[kictanet] Wezesha Laptop Campaign abused

[robert yawe]

Hi,

The only way to make sure that the funds go to the intended use would be to 
design a laptop specifically for the students with a clearly definable colour 
and shape so as to reduce its leaking into the commercial sector.  On completing 
their degree the students should be required to sell off to another student 
still in session.

Lets also not forget that to many students a meal is more important than the 
laptop and since they cannot raise the difference to get the laptop it is only 
logical that they would sell the vouchers thus creating a secondary market where 
those with laptops can provide time share.

This was a copy and paste initiative which did not take into consideration the 
fact that many of our university students fall into the bracket of the poor and 
2,500/- is a lot of money and if the student is doing humanities really what 
does he need a laptop for yet his phone can get him comfortably and lighter to 
the social sites.

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


Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696




________________________________
From: Harry Karanja <kairo at softlaw.co.ke>
To: robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Sent: Wed, 23 February, 2011 8:47:05
Subject: [kictanet] Wezesha Laptop Campaign abused


The Wezesha Laptop Campaign was a noble initiative to give students the chance 
to acquire laptops at subsidized rates. It is therefore saddening when I heard 
from several students that the vouchers worth KES. 10,000 are being re-sold at 
between KES. 2,500 and KES. 3,000. This is down to two factors: 

 
1.       the  failure by well meaning students to acquire the vouchers within 
the registration period
2.       the infiltration of the initiative by businessmen who use student 
proxies to buy the laptops at the subsidized rates and later resell them at a 
profit
 
It is therefore very likely that a number of the 15,000 plus laptops will find 
their way back into the market and not benefit the intended recipients. How can 
the next initiative be structured to meet these challenges?
 
Regards,
Harry Karanja nDirectornSoftLaw LimitednGenius Executive Centren15th Floor View 
Park Towers nUtalii LanenNairobi CBDnTel: +254 20 342 225


      
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