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Kenya's Silicon Savannah & the Need to do more
by Matunda Nyanchama 26 Feb '15

26 Feb '15

Friends, The MoICT and ICT Authority are planning a 2-Day ICT Innovation Forum on the 2nd and 3rd of March, 2015. See details on the ICT Authority website) I offered (and the Technical Committee organizing the Forum agreed) that I do 2 Op-ed pieces on the subject as a lead up to the Forum. Business News » Kenya as Silicon Savannah – The need to do more!; I will be posting the second piece in the next day or so. | | | | | | | | | Business News » Kenya as Silicon Savannah – The need to do more!Business News - Reading is FunDamental | | | | View on www.aganoconsulting.com | Preview by Yahoo | | | | | Kenya as Silicon Savannah – The need todo more!by Matunda Nyanchama*February 22, 2015 The National ICT Innovation Forum, convened by the Ministry ofInformation Communications and Technology and ICT Authority, is slated for March2rd and 3rd, at the Kenyatta International ConferenceCentre (KICC). Its theme is SiliconSavannah! Mind the Gap! Close the Gap! Participants are expected totackle challenges pertaining to ICT innovation in the country and the wayforward to ensure ICT innovation thrives in Kenya. Industry stakeholders areagreed: our ICT sector has reached a tipping point: no longer just a sexy idea,but an industry that is creating lasting change and impact. One may ask why the theme: Silicon Savannah! Mind the Gap! Close theGap!? The media coinage, Silicon Savannah, has become near-synonymouswith Kenya’s technology sector. The words carry a subliminal play with America’sSilicon Valley, home of many global technology giants such as Apple, Google,Oracle and many others. As a country, we offer a series ofadvantages to claim the Silicon Savannah brand. These include boasting a largenumber of academic institutions offering ICT programmes; taught in English, theglobal business language, steering our next generation of leaders; our laws andregulations, favouring free market economics and more. This is in addition toKenya being the region’s economic powerhouse despite lacking in resources (oil,minerals, etc.) that have been the curse of many African nations. The Silicon Savannah label didn’tcome by accident. A lot of time and effort has been invested in promoting thecountry as a technology destination. Under a triumvirate of the Ministry ofInformation of Communications and Technology, the ICT Authority and BrandKenya, the nation’s image as a leader in the technology sector has continued torise. And the proof of the pudding isin the eating. Kenya’s image, as a leader in innovations, is well-known. Onecase in point is M-Pesa that stands out to become a global brand in electronicmoney transfer. The Konza Technology City plans, if well-executed, wouldfurther buttress the Silicon Savannah brand. In addition, there is a lot morein the works with the vibrant activities happening in incubation hubs,university ICT departments, government, and the private sector. The future isbright; the future is IT. With Government and the privatesector working in tandem, the Silicon Savannah brand value can only grow. Otherswould claim that we have a huge gap between that brand promise and where weare. In spite of the achievements to date, serious work needs to be done tofully realize the benefits of that gilded metaphor. There is a need to accelerate thepace of the sector’s growth via deliberate efforts, plans, actions andperformance monitoring. These efforts must tap into the amount of energydevoted to innovation in order to harness its full potential. The approachshould result in a well-oiled innovation ecosystem that would deliver thepromise. A thriving innovation ecosystem needskey components synergistically working towards a common goal: exponential ICT growththat has wide-ranging, knock-on benefits. Key among these are the laws,regulations and policies; access to knowledge and expertise; access to capital;ongoing research and development; deliberate promotion of the sector’s productsand services; and a vibrant network of incubation hubs with clear tentacles tothe market, academia and financiers. Laws, Regulations and Policies & Promotion of Kenya ICT Products& Services The public sector, includingnational and county governments, public agencies and state corporations, aremajor consumers of ICT products and services. The national ICT spending acrossthe public sector could be in the range of hundreds of billions of Shillings. Now,suppose Government regulations and policies required that we give priority tothe local ICT sector, driving innovation at home. This would assure a readymarket for Kenyan ICT products and services; the resultant process would createjobs, build local ICT capacity and provide a springboard towards regional andinternational growth for the sector. There is more. With the recognition of thesignificance of the ICT sector, Government could make deliberate effort topromote the sector abroad. It is key to include ICT sector representation ininternational trade fairs and promotions the country participates in. In part,it would help the sector’s targeted contribution of 8% GDP and 180,000 jobs by2017. Knowledge and Expertise In recent years, Kenya has seen asubstantial growth of institutions: universities are expanding both in studentpopulation and in programmes offered. This is the good news. The bad news is that higherlearning in Kenya appears to be more of the business of