Hi good people,<br>Please note that I no longer control budgets except for my research projects. I therefore cannot promise what I cannot deliver. I would also like us to meet in a down-to-earth place - not those big and glossy hotels with huge costs. All we want is to hear a presentation, have some discussion and hopefully document it - with or without tea. My offer still stands. We can even each "changa" KSh 100 - 200 and we will have tea and mandazi/chapati/etc - the cost is not an issue. Dr. Ndemo - give us a date and I will tell you the capacity of the room I can get that will be free then. tim<br>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 11:56 AM, Solomon Mburu Kamau <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:solo.mburu@gmail.com">solo.mburu@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
@ Tim, on a lighter note, if a guest comes to your home you don't tell<br>
them to provide their own meals, do you?<br>
On a more serious retrospect, this meeting should take place ASAP<br>
because there seems to be thirst of ideas on the existence of the park<br>
in the country. . I will take pictures and, if required, work on the<br>
report!<br>
<div><div></div><div class="h5"><br>
On 06/01/2010, Mwololo Tim <<a href="mailto:timwololo@gmail.com">timwololo@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
> Hi all,<br>
> I can book an appropriate room in the University for such a meeting, as long<br>
> as I will not fund anything else. Perhaps someone can fund tea/coffee. tim<br>
><br>
><br>
> On 1/5/10, robert yawe <<a href="mailto:robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk">robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk</a>> wrote:<br>
>><br>
>> Hi,<br>
>><br>
>> Dr. Ndemo has brought up an interesting issue, when can he be available to<br>
>> give us a presentation on the concept paper, I propose we individually<br>
>> meet<br>
>> the cost of the venue and refreshments.<br>
>><br>
>> The University of Nairobi would be an ideal and relevant location.<br>
>><br>
>> Any takers?<br>
>><br>
>> Robert Yawe<br>
>> KAY System Technologies Ltd<br>
>> Phoenix House, 6th Floor<br>
>> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200<br>
>> Kenya<br>
>><br>
>> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696<br>
>><br>
>> --- On *Wed, 30/12/09, <a href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke">bitange@jambo.co.ke</a> <<a href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke">bitange@jambo.co.ke</a>>* wrote:<br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> From: <a href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke">bitange@jambo.co.ke</a> <<a href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke">bitange@jambo.co.ke</a>><br>
>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] My 2cts: ICT Parks<br>
>> To: <a href="mailto:robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk">robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk</a><br>
>> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>><br>
>> Date: Wednesday, 30 December, 2009, 13:15<br>
>><br>
>> Victor,<br>
>> Just imagine you inform us that you will be having a party then we begin<br>
>> asking for the guest list, the type of soup and if it will taste like that<br>
>> of Ilyev. The food is being cooked and when time comes (the dates I gave<br>
>> you) we shall give all the information. None of you has ever invited me<br>
>> to present the concept paper.<br>
>><br>
>> Regards<br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> Ndemo.<br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> > Thanks Dr Ndemo.<br>
>> ><br>
>> > Good to know and sounds great. I echo what one lister mentioned earlier<br>
>> > about getting 'snippets' of information. Would help if this information<br>
>> > was available on www (is it?) so we have a clearer picture.<br>
>> ><br>
>> > Victor<br>
>> ><br>
>> > -----Original Message-----<br>
>> > From:<br>
</div></div><div class="im">>> > <a href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke">bitange@jambo.co.ke</a><<a href="http://uk.mc278.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bitange@jambo.co.ke" target="_blank">http://uk.mc278.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bitange@jambo.co.ke</a>>[mailto:<br>
>> <a href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke">bitange@jambo.co.ke</a><<a href="http://uk.mc278.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bitange@jambo.co.ke" target="_blank">http://uk.mc278.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bitange@jambo.co.ke</a>><br>
>> ]<br>
>> > Sent: 30 December 2009 13:15<br>
>> > To: Victor Gathara<br>
>> > Cc:<br>
</div><div><div></div><div class="h5">>> > <a href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke">bitange@jambo.co.ke</a><<a href="http://uk.mc278.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bitange@jambo.co.ke" target="_blank">http://uk.mc278.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bitange@jambo.co.ke</a>>;<br>
>> KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br>
>> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] My 2cts: ICT Parks<br>
>> ><br>
>> > Thank you Victor. We are not actually putting up just a BPO Park. This<br>
>> > is a Special Economic Zone that we are jointly putting up with other<br>
>> > sector including the financial sector (Finanncial District), the<br>
>> > science<br>
>> > park (with all other research institutions), tourism (Hotels),<br>
>> > Industrial<br>
