[kictanet] 140Friday. . . and I wept

[Agosta Liko]

I think we end up with a very simple task... Join and then strengthen
the Computer Society of Kenya and then lobby and organise from there

Thanks

On 3/12/12, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> @ Brian,
>
> Thank you for the support to my post & I also agree with you that we need an
> entity to represent our interests, fortunately such an organisation exists,
> its called The Computer Society of Kenya" for which many of you
> have preferred to lambaste and ignore it.
>
> Just a quick clarification Brian, KEPSA allows you to join as an individual
> person or corporate entity if there is no BMO that represents your
> interests, your BMO refuses to present your issues or your BMO refuses to
> join KEPSA.  Just for your information, I had the privilege of being part of
> KEPSA's activities for over 3 years as the unofficial alternative to Evelyn
> which gives me a more stable foot to stand on than a google search result.
>
> If you have an issue with the current office bearers then use your
> democratic right to replace them, if you have issues with the name then
> again practice your constitution right and change it, if you full it does
> not fully represent your interests then define your interests, but before
> you can do any of this things you first must join and pay your subscriptions
> BMO - Business "Membership" Organisation.
>
> I wish we would all concentrate on two issues that kept being repeated by
> the 3 men older than me who where on the panel.
>
> 1.  Stop asking the government to do for us, it will never happen (na omba
> serikali)
> 2.  Read the new constitution and get up to speed on the new dispensation
> (we need new laws)
>
> All the issues raised at the session are already addressed in the
> constitution which fortunately cannot be posted as a tweet which means that
> you need to down load the entire document, I have it on my Kindle (had to
> mention that), onto those fancy devices we walk around with and read in its
> entirety.
>
> Maybe what we need is a marathon constitution reading forum, after which I
> am sure we shall appreciate the fact that the playing field has changed and
> you and I have had responsibility thrust into our faces.  The constitution
> is already being changed as we write and as we tweet our input if not being
> recorded.  Dr. Ndemo kept repeating the issue but as usually many of us
> where busy in the cloud.
>
> For those of you who have an aversion to reading talk to me and I could get
> you the document in audio version.
>
> Regards
>
> Robert Yawe
> KAY System Technologies Ltd
> Phoenix House, 6th Floor
> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
> Kenya
>
>
> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe at gmail.com>
> To: robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk>
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Sent: Friday, 9 March 2012, 21:44
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] 140Friday. . . and I wept
>
> Hi all
>
> First of all, let me say that this response is NOT targeted at Robert
> Yawe - though it addresses one of the main issues that he has raised.
>
> I have said it here before and I will say it once again. Can we please
> do our homework before we post scalding remarks?
>
> Have we so quickly forgotten the genesis of KEPSA? And for those who
> were not there when KEPSA was being originated, is it so difficult to
> simply visit their website and read the first paragraph on their home
> page? It simply states:
>
> "KEPSA is the apex body and single voice of the private sector, with a
> membership that comprises more than 60 Business Membership
> Organisations (BMOs) and in excess of 180 corporate organizations –
> and is still growing. "
>
> Essentially - KEPSA's original purpose was to be an umbrella body -
> allowing various sectoral and professional "Business Membership
> Organisations" to bring their views together and then speak to
> government with one voice. These BMOs then have representatives that
> are recognised as KEPSA "Governors" and provide sectoral or business
> specific input to KEPSA agendas.
>
> This does not in any way replace, dilute, or diminish the purpose for
> that BMOs existence nor the service it offers it's members. The BMOs
> retain their unique identity and continue to engage with the specific
> organs of Govt that serve or affect their sector on a day to day basis
> while at the same time ensuring that the overall KEPSA agenda and
> engagements contain their views, positions and input.
>
> What was proposed today at #140Friday is the formation of a BMO
> representing the interests of businesses in the information technology
> sector. Whether or not BMO decides to become part of KEPSA or feels
> that KEPSA would add value to it's mission and vision is something
> that would need to be decided when, and if, it is formed.
>
> So finally - please do your homework - understand the subject you are
> commenting on, and the dynamics that surround it before making
> sweeping statements to dismiss or blindly support initiatives.
>
> As always,
>
> Brian
>
>
>
> On 3/9/12, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I took time to attend the 140Friday session and at the end I wept first
>> because as I sat there I realised that this was yet another talk shop
>> activity in full swing but most importantly was the rubbishing of the
>> late Evelyn Rono's efforts to give the sector a voice through KEPSA.
>>
>> Evelyn spent many hours lobbying for the ICT sector within the government
>> an
>> effort that has come to nought as we, yet again, scatter off into our
>> various selfish corners.  If all those tributes we kept sending around
>> after
>> she past away were genuine then lets honour her by continuing from where
>> she
>> left off instead of going off in a tangent.
>>
>> It was suggested by Dr. Ndemo and echoed by Mr. Kokubo that a team be
>> formed
>> to prepare a white paper on the issues that arose during the session, it
>> was
>> suggested that this would be best handled through the ICT Sector of KEPSA
>> just for one of the panel to wrongly imply that KEPSA was an association
>> for
>> manufacturers (that organisation is called KAM who are also members of
>> KEPSA).
>>
>> Dan Awendo of Investeq indicated that what is ailing us as an industry is
>> the one man show syndrome and the leopard hunting mentality.  If we can
>> not
>> within us form a body that can speak in one voice then all the efforts are
>> a
>> waste of time and resources.
>>
>> I will repeat what I raised a while back when I was not able to get a
>> platform from which to take over the governorship of the ICT sector at
>> KEPSA
>> from Evelyn because the Computer Society of Kenya who I assumed would
>> propose me had lapsed their membership.  Unless we as an industry can
>> speak
>> in one voice and become a constituency then we shall continue to wallow in
>> the miasma of deceit that was the session we had today, together we stand
>> divided we fall.
>>
>> Twitter town hall meetings will not resolve what ails the industry it is
>> only if we learn to come together that we can make an impact.  KEPSA
>> swings
>> a sledge hammer on behalf of any of its sectors, it recommends who seats
>> on
>> government committees that require private sector participation and
>> finally
>> it has the machinery to draft and push through legislation.
>>
>> Forming small little talk shops will not make any progress and I read
>> an ulterior motive to the proposal by Mr. Kokubo to form an "independent"
>> group to prepare the white paper.  He is very well aware that such a group
>> will never see the day of light but if it was under the umbrella of KEPSA
>> well that will be another issue.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>>
>>
>> Robert Yawe
>> KAY System Technologies Ltd
>> Phoenix House, 6th Floor
>> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
>> Kenya
>>
>>
>> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
>
>
> --
> Brian Munyao Longwe
> e-mail: blongwe at gmail.com
> cell:  +254715964281
> blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com
> meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com
>
> "Give us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand
> for, because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything."
>

-- 
Sent from my mobile device