[kictanet] Weird Things ...Konza City?

Tue Feb 7 18:52:35 EAT 2012

Hi Francis,

Tatu is an integrated commercial and residential development with enough land to interest technology and other related organisations.

Back to Konza, the current approach is convoluted and if it is not I request that someone comes forward and proves me wrong.  It is so web like that the best that the AG could do when he looked through the documents was to throw a spanner into the works.

If you are expecting that the government will built and lease the premises then definitely that is a dead end project as has been seen with the various incomplete district head quarters, the fiasco with the high courts and the still to be completed vice presidents house.

If we give the entire project to the Chinese then at least the construction will be done but who will then be responsible for leasing, maintenance and renovations of the facilities?

The costs of electricity has not gone down since the last time I checked and that has been the main reason that we have been suffering from low direct foreign investment in areas like manufacturing.

We need to take stock of our human resource again and I can assure you that we are not as competitive as we used to be and the situation is not getting better.

History has shown that Kenyans only competitive advantage is slack labour laws that allow for exploitative hiring practices in low paying jobs.  The EPZ is full of sawing factories, if we where are well positioned as we keep saying at least one major corporation would have setup there, has anyone asked why not?

Lets please stop thinking that there is a major change in how things happen in Kenya, very few of the laws remain the same, the agencies we are asking to implement some of this grandiose projects where created in the Nyayo era.

All I am asking is there be an objective look at the project away from the noise and misrepresentation, and if any areas are found wanting we try and rectify but if the project is deemed unrealisable let us be willing to scrap it.  

The good thing with undeveloped land is that its like a blank canvas.

Regards

Robert Yawe
KAY System Technologies Ltd
Phoenix House, 6th Floor
P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

________________________________
 From: Francis Hook <francis.hook at gmail.com>
To: robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk> 
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
Sent: Tuesday, 7 February 2012, 15:59
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Weird Things ...Konza City?

Hi Robert
I don't believe the ambit of Konza is to sell parcels of land to ICT vendors - in which case Macrohard or Disco Networks for example could get decent parcels elsewhere.  >From my understanding it is to put a real estate  project, with infrastructure that supports ICT (fibre, power, etc) in one place and invite ICT firms to lease space, enjoy tax holidays, employ Kenyans(and impart skills locally), assemble, manufacture, market, support etc their goods and services using Kenya as a hub.

I think we should draw the line between the legislation we had 30 years ago, the reality of the day at that time, etc and today. I think you will agree the ICT sector has moved in leaps and bounds over the last 5-7 years.  In fact, from the little I know, our policies and road map are the envy of many African countries.

Tatu is meant for residential investors - sorry - thats oil and water here.

If I may use a very simple analogy - its no more different that Westgate - someone put up a nice building with all sorts of amenities around it - and before we all know it, its become a "go to place"....even when we have nothing to do there :)   Similar concept I think - but slanted towards ICT Vendors, ICT Service providers, etc etc. and with broad objectives to attract investment, build local ICT capacity, create employment, etc

Disclaimer: I am not an investor in Konza and neither did I sell the govt a plot there :-)