education than thequality of the programmes and relevance to the market. There is a disconnectbetween what we are teaching and the needs of local industry, such that universitiesstand accused of a failure to proactively tune their programmes to marketneeds. The term “yellow notes” has been mentioned in relation to use of thesame material from year to year by some lecturers and professors, caring lessfor the dynamic nature of knowledge. ICT education and knowledge is afast-paced affair. Knowledge and its packaging evolves rapidly, as do the deliverymodes. Academic institutions must keep up with these changes if their graduates,especially in ICT – a key pillar to the President’s Digital Promise - have tofind relevance in the market. There is more. There are fewinstitutions with focus on bridging gaps between what is learnt in universitiesand what the market needs. Further, as a relatively young (e.g. compared withengineering) discipline the sector does not have a clearly defined professionalpath for growth. Nonetheless, the need forprogrammes that bridge gaps between academic qualifications and practicalindustry needs has never been greater. There are yawning gaps in this space.Indeed, it is this realization that resulted in the establishment the recentlylaunched Presidential Digital Talent Programme to address government ICT needs. Sadly, there is still more badnews. As we celebrate the mushroomingof universities we appear to have forgotten the key role played by tertiary andvocational training institution. Our universities appear to have grown at theexpense of polytechnics and, in the process, left a gap in human capital development. Finally, considering that ICT isexpected to play a key role in economic growth, there is a need to ensure thatICT graduates come out of university equipped with even basic businessknowledge, such as knowledge of intellectual property and how to secure it; andhow to turn the intellectual property into a business venture, how to raisemoney and how to run an enterprise. Access to Capital According to recent privateequity surveys, Kenya is missing out to its African neighbours, Nigeria, andSouth Africa. The challenges in Kenya include lack of innovator awareness ofthe varied range of sources of capital and the required preparedness to obtainrisk capital. This has also been blamed on lack of viable business plans for early-stagebusinesses. On the other hand, most investorsstake their money in tried and tested ventures such as in real estate; and theyhave poor understanding of the technology sector. Clearly, there is a need toaddress the gap via (say) a venture capital fund that would help start-ups gothrough the early stages of development while raising awareness on thepotential for growth that the sector presents. Research and Development Innovation pertains toimprovements (product, service, process) that addresses a key need. Ofteninnovation takes ideas from different disciplines, combines these to realizesomething new. A good example is M-Pesa that significantly improved themovement of money using mobile phone and messaging. It was an innovation that has transformedlives. In order to experiment with andtest ideas, there is a need to have ongoing research and development. The needfor collaboration and cooperation between the ICT sector and academicinstitutions, has never been greater. In addition, companies - public and private- need to set up research and development departments that would be chargedwith continual innovation. Often significant value can berealized through incremental changes via co-innovation, e.g. throughcustomization and incremental change to an existing product, service orprocess. Research and development activitycan be substantially enhanced through government incentive programmes. The Innovation Hubs A number of these exist in thecountry. They are run as independent businesses, components of businesses oracademic institutions. There is no doubt that a lot takes place in these hubs,with respect to testing and incubating ideas with a view to commercialization. The need for stakeholder collaborationhas never been greater. There is a need for greater awareness of their role andstructure and value they add to the innovation value chain. … The need for focus in ICTinnovation has never been greater. Deliberate action is needed in order tocreate a well-oiled innovation ecosystem with a friendly policy and regulatoryenvironment, aided by a supportive incubation ecosystem, supplied with relevantskills, fed by ongoing research and development, served with risk capital, and activelypromoted nationally and globally by all. Dr. Matunda Nyanchama is a Director and Managing Consultant at AganoConsulting Inc., and a Technical Advisor in the Ministry of Communications andTechnology and can be reached at mnyacnhama(a)aganoconsulting.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, CISSP; mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com; Twitter: nmatunda; Skype: okiambe ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Manage your ICT risks! We are the experts you need! The trusted partners you deserve!Call: +1-888-587-1150 (Canada) +254-20-267-0743 (Kenya) or info(a)aganoconsulting.comLicensed by Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"The best revenge is massive success" - Frank Sinatra----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Re: [kictanet] Kenya's Silicon Savannah & the Need to do more (Evans Ikua)
by Matunda Nyanchama 25 Feb '15

