
>>>>>   _____
>>>>>
>>>>> From: aki <aki275 at gmail.com>
>>>>> Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2011 09:13:11 +0300
>>>>> To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>>>>> Cc: <bitange at jambo.co.ke>
>>>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Bitange for President? Driving Knowledge
>>>>> Economy?OnlineInterview with PS Ndemo
>>>>>
>>>>> Dr Ndemo,
>>>>>
>>>>> I have a final question on regarding the creation of the High Tech
>>>>> Sector in preparation for Malili. While cheaper rent or
>>>>> infrastructure facilities maybe an additional advantage, I think we
>>>>> are still to find a way to push private sector and govt
>>>>> incentives/policies on creating the High Tech Sector. I believe we
>>>>> are no where at the moment, neither the mobile or web development
>>>>> sectors even come close to becoming the next billion shilling
>>>>> industry sectors. These two sectors are in a transition mode where
>>>>> the
>>> demand is for more localised settings.
>>>>>
>>>>> What will the govt do to ensure that kenyan companies start looking
>>>>> at holding patents and developing the needs of external markets based
>>>>> on technology trends. I think the last thing we would want to see is
>>>>> a scenario where kenyans in ICT become more of daily wage labourers
>>>>> on contract basis.
>>>>> While this may seem an ideal employment creation scenario, the
>>>>> results will be negative in the long term.
>>>>>
>>>>> What steps and incentives will create the High Tech Sector companies
>>>>> and will opening up the development of critical govt sectors offer an
>>>>> incentive to create broad based technologies?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you.
>>>>>
>>>>> Rgds.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>>> This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by
>>>>> <http://www.mail.jambo.co.ke/> Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to
>>>>> be clean.
>>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>>> "easy access to the world"
>>>>>
>>>>> ----------------------------------------------
>>>>> This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by
>>>>> Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.
>>>>> ---------------------------------------------
>>>>> "easy access to the world"
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----------------------------------------------
>>>> This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by
>>>> Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.
>>>> ---------------------------------------------
>>>> "easy access to the world"
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> kictanet mailing list
>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>>
>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lordmwesh%40gmail
>>>> .com
>>>>
>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT
>>>> policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for
>>>> reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled
>>> growth and development.
>>>>
>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>>>> bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize,
>>>> respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or
>>>> qualifications.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> ______________________
>>> Mwendwa Kivuva
>>> For
>>> Business Development
>>> Transworld Computer Channels
>>> Cel: 0722402248
>>> twitter.com/lordmwesh
>>> transworldAfrica.com | Fluent in computing kenya.or.ke | The Kenya we
>>> know
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> kictanet mailing list
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>
>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>>
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/harry%40comtelsys.co.ke
>>>
>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>>> for
>>> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>>> development.
>>>
>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>>> bandwidth,
>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy,
>>> do
>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> kictanet mailing list
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>
>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>>
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke
>>>
>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>>> for
>>> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>>> development.
>>>
>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>>> bandwidth,
>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy,
>>> do
>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>
>>> ----------------------------------------------
>>> This message has been scanned for viruses and
>>> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is
>>> believed to be clean.
>>> ---------------------------------------------
>>> "easy access to the world"
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> kictanet mailing list
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>
>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otwomad%40gmail.com
>>>
>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>>> for
>>> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>>> development.
>>>
>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>>> bandwidth,
>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy,
>>> do
>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> kictanet mailing list
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>
>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke
>>
>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>> development.
>>
>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>> bandwidth,
>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy,
>> do
>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------
>> This message has been scanned for viruses and
>> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is
>> believed to be clean.
>> ---------------------------------------------
>> "easy access to the world"
>>
>>
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is
> believed to be clean.
> ---------------------------------------------
> "easy access to the world"
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/emuchiri%40andestbites.
> com
>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for
> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
> development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is
> believed to be clean.
> ---------------------------------------------
> "easy access to the world"
>
>

---------------------------------------------- 
This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.
---------------------------------------------
"easy access to the world" 