>> > park as well as a Trade Centre (Convention Centre). The entire project<br>
>> > would include first class hospital and international schools. It is<br>
>> > simply a new city, an exempler on how things must be done. We have<br>
>> > taken<br>
>> > into consideration of all the issues raised by Booz Allen. We are in<br>
>> > the<br>
>> > process of coming up with the feasibility study by February and a Master<br>
>> > Plan by April.<br>
>> ><br>
>> > We are revising the Vision 2030 to refer to the BPO sector as IT enebled<br>
>> > services (ITES). We are not to remain a BPO location for ever. We must<br>
>> > climp the ladder to get to the real digital world. BPO was proposed as<br>
>> > bait to get us thinking how we can make money out of ICTs.<br>
>> Unfortunately,<br>
>> > I see many of us getting stuck in this. The broad thinking is to<br>
>> > provide<br>
>> > fist world class infrastructure, develop capacity to utilize the<br>
>> > infrastructure then leave people alone. This is called facilitation and<br>
>> > ideally entrepreneurialism would then propel economic growth. But to be<br>
>> > honest I get disappointed when those who are supposed to understand this<br>
>> > basic theory begin to get confused even before the food cooks.<br>
>> ><br>
>> > In the Western ideology which we pretend to subscribe to, political<br>
>> > freedom and individual liberties are paramount. In those other<br>
>> ideologies<br>
>> > that have failed they thought success will come from the state managing<br>
>> > economic, social and cultural activities. To some extent this looks<br>
>> > fair<br>
>> > but it failed to be sustainable.<br>
>> ><br>
>> > Whereas the later ideology has had some failures, these we simply market<br>
>> > fluctuations and indeed even local banana markets, markets do fail but<br>
>> not<br>
>> > the ambitions of a free society. Therefore, please give us the benefit<br>
>> of<br>
>> > doubt that we have put a lot of thought to the SEZ in Athi River. At<br>
>> > lease we are not sitting and not doing anything as it has been in the<br>
>> > past.<br>
>> ><br>
>> ><br>
>> > Ndemo.<br>
>> ><br>
>> ><br>
>> ><br>
>> >> Dr Ndemo,<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> The following is an excerpt for a paper I wrote on the impact of the<br>
>> >> arrival of sub-marine fibre in East<br>
>> >> Africa(<a href="http://www.gg.rhul.ac.uk/ict4d/workingpapers/Gathero.doc" target="_blank">http://www.gg.rhul.ac.uk/ict4d/workingpapers/Gathero.doc</a>). In<br>
>> >> it I suggest we adopt consultant Booz Allen Hamilton's six levers for<br>
>> >> successful development of an ICT park strategy for Kenya.<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> ______________________<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> ICT Parks<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Kenya's BPO sector cannot succeed without a critical mass of companies<br>
>> >> at least a handful of which must be of significant size (000s of<br>
>> >> employees).<br>
>> >> The Government can fast-track an environment conducive to ICT sector<br>
>> >> growth by fostering ICT parks - one or more buildings in which there<br>
>> >> is a full range of services including reliable electrical power, high<br>
>> >> speed lines, cabling, physical security and so on. GoK has undertaken<br>
>> >> the creation of one such park in Athi River. Building is expected to<br>
>> >> commence in July. The park will occupy about 5000 acres of land and is<br>
>> >> expected to employ over 10,000 people. While a positive undertaking,<br>
>> >> the park should be considered as part of an overall strategy.<br>
>> >> Consultant firm Booz Allen Hamilton has reviewed the learning from<br>
>> >> global experiences and suggests six main levers for the successful<br>
>> >> development of ICT parks:[1] <outbind://20/#_ftn1><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> * Purpose - This element must be articulated up front as it directly<br>
>> >> impacts the physical environment, regulatory and legal context,<br>
>> >> economic focus, level of integration to the national economy, etc. To<br>
>> >> illustrate, parks can focus on objectives dealing with ICT sector<br>
>> >> development, attraction of foreign investments and/or retention of<br>
>> >> domestic investments, and incubation of new business. The purpose of<br>
>> >> the Athi River Park should be clearly articulated.<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> * Value Proposition - Central to the success of an ICT park is the<br>
>> >> definition and enactment of a legal and regulatory framework,<br>
>> >> provision of adequate infrastructure and facilities, availability of<br>
>> >> support services, overall quality of life, and location, to name a<br>
>> >> few. Importantly, the offering of communication-related services such<br>
>> >> as voice and data telecommunications, managed data services, and media<br>
>> >> broadcast all play a key role in shaping the value proposition. It<br>
>> >> would be good to get a blueprint of the park widely circulated showing<br>
>> >> advantages of businesses being housed there. The government can also<br>
>> >> make it easy for local or foreign firms to set up operations for<br>
>> >> example by giving tax incentives to companies, domestic and foreign<br>
>> >> operating in the park.<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> * Location - The efficiency, effectiveness, and resulting lifestyle in<br>
>> >> these parks are important attributes. As a result, ICT parks tend to<br>
