[kictanet] Taifa Laptop

Fri Aug 26 07:20:58 EAT 2016

I will put in a final argument to this discussion.

As a country we made huge progress in the past, and a lot of credit needs
to be given to Dr. Ndemo. Innovation flourished and we believed we could
finally become a force. But Dr. Ndemo worked with stakeholders and put in
policies that, instead of enforcing standards, facilitated development.
Policy is a tool to facilitate, yes it does regulate, but the most
effective policies facilitate more than regulate.

We live in a market with interesting dynamics. We have the ICT
Practitioners Bill upon us. And I think that Bill is a classic example of
why we should be careful what we wish for. Our markets work on the
principle of regulation more than facilitation,  and that is a dangerous
thing.

It is always not a good sign when policies are enacted to safe-gaurd the
interests of a selected few. And also, while yes, Korean local products are
cheaper, why is the Taifa Laptop more costly that competing foreign
alternatives? Sometimes concrete questions need to be asked about such
policies. If we do allow such mechanisms to work without questions, then
the precedent we shall set for the future of policy making in this country
shall not be examplary. It shall be our demise.

And that is all.

On Fri, Aug 26, 2016 at 7:10 AM, Barrack Otieno via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Dear all,
>
> Interesting conversation thank you Mike. With after sitting on the
> fence and watching the arguments, i am inclined to support the
> decision made by the University. The only bit i would encourage is
> proper dialogue between the Parents and the University. Buy Kenya,
> Build Kenya.
>
> Regards
>
> On 8/26/16, Waithaka Ngigi via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> wrote:
> > Ali,
> >
> > I don't think Daktari, if I could speak for him, is saying that we start
> > with mediocre products. If anything, he says he's used the laptops and
> > bought a lot more others for students. And they work.
> >
> > If you were to rewind computer history, what did IBM say about the first
> > Apple Computer, Apple I.... a sub-standard toy that'll never amount to
> > anything‎.
> >
> > 30 yrs later, Apple  trounced IBM to be come the most valuable tech
> company.
> >
> > Not too long ago, what did BlackBerry say about the first Android Version
> > from a little unknown company that was eventually bought by Google?
> >
> > First generation products generally rely more on vision than outright
> sheer
> > performance. Yes, Taifa wouldn't beat Dell or apple today, but as the
> Kenyan
> > Nation let's  buy into that vision‎. That's the least we can do for
> Taifa!
> >
> > Waithaka Ngigi
> >
> > Alliance Technologies
> > www.at.co.ke
> > From: Ali Hussein via kictanet
> > Sent: Friday, August 26, 2016 5:53 AM
> > To: Ngigi Waithaka
> > Reply To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> > Cc: Ali Hussein; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Taifa Laptop
> >
> > Daktari
> >
> > I'm with you. Mine is to debunk the myth that we have to start from
> > mediocrity to grow our local industries. We don't have to use the same
> > legacy thinking of yesteryears.
> >
> > Local industry is critical for development even as we move even more
> faster
> > towards the utopia of the Information Age. Even the Americans are
> realizing
> > that the notion of outsourcing to China may be a short time profit thing
> but
> > not necessarily good for the country. However, there's a deliberate
> effort
> > to encourage this. Like The
> > Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2013
> >
> > https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revitalize_American_
> Manufacturing_and_Innovation_Act_of_2013
> >
> > Let's support local products and solutions. But let's also ensure we hold
> > ourselves to the highest standards possible.
> >
> > Ali Hussein
> > Principal
> > Hussein & Associates
> > +254 0713 601113
> >
> > Twitter: @AliHKassim
> >
> > Skype: abu-jomo
> >
> > LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
> >
> >
> >
> > "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking
> what
> > no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi
> >
> > Sent from my iPad
> >
> > On 25 Aug 2016, at 10:57 PM, Bitange Ndemo <bndemo at bitangendemo.me>
> wrote:
> >
> >> Ali,
> >> I have actually used Taifa and I was impressed with the product.  It
> was a
> >> mistake that we killed Nyayo car because we ended up probing up the
> Proton
> >> from Malaysia that was started exactly the same time.  Some of the
> >> imported computers are hopeless.  I can show you several e-waste that we
> >> keep on importing simply because it is imported.  We have killed the
> >> textile industry by wearing other people's used clothes yet an economist
> >> will tell you that the price of a new product drops when supply
> increases.
> >>
> >> Ndemo.
> >>
> >> On Thu, Aug 25, 2016 at 10:28 PM, Ali Hussein via kictanet
> >> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> This notion that local equates or should be inferior harks us back to
> the
> >>> Nyayo Car. We shouldn't expect mediocrity just because it's local. The
> >>> days of comparative advantage and 'National Pride' for inferior
> products
> >>> MUST end otherwise we will continue to lag behind as a contingent.
> >>>
> >>> Let's buy local yes. But let's continuously demand the highest
> standards.
> >>> It is the only way to keep local industry alive.
> >>>
> >>> Ali Hussein
> >>> Principal
> >>> Hussein & Associates
> >>> +254 0713 601113
> >>>
> >>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
> >>>
> >>> Skype: abu-jomo
> >>>
> >>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking
> >>> what no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi
> >>>
> >>> Sent from my iPad
> >>>
> >>> On 25 Aug 2016, at 9:39 PM, Ahmed Mohamed Maawy via kictanet
> >>> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Its not that I am disputing that fact Dr. Ndemo. But the fact that
> they
> >>>> can pay extra to buy a foreign product gives that extra room for
> choice
> >>>> - in a free market choice is a must have. Having a free market is in
> >>>> some circumstances maybe even better for the development of our own
> >>>> products. Competition breeds efficiency in the long-run.
> >>>>
> >>>> I totally agree that we need to support Taifa as a product and make it
> >>>> scale. But again the consumer has the right to have a choice. Some
> kids
> >>>> go to University barely on loans that they can raise from family, if
> >>>> they could. Some just can not - and in my personal capacity having
> been
> >>>> one of those on that demographic I can feel what some of these kids
> can
> >>>> feel.
> >>>>
