[kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike

Thu Mar 8 12:36:22 EAT 2012

Yes they do.

Sent from my iPhone

On 08 Mar 2012, at 8:57, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

> PS Ndemo,
> 
> Just a quick question, does KBC have a HR department?
> 
> Regards
>  
> Robert Yawe
> KAY System Technologies Ltd
> Phoenix House, 6th Floor
> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
> Kenya
> 
> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "bitange at jambo.co.ke" <bitange at jambo.co.ke>
> To: robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2012, 13:14
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike
> 
> Washington,
> I simply gave you the high level problems that needs to be sorted out
> strategically.  KBC has been the training ground for the industry and to
> some extent literarly undermined by competition.  It is weighed down by
> legacy issues be it in technology or labour force.  We are dealing with
> the structure and technology first.  The labour issue is complex.  We have
> in the past tried to move as many redudant staff as we can but the
> retrenchment cost is as high as what you will need to change the
> organization.  GoK also must pay for public broadcast since in some
> stations will never make money as they are part of the universal access to
> broadcasting (CCK USF may be helpful).
> 
> Alot has been done and we need to do more.  The current strike brought out
> some issues where the artistes have been doing the job that should be done
> by someone.  Obviously not a great way to spend public resources.  But to
> untangle this we need the cooperation of the staff.  We have sent a team
> to do a work load and job analysis as well as skills inventory.  We must
> be scientific in the reform agenda otherwise we ran the risk of
> victimizing good workers.
> 
> We are not taking any actions on any issue at the moment antil we have
> finished all the audits we have started.  We must avoid knee jerk
> reactions at all costs.
> 
> There are mechanisms for disposing obsolete equipment.  If we have space,
> it will be a great way to have broadcasting museum.  It will help future
> engineers to understand where we have come from and possibly inspire new
> innovations.
> 
> Regards
> 
> 
> Ndemo.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > 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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> >> >
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> >
> >
> > --
> > Best regards,
> > Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
> > Nairobi,KE
> > +254733744121/+254722743223
> > _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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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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> 
> 
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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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