Managed to attend the last hour of the 1st day of the Konza conference at KICC.<div><br></div><div>Got a touch base with a Kenyan Architect / Urban Planner who did pretty well at UoN + Harvard.</div><div><br></div><div>There is a lesson for Konza we can all learn from Harvard University.</div>
<div><br></div><div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Harvard_University">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Harvard_University</a>
</div><div><br></div><div>The <u>foundation</u> of everything good starts with a disciplined and ethical minority before the mass (populist) media gives credit to those who opposed the ethical minority.</div><div><br></div>
<div>We know you are not on the populist side :)</div><div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Aug 9, 2012 at 8:43 AM, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke" target="_blank">bitange@jambo.co.ke</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Listers,<br>
A number of you have independently asked me to clarify the Konza Land<br>
issue that was in the papers yesterday. Let me briefly explain the<br>
problem.<br>
<br>
Prior to the purchase of Land we developed a conceptual framework on the<br>
locationing of a tech city. Here we largely relied on the work done by<br>
Booz Allen. Among other things research shows that a tech city must be<br>
located at least 30 minutes from the airport and be in the outskirts of a<br>
major city from where you can tap the human resource.<br>
<br>
With this we crafted a tender document that restricted the suitable land<br>
within the parameters of the conceptual framework. This was done openly<br>
and we assumed it was indeed an open tender. But it emerged that the<br>
definition of open was to advertise land availability anywhere without<br>
restrictions. This grey area in the law is rediculous since land in Wajir<br>
will have been of no use to us and as such we flouted the procurement law.<br>
<br>
After our competitive bid, we consulted with the Ministry of Lands to give<br>
us the valuation of which the recommendation was Ksh. 200,000. Since most<br>
quotes were in the 300 range we focused on the most suitable piece and<br>
offered to pay Ministry of Lands Valuation rate. In open tenders one is<br>
not allowed to negotiate even when it is in the interest of the country.<br>
Here it is said we manipulated the numbers.<br>
<br>
This clearly is a misunderstanding since we still have grey areas in the<br>
Procurement Law. Whereas KACC says we used direct or restricted tendering<br>
to buying the land, our view was that the method was open since and one<br>
that is in the interest of the country.<br>
<br>
We did indeed consult the AG's office if what we did was in order and we<br>
were given the clear. Much of this is done by various the departments but<br>
I bear the ultimate responsibility.<br>
<br>
What is absurd is the fact that the Daily Nation decided to highlight this<br>
issue while we were having the Konza conference here with international<br>
investors. This was the time we were telling investors that Kenya has<br>
changed and corruption is being dealt with. Well they did a great damage<br>
to my reputation. I read malice in the story since it is something that<br>
has been around. I would rather have taken a six month jail term than<br>
mess up with a project that I have devoted my life to. I have taken risky<br>
decisions to have this project take off but it is now clear that we only<br>
rejoice on successes.<br>
<br>
KACC has a right to question what we do and indeed in Teams they were on<br>
our case all through until the project was complete. The fact that they<br>
question does not amount to corruption. This is how we can change laws<br>
and make them dynamic with changing times. As much as I respect the<br>
Media, in this case they hurt my character dearly yet what I did was right<br>
and hoped we can change the law for future rational decisions. Never in<br>
my public life have I tried to do something that is not in the interest of<br>
the country.<br>
<br>
Ndemo.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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