25 Feb '15

Evans, You are right on the money. A colleague has recently remarked that the process for introducing new courses or changing existing ones at many of our universities is very arduous and discouraging. Some just choose to give us. As well, we should seriously consider how we deliver university education in the country. Many colleagues I meet hardly have time for research while largely focused on lectures and marking. The large class sizes don't help. .... UASU has in the past raised this and asked for more tutorial/assistantship support so that lecturers focus more on course design/changes, course material & testing preparation, course quality assurance (design, testing/grading/etc.) and research while tutorial fellows/assistants would help with the grunt work: tutorials in small groups and marking. And how about the "missing middle"? Mid-level colleges (polytechnics, etc.) that deal with deep hands on training! (Of course not the Nairobi Aviation types). Baadaye. From: Evans Ikua <ikua.evans(a)gmail.com> To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Cc: Security List <security(a)lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya's Silicon Savannah & the Need to do more Message-ID: <CAJ5wL0_V2FyFPs-GMKKWw8hMzH1yikVB9aqm3PiCktgoSfybMw(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" "The bad news is that higher learning in Kenya appears to be more of the business of education than the quality of the programmes and relevance to the market. There is a disconnect between what we are teaching and the needs of local industry, such that universities stand accused of a failure to proactively tune their programmes to market needs. The term ?yellow notes? has been mentioned in relation to use of the same material from year to year by some lecturers and professors, caring less for the dynamic nature of knowledge. ICT education and knowledge is a fast-paced affair. Knowledge and its packaging evolves rapidly, as do the delivery modes. Academic institutions must keep up with these changes if their graduates, especially in ICT ? a key pillar to the President?s Digital Promise - have to find relevance in the market." I totally agree with you there. The way it works in our Universities is that if teaching word processing pays and is easy to do, then that's what they teach. They are under financial pressure but that is no excuse. If they were to invest more in research, then they would come up with more interesting things to teach, and these topics would then match with the Industry demands. Otherwise we will never hear the last of the half-baked graduate story. This is not easy to do, but it pays in the long run. But how far can we see? What we need to ask ourselves is this; what do the best Universities in the world do that we don't? Why is everybody dying to go to MIT and Harvard? When you look at the fees that these Universities charge, it shows that they have enough money to invest in research, and the people who pay that money can see the value that they get. For us, it's a vicious cycle of mediocrity. If we continue teaching word processing in our Universities, we will never produce the next Google or Facebook. The greatest IT companies today came out University halls. What have our Universities produced lately? From what I see, we are producing people who are very skilled in implementing and supporting other people's technologies, and we are even struggling with that! Evans ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, CISSP; mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com; Twitter: nmatunda; Skype: okiambe ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Manage your ICT risks! We are the experts you need! The trusted partners you deserve!Call: +1-888-587-1150 (Canada) +254-20-267-0743 (Kenya) or info(a)aganoconsulting.comLicensed by Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"The best revenge is massive success" - Frank Sinatra----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Digital Migration - The new Circus trending in Town..!
by Harry Delano 25 Feb '15

25 Feb '15

Blah, blah, blah ...! Meanwhile the unfolding circus that is the digital migration, continues to draw mixed reactions and court new controversy day in day out with each principal actor in the competing casts spinning out a bagful of tricks and manoeuvres in an effort to outdo each other. Clearly, the audience remains kept on the edge of their seats, askance and just can't wait any longer to find out the grand finale to this spectacular drama unfolding right before their eyes...! Of course it remains to be seen what this amazing state of affairs portents. Keep tuned, to find out shortly..! Reporting live, from the theatre of the digital drama, or is it..? Blah, blah, blah..!

