[kictanet] Konza Land Issue can we have a public position?

Fri Aug 10 16:23:20 EAT 2012

Edith,

Sorry to butt in.

Was privileged to be present for the two day investment conference
where the master planner was introduced to us after the official
opening by the VP flanked by the Minister of Finance. What I observed
is that the train has left the station.

What the master planning stage requires is that all possible tenants
(university, government, business enterprises, civil society, etc.) we
pitch tent and explain to the master planner our desire. That will
enable accommodation. A report will be ready in 6 months time. And
then the execution phase (laying the foundation or breaking ground can
start).

Matters were made easier for us by S. Korea, Egypt, China, Brazil
Sweden giving us presentation on how they are performing in their own
countries.

Government Ministries (Finance, Energy, Roads and Water) also gave
presentation on how their activities are geared towards facilitating
the success of Konza. SMEs and large investors also had their slots.

It is a pity that VP was given a news outage (no coverage) and instead
the embarrassing back page article by Nation newspaper on the subject
of this thread. Having moved from Education to Energy I can only
console the PS, MoIC that we in energy get all those negative coverage
almost daily. e.g.

good

http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate+News/Man+behind+Chinese+firm+in+Sh3+4tr+Mui+coal+mines+/-/539550/1475750/-/9s84nyz/-/index.html

bad

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000063533&story_title=Mining-sector-guidelines-not-up-to-date

good

http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Ministry+invites+firms+to+explore+more+coal+blocks+/-/539546/1426860/-/auar7h/-/index.html

bad

http://www.the-star.co.ke/local/northeastern/88776-ngilu-kiema-seek-support-to-block-coal-mining

I could go on and on on the 4th Estate bizzare style of newsmaking or
is it sales. We need to have the Freedom of Information Bill enacted
so that we can be under surveillance 24/7 and the you-tube available
to all and soundry rather than the back stabbings that are so painful.

It can be tough just trying to know what do our people led by our
leaders want of us implementing executive decisions?

