[kictanet] State cancels the Laptop Project tender process?

Fri Oct 18 10:41:09 EAT 2013

Great words there Ngigi, FREEDOM, VALUE FOR MONEY! Sound familiar?

On Thu, Oct 17, 2013 at 7:32 PM, Ngigi Waithaka <ngigi at at.co.ke> wrote:

> Poncelet,
>
> Yes, an open online procurement platform would bring visibility to the
> tender process, but, the last time the government tried to implement one,
> it was mired in controversy when the Public Procurement Oversight Authority
> (PPOA), which was the procuring agent this time , flouted the very
> procurement rules it is supposed to uphold.
>
> So lets just say, there is currently none!
>
> But, even without one, if someone was willing to think just a little bit,
> you can still procure this in a cost effective manner, with reduced risk
> and get great value for money.
>
> Regards
>
>
> On Thu, Oct 17, 2013 at 6:17 PM, Poncelet Ileleji <pileleji at ymca.gm>wrote:
>
>> 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
>> Coordinator
>> The Gambia YMCAs Computer Training Centre & Digital Studio
>> MDI Road Kanifing South
>> P. O. Box 421 Banjul
>> The Gambia, West Africa
>> Tel: (220) 4370240
>> Fax:(220) 4390793
>> Cell:(220) 9912508
>> Skype: pons_utd
>> *www.ymca.gm
>> www.waigf.org
>> www.aficta.org
>> www.itag.gm
>> www.npoc.org
>> http://www.wsa-mobile.org/node/753
>> *www.diplointernetgovernance.org
>>
>> *
>> *
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> *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.
>

-- 
*----------------------------------------------------
Kind Regards,
Evans Ikua,*
lanetconsulting.com,
lpi-eastafrica.org,
ict-innovation.fossfa.net,
Skype: @ikuae
Cell: +254-722-955831
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