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

Baiju Shah baiju at telemedia.co.ke
Thu Jan 12 00:42:39 EAT 2017


Hi Douglas,

Many thanks for the support, the intent how do we get the industry to a
professional level where the private and public sectors see ICT as a real
value add then just a cost as it is now.

Best Regards,
Baiju

*Baiju Shah** |*Managing Partner* |*

Phone: +254 701691570
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On Mon, Jan 9, 2017 at 11:04 PM, Douglas Gichuki via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Baiju,
>
> Retract nothing.
>
> Call it how you see it. And if people take offence, well too bad. I am a
> advocate and just the other day we were protesting attempting to reclaim
> our very black bar from the disgrace it had become. With notably few
> exceptions, corruption, incompetence and a lack of dedication to duty
> permeate almost every sector of Kenyan life. These issues are systemic and
> I cannot imagine that the rot and incompetence in bar- bench circles has
> antiseptically avoided the ICT sector.
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> On Jan 9, 2017 9:33 PM, "David Otwoma via kictanet" <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>> 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/subj
>> ect/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.k
>> e/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
>>>> >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/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.
>>>> >>>
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>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> _______________________________________________
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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.
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>>>> >>
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > --
>>>> > Barrack O. Otieno
>>>> > +254721325277
>>>> > +254733206359
>>>> > Skype: barrack.otieno
>>>> > PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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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.
>>>>
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>>>
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>>
>>
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