Matunda<div><br></div><div>Thanks for the updates. I can see you are still keeping the fire burning since the days of KCA with kina Justus and Rugutt and all those other guys.</div><div><br></div><div>This is a great report.</div>
<div><br></div><div>What we would probably want you guys to do is to identify the sector specialists amongst yourselves that we could then organize guys here back home to tap into for specific knowledge acquisition or to find suitable partners/venture capitalists over there to buy into to offer technical support and expand capacity and even tap into international markets.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Partnerships can be both ways. There are opportunities here that you don't know about and there are technologies/expertise there our people don't know and I think synergies can be created if we start by knowing who we have.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Otherwise superb job summarizing the conference</div><div><br></div><div>Regards</div><div><br></div><div>James Mbugua<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Oct 18, 2011 at 5:08 PM, Matunda Nyanchama <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com">mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;"><div><div style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;font-size:10pt">
<div><div><div style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;font-size:10pt"><br><div style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif"><font size="2"><span>I
had sought some input from the list on what I would raise in my panel
whose focus was on the state of ICT in Kenya and associated
opportunities of the Diaspora. It was full house given we had 5 people
to share one hour, we didn't do much justice to the presenters. We have
sent feedback to the organizers (the Kenyan Embassy in Washington DC) to
better structure such events in the future. Indeed, it is unfair for
people to travel across the Atlantic prepared to speak for one+ hours
only to get 5 mins, exactly what happened in all sessions. This
conference was, realistically a 4~5 day affair.<br>
</span></font></div>
<div style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif"><font size="2"><br>
<span></span></font></div>
<div style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif"><font size="2"><span>That
said, the event was attended by more than 500 people with close to 200
turned away because of failure to register in time. (And contrary to
media reports, President Obama wasn't in the invited list; the embassy
had requested presence of the First Lady but her calendar was fully
booked, a matter she communicated in time.)<br>
</span></font></div>
<font size="2">
</font><font size="2"><br style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
<span style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
The conference was a great networking event; and the energy in the place
was palpable! The attendance was higher than we have come to expect of
Kenyan conferences and expectations were even higher.</span> <br style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
<br style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
<span style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
Sessions (plenary and breakout) were packed as attendees sought
information, ideas, issues, etc on how to get engaged in the country's
affairs. And the speakers did superbly. Vision 2030 was at the centre of
the presentation and director, Mugo Kibati gave a good update on where
the process is at the moment. </span></font>
<font size="3"><font size="2"><br style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
<br style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
<span style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">I
must say that many in the Diaspora weren't even aware of such projects
as Konza City, the Northern Corridor infrastructure project, the Urban
Commuter Rail project in Greater Nairobi, and more. There were update on
the reform process, dual citizenship, national integration, and more.
Discussions also centred on collaboration (business, academia, etc)
between the Diaspora and going beyond remittances (estimated to be $1.7
billion last year) and some companies, notably CIS offering products
targeted at the Diaspora market. The scope of companies presenting
ranged from ICT, financing, and more.</span><br style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
<br style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
<span style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">We
also had a chance to honour the late Wangari Maathai (RIP); the
tributes were moving and if only dead people could speak, she would
choose to stay alive and enjoy the glory and adoration accorded her.</span><br style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
<br style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
<span style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">We
heard of success cases spearheaded by the Diaspora, e.g.. the gentleman
that influenced GE to locate its headquarters in Nairobi.</span><br style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
<span style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
</span><br style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
<span style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">As
indicated, I chaired the ICT panel where, among others Eunice Kariuki
represented the ICT Board. Despite time constraints she gave a superb
report on what is happening in this sphere and especially the exciting
Konza City! (Here presentation is attached). Of interest from the same
panel is a presentation (also attached) by Akumu of Intelsat on use of
vsat technology to penetrate rural Kenya. </span><br style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
<span style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
</span><br style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
<span style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">In
my opening remarks I talked about the $196 billion "unclaimed" BPO
market, really a tip of the iceberg of the size of the market, which is
approx $500 billion. I have also seen reports that the Kenyan ICT market
is approx $700 million annually! And my challenge was to the Diaspora
to help ensure this duly benefits the nation. And they can contribute as
investors, managers (given all the skills they have acquired),
researchers and more.</span><br style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
<br style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
<span style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">I
also cited challenges with our Kenyan market:� corruption (the cost of
doing business?), infrastructure (remember those traffic jams),
unreliable power (what with blackouts), corporate taxes (33%), business
registration that takes longer than in many countries, compliance and
reporting procedures (too many!); and lengthy dispute resolution. All
these act as disincentives to investment and need keen attention from
authorities.</span><br style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
<br style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">
<span style="font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif">Finally,
my reading is that the Kenyan Renaissance is underway; we position
ourselves well and we will take off; we fail to do so and we may not
recover. The analogy if that of torrential rains which if harnessed can
generate power, irrigate farms, provide clean drinking water, etc; and
if not harnessed can cause floods and associated havoc. </span></font></font><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif">----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif">
</font><font size="2"><span style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif">Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, CISSP; <a href="mailto:mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com" target="_blank">mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com</a></span><br style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif">
<span style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif">Agano Consulting Inc.;� </span><a rel="nofollow" style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif" href="http://www.aganoconsulting.com" target="_blank">www.aganoconsulting.com</a>; </font><font size="2">Twitter:�<a rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/#%21/nmatunda" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(54, 99, 136)">nmatunda;� </span></a></font><font size="2"><span style="text-decoration:underline"></span>Skype: okiambe</font><font size="2"><span style="border-collapse:separate;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:'Book Antiqua';font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;font-size:medium"><span style="font-family:verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px"></span></span><br style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif">
<span style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif">----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><span style="font-style:italic;font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif"></span><span style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif" lang="EN-CA"></span></font></div>
<i style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif"><span style="font-size:10pt"><br>Be prepared to face ICT Security failures & know how to respond when they happen! <br>Call: <span style="font-weight:bold"><a href="tel:%2B1-888-587-1150" value="+18885871150" target="_blank">+1-888-587-1150</a> </span>or <a rel="nofollow"><span style="font-weight:bold">info@aganoconsulting.com</span></a><br>
�</span></i><span style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif">----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><span style="font-style:italic;font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif"></span><span style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif" lang="EN-CA"></span><div>
<i style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif"><span style="font-size:10pt"></span></i><br><font style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif" size="2"><span style="font-style:italic">"A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk I have a workstation�" - Anonymous</span></font><br style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif">
<span style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif">
<font style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif" size="1">This e-mail, including
attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you.</font><br>
</div></div></div></div></div></div><br>_______________________________________________<br>
kictanet mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
<br>
Unsubscribe or change your options at <a href="http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jgmbugua%40gmail.com" target="_blank">http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jgmbugua%40gmail.com</a><br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
</blockquote></div><br></div>