[kictanet] What Matiangi can learn from Ndemo

Mon Oct 7 13:56:23 EAT 2013

Mr. Waithaka,

Interesting contribution. I am however interested in seeing your views as to
why we should kill Konza. I seem to hold them same opinion with Dr. Ndemo
that Konza is a great initiative for Kenya. Do I miss something? BTW on that
MPESA item, I don't think Kenya is too late. If Dr. Matiangi can provide the
right platform for us and grant developers in Kenya the Central Bank support
that the creators of MPESA enjoyed (after some challenges) it would be
possible for another MPESA to emerge from Kenya. 

From: kictanet
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+bkioko=bernsoft.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf
Of Ngigi Waithaka
Sent: Monday, October 07, 2013 12:52 PM
To: bkioko at bernsoft.com
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] What Matiangi can learn from Ndemo

Dr Matiangi,

My 2 cents on this issue.

First, do not try to be like Dr Ndemo, as there is only but one Dr Ndemo,
just as there is only but one Dr Matiangi. Try, however, to create your own
path that emulates the good things, and the bad ones, improve on them or
scrap them.

I will list some good & bad things that happened under Dr Ndemo's leadership

Good

1. Dr Ndemo was easily accessible. I think he would probably respond to most
relevant mails and would attend most functions that I went to.

2. We had it good for the Telecom sector. This grew in leaps & bounds during
his tenure

3. He managed to take get the government to take ICT seriously from a
previously non-existent Ministry.

Bad

1. Too much focus on Telecoms & BPOs to detriment of other sectors in
technology such as software

2. Focus on Mobile development ought to change as this is mostly a dead-end
in this market

3. Too much marketing talk, little on delivery! ICT Board should spend a lot
more money marketing Kenya's products & services not attending every
conference that's happening globally.

4. The one that got away; failed to secure the IP for MPesa. We ought to
have had a piece of that and mint Billions, but someone forgot

5. Did not centralize ICT in GoK

What you should do:

1. Kill Konza if you can! Grand dream we don't need right now. Money can
best be used elsewhere in the same sector. Invest it in Research & local
firms and the industry can build itself a Konza if need be in 30 years.

2. Crack the whip on KICT Authority and ensure they walk the talk as regards
growth of Kenya ICT Sector. Set clear goals on what they ought to have had
done in 5 years.

3. Shift our dream goal of trying to be like India, with their BPOs and to
aiming to be the Israel (Highend Technology) as our demographics simply do
not allow us to compete with India on cost.

4. Take Kenya Software Industry seriously with less emphasis on Incubation
Labs but to delivering solutions that can be sold in the general market.

5. Don't try to be like Dr Ndemo

A key achievement that at least you have achieved in your 5 months in office
is centralizing ICT in GoK, I want to believe there is more where that came
from.

Finally, it is important if you would share with us what your 5 year
gameplan is ( I don't mean that Kenya ICT Masterplan), so we can judge you
fairly.

Regards

Waithaka Ngigi

A1.iO

On Mon, Oct 7, 2013 at 4:48 AM, Fred Matiangi <fredmatiangi at gmail.com>
wrote:

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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regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
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KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
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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
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-- 

Regards,

Waithaka Ngigi

Chief Executive Officer | Alliance Technologies | MCK Nairobi Synod Building

T + 254 (0) 20 2333 471 |Office Mobile: +254 786 28 28 28 | M + 254 737 811
000

www.at.co.ke

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