>> >> be located in dedicated areas outside the main city and within a short<br>
>> >> driving distance. They also tend to be located within a short driving<br>
>> >> distance from the airport as well as prominent universities. This<br>
>> >> clearly suits Athi River as a choice location with its distance from<br>
>> >> Nairobi, Daystar University and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.<br>
>> >> Last but not least, Booz Allen suggests the park dedicates 30%-50% of<br>
>> >> their space to green areas with the objective to create a distinctive<br>
>> >> and attractive environment.<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> * Partnership - ICT parks require close links to academic<br>
>> >> institutions, real estate developers, venture capitals and financial<br>
>> >> institutions, investment promotion agencies, and national government<br>
>> >> agencies involved in the ICT sector. To illustrate, and building on<br>
>> >> the learning of the broader experience of technology parks, nearly 50%<br>
>> >> of such developments are pursued within university-related premises.<br>
>> >> It would be prudent for the government to initiate such partnerships in<br>
>> >> this early stage.<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> * Funding - ICT parks can be funded primarily through the private<br>
>> >> sector (e.g., real estate developers, private investors/placement) and<br>
>> >> government agencies if required. They are self-sustainable financially<br>
>> >> and can generate attractive returns. In this regard GoK should seek to<br>
>> >> enter Private Public Partnerships to ensure that there is private<br>
>> >> sector<br>
>> >> buy-in.<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> * Competitive Positioning - ICT parks can define their competitive<br>
>> >> positioning along three dimensions. Firstly, they need a<br>
>> >> differentiated positioning vis-à-vis other comparable developments<br>
>> >> within the same region (e.g., within the Arabian Peninsula, such as the<br>
>> >> Dubai Media city).<br>
>> >> Secondly, they need to offer distinctive benefits at a national level,<br>
>> >> in particular when considering that 50% of the tenants could represent<br>
>> >> already established institutions. Thirdly, ICT parks can be defined as<br>
>> >> part of a regional network of parks. Such a 'constellation' of parks<br>
>> >> aims to create cross-border synergies and complementary products,<br>
>> >> services, and strengths. The concept of 'constellation' is already<br>
>> >> into play at a national level with developments such as the Smart<br>
>> >> Villages in Egypt having planned presences in Giza (Cairo), Mansoura<br>
>> >> (Cairo), and Alexandria. The Athi River Park should therefore not be<br>
>> >> seen in isolation but as part of a constellation of parks. Others<br>
>> >> could be developed in University towns such as Eldoret, Nakuru and<br>
>> >> Juja.<br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> ________________________________<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> [1] <outbind://20/#_ftnref1> Booz Allen Hamilton: ICT parks offer a<br>
>> >> fast-track development approach for the Middle East,<br>
>> >> <a href="http://www.ameinfo.com/66995.html" target="_blank">http://www.ameinfo.com/66995.html</a> <<a href="http://www.ameinfo.com/66995.html" target="_blank">http://www.ameinfo.com/66995.html</a>><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> Victor Gathara| UK Department for International Development| Regional<br>
>> >> IS Manager , East Africa| * email:<br>
</div></div>>> >> <a href="mailto:v-gathara@dfid.gov.uk">v-gathara@dfid.gov.uk</a><<a href="http://uk.mc278.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=v-gathara@dfid.gov.uk" target="_blank">http://uk.mc278.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=v-gathara@dfid.gov.uk</a>>*<br>
<div class="im">>> >> Telephone:<br>
>> >> +254 20<br>
>> >> 2873349 * Fax: +254 20 2873102 * Ftn: 8300 3349 * Mobile: +254 733<br>
>> >> 414846<br>
>> >> url: <a href="http://www.dfid.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.dfid.gov.uk</a> <<a href="http://www.dfid.gov.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.dfid.gov.uk/</a>><br>
>> >><br>
>> >><br>
>> >> DFID, the Department for International Development: leading the UK<br>
>> >> Government's fight against world poverty. Find out more at<br>
>> >> <a href="http://www.dfid.gov.uk" target="_blank">http://www.dfid.gov.uk</a>.<br>
>> >><br>
>> >> The road to Copenhagen: the UK Government's ambition for a global deal<br>
>> >> on climate change. Find out more at <a href="http://www.actoncopenhagen.gov.uk" target="_blank">http://www.actoncopenhagen.gov.uk</a><br>
>> >> and about DFID's work at <a href="http://www.dfid.gov.uk/climate" target="_blank">http://www.dfid.gov.uk/climate</a>.<br>
>> >> ______________________________________________________________________<br>
>> >><br>
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</div><div><div></div><div class="h5">--<br>
Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau<br>
P.O. Box 19343 - 00202 Nairobi<br>
Cell: (+254-0) 735 431041<br>
<br>
Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all<br>
the same way to the side of a hill!<br>
<br>
AND<br>
<br>
It is better to die in dignity than in the ignomity of ambiguous generosity!<br>
<br>
<a href="http://dawn-in-kenya.blogspot.com" target="_blank">http://dawn-in-kenya.blogspot.com</a><br>
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