[kictanet] What Matiangi can learn from Ndemo

Mon Oct 7 11:57:46 EAT 2013

Dear Dr.Matiangi,

Having read your email it is apparent how much you are affected by Wanjiku's
email. I wish to take the liberty to encourage you. This industry (and the
world, really) is full of criticism and a lot of harsh, unkind and often
untrue words. I have been a victim of it. What is important is that you are
giving it your best.  Take in what is useful in helping your perform your
duties  and trash the rest. It is never too easy pleasing everyone, nor can
you be someone else. Everyone has his/her own style of working. The key
objective is to deliver good results.    

All the best and lose no more sleep as long as you know you are giving it
your best. You took up a position that comes with the good and the bad. Shut
out the noise and just get the industry going to the next level.

Kind regards,

Gilda Odera         

From: kictanet
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+godera=skyweb.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf
Of Fred Matiangi
Sent: Monday, October 07, 2013 4:48 AM
To: godera at skyweb.co.ke
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] What Matiangi can learn from Ndemo

When I was nominated to Cabinet, last April, several of my friends including
Dr. Ndemo, Tom Mshindi, Elijah, Muriuki, and later others I met in policy
discussions like Alex and Walu encouraged me to visit, participate and
engage as much as humanly possible with the ICT sector in the blogosphere
and join KICTANET. The advice given to me was that in all these
interactions, I would meet diverse views on various aspects of policy in the
ICT sector generally. I try to 'check in' from time to time and keenly
follow conversations on a number of policy issues.  I have learned a lot
from some of these exchanges. I have met very insightful and deep thinkers;
and interesting others too.

I must confess however that in the 5 months I have been in public space,
there are times one feels very frustrated and almost like one is being asked
to unlearn many things- even about the most basic moral issues like telling
simple truths.

I read Wanjiku's post and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Why would
anybody tell such blatant lies about someone they hardly know? Many of my
colleagues at the Ministry told me not to bother to respond, but I think it
was too personal not to be commented on.

Everyone who was at Connected Kenya early in the year for instance can (if
they want to be sincere) recollect that I not only attended the cocktail
preceding the dinner in honour of my colleagues, Minister Pogisho and Dr.
Ndemo, but spoke at the event. I was introduced by Dr. Ndemo. I actually not
only attended and spoke at the dinner but invited 3 colleague Ministers-from
Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa- attending the OGP meeting running side by
side with Connected Kenya at the Serena.

In any case, it wasn't clear to anyone then that Dr. Ndemo would leave the
Ministry -appointments of PSs had not been done. When it was, we held a
farewell lunch for him and had such a great time with over 600 colleagues
and industry players at the Panafric. In collaboration with colleagues at
the Ministry, including Ndemo's successor, Mr. Tiampati, we have ensured to
include, invite and very sincerely acknowledge our preceding colleagues in
all activities, especially where we are launching products, reports etc.
that are a culmination of efforts they initiated at the Ministry- postal
payment gateway switch, the National Broadband Strategy etc.

At the main Connected Kenya event, I successfully persuaded Paul Kukubo and
other colleagues involved in the planning to allow me to have a generous
time on the podium with Minister Pogisho as this was the most public
opportunity for handover.  

There sure is something fundamentally serious with people- adults -who tell
lies such are being told here. Where on earth does the allegation that I
excused myself to see the Mombasa Governor come from?

The meeting Wanjiku refers to held by African Development Bank at the
Intercontinental Hotel was not even on PPPs. I was invited to preside over
the launch of the report 'silicon Kenya'- an ICT study commissioned by the
African Development Bank. I was there at 9am as advised but the meeting
started 1 hour late. I hurriedly made my remarks and had to leave when I was
done- at 1105hrs- because we were expected at a cabinet meeting starting at
11am. I very humbly explained this to both the journalists present and all
who had questions. I had however promised Michelle Morgan and Mark Okuttah
that I would respond to their 2 brief questions which I did. There was no
discussion on LTE- Not anything I can remember was meaningful enough to
sufficiently demonstrate my shallowness and lack of depth!

