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Software procurement in kenya
by Evans Ikua 14 Sep '08

14 Sep '08

Interesting what Google can come up with: http://www.linuxworld.com/news/2008/052308-kenya-linux-group-challenges-pro… We finally got to meet with the PPOA on Friday, 5th September. We had a very fruitful discussion on the Public Procurement and Disposal Act 2005, whose provisions are being ignored by Government procurement agents: https://ict-innovation.fossfa.net/taxonomy/blog-tags/kenya This good law stipulates that procuring agents should not mention any trade marks, companies or product names when requesting for quotations. They are required to just give the specs of what they need to accomplish. But how many times do we see these RFQs with brand names such as Microsoft *?. This has got to stop and nobody has any excuse to break the law with impunity. We will be putting details of the proceedings on our website soon, and also in the media. -- Evans Ikua Linux Professional Association of Kenya Tel: +254-20-2250381, Cell: +254-722 955 831 Eagle House, 2nd Floor Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House www.lpakenya.org

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Re: [kictanet] Rwanda Gets Localls Made/Assemled Handset
by Dan Njiriri 12 Sep '08

12 Sep '08

Dear Dr Ndemo, We are pleased that you are leading the way in ensuring that our analogue TV sets do not become e-waste as we migrate to digital signals. Kenyas are very enterprising and many will pick up the assembling of the top box once it is out of the incubator. Thank you. Dan Njiriri --- On Wed, 9/10/08, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Rwanda Gets Localls Made/Assemled Handset To: njiris2000(a)yahoo.com Cc: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>, "Robert Onyango-Alai" <alai.robert(a)gmail.com> Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 10:11 PM Dear Njiriri, Thanks for supporting Madaraka PC. We are just about to finish the prototype set top box for converting analogue signals to digital. This needs an entrepreneur to take it up from the incubator. You must have read yesterday how South Africa is planning their migration to digital by locally assembling the required set top boxes. Asante. Ndemo. > Dear Dr Ndemo, > > Thank you for your kind clarification on steps taken by Kenya on assembled > electronics in Kenya. > I am a strong bealiver in local industries and happy to let you know I > have bought twenty Madaraka PCs from JKUAT Enterprises for our Tracom > college teaching lab. They however need to develop local materials for the > industry as oppossed to assembly only. Anyone can do that. > > The Gilgil Telecommucations Industry should be nurtured and it is a pity > what you have explained on someone turning it to posts treatment. What a > shame and waste of developing industrial capacity! May the good Loard see > the case to logical conclusion. > > I fully agree with you that the private sector and the academia must > wake-up and create the necessary industries and hence wealth. > Once again thank you. > Dan Njiriri > > --- On Mon, 9/8/08, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: > > From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Rwanda Gets Localls Made/Assemled Handset > To: njiris2000(a)yahoo.com > Cc: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>, "Robert Onyango-Alai" > <alai.robert(a)gmail.com> > Date: Monday, September 8, 2008, 7:24 AM > > Dear Njiriri, > There is nothing wrong with policy and we should not benchmark Kenya with > Rwanda because the differences between the two countries are just too > many. Compared to Kenya, Rwanda is where Kenya was in the 80's, centrally > planned economy where the Government interferes with everything including > the private sector. Granted there is virtually no private sector in > Rwanda. We have spent most of the 90's privatizing that which was created > by Government. The economy and more specifically the communication sector > is fully liberalised. The opportunities for the private sector are > therefore enormous and we should not blame the Government. > > It is in this forum that we recently discussed Madaraka PC and it was > dismissed as unworkable. We did not bother to ask especially JKUAT where > they have reached in developing components locally for the PC. Kenya has > been in the forefront producing telephone equipment including switches at > the Gilgil plant for the region. Indeed we have several firms seeking to > start local production of mobile handsets at the facility but have been > frustrated by a nother Kenyan who wanted to manufacture poles at the plant > (The perils of Democracy). The case is still in court that we cannot > discuss it here. > > We must be proud of our human resources for what they have done in the > region. What we need to do now is to vigorously utilize this resources to > exploit the opportunities - this if Adam Smith was a life will tell you > that - let the private sector wake up. This is the pattern that the Newly > Industrialized Nations of Asia followed. The Indians are going home from > many countries to create real wealth. > > Regards > > > Ndemo. > > > > >> Thanks Dr Ochuodho for sharing this new development in Rwanda. >> Unfortunately, Kenya is once again beaten at our own game, not becaurse >> we >> lack, excellent technical manpower and facilities.., but becaurse we are >> too slow in policy development! Rwanda has carried the day, yet all the >> production parts pass through Kenya to Rwanda! >> We should learn to be fast in what we want to achieve, and not take >> years >> back and forth in board rooms. >> Dan Njiriri >> >> --- On Sat, 9/6/08, Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> >> From: Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho(a)yahoo.com> >> Subject: [kictanet] Rwanda Gets Localls Made/Assemled Handset >> To: njiris2000(a)yahoo.com >> Cc: "Robert Onyango-Alai" <alai.robert(a)gmail.com>, > "KICTAnet ICT Policy >> Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >> Date: Saturday, September 6, 2008, 6:08 AM >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Quoting: Rwanda ICT4D Community Network >> >> Rwanda get locally made handset -Network World 02/09/2008 >> >> A-Link Technologies, a Chinese electronics company, has unveiled its >> first >> mobile phone handsets manufactured in Rwanda. This makes Rwanda the >> first >> country in the region to sell locally manufactured mobile phones. >> >> The manufacturing of the handsets follows a memorandum of understanding >> signed in 2006 between A-Link and the Rwanda Information Technology >> Authority, the country's telecom regulator. >> Read the latest WhitePaper - Monitor the core and troubleshoot the >> access >> layer with integrated network analysis solutions >> >> The company plans to start selling the phones, called "Alira," > in the 21 >> countries of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern African after >> they >> are officially launched in October and once production is stepped up, >> said >> A-Link CEO Yin Quing Ri. >> >> "One of the phone models has been programmed with Kinyarwanda > software so >> the Rwandese who uses their mother language can communicate easily," > Ri >> said. >> >> So far, the company has produced three models -- the A100, A200 and A300 >> -- and promises that several other models are in the works. >> >> The phones feature color screens and radios, among other amenities. >> >> The plant is manufacturing 100 handsets per day, though it has the >> capacity to produce 700 phones per day. >> >> A-Link began operating in Rwanda last year, as the country is >> positioning >> itself to be an ICT hub in East Africa. >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: njiris2000(a)yahoo.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/njiris2000%40yahoo.com >> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------- >> This message has been scanned for viruses and >> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is >> believed to be clean. >> --------------------------------------------- >> "easy access to the world" >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke >> > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Fwd: [ke-internetusers] For the Ladies in Business
by Gakuru Alex 12 Sep '08

12 Sep '08

Gilda? ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> Date: Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 9:07 AM Subject: [ke-internetusers] For the Ladies in Business To: ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Diana, et. al.? ---forwarded message--- CNBC Africa has a daily newspaper review where we take a look at all the stories that are making news in the business world. We would like to add more value to this show by involving ladies who are good in business analysis and also has a good TV persona as well. I would like to request you if you could ask the members if there is anyone willing to be part of this show. Kindly let us know as soon as you have this details. Kind Regards, Rachel Munene Video Editor P:254 (20) 225 2150/1 M:+254 728 202 051 F: 254 (20) 225 2280 E: RachelMunene(a)cnbcafrica.com Physical Address: University Way AmBank House- 19th Floor. www.cnbcafrica.com _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers

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Re: [kictanet] Software procurement in kenya
by James Kagwe 12 Sep '08

12 Sep '08

I got the below from our PO and thought it fair to share. ________________________________ From: Peter Munene Sent: Friday, September 12, 2008 9:38 AM To: James Kagwe Subject: RE: [kictanet] Software procurement in kenya Thanks for your comments on whether you can procure using brand name or not. However seem to miss the point! Please refer to "The Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2005" Section 34 paragraph 4 (a) and (b). Using brand name is not breaking the law (am assuming we are talking about Kenya law) as long as you follow the prescribed regulations in the Act. Thanks and study the Act! James, You may forward my comments to the origin. ________________________________ From: James Kagwe Sent: Friday, September 12, 2008 8:46 AM To: Peter Munene Subject: FW: [kictanet] Software procurement in kenya This might be of interest to you ________________________________ I had a chance to attend the presentations by Alex and Evans to PPOA and I think they did a very good job articulating issues faced in Government ICT Procurement. In addition to procuring agents not following the law (e.g. mentioning brands in tenders) it also appears that they are not aware of International Best Practices such as those advocated by WITSA (http://www.witsa.org/papers/BestPracticesWhitePaper-final.pdf) Those best practices are meant to ensure competition is not precluded. Maybe these IBPs require to be incorporated into the PPOA regulations. I reproduce a portion of the IBPs below: The Government ICT Procurement Process The procurement process consists of a number of steps: * Needs Definition / Requirements * Request for Information (RFI) * Request for Comments * Request for Proposal * Proposal * Live Test and Demonstration * Best and Final Offer * Award * Protest Procedures Depending on the size and complexity of the procurement, a given acquisition may contain some or all of these stages. Need The acquisition process begins with the recognition of a need by a governmental department for a capability or a service. This need must then be translated into a set of requirements so that eventually a Request for Proposal (RFP) may be issued. The scope of this effort is generally invisible to potential bidders. Request for Information (RFI) During this phase of the procurement, government actively pursues business input in the form of recommendations and presentations. The input is generally solicited by the means of an RFI that describes the government's needs and perceived requirements. If done in a manner other than an RFI, governments should be careful that their solicitation does not have the effect of precluding competition. Business thus has the opportunity to better understand the requirements and the true needs of the end user. During this stage, communication is open, and both industry and the government are exploring needs and possible relevant technologies. If it has not already done so, business is also beginning to assess potential partners. Request for Comments (RFC) An RFC on a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) is generally the next document that the government issues. It is based on the input that the government has gathered during the RFI stage and is based on a refinement of their needs and available technologies. Again, governments should ensure that the RFC is issued in an open and transparent manner so that it does not have the effect of precluding competition. In addition, if governments use a contractor to help in writing an RFC, or later the actual RFP, that contractor should be precluded from bidding either alone or as a partner in the actual procurement, Ideally the RFC is a complete document outlining not only the agency's needs but also the proposed terms and conditions for the contract. While it takes considerable effort for the governmental entity to produce a complete document at this stage, it ultimately saves considerable time and effort for both parties later on. In addition, a complete document sends a signal to industry that the government is serious and that the acquisition is for "real". Unavailability of information at this stage, and the inability to comment on it, often causes misunderstandings and delay later on in the procurement process. Request for Proposal (RFP) Ideally, the acquiring governmental entity will have indicated in the RFC a proposed schedule for the release of the RFP, and they will adhere to it. As the proposed release date draws near, potential bidders will firm up bidding partners and will begin to staff their proposal efforts. In order to keep ultimate costs down, government needs to adhere to their proposed timeframes because delays and/or extensions at this point become quite expensive for industry, and those costs are ultimately passed on to the government. It is important that governments allow ample time for firms to prepare their proposals and also take into consideration that foreign bidders may need additional time than would a national entity. Proposal The proposal contains the bidder's proposed technical solution, management approach, and cost. Proposals usually contain very sensitive, and often confidential, commercial information. It is important that proposals be treated carefully by governments to insure that this sensitive information is not released to competitors. While often delivery of the technical, management and cost proposals are requested simultaneously, government could save money, and often time, by requiring the cost proposal two to three weeks after the others. Late changes by bidders to their technical proposals are often not adequately incorporated into the cost proposal causing later disagreements and delays. As the government reviews the proposals, they may request clarifications or additional information from bidders. Due to the sensitivity of interactions with bidders at this stage, it is important that this be done formally in writing and with good documentation maintained. Live Test and Demonstration (LTD) On very large and/or complex procurements, the government may require that a Live Test and Demonstration or Operational Capability Demonstration (OCD) be performed to demonstrate and validate the proposed technologies. Governments should provide bidders selected for an LTD as much time as possible to prepare. Bidders must obtain appropriate space, bring in required hardware and equipment, assemble the right software and assemble staff for the LTD. LTDs and OCDs are very expensive efforts for the bidders and for the government that sometimes must assemble large, skilled evaluation teams. Thus they should be required sparingly and in very select situations. Best and Final Offer (BAFO) Once the proposal has been submitted and the LTD, if required has been performed, bidders begin to finalize the prices from their vendors, subcontractors and bidding partners and to fine-tune their own costs. The BAFO will also incorporate any changes indicated by the LTD and any clarifications that may have been requested from the government during their review of the technical and management proposal. Award The award process consists of informing the selected bidder of their success, and, more importantly, informing the losing bidders of the reasons they were not selected. Being open and sensitive during this process is important and can help avoid later problems and protests. Losing bidders want to understand in as much detail as possible areas where their proposals were deficient. Providing the information at this time will allow them to improve their processes for their next effort and also assures them that the process was transparent and fair. If bidders feel information is being withheld, it raises their suspicions about the entire process and may lead to a formal Protest simply as a means of acquiring more information. Protest A formal protest procedure to higher authority and ultimately to an independent authority is important to providing an open, accessible, fair, transparent and documented procurement process. This provides an opportunity for bidders to be heard and to receive an explanation of why a given bid was turned down. Protesting is a significant event that bidders do not take lightly. The process is expensive for both the bidder and the government, ties up critical resources, and potentially negatively impacts the image of the bidder in the eyes of the government. However, an effective protest process will help maintain competition in current and future procurements. On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:57:15 -0700 (PDT), "wesley kiriinya" <kiriinya2000(a)yahoo.com> said: I think there are two things in this argument. First when a company/gvmnt is buying the back end/base software e.g. a database/operating systems. I agree that "...procuring agents should not mention any trade marks, companies or product names when requesting for quotations..." Second when a company/gvmnt is buying middle level software that should operate with the back end software and in this case I think that the procuring agents should atleast mention what the back end software is. This is useful information to anyone willing to submit a quotation. Regards. 8~) I don't want to go to Hell, I don't want to stay on Earth, but what I'm I going to do in Heaven. --- On Wed, 9/10/08, Liko Agosta <likoa(a)verviant.com> wrote: From: Liko Agosta <likoa(a)verviant.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Software procurement in kenya To: kiriinya2000(a)yahoo.com Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 10:09 AM Evans ... We are a services company that provides both Closed Source and Open Source Consulting to clients .... We build on what clients have already paid for... We can discuss TCO ... Liko Agosta, CEO Verviant Consulting Services. www.verviant.com Phone : 1-919-341-1820 Fax : 1-978-268-8403 Toll Free: 1-866-551-4935 Pager: 9193891551(a)txt.att.net -----Original Message----- From: Evans Ikua [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 2:48 AM To: Liko Agosta Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke Subject: RE: [kictanet] Software procurement in kenya Liko, There is nothing wrong with the Law. It only needs to be followed. It actually has very good intentions of making sure that all (technology) suppliers get an equal opportunity to tender for a whatever it is. Mind you, once the tenders have been received and opened, the client is under no obligation to buy from anyone, not even the lowest price. Our argument is this; say a ministry wants to buy a SQL DB Server. They advertise this without mentioning MS SQL Server anywhere (that's what the law says). You quote your SQL Server at KSh 5.6m (you are a MS Gold Partner), and I quote my Open Source SQL server at 0.5m (I am only selling my services and not licenses). The tendering committee now has two options and the guys in IT can defend their choice of technology, and the TCO that goes with it, all the way from having to buy upgrade licenses a year later or so. Then the decision is made. At this point, nobody can come and tell them that they must buy this or that, its their decision. Important thing is that the management has seen all the options available. If this law is broken in your favour, I don't expect you to have a problem with it. You are happy. No? It is this that will raise management questions about the cost of license upgrades vis a vis the cost of migrating to FOSS products. A Ministry would save more by migrating to Scalix than upgrading to MS Exchange in the long term. But how does the accounting officer get to know this if the IT guy only requests a particular brand name, leaving out everyone else? For public institutions that are running on our taxes, we want to know that they are spending money prudently. They cant be given a blank cheque. -- Evans Ikua Linux Professional Association of Kenya Tel: +254-20-2250381, Cell: +254-722 955 831 Eagle House, 2nd Floor Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House www.lpakenya.org Quoting Liko Agosta <likoa(a)verviant.com>: > Evans, > > That law should be changed :) > > If a government agency has already invested in some technology stack, they > should have the right to say they want a solution that ran's on that > technology stack ....lets says Microsoft SQL Server .. > > Why ... The license for SQL server will be a sunk cost at that point and > getting different technology is making a bigger financial commitment and > raising project risk .... also .. if the customers programmers/admins know > C# and SQL Server or Websphere and DB2, the client has the right to pick > that platform ... > > We have ran into this with our clients. Whenever we are doing project > discovery, we will find out which technologies they currently have/support > ... if a client has SQL Server, we will typical ask for usage reports for > that SQL server box and in most cases, we have been able to save money by > "adding to" their existing infrastructure ... or tuning their existing > infrastructure to take more load. > > Many organizations we have worked with tend to buy a servers/software > licenses for each project ... we advice against this and are usually for > consolidation and better management. That way a 4 CPU license for SQL Server > Enterprise Edition (approx USD 80,000) will be apportioned to the 20 systems > or projects that will use a well tuned 4CPU SQL server .... > > So .. good intentions... bad law ... why enforce or spend time on it > > My 2 cents > > Liko Agosta, CEO > Verviant Consulting Services. > > www.verviant.com > Phone : 1-919-341-1820 > Fax : 1-978-268-8403 > Toll Free: 1-866-551-4935 > Pager: 9193891551(a)txt.att.net > > > -----Original Message----- > From: kictanet-bounces+likoa=verviant.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf > Of Evans Ikua > Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 1:34 PM > To: Liko Agosta > Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > Subject: [kictanet] Software procurement in kenya > > Interesting what Google can come up with: > > http://www.linuxworld.com/news/2008/052308-kenya-linux-group-challenges- proc > urement.html?fsrc=rss-linux-news > > > We finally got to meet with the PPOA on Friday, 5th September. We had > a very fruitful discussion on the Public Procurement and Disposal Act > 2005, whose provisions are being ignored by Government procurement > agents: > > https://ict-innovation.fossfa.net/taxonomy/blog-tags/kenya > > This good law stipulates that procuring agents should not mention any > trade marks, companies or product names when requesting for > quotations. They are required to just give the specs of what they need > to accomplish. But how many times do we see these RFQs with brand > names such as Microsoft *?. This has got to stop and nobody has any > excuse to break the law with impunity. > > We will be putting details of the proceedings on our website soon, and > also in the media. > > > -- > Evans Ikua > Linux Professional Association of Kenya > Tel: +254-20-2250381, Cell: +254-722 955 831 > Eagle House, 2nd Floor > Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House > www.lpakenya.org > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: likoa(a)verviant.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/likoa%40verviant.co m > > > _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: kiriinya2000(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kiriinya2000%40yaho o.com People make a plan work, a plan alone seldom makes people work (Confucius).

