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Use of Music in Public Premises
by Bernard Kioko [Bernsoft Group] 24 Feb '14

24 Feb '14

Hi all, For those of you that use music in public places and are not sure who you should be paying, please read this to ensure you stay legal. http://payforplay.or.ke/index.php/news-events/13-news/16-vital-legal-victory Regards

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Seasoned Joomla Develope
by Matunda Nyanchama 24 Feb '14

24 Feb '14

Friends Does anyone know of a seasoned Joomla web developer. They must understand web security well and can test for any vulnerabilities once the site is completed. The person must be in Nairobi. Drop me a line via my personal email with contacts of the person: myanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com or info(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.com Licensed by Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "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] Internet Governance, Where does Kenya Stand?
by Barrack Otieno 24 Feb '14

24 Feb '14

Dear Listers, As the Internet Governance debate unfolds globally , it would be good for Kenya to establish its position. In light of ongoing debates what do you think should be our priorities for 2014? Where should we channel our energies so that we can contribute effectively to the global process? Best Regards -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277+254721325277 +254-20-2498789+254-20-2498789 Skype: barrack.otieno http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/ Call Send SMS Add to Skype You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

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Fw: Fwd: Africa Connected Finalists Press Release for distriubution
by Network of non- formal Educational institutions 21 Feb '14

21 Feb '14

For Your Information Jane ‘Africa Connected’ Finalists announced $25,000 [271,000 rand] prizes for five winners whose lives are ‘powered by the web’ Online voting for the winners now open Johannesburg, 19 February 2014- Google has today announced the finalists of the Africa Connected competition. The competition was launched in August last year, calling entrepreneurs, creatives, innovators and web-lovers to share stories of how the web has transformed their lives and work. The 10 finalists have been selected by a panel of judges from over 2,200 entries from 35 countries. Five successful winners from among the finalists will now be selected by the online voting public. The winners will bag $25,000 [ZAR 271,000] each, and will also have the opportunity to work with a Google sponsor over a six-month period to further their online business success. The competition categories included Education; Entertainment/Arts/Sports; Technology; Community and NGOs; and Small Businesses. "Africa Connected is a competition that has run for over six months and we are thrilled at the number of amazing stories that have been collected from across Africa. Today we are excited to announce the top 10 finalists who have been selected by our judges’ panel. The diversity of their ventures - from providing clean drinking water to preserving culture - shows how the web can truly drive positive change in the lives of many people and their communities. We look forward to seeing who the voting public choose as the winners - the top five most inspiring success stories from across our continent." says Affiong Osuchukwu, Google Lead for the Africa Connected initiative. The ten finalists, in random order, include: * Steve Kyenze, Kenya, Uweza Slum Gallery(http://www.uwezakenya.org) * Steve uses Google Search to inspire underprivileged kids through art and helps to improve their skills, so that they can sell their artwork to support their schooling. * Sitawa Wafula, Kenya, My Mind, My Funk(http://sitawa.blogspot.com) * Sitawa is an influential blogger on mental health in East Africa, who has used Google Blogger to establish her award winning blog, which is a reference point for people looking for support and information. * Eunice Namirembe, Uganda, The Medical Concierge Group(http://tmcg.co.ug/) * Eunice has built a 24-hour accessible ambulance call centre to improve access to health care services, by using the Google API dashboard and Google Maps to record patient information and track patient locations. * Lamine Mbengue, Senegal, SenegalTV(http://senegaltvcommunication.simplesite.com/) * Lamine believes in taking African culture to the rest of the world, and that the Internet is the lifeblood to support his mission. YouTube and AdSense has helped SenegalTV to share their unique content around the world while enabling him to employ others. * Timothy Maguire, South Africa, Grace Communion International(http://www.gci.org.za) * English-speaking Timothy uses Google Translate while providing humanitarian relief in Portuguese speaking northern Mozambique, so that he can communicate with project members building water purification plants. He also uses Google Search and Google Maps which assists with projects in remote locations. * Nqobizitha Mlilo, Zimbabwe, Nafuna TV(http://nafuna.tv) * Nqobizitha uses YouTube to post all his new animation and HD video content on his channel to reach a wide audience. He is self-taught, based on information found with Google Search. He is now able to give people in his home country and beyond an alternative form of entertainment not found on traditional channels. * Christopher Panford,Ghana, Technol Services * Christopher uses Google Maps in his vehicle tracking devices to record the location of their vehicles at any point in time. This gives local banks the confidence to provide loans to drivers, thus providing them with a means to earn a living. * Eric Obuh,Nigeria, Vocal Slender(http://vocalslender.net/) * Eric is a musician who used YouTube to distribute his content and Google+ to interact with his fans. His music and online popularity have led him to become earn a living from concerts and appearances. He uses his earnings to raise awareness about underprivileged youngsters in the slums of Lagos where he comes from, thereby providing financial aid for the scholars and encouraging school attendance. * Eseoghene Odiete, Nigeria, Hesey Designs(http://www.heseydesigns.com/) * Eseoghene used Google Products to promote her brand as a young entrepreneur, creating international awareness for her fashion label Hesey Designs. She now runs workshops to train other women how to generate an income from designing fashion accessories. * Mayowa Adegbile, Nigeria, Ashake Foundation(http://www.ashakefoundation.wordpress.com) * Mayowa initially used YouTube to post an appeal in order to raise funds for her initiative, a business school for widowed mothers, giving them the tools to make a living and support their families. Because of the getting online she is helping to change lives and give the people who need it a second chance in life. Anyone who would like to vote for the 5 winners, in whose lives the web and Google have played a pivotal role, can do so on the Africa Connected website: www.africaconnected.com. The winners will be announced on 1st April at an event in Nairobi, Kenya. The partner judges for Africa Connected, who selected the ten finalists, include: * Adiel A. Akplogan, CEO, African Network Information Centre (AfriNIC), Mauritius * Nardos Bekele Thomas, Resident Coordinator, United Nations Development Program, Kenya * Dr. Towela Nyirenda Jere, Programmes Manager, NEPAD e-Africa Programme, New Partnerships for African Development (NEPAD), South Africa * Temilola Balogun, Radio personality, fashion photographer and artist, Cool FM, Nigeria * Adv. Leslie Sedibe, CEO, Proudly South African, South Africa * Wallace Kantai, Editor, NTV, Nation Media Group, Kenya * Franklin Leonard, Founder, The Black List, USA * MI Abaga, Artist and UN Ambassador, Chocolate City Music, Nigeria * Ory Okolloh, Director of Investments, Omidyar Network, South Africa * Doha Marzouk, Head, Marketing, Sub-Saharan Africa, Google, Egypt For more information about the Africa Connected contest, visit www.africaconnected.com New to the web? Learn more about the web and Google through this platform, so that you too can do amazing things using the web as your springboard. You can also follow us at @GoogleAfrica and +GoogleAfrica. ENDS -- Patricia Gnilane SENGHOR Cooperation and Project Development Manager, AFRINIC Ltd. t: +230 4035144. | M: +230 58275956 |tt: @afrinic | w: www.afrinic.net facebook.com/afrinic | flickr.com/afrinic | youtube.com/afrinicmedia ___________________________ Join us at AIS14/AFRINIC20, Djibouti, Djibouti, 25 May-6 June 2014. l,

