<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>Daktari,</div><div><br></div><div>I see the point you make, and this is definitely detractive from the bigger picture and the worth of the project. The other problem though is that the government departments and functionaries do not seem to be working in tandem. As you indicate, you sought advice from the AG and the Lands Office. And these know the facts, and the rationale for buying the Konza land rather than engaging in open tendering for the reasons you have advanced in your exposition. But oftentimes such organisations as the KACC are reactionist and sometimes do not take time to understand the rationale for certain actions, and seem interested in public grandstanding. Whilst the media (read the Nation!) has besmirched your reputation, you will be vindicated by time and success of the project although I am sure investors may now be wary of the project. </div><div><br></div><div>Best wishes,</div><br><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>Dr George Nyabuga Tel: +230 403 51 00<br>Head, Communications and PR, AFRINIC Fax: +230 466 67 58</div><div><a href="mailto:george@afrinic.net">george@afrinic.net</a> - <a href="http://www.afrinic.net">www.afrinic.net</a><br> <br>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>Join us at AFRINIC-17 for our Public Policy Meeting in Khartoum, Sudan, on 24 – 30 November 2012<br>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div></div></span></div></span></div></span></span>
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<br><div><div>On Aug 9, 2012, at 10:12 AM, Walubengo J wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div><br><br>Daktari,<br><br>am actually in the bus headed to KONZA for the site visit. Indeed i read the issue in the dailies but did not bother too much about it sincei know a project of this magnitude must and will attract all manner of diversionery tactics. But we just need to focus and stay the course.<br><br>walu.<br><br><br>------------------------------<br>On Thu, Aug 9, 2012 8:43 AM AST (Arabian) <a href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke">bitange@jambo.co.ke</a> wrote:<br><br><blockquote type="cite">Listers,<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">A number of you have independently asked me to clarify the Konza Land<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">issue that was in the papers yesterday. Let me briefly explain the<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">problem.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Prior to the purchase of Land we developed a conceptual framework on the<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">locationing of a tech city. Here we largely relied on the work done by<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Booz Allen. Among other things research shows that a tech city must be<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">located at least 30 minutes from the airport and be in the outskirts of a<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">major city from where you can tap the human resource.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">With this we crafted a tender document that restricted the suitable land<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">within the parameters of the conceptual framework. This was done openly<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">and we assumed it was indeed an open tender. But it emerged that the<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">definition of open was to advertise land availability anywhere without<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">restrictions. This grey area in the law is rediculous since land in Wajir<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">will have been of no use to us and as such we flouted the procurement law.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">After our competitive bid, we consulted with the Ministry of Lands to give<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">us the valuation of which the recommendation was Ksh. 200,000. Since most<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">quotes were in the 300 range we focused on the most suitable piece and<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">offered to pay Ministry of Lands Valuation rate. In open tenders one is<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">not allowed to negotiate even when it is in the interest of the country. <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Here it is said we manipulated the numbers.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">This clearly is a misunderstanding since we still have grey areas in the<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Procurement Law. Whereas KACC says we used direct or restricted tendering<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">to buying the land, our view was that the method was open since and one<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">that is in the interest of the country.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">We did indeed consult the AG's office if what we did was in order and we<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">were given the clear. Much of this is done by various the departments but<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">I bear the ultimate responsibility.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">What is absurd is the fact that the Daily Nation decided to highlight this<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">issue while we were having the Konza conference here with international<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">investors. This was the time we were telling investors that Kenya has<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">changed and corruption is being dealt with. Well they did a great damage<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">to my reputation. I read malice in the story since it is something that<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">has been around. I would rather have taken a six month jail term than<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">mess up with a project that I have devoted my life to. I have taken risky<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">decisions to have this project take off but it is now clear that we only<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">rejoice on successes.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">KACC has a right to question what we do and indeed in Teams they were on<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">our case all through until the project was complete. The fact that they<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">question does not amount to corruption. This is how we can change laws<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">and make them dynamic with changing times. As much as I respect the<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Media, in this case they hurt my character dearly yet what I did was right<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">and hoped we can change the law for future rational decisions. Never in<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">my public life have I tried to do something that is not in the interest of<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">the country.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Ndemo.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">_______________________________________________<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">kictanet mailing list<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><a href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Unsubscribe or change your options at <a href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com</a><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. 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