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Re: [kictanet] The 21st Century Workplace; September 17th Leadership Forum (Reminder)] its Joe Mucheru of Google Kenya presenting
by John Maina 12 Sep '08

12 Sep '08

Alice How do I access the archive I have tried using my login without success Robert ----- Original Message ---- From: alice <alice(a)apc.org> To: j.maina(a)ymail.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 8:46:29 PM Subject: [kictanet] The 21st Century Workplace; September 17th Leadership Forum (Reminder)] its Joe Mucheru of Google Kenya presenting LEADERSHIP FORUM *‘The 21st Century Workplace’* With the world becoming a global village, the workplace is changing….. fast! Get to know how to make the best of it. * Date:* Wednesday 17th^th September 2008 *Presenter:** Mr. Joseph Mucheru**,** Business Lead East Africa (Google Kenya)* * Venue:* The Stanley Hotel- Ball Room Time: 6.00 pm *Charges:* Leadership Forum members – Free Non-Leadership Forum Members – Kshs 5,000 p.a. membership or Kshs 1000 per session Confirm your attendance by email to. _information(a)britishcouncil.or.ke_ <mailto:[email protected]> Please note that the Leadership forum membership and gate fees have been revised upwards effective from 1^st September 2008. If your membership expired in July or August 2008, you can renew annual membership at Ksh 3,000 only during the month of September. Attached is Mr. Mucheru’s bio-data.. The British Council is committed to promoting equality and eliminating discrimination in the areas of gender, race and disability. <<Joseph Mucheru.doc>> Best Regards, Linet Otibine Customer Service Officer British Council Upper Hill Road Pilot Line: 2836000 Fax No: 2836500 _Linet.otibine(a)britishcouncil.or.ke_ <mailto:[email protected]>__ *Organisational change for less than you think* This message is for the use of the intended recipient(s) only. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete it. The British Council accepts no liability for loss or damage caused by software viruses and you are advised to carry out a virus check on any attachments contained in this message. The British Council is a registered charity 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland). Our purpose is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and other countries and to increase appreciation of the UK's creative ideas and achievements.

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The 21st Century Workplace; September 17th Leadership Forum (Reminder)] its Joe Mucheru of Google Kenya presenting
by alice 11 Sep '08

11 Sep '08

LEADERSHIP FORUM *‘The 21st Century Workplace’* With the world becoming a global village, the workplace is changing….. fast! Get to know how to make the best of it. * Date:* Wednesday 17th^th September 2008 *Presenter:** Mr. Joseph Mucheru**,** Business Lead East Africa (Google Kenya)* * Venue:* The Stanley Hotel- Ball Room Time: 6.00 pm *Charges:* Leadership Forum members – Free Non-Leadership Forum Members – Kshs 5,000 p.a. membership or Kshs 1000 per session Confirm your attendance by email to. _information(a)britishcouncil.or.ke_ <mailto:[email protected]> Please note that the Leadership forum membership and gate fees have been revised upwards effective from 1^st September 2008. If your membership expired in July or August 2008, you can renew annual membership at Ksh 3,000 only during the month of September. Attached is Mr. Mucheru’s bio-data. The British Council is committed to promoting equality and eliminating discrimination in the areas of gender, race and disability. <<Joseph Mucheru.doc>> Best Regards, Linet Otibine Customer Service Officer British Council Upper Hill Road Pilot Line: 2836000 Fax No: 2836500 _Linet.otibine(a)britishcouncil.or.ke_ <mailto:[email protected]>__ *Organisational change for less than you think* This message is for the use of the intended recipient(s) only. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete it. The British Council accepts no liability for loss or damage caused by software viruses and you are advised to carry out a virus check on any attachments contained in this message. The British Council is a registered charity 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland). Our purpose is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and other countries and to increase appreciation of the UK's creative ideas and achievements.

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Re: [kictanet] BPO STUDY LAUNCH PRESENTATIONS
by David Otwoma 11 Sep '08

11 Sep '08

Thank you so much Evelyne. What MM saved for me on my flashdisk is not accessible but now I have what was presented. On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 12:41 PM, Evelyne Majale <evelyne(a)kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > Dear all > > > > Attached are the presentations of the BPO Study Launch that took place > yesterday at KICC. > > > > > > > > Evelyne > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: otwomad(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otwomad%40gmail.com > >

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BPO STUDY LAUNCH PRESENTATIONS
by Evelyne Majale 11 Sep '08

11 Sep '08

Dear all Attached are the presentations of the BPO Study Launch that took place yesterday at KICC. Evelyne

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Re: [kictanet] Rwanda Gets Localls Made/Assemled Handset
by Dan Njiriri 10 Sep '08

10 Sep '08

Dear Dr Ndemo, Thank you for your kind clarification on steps taken by Kenya on assembled electronics in Kenya. I am a strong bealiver in local industries and happy to let you know I have bought twenty Madaraka PCs from JKUAT Enterprises for our Tracom college teaching lab. They however need to develop local materials for the industry as oppossed to assembly only. Anyone can do that. The Gilgil Telecommucations Industry should be nurtured and it is a pity what you have explained on someone turning it to posts treatment. What a shame and waste of developing industrial capacity! May the good Loard see the case to logical conclusion. I fully agree with you that the private sector and the academia must wake-up and create the necessary industries and hence wealth. Once again thank you. Dan Njiriri --- On Mon, 9/8/08, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Rwanda Gets Localls Made/Assemled Handset To: njiris2000(a)yahoo.com Cc: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>, "Robert Onyango-Alai" <alai.robert(a)gmail.com> Date: Monday, September 8, 2008, 7:24 AM Dear Njiriri, There is nothing wrong with policy and we should not benchmark Kenya with Rwanda because the differences between the two countries are just too many. Compared to Kenya, Rwanda is where Kenya was in the 80's, centrally planned economy where the Government interferes with everything including the private sector. Granted there is virtually no private sector in Rwanda. We have spent most of the 90's privatizing that which was created by Government. The economy and more specifically the communication sector is fully liberalised. The opportunities for the private sector are therefore enormous and we should not blame the Government. It is in this forum that we recently discussed Madaraka PC and it was dismissed as unworkable. We did not bother to ask especially JKUAT where they have reached in developing components locally for the PC. Kenya has been in the forefront producing telephone equipment including switches at the Gilgil plant for the region. Indeed we have several firms seeking to start local production of mobile handsets at the facility but have been frustrated by a nother Kenyan who wanted to manufacture poles at the plant (The perils of Democracy). The case is still in court that we cannot discuss it here. We must be proud of our human resources for what they have done in the region. What we need to do now is to vigorously utilize this resources to exploit the opportunities - this if Adam Smith was a life will tell you that - let the private sector wake up. This is the pattern that the Newly Industrialized Nations of Asia followed. The Indians are going home from many countries to create real wealth. Regards Ndemo. > Thanks Dr Ochuodho for sharing this new development in Rwanda. > Unfortunately, Kenya is once again beaten at our own game, not becaurse we > lack, excellent technical manpower and facilities.., but becaurse we are > too slow in policy development! Rwanda has carried the day, yet all the > production parts pass through Kenya to Rwanda! > We should learn to be fast in what we want to achieve, and not take years > back and forth in board rooms. > Dan Njiriri > > --- On Sat, 9/6/08, Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > From: Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: [kictanet] Rwanda Gets Localls Made/Assemled Handset > To: njiris2000(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "Robert Onyango-Alai" <alai.robert(a)gmail.com>, "KICTAnet ICT Policy > Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Saturday, September 6, 2008, 6:08 AM > > > > > > > > Quoting: Rwanda ICT4D Community Network > > Rwanda get locally made handset -Network World 02/09/2008 > > A-Link Technologies, a Chinese electronics company, has unveiled its first > mobile phone handsets manufactured in Rwanda. This makes Rwanda the first > country in the region to sell locally manufactured mobile phones. > > The manufacturing of the handsets follows a memorandum of understanding > signed in 2006 between A-Link and the Rwanda Information Technology > Authority, the country's telecom regulator. > Read the latest WhitePaper - Monitor the core and troubleshoot the access > layer with integrated network analysis solutions > > The company plans to start selling the phones, called "Alira," in the 21 > countries of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern African after they > are officially launched in October and once production is stepped up, said > A-Link CEO Yin Quing Ri. > > "One of the phone models has been programmed with Kinyarwanda software so > the Rwandese who uses their mother language can communicate easily," Ri > said. > > So far, the company has produced three models -- the A100, A200 and A300 > -- and promises that several other models are in the works. > > The phones feature color screens and radios, among other amenities. > > The plant is manufacturing 100 handsets per day, though it has the > capacity to produce 700 phones per day. > > A-Link began operating in Rwanda last year, as the country is positioning > itself to be an ICT hub in East Africa. > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: njiris2000(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/njiris2000%40yahoo.com > > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke > ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Help Define ICANN's Future
by alice 09 Sep '08

