[kictanet] Weird Things ...Konza City?

Wed Feb 15 16:33:43 EAT 2012

Daktari,

Yet again you are reiterating my thoughts and fears, what happens next year assuming you are not there to midwife the project and a former Kamiti inmate takes over the reigns of the project?

For Konza to be successful we need to realise that it is bigger than anything this country has ever undertaken so when we hand the project over to an already over stretched KICT board to add to its already overflowing basket of activities and do not enshrine it into the constitution we are giving the indication that we are not genuine serious about the project.

Konza is not a project it is an ecosystem that will be living and breathing for many years to come therefore we need to be able to visualise it 20, 30 and even 50 years into the future. 

I like the advertisement that was on page 19 of the Tuesday Nation on the intention to develop a master plan but my only reservation is that the process should have been better handled under a single umbrella body.  

The expected planning it to be done jointly by 3 councils, when Nairobi and Mavoko cannot agree on the boundaries of their jurisdictions do we expect from their smaller siblings? If we take the current 5,000 acres and then include the proposed 10 kilometre wide buffer zone Konza becomes large enough to be a City or even a County.

We formed a Ministry to handle issues of the Nairobi Metropolitan why can't the same be done for Konza, I just have this nagging filling in pit of my stomach that you are the only one taking the project seriously and that its continued existence is dependent on your continued participation.  What happens if you accidentally knock your head, God forbid, and decide to run for governor?

Regards

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

Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

________________________________
 From: "bitange at jambo.co.ke" <bitange at jambo.co.ke>
To: robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk> 
Cc: bitange at jambo.co.ke; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
Sent: Wednesday, 15 February 2012, 11:30
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Weird Things ...Konza City?

Robert,
We have thought about your model but rejected it.  It is not for nothing
that I have written about our values in this forum.  We simply have a
weaknesses at managing our resources especially large projects.  This is
why I needed IFC and possibly a foreign Master Developer in order to
deliver the project without the possibility of going to jail.

At the moment I am literally wading through politicians wanting
"something" from Konza and promising heaven for me.  As you know this does
not work with the new dispensation.  These promises are more true for
Kamiti rather that the heavens.  In most cases it is the fellow staff you
work with that colude with politicians to create the mess.

As I write a major local developer is in Australia discussing with
contractors there to work on their project.  Their previous project was
over budget.  Thanks to local consultants who coluded with the contractors
to create the situation.  Do not get me wrong.  I want our local
consultants too to participate in Konza but we must have a tight
institutional framework that benefits all.  That is why Tatu City hired
Capita of UK to help them in Master Build.

Let us spend more time discussing how we inculcate values in our
professionalism such that our children may not need the IFCs and
foreigners to run their firms.

Have a moral day.

Ndemo.