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Fwd: [Chapter-delegates] WEBCAST TODAY: Senate hearing on IANA transition
by Ali Hussein 25 Feb '15

25 Feb '15

Listers For those of you following the above. Ali Hussein +254 770 906375 / 0713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim Blog: www.alyhussein.com "I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein Sent from my iPad Begin forwarded message: > From: Joly MacFie <joly(a)punkcast.com> > Date: February 25, 2015 at 6:05:54 PM EAT > To: ISOC Chapter Delegates <chapter-delegates(a)elists.isoc.org> > Subject: Re: [Chapter-delegates] WEBCAST TODAY: Senate hearing on IANA transition > Reply-To: joly(a)punkcast.com > > Correction: the webcast is on http://www.commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Hearings&ContentRecord_id… > > > >> On Wed, Feb 25, 2015 at 9:57 AM, Joly MacFie <joly(a)punkcast.com> wrote: >> JUST ABOUT TO BEGIN >> Today Wednesday February 25 2015 the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will convene a hearing – Preserving the Multistakeholder Model of Internet Governance – in Washington DC. As the U.S. government considers relinquishing control over certain aspects of Internet governance to the private sector, concerns remain that the loss of U.S. involvement over the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) could empower foreign powers – acting through intergovernmental institutions or other surrogates – to gain increased control over critical Internet functions. Featuring testimony from the U.S. government official assessing the threat to the Internet and the CEO of ICANN, the hearing will examine the potential benefits and preparedness of non-governmental actors to protect Internet governance functions from attempted interference by foreign governments. Witnesses: Fadi Chehadé, CEO, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN); Ambassador David Gross, Partner, Wiley Rein LLP, and former U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, U.S. Department of State; and Lawrence Strickling, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce. >> >> What: Preserving the Multistakeholder Model of Internet Governance >> Where: Washington DC >> When: Wednesday February 25 2015 10am-11:30am EST | 15:00-16:30 UTC >> Webcast: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hclive01 >> Twitter: #iana + #senate | #netgov >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> --------------------------------------------------------------- >> Joly MacFie 218 565 9365 Skype:punkcast >> WWWhatsup NYC - http://wwwhatsup.com >> http://pinstand.com - http://punkcast.com >> VP (Admin) - ISOC-NY - http://isoc-ny.org >> -------------------------------------------------------------- >> - >> > > > > -- > --------------------------------------------------------------- > Joly MacFie 218 565 9365 Skype:punkcast > WWWhatsup NYC - http://wwwhatsup.com > http://pinstand.com - http://punkcast.com > VP (Admin) - ISOC-NY - http://isoc-ny.org > -------------------------------------------------------------- > - > _______________________________________________ > As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed > to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society > Chapter Portal (AMS): https://portal.isoc.org

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Kenya as Silicon Savannah – PART II – Actualizing the Dream!
by Matunda Nyanchama 25 Feb '15

