[kictanet] - proper representation during vision formulation is what is missing - Konza City is now 10 years old

Thu Feb 14 08:26:48 EAT 2019

Dear John,

We were to organize a visit to Konza for interested listers for an update
on the project. The idea seems to have fallen through the cracks.

Regards

On Wed, 13 Feb 2019 18:21 John Tanui via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke wrote:

> You can follow a public lecture at University of Nairobi by Prof Shin the
> 16th President of Korea KAIST a world leading innovative
> university.  Sharing Korea's miraculous transformation journey within a
> half a century
>
> Yesterday we had a kick off for architectural and curriculum design. Korea
> KAIST leads the consortium
>
> https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=402248483913613&id=105983259496
>
> Regards
> John Tanui
>
> On 7 Jan 2019, at 06:39, florence mwangangi via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
> Your views are spot on especially on  MSMEs on job creation and  payment
> of taxes.
> Question is how NOW to influence government opinion/position on the
> already formulated policies - and laws - on the project.
>
> On Thu, 3 Jan 2019, 16:43 Patrick A. M. Maina via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke wrote:
>
>> The root cause is a lack of proper indigenous MSME representation in the
>> boards and committees that come up with these kinds of visions. Currently
>> where representation exists, it is skewed either in favor of multinationals
>> / bigCorp or to lobbyists beholden to multinationals /bigCorp simply
>> because they have networks for (or can buy) access.
>>
>> The (flawed) argument in favor of BigCorp is that they represent the big
>> employers or large taxpayers - and I'll explain why its flawed. Big
>> companies operate at higher levels of efficiency compared to smaller
>> companies (because they can leverage automation for example). This is good
>> in the developed world with single-digit unemployment and where where a
>> middle-class already exists - but *terrible* in developing countries with
>> high levels of poverty and >25% unemployment.
>>
>> In developing countries the focus should be on **effectiveness** (not
>> efficiency). For example if you want to create jobs, you know the biggest
>> employer from a macro perspective is the MSMEs because their low levels of
>> operational efficiency forces them to hire more workers for a given
>> economic endeavor.
>>
>> The gap is exponential such that an economic activity that big corp
>> achieves with 10 employees may require 50 startups - each with 2-5
>> employees. If you look at it from an activity perspective, the MSME sector
>> suddenly becomes a* mega employer *creating jobs at exponential rates
>> (greater than 1000% per economic activity!!!). These are the hidden
>> insights that don't get considered at the right platforms when incentives
>> are being developed.
>>
>> Further, the MSMEs can't afford armies of specialized tax accountants and
>> offshore tax havens. This means that Government can tailor incentives with *tax
>> on-boarding* (e.g. via a "*Taxation Sandbox*" for indigenous startups)
>> so that as these MSMEs grow, the Government would be able to collect more
>> taxes from them (and on a broader - more macro-economically stable scale).
>> So MSMEs as a collective also have potential to be come *mega taxpayers.
>> *The goal should not be to milk taxes today - but to create a robust
>> group of future (3-7 years)  taxpayers.
>>
>> *Macroeconomic stability *is another benefit inherent in MSMEs. Rather
>> than relying on all-or nothing all-eggs-in-one-basket approach that is
>> inevitable with big-corp FDI, the government can build entire ecosystems
>> across a diverse range of sectors. The benefits of this are innumerable.
>> One example is that MSMEs don't bully/bribe the government bureaucracy for
>> unproductive or harmful concessions.
>>
>> As elucidated in Kachwanya's insightful article, the *quality of FDI
>> matters*. We shouldn't market our people as *slave labor.* This could
>> have worked in *China *and *India *but that era of cheap is now over (AI
>> / Robotics / IoT is quickly making that obsolete). There are technologies
>> that can fully automate basic BPO services (e.g. end user support via NL
>> AI). A proper strategic policy would take *modern trends* into
>> consideration and identify *high-value niches* where Kenya can offer a
>> strong global value proposition.
>>
>> Another thing Government planners appear to have overlooked is the idea
>> of *FDI via acquisition of indigenous startups. *This strategy has been
>> executed very well in China and India - which have contextualized their IP
>> and industry laws to give an edge to indigenous clones of trending
>> technologies (e.g. *Flipkart *in India). Governments all over the world
>> subsidize their startups in order to generate *new streams* of *foreign
>> exchange*.
>>
>> The other mistake that I see is reliance on *academia / professors* for
>> policy guidance... As much as the academia is trying, the reality is that
>> these are the same *book-smart academia* that churns out half-baked
>> graduates who are out of touch with industry. The local music industry in
>> Kenya is now worth several hundred million shillings as an industry (with
>> potential for billions) and they don't have any professors running their
>> show. Its the *street-smart practitioners* on the ground who have
>> transformed the industry...
>>
>> *"It is the shoe wearer who know where the shoe hurts."*
>>
>> So to avoid well meaning initiatives like Konza mutating into unintended
