[kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike

Tue Mar 6 11:56:55 EAT 2012

+1 on these questions, I believe they are well articulated and im also
interested in hearing Daktaris response.

On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 10:35 AM, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo at gmail.com>wrote:

> Hello Dr. Ndemo,
>
> I appreciate your response, but I'd like to know from you what it is that
> is ailing KBC - and kindly be open with facts as they are. So far, you've
> only said that KBC is grossly in debt, and you've only attributed this to
> dumping of technology which was being phased out - specifically Medium Wave
> equipment. Your answer is not convincing, unless you are saying the 20b
> comprises debt incurred in the dumping process and running of the MW
> equipment. Are there other factors that are associated with the debt and
> what is the govt doing to address those?
> A string of govt/KBC staff are responsible for this dumping, and we are
> talking about public funds here. Obviously, these people who did the
> dumping (when new FM stations were being licensed and operating everywhere)
> knew so well what they were doing. It's not really hard to prove connivance
> on their part. Did KBC import equipment without supervision/knowledge of
> CCK or whatever name the regulator was at that time? What action is being
> taken against those people? We do have an authority to deal with cases of
> corruption. Are they dealing already?
> How and when is the debt going to be serviced?
>
>
> Anyway, the main issue in the current debate is about those grievances
> that led the staff to take to the streets. You are in the right position to
> tell us what these were specifically and which ones were genuine (or not).
> It's important that we also get insid information on what the actual truth
> is. What I've heard is "poor pay", "nepotism", "sexual harrassment". The
> issue about poor pay is rather obvious within the govt and some
> parastatals. How true are the later two? What action is being taken to
> address them?
>
> And finally, you've mentioned that the govt's strategy is to replace the
> MW stations with FM stations. Good enough, because one of the issues you
> are addressing is the high cost of running the MW equipment. What strategy
> has the govt put in place to ensure that these FM stations will be able to
> be competitive and profitable in the current market regime - even to an
> extent of being self-sustaining? We (the taxpayers) are not always happy to
> carry the barden:-)
>
> Two last questions:
>
> 1. How is the govt going to dispose of the MW equipment? I believe they
> are electronic waste.
> 2. Is the govt going to process the 1000+ applications you received so
> that it can replace the politically-correct employess with
>     the right talent required to achieve the objective of turning KBC
> around? Please don't tell me that the same tainted team of
>     managers (as alleged) is going to be same one tasked with turning it
> around. I am sure you know how diffiuclt it has been to
>     change the work culture at Orange. Sometimes (more often actually) it
> requires the injection of new blood to turn things
>     around. I am hoping that some of those 1000+ applicants are going to
> be given jobs at KBC to achieve this.
>
> Once again, thank you for your time addressing this.
>
>
>
> On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 08:57, <bitange at jambo.co.ke> wrote:
>
>> Washington,
>> KBC would emerge strong from this crisis.  We found KBC with a debt of
>> Ksh. 20 billion.  It used be the conduit for corruption through dumping of
>> technology especially the Medium Wave (MW) just as FM was emerging.  It
>> cost ten times more running a medium wave station than it is with FM.  We
>> are changing this.  So far we have six new FM stations replacing the old
>> technology.
>>
>> We have spilit the organization into theree, that is, infrastructure under
>> Signet, Public Broadcast and Commercial Broabcast.  The later two will
>> basically content providers and would worry less on infrastructure that
>> will be supplied by Signet.
>>
>> The strike was unnecessary since we had commited to implementing their
>> demands.  I had personally issued a circular to that effect.  Even the
>> Union they had joined advised them that the strike was illegal but
>> unfortunately they defied this.  Even more unfortunate they denounced the
>> Union out of anger.
>>
>> We shall continue with the reforms and improve their welfare.  It is not
>> in our interest to see those we work with in the streets.  I was shocked
>> to realize that we have thousands of Kenyans seeking for employment.  I
>> think some of you may have watched TV the heaps of applications.  By
>> yesterday we had in excess of 10,000.  I was not misquoted because on
>> Sunday I was at the station and there were more than 1,000 applications.
>> We must do something for our brothers and sisters.  Either we start
>> teaching them on areas of wealth creation or find ways of creating massive
>> employment.  We are trying in our sector but we have not done enough.
>>
>>
>> Ndemo.
>>
>> > On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 21:06, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >> I feel we should sort out our National Broadcaster. It's a pity that
>> >> other
>> >> private media stations have taken over KBCs position as we stood by and
>> >> watched. At the moment, KBC still has good will and can recover.
>> >>
>> >> It also does not make sense for we to push for cutting edge initiatives
>> >> such as Konza, TEAMS if we are going to let the state at KBC remain as
>> >> it
>> >> is. I am sure they can play  a major role in local content creation.
>> >>
>> >> Having colleagues in the journalistic filed at KBC, I have heard
>> rumours
>> >> of situation where the national broadcaster's crew were first at ground
>> >> breaking events (read disasters) in the country. However, such news is
>> >> broken by private radio stations where the footage is sold even before
>> >> it
>> >> ever gets to KBCs studios. I have even heard more rumours of the
>> >> broadcasters equipment being used to shoot footage that ends up with
>> >> private broadcasters.
>> >>
>> >> I am sure the leaked payslips of staff at Standard Media Group
>> >> <
>> http://thejackalnews.com/media-news/news-media/1688-horror-of-massive-salary-discrepancies-at-standard-group-exposed
>> >led
>> >> to most of the staff questioning what it is they did wrong for their
>> >> colleagues at media school to end up on the better side of luck .
>> >>
>> >> An amicable solution is required. We are all sure that the national
>> >> broadcaster can make enough revenue to sustain a highly skilled
>> >> workforce,
>> >> given the right leadership.
>> >>
>> >> I believe Dr. Ndemo, having seeing his deeds in the ICT sector, can
>> also
>> >> be the champion credited with overhauling KBC.
>> >>
>> >>
>> > @Dennis,
>> >
>> > For me, it's a simple question so far:
>> >
>> > What is it that KBC doesn't have (and cannot afford) that the private
>> > broadcasters do have?
>> >
>> > If someone can answer this for me, I'd be very happy because it's
>> "looking
>> > at issues from BASIC PRINCIPLES". Maybe it's as hard as having to
>> disband
>> > KBC, if that situation cannot be addressed.
>> > However, KBC being a National Broadcaster means it's funded by public
>> > taxes
>> > and that is a very very deep pocket! I am not ready to accept any
>> > explanation to the effect that the govt cannot put in place the
>> necessary
>> > measures to make KBC a profitable business-case. Rumors have it that
>> > Management at KBC are well-connected individuals, not necessarily
>> > qualified, and that is typical for the govt, which is not a business and
>> > so
>> > is not expected to make profits, but KBC must make profits like other
>> > Media
>> > houses. I don't understand what it is that Citizen does right with its
>> > myriad Radio Stations that KBC cannot do, having been the only
>> broadcaster
>> > before these FM Stations were born.
>> > Oh, most of KBC veterans can be heard at the private Radio Stations,
>> > especially Royal Media. Someone must be able to explain why they had to
>> > leave KBC for these other places. The reasons are obvious.
>> >
>> > Perhaps the govt should just bite the bullet and shut down KBC if they
>> > cannot improve it and attract talent and stop acting stupid!
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Best regards,
>> > Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
>> > Nairobi,KE
>> > +254733744121/+254722743223
>> > _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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>> > Please consider the environment before printing this email.
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>
>
> --
> Best regards,
> Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
> Nairobi,KE
> +254733744121/+254722743223
> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
> I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler.
> Please consider the environment before printing this email.
>
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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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-- 
*“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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