25 Feb '15

Business News » Kenya as Silicon Savannah – PART II – Actualizing the Dream! | | | | | | | | | Business News » Kenya as Silicon Savannah – PART II – Actualizing the Dream!Business News - Reading is FunDamental | | | | View on www.aganoconsulting.com | Preview by Yahoo | | | | | In the previous article we identified a number of key gaps in the promise of Kenya as Silicon Savannah and the reality on the ground. We need a structured approach to close these gaps. Indeed, as the old adage holds, ukiona vyalea vimeundwa. The National Innovation Forum, scheduled for 2nd and 3rd of March 2015 is expected to focus on how to close the gaps between promise and reality. It is also anticipated that the Forum would become an annual event focused on the ICT innovation space. Done well, it could become a “book of record” of and track progress with respect to ICT innovation in the country. The economic targets set for the ICT sector include an 8% contribution to the GDP and creation of 180,000 jobs by 2017. This task is too urgent to wait for sectorial reforms that encompass the entire economy. It is important that focus on the sector not be lost and that which can be accomplished be done as a matter of urgency. These targets are achievable numbers with collaboration between the private and public sectors with respect to planning and execution. There is a need to understanding the common goals and clear roles and responsibilities for both sectors. This would lead to the creation of a conducive environment that can nurture innovation. We need policies and regulations that promote Kenyan ICT products and services, especially with respect to public procurement; “support Kenyan ICT to, promote Kenya” should be the mantra! Our academic institutions must (of necessity) produce talent that is in tune with market needs, while collaborating with industry in research and development initiatives. Indeed, our academic institutions need to be forward-looking in a manner that is responsive to market skills demand. Capital and funding for initiatives need to be readily available, and streamlined in favour of innovation. We need mechanisms that can encourage more risk capital and ready access to ICT innovators. Further, we need to actively promote Kenyan ICT products and services regionally and internationally. One can envision a case where national trade delegations routinely incorporate ICT sector representation. Results can only be realized through orchestrated efforts, complete with plans, targets, performance measures and accountability. The approach should be based on collaboration between the public and private sectors. Moreover, the initiative should be supported from the highest offices in the nation. Key to these are the President and Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Information Communication and Technology. In planning the future of ICT innovation and its potential contribution to the economy, we need to look at the promise of the Science, Technology and Innovation Act of 2012. The Act, which was formally assented to by President Mwai Kibaki in January 2013, providing a good foundation for national innovation in general. It creates the National Commission for Science Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI), Kenya National Innovation Agency (KENIA) and the National Research Fund (NRF). NACOSTI’s mandate centres on regulation and quality assurance in the Science, Technology and Innovation. On the other hand, KENIA’s main objective is to develop and manage the Kenya National Innovation System, while NRF’s charged with mobilizing finance the advancement of science, technology and innovation in the country. The foregoing notwithstanding, we can also learn from the experience of others where the ICT sector has thrived. In Ireland for instance,Enterprise Ireland drives the entire ICT innovation value chain, from idea to testing to funding and maturity. It has components of support for marketing and skills development. A similar entity (call it Enterprise Kenya) in Kenya would identify, nurture and facilitate the ICT innovation value chain. It would coordinate initiatives for competition, information sharing, and access to capital and marketing the products. It would work closely with governments (both national and county) to promote the support of Kenyan ICT products and services. It would, on an ongoing basis, spark conversations on the talent landscape. The entity would also explore opportunities for commercialization, be these from the public, private sectors or academia. As an example, one could consider commercializing the Huduma Centres concept: the designs, software and accompanying services. This would entail securing associated intellectual property (products, processes and services) and packing these for offer to other countries that may be in need. The country needs an ICT-focused Equity Fund as means of providing access to capital for ICT innovations. Unlike the National Research Fund envisioned in the Science, Technology and Innovation Act of 2012 the Equity Fund would focus mainly on commercialization of ICT products. The Equity Fund would be an arms-length quasi-public entity that would invest in targeted promising innovations. For capitalization, the government, working with the private sector, could provide initial funding and hence help jumpstart the Fund’s activity. With success of funded innovations, the government stands to reap returns in terms of growth in equity of financed enterprises while enhancing economic growth. Over time, and once the sector is steady, the government could divest from the Fund. It is important that the Presidency and the Ministry of ICT continually engage with players in the sector to ensure that the processes established work and that there is meaningful progress with respect to ICT initiatives. One can envision a Presidential Task Force on ICT Innovation (perhaps combining with the recently launched Presidential Digital Talent Programme) domiciled at the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology and working very closely with the ict.go.ke ICT Authority. The Task Force would continually work with the ICT sector to ensure government support in the innovation value chain. It would regularly report on the state of ICT innovation in the country, capturing associated achievements, challenges and means to overcome those challenges. There will also be an advocacy role for the Task Force, including popularizing ICT innovation in schools, tertiary training institutions as well as universities. Working with other entities (such as the proposed Enterprise Kenya) in the innovation space, the Task Force would create an innovation index, track on the index and identify direct achievements realized through ICT innovation. Further, we need to make ICT innovation as part of the parliamentary agenda. Both houses of parliament need to be involved, both from awareness and reporting perspectives. In doing so, they should make ICT innovation part of their agenda and require status updates on the date on a regular basis. There is more. There are many lessons that can be learnt from past, ongoing and future projects such as Huduma, the eCitizen, National Payment Gateway, IFMIS, etc. Procurement policy should not only require a minimum percentage of local participation but also provide for knowledge transfer to help build local capacity. In the end, we can generate substantial intellectual property from such projects while also (potentially) supporting co-innovation as a result of joint ventures and participation. Finally, we need to institutionalize the National Innovation Forum as an annual event with focus on issues of ICT innovation and as a show case for innovators. At the Forum, we would demonstrate successes, share challenges, solutions to those challenges and lessons learnt. It is possible that the Forum could be a culmination of nation-wide county activities of similar kind starting at the grassroots in the counties. Now that would be an ICT reawakening and a drive towards the promise of Kenya as a Silicon Savannah! Dr. Matunda Nyanchama is a Director and Managing Consultant at Agano Consulting Inc., and a Technical Advisor in the Ministry of Communications and Technology. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, CISSP; mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com; Twitter: nmatunda; Skype: okiambe ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Manage your ICT risks! We are the experts you need! The trusted partners you deserve!Call: +1-888-587-1150 (Canada) +254-20-267-0743 (Kenya) or info(a)aganoconsulting.comLicensed by Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"The best revenge is massive success" - Frank Sinatra----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Kenya's Silicon Savannah & the Need to do more
by Matunda Nyanchama 25 Feb '15

