[kictanet] KISERO: Kenya’s corruption tsars have perfected looting through Ifmis - Daily Nation

Mon Jan 9 22:32:17 EAT 2017

Ngigi,

This guy Baiju is spot on when he writes "If you want ethics and integrity
then let's award government jobs on merit and not who you know and what
personal relationships exist, bring transparency to the whole. Can we do
that?"

We should upgrade from talking about colonialism to talking of
neo-colonialism with our own black skins  treating us badly, worst case
point being the Riek Machar vs Silva Kir in our neighbourhood. There is an
old book, written before I was born which has this quote "The leader
pacifies the people. For years on end after independence has been won, we
see him, incapable of urging on the people to a concrete task, unable
really to open the future to them or of flinging them into the path of
national reconstruction, that is to say, of their own reconstruction; we
see him reassessing the history of independence and recalling the sacred
unity of the struggle for liberation. The leader, because he refuses to
break up the national bourgeoisie, asks the people to fall back into the
past and to become drunk on the remembrance of the epoch which led up to
independence. The leader, seen objectively, brings the people to a halt and
persists in either expelling them from history or preventing them from
taking root in it."
https://www.marxists.org/subject/africa/fanon/pitfalls-national.htm

Close at home let us call a spade a spade and interrogate how our ICT
bodies have CEOs and other heads along what Baiju asks.

In energy where I am more conversant the same scenario is repeated as what
is happening in ICT.  We have village boys sitting on both PS positions
with a clueless CS shuffling in between. So we have "Kenya Power has
restored supply to parts of Nairobi and Mount Kenya regions, with Eng Tare
saying efforts were being made to restore supply to the Coast region."
http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Nairobi--Mount-Kenya-and-Coast-region-hit-by-blackout/539546-3510776-14wpp7hz/index.html

As if that is not enough the 5,000+ MW addition is having to stay in the
back burner and the diesel generators will be back. Hear "CS Keter said the
thermal stations are now account for 18 per cent of the power produced in
the country. He expects this to further go up to 24 per cent in the coming
months as the drought bites, which would mean further decline in the
contribution of hydro electricity."
Read more at:
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2000229172/demand-setback-now-puts-kenya-s-mega-power-plan-on-the-back-burner

So Ngigi, please go slow on Baiju along the race card and let us address
the issue he raises i.e. "If you want ethics and integrity then let's award
government jobs on merit and not who you know and what personal
relationships exist, bring transparency to the whole. Can we do that?"

