<html><head></head><body><div class="ydp1e68ac3yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><div><div><span><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">Correction: NBS = National Broadband Strategy<br></div></span></div><div><br></div><span><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">Dear Listers,</div></span></div><span><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><span></span>The proposed
National Broad<b>band </b>Strategy was drafted by over 70 participants
representing 40 organizations. On closer scrutiny, the private sector
(and non-profit) representation appears heavily skewed in favor of <b>big-corp interests</b>
with over ~90% of participants representing large entities (or mid-size
entities in partnership with, or historically associated with advancing
the interests of, large entities). <br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><span><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">Here's the breakdown: <br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">* 10 Local companies (of which 60% are the largest, most visible Kenyan ICT corporations).</div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">* 9 Foreign companies or MNCs</div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">* 5 Non-profits</div></span><div><span><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">* 2 Universities</div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><span><span>* 14 Government Agencies</span></span><br></div></span></div><div><span><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">* <b>0</b> Indigenous ICT SME stakeholders (non-startups)<br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">* <b>0</b> Internet Startup Stakeholder(s)</div></span></div><div><span></span>* <b>0</b> Indigenous tech innovators / inventors <br></div><div><span><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">* <b>0</b> Indigenous tech policy representative(s)</div></span></div><span><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">-----</div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"> 40 organizations (~71 participants)<br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">-----</div></span><div><br></div>This
elucidates why government policies tend to be *heavily and unfairly
biased* towards large corporations, multinationals and NGOs to the
detriment of SMEs and indigenous startup ecosystems (despite SMEs being
the actual bedrock of Kenya's economy; the most innovative sector -
albeit neglected and lacking opportunities for exposure; and the biggest
jobs creators overall).</div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><div><span><span>Big
corp's dominance at policy level is unfairly hogging government
attention and thus preventing the development of a well coordinated
tech-startup ecosystem based on a national ecosystem master-plan that
would significantly and exponentially boost our economy within a very
short period.<br></span></span></div><div><span><span><br></span></span></div><div><span><span></span></span>This
is one reason why our top graduates and innovative youth are jobless -
relying on NGO handouts for survival (or having to grovel in the media
to get PR-motivated "rescue offers" from <u>companies that would otherwise have turned down their application for <b>merit-based</b> consideration</u>).<span> <br></span></div><div><span></span><br></div><span></span></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">I
think it is hypocritical, unethical and wrong for big corp to say it
"cares" about the community when doing CSR - when behind the scenes it
is busy hoarding all the meaningful opportunities, resources and
government incentives that would be far more helpful to the same
community in a sustainable way. <br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">Our
President's call for promotion of SMEs, local Innovation,
self-employment ("Tujiajiri") and millions of jobs for our youth might
never materialize if things continue this way. The important role of
SMEs and indigenous startups / innovations in supporting the Big 4
agenda needs to be emphasized and promoted.<br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">We
need proportionate (and affirmative) policy representation at SME and
Indigenous Startups / Innovations level. These representatives should be
actual, experienced founders / innovators (who have been in the
trenches and truly know where the shoe hurts) - not private "incubators"
who will always be conflicted in favor of the hands that feed them
(their MNCs / big-tech / big-corp partners).</div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">I
humbly request government stakeholders on this list to kindly take note
of the above problem and take action to remedy it please, in public
interest. Opportunity should be equitably distributed in line with the
spirit of our Constitution. Millions of jobs can be created (and we can
avoid massive capital outflows) if this is done properly. <br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">Adopting the right policies is what made China take <b>700 Million people </b>out of poverty in just <b>40 years. </b>They have shown that it can be done. Let our policies be driven by similar goals, in line with Big 4 agenda: To take <b>40 Million Kenyans</b> out of poverty and into a path of <b>sustainable prosperity </b>within <b>5-10 years</b>.<b><br></b></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><b><br></b></div><div>Have good evening.</div><div>Patrick.<br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">Patrick A. M. Maina</div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;">[Cross Domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]<br></div><div class="ydpeb388e1byiv0462911892ydp765d385cyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><br></div></span></div></body></html>