[kictanet] Looking back at Konza

Tue Feb 28 18:13:31 EAT 2012

James,
Glad to know that you have been to Barcelona and bear me witness that
conferencing alone occupies 100 acres.  Konza is 5,000 acres or 2,000
hectares.  The 20 acres I was referring to was for the convention centre (
the conferencing facility).  The questions being asked have been answered
one way or another.  I have had a number of meeting including one
instigated by this forum but as it is with us only a handful attends and
us usually the critics do not attend at all.  This what makes public
service interesting and sometimes frustrating.  Everyone wants brief at
their own convenience.

We shall not give up.  What we are doing at the moment is to raise
awareness followed by an investor conference for those who will have
expressed interest.  Even our merciful Father in Heaven will one day cut
us off.

Ndemo.

> Dr. Bitange Ndemo
>
> I'm glad you attended MWC. Personally, I didn't really take to Barcelona
> but one thing that impressed me was the sheer scale of that event at Fira
> De Barcelona with the likes of Nokia taking up independent space on the
> Gran Vie.
>
> I think only the London EXcel might be able to pull off a bigger event.
>
> As for our own Konza, would it be possible for government to also control
> the land surrounding the project for possible future expansion.
>
> I think this is only right to prevent the kind of issues we've had with
> the
> proposed Nairobi Urban Toll Road project and the Lamu LAPPSET project.
>
>
> I had no idea Konza is only 20 acres - my former high school Nairobi
> School, alone sits on about 120 acres.
>
> James
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 28, 2012 at 3:58 PM, James Mbugua <jgmbugua at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Collins
>>
>> The World Bank Group (IFC) is advising on financing for this
>> development.
>> Right now a master planner is supposed to be brought on board to plan
>> the
>> whole thing.
>>
>> The decision to involve the World Bank was to prevent local politicians
>> from hijacking and forcing government to allocate them space to develop
>> and
>> lease out to the IBMs of this world as they were circling around the
>> place
>> like vultures already.
>>
>> James
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Feb 28, 2012 at 2:34 PM, Collins Areba
>> <arebacollins at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Daktari.
>>>
>>> Come out in the open and tell us how Konza is expected to run, public
>>> company, private company, LLC? tell us how capital will be raised to
>>> build
>>> it, tell us how it will sustain that momentum in the trajectory
>>> envisioned
>>> by the CGI designers, give us a reason to critique decisions like those
>>> and
>>> we shall have our vision 2020. (except the 3 child equation to family
>>> planning).
>>>
>>> personally i would look at the whole project less suspiciously if
>>> everything was in black and white. and considering at some in our
>>> history
>>> we over subscribed an IPO by a margin unprecedented in our history, saw
>>> the
>>> rise and fall of local companies to mismanagement, saw a successful
>>> privatization in our national carrier, seen astonishing growth in some
>>> mobile companies, and the fall of a number of brick and mortar
>>> companies
>>> due to technology change and last but not least almost sent the second
>>> highest judiciary official home for pinching a nose, surely Daktari you
>>> would forgive us for enjoying our newfound freedom and right to
>>> scrutinize......
>>>
>>> On Tue, Feb 28, 2012 at 2:29 PM, <bitange at jambo.co.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>>>  Listers,
>>>> I am in Barcelona for the GSM World congress.  I have never attended
>>>> this
>>>> congress before but this year I was requested to give three speeches
>>>> touching on the infrastructure innovations that we have achieved in
>>>> Kenya.
>>>>  Yesterday I spoke at one of the functions dedicated to freeing up
>>>> Broadband from Broadcast to Mobile Broadband through Digital migration
>>>> in
>>>> other words known as Digital Dividends.
>>>>
>>>> The 700 and 800 Mgz band is in big demand for LTE roll out but in most
>>>> countries including Kenya the band is occupied by broadcasters.
>>>> Considering that some countries have made broadband a human right
>>>> issue,
>>>> it is urgent now that these bands are freed up for broadband.  It is
>>>> cheaper to deploy a new network using these bands and if everybody
>>>> adopted
>>>> them, due to economies of scale equipment cost will be lower and thus
