[kictanet] ICT Authority; Baptism without conversion

[robert yawe]

Hi Listers,

It is with a heavy heart that I make this post as those involved are close friends and acquaintances but what has to be done must be done.

We recently had a lot of fanfare about the birth of the ICT Authority and it was felt that they would bring a breath of fresh-air into the sector but it seems that all we have is baptism without conversion which makes it a truly PR activity whose only beneficiaries are the graphic designers who will be paid for developing a new logo and printing new stationary.  I expected better from the acting CEO in association with a new CS and PS in the related ministry but it seems I expected too much too soon.


The ICT Authorities first visible activity has been an advert placed in the newspapers for the installation of an obsolete server (http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/power/hardware/eserverp5/entry/550/) and the delivery of an over priced solution that can easily be installed on the CS's laptop not to mention that a similar application is currently operational at transport ministry.

http://www.tendersunlimited.co.ke/services/public-sector/ict-services/11613-ict-authoritynational-safety-and-transport-authority-tendersupply-installation-and-commissioning-transport-integrated-management-system-for-the-national-transport-and-safety-authority-ministry-of-transport-and-infrastructureclosing-date29102013.html

To test the currently installed system send an SMS to 22456 with the followin;

1.  Check vehicle registration details: type "MVR followed by your vehicle registration number" e.g. "MVR KAP 162F"
2.  Check driving license validity/details: type "DLR followed by your 6 digit driving license number"
3.  Check TLB details: "TLB followed by the vehicle registration number"
4.  Check vehichle inspection details: "type "INS followed by the vehicle registration number"

I would have expected that the authority would use this opportunity to implement a truly radical and revolutionary solution that will not only meet the requirements of a single ministerial department, as this one is intended to do, but set the basis for a national cloud solution.  


Dr. Getao had at one time proposed to carry out a complete ICT audit of the government inventory as the first step to rationalise, centralise and harmonise the government activities but it seems that that remains a pipe dream as can be seen from this advert.


From the tender documents it is clear that the amount to be spent is in excess of Kes.1,000,000,000/- (1 Billion) which is roughly the amount spent by Safaricom in setting up its complete cloud infrastructure that is capable of providing solution to the entire East and central African governments, banks and major corporates.

It is time to stop this culture of baptisms without conversion as all we end up with are clean sinners.

Regards


Disclaimer:  I have a vested interest in the project as a tax payer, consumer of the solution and a member of the ICT fraternity

 
Robert Yawe
KAY System Technologies Ltd
Phoenix House, 6th Floor
P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
Kenya


Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
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