[kictanet] Successfull Visit to Silicon Valley

Sun May 22 19:12:18 EAT 2011

Sam,

There must be some form of trust | justice system | good governance that
causes us Kenyans (and all other investors in Kenya) to cooperate with &
mutually benefit each other.

http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/Kenyanews/Interpol-seeks-Okemo,-Gichuru-arrests-12873.html

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/Okemo+Gichuru+fate+rests+with+principals++/-/1064/1167040/-/14hh5tl/-/

The USA has juice | justice | business ethics we have yet to develop in
Kenyan society. It penalizes bad behavior to produce ethically stronger and
locally trusted (if not globally accepted) companies.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/11/us-galleon-rajaratnam-idUSTRE74A3XM20110511

Can you imagine any major business personality who funds any major political
party in Kenya being jailed after being found guilty of corruption | of
messing up shareholders | of distorting fair market principles?

Tell me that Justice does not contribute to Investor Confidence as much as
innovation does in the USA | Silicon Valley?

On Sat, May 21, 2011 at 11:01 PM, Samuel Gichuru <gichuru at gmail.com> wrote:

> Muraya,
>
> You do have a strong argument but then I would like you to replace the word
> "Kenyans" with "Muraya" and you get to really personalise the problem. :)
>
> I doubt we need the "TransCentury Types" but we need the Agosta, Muraya and
> Bitange (as himself and not the government)  types that know the problems
> African Techs have and take time to solve them one by one, the time is gone
> when all we did is point our fingers at "Kenyans", the Government,
> institutionalised individuals to make the needed change.
>
> The only people responsible for this country's soft power<http://www.samgichuru.com/you-soft-power-and-the-internet/> is
> you and me, (note: "Samuel Wanjirus" as well) , this was confirmed to me
> when I talked to Mark a principle founder of Viaweb, he says the first job
> we have as Kenyans is to change peoples perception.... we are responsible
> for the fact that they don't respect us.... that respect needs to be earned.
>
> So do I agree with you? Yes.. and I also partly disagree...
>
> Sam
>
> On Sat, May 21, 2011 at 6:18 AM, S.Murigi Muraya <murigi.muraya at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Agosta,
>>
>> Please expound, advise, update on the Kenyan tech community..
>>
>> My thinking is somebodies (e.g.TransCentury types) in their right mind
>> will NEVER invest in Kenyan youth | techies who worship the West -- who do
>> not demonstrate PATRIOTISM - a PRACTICAL (not just emotional or ideological)
>> value for Kenya or its activities in the EAC or COMESA.
>>
>> Too many Kenyans are here today, then migrated tomorrow.
>>
>> Most of us mentally colonized people (Africans mostly), lack Locally
>> Respected Enterprise Cultures (LREC) to produce National and Regional if not
>> Global Companies | Brand Names.. So we keep on producing Migrant "Nurses" to
>> serve people who do not think too well of us.
>>
>> Almost every decent software engineer I have interviewed over the past 2
>> or 3 years tells me they hate being involved in Government deals (sleaze &
>> sloth) and the way business (bribery) is done in Kenya. Thus they would
>> rather work for foreign firms.
>>
>> It is not easy convincing them to work well (for 2 or 3 years) for at
>> least one local firm intending to list on the NSE one day so they can learn
>> to create and grow LOCALIZED wealth.
>>
>> We will never understand Western problems as well as Westerners do, just
>> like they will never undertstand African problems like we do.. So the Kenyan
>> | African Firms worth most investments will be focused in providing
>> localized | regional solutions -- to our rapidly growing populations.
>>
>> Suspect this decade (2012-2020) will see Kenyan techprenuers whose firms
>> create LOCALIZED wealth doing even better via the NSE. They are likely to
>> have been in the local local tech business scene for at least 5 years and
>> will be over 30 years of age.
>>
>> This is not the USA | Silicon Valley where various Constitutional and
>> Legal institutions work to check corruption and increase investor