25 Feb '15

Bwana Kieti I have lately learnt of the term "co-innovation", really fancy terminology for incremental innovation. We can learnt from the automobile industry where parts manufacturers eventually become car manufacturers. Often, we can piggyback on established applications/processes as a means of growth. A good example is MLedger (again something I have learnt of recently) that wouldn't have been without MPesa. In that respect, one doesn't need a pot of money for R&D. There is also the Science, Technology and Innovation Act of 2012 that envisions (among other things) the creation of a Kenya National Innovation Agency and a National Research Fund. If we designated a % of our annual budget for R&D and disbursed this well through the NRF, we can be miles ahead. Further, we could consider incentives (e.g. tax writeoffs, etc.) for companies' spending on R&D so as to encourage R&D. On your taxonomy, I agree. I believe the local ICT sector has a similar taxonomy for classification of enterprises in the innovation value chain. Business News » Kenya as Silicon Savannah – PART II – Actualizing the Dream! | | | | | | | | | Business News » Kenya as Silicon Savannah – PART II – Actualizing the Dream!Business News - Reading is FunDamental | | | | View on www.aganoconsulting.com | Preview by Yahoo | | | | | Hi Dr. Nyanchama, The article helps in assembling a set of keyconsiderations moving forward for the sector. On *Research and Development*(R&D), since we don't have many large native IT corporations that wouldafford the requisite R&D budgets, would you recommend that we treatinnovation and entrepreneurship among thousands of startups as a democratizedR&D division for the sector? Also, does it help to classify enterprises in the sectorso as to develop targeted interventions? See my proposed taxonomy <http://www.slideshare.net/JohnKieti/taxonomy-of-it-enterprises-in-kenya-and…> and abstraction of undeveloped interventions shared lastweek at AITEC. Best regards ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, CISSP; mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com; Twitter: nmatunda; Skype: okiambe ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Manage your ICT risks! We are the experts you need! The trusted partners you deserve!Call: +1-888-587-1150 (Canada) +254-20-267-0743 (Kenya) or info(a)aganoconsulting.comLicensed by Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"The best revenge is massive success" - Frank Sinatra----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Re: [kictanet] [isoc_ke] For those who think Safaricom is Dominant - Think Again..
by Ali Hussein 25 Feb '15