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Fwd: [Africanchapters] Webinar on the upcoming World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) 2014
by Barrack Otieno 21 Feb '14

21 Feb '14

FYI, Apologies for cross posting. Best Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Christine Saegesser <saegesser(a)isoc.org> Date: Fri, Feb 21, 2014 at 11:54 AM Subject: [Africanchapters] Webinar on the upcoming World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) 2014 To: Elist africanchapters <africanchapters(a)elists.isoc.org> Dear Colleagues, The International Telecommunication Union (ITU)'s sixth World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30 March to 10 April 2014. The theme of WTDC-14 is "Broadband for Sustainable Development". See also: http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Conferences/WTDC/WTDC14/Pages/default.aspx In the lead-up to this conference, we would like to invite you to a webinar on 6 March 2014, at 14:00 UTC. The aim of the webinar is to provide you with some WTDC-14 background, agenda priorities and Internet Society positions. If you are interested in participating in this webinar on 6 March, then please sign up at: https://doodle.com/5wwfvr4amr3pszya WebEx details will follow in due course. Best regards, Christine --------------------------------------------------------------- Internet Society (ISOC) Christine Saegesser Baethge Sr. Manager, Chapter Development Website: www.InternetSociety.org --------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ As an Internet Society Chapter Officer of the African region you are automatically subscribed to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society Chapter Portal (AMS): https://portal.isoc.org -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277+254721325277 +254-20-2498789+254-20-2498789 Skype: barrack.otieno http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/ Call Send SMS Add to Skype You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

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RESEARCHERS WORKING ON SOCIAL MEDIA 'LIE DETECTOR'
by Grace Githaiga 20 Feb '14

20 Feb '14

Haya, fununu kwisha! University researchers are working on a system that could quash rumours spreading on social media by identifying whether information is accurate.Five European universities, led by Sheffield in northern England, are cooperating on a system that could automatically identify whether a rumour originates from a reliable source and can be verified. "Social networks are rife with lies and deception," the project leaders said in a statement. Such messages can have far-reaching consequences, but there is so much of it that it is impossible to analyse it in real time. The project is trying to identify four types of information -- speculation, controversy, misinformation, and disinformation -- and model their spread on social networks. http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/m/story.php?articleID=2000105107&story_title…