09 Sep '08

Help Define ICANN's Future By Kieren McCarthy Mention ICANN in Internet circles and you will always find a multitude of views of what the organization should do, needs to do, and should have done; how it has to change, and why; and what it needs to focus on. Well, the time has come to make those views known and to try to persuade the rest of the community that they represent the best step forward. ICANN is running a special consultation called "Improving Institutional Confidence". It comprises of three main documents, developed by the President's Strategy Committee (PSC) from input received through the Midterm Review of the Joint Project Agreement, and the other consultations the PSC has held over the years. Those documents outline a range of suggested changes and alterations to the ICANN model of decision-making. Everything is available online in multiple languages, and revised versions of the documents will this week go out to a second public comment period, to which you are all, of course, encouraged to respond. It is not just an online consultation, however. We are running a number of regional consultative meetings across the globe to let you provide your input in person. There has already been one meeting at a Latin American and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry (LACNIC) conference in Montevideo in August, and a second took place at the Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) meeting in Christchurch, also last month. The next meeting is next week in Geneva, the day before the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) preparatory meeting. It will be held at 8am on Monday 15 September at the Hotel Royal on Rue de Lausanne. And another will be held in Washington on Wednesday 1 October at the National Press Club. If you can come, please register online. Staff and PSC members will be there and you will be able to provide your input directly and in person. All the information you could need on these meetings and the Improving Institutional Confidence Consultation (IIC) consultation itself is available. Please do get involved. And if you have any questions, either contact me, or email iic(a)icann.org. Cheers, and I hope to see you all there Written by Kieren McCarthy, General manager of public participation, ICANN See related topics: Domain Registries, Internet Governance, Policy & Regulation, Top-Level Domains --- You are currently subscribed to aisi-l as: [alice(a)apc.org] To unsubscribe, forward this message to leave-aisi-l-84914M(a)lyris.bellanet.org

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Re: [kictanet] [Skunkworks] Runway inflation?
by aki 09 Sep '08

09 Sep '08

Jazz, Phares, Many thanks for your inputs so far. It been great reading. The government has do something about the inflation or face a situation where we just became a very expensive country on the continent. It will then have to deal with a roller-coaster effect , that is price increase means less revenue as people will stop buying. So the revenue being collected so far will further reduce with a NEGATIVE TREND. Electricity costs sky rocket, a negative trend to come? There will be millions of people looking for alternate energy to cutting costs or just use electricity for bare essentails. This will cause a shortfall in collection targets. Will the power company be back in square one, i.e price increase leads to more lost revenue? So what excatly is the government doing about it? What measures has it put in place? Whether bad policies or bad decisions, the current state of inflation is un-acceptable. Passing the buck to citizens is not an option or asking citizens to dig deeper into their pockets is not a solution.

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First steps towards a global ICT profession
by waudo siganga 09 Sep '08

09 Sep '08

Dear All - attachment from IFIP/Australia Computer Society for your interest. On Tue, 9 Sep 2008 10:35:22 +0200, "Eduard Dundler" <eduard.dundler@ifip. org> said: Dear IFIP members, may I ask you to release the attached Press Release about the latest development in IP3 to your PR contacts. Best regards Eduard Dundler ========================================= Eduard Dundler Head of IFIP Secretariat International Federation for Information Processing Tel.: +43 2236 73 616 10 Fax: +43 2236 73 616 e-mail: [1]eduard.dundler(a)ifip.org ========================================= References 1. mailto:[email protected] People make a plan work, a plan alone seldom makes people work (Confucius).

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[Fwd: [Aaw-network] The Info-Activism Camp]
by alice 09 Sep '08

09 Sep '08

========== Are you interested in using mobile phones to reach out to your community but don't know how? Do you produce reports full of crucial data but feel like the right people aren't reading them? Do you know that using the internet and mobile phones for your advocacy work can create security vulnerabilities but don't know how to protect yourself against them? Do you want to learn how to use digital advocacy to create change? If your answer is yes, then read on....and be a participant at our Info-Activism Camp! The Info-Activism camp will bring together 120 rights advocates from the global South with technologists, designers and activists for a week long hands-on workshop to share skills, tools and tactics in digital advocacy. Info-Activism is an approach to advocacy that recognises the artful use of information and communications as a primary tactic in successful campaigns. The camp provides a space for intensive learning and doing, a structured 'skill-share' environment for experienced advocates that will give them the confidence and know-how to leverage the limited resources they have to create greater impact. During the week, participants will learn how to creatively integrate new technologies in to their advocacy and create long lasting connections with other advocates and tech-activists. The camp will give rights advocates the practical skills, tools and techniques to use technology to: * Gather and analyse information and facilitate evidence- based campaigning * Create and disseminate targeted, accessible and engaging information for advocacy efforts that have impact on targets and mobilise support * Increase participation from affected communities * Enable cooperation and coordination with allies * Minimise security and privacy vulnerabilities The Info-Activism Camp is organised by Tactical Tech and will be held in India, February 2009. Tactical Tech is an international NGO helping rights advocates use information, communications and digital technologies to maximise the impact of their advocacy work. We provide advocates with guides, tools, training and consultancy to help them develop the skills and tactics they need to increase the impact of their campaigning. Read more about our work at http://www.tacticaltech.org More details along with the application form will be available by end of September 2008. The working language of the camp will be English. If you want to learn more about the camp in the meantime or sign up to get an application form, please write to infoactivism(a)tacticaltech.org

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[Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] A report that focuses on the lack of high-capacity backbone networks in Africa]
by alice 08 Sep '08

08 Sep '08

Hi All FYI -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] A report that focuses on the lack of high-capacity backbone networks in Africa Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2008 19:47:20 +0100 From: abi.jagun(a)gmail.com Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> Dear All I came across the following article recently which might be of interest to the list. It canbe downloaded at http://www.infodev.org/en/Publication.526.html Broadband for Africa: Policy for Promoting the Development of Backbone Networks A report that focuses on the lack of high-capacity backbone networks in Africa Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa see ICT as a foundation of long-term economic development. The region has been very successful in increasing access to basic voice communications but there has been no comparable improvement in broadband connectivity. The broadband access gap between Sub-Saharan Africa and the rest of the world is getting wider, just as the gap in basic voice communications is getting smaller. Increasing access to broadband connectivity is therefore emerging as a high priority for policymakers across the continent. This report focuses on one important part of the challenge – the lack of high-capacity backbone networks. It addresses three specific questions: What role do backbone networks play in the provision of broadband services, what is the current state of backbone network development in Sub-Saharan Africa (and why) and, what can be done to promote the development of backbone networks and thereby stimulate the take-up of broadband services? By Mark Williams. Published August 2008. _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

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Rwanda Gets Localls Made/Assemled Handset
by Shem Ochuodho 08 Sep '08

08 Sep '08

Quoting: Rwanda ICT4D Community Network Rwanda get locally made handset -Network World 02/09/2008 A-Link Technologies, a Chinese electronics company, has unveiled its first mobile phone handsets manufactured in Rwanda. This makes Rwanda the first country in the region to sell locally manufactured mobile phones. The manufacturing of the handsets follows a memorandum of understanding signed in 2006 between A-Link and the Rwanda Information Technology Authority, the country's telecom regulator. Read the latest WhitePaper - Monitor the core and troubleshoot the access layer with integrated network analysis solutions The company plans to start selling the phones, called "Alira," in the 21 countries of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern African after they are officially launched in October and once production is stepped up, said A-Link CEO Yin Quing Ri. "One of the phone models has been programmed with Kinyarwanda software so the Rwandese who uses their mother language can communicate easily," Ri said. So far, the company has produced three models -- the A100, A200 and A300 -- and promises that several other models are in the works. The phones feature color screens and radios, among other amenities. The plant is manufacturing 100 handsets per day, though it has the capacity to produce 700 phones per day. A-Link began operating in Rwanda last year, as the country is positioning itself to be an ICT hub in East Africa.

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Invitation for Web design PHP/MYSQL Training
by Martin Njuguna-Digital Vision 08 Sep '08

08 Sep '08

Dear all, We would like to invite the people interested in Hands on Web design,PHP/MYSQL training to join us during our 4 days hands on training seminar between *29th September to 2nd October 2008.* For more details, please check out http://digitalvision.co.ke/training/ You can also request for the full course outline for the 4 days by writing to us on training(a)digitalvision.co.ke Thank you in advance. -- Martin S. Njuguna Digital Vision Limited Plot number 72/688 Kitengela Road, Langata, Nairobi Maasai Shopping complex 1st floor ,room 4 P.O Box 40721 00100 t:+254-20-21 33 865 c:+254 721 440 543 c:+254 733 440 543 e:[email protected] <e%3Amartin(a)digitalvision.co.ke> w: http://www.digitalvision.co.ke

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Re: [kictanet] [Skunkworks] Runway inflation?
by Phares Kariuki 08 Sep '08