It is very frustrating to operate in the space of rumour mongering. I
sincerely think it is very demeaning for Dr. Ndemo and many of all of us his
friends and colleagues to engage in such a cheap discussion as being
proposed here about his and my relationship that's over three decades old
and much deeper and more expansive than our interaction at the Ministry of
Information or generally in the ICT sector. It is very unfortunate- to say
the very least.

Hate is a very strong term to use, especially to describe a relationship
between two people one of whom you begin by confessing you do not know much
of. I will let all readers and serious decent people who interact with this
unfortunate discussion be the judges. 

I try- even with the tyranny of demands on our time to return some of the
heavy traffic of e-mails, enquiries etc. that come to the Ministry. I will
certainly not lie that I will be able to do every interview, meet every
individual or group of people who want to meet or even turn up at every
single event I am required to. I try to meet as many people as I humanly can
and even try harder to show up for events when we have been invited and
advised in good time; but I also delegate in cases I cannot obviously deal
with due to various constraints. 

I am so grateful to God for the wonderful people I found at the Ministry and
all the very hardworking and focused Kenyans that work with me in many of
our agencies. We try hard and will continue to. Of course we may not satisfy
everyone but we promise to do our very best. 

When we are criticised, however- which we will always expect and take in our
stride- we hope people are at least factual- even about reporting events-
and more focused on the work we do rather than rumours and gossip.

To be insulted is painful. It is even much more painful to be mispresented
and for plain lies to be peddled about you. I pray that no Kenyan
perpetuates this about a fellow Kenyan, even one they simply just don't
like.

Ultimately, the Almighty God knows my heart and my every thought. He knows
my thoughts and feelings about fellow men on earth including Dr. Ndemo and I
remain accountable to my creator.

On Fri, Oct 4, 2013 at 11:55 AM, Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com> wrote:

@Becky, @Jane,

True that Ndemo was cool like that.  

But I guess everyone has their own style (remember when Kibaki took over and
went quiet in Statehouse and everyone  -comparing him to Moi - was  asking
where is this old man; 10years later the guy showed up with Thika
Superhighway +++

One more thing, Matiangi is Cabinet Sec a.k.a Minister so it is abit unfair
to compare him with Ndemo who was Permanent Sec (different roles).  Perhaps
if Becky did an article comparing Matiangi to Pogisho (former Minister) we
might get a different picture?

That said, I also do miss seeing the "Ndemo effect" at the Ministry...but
maybe we should instead target to bringing out the PS Tiampati out of the
woods..we could start by giving him a free, lifetime registration to
KICTAnet :-) 

walu.

  _____  

From: Network of non- formal Educational institutions
<nnfeischools at yahoo.com>
To: jwalu at yahoo.com 

Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 

Sent: Friday, September 27, 2013 12:56 PM
Subject: Re: [kictanet] What Matiangi can learn from Ndemo

I agree with Wanjiku . Dr Ndema was that available and supportive to
everybody.

Jane

  _____  

From: Rebecca Wanjiku <rebeccawanjiku at yahoo.com>
To: Jane Muriuki <nnfeischools at yahoo.com> 
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
Sent: Friday, September 27, 2013 12:25 PM
Subject: [kictanet] What Matiangi can learn from Ndemo

When it became obvious that Bitange Ndemo would not be taking over as the
Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication, the ICT
community wondered who would wear the giant shoes left by Ndemo.

To calm the nerves and prepare for his exit, Ndemo wrote to the ICT industry
and you can read it
<http://www.wanjiku.co.ke/2013/04/ndemo-sees-his-departure-as-imminent/>
here.

So much has been said about Ndemo, both positive and negative but the thing
I am most happy about is his easy approach; want to see him, drop him an
email, get an appointment at 6 am or earlier. Want to interview him, drop
the questions on email, and for some reason I would have answers in 24
hours, on email. No reminder, he will do it.

http://www.wanjiku.co.ke/2013/09/what-matiangi-can-learn-from-ndemo/

Tel. 254 720 318 925

wanjiku.co.ke

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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 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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