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Pew Research Centre Survey: Kenya leads developing world in mobile payments
by Gideon 20 Feb '14

20 Feb '14

Kenya ranks first among 24 developing countries in the share of residents who make or receive payments through mobile telephones, Pew Research Centre a US research centre reported on Tuesday. http://www.africareview.com/Business---Finance/Kenya-leads-developing-world… Regards Gideon Rop DotConnectAfrica

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Gearing up for Open Data Day Kenya
by Simeon Oriko 19 Feb '14

19 Feb '14

Listers, Open Data Day is this Saturday 22nd February 2014. The Open Institute will be hosting the event in 3 cities simultaneously: 1. Kisumu Coordinated by LakeHub Venue: Maseno University Town Campus (Varsity Plaza) 2. Mombasa Coordinated by the Mombasa Tech Community Where: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Mombasa Campus 3. Nairobi Coordinated by the Open Institute Where: PAWA254 Here’s what you can do right now! Whether you’ve registered to attend the event or not, here are three things you can do right now to make Open Data Day awesome: 1. Submit your ideas for projects you want to work on Do you have an idea of what you’d like to work on during the event? Share it on the homepage of the event website (http://opendataday.co.ke/) and fill in the Google form at the bottom of the page. You can also see the list of submitted projects here: http://opendataday.co.ke/project-ideas 2. Send us any (and every) data you have What would Open Data Day be without data? If you have any data, please add it to this folder on Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0Bwjxv9I45D1yM0JtSFRRcVVfZlk&usp=sha… 3. Sharing is caring Spread the word about Open Data Day! Let’s get others to participate by publicising this information. The official hashtags for the event are #ODD14 and #ODDKenya, with specific cities also tweeting on #ODDKisumu, #ODDNairobi and #ODDMombasa. Looking forward to Saturday! Kind Regards, Simeon Oriko Community Lead Open Institute -- Simeon Oriko | Digital and Innovation Strategist Web: www.mtotowajirani.com | Twitter: @mtotowajirani LinkedIn: ke.linkedin.com/in/simeonoriko Cell: +254 724 892 941 | Skype: simeonoriko

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HP says laptop bid price changed to favour rival Olive
by S.M. Muraya 19 Feb '14