David

--
--
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 Mon, Jan 9, 2017 at 11:01 PM, Ngigi Waithaka via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Baiju,
>
> So you claim, there are no decent System Architects, Projects Managers,
> System Analysts in Kenya...
>
> Would you perhaps extend that to other professions such as there are no
> decent Lawyers, Doctors, Architects etc in Kenya, or is ICT an exception?
>
> In which case then, you would be suggesting that we were born 'lacking' a
> certain gene, perhaps, that would have endowed us with certain
> ICT capabilities.
>
> The last time we heard such talk in this country was during the colonial
> period, when *Africans* could never be good at anything that the white man
> did, so I suggest you retract your statement above, as it racially loaded
> and has not place in this forum!
>
> Regards
> Waithaka Ngigi
>
> Sent from Nylas N1 <https://nylas.com/n1?ref=n1>, the extensible, open
> source mail client.
>
> On Jan 9 2017, at 8:56 pm, Baiju Shah via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>> Hi Barrack,
>>
>> If I agree with you then I am not being honest to this group. I have not
>> seen a decent solution architect in exception the are from Somewhere else,
>> I have not seen a decent business analysts or system analyst, I have not
>> seen decent project managers...
>>
>> Therefore, we need to get the education system up and running.
>>
>> If you want ethics and integrity then let's award government jobs on
>> merit and not who you know and what personal relationships exist, bring
>> transparency to the whole. Can we do that?
>>
>> Not really, it is impossible to get any traction on the government ICT
>> jobs while a briefcase co or a co from anywhere else in wins the work
>> because of their local agent who cannot even spell ICT. The company deploys
>> a poor project as our stakeholders are not managed and our requirements
>> have not been ratified and confirmed by business experts. We are not able
>> to get a holistic delivery as the solution architecture was never done e.g.
>> Please look at ifmis have a critical audit and compare them
>> To the original set of requirements that were drawn up. I am sure you
>> will not be allowed.
>>
>> I hope this provides a view of my personal experiences and helps to put
>> together a framework that the new Kenyan built technology solutions come to
>> market and
>> NOT built in the USA...
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Best Regards,
>> Baiju
>>
>> > On 9 Jan 2017, at 08:10, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> > Hi Baiju and colleagues,
>> >
>> > Reading your comments, the main challenge is ethics and integrity. We
>> > have to address it even if it affects all of us. We are not short of
>> > qualified project management experts, Software Analysts and Designers
>> > as well as System Engineers. We are not short of industry lobby
>> > groups as well, we are short on ethics and integrity.
>> >
>> > Regards
>> >
>> >> On 1/9/17, Baiju Shah via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>> wrote:
>> >> Hi All,
>> >>
>> >> Well now ok about the issues with the IFMIS, can we focus on building a
>> >> better pool of business system analyst, solution design, quality
>> assurance
>> >> and project management. These are the key skills missing from the ICT
>> >> sector, furthermore let's not blame the customer as we all lack a
>> little or
>> >> any amount of ethics... In reality please look at yourselves in the
>> mirror
>> >> and reflect when and where you individually have taken short cuts or
>> came up
>> >> with lame reasons for non delivery. Have created issues for fellow
>> >> professionals who have won a project on merit. It my prayer that we
>> get out
>> >> stakeholder management sorted and develop a proper lobby group that is
>> given
>> >> a representation on the government projects to provide quality
>> assurance and
>> >> assure the delivery of the project in line with the vision, mission and
>> >> scope signed off by the key stakeholders. Further provide advice on the
>> >> Correctness of the scope which requires industry expertise per
>> vertical.
>> >> Therefore, my challenge to the group is what are we doing to align the
>> >> technology with the business needs?
>> >>
>> >> Thanks and have a good week,
>> >>
>> >> Best Regards,
>> >> Baiju
>> >>
>> >>> On 9 Jan 2017, at 05:29, Alex Watila via kictanet
>> >>> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>> good morning,
>> >>> IFMIS is in the news again
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> State audit finds serious loopholes in Ifmis system - Daily Nation
>> >>> https://t.co/4dPksjnJBT
>> >>>
>> >>> https://twitter.com/dailynation/status/818261005935448064
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> On 3 Dec 2016 12:08, "S.M. Muraya via kictanet"
>> >>> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>> >>> Ngigi,
>> >>>
>> >>> Nothing less than Multi Factor authentication is required in Kenya.
>> >>>
>> >>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-factor_authentication
>> >>>
>> >>> Negligence needs to be penalized (we know, in Kenya, prosecution never
>> >>> succeeds where looting succeeds).
>> >>>
>> >>> This includes negligence of local talent, not just theft. Kickbacks
>> are
>> >>> often deposited (invested) abroad. As such, foreign firms will always
>> be
>> >>> favored by crooked officials. Developed nations penalize bribery
>> because
>> >>> it compromises national pysche, skills and service delivery levels.
>> >>>
