<div dir="ltr"><div>Wainaina, </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Rising fuel and food prices, struggling economies, policy obstacles that make it difficult for locals to become new market entrants while non-locals seem to get in "easily" are factors fueling some of the sentiments. Far from extreme positions, attacking persons ie foreigners rather than addressing policies and frameworks is counterproductive and futile. (take the case of Zim and SA for example, are they better off today than they were a few months ago?). While we can't correct the past, we can plan for the future.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>FDI in whatever form including intellectual is necessary to a country's economy be it in the developing or developed world. For instance, were it not for FDI, Citibank might have collapsed or become a takeover target. What's needed are policies to ensure that locals have more than just a token stake in the country's national cake to ensure that FDI also benefits both locals (not just salaries but also ownership) and outsiders substantially. Otherwise the old adage "a hungry man is an angry man" is likely to manifest itself in forms of protest, some civil and others uncivil. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>We should be appreciative of our international colleagues who contribute to and support the growth of our economic sectors, but we must also be willing through leadership to bring about policy changes that promote local ownership in the economy eg an AFC equivalent for the ICT sector. If our international colleagues are at the helm today, let us emulate them by working at being at the helm tomorrow or complement their efforts by showing initiative in policy and decision making. If we sit back then we will only have ourselves to blame if our non-local colleagues become the most prominent in sectors of our economy.</div>
<div> </div>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Jul 15, 2008 at 2:06 AM, Wainaina Mungai <<a href="mailto:wainaina.mungai@gmail.com" target="_blank">wainaina.mungai@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
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<div dir="ltr">Dear all,<br><br>The anti-foreigner attacks in South Africa, Zimbabwe, other African countries...and now Kenya....<br><br>Is there a bigger picture evolving across the continent?<br><br>Wainaina<br><br><br>
<br><br>
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<div>On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 9:05 PM, Joseph Manthi <<a href="mailto:jmanthi@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmanthi@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div></div>
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<div>Brian<br>We take exception to our country being run by foreigners because we know what it means to live in their midst. You come and live in the US - or ask those Kenyans who have studied in India and could not find a single job in India to do not because they did not have skills but because they were not Indian - and you will tell me what you think.<br>
<br>A foreign born national - especially Africans - will not be allowed the kind of access and influence you guys seem to be abrogating to self declared foreigners leave alone those ones who are quiet and do not want to be found out. And when qualified Kenyans want to return home they find everything being run by foreigners and doors closed.<br>
<br>Joe
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<div></div>
<div><br><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 1:50 PM, Brian Munyao Longwe <<a href="mailto:blongwe@gmail.com" target="_blank">blongwe@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
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<div>Now Joseph that was entirely uncalled for. Do you begin to have even the slightest clue as to the extent that this country has benefitted from Florence "Mama ICT's" sweat, blood and tears.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>The question that is lurking in the bcak of my mind is why does it only (or mainly) seem to be our diaspora who are taking exception to the "visitors" in our midst? Could it be some kind of misplaced aggression?</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>If Dr. Henry Chassia was talked about or treated by the South Africans the way you guys are addressing our valued friends then both Mandela and Mbeki would not benefit from his incredible input in their Presidential Advisory Committee on ICTs.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Please desist from these kind of racial slurs....</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Brian<br><br>Sent from my iPhone</div>
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<div></div>
<div>
<div><br>On 14 Jul 2008, at 7:27 PM, "Joseph Manthi" <<a href="mailto:jmanthi@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmanthi@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div>
<div></div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>Florence:<br>Don't you think you should let Kenyan's deal with their own stuff instead of you foreigners interfering? This is equivalent to you being invited to someone's else's house and asking to sleep in the parent's bed. It is high time you let us do our own things for our benefit.<br>
<br>Brian, I vote no to this.<br><br>Joe<br><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 11:40 AM, Florence Etta <<a href="mailto:feanywhere@yahoo.co.uk" target="_blank"></a><a href="mailto:feanywhere@yahoo.co.uk" target="_blank">feanywhere@yahoo.co.uk</a>> wrote:<br>