19 Feb '14

What did Olive Telcom offer in terms of local assembly/support, maintenance and connectivity? http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/HP-says-tender-team-rigged-pricing-of-la… HP says laptop bid price changed to favour rival Olive IN SUMMARY * HP says Olive Telecommunications had on December 13 quoted a price of Sh23.1 billion as its final offer. * Computer maker also claims Olive and Haier are associates that should not have been allowed to place separate bids. * The allegations add to the controversy that has stalked procurement of laptops for primary schools. Senior government officials colluded with executives of an Indian company to inflate prices for the controversial laptops tender by as much as Sh1.4 billion after the final bids were made, it has emerged. American computer maker Hewlett Packard (HP) says Olive Telecommunications -- the Indian company that won the tender to supply the laptops -- had on December 13 quoted a price of Sh23.1 billion ($268,899, 669) as its final offer. But Education secretary Jacob Kaimenyi later announced that Olive Telecommunications had won the tender to supply the laptops at a price of 24.5 billion ($284,814,957) without reference to the alterations. "It is clear from the foregoing that the procuring entity amended the total price quoted by the successful bidder and which was read out at the opening of BAFO (Best and Final Offer) and awarded it (Olive) the sum of $15,914,288 (Sh1.4 billion) more than it had actually quoted," says HP in documents filed Thursday before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board (PPARB). HP also alleges that Olive and rival bidder Haier, which was among the three shortlisted bidders for the supply of 1.3 million laptops, are related companies that should never have been allowed to submit competing bids meant to lock out rivals. According to HP, the tender committee should have disqualified Olive and Haier Group's applications on grounds that the two companies are related and could not place separate bids. "To the procuring entity's knowledge the said two companies had previously entered into a joint venture to form Haier Telkom (India), a company that is still active," says HP. The allegations add to the controversy that has stalked procurement of laptops for primary schools. HP accuses the tender committee of colluding with Olive Communications to undermine rival bidders. The American firm claims that Ministry of Education officials allowed Olive to submit an incomplete price list that left room for price manipulation and enabled the Indian firm to overtake it [HP] as the lowest bidder. In an application filed through Nairobi law firm Iseme Kamau and Maema Advocates, HP says procurement of the laptops has been shrouded in secrecy that has irredeemably compromised the award. HP accuses the tender evaluation committee of disclosing the price quoted by the bidders and in effect allowing price comparison and undercutting -- a claim that if proved will cast doubt on the entire process. The American company says it was the lowest bidder when the financial offers were opened on December 6, having offered to supply the 1.28 million laptops for Sh25 billion compared to Haier Electrical's Sh27.2 billion and Olive Communications' Sh27.2 billion. All prices were subject to further negotiations. HP claims that the tender committee used every opportunity to release confidential information in the bid documents to competing firms it says were sister companies used to undercut its offer. "Release of the said information created the very mischief sought to be prevented by Section 44 of the (Public Procurement and disposal) Act," HP says, adding that rival bidders used the unit prices to undercut the applicant. Meyrin Branch, who oversees HP's corporate accounts, says in an affidavit that only his company's application should have been subjected to further evaluation, including price negotiations, and that the tender committee should only have engaged rival bidders in the event that the talks collapsed. Instead, the tender committee invited all bidders to price negotiations on December 10 at Windsor Golf Club against HP's expectation. The technology firm further says it was invited through a letter dated December 6, but which was delivered on the morning of negotiations, allowing them no time to prepare. Each firm held separate negotiations with the tender committee during which they were asked to reveal their BAFO. "The mode of negotiation adopted made it very possible for information of a particular bidder to be disclosed to others with the aim of sabotaging certain bidders," says HP. Ministry of Education officials are alleged to have failed to define the scope of negotiations to participating bidders and instead confronted them with questions at the meeting. The tender committee is also accused of refusing to supply HP with the minutes of the negotiations or even a summary of what transpired. The information was needed for purposes of filing the appeal. HP later learnt on December 13 that following the price negotiations, Olive had dislodged it from top position with an offer of Sh23.1 billion, a reduction of Sh4.1 billion from its initial offer of Sh27.2 billion. The American computer maker was then left in the second lowest bidder's position with a price of Sh24.8 billion while Haier was last with a final offer of Sh25 billion. "It was therefore surprising when on February 7, 2014... Prof Jacob Kaimenyi announced that Olive Telecommunication had been awarded the tender at Sh24.6 billion," says HP. HP also claims that the committee declined to consider its offer to provide value-added services to the tune of Sh4.4 billion free of charge. It says the tender committee should have disqualified Olive and Haier Group's application on grounds that the two companies are related and should not have placed separate bids. The details emerged even as the parliamentary committee investigating the laptops for schools tender called on the government to suspend signing of the contract. The MPs argued that Olive is a small company that partnered with another firm called CMC to tender for the laptop and that it is not an original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The MPs' claims give credence to HP's argument that the committee breached one of the requirements that limited bidding to OEMs. The parliamentary committee has accused Prof Kaimenyi of awarding the tender even before the due diligence report on the winning company is scrutinised. MPs are expected to independently investigate the matter and produce a report. Ministry of Education officials are also accused of rejecting HP's bid for the supply of projectors on grounds that it is not an OEM for projectors even as it accepted Olive's bid for laptops. "Since the requirement that bidders must be OEMs was specifically set out in the tender documents, HP accepted the decision (to reject its bid for projectors) and reasonably expected that similar criteria would be used in respect of other bidders," HP says. The government in October re-advertised for the supply of laptops, printers and projectors to public schools in fulfilment of Jubilee alliance's campaign manifesto.

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 81, Issue 47
by Yusuf Tajbhai 19 Feb '14