08 Sep '08

Hi, I agree with you in the most part, just that there are a couple of issues I've found. ECONOMICS; An observation. Economics observes what happens in economies. It does not come up with the rules. The whole point of the study of economics is to better understand how transactions etc function. Now, when I say that a farmer in Dundori is hurt by low pricing, that is reality. His is a low value transaction. It is unfortunate, but if 70% of the transactions (numerically) are low value, then they can be financially worth less than the remaining 30%, which accounts for more, financially. The problem then is how to get the Farmers out of Farmland trading and into the mainstream market (given that if they do that, they will increase competition, thereby reducing pricing, while gaining more money in the same breath). The policy is left to someone else. I disagree with the thought that inflation causes rural to urban migration to recede. Actually, it increases it. The problem is, the guy at Dundori is so poor that the instant school fees and transport costs rise, he can no longer afford to make ends meet, so he moves, He's hardest hit by inflation. He suddenly can no longer afford to buy bread (which has risen, and his income is still the same paltry amount). It's the same as migration to foreign nations, once a comfortable life is easily accessible in Nairobi, then Greencard applications will go down. The sad thing is people from the citys/towns tend to portray and image of doing well, so the farmer figures the fortune lies in Nairobi. In economics, its said that prices are sticky downwards, meaning that an upsurge in pricing is easy, but an adjustment downwards is almost impossible. An example? Global crude prices have come down. Fuel stations will keep the pump prices at that level, and unfortunately, the trend is to maintain that as their new profit margin. The same can be said about the matatu industry. Once they increase their fare, they have a new profit margin, which they will not go below. UNEMPLOYMENT For a developing nation such as ours, studies show that a certain level of unemployment (not the level we have though) is good for the nation, as it keeps competition for jobs high, making labour cheap, and hence keeping our goods more competitive globally, and it also spurs entrepreneurship, as people are now forced to start businesses when they cannot find jobs. CAUSE OF INFLATION IN KENYA Inasmuch as it is popular to blame the government, this particular situation is largely caused by government. It has made a series of misinformed policy decisions which are to blame for the situation at hand. 1. Separation of Kengen & KPLC - This was a case of blindly copying what happens in other nations without looking at our situation in particular. This is normally done when the logistics of managing the two becomes too difficult. Kenya is still a young nation, at most they should have created two smaller entities, each mandated with a different objective, in line with what Kengen did with Geothermal power generation. For example, having KPLC (Mother Company), Kengen and Kenya Power Distributors Limited. 2.Lack of capacity building; Throwing money to fix the problem - When Kenya first experienced power rationing, the government started buying diesel generators and installed them at the now popular Kipevu Power Station. Now, Kenya is one of the countries with the largest capacities for geothermal energy in Africa, instead of tapping on this, the government spent money on diesel generation. As a stop gap measure, this was OK, the problem is, someone realised that this was a way to cover the capacity problems, to meet the shortfall. That is why the projects to build new power stations take too long. Now, the global price of petroleum has gone up, we have to pay more for power, simply because it is becoming a larger percentage of our power generation. This also increases diesel prices locally, as the demand has increased. You will have noticed that diesel fuel has increased in price more than standard Super/Regular, when looked at as a percentage. 3. Poor Transport Infrastructure & Taxes - Our road infrastructure is dilapidated. This makes transport expensive, however, the tax regime makes it too expensive. Now fuel is at European prices. Our rail infrastructure is poor. Transporting milk/bread etc, will cost more for this simple reason. When matatus increase the fare, this affects the ordinary mwananchi, who most feels the pain. Women selling goods in markets have to pay more to get their goods there, and will charge more, increasing cost of food. It is the same on all basic goods that rely on transport. The handcarts/mkokotenis realise increased demand, and will increase their pricing as well. This price will not go down easily. 4. Listing of Kengen & KPLC. While a good decision financially speaking, as the bearer of policy, the government flopped in this regard. Given that the companies have been separated, each now has profit targets to meet. The government had earlier subsidized cost on both Kengen & KPLC's part. Now, had they not been listed, this would not have been a problem, as the government would not need them to make profits, however, as things are, being a listed company, if the stock price falls, the CEO loses his job, as he has an angry AGM to contend with. Now, we have two companies, each with a huge profit target to meet, and a government that can no longer afford to subsidize power. Now the result is, with their new profit regimes neatly tucked in their pockets, they increase the cost of power, thereby increasing production of goods. So, the manufacturers raise their prices, the transporters raise their prices, the farmer, having to contend with rising prices, raises his prices. Leaving the citizens digging deeper into their pockets. Kijiji, we agree in principle, the difference is that you are not content with the situation. The poverty Kenyans face is real. And I agree, more SACCOs and other such groups should be created, to allow the farmers to bargain for better pricing. Ill give an example, I was recently in Dundori (hence the several inferences), where I saw an old grandmother feed one of the healthiest and largest batch of cabbages Ive seen yet to her cows. Now, I asked why? Well, the cabbage (which retails in NBI for 40-60 shillings, in a market, the price increase, as I pointed out earlier, is due to transport problems (15 odd km of dirt road + tonnes of middlemen) is bought from her at 3 shillings a piece. She at least has a cooperative for milk, so they buy the milk at 23 shillings a litre. She figures, the cows tend to produce better milk when fed with cabbages, and they will rot, waiting for someone to collect... And we complain about food shortages? Now, Kijiji, we cannot say that 10 cabbages are worth 400 shillings. They have retailed at 3 shillings each, meaning that they are worth 30 shillings. That's the farmers buying power. Anyway, my two pence, as the tradition is, feel free to punch holes in my argument... On Mon, Sep 8, 2008 at 8:21 AM, Kijiji Jazz <kijijijazz(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Hi Aki,Skunks, > > > Energy runs the economy, it greatly determines the cost of production. > What this means is that bottom lines for companies will be greatly > affected and small companies wont be able to manage. It basically means > that small is being redefined especially in urban areas. > > For me to answer your question effectively, i have to put some things in > context. Firstly in the CNBC thread what you and Phares said about > price and salaries was on point but. Salaries or wages are a different > INDEX from GDP. They are defined as Yp or {Income per Capita}. Thus my > contention that he was right on YP and wrong on GDP Why is this > important? Their are two kinds of economies really. LDC {Low Developed > Countries and Medium Developed Countries}. > > This brings me to the issue PHARES raised of the JAPAN economy. > Developed Countries primarily suffer from problems of Devlopment not > Problems of Growth. Low developed countries {LDC} or 3rd world > countries suffer from from problems of growth. > > WHAT IS A PROBLEM OF GROWTH? > > In Kenya's case a problem of Growth would be retrenchment, high costs of > living etc. When an economy is growing it leaves some people behind as > it grows. This are the people who do not adapt to the growth. For > example 10 years ago a person who had a certificate in Secretarial > studies could get a job, in Nairobi. Now their skill set is largely > irrelevant. A degree is a prerequisite for a job now. And the > situation will get worse. Thus the argument by Karl Maxx in his book > "Das Kapital" that " Capitalism results in a reserve army of unemployed > workers." He was right!! as we can see from the retrenchments at Telkom > Kenya etc. However i am a firm believer in Capitalism. > > WHAT IS A PROBLEM OF DEVELOPMENT? > > A problem of development is more societal in nature. They say that > money only makes you more of what you already are. Thus crime goes up > in urban areas in terms of drug use and prostitution etc. > > INFLATION IS A PROBLEMS OF GROWTH > > We all know that property prices in Nairobi have gone in some instances > by up to 4 times in the last 10 years. What this means is that urban > areas are getting expensive to live in. That has led to increased rents > etc. Power is also largely expensive due to the demand for oil from the > East with their quickly expanding middle class. > > This means that small business and low skilled people will eventually be > unable to survive in Nairobi and relocate to rural areas. Their are > already reported cases of people in banks asking for transfers to rural > areas where life is cheaper. > > WHAT DOES THAT MEAN > > That then means that rural areas will start to grow and expand into > urban centres in the long term. This is because while a person with > secretarial skills in Nairobi is irrelevant. Their skill set is needed > in Homa Bay. It could also be argued that people will not move to rural > areas but will stay and engage in crime. Which is also true but unless > crime is organised it isn't profitable. > > HOW WILL RURAL AREAS DEVELOP > > Business works in terms of willing buyer, willing seller. That means > that the business that succeed will need to be where their are high > populations to improve their chances of getting more willing buyers. > Thus when people relocate companies will have to roll out into rural > areas. This will stimulate growth and development as seen by Equity > banks expansion drive, and By OneComms focus on rural areas in terms of > selling internet access. > > > INFLATION IS THUS GOOD IN THE LONG TERM > > This is rather ruthless to say. However it is true. Inflation reduces > rural to urban migration and reduces informal settlements in urban > areas. By keeping people in rural areas inflation fosters growth in > those areas. > > However inflation is bad if people who are forced to stay in rural areas > by it have no fallback option. That means that governments must relax > regulation of businesses and make it easy for them to expand to rural > areas. Kudos to CCK for the converged licence. > > Banks are also a big culprit. At any one time Banks in Kenya are > holding reserves of up to 60 billion shillings. Thus Michael Josephs > statement in the news recently when launching MPESA on PESA POINT where > he said. "Banks always have money, at least Kenyan Banks" In developed > economies banks dont hold vast reserves of cash they lend. Money should > be in the economy producing more not in banks. > > The more entrepreneurs have access to cash, the more they can do. thus > lending should be long term and flexible to foster economic growth. > > Therefore what Kenya is experiencing is problems of growth. As Phares > pointed out. It will harm some people but in the long term it will be > good for the economy. > > Small companies will close or change their structure to survive e.g. > remove permanent employees and higher contract ones or freelancers. For > example KQ has frozen employment for the next two years, hiring us > strictly contractual. Informal industries such as matatus will have to > formalise into Saccos or Bus companies or risk closure. > > DISCLAIMER: Our inflation is also artificial due to OPEC. It is also > brought about by America and its bloated middle class and Chinas ever > growing middle class and their demand for oil. However this is the > general trend of the economy. I hope that clarifies stuff for you. > > I invite Phares and others to Critic and contribute to this. > > > Kjaz > > On Thu, 2008-09-04 at 13:07 +0300, aki wrote: > > At this stage I wish I knew more about economics than ICT! > > > > While these lists are ICT based, if we have an economist on board, it > > would be a great help to some of us if the person can do some analysis > > and share it on this list. > > > > Some points to consider ( my amatuer input ) : > > > > - Electricity runs the economy. At 100% or more increase, what will it > > mean in the long term, say 3-12months from now? > > > > - Closure of businesses, loss of employment, eroded spending power by > > the consumers or businesses? > > > > - How much of the increased costs will affect property business > > rental prices ? > > > > - How will the informal sector handle this? > > > > - How will ICT companies fare in this scenario? > > > > - Price increases of products, solutions etc lead to a negative market > > trend? > > > > My apology for posting these issues here. > > > > Aki. > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > skunkworks mailing list > > skunkworks(a)my.co.ke > > http://ole.kenic.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks > > Blog http://skunkworks-ke.blogspot.com > > Beta Blog http://blog.my.co.ke > > Get Skunkworks RSS Feeds: http://www.jahazi.com/rss/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > skunkworks mailing list > skunkworks(a)my.co.ke > http://ole.kenic.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks > Blog http://skunkworks-ke.blogspot.com > Beta Blog http://blog.my.co.ke > Get Skunkworks RSS Feeds: http://www.jahazi.com/rss/ >

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BPO STUDY LAUNCH
by Evelyne Majale 08 Sep '08

08 Sep '08

Dear people Another reminder of the BPO STUDY LAUNCH Please note: Venue: KICC Date: Wednesday 10th September, 2008 Time: 8.30 a.m. 1 p.m. Attached, please find the programme Please send your confirmations to me off line. Evelyne

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ITXC judgement lifts the carpet on bribes to seven African telcos for contracts
by Eric M.K Osiakwan 08 Sep '08

08 Sep '08

Everyone knows it happens but the conclusion of the trial of three former ITXC employees has aired publicly how it is done. Employees of seven African telcos – all state owned with one exception – were given bribes to obtain wholesale VoIP voice contracts. The sums involved were not large but court documents reveal how it was done and some interesting incidental detail about its pitfalls as a way of approaching sales acquisition. Founded in1997 by Tom Evslin, a former Vice President at AT&T, ITXC was one of the new breed of VoIP based carriers that set out to conquer the world. One of its key markets was Africa because of the plentiful arbitrage opportunities offered by the extremely high costs of international calling. ITXC sold low-cost international wholesale minutes to incumbents who were therefore able to either lower their prices or (as was often the case) simply increase their margins. The company was sold to Teleglobe and it was during that process that the bribery allegations first emerged. ITXC’s in-house attorney asked its sales department to provide a list of ITXC agents who also worked for telcos. On 27 October 2003, this person sent the following list: Sonatel, Nitel (through Standard Digital), Telkom Kenya (through Adwest), Ghana Telecom and Angola Telecom. Subsequently Teleglobe was sold to Tata’s VSNL. Three former ITXC employees were charged under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: former Managing Director Roger Young, former Vice President Steven J. Ott, and Yaw Osei Amoako. Other co-conspirators were named but not charged as some were not US citizens. Young and Ott received reduced sentences because they co-operated with the investigation which is “on-going” according to the Department of Justice statement. Young was fined US$7,000 and Ott US$10,000, with latter also getting five years probation, six months community confinement and six months home imprisonment. A third defendant in the case, Ghanaian Yaw Osei Amoako (a US citizen), pleaded guilty on Sept. 6, 2006, and was sentenced on Aug. 1, 2007, to 18 months in prison, a $7,500 fine and to serve two years of supervised release following release from prison. The carriers named in the court case were: Nigeria’s Nitel: “On or about October 25 2002, ITXC and Nitel executed a VoIP Network Services Agreement…” In November ITXC then entered into a sales agreement with Standard Digital International, an agreement that was signed by Nitel’s General Director of International Relations, a member of the committee that reviewed the bids of those companies competing for the contract. On or about 10 October 2003 prior to ITXC signing with Nitel sent an e-mail saying:”I was able to get (the person at Nitel) to chat with (defendant Ott) in my hotel room and he poured out what we have to do to get the deal through with (sic) getting him in trouble favouring ITXC.” The following day he wrote:”Prior to sending real traffic, Nitel is ready to sit down and give ITXC special rates. Do I trust them on this? Yes. The Agents are the negotiators but is (sic) afraid of other operators (sic) actions and political contacts with Ministers, President and Vice President.” In 2003 there was a “cost dispute” which required payment of a further approximately US$150,000 to the sales agent. ITXC agreed to pay Standard Digital a retainer fee of US$10,000 and a commission of 12% of ITXC’s profits from these service agreements. Between November 2002 and May 2004 ITXC wired approximately US $166,541.31 to Standard Digital. Rwandatel: The contract between ITXC and Rwandatel was entered into at the end of February 2002. ITXC made the Rwandatel employee negotiating the agreement its sales agent and agreed to pay him “one cent per minute for certain traffic to Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda terminated through Rwandatel. The sum sent in this instance was approximately US$26,155.11. By the end of 2002, a dispute arose between the Managing Director of Rwandatel and the bribed employee over the latter’s failure to share the money. There was then an e-mail exchange as to whether the size of the sum could be revealed to which “co-conspirator 2” replied:”…we can reveal the information, although in the ordinary case, we shouldn’t (but this doesn’t seem to be an ordinary case).” Subsequently they met the Managing Director who wanted to change the agent receiving the commissions to someone nominated by him. As a result the process became more complicated:”We also agree the current agent must not be informed of the meeting and of the new arrangement.” But they were happy with is complication:”The way I see it, (the original employee bribed) cannot cause any trouble to ITXC as the Managing Director is in charge. He cannot sue because he would be arrested for receiving kickbacks.” Senegal’s Sonatel: The contract was signed in February 2001 and the following month the employee negotiating the contract entered into a “Non-Exclusive Regional Agency Agreement” which offered commission on revenues earned by ITXC. Between March 2001 and October 2003 US $74,772.06 was paid to this Sonatel employee. But there were problems as France Telecom, the private shareholder in Sonatel could clearly see all was not right. An e-mail in September 2002 was sent to Ott stating:”(The bribed employee) is the only one defending us in (the Sonatel monthly Board meetings) and he tells me (France Telecom) is becoming very suspicious. We need to get him out of the spotlight asap.” The problem continued as an e-mail in May 2003 makes clear:”Sonatel is not an easy organization to deal with. France Telecom is gripping them pretty tight. (The bribed employee) is not the force he used to be – but we still need him and he can still do good. Just be prepared not to get the most complete or direct answers to your questions.” Ghana Telecom: The ITXC agreement was signed in February 2001 but came to grief in December 2002 when Ghana Telecom disconnected its link to ITXC over a “cost dispute”. ITXC then offered to retain a General Manager in the International Department as ITXC’s sales agent and pay him commissions “in exchange for his assistance in settling this dispute.” Mali’s Sotelma: The contract was negotiated in 2002 and in order to conclude the negotiations ITXC signed the overall boss of Sotelma, its Director-General as its sales agent and paid commissions on traffic generated. E-mails about the arrangement stated that:”I have the Director General in the deal as an agent who is been (sic) fronted by his lieutenants.” It will be clear from the summary of the available public documents that this approach to business has a number of pitfalls. The bribed employees in two instances subsequently had to sort out “cost disputes” which were the pretext for asking for more bribes. In one instance, the bribed employee failed to share his gains with the managing director. In the only company with a private shareholder (which also sells wholesale minutes), the bribed employee became isolated under commercial questioning: this provides a strong if not always decisive argument for privatisation. From the telco side, what has been known privately for years is now revealed clearly and publicly by the Rwandatel and Sotelma examples. Corruption is systemic and goes right to the top and bribes are expected to be shared with the boss of the organisation and woe betide anyone who tries to keep the money to themselves. NB: Sory for crossposting.. Eric M.K Osiakwan ICT Integrator Internet Research www.internetresearch.com.gh emko(a)internetresearch.com.gh 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Tel: +233.21.258800 ext 2031 Fax: +233.21.258811 Cell: +233.24.4386792

