<div dir="ltr"><div>The default assumption is correct, there have been some discussions (stemming out of recent controversy) such as excerpts from the one below about the diaspora playing a role in the country's economy. Instead of purchasing hotels, the diaspora if pointed to opportunities in other sectors such as ICT could play a key role. Hopefully KAIF will be able to have some representation at the forum.</div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div>---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: Kanaka Ogendi <<a href="mailto:imo4492@gmail.com">imo4492@gmail.com</a><br>Date: Mon, Jul 7, 2008 at 6:09 AM<br></div>
<div>Wananchi</div>
<div>The idea of Diaspora Kenyans getting together to buy Grand Regency <br>Hotel isn't a bad one. Of course, the timing may not be the best but I <br>think it is a good idea subject to a number of provisions.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>In Australia increasing numbers of mzungus are teaming up to form<br>cooperative-style arrangements that enable them achieve what no<br>individual could achieve on his/her own. The overriding provisions for<br>the success of such an arrangement include:</div>
<div> </div>
<div>1. Mutual trust. If this is lacking there can be no success<br>2. Accountability/Transparency in all transactions<br>3. Shared goals, aspirations and strategies.<br>4. Access to information and resources required for the project.<br>
5. Clearly identify risks and develop a clear management strategy</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Business partnerships thrive on trust. The moment trust is lost the<br>partnership will crumble. For the current proposal to take off there<br>must be trust amongst us and trust in the project leaders. Is it <br>present?</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Accountability/transparency. This is something that people have to <br>experience. It more or less guarantee smooth running of an endeavour<br>once started.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Shared goals, aspirations and strategies. What we want in our <br>lives as individuals may vary from person to person. Some are quite <br>happy and settled on the day job - 8am to 5pm type stuff. Others<br>meet their needs by doing a second or third job and they are satisfied.</div>
<div><br>Some are a bit more adventurous and seek to create additional<br>income streams in form of investments etc. Others prefer some<br>investment vehicles which others do not like. For instance, some<br>people have no time for managed investment vehicles whereas<br>
others prefer to let 'professionals' manage investments for them.</div>
<div><br>Do we have shared investment goals, aspirations and strategies?<br>Without this I'm afraid this great idea will be difficult to kick off.</div>
<div>Access to information & resources needed for the project. The<br>Grand Regency is presently in the grip of a grand controversy. There<br>is a caveat in place, a court injunction and signed sale documents. <br>Access to the kind of information an investor will require is quite <br>
difficult in the current environment. This increases the risk <br>substantially and hence is a disincentive. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Matunda's suggestion of an elaborately laid out business plan<br>and strategy complete with numbers will be very helpful in getting<br>people interested. Mwangi's suggestion of waiting until the dust<br>settles before jumping in is very reasonable, at least to me. It is<br>
a major undertaking and therefore utmost care and planning must<br>go into it. Otherwise success can be elusive.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>My pesa nane.</div>
<div>Kanaka Ogendi </div>
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<div>---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: nmatunda <<a href="mailto:matunda@hotmail.com">matunda@hotmail.com</a>><br>Date: Sun, Jul 6, 2008 at 8:53 AM<br></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Mwaniki,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>This is a good challenge.</div>
<div>As we have discussed before, identify the investment target $$amount and<br>challenge people to raise the money with clarity on how the money would<br>be managed; and returns expectations.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The last IPO (despite the calls of suspicion raised by some) generated<br>substantial inflow of money into Kenya! It is almost scary to imagine<br>the potential for investment that exists. Yet Safaricom attracted such<br>