19 Feb '14

Find attached CV On Wed, Feb 19, 2014 at 3:10 PM, <kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>wrote: > Send kictanet mailing list submissions to > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > You can reach the person managing the list at > kictanet-owner(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of kictanet digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: HP says laptop bid price changed to favour rival Olive > (Adam Nelson) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:08:54 +0300 > From: Adam Nelson <adam(a)varud.com> > To: Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] HP says laptop bid price changed to favour > rival Olive > Message-ID: > <CAGTm15= > GXJOuuzomsJkDUScSx14KL3CpqeVA9LboUkkKnVBB7w(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > It's called mercantilism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercantilism) and > it > can actually work as pointed out with certain industries. I won't claim to > be an economist but if a country wants to be more mercantilist, it needs to > meet a few basic requirements: > > 1. Very smart technocrat class making smart decisions about what industries > to nurture. > 2. Consistency over time (i.e. 10-15 years). > 3. Limited focus (i.e. pick 3-4 industries, not 20). > > I just hope that Kenya doesn't choose to put its chips into a 20 year old > industry that doesn't even exist here and has already plateaued globally, > i.e. laptop assembly. > > > -- > Kili - Cloud for Africa: kili.io > Musings: twitter.com/varud <https://twitter.com/varud> > More Musings: varud.com > About Adam: www.linkedin.com/in/adamcnelson > > > On Wed, Feb 19, 2014 at 3:00 PM, Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> wrote: > > > Kivuva > > > > Good point on the motor industry. > > > > In my previous life :) I used to work in the motor industry at Lonrho > > Motors as a Market Analyst. > > > > The government then had a % (can't remember the act percentage) local > > content mandatory rule for commercial vehicles. As a result there > emerged a > > local content industry that exists to date that did body work, > upholstery, > > shocks, nuts and bolts etc..The beginnings of what is know as OEM > (Original > > Equipment Manufacturers). A lot of that is now lost because of > ill-informed > > blanket free market reforms driven by the IMF. (trust me when I say that > no > > western or eastern country has blanket free market economies except > > Africa!). This thinking in the motor industry is what informed the growth > > of the Japanese Motor Industry through deliberate policy moves by their > > MITI (Ministry of international Trade & Industry). > > > > We in Africa have the opportunity to not allow ourselves to be encumbered > > by legacy thinking of old school economic theories of comparative > advantage > > etc. We can learn and discard and ensure we get the best of both worlds. > > > > Ali Hussein > > > > +254 0770 906375 / 0713 601113 > > > > "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 19, 2014, at 12:52 PM, Kivuva <Kivuva(a)transworldafrica.com> > wrote: > > > > Thank you Machuhi, Lucy, Muraya and Ali for supporting that line of > > thought. > > > > Adam, take time I walk you round our shopping centres around the country. > > You will find thousands of educated youths hanging around with nothing > > todo. They would appreciate working in some plant than wasting their > years. > > > > And knowledge economy is good, but before we reach there what shall we be > > doing? > > > > Lets take a model African country doing manufacturing. Many of the major > > multinational firms use South Africa to source components and assemble > > vehicles for the local and international markets. The sector is one of > > South Africa's most important, contributing at least 6% to the country's > > GDP and accounting for almost 12% of South Africa's manufacturing > exports, > > making it a crucial cog in the economy. In 2010, 271 000 vehicles were > > exported. More than 28 000 people are directly employed in automotive > > manufacturing, with 65 000 employed in the component manufacturing > > industry. About 200 000 are employed in retail and aftermarket > activities, > > with 6 600 employed in the tyre manufacturing industry. Read more: > > > http://www.southafrica.info/business/economy/sectors/automotive-overview.ht… > > > > > > Nobody should tell us we can only be mass consumer, we too, can add value > > to the chain, and decide our own destiny. > > > > ______________________ > > Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya. > > twitter.com/lordmwesh > > google ID | Skype ID: lordmwesh > > > > > > On 19 February 2014 00:02, Lucy Kimani <lkimani(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > >> Murigi, > >> > >> I am with you on this one, I seem to recall the University of Nairobi > >> being challenged engage in capacity building, but if the go.ke does not > >> provide an enabling environment then that will be for null. The more > >> things change in Kenya the more they remain the same, the go.ke should > >> be using all their bags of tricks to level the playing field, and create > >> new jobs for the youth. I see this as a lost opportunity at building > >> capacity and investing in an industrial manufacturing foundation be it > for > >> laptops or even tablets as has been stated severally. The most > developed > >> of countries aka USA still has young people working on assembly lines, > >> this would definitely be preferable to being unemployed, ask the youth > who > >> cant find a job anywhere these days. > >> > >> Very disappointed in The Ministry of Information and Communication who > >> are MIA in this very important discussion, and many others as I have > >> pointed out previously leaving a void as representatives of the digital > >> go.ke your silence on this very important issue is deafening. I > thought > >> your mission was to and I quote "To develop Kenya as a globally > >> competitive and prosperous nation by creating an enabling environment > that > >> encourages and enhances the development, expansion and use of > Information > >> Communications Technologies (ICTs)." > >> > >> On Wednesday, February 19, 2014 9:44 AM, S.M. Muraya < > >> murigi.muraya(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> If Asians listened to Western doubts about their prospects and > >> potential, they would not have the manufacturing capabilities they do > today. > >> China imports raw materials from Africa, and like them, we should not > >> give our children a chance to learn to transform these into other > products? > >> First we build labs (mini factories) then... > >> On Feb 19, 2014 9:00 AM, "Adam Nelson" <adam(a)varud.com> wrote: > >> > >> Keep in mind though that supporting industry and helping kids with a > >> final product are two independent things. The more money that goes into > >> spinning up a manufacturing capacity, the less money that goes into > getting > >> the technology to the kids. Kenya can't magically produce laptops > cheaper > >> than China can. > >> > >> Kenya has no chance of having a meaningful laptop assembly capacity > >> because it doesn't have the economies of scale that South East Asia has. > >> Europe and the US are giving lots of technology to their children and > none > >> of that stuff is produced in-country because manufacturing plants can't > >> exist in isolation. > >> > >> A laptop assembly plant is just one of dozens of plants (chemical > >> manufacturing, plastic-shaping, aluminum foundries, LED, etc...) needed > in > >> close proximity to eachother just to create the first laptop. Having a > >> laptop assembly plant in Kenya and all the preceding plants stay in > China > >> isn't economically viable. And also, if the plant is only creating a > few > >> million laptops, it's doubly not viable. It has to produce more like > >> 10M/year and in order to do that and so the plants would need to export > >> those laptops. Where are these laptops going to be exported to and how? > >> Is a typical Rwandan going to buy a Kenyan laptop over a Chinese one? > >> Maybe, just maybe, with a solid $5-$10B of pure investment Kenya could > get > >> a real industry going but then to what end? Computer manufacturing has > >> already plateaued (currently one computer produced for every 20 people > each > >> year) and it's agreed that future growth will happen in tablets and > mobiles > >> where most of the value is in commodities and intellectual property, not > >> assembly line labor. Tablet sales are already 60% of computer sales and > >> the industry is seeing 50% YoY growth. > >> > >> Kenya has all the raw ingredients to leapfrog manufacturing and go > >> straight to a knowledge economy - it just needs to invest deeply in its > >> children through strong, universal education. Having young people > working > >> on assembly lines is not a way to empower youth. > >> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> Kili - Cloud for Africa: kili.io > >> Musings: twitter.com/varud <https://twitter.com/varud> > >> More Musings: varud.com > >> About Adam: www.linkedin.com/in/adamcnelson > >> > >> > >> On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 10:12 PM, S.M. Muraya <murigi.muraya(a)gmail.com > >wrote: > >> > >> They are taking electricity to thousands of schools to make this project > >> work. > >> > >> > >> > http://mobile.nation.co.ke/News/Electricity+and+stores+pledge+in+laptops+pl… > >> > >> Have noted in the past, the ecosystem effects are significant, even if > >> the laptops fail to increase interactive learning. > >> > >> The power of Go.Ke to demand electronic assembling plants has also > >> significantly increased. > >> > >> Regards > >> > >> Murigi / Stanley Muraya > >> > >> *"Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one > >> who takes a city." Prov 16:32* > >> > >> > >> On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 8:24 PM, Sean Moroney <seanm(a)aitecafrica.com > >wrote: > >> > >> Here, here, Adam. > >> > >> The entire project is garbage, from beginning to end, but unfortunately > >> rational thought and action are not given priority in politics. > >> > >> Imagine what could have been achieved if the laptop budget had been > >> allocated to capacity building for teachers, and developing secure > >> solar-powered computer labs for all school years to use. > >> > >> Sean Moroney > >> *Chairman* > >> *AITEC Africa* > >> > >> seanm(a)aitecafrica.com > >> UK Tel: +44(0)1480-880774 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting > >> +44(0)1480-880774 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting > >> UK Fax: +44(0)1480-880765 > >> UK Mobile: +44(0)7973-499224 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting > >> +44(0)7973-499224 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting > >> *Ghana Mobile: +233(0)57-0445059 > >> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +233(0)57-0445059 FREE > >> end_of_the_skype_highlighting* > >> *Kenya Mobile: +254(0)721-845674 > >> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +254(0)721-845674 FREE > >> end_of_the_skype_highlighting* > >> *Mozambique Mobile: +258-820880583 > >> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +258-820880583 FREE > >> end_of_the_skype_highlighting* > >> *Nigeria Mobile +234(0)701-196-1413* > >> Skype: seanmoroney > >> www.aitecafrica.com <http://aitecafrica.com/> > >> <image001.jpg> <http://aitecafrica.com/event/view/95> > >> > >> <image002.png> <https://twitter.com/aitecafrica> <image003.png>< > https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aitec-Africa/143207745706922?ref=ts&fref=ts > > > >> *Our Events:* > >> *Broadcast, Film and Music Africa < > http://aitecafrica.com/event/view/112>* > >> *Africa Media Business Exchange <http://aitecafrica.com/event/view/113 > >* > >> *ATEC Banking and Mobile Money West Africa, Lagos > >> <http://aitecafrica.com/event/view/105>* > >> *AITEC Banking and Mobile Money West Africa, Accra > >> <http://aitecafrica.com/event/view/114>* > >> *AITEC Banking and Mobile Money COMESA > >> <http://aitecafrica.com/event/view/92>* > >> *AITEC Southern Africa ICT Summit < > http://aitecafrica.com/event/view/115>* > >> *AITEC East Africa ICT Summit <http://aitecafrica.com/event/view/95>* > >> *AfriHealth <http://aitecafrica.com/event/view/94>* > >> > >> AITEC Africa is the trading name of AITEC Conferences Limited registered > >> in England and Wales.Company registration number: 4698475 > >> > >> > >> *From:* kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+seanm= > >> aitecafrica.