2 2

Stakeholder Queries:
by Patrick Mburu 08 Sep '08

08 Sep '08

Hi Brian, Thanks very much for the response, this does help for sure put things in perspective which is great and point well received. I'm not new to volunteering capacity and well... we all have to make sacrifices for a greater good at some point in our time. *Hat's* off to the team voluntering, I look forward to contributing. Looking forward to hearing of opportunities to contribute in my capacity, and also looking forward to answers on the questions asked before. (perhaps the title of the email needed to change :-).. so hope it wont get lost soemwhere.. Best Regards, Patrick 2008/8/29 Brian Munyao Longwe <brian(a)caret.net> > Hi PAtrick, > Very good points raised. I will not try to answer any of them directly - > but will make a few suggestions. > > I personally feel that it is quite interesting to note your (and many > others previously) open expression of interest in "getting involved" - this > is excellent! > > However, the sad fact is that very often when the rubber hits the road and > people need to selflessly dedicate personal time (almost always on a > voluntary basis) - they simply don't. Some of us (and as I look around the > room at the 12 odd people sitting here) have been volunteering our time > constantly and consistently for many years, going out of our way, both to > find out what is happenning and to offer our (free time and input) towards > helping govt better understand and work with "stakeholders" in defining the > ways of moving forward. A lot of this has happened through our personal > involvement in organisations such as KICTANET, TESPOK, KENIC, KIF, KEPSA, > EAIA, CSK, etc... > > As a result of these largely voluntary participations I think Govt has > realised that there are people who are willing to set aside their personal > and commercial interests and help out of their hearts. > > My two pence and probably not very clearly expressed but I hope you get my > point. > > For those who *genuinely* want to be of service, there comes a high price > in terms of personal commitment and sometimes it takes years before one is > recognised as being a consistent and reliable resource. > > In my personal experience my first major engagement in a national process > was during the drafting, review and enactment of the Communications Act in > 97/98 which I pursued because I had a passion to see transformation within > the industry and genuinely felt that this was an opportunity - now 10 years > later I am the one being chased by various committees/panels for my > input...... > > Hope this helps, > > B > > On Aug 29, 2008, at 12:43 PM, Patrick Mburu wrote: > > Good afternoon, > > Perhaps a few questions to be asked (not directed at Brian only) if some > others may be interested in knowing is... > > 1. Who qualifies as a stakeholder (individual and company?) > 2. How can one qualify as a stakeholder? and contribute to be > considered as a voice being heard: > 1. Perhaps as members of this list for example; can questions / > suggestions regarding certain issues be solicited through the online > discussion fora or through directed workshops... be collected and presented > on behalf for those unable to attend various events? > 3. How can one be nominated to participate at these venues be it > retreats and or missions overseas as indicated in the document? > > I apologise if this has been already discussed at length..however a quick > recap can't hurt. > > Perhaps these are best directed to the ICT board directly? however, it may > benefit others curious on this list as well... > > On another note... I found the document rather interesting as this is > response to the much awareness requested on this list : *information* ..* > information*...*information*... > Kudos to the ICT board on making efforts to dissemniate this info. and hope > to see further publishes and eventual invites. > > To move forward collectively..collaboration is key... > > Wishing a good friday. > > Asante, > > Patrick > 2008/8/29 Brian Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com> > >> FYI Listers >> >> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >> From: Brian Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com> >> Date: Aug 29, 2008 9:31 AM >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] ICT Board Strategy a Farce >> To: wambuiwakarema(a)yahoo.co.uk >> >> Very strong language - but I think you should relax as your concerns are >> unfounded. >> >> I am at the Strategic retreat. Unfortunately Gilda Odera - Chairperson of >> BPO, who was supposed to be present had to cancel at the last minute. >> >> Brian >> >> On 8/29/08, Wambui Wakarema <wambuiwakarema(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: >> >>> >>> >>> I have read with surprise the Kictanet mailout from the ICT Board claiming they are going for a stakeholders strategy workshop in Naivasha. >>> >>> Who are these stakeholders? Are there any representing the BPO sector?? I ask this because I have contacted the industry association and they dont seem >>> >>> to be in the know either. This is quite bizarre, especially since BPO is a key sector of the ICT Board's mandate. >>> >>> Who are the stakeholders from the other ICT sectors? Shouldnt the Board be getting input from key stakeholders at this workshop. >>> >>> They are wasting government resources going to write strategies and then 'presenting' to stakeholders, yet stakeholders should have been involved from the word go. >>> >>> The >>> current management of the ICT Board performance is well under par. Recently I called up their >>> >>> offices wanting to engage with the management on a number of issues. Alas! I was informed that they were all on leave at the same time! >>> >>> The ICT Board cant seem to function properly due to sheer incompetence. >>> >>> Dr Ndemo I want a response from you since the buck stops with you! >>> >>> Wakarema >>> >>> >>> Send instant messages to your online friends >>> http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> This message was sent to: blongwe(a)gmail.com >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/blongwe%40gmail.com >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> Brian Munyao Longwe >> e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com >> cell: + 254 722 518 744 >> blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com >> meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com >> >> -- >> Brian Munyao Longwe >> e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com >> cell: + 254 722 518 744 >> blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com >> meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: patrick.mburu(a)gmail.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/patrick.mburu%40gmail.… >> >> > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: brian(a)caret.net > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40caret.net > > > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by *MailScanner* <http://www.mailscanner.info/>, and is > believed to be clean.

10 19

Re: [kictanet] BPO Industry Review (was Re: Stakeholder Queries:)
by Justin Mburu 07 Sep '08