25 Feb '15

Kelvin Not sure I see the link between this sorry and the dominance issue.. It is however an interesting read. Thanks for sharing. Ali Hussein +254 770 906375 / 0713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim Blog: www.alyhussein.com "I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein Sent from my iPad > On Feb 23, 2015, at 11:46 PM, Kelvin Githira <kelvin(a)skysys.co.ke> wrote: > > is this the reason for the push to declare safaricom dominant ? > > http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/VeriFone-seeks-managers-f… > > > well its just a matter of time before an LTD is registered in the British virgin island by nameless Kenyans > >> On Sat, Feb 21, 2015 at 12:42 AM, Ali Hussein via isoc <isoc(a)lists.my.co.ke> wrote: >> Listers >> >> Isn't it time to reboot our thinking on Policy and Regulation to fit the current global situation? >> >> This story in Forbes just made me realize one fundamental flow in our thinking regarding the regulatory environment we live in today. Should we not totally re-invent the environment to suit the circumstances? Why should we let the FCC trail-blaze in Regulation? What do they know about mobile innovation and regulation? Why are we abdicating our global responsibility from a regulatory perspective when we lead the world in mobile innovation? >> >> http://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2015/02/19/somali-entrepreneur-r… >> >> The world remittance market is $550b. What market share does Mpesa have? Let's not wallow in the hype and really make it happen. Today one in every three humans who use mobile money is a Kenyan. How does this translate to market share in this global stage. How many Indians/Chinese/Nigerians use Mpesa to remit money back home? That's the playground we must play in. After all isn't Kenya ground zero for all things mobile innovation? >> >> http://blogs.worldbank.org/africacan/how-kenya-became-a-world-leader-for-mo… >> >> Instead of trying to stifle local based companies let's give them the boost they require to become truly global. >> >> Here's what I think should happen. (Forgive me for being presumptive) but The Govt should cultivate BFF Status (my daughter tells me BFF means Best Friends Forever) with the likes of Mpesa, Mode, Cellulant, Pesapal, Jambo Pay, CopyCat, Seven Seas etc and present them as African Champions at every possible regional and Global event. Our very Economic Diplomacy should be anchored in this thinking. If my history serves me right that's how the Japanese Global Giants were borne. Through a truly PPP & Multi-Stakeholder Model (yes that word again..) Japanese industry became the world beaters they are today. For more on this it would be instructive to read the history of MITI. >> >> http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_International_Trade_and_Industry >> >> Our folly is in thinking that private sector and government are mutually exclusive and that an adversarial stance is best to protect consumers. Let's expand the pie. There is no reason that Mpesa cannot become the de-facto mobile money system across Africa. For this to happen it would require not thinking out of the box - but reinventing the box. Literally. >> >> As Bob Collymore aptly put it - Being dominant is not a crime. >> >> Ali Hussein >> >> +254 770 906375 / 0713 601113 >> >> Twitter: @AliHKassim >> Skype: abu-jomo >> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim >> Blog: www.alyhussein.com >> >> "I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein >> >> Sent from my iPad >> >> _______________________________________________ >> isoc mailing list >> isoc(a)lists.my.co.ke >> http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/isoc >

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Re: [kictanet] [isoc_ke] For those who think Safaricom is Dominant - Think Again..
by Mwendwa Kivuva 24 Feb '15

24 Feb '15

Meanwhile, Orange "says it has lost control of Telkom Kenya" due to minority shareholder interference. http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/French-firm-loses-control… On Feb 24, 2015 5:57 PM, "Ali Hussein via kictanet" < kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: :) *Ali Hussein* +254 770 906375 / 0713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> Blog: www.alyhussein.com "I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein Sent from my iPad On Feb 24, 2015, at 5:05 PM, Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: *From:* Ali Hussein via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote @Walu, I agree with your assertions and you seem to straddling the fence :) not sure what should be done..:) --- @Ali, I actually know what needs to be done. I just did not want to say it because we pay the DG and the CS good money to figure it out :-) walu. ------------------------------ *From:* Ali Hussein via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> *To:* jwalu(a)yahoo.com *Cc:* ISOC Kenya Chapter <isoc(a)lists.my.co.ke>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> *Sent:* Tuesday, February 24, 2015 3:54 PM *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] [isoc_ke] For those who think Safaricom is Dominant - Think Again.. @Mwendwa My point is that Mpesa represents the whole innovation landscape in Kenya. There are other products/services that have global appeal. Kenyan made or at least Kenyan bred. The principle is that we MUST develop strong champions that can be global players - Free Markets be damned.. @Walu I agree with your assertions and you seem to straddling the fence :) not sure what should be done..:) Actually by default Mpesa has already been spinned off Safaricom. So that's a Fait Accompli. *Ali Hussein* +254 770 906375 / 0713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> Blog: www.alyhussein.com "I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein Sent from my iPad On Feb 24, 2015, at 3:45 PM, Mwendwa Kivuva <Kivuva(a)transworldafrica.com> wrote: On 24 February 2015 at 15:03, Ali Hussein via kictanet < kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: My other point is that the regulatory environment needs to take into consideration the global environment. Mpesa must be allowed space to grow beyond Kenya. Mpesa here means any Kenyan product. We must emulate Japan & other Asian Giants. Policy and regulation must as a matter of course favor local companies. I make no apologies for this last point - Free markets are a dream perpetuated by foreign interests with the end game of dominance. Ali, the tragedy is Vodafone pulled the rug from under our feet. They saw the value of MPESA long ago and patented it, thus licensing it to Sub Saharan Africa and Southern Asian countries. Thus it's not possible for Safaricom to grow the MPESA brand beyond our borders. That is what Vodafone has been doing all along. ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya "There are some men who lift the age they inhabit, till all men walk on higher ground in that lifetime." - Maxwell Anderson _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com 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. 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. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kivuva%40transworldaf… 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. 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.