>> >>> EACC should also look for good examples to publicize.
>> >>>
>> >>> Public officials, organizations, who/which over a 24 month period,
>> have
>> >>> sourced and provided MANNED (conversation recording) hotlines, e-mail
>> >>> addresses, feedback portals and CRM's to measure, and promptly provide
>> >>> citizen services.
>> >>>
>> >>> Crooked officials have no problem with payment systems (which
>> increase the
>> >>> funds they collect), but they neglect systems which measure, expose
>> >>> service delivery levels.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> SMM
>> >>>
>> >>> "Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than
>> one
>> >>> who takes a city." Prov 16:32
>> >>>
>> >>> On Fri, Dec 2, 2016 at 9:45 AM, Waithaka Ngigi via kictanet
>> >>> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>> >>> Ali,
>> >>>
>> >>> It's also time to put‎ professional blame squarely where it lies.
>> >>>
>> >>> Any system tasked with moving *huge* sums of money and that does not
>> come
>> >>> with at least Two-Factor authentication be *default* is either:
>> >>> 1. A very, very bad implementation
>> >>> 2. ‎Intentionally left unsecure to allow looting.
>> >>>
>> >>> Blaming users & ethics in our users is just looking for scapegoats.
>> >>> Citibank, Stanchart & other Financial Institutions do not rely on user
>> >>> ethics when using their online banking platforms. You key in your
>> >>> password, for every transaction, you confirm using your 2FA Code,
>> ensuring
>> >>> it's only you, or someone you gave your physical 2FA card that can
>> >>> authenticate that transaction.
>> >>>
>> >>> And that's before you put in anti-laundering functionality, which
>> should
>> >>> catch most of those transactions dead in their tracks if well
>> implemented.
>> >>> E.g before payment of sums above KSH 100m cross-check on company
>> >>> registration date, if less than 1 year, flag! Common addresses,
>> Directors
>> >>> btn different firms.
>> >>>
>> >>> ‎Online payments in Kenya have been with us since the early 2000s,
>> why is
>> >>> it we've never heard complaints from the Banks that billions are being
>> >>> lost through basic identity fraud similar to IFMIS.
>> >>>
>> >>> Don't blame the Kenyan people, blame lies squarely with the Systems we
>> >>> have put in place.
>> >>>
>> >>> Waithaka Ngigi
>> >>>
>> >>> Alliance Technologies
>> >>> www.at.co.ke
>> >>> From: Ali Hussein via kictanet
>> >>> Sent: Friday, December 2, 2016 5:33 AM
>> >>> To: Ngigi Waithaka
>> >>> Reply To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>> >>> Cc: Ali Hussein
>> >>> Subject: [kictanet] KISERO: Kenya’s corruption tsars have perfected
>> >>> looting through Ifmis - Daily Nation
>> >>>
>> >>> Listers
>> >>>
>> >>> Related to to the discussion of 'reigning in' quacks in the ICT
>> Sector how
>> >>> do you explain the fiasco that is IFMIS?
>> >>>
>> >>> Except from the article:-
>> >>>
>> >>> In theory, the Ifmis system we have is based on Oracle E-Business
>> Suite,
>> >>> an accounting package developed by Oracle of the USA. In reality,
>> what is
>> >>> in place is a product of conspiracies between crafty government
>> officials
>> >>> and local rent-seeking software merchants.
>> >>>
>> >>> Through highly inflated and ill-conceived customisation and
>> re-engineering
>> >>> projects, the merchants have colluded with public officials to create
>> a
>> >>> mongrel of the original Oracle E-Business Suite.
>> >>>
>> >>> This is the system at the heart of corruption in the public sector.
>> >>>
>> >>> http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Kenya-corruption-
>> tsars-have-perfected-looting-through-Ifmis/440808-3469632-kg5rbv/
>> >>>
>> >>> So if we were to talk this discussion a step further:-
>> >>>
>> >>> 1. The customization of an Oracle E-Business Suite cannot be done by a
>> >>> 'quack' who isn't a Certified Oracle Software Engineer.
>> >>>
>> >>> 2. The customization must be approved by the client and mapped with
>> the
>> >>> business processes mutually agreed by the vendor and the customer. In
>> this
>> >>> case the government.
>> >>>
>> >>> A pig is a pig even if you apply lipstick on it. Let's call this what
>> it
>> >>> is - Corruption. Period. Perpetuated in this case by the client and
>> using
>> >>> qualified IT Professionals. We in the industry must call out the ones
>> who
>> >>> collude to fleece this country instead of chasing a red herring in the
>> >>> name of 'quacks'!
>> >>>
>> >>> 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
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> _______________________________________________
>> >>> kictanet mailing list
>> >>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>> >>>
>> >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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>> murigi.muraya%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
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>> >>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> _______________________________________________
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>> >>>
>> >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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>> baiju%40telemedia.co.ke
>> >>>
>> >>> 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/ngigi%40at.co.ke
>>
>> 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.
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/
> mailman/options/kictanet/otwomad%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.
>
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