David

On 8/10/12, Edith Adera <eadera at idrc.or.ke> wrote:
> The Konza Technopolis Train already left the station in my view!
>
> Is it stoppable? Me thinks not. Making a mountain out of the media article
> is what may lead to it being stopped, unless I'm missing something?
>
> Bwana Ndemo/Catherine Adeya - can you enlighten us on the current status? My
> understanding is that it's moving on in any case. correct?
>
> Edith
> ________________________________
> From: kictanet [kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On
> Behalf Of Barrack Otieno [otieno.barrack at gmail.com]
> Sent: Friday, August 10, 2012 7:01 AM
> To: Edith Adera
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Konza Land Issue can we have a public position?
>
> Well if we made noise and Thika road was eventually marked why can't we be
> heard on this matter, GG can you lead us on making a public stand i am
> willing to write to whom it may concern on behalf of listers, KICTANET
> position on Konza Project we can append our signatures if need be to prove
> that we are a force to reckon with in any case we are key stakeholders in so
> far as the constitution is concerned, i think majority of us have been
> sufficiently involved in the process.
>
> Best Regards
>
> On Fri, Aug 10, 2012 at 3:27 AM, Bernard Kioko [Bernsoft Interactive
> Limited] <bkioko at bernsoft.com<mailto:bkioko at bernsoft.com>> wrote:
> Robert,
>
> An interesting view!
>
> Is it right to say we cannot help? I would imagine that we need to make that
> move to help.
>
> Also, will the accused be the one to help himself in this instance or should
> we be the ones to initiate the task force that would defend a good cause
> from being killed OR are you saying the “interested” parties are just too
> powerful?
>
> Regards
>
> From: kictanet
> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+bkioko<mailto:kictanet-bounces%2Bbkioko>=bernsoft.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:bernsoft.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke>]
> On Behalf Of robert yawe
> Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2012 9:20 PM
> To: bkioko at bernsoft.com<mailto:bkioko at bernsoft.com>
>
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Konza Land Issue
>
> Dr. Ndemo,
>
> Sorry for being the bearer of the truth but unfortunately hang you shall
> hang as you neither own the judge nor the jury and the hang man takes no
> sides.
>
> Online rhetoric and closed group support will not save you, what you needed
> from the beginning was support from a constituency with a platform, sad to
> see Siganga give leap service to your plight yet he runs the only bona fide
> mouth piece which should have taken out a full page advert in today's paper
> in support of your efforts if only your online supporters had paid their
> subscriptions.
>
> I raised pertinent issues about the project right from its public inception
> and took the heat, even taking on the title "village madman".  This is one
> time that I wish not to be exonerated as you have worked selflessly on the
> project, unfortunately in a utopian manner.
>
> Those who want the project dead have more power than those, like yourself,
> who want it to succeed.
>
> I recently attended a presentation by the Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan
> whose master plan includes a 5,000 acre technopolis to be situated along
> Kangundo Road.
>
> It takes the Konza project concept and spreads it over 6 locations around
> Nairobi each covering 5,000 acres.  The land has been identified and the
> sellers have the right connections.
>
> Find our why the Tatu Project remains in limbo then you will understand why
> Dr. Ndemo has only 2 options, drop the project and stay afloat or push on
> with it and go down with it.
>
> Dr. Ndemo,  we cannot help you as we are merely hecklers sitting outside the
> stadium and following the goings on in the pitch through the radio
> commentator because we fear to take a public stand.
>
> Your fall will be a very public one utilising the space you have so
> eloquently advocated and propagated, an independent media.  It is time that
> you put together a war council to go to battle with and for you, whose
> members are clearly not on this forum.
>
> I wish you all the best in surviving this onslaught and hope that you had
> followed my finger that kept trying to point you towards the writing on the
> wall.
>
> As the late Vice President Kijana Wamalwa once said "I found myself
> wallowing in the miasma of deceit . . ."
>
> Regards
>
> Robert Yawe
> KAY System Technologies Ltd
> Phoenix House, 6th Floor
> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
> Kenya
>
> Tel: +254722511225<tel:%2B254722511225>, +254202010696<tel:%2B254202010696>
>
> --- On Thu, 9/8/12, bitange at jambo.co.ke<mailto:bitange at jambo.co.ke>
> <bitange at jambo.co.ke<mailto:bitange at jambo.co.ke>> wrote:
>
> From: bitange at jambo.co.ke<mailto:bitange at jambo.co.ke>
> <bitange at jambo.co.ke<mailto:bitange at jambo.co.ke>>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Konza Land Issue
> To: robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk<mailto:robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk>
> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions"
> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>>
> Date: Thursday, 9 August, 2012, 6:43
> Listers,
> A number of you have independently asked me to clarify the Konza Land
> issue that was in the papers yesterday.  Let me briefly explain the
> problem.
>
> Prior to the purchase of Land we developed a conceptual framework on the
> locationing of a tech city.  Here we largely relied on the work done by
> Booz Allen.  Among other things research shows that a tech city must be
> located at least 30 minutes from the airport and be in the outskirts of a
> major city from where you can tap the human resource.
>
> With this we crafted a tender document that restricted the suitable land
> within the parameters of the conceptual framework.  This was done openly
> and we assumed it was indeed an open tender.  But it emerged that the
> definition of open was to advertise land availability anywhere without
> restrictions.  This grey area in the law is rediculous since land in Wajir
> will have been of no use to us and as such we flouted the procurement law.
>
> After our competitive bid, we consulted with the Ministry of Lands to give
> us the valuation of which the recommendation was Ksh. 200,000.  Since most
> quotes were in the 300 range we focused on the most suitable piece and
> offered to pay Ministry of Lands Valuation rate. In open tenders one is
> not allowed to negotiate even when it is in the interest of the country.
> Here it is said we manipulated the numbers.
>
> This clearly is a misunderstanding since we still have grey areas in the
> Procurement Law.  Whereas KACC says we used direct or restricted tendering
> to buying the land, our view was that the method was open since and one
> that is in the interest of the country.
>
> We did indeed consult the AG's office if what we did was in order and we
> were given the clear.  Much of this is done by various the departments but
> I bear the ultimate responsibility.
>
> What is absurd is the fact that the Daily Nation decided to highlight this
> issue while we were having the Konza conference here with international
> investors.  This was the time we were telling investors that Kenya has
> changed and corruption is being dealt with.  Well they did a great damage
> to my reputation.  I read malice in the story since it is something that
> has been around.  I would rather have taken a six month jail term than
> mess up with a project that I have devoted my life to.  I have taken risky
> decisions to have this project take off but it is now clear that we only
> rejoice on successes.
>
> KACC has a right to question what we do and indeed in Teams they were on
> our case all through until the project was complete.  The fact that they
> question does not amount to corruption.  This is how we can change laws
> and make them dynamic with changing times.  As much as I respect the
> Media, in this case they hurt my character dearly yet what I did was right
> and hoped we can change the law for future rational decisions.  Never in
> my public life have I tried to do something that is not in the interest of
> the country.
>
> Ndemo.
>
>
>
>
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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
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> --
> Barrack O. Otieno
> +254721325277
> +254-20-2498789
> Skype: barrack.otieno
> http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/
>
>