[kictanet] State cancels the Laptop Project tender process?

Thu Oct 17 18:17:20 EAT 2013

Hello Waithaka,

Your proposal's sounds great to me if it can happen within an open online
procurement platform.   However one question I have been wanting to ask in
large scale ICT procurements especially within the Education and Health
sector, why can't there exist an online platform to handle such
procurement?  To me this will be a good balancing act that all can see who
tendered for what and whatever value added they will bring in especially
when it involves schools, because in the long run, for this Laptop project
for Kenyan schools, I personally felt in such procurement process value
added services must be a must and long term because its an important sector
that can be a game changer to the whole education sector in terms of
properly inegrating ICT into traditional curriculum,?

 Just my little 0.0000001% to this interesting discuss

Peace

Poncelet

On 17 October 2013 11:42, Ngigi Waithaka <ngigi at at.co.ke> wrote:

> Listers,
>
> This is probably the most important decision Kaimenyi has made to date and
> also that will define his 5 year term in Education. And I totally agree
> with him.
>
> We are being let down by lack of creativity in our Procurement processes,
> yet we have persons who profess to have Masters & PHDs in Procurement, but
> they they can't think beyond their pockets.
>
> Thing is, in large scale procurement, you have to look at how to not only
> get the best value, but how to manage the risk and also, how to ensure fair
> play amongst the vendors.
>
> Any tender for a country-wide project just can't be awarded to a single
> vendor. This doesn't happen in industries like roads (Can you imagine GoK
> saying that they are issuing out a tender to tarmac every road in Kenya
> that will end up with a single vendor?), but in ICT we do it with impunity.
>
> Since this is a Country Wide Project, the first thing that needs to be
> made are the standards and specifications for these laptops. Lock them down
> and then ask Original Equipment Manufacturers to quote on how much it would
> cost to supply these laptops in batches of 1,000. You do not need HP, IBM,
> Lenovo. Go and talk to the OEM Manufacturers directly, and let them give
> you Laptops branded KenyaONE with those specs.
>
> If you are buying 20K Laptops, you can make Laptops to be made to your
> specification, unbranded at almost half the cost. How do I know, we once
> had special hardware made for a client here, who was buying just 500 pieces
> with full support and warranty.
>
> If you think I am kidding, just take a look here
> http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/oem-laptop.html. You get laptops with
> Intel Core 2 Duo Chips & Motherboards at between 100 - 200 USD depending on
> quantities.
>
> How do you support them? Give those contracts to every University, College
> and Youth Group that gets registered and the parts can be bought centrally
> then the local guys can buy them from there and resell to the schools.
>
> How do you ensure quality? Ask KEBS to approve Samples. Give kids in
> select schools to play around with them for a month and get feedback, Once
> approved, then every laptop after that has to meet those specs as per those
> Samples.
>
> And before anyone screams that China makes 'cheap' products, remember
> every major manufacturer including the one that makes your treasured iPad,
> manufacturers them in China. Even one DJ CK was shocked how our average
> perception of China is during a recent visit
> http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/2013/08/lessons-from-uhurus-landmark-china-visit/
>
> Regards
> Waithaka Ngigi
> A1.iO
>
>
> On Thu, Oct 17, 2013 at 11:33 AM, Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> NAIROBI, KENYA: The Government has now cancelled the Laptop Project
>> tender for schools over a budget deficit as bidders exceeded the budgetary
>> projections.
>>
>> Education Cabinet Secretary Prof Jacob Kaimenyi announced that the tender
>> process was canceled as lowest bidder quoted Ksh 32B against an anticipated
>> budget of Ksh 20B.
>>
>> read more @
>>
>> http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000095732&story_title=jubilee-laptop-project-halted
>>
>> ~~~~
>> Not sure if it is true but I think Kenyans need to ask serious questions
>> on this.  We cannot spend our time and effort putting forward ideas on how
>> to best implement a high-risk project and then suddenly we are told it is
>> over...kapput.. finito..go home. just like that!
>>
>> For example If money is the problem why not modify the project to fit 20B
>> the budget?  I still think 20B would be sufficient if this project was
>> tilted and tweaked towards the form1 student labs or even university
>> students.  The idea was noble and timely but execution and target audience
>> for me (not Yawe :-) has always been doubtful.
>>
>> Right now we are told suppliers asked  for 32B Ksh and but we had 20B so
>> cancel the project, no questions asked and perhaps wait for 2-3yrs later to
>> read from the Auditor General about how the 20B was (mis?)used.
>>
>> I think the CS for ICT should make a pitch to salvage the project in the
>> modified form - assuming ofcourse the project was truly intended.
>>
>> walu.
>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> *Regards,*
>
> *Wait**haka 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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> 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.
>

-- 
Poncelet O. Ileleji MBCS
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