>> flops, the government should co-opt *practitioner stakeholders* who
>> understand the* real issues* in an industry and who have a desire and *vision
>> *of a thriving *ecosystem*. People who can see far ahead - like
>> Kachwana... I am totally blown away by how his 2013 article is so *spot on*
>> - it's like he had a crystal ball!
>>
>> In business they say the most valuable customer is the one who complains,
>> because that's how you genuinely know where to improve. I believe the same
>> applies at *policy *and *strategic projects* level. We want our country
>> to get it right so that everyone can succeed. It's not negativity - its a *desire
>> to improve* things at ecosystem level for the benefit of all.
>>
>> Thankfully our President is on board with the need for MSME incentives
>> and that makes me optimistic that the Country's vision is evolving in a
>> good direction.
>>
>> Happy new year everyone and may you have a prosperous and successful 2019!
>>
>> Rgds,
>> Patrick A. M. Maina.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thursday, January 3, 2019, 3:24:00 PM GMT+3, Mildred Achoch via
>> kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Interesting conversation. Odhiambo Washington, you mentioning that there
>> is a white paper about Konza prompted me to search for it online. I came
>> across this instead. Written 6 years ago but very pertinent today, I think.
>>
>>
>> https://www.kachwanya.com/2013/01/23/konza-city-meet-the-design-of-a-white-elephant-project-in-the-name-of-silicon-savannah/
>>
>> Regards,
>> Mildred Achoch.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Check out the Rock 'n' roll film festival, Kenya TV Channel!
>> http://kenyarockfilmfestivaljournal.blogspot.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Jan 3, 2019 at 3:06 PM Odhiambo Washington via kictanet <
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>> Errr, Sam Oduor - I have a feeling that there's a strategy/white paper
>> somewhere on this Konza thing that might not be in agreement with your long
>> input.
>>
>> Usually techies are not historians like you seem inclined. Konza was,
>> IMHO, supposed to be an ICT hub, not a museum project.
>> ICT stuff are supposed to be fully functional within months (not years)
>> after the groundwork has been laid down, lest they become obsoleted by
>> time.
>>
>> So far, what's going on in Konza??
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Jan 3, 2019, 14:41 Sam Oduor <sam.oduor at gmail.com wrote:
>>
>> Personally I do not think it was a white elephant; great ideas mature
>> over the long term -> cant take 10-50 years.
>>
>> Rome was not built on a single day - the project needs support from
>> techies like us and investors.
>>
>> Konza being of National interest should be a phased 10 - 20 - 30 - 40 -
>> 50 - 60 .... year planned development approach.
>>
>> Partly I would blame the land/property rush experienced in Kenya btw 2009
>> - 2012 ; guys inflated prices and no one was there to regulate - this might
>> have had negative effects some investors planning to go in considering
>> investors look at ROI which is key to any investment. I cannot see the math
>> of buying land for 50k and selling it at 800k -> this was obviously not
>> sustainable; where does such capital come from ? Virtual loans ?
>>
>> Konza and many other projects are still very viable in Kenya and I have
>> high hopes my only plea is for the Govt to be at the core of things like
>> Land, Property and Infrastructure from unjustifiable exploits -> this way
>> it will encourage investors to settle creating more Jobs which equates to
>> good security, a healthy and sustainable economic growth.
>>
>>
>> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=icon> Virus-free.
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>>
>> On Thu, Jan 3, 2019 at 2:06 PM Odhiambo Washington via kictanet <
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>> Hello listers,
>>
>> Does anyone know what activities are going on at the famed Konza City or
>> it's one of those big white elephants??
>>
>> Brian Gitonga Marete
>> <https://www.facebook.com/marete?__tn__=%2CdlC-R-R&eid=ARDI1jSnyu5oBA5420Rmu-AVTq2tSur2OCUGtnmMsdgUP3xrD20zMn9qPhQz8UZ91C69teeOsHHj5A-1&hc_ref=ARSPvPuQ5gkS1YOj6-3UVPsmbTYbrxEWJdhG8AE5jwEuELkVLzgaUBQrTqwjEnDtTQc> shared
>> a post <https://www.facebook.com/jaylaan11/posts/10219010532593216>.
>> 12 hrs <https://www.facebook.com/marete/posts/10156427390174934> ·
>>
>> It was obvious that Konza City was a con job from the get go.
>> Concentrations of industrial excellence do not sprout up suddenly just
>> because physical buildings and infrastructure are around. That is not the
>> bottleneck, and anyone can provide that. The real battles of realizing
>> something like the proposed Konza city are elsewhere.
>>
>>
>> <https://www.facebook.com/jaylaan11/posts/10219010532593216?__tn__=%2CdH-R-R&eid=ARD-GjetXsxKA5gn9sTexDGe7PznmLamh6o5fIO4X1fsoJQoac7z4TdB7LZtN_bg_tSxxFa0kEQS7LIa>
>>
>> --
>> Best regards,
>> Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
>> Nairobi,KE
>> +254 7 3200 0004/+254 7 2274 3223
>> "Oh, the cruft.", grep ^[^#] :-)
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>> --
>> Samson Oduor
>>
>>
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>> 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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>> 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
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> 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
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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.
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