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *Adam Nelson > >> *Sent:* 18 February 2014 15:00 > >> *To:* Sean Moroney > >> *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > >> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] HP says laptop bid price changed to favour > >> rival Olive > >> > >> We're ignoring the elephant in the room. Both vendor's laptops are > >> going to be garbage. > >> > >> With that kind of budget, tablets are the only way to go. Anyway, > >> tablets are so much more sensible from a pedagogical point of view as > well > >> as a battery life (10 hours vs 1) and durability standpoint (you can > drop a > >> tablet on a cement floor from 2 feet and the screen might crack but it > can > >> be taped up and works fine). > >> > >> Even Apple iPads are only $300 retail nowadays and surely the > >> government could get them for $200 or even $150 since Apple's CSR team > >> would be all over themselves to make the sale. No ICT support would be > >> required and everything would 'just work' as long as the theft and > breakage > >> rate is kept reasonable. > >> > >> If anybody in the government could do anything innovative with this > >> thing, it would catapult their career to the national and international > >> stage. > >> > >> -- > >> Kili - Cloud for Africa: kili.io > >> Musings: twitter.com/varud <https://twitter.com/varud> > >> More Musings: varud.com > >> About Adam: www.linkedin.com/in/adamcnelson > >> > >> On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 5:36 PM, Ngigi Waithaka <ngigi(a)at.co.ke> > wrote: > >> If this line is true, > >> > >> "*...The technology firm further says it was invited through a letter > >> dated December 6, but which was delivered on the morning of > negotiations, > >> allowing them no time to prepare...*." > >> > >> Then you know HP is being played for sucker, and I think they are.... > >> The only option on the table, prepare themselves for a Judicial Review > >> (Takes about a year to conclude), PPARB decisions IMO are not based on > >> substance, and if they are, its of a different kind! > >> Waithaka Ngigi > >> > >> On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 5:21 PM, S.M. Muraya <murigi.muraya(a)gmail.com > > > >> wrote: > >> > >> What did Olive Telcom offer in terms of local assembly/support, > >> maintenance and connectivity? > >> > >> > http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/HP-says-tender-team-rigged-pricing-of-la… > >> HP says laptop bid price changed to favour rival Olive > >> IN SUMMARY > >> * HP says Olive Telecommunications had on December 13 quoted a price > of > >> Sh23.1 billion as its final offer. > >> * Computer maker also claims Olive and Haier are associates that > should > >> not have been allowed to place separate bids. > >> * The allegations add to the controversy that has stalked procurement > >> of laptops for primary schools. > >> Senior government officials colluded with executives of an Indian > company > >> to inflate prices for the controversial laptops tender by as much as > Sh1.4 > >> billion after the final bids were made, it has emerged. > >> American computer maker Hewlett Packard (HP) says Olive > >> Telecommunications -- the Indian company that won the tender to supply > the > >> laptops -- had on December 13 quoted a price of Sh23.1 billion > ($268,899, > >> 669) as its final offer. > >> But Education secretary Jacob Kaimenyi later announced that Olive > >> Telecommunications had won the tender to supply the laptops at a price > of > >> 24.5 billion ($284,814,957) without reference to the alterations. > >> "It is clear from the foregoing that the procuring entity amended the > >> total price quoted by the successful bidder and which was read out at > the > >> opening of BAFO (Best and Final Offer) and awarded it (Olive) the sum of > >> $15,914,288 (Sh1.4 billion) more than it had actually quoted," says HP > in > >> documents filed Thursday before the Public Procurement Administrative > >> Review Board (PPARB). > >> HP also alleges that Olive and rival bidder Haier, which was among the > >> three shortlisted bidders for the supply of 1.3 million laptops, are > >> related companies that should never have been allowed to submit > competing > >> bids meant to lock out rivals. > >> According to HP, the tender committee should have disqualified Olive and > >> Haier Group's applications on grounds that the two companies are related > >> and could not place separate bids. > >> "To the procuring entity's knowledge the said two companies had > >> previously entered into a joint venture to form Haier Telkom (India), a > >> company that is still active," says HP. > >> The allegations add to the controversy that has stalked procurement of > >> laptops for primary schools. > >> HP accuses the tender committee of colluding with Olive Communications > to > >> undermine rival bidders. > >> The American firm claims that Ministry of Education officials allowed > >> Olive to submit an incomplete price list that left room for price > >> manipulation and enabled the Indian firm to overtake it [HP] as the > lowest > >> bidder. > >> In an application filed through Nairobi law firm Iseme Kamau and Maema > >> Advocates, HP says procurement of the laptops has been shrouded in > secrecy > >> that has irredeemably compromised the award. > >> HP accuses the tender evaluation committee of disclosing the price > quoted > >> by the bidders and in effect allowing price comparison and undercutting > -- a > >> claim that if proved will cast doubt on the entire process. > >> The American company says it