07 Sep '08

Good day All, This interesting subject on BPO rather caught my attention intensely I must say :-) I have just come from the UK a couple of months back and look to setup a contact center locally, now that the industry has begun to pick up amid the hiccups here and there. And to pick up on some of Sam Regee's points as outlined below, i will also tend to share my findings as well: (My comments are in blue font in commenting to Sam Regee's comments) > 1. That much of the BPO sector has been set up in an uncompetitive framework > that cannot be sustained. Businesses (for this is what they are) have been > set up while factoring heavily the potential government subsidy. --- I have a friend of mine who set up here on Kenya long before the subsidy was in place, and so therefore you cannot base your claims on a few vendors who set up in a rush for the subsidy only to close shop when they realized that the bandwidth wasnt forth-coming at all.Meaning they got in the industry on a wrong foot. There are several which are still operating and have been on since even before the subsidy issue. > 2. That the private sector players in the industry are too dependent on > government (through the Kenya ICT Board) for marketing and business. > Essentially there is too much government in the business of outsourcing here > - not from a legislative perspective but from an operational perspective > This is clearly untenable because, having glanced at the Kenya ICT Board's > strategy as articulated by its officials severally, their mandate goes much > further than BPO - as at the time they were set up, that is. For sure, I > perceive them as a marketing organization but marketing Kenya's overall ICT > rather than just IT enabled services.---- Sam if you look clearly, you will realise private sector are not that dependent on government/ICT Board at all. Have you even walked around the existing centers and seen how developed most are? Did government/ICT Board help them get to the levels of development they are in? I think not. If I were you I would visit existing centers first before I leap to claiming the private sector are dependant on government/ICT Board. Or maybe you can shade some light for us on what exactly you mean by ' too dependent' :-) and also it is obvious government has to be involved because if you have been keen on what has been going on since you arrived in the country, you will realise BPO is one of the 5 pillars of the set Vision 2030 which is a government initiative. So whether we like it or not, government has a major role to play in ensuring this industry picks up here in Kenya. On the note of ICT Board's role in marketing, if you have been keen on all organised BPO/Contact Center events, ICT Board itself has always put itself on the frontline in this events, meaning they themselves are the ones focusing too much on the BPO/Contact center industry and putting so much energy on it, (which is a good thing anyway) , while there are so many ICT things to market on. So I agree with you that ICT Board should focus on marketing Kenya's overall ICT rather than just IT enabled services. > 3. That the private sector umbrella body, the Kenya BPO Society - and I have > read the discussions by the chairman of the Society here - seems to not > articulate well its programmes (at least to my understanding) what they are > about overally.---- From my point, the chairman of the society clearly laid out who they are overally, and what they do. And for such a young society, I say kudos to where they are now. You can visit their offices and I am sure they will be more than glad to tell you on a one-on-one basis what they are all about. For all I know, they are doing a great job, and I wish them all the best as they continue to drwa the industry to high depths. Just to give you a bit of what they have achieved so far, so that you can apprecaiate they are on the right direction, they recently launched the Standards & Ethics guidelines for the industry, which I say is a very brilliant step, considering how young the industry is here in Kenya. So it is with such laid guidelines that the BPO industry in Kenya will be able to be laid in a firm solid foundation that is based on international operation standards in BPO & Contact Center industy. > If I were to turn to the BPO Services Association Unlimited ( > http://www.bsau.org/) I can see a marketing campaign and a marketing > position that they have taken. This came from the outsourcing private sector > - and some of their programmes have support from the Phillipino government > but the drive is from the private sector. If I look at NASSCOM, I can see > that they are private sector led and their main purpose is the promotion of > India as the leader in BPO services globally. In fact, they start by saying > that they are a global organization - which is a position of strength. > Has the BPO Society attained such a level of pedigree - which starts in the > mind with strategy - that would enable them to lead the sector to > prosperity? I have not heard it in their discussions at the few events where > I have had a chance to listen to the Chairperson and other officials of the > society.-----My friend, it seems you have really been behind the screens with the society updates. Next week they will be launching their 3 year marketing strategy plan. This is indeed another brilliant step they will have taken as young an association as they are.From one of their forums, I remember them mentioning that one of their strategies is to join hands with several associations globally. This shows great initiative in making sure the industry gets recognized globaly through such relations. It rather unfortunate that the society did not get to participate at the EXPO ZARAGORA 2008 Spain event which from my research had many international associations attending the event such that it could have been an ideal place to network and form relations with the other international associations. I hear the society was to participate but they got a critical hiccup at the last minute (maybe the society chairman can fill us in on what exactly happened for them to miss such a crucial beneficial event). But I hear the CEO of ICT Board Mr Paul Kukubo and a local call center director,attended the event, maybe they can shed more light for us (if they are in the mailing list) what exactly went on in the Spain event and if they managed to secure any opportunities from the event. It is at such events that the society looks to the government support in ensuring they and also some industry players get to attend such events as Kenyan political figures were also present at the event as well as government officials. Such is where much lobbying can take place and the society can lobby their way to getting in beneficial relations with other international associations as well us get prospective clienst for industry players at some point. Hey and dont you think you are being too harsh on the society by comparing them with giant international BPO industries which definately have giant associations as well? I say give some credit to the Kenya BPO Society this far they have come. So instead of comparing them with big giants, look more into working with them into becoming a giant as well. Kenya BPO society is also private sector led, its only that the ICT Board takes much of the show (and we are not saying this is a bad thing) hence I think this ends up confusing industry players, and it always ends up looking like the industry is government driven, if you get my point. The government should be there just to support maybe in terms of funding society-organsised BPO events, which are beneficial to all industry players for instance in marketing the country as a BPO destination, etc. But what the government/ICT Board should not do is brand all BPO related shows to be government/ICT Board shows, as this is what makes it all look like the industry in Kenya is government/ICT Board-driven and govt/ICT Board dependant, in stead of being private sector-driven. > c) Has the BPO Society (or the Kenya ICT Board since they are so much in the > thick of things here) done a comprehensive marketing plan for the sector - > or do they each have one? ---- For all I know, I hear the Kenya BPO society has a marketing strategy which they are launching some time next week. Maybe you should find our more details about it from the society itself, so that you can be able to attend and maybe you will get your answers there. I will be attending, and would really like to meet you there Sam Regee so that we can chit chat about this industry in a more comprehensive way. What do you say? I sure hope to see you there. I never miss society events as they give me hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel in this BPO industry here in Kenya. As for ICT Board, I have not heard of any so far. I hope this has helped you gauge the phase we are at now in this new industry in Kenya. On a lighter note, what does the ZBI from you signature stand for? Regards, Justin >Hi all, > > As a recently returned (to Kenya) academic and entrepreneur, with an > interest in the BPO sector - explicitly: I want to set up a legal > transcription facility here. As I go about my research, I have been to see > one or two operations, while I was in my previous engagement a few months > ago and I am saddened to note that quite a number of the BPO operations that > were in existence a few months ago are no more. > > having spoken to a few people in the industry, I am led to form some > preliminary conclusions (which I hope to validate here): I apologise in > advance, if I offend, but it is in a positive spirit, that I advance these > thoughts here. > > 1. That much of the BPO sector has been set up in an uncompetitive framework > that cannot be sustained. Businesses (for this is what they are) have been > set up while factoring heavily the potential government subsidy. > > 2. That the private sector players in the industry are too dependent on > government (through the Kenya ICT Board) for marketing and business. > Essentially there is too much government in the business of outsourcing here > - not from a legislative perspective but from an operational perspective. > > This is clearly untenable because, having glanced at the Kenya ICT Board's > strategy as articulated by its officials severally, their mandate goes much > further than BPO - as at the time they were set up, that is. For sure, I > perceive them as a marketing organization but marketing Kenya's overall ICT > rather than just IT enabled services. > > 3. That the private sector umbrella body, the Kenya BPO Society - and I have > read the discussions by the chairman of the Society here - seems to not > articulate well its programmes (at least to my understanding) what they are > about overally. > > If I were to turn to the BPO Services Association Unlimited ( > http://www.bsau.org/) I can see a marketing campaign and a marketing > position that they have taken. This came from the outsourcing private sector > - and some of their programmes have support from the Phillipino government > but the drive is from the private sector. If I look at NASSCOM, I can see > that they are private sector led and their main purpose is the promotion of > India as the leader in BPO services globally. In fact, they start by saying > that they are a global organization - which is a position of strength. > > Has the BPO Society attained such a level of pedigree - which starts in the > mind with strategy - that would enable them to lead the sector to > prosperity? I have not heard it in their discussions at the few events where > I have had a chance to listen to the Chairperson and other officials of the > society. > > These are preliminary thoughts that I have developed and I would be happy to > see them examined and torn apart and validated as the case may be. > > meanwhile, some pointed questions: > > a) Is there any science to a slice of the $310 Billion opportunity > presented by the society? This is to ask, how many seats would we need to > have to have a 1% slice of the opportunity? > > b) How many BPO operators are there now - and more pointedly - how many are > actually functional? > > c) Has the BPO Society (or the Kenya ICT Board since they are so much in the > thick of things here) done a comprehensive marketing plan for the sector - > or do they each have one? > > This is a very good discussion. > > > ------------------------------- > Dr. Sam Regee > ZBI > > > > ⁣null⁣ > > On 09/04/2008 "Brian Longwe" <blongwe(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >This message bounced back yesterday - seems the listserver is having some > > constipation.... > > > > Brian > > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > > From: Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com> > > Date: Wed, Sep 3, 2008 at 5:35 PM > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] BPO Industry Review (was Re: Stakeholder Queries:) > > To: Liko Agosta <likoa(a)verviant.com> > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > > > > > Hi Liko, > > > > Sorry, I was driving with one hand n texting with the other (usinistaki). > > Thus the v brief response. Pls so feel free to share your views with the > > rest of the list, we NEED to hear from practitioners! As mentioned, this > > discussion should help she'd some light on this relatively 'new' industry > so > > that inner and outer stakeholders can develop a better understanding. > > > > It would also be great to hear from the ICT Board (hint hint) - although > > they're probably a bit gun-shy right because they don't want to be flamed. > > > > On your point regarding the CEO being 'seconded' to the USA for an > extended > > period... Hmmm... Maybe not... BUT.... Your suggestion about high level > > representation makes sense. How about a full fledged office, maybe with > > Dep.CEO ranking.... Dunno...just thoughts.... > > > > Nway, please do share ur thoughts, ideas, suggestions, challenges, > > headaches, the lot! > > > > Brian > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > On 03 Sep 2008, at 4:37 PM, "Liko Agosta" <likoa(a)verviant.com> wrote: > > > > Brian > > > > > > > > I don't mind taking a call from you to explain what has happened and where > > Kenya is and some ideas about the best way forward > > > > > > > > Obviously, I will be looking at life from a providers point of view … > > > > > > > > Also, which organization do you represent ? > > > > > > > > Liko Agosta, CEO > > > > Verviant Consulting Services. > > > > > > > > <http://www.verviant.com>www.verviant.com > > > > > > > > Phone : 1-919-341-1820 > > > > Fax : 1-978-268-8403 > > > > > > > > Toll Free: 1-866-551-4935 > > > > > > > > Pager: 9193891551(a)txt.att.net > > > > > > > > *From:* kictanet-bounces+likoa=verviant.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [ > > mailto:kictanet-bounces <kictanet-bounces>+likoa= > > verviant.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *Gilda Odera > > *Sent:* Wednesday, September 03, 2008 4:16 AM > > *To:* Liko Agosta > > *Cc:* 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' > > *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] BPO Industry Review (was Re: Stakeholder > Queries:) > > > > > > > > Hi Brian, > > > > > > > > If you recall, initially the ICT Board was created mainly " to market > Kenya > > as an outsourcing destination". I think many other things were lumped onto > > the board without putting structures in place ie. personnel and budgets. > > > > > > > > On another note, I am surprised you are still asking about the role and > > obligations of KBPOCCS after the lengthy emails. > > > > Maybe you should re-read them?:) > > > > It is true there is more shouting from BPO players in KICTANET,media, > > everwhere..... maybe the others are content or indifferent.... > > > > That should not stop the BPO Sector from airing views or making demands. > > Remember your ISP days? You and some others in the ISP arena were very > > vocal and that impacted on various other sub-sectors who benefited. > > > > I say, if there is an issue that needs attention, it needs to be known. I > > would suggest that the other sub-sectors also start shouting out their > > issues that they want to see being resolved. We are all inter-connected so > > any gains will benefit all others. > > > > Can someone from the ICT Board please say something? Is it true you are > > being blamed by others for focusing too much on BPO and if so, how are you > > balancing the act? > > > > > > > > Best > > > > > > > > Gilda > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > *From:* Brian Munyao Longwe <brian(a)caret.net> > > > > *To:* Gilda Odera <godera(a)skyweb.co.ke> > > > > *Cc:* 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > > > *Sent:* Wednesday, September 03, 2008 8:55 AM > > > > *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] BPO Industry Review (was Re: Stakeholder > Queries:) > > > > > > > > > > > > Great input Lika. Seems like you have a real handle on this industry. If I > > may recap: > > > > > > > > Clients (I presume these are international) gauge a BPO provider based on > > four main criteria: > > > > a) Capability: This speaks to an area of skillset matching across industry > - > > do we have enough "intel" on the necessary skillsets so that if someone > > wants to outsource their transcription of recorded audio court records or > > psychiatric interviews - the BPO operators personnel understand enough > about > > the subject matter to capture the relevant language (don't know if this is > a > > good example but it's what comes to mind) > > > > b) Cost-cutting potential: If the customer is the one asking this > question, > > then it seems that they expect the BPO operator to have alread studied to > > some extent their business, at` least enough to understand ways in which > > savings can be accrued. > > > > c) Referenceable clients > > > > > > > > If the CEO of the ICT board calls the CEO of ATT he is more likely to get > a > > meeting and business as opposed to the CEO of Kamau Wanjala Outsourcers … > > again, I don't know what the ICT Board has been doing (am sure they have > > done a lot … may be like top secret strategy stuff) but in my opinion the > > CEO of that board should be based in US for like 90% of the year .. talk > to > > clients, be a rain maker, schmooze, play golf and open doors. > > > > > > > > This belies the assumptions and perceptions on which I initiated this > > thread. For some reason there seems to be some kind of implicit > expectation > > that the ICT Board exists to servie the BPO industry - why is that? > Kenya's > > ICT is definitely much more than just BPO (as Gilda clearly pointed out). > > > > > > > > On this list we have heard a lot of complaints (largely from BPO players) > > about the ICT Board's lack of support for the BPO industry, while on the > > other hand other sector players saying that the Board pays too much > > attention to BPO. What should the role and obligation of the board in the > > BPO sector be? Could it be strategic? > > > > > > > > What can we say is the role of the BPO/CC Society and it's obligations > (both > > to internal and external stakeholders) in the larger scheme of things? > > > > > > > > Regards, > > > > > > > > Brian > > > > > > > > On Sep 2, 2008, at 11:07 PM, Liko Agosta wrote: > > > > > > > > All that you guys are talking about is good ... but when I talk to > clients > > they ask the following questions > > > > a. Can you do the job ? > > > > b. How much will you save me ? > > > > c. Have you done this for anyone else (especially in my sector/country) ? > > > > d. Can I talk to references > > > > 1-3 page executive proposals work better than 50 page proposals. C level > > execs never go past page 3 of proposals. They really don't care where I am > > working from > > > > Only 1 client asked about Kenyan copyright laws .. and our lawyer gave a > > sufficient answer... we got the work and have saved them over USD 500,000 > > > > About Safaricom and Land Registry and all this projects that keep breaking > > our hearts and hurting our feelings :) .... > > > > Let's assume Safaricom is has 400 customer services reps .... would they > be > > an ideal client for any BPO in Kenya ? if they pay their employees 50k per > > month .. a BPO would have to charge them 100k per month FOR THE SAME > > EMPLOYEE across town. > > > > Now, maybe I have all this wrong but there are more than 10000 companies > in > > the developed world with over 400 "clerical employees" who they pay an > > average of 3000$ per month. If you went and targeted these companies .... > > you can get 100k per employee, pay the employee 50k etc and the client > will > > be happy, you happy, employee happy ... > > > > Many local clients take 60-90 days to pay invoices. In US for example, > > depending on state, it's illegal to hold a vendors payment when work has > > been done …. > > > > My point ... BPOs, Software Providers have to be willing to ignore the > local > > market and focus on external sources of business. The local market is too > > small, too complicated and the waters are very muddied. > > > > About brokers and "consultants". I have been approached by quite a few. > > People who claim to have connections, venture capital and all that good > > stuff. I learnt early to say no… early. They are a waste of time in my > book > > > > Kenya will not become a better outsourcing destination if we come up with > > ethics guidelines, an act of parliament and the like … now, those will not > > hurt … but we will benefit more if the ICT Board flanked companies when > they > > are pitching their services to potential clients. > > > > By flanking I mean fly to meet the client, do research on financials, help > > with financing - have a conference in US and invite 100 potential and > vetted > > clients to meet Kenyan providers …. This works like a charm here .. (if > GOK > > spends 500k on tickets and 30 Kenyans are hired making 50k … - ROI is > there > > pretty fast) > > > > If the CEO of the ICT board calls the CEO of ATT he is more likely to get > a > > meeting and business as opposed to the CEO of Kamau Wanjala Outsourcers … > > again, I don't know what the ICT Board has been doing (am sure they have > > done a lot … may be like top secret strategy stuff) but in my opinion the > > CEO of that board should be based in US for like 90% of the year .. talk > to > > clients, be a rain maker, schmooze, play golf and open doors. > > > > > > > > I have always felt that the ICT Board should headhunt and hire people with > > C level experience from either US or UK … people from the bigger > consulting > > companies Bain, BCG, Accenture, Avanade, EDS … these guys work on million > > dollar outsourcing deals and have very good contacts. They also would be > > able to come up with a strategy immediately > > > > > > > > As Gilda has shown, the harvest is plentiful … > > > > > > > > Liko Agosta, CEO > > > > Verviant Consulting Services. > > > > www.verviant.com > > > > > > > > > > Phone : 1-919-341-1820 > > > > Fax : 1-978-268-8403 > > > > > > > > > > Toll Free: 1-866-551-4935 > > > > > > > > > > Pager: <9193891551(a)txt.att.net>9193891551(a)txt.att.net > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > From: kictanet-bounces+likoa= <verviant.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > verviant.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > [<kictanet-bounces+likoa=verviant.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > mailto:kictanet-bounces <kictanet-bounces>+likoa= > > verviant.