> >>>> It just means that we need to become better business people to market
> >>>> that product better.
> >>>>
> >>>> I believe Kenyans can be patriotic. All they need is a reason to be
> so.
> >>>> All they need is leadership.
> >>>>
> >>>> On Thu, Aug 25, 2016 at 9:33 PM, Bitange Ndemo <
> bndemo at bitangendemo.me>
> >>>> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Ahmed,
> >>>>> They did not but in Korea everybody had to use the local products.
> To
> >>>>> buy foreign, you had to pay extra.  In fact even today only 1 in 10
> >>>>> cars on the road that is not Korean.  The point I am making is that
> our
> >>>>> problems emanate from the appetite of foreign goods.  That is how we
> >>>>> are not creating jobs.  Freedom even in the most free states is
> >>>>> relative.  Our security now and in the future depends on what we do
> >>>>> with unemployment.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Ndemo.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On Thu, Aug 25, 2016 at 9:23 PM, Ahmed Mohamed Maawy
> >>>>> <ultimateprogramer at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Agreed with you bwana Ndemo 100%
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> But the point of all this is that the Koreans didn't come to force
> us
> >>>>>> to buy their units.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> On Thu, Aug 25, 2016 at 9:19 PM, Bitange Ndemo via kictanet
> >>>>>> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Michael,
> >>>>>>> I have bought six of Taifa Laptops for students who come to me for
> >>>>>>> help.  They are happy with the product.  I don't buy Taifa because
> it
> >>>>>>> is cheap.  I buy to support the growth of light electronic
> >>>>>>> manufacturing industry in Kenya.  We have bought garbage in form of
> >>>>>>> tablets for many years from Asia.  We effectively supported Asians
> to
> >>>>>>> go through the learning curve.  Today they dominate the sector.
> >>>>>>> India is making the industry a priority and estimates show it will
> >>>>>>> top more than $ 900 billion by 2020.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Before we criticism these noble efforts we must look back and
> correct
> >>>>>>> our attitude.  We supported Koreans perfect the Hyundai, Indians
> >>>>>>> perfect the Mahindra, Japanese perfect the Toyota Mark II and
> Chinese
> >>>>>>> perfect their electronic manufacturing capability.  Kenya will not
> >>>>>>> wake up one day and produce a perfect product without going
> through a
> >>>>>>> learning curve.  JKUAt has had to go through the learning curve
> since
> >>>>>>> they produced their first computer, Madaraka with the support of
> the
> >>>>>>> Ministry of Information and Communications.  We have a collective
> >>>>>>> responsibility to be part of the solution to our perennial problems
> >>>>>>> of unemployment.  Without the local market we cannot scale.
> >>>>>>> Patriotism means we make certain sacrifices while giving
> constructive
> >>>>>>> criticisms.  Africa will never get out of poverty by being
> consumers
> >>>>>>> of other people's products.  Go buy Taifa and give some advise on
> >>>>>>> what they need to improve.  It has warranty and personally I have
> no
> >>>>>>> problem with the lap top.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Ndemo.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> On Thu, Aug 25, 2016 at 12:10 PM, Musya Michael via kictanet
> >>>>>>> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Anyone using this laptop? Experiences so far?
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/08/22/parents-
> protest-jkuats-imposition-of-taifa-laptops-on-students_c1407693
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> --
> >>>>>>>> Regards,
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Michael Musya.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
> >>>>>>>> Philippians 4:13
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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> bndemo%40bitangendemo.me
> >>>>>>>>
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> 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.
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> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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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.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> --
> >>>>>> Ahmed Maawy
> >>>>>> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
> >>>>>> Curator - Global Shapers Mombasa Hub
> >>>>>> Ambassador - Open Knowledge
> >>>>>> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
> >>>>>> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
> >>>>>> (KE) +254 714 960 627
> >>>>>> Skype: ultimateprogramer
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> swahilibox.co.ke
> >>>>>> globalshapers.org
> >>>>>> www.okfn.org
> >>>>>> startupgrind.com
> >>>>>> ajplus.net
> >>>>>> www.everylayer.com
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> --
> >>>> Ahmed Maawy
> >>>> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
> >>>> Curator - Global Shapers Mombasa Hub
> >>>> Ambassador - Open Knowledge
> >>>> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
> >>>> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
> >>>> (KE) +254 714 960 627
> >>>> Skype: ultimateprogramer
> >>>>
> >>>> swahilibox.co.ke
> >>>> globalshapers.org
> >>>> www.okfn.org
> >>>> startupgrind.com
> >>>> ajplus.net
> >>>> www.everylayer.com
> >>>>
> >>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>>
> >>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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> 40alyhussein.com
> >>>>
> >>>> 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.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> kictanet mailing list
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> >>>
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> bndemo%40bitangendemo.me
> >>>
> >>> 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.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Barrack O. Otieno
> +254721325277
> +254733206359
> Skype: barrack.otieno
> PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/
> mailman/options/kictanet/ultimateprogramer%40gmail.com
>
> 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.
>

-- 
*Ahmed Maawy*
Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO)
Curator - Global Shapers Mombasa Hub
Ambassador - Open Knowledge
Director - Startup Grind Mombasa
Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer
(KE) +254 714 960 627
Skype: ultimateprogramer

swahilibox.co.ke
globalshapers.org
www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/>
startupgrind.com
ajplus.net
www.everylayer.com
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