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For those who think Safaricom is Dominant - Think Again..
by Ali Hussein 24 Feb '15

24 Feb '15

Listers Isn't it time to reboot our thinking on Policy and Regulation to fit the current global situation? This story in Forbes just made me realize one fundamental flow in our thinking regarding the regulatory environment we live in today. Should we not totally re-invent the environment to suit the circumstances? Why should we let the FCC trail-blaze in Regulation? What do they know about mobile innovation and regulation? Why are we abdicating our global responsibility from a regulatory perspective when we lead the world in mobile innovation? http://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2015/02/19/somali-entrepreneur-r… The world remittance market is $550b. What market share does Mpesa have? Let's not wallow in the hype and really make it happen. Today one in every three humans who use mobile money is a Kenyan. How does this translate to market share in this global stage. How many Indians/Chinese/Nigerians use Mpesa to remit money back home? That's the playground we must play in. After all isn't Kenya ground zero for all things mobile innovation? http://blogs.worldbank.org/africacan/how-kenya-became-a-world-leader-for-mo… Instead of trying to stifle local based companies let's give them the boost they require to become truly global. Here's what I think should happen. (Forgive me for being presumptive) but The Govt should cultivate BFF Status (my daughter tells me BFF means Best Friends Forever) with the likes of Mpesa, Mode, Cellulant, Pesapal, Jambo Pay, CopyCat, Seven Seas etc and present them as African Champions at every possible regional and Global event. Our very Economic Diplomacy should be anchored in this thinking. If my history serves me right that's how the Japanese Global Giants were borne. Through a truly PPP & Multi-Stakeholder Model (yes that word again..) Japanese industry became the world beaters they are today. For more on this it would be instructive to read the history of MITI. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_International_Trade_and_Industry Our folly is in thinking that private sector and government are mutually exclusive and that an adversarial stance is best to protect consumers. Let's expand the pie. There is no reason that Mpesa cannot become the de-facto mobile money system across Africa. For this to happen it would require not thinking out of the box - but reinventing the box. Literally. As Bob Collymore aptly put it - Being dominant is not a crime. Ali Hussein +254 770 906375 / 0713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim Blog: www.alyhussein.com "I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein Sent from my iPad

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Digital Migration - Set Top Box Ownership - Time to move the debate forward!
by Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) 23 Feb '15

23 Feb '15

Dear All, At Cofek, we find as (regrettably) misplaced the fact that people are re-opening the same old debate on digital migration merely because of the 3 media houses’ objections. Regardless of their somewhat valid grievances, we are on record saying they are fighting a lost battle. The Supreme Court has pronounced itself. It is end of debate on analogue switch-off. We need to move on – beyond the exchanges between CA/MOICT and the media houses. We need to listen to “Wanjiku”. We need to exploit the opportunities which migration brings with them. On set-top boxes, and if you thought South Africa is better on Digital Migration, then Kenya has no problems at all. A minister in South Africa has said no to STB’s with encryption! Read on: http://www.cofek.co.ke/index.php/14-news/957-if-you-thought-there-are-more-… Kind regards David Kedode www.cofek.co.ke

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