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of David Otwoma > > > > Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 11:45 AM > > > > To: Liko Agosta > > > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] BPO Industry Review (was Re: Stakeholder Queries:) > > > > Dear Brian, > > > > Looks like you are fully re-charged after last weeks retreat in > > > > Naivasha on Strategy. Tell us some more of what is not confidential. > > > > Otherwise my wish is to take the baton from my able Chair and respond > > > > on bullet 3 in your beautiful rejoinder. > > > > As Chair of the Standards and Ethics Committee of the KBPOCCS we (are > > > > 7 members) did come up with Standards and Ethics Guidelines which took > > > > over eight (8) months to prepare and on June 22nd 2008 the Permanent > > > > Secretary of the Ministry of Information & Communication led us > > > > (KBPOCCS members, KICTB who graciously sponsored the event at KICC, > > > > CCK, CSK, members of the public who have an interest in BPO&CC pie) > > > > into adopting the S&E Guidelines. > > > > The next milestone we wish to aim for is have the Guidelines upgraded > > > > into a Regulation or an Act of Parliament. Either achievement would be > > > > binding to all and sundry who operate in the BPO&CC world. A world > > > > which is moving the advancement of the human race from industrial age > > > > into information age. Just imagine Kenya having a binding law on > > > > Standards and a slice of the USD$310 Billion industry. It would make > > > > our young people, because they are the future force in the knowledge > > > > economy we keep talking about. > > > > What are the next immediate steps. Cozy relations between the Private > > > > Public Partnership. > > > > Another bullet I will let you peer into what you have been seeing but > > > > refuse to acknowledge is bullet No. 7. It was KPLC who introduced me > > > > to the world of BPO&CC when they sought S. African expertise to deal > > > > with their in-house contact centre better known to the general public > > > > (read Brian et al) as Customer Care Centre or Customer Relations > > > > Management. Ever wondered when power disappears at any time of the day > > > > or night where that 'frustrated' call 'agrily demanding 'where is > > > > power?' goes? Yes to a call center owned and managed > > > > by KPLC. KPLC as of 2005 when we engaged had a call centre running > > > > 24/7 with 210 seats in Nairobi alone. Telecom has a bigger one. > > > > Safaricom is soon overtaking Telecom with that news flash. Water > > > > companies have. So do all the banks, insurance, etc. companies both > > > > private and public owned. > > > > Since we have very able Chairs for Training, Marketing etc. I will > > > > stop there and go for my dear bottle.....tusker. > > > > David > > > > > > > > On Tue, Sep 2, 2008 at 6:12 PM, Brian Munyao Longwe < <brian(a)caret.net> > > brian(a)caret.net> wrote: > > > > > Excellent Feedback Gilda, > > > > > > > > > > So I see a few very clear issues arising out of your response: > > > > > > > > > > 1) There is a distinct global opportunity - but that calls for > > > > > appropriate positioning as well as preparation on Kenya's part > > > > > 2) Capacity issues need to be addressed - knowledge transfer could be > > > > > on way - but that implies finding someone who is willing to impart > > > > > the knowledge - do they come from inside or outside? > > > > > 3) Global standards must be recognised and adhered to in order to > > > > > ensure entry and competitiveness - what are these standards are they > > > > > clearly documented somewhere? > > > > > 4) Many local operations have not had the exposure necessary/needed > > > > > to develop expertise/efficiency/etc - what kind of interventions can > > > > > facilitate this? > > > > > 5) BPO is not the "Holy Grail" as some perceive it, but one piece of > > > > > the ICT puzzle that needs to be solved in order to help Kenya attain > > > > > it's ambitious goal of becoming a global ICT hub > > > > > 6) There is a distinct and precise training need for personnel to > > > > > supply the Kenyan BPO industry with "bodies to put on seats", > > > > > presumably to allow the BPO industry to harness and deliver against > > > > > the global opportunity - what interventions (planned or otherwise) > > > > > are we taking to meet this target? How accurate is this estimate and > > > > > can it be verified? > > > > > 7) Local Players - your website (must say it's very cute) lists quite > > > > > a number (28) - but I must say that I'm quite surprised at some of > > > > > the names I find there - didn't know KPLC was offering BPO services > > > > > for example - but maybe I'm mistaken in my assumptions.... > > > > > 8) Local opportunities: seems many/most local companies are looking > > > > > outside to outsource certain functions or simply "self-provisioning" > > > > > - why would Safaricom claim that it's too expensive to outsource > > > > > locally based on the price estimates that they got from industry. Is > > > > > there a need for our local BPO industry to do some kind of soul > > > > > searching and find ways of making themselves/their services more > > > > > palatable to local companies? > > > > > 9) The industry for some reason seems to have attracted brokers - who > > > > > are watering down/diluting the true opportunity - what kind of > > > > > interventions do we need to "eliminate the middleman" - a seemingly > > > > > consistent argument in many sector e.g. tea, coffee, flowers, tourism > > > > > etc..... > > > > > > > > > > Brian > > > > > > > > > > On Sep 2, 2008, at 4:10 PM, Gilda Odera wrote: > > > > > > > > > >> Hi Brian, > > > > >> > > > > >> You have raised very pertinent questions in your email below. > > > > >> Let me answer your queries. > > > > >> > > > > >> Firstly, it is true that BPO has taken centre stage in many > > > > >> discussions surrounding Kenya's ICT development and growth and it > > > > >> is a good thing, here's why: > > > > >> We are looking at a USD$310 Billion industry by next year, up for > > > > >> grabs for any destinations that get it right. India is currently > > > > >> taking up 45% of the total share and China and Phillipines are > > > > >> steadily growing. And what's more, it can only grow, with the fuel > > > > >> prices soaring each year,what choice is there for the companies out > > > > >> there to look for more affordable means of operating. > > > > >> It is a fact that the western countries are looking for new > > > > >> alternative destinations to Asia so they do not put all their eggs > > > > >> in one basket, not with the terrorism threats all over. Where else > > > > >> but Africa. Why would Kenya not put its house in order to take a > > > > >> piece of this pie? > > > > >> > > > > >> Now in regard to your comment on BPO taking centre stage in ICT > > > > >> development, I would say one thing we need in this country is > > > > >> opportunity for knowledge transfer done right here. We may produce > > > > >> more technology oriented personnel but as long as we operate within > > > > >> the Kenyan way of operating, we are not developing our personnel to > > > > >> the global standards we want them to attain.Not because we are not > > > > >> capable, but because many operations have not had the exposure. > > > > >> > > > > >> I would beg to differ (and government can speak for itself) that we > > > > >> are putting all eggs in one basket. BPO is but one sub-sector in > > > > >> the ICT arena. Many other sub-sectors within the sector are quite > > > > >> active. Software development is coming up and I keep reading > > > > >> debates on KICTANET. There is an interest. > > > > >> Content development is also being encouraged. The > > > > >> telecommunications sector is busy preparing for real competition > > > > >> and we the consumers can't wait for the benefits, they will have to > > > > >> have great value adds and affordable pricing. > > > > >> > > > > >> What steps are we taking to enhance BPO? I leave the ICT Board to > > > > >> answer that although as Kenya BPO and Contact Centre Society, we > > > > >> have presented to them the need to train not less than 10,000 per > > > > >> year, specifically for this sector. Frost and Sullivan who are > > > > >> normally 90% accurate in their new destination analysis says Kenya > > > > >> will by 2012 have a BPO sector employing about 120,000 direct jobs > > > > >> ( you can add indirect by another 3-5) as long as the fibre optic > > > > >> infrastructure is in place on time next year and marketing of the > > > > >> country takes root. > > > > >> > > > > >> Who are the players? Our members are on our website > > > > >> <http://www.kenyabposociety.or.ke>www.kenyabposociety.or.ke . There are > > ofcourse others quietly > > > > >> operating. > > > > >> What are the local opportunities- Our biggest challenge is getting > > > > >> local companies to outsource though some have started. We expected > > > > >> the giants like Safaricom to play a role even if it is a CSR role > > > > >> to demonstrate a level of confidence in the local companies. This > > > > >> is possible, other companies work with those they outsource to for > > > > >> a given period, and leave them running efficiently as they require. > > > > >> All is not lost. Some local companies are outsourcing BPO work and > > > > >> I wish to challenge Safaricom to outsource part of their BPO work > > > > >> if they say local outsourcing is not competitive. > > > > >> > > > > >> The international opportunities are the ones that I have mentioned > > > > >> are worth $310 Billion. The ball is in our court as Kenyans to > > > > >> market Kenya as a destination if we are to make any gains. We need > > > > >> to attract direct clients and not the current brokers who are > > > > >> exploiting the existing centres,much as their contracts are keeping > > > > >> some of the centres going. > > > > >> I hope I have addressed your queries. > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> Gilda Odera > > > > >> Chair, Kenya BPO and Contact Centre Society > > > > >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brian Munyao Longwe" > > > > >> < <brian(a)caret.net>brian(a)caret.net> > > > > >> To: "Gilda Odera" < <godera(a)skyweb.co.ke>godera(a)skyweb.co.ke> > > > > >> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" < < kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > > > >> Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 11:12 AM > > > > >> Subject: [kictanet] BPO Industry Review (was Re: Stakeholder Queries:) > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> Hi All, > > > > >> > > > > >> It is interesting that BPO seems to have taken a centre stage in many > > > > >> discussions surrounding Kenya's ICT development and growth. While I > > > > >> do believe that BPO/KPO has huge potential. I am a bit skeptical > > > > >> about this "silver bullet" approach which might be akin to putting > > > > >> all our eggs in one basket. > > > > >> > > > > >> What if the basket gets stepped on by some giant like Malaysia, South > > > > >> Africa or others? > > > > >> > > > > >> I would be very interested in taking a much closer look at the BPO > > > > >> industry in Kenya. Who are the players? What are the opportunities? > > > > >> What is the potential for growth? What steps are we taking to enhance/ > > > > >> develop/increase capacity in BPO/KPO? What kind(s) of investments are > > > > >> required to make this industry boom? What are the local opportunities > > > > >> for BPO/KPO? What are the international opportunities for BPO/KPO? > > > > >> > > > > >> I think that answers to these and many other questions will help > > > > >> other like me who are a bit unclear in their minds as to how BPO will > > > > >> be our saviour have a clearer view. It might also just show that BPO > > > > >> is a contributing factor and not necessarily the holy grail that at > > > > >> the moment seems to be the general perception. > > > > >> > > > > >> Regards, > > > > >> > > > > >> Brian > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> On Sep 2, 2008, at 8:25 AM, David Otwoma wrote: > > > > >> > > > > >>> Dear All, > > > > >>> > > > > >>> "Comments from BPO operators and of course other Stakeholders" > > > > >>> please. > > > > >>> > > > > >>> Safaricom in Sh1bn customer care plan (see Daily Nation page 28) > > > > >>> > > > > >>> ------------------------------------------------- > > > > >>> > > > > >>> Many companies have been turning to BPOs as the financial benefits of > > > > >>> outsourcing continue to make it compelling, with cost savings and > > > > >>> efficiency improvements being the dominant reasons companies use such > > > > >>> services. However, companies biggest concerns on outsourcing > > > > >>> relate to > > > > >>> data security. > > > > >>> > > > > >>> > > > > >>> ----------------------------------------------------- > > > > >>> > > > > >>> The move, seen a precautionary measure in the face of growing > > > > >>> competition, marks a complete turnaround by the mobile provider which > > > > >>> in July last year had sought quotations from local Business Process > > > > >>> Outsourcing (BPO) firms. > > > > >>> > > > > >>> "Outsourcing the customer care function proved to be too expensive > > > > >>> for > > > > >>> the kind of quality that we required. We will just have to run the > > > > >>> service in-house," said Safaricom chief executive Michael Joseph. > > > > >>> > > > > >>> > > > > >>> <http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/-/1006/466372/-/jiyt3xz/-/> > > http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/-/1006/466372/-/jiyt3xz/-/ > > > > >>> index.html > > > > >>> > > > > >>> > > > > >>> On Mon, Sep 1, 2008 at 8:58 PM, Sean Moroney > > > > >>> < <seanm(a)aitecafrica.com>seanm(a)aitecafrica.com> wrote: > > > > >>>> Dear Liko, > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> We would like to invite you to make a presentation at the > > > > >>>> forthcoming > > > > >>>> Outsourcing & Contact Centre Conference, which we will be holding > > > > >>>> over 4-5 > > > > >>>> November under the auspices of the Ministry of Information & > > > > >>>> Communications > > > > >>>> and in partnership with the ICT Board. The programme of confirmed > > > > >>>> presentations so far is attached. > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> It would be great if you would be willing to share your experience > > > > >>>> with the > > > > >>>> other participants. > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Yours sincerely, > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Sean Moroney > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Chairman > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> AITEC Africa > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> <seanm(a)aitecafrica.com>seanm(a)aitecafrica.com > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> UK Tel: +44(0)1480-880774 > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> UK Fax: +44(0)1480-880765 > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> UK Mobile: +44(0)7973-499224 > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Kenya Mobile: +254(0)721-845674 > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Mozambique Mobile: +258-82-6181618 > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Nigeria Mobile: +234(0)802-0571766 > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> SA Mobile: +27(0)724-577887 > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Skype: seanmoroney > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> <http://www.aitecafrica.com>www.aitecafrica.com > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Please visit our discussion group on The Banking Technology sector > > > > >>>> in Africa > > > > >>>> at: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/africanbankingtech> > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/africanbankingtech > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> AITEC Africa is the trading name of AITEC Conferences Limited > > > > >>>> UK Company registration number: 4698475 > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> ________________________________ > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> From: kictanet-bounces+seanm= <aitecafrica.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > aitecafrica.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > > >>>> [ <kictanet-bounces>mailto:kictanet-bounces <kictanet-bounces> > > > > >>>> +seanm= <aitecafrica.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > aitecafrica.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] On > > > > >>>> Behalf Of Peres Were > > > > >>>> Sent: 01 September 2008 12:23 > > > > >>>> To: <seanm(a)aitecafrica.com>seanm(a)aitecafrica.com > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' > > > > >>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Stakeholder Queries: > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Liko, > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> It would be great to hear from you and others, your insights into > > > > >>>> sales and > > > > >>>> marketing insights that can benefit the BPO, KPO sector. We can > > > > >>>> continue the > > > > >>>> discussion off the list. > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Kind regards > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Peres Were > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> ________________________________ > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> From: kictanet-bounces+pwere= <cascadegl.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > cascadegl.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > > >>>> [ <kictanet-bounces+pwere=cascadegl.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > mailto:kictanet-bounces <kictanet-bounces>+pwere= > > cascadegl.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] > > > > >>>> On Behalf > > > > >>>> Of Liko Agosta > > > > >>>> Sent: 01 September 2008 10:33 > > > > >>>> To: <pwere(a)cascadegl.com>pwere(a)cascadegl.com > > > > >>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > > > >>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Stakeholder Queries: > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> About ICT Board and all these Boards … > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Do they ever have open sessions where stakeholders can review > > > > >>>> strategy, > > > > >>>> advice, brainstorm ? > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> As CEO of verviant, I have been able to get business … I feel like > > > > >>>> I have > > > > >>>> insights into the sales and marketing process that can benefit other > > > > >>>> software/ICT providers … > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Thanks > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Liko Agosta, CEO > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Verviant Consulting Services. > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> <http://www.verviant.com>www.verviant.com > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Phone : 1-919-341-1820 > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Fax : 1-978-268-8403 > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Toll Free: 1-866-551-4935 > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Pager: <9193891551(a)txt.att.net>9193891551(a)txt.att.net > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > > > > >>>> From: Brian Longwe < <blongwe(a)gmail.com>blongwe(a)gmail.com> > > > > >>>> Date: Aug 29, 2008 9:31 AM > > > > >>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] ICT Board Strategy a Farce > > > > >>>> To: <wambuiwakarema(a)yahoo.co.uk>wambuiwakarema(a)yahoo.co.uk > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Very strong language - but I think you should relax as your > > > > >>>> concerns are > > > > >>>> unfounded. > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> I am at the Strategic retreat. Unfortunately Gilda Odera - > > > > >>>> Chairperson of > > > > >>>> BPO, who was supposed to be present had to cancel at the last > > > > >>>> minute. > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Brian > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> On 8/29/08, Wambui Wakarema < <wambuiwakarema(a)yahoo.co.uk> > > wambuiwakarema(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> I have read with surprise the Kictanet mailout from the ICT Board > > > > >>>> claiming > > > > >>>> they are going for a stakeholders strategy workshop in Naivasha. > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Who are these stakeholders? Are there any representing the BPO > > > > >>>> sector?? I > > > > >>>> ask this because I have contacted the industry association and > > > > >>>> they dont > > > > >>>> seem > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> to be in the know either. This is quite bizarre, especially since > > > > >>>> BPO is a > > > > >>>> key sector of the ICT Board's mandate. > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Who are the stakeholders from the other ICT sectors? Shouldnt the > > > > >>>> Board be > > > > >>>> getting input from key stakeholders at this workshop. > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> They are wasting government resources going to write strategies > > > > >>>> and then > > > > >>>> 'presenting' to stakeholders, yet stakeholders should have been > > > > >>>> involved > > > > >>>> from the word go. > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> The > > > > >>>> > > > > >>> > > > > >>> > > > > >>> -- > > > > >>> David Otwoma, > > > > >>> Chief Science Secretary, > > > > >>> National Council for Science and Technology, > > > > >>> Utalii House 9th Floor, > > > > >>> Mobile tel: +254 722 141771, > > > > >>> Office tel: +254 (0)20 2346915, > > > > >>> P. O. Box 29899 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya > > > > >>> email: <otwomad(a)gmail.com>otwomad(a)gmail.com & <otwoma(a)ncst.go.ke> > > otwoma(a)ncst.go.ke > > > > >>> <http://www.ncst.go.ke>www.ncst.go.ke > > > > >>> > > > > >>> _______________________________________________ > > > > >>> kictanet mailing list > > > > >>> <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > > >>> <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > >>> > > > > >>> This message was sent to: <brian(a)caret.net>brian(a)caret.net > > > > >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > > > > >>> mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40caret.net > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> _______________________________________________ > > > > >> kictanet mailing list > > > > >> <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > > >> <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > >> > > > > >> This message was sent to: <godera(a)skyweb.co.ke>godera(a)skyweb.co.ke > > > > >> Unsubscribe or change your options at <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > > > > >> mailman/options/kictanet/godera%40sky <http://web.co.ke>web.co.ke > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > kictanet mailing list > > > > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > > > <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > > > > > > > This message was sent to: <otwomad(a)gmail.com>otwomad(a)gmail.com > > > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > < http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otwomad%40gmail.com> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otwomad%40gmail.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > David Otwoma, > > > > Chief Science Secretary, > > > > National Council for Science and Technology, > > > > Utalii House 9th Floor, > > > > Mobile tel: +254 722 141771, > > > > Office tel: +254 (0)20 2346915, > > > > P. O. Box 29899 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya > > > > email: <otwomad(a)gmail.com>otwomad(a)gmail.com & <otwoma(a)ncst.go.ke> > > otwoma(a)ncst.go.ke > > > > www.ncst.go.ke > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > kictanet mailing list > > > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > > <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: <likoa(a)verviant.com>likoa(a)verviant.com > > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > < http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/likoa%40verviant.com > > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/likoa%40verviant.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > kictanet mailing list > > > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > > <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > > > > > This message was sent to: <brian(a)caret.net>brian(a)caret.net > > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40caret.net> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40caret.net > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: <godera(a)skyweb.co.ke>godera(a)skyweb.co.ke > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > < > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/godera%40skyweb.co.ke > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/godera%40skyweb.co.ke > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: <blongwe(a)gmail.com>blongwe(a)gmail.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > < http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/blongwe%40gmail.com> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/blongwe%40gmail.com > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Brian Munyao Longwe > > e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com > > cell: + 254 722 518 744 > > blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com > > meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: lmwatibo.ktd(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lmwatibo.ktd%40gmail.c… >