was the lowest bidder when the financial > >> offers were opened on December 6, having offered to supply the 1.28 > million > >> laptops for Sh25 billion compared to Haier Electrical's Sh27.2 billion > and > >> Olive Communications' Sh27.2 billion. > >> All prices were subject to further negotiations. > >> HP claims that the tender committee used every opportunity to release > >> confidential information in the bid documents to competing firms it says > >> were sister companies used to undercut its offer. > >> "Release of the said information created the very mischief sought to be > >> prevented by Section 44 of the (Public Procurement and disposal) Act," > HP > >> says, adding that rival bidders used the unit prices to undercut the > >> applicant. > >> Meyrin Branch, who oversees HP's corporate accounts, says in an > affidavit > >> that only his company's application should have been subjected to > further > >> evaluation, including price negotiations, and that the tender committee > >> should only have engaged rival bidders in the event that the talks > >> collapsed. > >> Instead, the tender committee invited all bidders to price negotiations > >> on December 10 at Windsor Golf Club against HP's expectation. > >> The technology firm further says it was invited through a letter dated > >> December 6, but which was delivered on the morning of negotiations, > >> allowing them no time to prepare. > >> Each firm held separate negotiations with the tender committee during > >> which they were asked to reveal their BAFO. > >> "The mode of negotiation adopted made it very possible for information > of > >> a particular bidder to be disclosed to others with the aim of sabotaging > >> certain bidders," says HP. > >> Ministry of Education officials are alleged to have failed to define the > >> scope of negotiations to participating bidders and instead confronted > them > >> with questions at the meeting. > >> The tender committee is also accused of refusing to supply HP with the > >> minutes of the negotiations or even a summary of what transpired. > >> The information was needed for purposes of filing the appeal. > >> HP later learnt on December 13 that following the price negotiations, > >> Olive had dislodged it from top position with an offer of Sh23.1 > billion, a > >> reduction of Sh4.1 billion from its initial offer of Sh27.2 billion. > >> The American computer maker was then left in the second lowest bidder's > >> position with a price of Sh24.8 billion while Haier was last with a > final > >> offer of Sh25 billion. > >> "It was therefore surprising when on February 7, 2014... Prof Jacob > >> Kaimenyi announced that Olive Telecommunication had been awarded the > tender > >> at Sh24.6 billion," says HP. > >> HP also claims that the committee declined to consider its offer to > >> provide value-added services to the tune of Sh4.4 billion free of > charge. > >> It says the tender committee should have disqualified Olive and Haier > >> Group's application on grounds that the two companies are related and > >> should not have placed separate bids. > >> The details emerged even as the parliamentary committee investigating > the > >> laptops for schools tender called on the government to suspend signing > of > >> the contract. > >> The MPs argued that Olive is a small company that partnered with another > >> firm called CMC to tender for the laptop and that it is not an original > >> equipment manufacturer (OEM). > >> The MPs' claims give credence to HP's argument that the committee > >> breached one of the requirements that limited bidding to OEMs. > >> The parliamentary committee has accused Prof Kaimenyi of awarding the > >> tender even before the due diligence report on the winning company is > >> scrutinised. > >> MPs are expected to independently investigate the matter and produce a > >> report. > >> Ministry of Education officials are also accused of rejecting HP's bid > >> for the supply of projectors on grounds that it is not an OEM for > >> projectors even as it accepted Olive's bid for laptops. > >> "Since the requirement that bidders must be OEMs was specifically set > out > >> in the tender documents, HP accepted the decision (to reject its bid for > >> projectors) and reasonably expected that similar criteria would be used > in > >> respect of other bidders," HP says. > >> The government in October re-advertised for the supply of laptops, > >> printers and projectors to public schools in fulfilment of Jubilee > >> alliance's campaign manifesto. > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> 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/ngigi%40at.co.ke > >> > >> 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. > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> *Regards,* > >> > >> *Wait**haka Ngigi* > >> Chief Executive Officer | Alliance Technologies | MCK Nairobi Synod > >> Building > >> T + 254 (0) 20 2333 471 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting + 254 (0) 20 > >> 2333 471 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting |Office Mobile: +254 786 28 > >> 28 28 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +254 786 28 28 28 FREE > >> end_of_the_skype_highlighting | M + 254 737 811 > 000begin_of_the_skype_highlighting > >> + 254 737 811 000 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting > >> www.at.co.ke > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> 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/adam%40varud.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/murigi.muraya%40gmail… > >> > >> > >> 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/adam%40varud.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/lkimani%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. > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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/info%40alyhussein.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/adam%40varud.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. > > >

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