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<div>My dear Brian,</div>
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<div>May I humbly publicly offer my services to facilitate such a Forum since I am NOT Kenyan I wil not take sides. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Besides, I am passionate about developments in this sector and in the continent at large and I love to bring people together to discuss constructiuvely. Trust me. </div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Cheers,</div>
<div>Florence Etta </div>
<div> </div>
<div><i>Alternative <a href="mailto:Email%3Aflorence.etta@gmail.com" target="_blank">Email:</a><a href="mailto:florence.etta@gmail.com" target="_blank">florence.etta@gmail.com</a></i></div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman,new york,times,serif">----- Original Message ----<br>From: Brian Munyao Longwe <<a href="mailto:brian@caret.net" target="_blank"></a><a href="mailto:brian@caret.net" target="_blank">brian@caret.net</a>><br>
To: <a href="mailto:feanywhere@yahoo.co.uk" target="_blank"></a><a href="mailto:feanywhere@yahoo.co.uk" target="_blank">feanywhere@yahoo.co.uk</a><br>Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank"></a><a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>><br>
Sent: Monday, 14 July, 2008 4:39:57 PM<br>Subject: [kictanet] Kenya ICT Sector Stakeholder Public Forum (was Re: Legislation and Discipline & Ethics)<br><br>Hi all,
<div><br></div>
<div>We are proposing a Public Forum on Thursday 31st of July to be held at a suitable venue in Nairobi. The objective will be to provide all the different ICT stakeholder organisations within Kenya a chance to introduce themselves and their policies to the public. </div>
<div><br></div>
<div>There will also be opportunity to evaluate Kenya's ICT ecosystem, especially with regards to the different entities, their missions, roles and goals. As well as provide organisations such as KEPSA with an opportunity to share their view/vision on how they expect ICT sector input/engagement.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Formal announcement will be posted once details have been worked out, but in the meantime please pencil this into your schedules. We can also explore the possibility of an IP stream for the Diaspora... if there is interest in tracking this.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Warm regards,</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Brian</div>
<div><br>
<div>On Jul 14, 2008, at 2:48 PM, Bill Kagai wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite">Daktari,<br><br>I agree with you to some extent. If I were to chronicle the genesis of the problem, some organisations were/are feeling choked by KIF especially in relation to KEPSA. In my opinion, this means that KIF has managed to do many things better than others to get where they are. However, that should not mean that KIF now becomes the blanket representative of the industry in matters pertaining to KEPSA. Other specialised organisations e.g. Skunkworks, CSK, Kictanet etc should have equal opportunity to adress their sector specific concerns with any stakeholder. [Government/Industry/Public]. E.g. If a foreign software house came to Government seeking advice on how to partner with the local industry, why should KIF seize the opportunity when we know that Skunkworks is more adept in those matters?? [Caveat - organisations mentioned for purpose of elaboration only]<br>
<br>The crux of the matter is that these new organisations do not come up because of sector specific concerns they wish addressed...service, bandwidth, policy, payment gateways etc but because officials running established organisations have become 'Mugabes' resisting change and growing old [literally] in those positions.<br>
<br>You are best placed to provide leadership here by insisting that you will only engage with organisations that run efficient structures with clear mandates from their electorates and I will follow by paying membership in all organisations that I feel will help air my business concerns in the industry. Actually, I will be comfortable dealing with your ministry through my sector organisation instead of all us queueing at your reception. And I will hold my organisation leader responsible and thus create more time for you to engage with others.<br>
<br>Waudo::: You know what am talking about. Be brave...wachia vijana usukani.<br><br>Bill<br><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 4:30 PM, <<a href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"></a><a href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke" target="_blank">bitange@jambo.co.ke</a>> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid">Bill,<br>In my view, such fracases are an indication of the level of activity in our sector. We however must exercise our freedom of speech with responsibility. If nothing was happening, nobody will feel squeezed.<br>
<br>We must show the world that inspite of our differences, we are able to remain focused. I wish we spent more energy on diffusion of technoloy. We have limitless opportunities in this sector that we must encourage more foreign equity participation to ensure a flow of technology transfer. This is what the NICs did.<br>
<br>Asante.<br><br>Ndemo.<br><br></blockquote></div>
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