>>>> lower prices to majority of people who will need broadband in the days
>>>> to
>>>> come.
>>>>
>>>> I am writing not because of broadband but because I was bothered all
>>>> night
>>>> that we are not seeing the broader picture of Konza Technology City.
>>>>  This
>>>> is after a dinner with an old friend of mine from college now an
>>>> economist
>>>> and professor at University of Murcia here in Spain.  I asked him many
>>>> questions with respect to the thinking behind Fira de Barcelona, the
>>>> venue
>>>> of the congress.
>>>>
>>>> For a start, Fira de Barcelona is a trade fair ground and organizer
>>>> that
>>>> was officially constituted in 1932 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.  It
>>>> is
>>>> publicly owned company with autonomous management, organizing more
>>>> than
>>>> 80
>>>> trade shows, bringing together 40,000 companies and receiving three
>>>> and a
>>>> half million visitors (this is close to four times the number of
>>>> tourists
>>>> we get in Kenya).
>>>>
>>>> Fira de Barcelona has 365,000 m2 of exhibition floor space, one of the
>>>> largest areas in Europe, divided into two exhibition centers, the
>>>> initial
>>>> one at Montjuïc (165,000m2 of exhibition floor space, 50,000 outdoor)
>>>> and
>>>> the new one at the Gran Via business district, opened in 2007 close to
>>>> Hospitalet de Llobregat (200,000m2 exhibition floor space).  It covers
>>>> an
>>>> area of about 100 acres.  By contrast the Konza Convention Center will
>>>> create about 50,000 m2 spaces and cover less than 20 acres.
>>>>
>>>> In 1932 when Spain was is worse state of economy than we are now,
>>>> these
>>>> people had a dream that brings close to $10 billion or one third of
>>>> our
>>>> economy annually.  Hotel occupancy is in the upwards of 90% throughout
>>>> the
>>>> year with practically every brand located here.  The Hospitality
>>>> Industry
>>>> is busy throughout the year.  From car hire to hotels that are
>>>> offering
>>>> local dishes.  WHAT IS SO DIFFICULT FOR US TO THINK THIS WAY IN THE
>>>> 21st
>>>> CENTURTY¬?
>>>>
>>>> By my estimate we shall achieve vision 2030 by 2020 if we stop
>>>> corruption,
>>>> elect good leaders, avoid self pity, plan the family (no more than 3
>>>> kids)
>>>> and build confidence in ourselves. In corruption we have new breeds in
>>>> town fronting Europeans to give a sense morality in any transaction (I
>>>> know it is risky for me to write this but it has to be said).  In
>>>> Goldenberg there was Kettering.  In Anglo Leasing there were Greek
>>>> Cypriots.  Such happens in the lead up to past elections and we are
>>>> seeing
>>>> aggressive approaches to create other mountains.
>>>>
>>>> I do not think someone else will come to our aid especially in
>>>> strategic
>>>> thinking.  Today Giant companies are knocking our doors to do research
>>>> here.  It is imperative that we create the necessary ecosystem for
>>>> knowledge to thrive. It is knowledge that will give rise to what we
>>>> desire
>>>> in vision 2030.  That is why we need standards, we need Konza, we need
>>>> broadband throughout the country and above all we need people to take
>>>> responsibility for the vision.  One cannot give birth to 15 children
>>>> and
>>>> blame the Government for not delivering the vision.
>>>>
>>>> Konza is simply a concept for us all to see it through.  We must
>>>> concentrate on understanding the concept so that it is not owned by
>>>> just
>>>> a
>>>> few.  I do not know where I shall be next year but I will be gratified
>>>> to
>>>> know that such concept is carried forward by those who sought to
>>>> understand it and bear the responsibility of seeing it through.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Ndemo.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> > Bwana Ndemo,
>>>> >
>>>> > OK, do let us know when the stakeholder consultations will happen
>>>> and
>>>> as
>>>> > well the actual launch.
>>>> >
>>>> > What are the implications to those who rushed to speculate on land
>>>> within
>>>> > the zone?
>>>> >
>>>> > Edith
>>>> > ________________
>>>> > Edith Ofwona Adera
>>>> > Senior Program Specialist
>>>> > Climate Change & Water Program
>>>> > International Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches
>>>> pour
>>>> le
>>>> > développement international
>>>> > Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa
>>>> > Tel: +254202713160 | Fax/Téléc: +254202711063 | Skype: edithadera
>>>> > eadera at idrc.or.ke | www.idrc.ca | www.crdi.ca
>>>> > ________________________________________
>>>> > From: bitange at jambo.co.ke [bitange at jambo.co.ke]
>>>> > Sent: 27 February 2012 21:37
