[kictanet] Taifa Laptop

Fri Aug 26 16:24:15 EAT 2016

Michael,

I first met Taifa laptops when we had the ASK Show in 2015. I thought it
great then, and seeing this new development I think it is very good.
http://www.jkuat.ac.ke/departments/it/taifa-a3-laptop/

It reminded me of how I returned to Kenya in 2006 after almost 10 years
abroad. The government had just removed duty on PC parts and hence since I
was entitled to  a 40 foot container with my personal effects I filled it
with motherboards, RAMs, HDs and other things not available locally. When
it was eventually cleared I got some of my childhood pals we grew together
in Eastlands and we would assemble "No Name" tower or desk top and enabled
many who could not afford branded i.e. IBM, HP, Dell etc. to still enjoy
what a computer can as the hardware of essence is the motherboard, RAM, HD
while software those days one could pirate MS without dire consequences.

My bossom buddy got his son admitted to JKUAT and when the boy was sent
home for not having a laptop I advised he gets the Taifa as he will pay by
installments. Going forward what JKUAT may do is enter into an agreement
with some commercial bank(s) who can provide soft loans (now that interest
rates are coming down by law) to enable those who wish to pay back in 4 or
5 years to have that facility.

Globally I used to see German made (Siemen Company) desktops and towers
sold to students through local arrangements with European banks not only in
Germany but in Austria and Switzerland too. That does not stop those who
may wish to buy say Apple, Toshiba, HP etc at a premium doing so. The
beauty is we have our own, even if forced down out children's' throats, it
eventually will bring about the effect I have seen in far of places like
Japan, South Korea, USA just to name a few. I remember a friend who had to
attended a 6 months training course in Japan was issued a Toshiba laptop
and its cost included in the training package. the whole class had more
than 20 Africans and it occurred every year since 1997. If JKUAT can borrow
that leaf and extend beyong 1st years reporting to civil servants who have
to attend some compulsory courses not available at Kenya School of
Government it will be great as it would boost usage and outlet of this
Taifa laptops. Better still is making a deal with government entities like
the Ministries, Parastatals etc and supply us with this laptops. Only last
week I was issued with the biannual replacement of my laptop witha HP
imported from United Arab Emirates and I am willing to bet half my August
salary that it was purchased in excess of kshs. 70,000 while its specs are
not so different from the Taifa laptop! Why are we happier creating jobs
for technicians (since someone may argue degree holders should not be
assembling laptops) abroad while our own youths are jobless. Why do we wish
to export our dollars abroad when we could pass the money to our own
locally to spend locally, the bigger chunks, eventually?

Finally every-time I visit West African countries I notice they do not wear
suits like we do in kenya starting from their President down to the street
urchins. They have evolved a sophisticated clothing industry that do not
allow 'someone died aka mitumba' industry as we have here.

Let me start counting the minutes to Furahi day.

--
--
David Otwoma, PhD
Chief Scientist,
National Commission for Science Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI)
Utalii House, P.O Box 30623-00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Safcom tel: +254 722 141771,
Orange tel: +254 (0)20 2346915,
email: otwooma at gmail.com & otwoma at uonbi.ac.ke
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=100000614284149
http://www.nacosti.go.ke
&
Chairman,
Eastern Africa Association for Radiation Protection,
http://www.eaarp.org/

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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