> Mr. Munyao,
>
> Regarding ownership of the project, it is possible for the Government to
> transfer the land and the development of the project to a separate entity
> e.g. a state corporation incorporated under the State Corporations Act and
> the Companies Act or a development authority incorporated by statute. This
> entity can then, as a separate legal entity, perform the role of developer
> or appoint a master developer, and in the future, be able to act as the
> ‘landlord’ to charge levies and maintain standards of construction and
> maintenance of the developments. 
>
>
> It is possible for me to become PMG or President but the question is what
> is the possibility?  Note that this document was written before the AG
> made the interpretation about how we can handle government land in
> addition the national land commission will also have a go at an
> interpretation.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I would like you to not the following phrase that is repeated a number of
> times in the table "No Existing Infrastructure", please note that I read
> the earlier versions of the document and we raised issue then which as
> usual where deemed as not relevant.
>
> It is good that you decided to try and defend your platform by quoting
> from the "master plan", I suggest that you avoid a speed read of the
> document and read every word and take the context in which many of the
> words are used.  
>
> History teaches us that we never learn from it, look back at the issue of
> water that was supplied to a flower farm that used to be called Stony
> Athi, I believe has changed its name to Prima Rosa, directly from a water
> source around Kilimanjaro.  The residents of Machakos town revolted when
> they saw portable water being poured on flowers for export  yet their
> taps where dry, Munyao on what side would you have been on that issue?  
>
> The same situation is what we are creating by treating Konza like an
> island that is independent of the rest of the area or country.
>
> From the table above and the responses from Dr, Ndemo and his elk indicate
> that what is being planned here is an Oasis which will have little or no
> benefit to the surrounding community.  So Mr. Munyao I thing you need to
> reconsider your stand on this issue and do it on a professional and not
> emotional level.
>
> Regards
>
>  
> 18
> INFRASTRUCTURE 
> VIP SUMMARY
> KONZA TECHNOLOGY CITY
> InfrastructureElementEisting conditionsProposed strateg
> WaterNo existing infrastructure. Localwater resources
> inadequate.Offsite major supply source, incorporated within a regional
> supply scheme. Centralwater treatment works and reservoir storage.Maximise
> water re-use and rainwater harvesting to supplement.WastewaterNo existing
> infrastructure.Centralised treatment works using waste stabilisation
> ponds.
> Efuent reuse for irrigation. Sludge disposal to agriculture for reuse
> as a soil
> conditioner.Storm WaterNo existing infrastructure. Run-
> off ows to dry rivers.
> Comprehensive network of storm
> drains.PowerNo existing infrastructure onthe site.To obtain a 400kV
> dual supply to the site from an overhead line. This will betransformed to
> 66kV and 11kV at strategic points around the
> site.Solid WasteNo existing infrastructure.
> Identify suitable local site for landll and collection points, develop
> commercial
> incentives for recycling and reuse (Energy from Waste) and managed
> collections inline with the integrated waste management
> philosophy.Telecoms
> Good GSM coverage & bre
> optic cables nearby.
> New bre optic Access network, providing high speed internet, voice and
> video
> connectivity.
> 3.7
> SUMMARy ANALySIS OF INFRASTRUCTURE
>
> Robert Yawe
> KAY System Technologies Ltd
> Phoenix House, 6th Floor
> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
> Kenya
>
>
> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
>
>
> ________________________________
>  From: Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe at gmail.com>
> To: robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Sent: Friday, 10 February 2012, 13:33
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Weird Things ...Konza City?
>
>
> Since it seems people don't like doing homework, here is an excerpt from
> the Konza Summary document's Legal section that might address some of the
> property issues already raised:
>
>
> LAND ACqUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT
> Pursuant to the provisions of the new Constitution, all existing land laws
> will be revised, consolidated and rationalized and this will significantly
> affect the manner in which land in Kenya may be acquired, utilised and
> disposed. For instance, under the new Constitution, all public land
> (including land owned by the state or state agencies) will be vested in
> the National Land Commission. The Constitution further provides that
> public land may only be used or disposed in terms of an Act of Parliament
> specifying the nature and terms of that disposal or use. It is therefore
> necessary that the SEZ law grant express powers to the SEZ authority to
> dispose land acquired by it for SEZ purposes in such manner as it may deem
> necessary in order to achieve the objectives of the SEZ law.
>
> With regard to development of SEZ land, it will be necessary to harmonize
> the physical planning laws and the SEZ law to ensure that the objectives
> of the SEZ policy are taken into account in developing regional and local
> development plans and in granting development approvals. It will also be
> important to harmonize the roles of the different regulators involved in
> this process (such as the local authorities, the physical planning
> department and the Commissioner of Lands).
>
> PROjECT DEVELOPMENT
> The Government intends to develop the project under the PPP Framework. The
> existing PPP framework sets out an elaborate procedure for the approval of
> PPP arrangements (including approval by cabinet) and these have
> significant time and cost implications which will need to be taken into
> account in planning the project schedule. In addition, the relevant
> decision makers will need to be satisfied that the project meets the
> overall objectives of the PPP framework before approving the proposed PPP
> arrangements.
>
> Regarding ownership of the project, it is possible for the Government to