>> confidence. We need to build and invest in local firms that strengthen
>> institutions that promote integrity.
>>
>> Yes? No?
>>
>> On Sat, May 21, 2011 at 8:23 AM, Agosta Liko <agostal at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Sam
>>>
>>> This is commendable, Paul Graham and the Y Combinator model can be
>>> very effective for Kenya.
>>>
>>> My thought has always been that for young guys to develop anything,
>>> someone has to jump in early, provide a place to work, food and even
>>> accommodation as they hack away for 3-6 months
>>>
>>> Once that is done, they have a product that works end to end, a few
>>> clients and they can move from these. I think the country has focus
>>> too much on VC's as opposed to developing a good angel network for
>>> enterpreneurs to tap for early stage money.
>>>
>>> The y combinator model protects entrepreneurs from being in a
>>> perpetual bootstrap mode... Where you have to keep running after
>>> development and website to earn your keep.
>>>
>>> Looking forward to seeing the tech community grow... Especially the
>>> "guy with and idea"
>>>
>>> Again, good stuff chief
>>>
>>> Liko
>>>
>>> On 5/21/11, Samuel Gichuru <gichuru at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> > Listers,
>>> >
>>> > I am glad to say that after meeting Paul Graham at Y Combinator I got
>>> > introductions to everybody else I would have loved to meet including
>>> Reid
>>> > Hoffman of linkedIn.
>>> >
>>> >  I can now confidently say that in the future Nailab might have a
>>> chance to
>>> > present smart innovative ideas to VC and Angle Investors together with
>>> the
>>> > likes of dropbox , airbnb and others in Silicon Valley.
>>> >
>>> > PS Ndemo, I am disappointed that government bodies like KICTB keep
>>> sending
>>> > people all over the world and cannot facilitate a simple meeting or
>>> > connection despite the enormousness opportunity such networkings
>>> present to
>>> > the average Nailab entrepreneur or tech seating at the Ihub.
>>> >
>>> > Sam Gichuru
>>> > Nailab
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > On Mon, May 16, 2011 at 7:41 PM, Samuel Gichuru <gichuru at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>> >
>>> >>
>>> >> Hi..
>>> >>
>>> >> I am visiting San Francisco and would have loved to visit Facebook, I
>>> >> understand Kenya ICT  Board had a team that did a visit a while back
>>> and
>>> >> was
>>> >> wondering if anyone on this list was part of that team, I have tried
>>> >> reaching Paul Kokubo to no avail, some kidogo networking here will not
>>> >> hurt
>>> >> .. thank you
>>> >>
>>> >> NB: I already have visited, Sales Force and is Scheduled to Visit
>>> Google,
>>> >> Y
>>> >> Combinator and a host of other companies, - Two office I cant find
>>> >> networking contacts are Facebook and Apple, your help will be much
>>> >> appreciated.
>>> >>
>>> >> --
>>> >> Warm Regards,
>>> >> ------------------------
>>> >> Samuel Gichuru
>>> >> Nailab Director
>>> >>
>>> >> twitter: | @samgichuru <http://twitter.com/samgichuru>
>>> >> Blog: |  www.samgichuru.com
>>> >> Facebook: | Sam.gichuru <http://www.facebook.com/sam.gichuru>
>>> >> Skype: Sam.gichuru
>>> >> Cellphone: | 0722-730565
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > --
>>> > Warm Regards,
>>> > ------------------------
>>> > Samuel Gichuru
>>> >
>>> > twitter: | @samgichuru <http://twitter.com/samgichuru>
>>> > Blog: |  www.samgichuru.com
>>> > Facebook: | Sam.gichuru <http://www.facebook.com/sam.gichuru>
>>> > Skype: Sam.gichuru
>>> > Cellphone: | 0722-730565
>>> >
>>>
>>> --
>>> Sent from my mobile device
>>>
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>>
>>
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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.
>>
>> 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.
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Warm Regards,
> ------------------------
> Samuel Gichuru
>
> twitter: | @samgichuru <http://twitter.com/samgichuru>
> Blog: |  www.samgichuru.com
> Facebook: | Sam.gichuru <http://www.facebook.com/sam.gichuru>
> Skype: Sam.gichuru
> Cellphone: | 0722-730565
>
>
>
>
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