[kictanet] What Matiangi can learn from Ndemo

Mon Oct 7 17:30:10 EAT 2013

@CS Dr. Matiangi,

Am glad you joined KICTAnet...what I forgot to tell you is that it is rough neighbourhood - though Yawe did give big hints on this :-)

But on a more serious note, what you are going through is known as the hazards of leadership.  At your position, plse expect some more.  Just grow a thick skin, put on your helmet and you will enjoy the ride.

Journalists have this mantra- if it is not "bleeding" then it is NOT "leading" (news).  They are trained to tweak and twist in order to draw blood.  Blood sells...facts? Rarely.

walu.
nb: am glad you exercised your right of reply. At least now, we have the benefit of choosing which story to believe :-) 

________________________________
 From: Fred Matiangi <fredmatiangi at gmail.com>
To: Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com> 
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2013 4:48 AM
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 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.
>Read more…..
>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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 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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