> transfer the land and the development of the project to a separate entity
> e.g. a state corporation incorporated under the State Corporations Act and
> the Companies Act or a development authority incorporated by statute. This
> entity can then, as a separate legal entity, perform the role of developer
> or appoint a master developer, and in the future, be able to act as the
> ‘landlord’ to charge levies and maintain standards of construction and
> maintenance of the developments.
>
> The advantages of this are that a State Corporation can be set up fairly
> quickly; the project can be run by an autonomous body (although this will
> still be subject to PPP law, procurement law etc.); the autonomous body
> can have private participation in the future (by way of shareholders,
> independent directors etc); and this body can be financially independent
> from Government (save for the shareholding or ownership of the body by
> Government). Further consultations and advice needs to be taken if this
> option is to be considered by Government
>
> INCENTIVE FRAMEWORK
> The SEZ bill proposes various procedural and fiscal incentives. Some of
> these, particularly the fiscal incentives will need to be incorporated
> into the existing tax legislation in order to bring them into effect. More
> importantly, it is important to bear in mind the provisions of the
> multilateral treaties that Kenya has ratified, as these cannot be easily
> amended.
>
> The other issue to bear in mind is that under the new Constitution, county
> governments may be able to impose additional taxation over and above that
> imposed by the national government. In this regard, the national
> government will need to educate county governments on the general
> objectives of SEZ program in order to ensure that the taxation policies
> established at county level do not defeat the objectives of the SEZ
> program. That said, it could be argued that the SEZ program is a matter of
> national importance and to that extent any laws passed at county level
> that are inconsistent with the SEZ law will be superseded by the SEZ law.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> I would imagine that the above, at a minimum, should at least indicate
> that a significant amount of thought and planning has gone into this
> project and that lessons learnt from past "white elephants" have been
> applied. Nevertheless - as they say - the proof of the pudding is in the
> eating. Let us hope, pray and do our best to ensure that actions related
> to Konza are well executed.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Brian
>
>
>
> On Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 1:13 PM, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>> In view of establishing whether people are in possession of knowledge
>> before they make remarks it might also help to go through the publicly
>> available and well written documents that are/have been available
>> online at:
>>
>> http://www.konzacity.co.ke/?page_id=2355
>>
>> Especially the "Summary Document"
>>
>> Mblayo
>>
>> On Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 12:50 PM, S.M. Muraya <murigi.muraya at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>> At a Konza City briefing some months ago, the Kengen MD said they have
>>> an
>>> energy plan for the city. Forgot the specifics.
>>>
>>> My speculation (this is not what the Kengen MD said) coal mining in
>>> Eastern
>>> Kenya is going to contribute to powering Konza City.
>>>
>>> Some Water Authority was there too - talking about supply of water and
>>> if I
>>> remember well there was also talk of hydro power.
>>>
>>> Whether Foreigners show up at Konza City or not is immaterial to some
>>> of us.
>>> They will value add if they do show up. We need to provide a good
>>> working
>>> environment for Kenyan Technologists. We do not have to build good
>>> things
>>> just to attract Foreigners. We are the ones living in Kenya. We can
>>> love
>>> ourselves too.
>>>
>>> Being 60 Km away from Nairobi City - 20 minutes by train -- Konza City
>>> will
>>> intitally feed off the Nairobi Metropolitan Area (over 50% of the
>>> Kenyan
>>> economy at the moment). It also happens to be on Mombasa Rd too and can
>>> become a Tourist Point too.
>>>
>>> In 2007, Eastern Kenya was generally innocent of ethnic cleansing,
>>> though
>>> they will become more hostile with the influx of ''outsiders".
>>>
>>> http://www.the-star.co.ke/national/national/58176-cement-company-secretly-acquired-44000-acres-in-kitui-claims-ngilu
>>>
>>> Other Technology Parks should be planned / developed to serve Firms
>>> wishing
>>> to locate in parts of Kenya not too hostile to them.
>>>
>>> Final note below:
>>>
>>> On Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 9:36 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Strathmore University on the other hand went for the LEED
>>>> certification
>>>> right from design stage, please send me the section in the Konza
>>>> master plan
>>>> where LEED certification is mentioned as a requirement?  We both
>>>> listened to
>>>> the presentation about Hydrabad and the issues that arose relating to
>>>> its
>>>> development how they where handled, why is it that you refuse to carry
>>>> out a
>>>> SWOT analysis on the Konza project?  We need to move beyond dreaming
>>>> towards
>>>> the reality that is the Kenya we have.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I approached Paul Kukubo at the Konza City briefing to ask about Local
>>> Universities. Strathmore University was the only one he mentioned as
>>> meeting
>>> the criteria they have set for Konza City.
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Brian Munyao Longwe
>> e-mail: blongwe at gmail.com
>> cell:  +254715964281
>> blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com
>> meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com
>
>
>
> --
> Brian Munyao Longwe
> e-mail: blongwe at gmail.com
> cell:  +254715964281
> blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com
> meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com
>
>
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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._______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
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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.
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