monies for the reason that investors understand the potential there is<br>in the shares and the returns thereof. It is also simple and<br>straighforward.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>What KAIF needs is a couple of structured investment instruments,<br>complete with projected returns, along with reporting on the investment<br>performance. This can then be sold widely to people.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>By the way, Grand Regency is just one of the potential investment<br>targets; the potential for investment in Kenya has never been higher!<br>There is a well-educated workforce whose emoluments are modest and (yes)<br>
the people need jobs!</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Matunda Nyanchama </div>
<div> </div>
<div>--- In <a href="mailto:africa-oped@yahoogroups.com">africa-oped@yahoogroups.com</a>, FMwan@... wrote:<br>><br>><br>> Wananchi,<br>> To quell this broil at home, let us all Kenyans abroad buy this asset<br>
and<br>> kill two birds with one stone:<br>> 1. Solve the malady occupying the minds of people that should<br>be<br>> thinking of local dispensaries<br>> 2. Prove to ourselves that we care for our country<br>> This is not a test. Let us put a decent offer on the table and ask<br>
the<br>> government to consider it now.<br>> We can in a matter of days put the financing and general management<br>in place<br>> in the Kenyans Abroad Investment Fund (KAIF), which is open to all<br>Kenyans<br>> overseas. If we pick people that we know can run a business, whether<br>
in India,<br>> South Africa, England, Canada, Japan or the USA, this is something<br>very<br>> feasible and a snap.<br>> The point is to retain this asset as truly Kenyan and forget about<br>what<br>> happened prior to now. There is nothing to be gained by consuming<br>
ourselves with<br>> misguided hatred. Tujiunge mikono and save ourselves from annoying<br>each other<br>> but most importantly, re-asserting that Kenyans do not fail, they can<br>> stumble but they win TOGETHER.<br>
> Problem solved.<br>> 1. KAIF is already registered in Kenya<br>> 2. We have an agreement with a major Kenyan bank (100% Kenyan<br>owned)<br>> 3. We have the talent to gather the necessary funds<br>> Let us not be just talk. What say you?<br>
> Regards,<br>> Frank Mwaniki, PhD<br>> Management Scientist<br>><br>><br>></div>
<div>></div>
<div><br> </div>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 10:35 AM, Alex Gakuru <<a href="mailto:alex.gakuru@yahoo.com">alex.gakuru@yahoo.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid"><br>Our default assumption should be that the diaspora is interested. Recalling their sizable remittances, cultivating their goodwill and facilitating their hustle-free investment would solve some "localisation" challenges and exclusion perceptions.<br>
<br>
<div class="Ih2E3d"><br>--- On Mon, 7/14/08, Brian Munyao Longwe <<a href="mailto:brian@caret.net">brian@caret.net</a>> wrote:<br><br>> From: Brian Munyao Longwe <<a href="mailto:brian@caret.net">brian@caret.net</a>><br>
</div>
<div class="Ih2E3d">> Subject: [kictanet] Kenya ICT Sector Stakeholder Public Forum (was Re: Legislation and Discipline & Ethics)<br></div>> To: <a href="mailto:alex.gakuru@yahoo.com">alex.gakuru@yahoo.com</a><br>
<div class="Ih2E3d">> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>><br></div>> Date: Monday, July 14, 2008, 6:39 AM<br>
<div>
<div></div>
<div class="Wj3C7c">> Hi all,<br>><br>> We are proposing a Public Forum on Thursday 31st of July to<br>> be held<br>> at a suitable venue in Nairobi. The objective will be to<br>> provide all<br>> the different ICT stakeholder organisations within Kenya a<br>
> chance to<br>> introduce themselves and their policies to the public.<br>><br>> There will also be opportunity to evaluate Kenya's ICT<br>> ecosystem,<br>> especially with regards to the different entities, their<br>
> missions,<br>> roles and goals. As well as provide organisations such as<br>> KEPSA with<br>> an opportunity to share their view/vision on how they<br>> expect ICT<br>> sector input/engagement.<br>><br>
> Formal announcement will be posted once details have been<br>> worked out,<br>> but in the meantime please pencil this into your schedules.<br>> We can<br>> also explore the possibility of an IP stream for the<br>
> Diaspora... if<br>> there is interest in tracking this.<br>><br>> Warm regards,<br>><br>> Brian<br>><br><br></div></div></blockquote></div></div>