>>>> > To: Edith Adera
>>>> > Cc: bitange at jambo.co.ke; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>>>> > Subject: RE: [kictanet] Looking back at Konza
>>>> >
>>>> > Edith,
>>>> > We have been pushed back by at least two months.  We were not aware
>>>> that
>>>> > the Physical Planning Act required publication of intent to replan
>>>> the
>>>> > entire zone.  It will also give protection to Konza.  The first
>>>> advert
>>>> was
>>>> > done a week ago.  We need to have stakeholder consultation once more
>>>> and a
>>>> > final advert to avoid being sued.  We must follow the law to the
>>>> letter.
>>>> > We shall be there since all other requirements have been taken care
>>>> of.
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > Ndemo.'
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >> Bwana Ndemo,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> When will KONZA start?.....I think we need to move beyond talk and
>>>> >> starting digging the foundations.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> When will the first jembe hit the ground? What became of the
>>>> >> Presidential
>>>> >> launch which was to take place in January 2012?
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Edith
>>>> >>
>>>> >> -----Original Message-----
>>>> >> From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>> >> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On
>>>> >> Behalf
>>>> >> Of bitange at jambo.co.ke
>>>> >> Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2012 7:14 PM
>>>> >> To: Edith Adera
>>>> >> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>>>> >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Looking back at Konza
>>>> >>
>>>> >> A facility like Konza is overdue.  So far we have more than 18
>>>> >> Universities both local and International wanting space at the
>>>> Science
>>>> >> Park.  The Park is just next to the IT Enabled Services Park.  This
>>>> is
>>>> >> the
>>>> >> only way you can develop the tripple helix (Universities,
>>>> Government
>>>> and
>>>> >> Industry) in order to enhance innovation and competitiveness.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> When you see Giant organization like Nokia setting up at I-Hub it
>>>> tells
>>>> >> you we are behind in what we have been doing.  Indeed our thinking
>>>> has
>>>> >> always been minimalist and always comparing ourselves with Somalia.
>>>>  We
>>>> >> must begin to develop the confidence to compete with the best.  We
>>>> have
>>>> >> just started and we must continue to encourage this.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> I have explained the Sameer debacle in an earlier post.  We must
>>>> now
>>>> >> develop the SEC Law quickly so that we can create the necessary
>>>> >> incentives.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Ndemo.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>> So why are we building a completely new city and for all intents
>>>> and
>>>> >>> purposes a facility already exists?
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> On Sunday, February 26, 2012, Dennis Kioko wrote:
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>> ***** of Sameer says that the park was completed, and remained
>>>> empty
>>>> >>>> for almost 2 years, awaiting the initial agreement that the
>>>> >>>> government was to move in.
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> It then became clear that the government was in no hurry to move
>>>> in,
>>>> >>>> and real estate can not afford to remain empty ....
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> _______________________________________________
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>>>> 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.
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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.
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> *“The twentieth century has been characterized by three developments of
>>> great political importance: the growth of democracy, the growth of
>>> corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of
>>> protecting corporate power against democracy”*
>>>
>>>
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>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
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>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
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>>>
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>>
>>
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> 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.