[kictanet] Kenic fires all employees

Tue Aug 21 18:45:22 EAT 2012

Whatever Sammy's original intentions were, I do believe firing all the
employees was toxic not only for him but for the life of the organization.

It's never the staff that's at fault, typically the leadership. I'll give a
few examples:

[1] Sun Tzu and Emperor Wu. For those who have read the story, the
leadership of the troops to be led by Wu's concubines is all that changed.
The troops remained the same.

[2] Kenya Airways - Rose to be one of the most profitable companies in EA
with basically the same employees. Leadership changed...

[3] Safaricom - It was initially a department in Telkom Kenya. Leadership.

[4] For the overused example - Apple & Steve Jobs. The nearly bankrupt
organization never laid off all it's employees, merely changed the
structure.

[5] Uchumi - Purely a leadership issue, as was demonstrated very well by
Jonathan Ciano.

I believe an approach which begins with getting rid of all the staff is not
only myopic but also shows a fundamental inability to inspire/work with
diverse people...

   - Were any of the employees incompetent?
   - Were any of the employees too expensive (i.e. were they being paid
   more than they were generating?) **I highly doubt this is the case given
   the ratio of board members to employees*
   - Was there gross misconduct on the part of the employees?

If this is not the case then firing the employee effectively makes the
organization 'toxic'. How?

   - Talented individuals will avoid it because it's evidently and openly a
   caustic environment.
   - Only people who have no alternative will work there given that
   management has no consideration for tenure (why work for KENIC whilst I can
   work for an ISP? Pay may be less, visibility/career development etc may
   take a hit, but I know that I will not be out of a living one day because
   the CEO's morning coffee was a little too strong).
   - Organizational culture/information/know how is lost... You can't
   document relationships (relationships with suppliers, customers etc).

Such moves, in my opinion do more harm than good to organizational culture.

On Tue, Aug 21, 2012 at 4:58 PM, Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke> wrote:

> Sammy, The BOD at KeNIC and listers at large
>
> We understand that the board has now restructured the governance of KeNIC
> in such a way that it now becomes a 'closed' stakeholder environment? Could
> you please kindly clarify this issue. Reading your posting of a few days
> and let me quote you here:-
>
> "...the Strategic Plan Review that took place  last month, the following
> stakeholders were selected based on the value they bring to the KENIC Board
> to enable KENIC meet its mandate of growing the .ke name space in Kenya."
> end quote.
>
> When can ALL stakeholders have a copy of the Institutional Assessment
> report? Or is this only for the eyes of the board? or the current perceived
> stakeholders?
>
> My concern here is that shouldn't the AGM have decided on who the new
> stakeholders are? Who does the Board of Directors report to in this case?
>
> Correct me if I'm wrong but what the current status of affairs indicates
> or implies is that there is fundamental shift from the current stakeholder
> structure to a new one.
>
> Good Corporate Governance tenets demand that before such fundamental
> changes are made as to how an AGM is conducted this should be decided by
> the AGM NOT by the Board of Directors. After all it is at the AGM that
> Board Members are elected...
>
> We must at all costs ensure that the governance of KeNIC is above board
> and the way the current situation is it leaves to much speculation and
> rumor to spread. For the sake of this organisation you must be seen to be
> beyond reproach.
>
> Having said that I do agree that these are tumultuous times at KeNIC and
> we must allow reason to take place. I urge everyone to take a step back and
> let the management and board of KeNIC steer the ship until the AGM which I
> am hoping will be open to ALL stakeholders and not just the ones that the
> board feels has a stake in KeNIC.
>
> Ali Hussein
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Aug 21, 2012 at 1:38 PM, Musya Michael <michael.musya at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Already feeling the impact. MPESA transaction yet to reflect...3 hours
>> now. After calling...please call again at 2.30p.m.
>>
>> On Tue, Aug 21, 2012 at 12:13 PM, Michael Bullut <main at kipsang.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Great history lesson there for some of us... :-)
>>>
>>> Sent on the run,
>>> Please excuse errors & ommissions!
>>> On Aug 21, 2012 10:17 AM, "Odhiambo Washington" <odhiambo at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 1:17 PM, Rebecca Wanjiku <
>>>> rebeccawanjiku at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Apparently Kenic has issued termination letters to all employees, what
>>>>> will the PS increase control over if the organization has no employees?
>>>>> Read more...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.wanjiku.co.ke/2012/08/kenic-ceo-fires-first-salvo-at-govt-terminates-all-employees/
>>>>>
>>>>> Tel. 254 720 318 925
>>>>>
>>>>> wanjiku.co.ke
>>>>>
>>>>>  *From:* Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe at gmail.com>
>>>>> *To:* rebeccawanjiku at yahoo.com
>>>>> *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>>>>> *Sent:* Monday, August 20, 2012 12:34 PM
>>>>> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Ministry seeks more seats at KENIC
>>>>>
>>>>> McTim,
>>>>>
>>>>> On this one, you are wrong (for the first time) :)
>>>>>
>>>>> Besides running primary and secondary nameservers for .KE .... Randy
>>>>> (via PSG) also handled all registrations for .KE (and maintained the root
>>>>> database for the cctld).
>>>>>
>>>>> Best regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> Brian
>>>>>
>>>>>   [image: logo]
>>>>> *Brian Munyao Longwe*
>>>>>  | Mobile: 254715964281
>>>>> http://mashilingi.blogspot.com
>>>>>   <http://www.facebook.com/brianmunyao> Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/brianmunyao>
>>>>> <http://www.twitter.com/blongwe> Twitter<http://www.twitter.com/blongwe>
>>>>> <http://ke.linkedin.com/pub/brian-munyao-longwe/0/32/254> LinkedIn<http://ke.linkedin.com/pub/brian-munyao-longwe/0/32/254>
>>>>> Contact me: [image: Skype] blongwe
>>>>>  Want a signature like mine?
>>>>> <http://r1.wisestamp.com/r/landing?promo=16&dest=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wisestamp.com%2Femail-install%3Futm_source%3Dextension%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Dpromo_16> Click
>>>>> here.<http://r1.wisestamp.com/r/landing?promo=16&dest=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wisestamp.com%2Femail-install%3Futm_source%3Dextension%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Dpromo_16>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 5:17 PM, McTim <dogwallah at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 9:49 AM, Sammy Buruchara <buruchara at me.com>wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Dear Listers,****
>>>>>  ** **
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> <snip>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> At the dawn of Internet in Kenya, we all relied on Mr. Randy Bush in
>>>>> Oregon USA to register .ke domains.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't think Randy ever actually registered domains for .ke (or
>>>>> anyone).
>>>>>
>>>>> IIRC, he offered (via PSG) free Secondary name services to many ccTLD
>>>>> that did not have the werewithal to run secondary services for themselves.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> In this case, McTim, you never registered any .KE domain until KENIC
>>>> came into being, otherwise you'd know Randy did.
>>>>
>>>> I remember with Nostalgia those templates we used to send to Randy Bush
>>>> in the days, and how one would anxiously await his response - yes, because
>>>> it meant money then! A successful processing of the template was a big
>>>> issue - you made a small mistake and it would be rejected.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Best regards,
>>>> Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
>>>> Nairobi,KE
>>>> +254733744121/+254722743223
>>>> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
>>>> I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> kictanet mailing list
>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>>
>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/main%40kipsang.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
>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>
>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/michael.musya%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.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Regards,
>>
>> Michael Musya.
>>
>> I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
>> Philippians 4:13
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> kictanet mailing list
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>
>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.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.
>>
>
>
>
> --
>
> *Ali Hussein|Managing Partner*
>
> *
> *Telemedia Africa
> Azania Technology Group
>
> Chaka Court, Argwings Kodhek Road
>
> P O Box  14556-00100
>
> Office: +254 737 751409
>
> Cell:     +254 773/713 601113
>
> *Nairobi, Kenya*
>
>
>
>
>
> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>
> Skype: abu-jomo
>
>
> "You generally hear that what a man doesn't know doesn't hurt him, but in
> business what a man doesn't know does hurt.". - E. St. Elmo Lewis, member,
> Advertising Hall of Fame
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/pkariuki%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.
>

-- 
Warm Regards,

Phares Kariuki

| *T*: +254 720 406 093 | *E*: pkariuki at gmail.com | *Twitter*: kaboro |*Skype
*: kariukiphares | *B*: http://www.kaboro.com/ |
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/attachments/20120821/1d53f496/attachment.htm>