[kictanet] Our Response to Systematic ICT Systems Failure at IEBC

[Warigia Bowman]

Sam Plus One!

On Tue, Mar 12, 2013 at 10:45 AM, Sam Gichuru <gichuru at gmail.com> wrote:

> Edith,
>
> I am one of those who suggested a full Audit of the system but only after
> the elections and I am definitely looking forward to this weeks #140 Friday
> with Brian, I hear people involved will be available for candid
> discussions.
>
> What I am seeing and I stand to be corrected is the spectator syndrome,
> when everything is ok and the international press highlight Kenya as a tech
> destination, Mpesa is praised, Ushahidi and startups with all our Mvitus,
> we celebrate, claim our team (#teamtech/ICT) is winning and write long blog
> posts and gazillion tweets etc
>
> This only last as long as nothing goes wrong, but when it does, suddenly
> the conversation changes from "we" to "them", they have failed, they dint
> consult, they dint test, they... not us. This is what most football
> fans/Spectators do, they love their football team only when its winning,
> which basically makes one wonder are we players or are we fans of this game?
>
> But to bring this home, we have a bigger problem, if this community
> started asking about the procurement process, the system architect and the
> companies that were selected to implement  the IEBC system only after it
> failed, we are not engaging enough, are we saying that nobody in this list
> bid for this system? nobody tried? ... doesn't that mean we are just
> talking ..... and talk is cheap.
>
> I would like to challenge the community to engage more with an aim to
> problem solve, to tender and bid for local contracts, to build more open
> source solutions, to fundraise with an aim to seed fund startups, if we
> dont... we are going to be running around in circles and then move to
> Rwanda and guess what we will all say ..... they dint do xyz...
>
>
> Let ask Ourselves ... who is they?
>
>
> On Tue, Mar 12, 2013 at 4:35 PM, Edith Adera <eadera at idrc.ca> wrote:
>
>>  Harry,****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Not sure you were in Kenya or buried your head in the sand!****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> It’s a fact that the system did not work and IEBC had to revert to the
>> manual system as reported by the Chair of the IEBC on TV.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> We need to learn to tell the truth as a country and confront our issues.
>> Someone suggested on this list, can’t remember who,  that as an ICT
>> industry an audit should be carried out so we know what went wrong and
>> learn for the future.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Why do we always turn to the easy targets….tribalism, partisan interests
>> etc when hard questions are asked?****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Edith****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> *From:* kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=
>> idrc.ca at lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *Harry Delano
>> *Sent:* March 12, 2013 3:22 PM
>> *To:* Edith Adera
>> *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>> *Subject:* [kictanet] Our Response to Systematic ICT Systems Failure at
>> IEBC****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Aye..!****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Could someone please aver what the furor was all about on this list when
>> systems failed at IEBC last week. I thought it was so that****
>>
>> we could address systemic issues in that part of the election process..?
>> Please someone correct me, but I seem to be settling on****
>>
>> this conclusion that we collectively only raise hue and cry when the
>> system(s) are perceived to be working  against “us”, or not in ****
>>
>> “our” interests – whichever side of divide each one of us sits. Once they
>> serve ‘our’ interests, we quickly move on.. So where is ****
>>
>> posterity in all this..? A pattern emerges where well calculated
>> intellectual arguments everywhere nowadays, that  thinly  veil and ****
>>
>> mask the real motives in us. We completely bury our heads in the ground
>> and deny that we have deeply rooted issues that stem****
>>
>> from tribe, class etc and as a result,  we are caught up in this  vicious
>> cycle that we cannot seem to free ourselves from and which ****
>>
>> clouds our entire vision as a nation. Who will free us, if we do not take
>> initiative ourselves..? How and when will we as a nation ****
>>
>> confront this ‘monster’ head on, by first of all acknowledging it exists.
>> Then moving to deal with it. Can this list be at the forefront ****
>>
>> of it..?****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> If so,  let’s start now..****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Harry****
>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Warm Regards,
> ------------------------
> Sam Gichuru
>
>
> twitter: | @samgichuru <http://twitter.com/samgichuru>
> Blog: |  www.samgichuru.com
> Facebook: | Sam.gichuru <http://www.facebook.com/sam.gichuru>
> Skype: Sam.gichuru
> Cellphone: | +254-722-730565
>
> Co-founder/ Director /Nailab Incubation
> Location: | Nairobi
> Website: | www.nailab.co.ke
> twitter: | @thenailab
>
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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.
>



-- 
Dr. Warigia Bowman
Assistant Professor
Clinton School of Public Service
University of Arkansas
wbowman at clintonschool.uasys.edu
http://democratizingegypt.blogspot.com
-------------------------------------------------
View my research on my SSRN Author page:
http://ssrn.com/author=1479660
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