On 7 February 2012 15:14, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

@Walu,
>
>
>In short what the AG said was that government land cannot be assigned to an individual or entity but must be offered to the general public.  The statement was initially targeted at the Airtel/Postal/IBM deal of the plot opposite Yaya Centre but it spoke volumes as it gave a precedent for the way forward as relates to government land.
>
>
>Konza is government land and is and will be governed by the law of the land as relates to such resource, therefore if Microsoft wanted to put up a campus in Konza on a 20 acre plot the government would have to tender for its sell.
>
>
>At which point Yawe and Co-speculators Inc. will tender and likely win as we shall play the nationalist, county and tribe card.  We will then offer the same land to Microsoft at an inflated price who will reject the offer and opt to locate to the Lakeview Techno City next to RIAT with views from the largest fresh water lake offering water sports.  
>
>
>My group and I will then subdivide the 20 acres into broty of 50 x 100 and sell them to the public to recover our investment.  Visit the area around Bamburi and London Distillers in Athi River/Mavoko area for a living and breathing example of what Konza will look like by the year 2020, it is even more pronounced from GoogleEarth.  
>
>
>That was the initial location of the EPZ before it was felt necessary to relocate the same 2 kilometres down the road into Rift Valley Province.  The architect of that relocation is an aspiring presidential candidate, what stops him from relocating Konza if he wins the election?
>
>
>Let us not blind ourselves to the reality and return to the Kenya we know, the EPZ continues to struggle many years later, JKIA remains with hundreds of empty plots still being held onto by prospective investors who where allocated the land over 30 years ago, Baba Dogo is turning into a large residential area and the KIE sheds in Industrial Area have become stores.
>
>
>Runda Closeburn will definitely fly, Tatu will limp along for a while but Konza will be a still birth.
>
>
>
>
>What is the strategy for Konza and can someone answer these questions for us?
>will the land be sold to prospective investors better known as speculators or leased to investors?
>
>will the government allocate the land to prospective investors a.k.a Karurarists?
>how long will it take to develop the infrastructure noting that Nairobi still cannot provide sufficient water, sewerage services and electricity to its residents 200 years down the road?
>when the infrastructure is complete and the land allocated how long will it be before the first tenant moves in?
>if the first tenant moves in sometime around 2030 will the concept still be viable?
>is the rest of Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Maldives sleeping?
>once Raila becomes President, after beating a joint force of Kalonzo, Uhuru & Ruto, what is the likelihood that he will allow that level of national resources to be spent in that region instead of relocate the same to for example Nyanza where there is already an International Airport, is closer to Southern Sudan, the residents speak fluent english plus has english like names to boot, it is a marginalized county (highest child mortality rate) and it gave him their vote as a block?
>
>
>Until we get a comprehensive report from the various players i.e. treasury, ministry of information, ministry of lands, AG's Chambers, local government, county representatives and the President the project shall remain as dead as a dodo irrespective of how many flashy advertisements are run by a sub-entity of a sub-entity of a substantial participant in the project.
>
>
>Walu, in your case which ever way it goes nothing affects your setting up a lab, but if I was the University I would look at putting up an entire self sufficient campus.
>
>
>Regards
>
>
>PS.  China government is to build 1000 houses in Kisumu plus any other projects that they deem necessary to giving Kisumu the status becoming of a City.
> 
>Robert Yawe
KAY System Technologies Ltd
Phoenix House, 6th Floor
P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
>
>
>________________________________
> From: Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com>
>To: robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk> 
>
>Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
>Sent: Tuesday, 7 February 2012, 11:04
>Subject: Re: [kictanet] Weird Things ...Konza City?
> 
>
>
>@Yawe,
>
>u seem to b on the
 inside loop on this one.  Konza City, scuttled?  I had advised my boss to book a university lab there and now I might need guidance on what next? 
>
>And thats me as a local stakeholder, what of the international stakeholders - what would they make of your statement?
>
>walu.
>
>--- On Mon, 2/6/12, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
>>From: robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk>
>>Subject: Re: [kictanet] Weird Things ...
>>To: jwalu at yahoo.com
>>Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>>Date: Monday, February 6, 2012, 5:25 PM
>>
>>
>>Listers,
>>
>>
>>Are we seriously having this discussion, please leave certification to institutes of education such as Universities who already issue degrees in computer science and the like.
>>
>>
>>This is just another tax guzzling scheme like the Konza adverts being run on TV yet the AG has already scuttled the project, 
>>
>>
>>We are aware that all the great software applications developed over the past 3 decades have been done by enthusiasts or as Philip Ochieng recently clarified amateurs, a situation that is not about to change any time soon.
>>
>>
>>KICT eat in peace.
>>
>>
>>Regards
>>
>>
>>PS.  Liko lets go look for something more productive to do with our time, wachana na mambo ya certification na business plans.  
>> 
>>Robert Yawe
KAY System Technologies Ltd
Phoenix House, 6th Floor
P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
>>
>>
>>________________________________
>> From: Agosta Liko <agostal at gmail.com>
>>To: robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk 
>>Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
>>Sent: Sunday, 5 February 2012, 14:00
>>Subject: [kictanet] Weird Things ...
>> 
>>
>>Samsung launched its 2nd Engineering Academy with a local Educational Institution
>>
>>The ICT Board on the other hand is working with a Foreign Institution to
 launch a Kenyan software development certification
>>
>>:)
>>
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>kictanet mailing list
>>kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>
>>Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.uk
>>
>>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.
>>
>>
>>-----Inline Attachment Follows-----
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>kictanet mailing list
>>kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>
>>Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.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
>http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
>Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/francis.hook%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.
>

-- 
Francis Hook
+254 733 504561
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/attachments/20120207/e4ffde06/attachment.htm>