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

George Nyabuga gnyabuga at uonbi.ac.ke
Wed Aug 10 19:02:43 EAT 2011


Daktari,

I am interested in the analogue-digital migration. Below are some
questions I would like to ask.

Many thanks.

George


1. What is the progress on the migration from analogue to digital? Will
the country meet the deadline for the migration?
2. Has the government released enough funding for the process? How much is
required, and what has the government released?
3. What is the state of digital media uptake in Kenya at the moment?
4. What is the position of KBC as far as digitization is concerned?
5. Will the public service obligation of KBC change?
6. What ‘public service’ obligation will commercial media have any under
the digital regime?



> Daktari I agree about the media - if I may relate what I saw on one
> station
> on Friday last week - the footage was of a healthy looking child suckling
> a
> nanny goat  - now I am not sure how much listers know about young herders,
> but that practice is not because of famine.  I suppose with a highly
> Westernised generation watching TV, oblivious to some of these practices,
> it
> would be MOST SHOCKING to see this.  That reporter was so off the mark -
> the
> goats were supple and well fed and so was the child.   Nothing about
> famine
> in that story.   Nothing.
>
> Its possible that some reporters wrongly have at the back of their mind
> the
> CNN Journalist of the year award and forget to look at the real facts and
> instead seek to shock and awe the audience and gain mileage out of
> tragedies.
>
> Having said that, there are some good reporters out there who are
> objective
> and impartial.
>
>
> On 9 August 2011 14:55, <bitange at jambo.co.ke> wrote:
>
>> 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.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> --------------------------------------------------
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>> >>>
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>> >>>
>> >>> _______________________________________________
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>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> ______________________
>> >> Mwendwa Kivuva
>> >> For
>> >> Business Development
>> >> Transworld Computer Channels
>> >> Cel: 0722402248
>> >> twitter.com/lordmwesh
>> >> transworldAfrica.com | Fluent in computing kenya.or.ke | The Kenya we
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>> platform
>> >> for
>> >> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
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>> ICT
>> >> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
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>> >> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
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>> > 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.
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>> > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
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>> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
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>
>
>
> --
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> +254 733 504561
>
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-- 
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