6 6

Runway inflation?
by aki 05 Sep '08

05 Sep '08

Dear all, I recently returned from an overseas trip and was dismayed to learn that it's becoming very expensive in kenya. Here are two examples: 1) Electicity cost has gone up by 100%! This means every business, whether small scale or large will have to adjust their sale prices. ( One of my friend's just paid a bill of USD 300! ) 2) Fuel is now at almost 1.5USD/Litre! ( This price seems like I'm purchasing fuel somewhere in Europe ) I'm not an economist but I seriously wonder where we are heading. Will struggling industries such as the BPOs remain competitive enough to survive? Are we going to loose our price competitive edge to runaway inflation? Aki.

4 4

[Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] Email Address Dictates Spam Volume]
by alice 04 Sep '08

04 Sep '08

Report: Email Address Dictates Spam Volume The first letter of your email address is one factor in your spam risk, a researcher says AUGUST 28, 2008 | 5:25 PM http://www.darkreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=162585&WT.svl=news1_1 By Kelly Jackson Higgins Senior Editor, Dark Reading Everyone knows that some people get more spam than others, but new research shows that it may have something to do with the first letter of your email address. Richard Clayton, a security researcher at the University of Cambridge in the U.K., says he found evidence that the more common the first letter in your email address is, the more spam you get: in other words, alice(a)company.com typically gets a higher volume of spam than quincy(a)company.com, or zach(a)company.com. He says that�s simply because there are more combinations of names that begin with �A� than with �Q� or �Z.� Over an eight-week period, Clayton studied around 8.9 million emails at a U.K. ISP and found that the email addresses that began with �A� received 35 percent spam in their inboxes, while �Z�s� got about 20 percent -- after sorting out real emails versus invalid ones that had likely been generated by a spamming tool. Clayton says it�s likely that spammers using dictionary attacks could be the cause of this disproportionate distribution of spam. Clayton acknowledges that his study didn�t end up proving what he had hoped it would � that alphabetic order was an indicator of how much spam you got. He says it�s likely that since dictionary attacks are not commonly occurring in real-time, the phony email addresses he saw possibly had been stored in spammer databases for some time. Matt Sergeant, senior anti-spam technologist for MessageLabs, says a dictionary-type spam attack that ekes out as many email addresses it can by letter is the mark of an old-school spammer, not a sophisticated one. �You don�t have this pattern with the more malcious spammer. Botnets distribute and split up lists of email addresses and distribute them among the entire botnet simultaneously,� for instance, Sergeant says. MessageLabs has seen a similar pattern with spam in domain names, he says. �Domain names that start with �A� get more spam than domain names that start with �Z,�� he says. So does pinpointing that the Sams of the world get spammed more than the Yancys ultimately help anti-spam technologists curb spam? Sergeant says that while this trend is a fun fact of sorts, it also does provide a little insight into spammers. �You have to look a bit deeper into the information and have an understanding of how spammers work to really understand what this [data] is saying. It�s most definitely interesting information,� he says. But it wouldn�t sway anyone to change their email address to X(a)company.com to ensure they get less spam, he adds. Have a comment on this story? Please click "Discuss" below. If you'd like to contact Dark Reading's editors directly, send us a message. _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

1 0

Fwd: BPO Industry Review (was Re: Stakeholder Queries:)
by Brian Longwe 04 Sep '08

04 Sep '08

This message bounced back yesterday - seems the listserver is having some constipation.... Brian ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com> Date: Wed, Sep 3, 2008 at 5:35 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] BPO Industry Review (was Re: Stakeholder Queries:) To: Liko Agosta <likoa(a)verviant.com> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Hi Liko, Sorry, I was driving with one hand n texting with the other (usinistaki). Thus the v brief response. Pls so feel free to share your views with the rest of the list, we NEED to hear from practitioners! As mentioned, this discussion should help she'd some light on this relatively 'new' industry so that inner and outer stakeholders can develop a better understanding. It would also be great to hear from the ICT Board (hint hint) - although they're probably a bit gun-shy right because they don't want to be flamed. On your point regarding the CEO being 'seconded' to the USA for an extended period... Hmmm... Maybe not... BUT.... Your suggestion about high level representation makes sense. How about a full fledged office, maybe with Dep.CEO ranking.... Dunno...just thoughts.... Nway, please do share ur thoughts, ideas, suggestions, challenges, headaches, the lot! Brian Sent from my iPhone On 03 Sep 2008, at 4:37 PM, "Liko Agosta" <likoa(a)verviant.com> wrote: Brian I don't mind taking a call from you to explain what has happened and where Kenya is and some ideas about the best way forward Obviously, I will be looking at life from a providers point of view … Also, which organization do you represent ? Liko Agosta, CEO Verviant Consulting Services. <http://www.verviant.com>www.verviant.com Phone : 1-919-341-1820 Fax : 1-978-268-8403 Toll Free: 1-866-551-4935 Pager: 9193891551(a)txt.att.net *From:* kictanet-bounces+likoa=verviant.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [ mailto:kictanet-bounces <kictanet-bounces>+likoa= verviant.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *Gilda Odera *Sent:* Wednesday, September 03, 2008 4:16 AM *To:* Liko Agosta *Cc:* 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] BPO Industry Review (was Re: Stakeholder Queries:) Hi Brian, If you recall, initially the ICT Board was created mainly " to market Kenya as an outsourcing destination". I think many other things were lumped onto the board without putting structures in place ie. personnel and budgets. On another note, I am surprised you are still asking about the role and obligations of KBPOCCS after the lengthy emails. Maybe you should re-read them?:) It is true there is more shouting from BPO players in KICTANET,media, everwhere..... maybe the others are content or indifferent.... That should not stop the BPO Sector from airing views or making demands. Remember your ISP days? You and some others in the ISP arena were very vocal and that impacted on various other sub-sectors who benefited. I say, if there is an issue that needs attention, it needs to be known. I would suggest that the other sub-sectors also start shouting out their issues that they want to see being resolved. We are all inter-connected so any gains will benefit all others. Can someone from the ICT Board please say something? Is it true you are being blamed by others for focusing too much on BPO and if so, how are you balancing the act? Best Gilda ----- Original Message ----- *From:* Brian Munyao Longwe <brian(a)caret.net> *To:* Gilda Odera <godera(a)skyweb.co.ke> *Cc:* 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 03, 2008 8:55 AM *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] BPO Industry Review (was Re: Stakeholder Queries:) Great input Lika. Seems like you have a real handle on this industry. If I may recap: Clients (I presume these are international) gauge a BPO provider based on four main criteria: a) Capability: This speaks to an area of skillset matching across industry - do we have enough "intel" on the necessary skillsets so that if someone wants to outsource their transcription of recorded audio court records or psychiatric interviews - the BPO operators personnel understand enough about the subject matter to capture the relevant language (don't know if this is a good example but it's what comes to mind) b) Cost-cutting potential: If the customer is the one asking this question, then it seems that they expect the BPO operator to have alread studied to some extent their business, at` least enough to understand ways in which savings can be accrued. c) Referenceable clients If the CEO of the ICT board calls the CEO of ATT he is more likely to get a meeting and business as opposed to the CEO of Kamau Wanjala Outsourcers … again, I don't know what the ICT Board has been doing (am sure they have done a lot … may be like top secret strategy stuff) but in my opinion the CEO of that board should be based in US for like 90% of the year .. talk to clients, be a rain maker, schmooze, play golf and open doors. This belies the assumptions and perceptions on which I initiated this thread. For some reason there seems to be some kind of implicit expectation that the ICT Board exists to servie the BPO industry - why is that? Kenya's ICT is definitely much more than just BPO (as Gilda clearly pointed out). On this list we have heard a lot of complaints (largely from BPO players) about the ICT Board's lack of support for the BPO industry, while on the other hand other sector players saying that the Board pays too much attention to BPO. What should the role and obligation of the board in the BPO sector be? Could it be strategic? What can we say is the role of the BPO/CC Society and it's obligations (both to internal and external stakeholders) in the larger scheme of things? Regards, Brian On Sep 2, 2008, at 11:07 PM, Liko Agosta wrote: All that you guys are talking about is good ... but when I talk to clients they ask the following questions a. Can you do the job ? b. How much will you save me ? c. Have you done this for anyone else (especially in my sector/country) ? d. Can I talk to references 1-3 page executive proposals work better than 50 page proposals. C level execs never go past page 3 of proposals. They really don't care where I am working from Only 1 client asked about Kenyan copyright laws .. and our lawyer gave a sufficient answer... we got the work and have saved them over USD 500,000 About Safaricom and Land Registry and all this projects that keep breaking our hearts and hurting our feelings :) .... Let's assume Safaricom is has 400 customer services reps .... would they be an ideal client for any BPO in Kenya ? if they pay their employees 50k per month .. a BPO would have to charge them 100k per month FOR THE SAME EMPLOYEE across town. Now, maybe I have all this wrong but there are more than 10000 companies in the developed world with over 400 "clerical employees" who they pay an average of 3000$ per month. If you went and targeted these companies .... you can get 100k per employee, pay the employee 50k etc and the client will be happy, you happy, employee happy ... Many local clients take 60-90 days to pay invoices. In US for example, depending on state, it's illegal to hold a vendors payment when work has been done …. My point ... BPOs, Software Providers have to be willing to ignore the local market and focus on external sources of business. The local market is too small, too complicated and the waters are very muddied. About brokers and "consultants". I have been approached by quite a few. People who claim to have connections, venture capital and all that good stuff. I learnt early to say no… early. They are a waste of time in my book Kenya will not become a better outsourcing destination if we come up with ethics guidelines, an act of parliament and the like … now, those will not hurt … but we will benefit more if the ICT Board flanked companies when they are pitching their services to potential clients. By flanking I mean fly to meet the client, do research on financials, help with financing - have a conference in US and invite 100 potential and vetted clients to meet Kenyan providers …. This works like a charm here .. (if GOK spends 500k on tickets and 30 Kenyans are hired making 50k … - ROI is there pretty fast) If the CEO of the ICT board calls the CEO of ATT he is more likely to get a meeting and business as opposed to the CEO of Kamau Wanjala Outsourcers … again, I don't know what the ICT Board has been doing (am sure they have done a lot … may be like top secret strategy stuff) but in my opinion the CEO of that board should be based in US for like 90% of the year .. talk to clients, be a rain maker, schmooze, play golf and open doors. I have always felt that the ICT Board should headhunt and hire people with C level experience from either US or UK … people from the bigger consulting companies Bain, BCG, Accenture, Avanade, EDS … these guys work on million dollar outsourcing deals and have very good contacts. They also would be able to come up with a strategy immediately As Gilda has shown, the harvest is plentiful … Liko Agosta, CEO Verviant Consulting Services. www.verviant.com Phone : 1-919-341-1820 Fax : 1-978-268-8403 Toll Free: 1-866-551-4935 Pager: <9193891551(a)txt.att.net>9193891551(a)txt.att.net -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+likoa= <verviant.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> verviant.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [<kictanet-bounces+likoa=verviant.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> mailto:kictanet-bounces <kictanet-bounces>+likoa= verviant.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of David Otwoma Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 11:45 AM To: Liko Agosta Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] BPO Industry Review (was Re: Stakeholder Queries:) Dear Brian, Looks like you are fully re-charged after last weeks retreat in Naivasha on Strategy. Tell us some more of what is not confidential. Otherwise my wish is to take the baton from my able Chair and respond on bullet 3 in your beautiful rejoinder. As Chair of the Standards and Ethics Committee of the KBPOCCS we (are 7 members) did come up with Standards and Ethics Guidelines which took over eight (8) months to prepare and on June 22nd 2008 the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information & Communication led us (KBPOCCS members, KICTB who graciously sponsored the event at KICC, CCK, CSK, members of the public who have an interest in BPO&CC pie) into adopting the S&E Guidelines. The next milestone we wish to aim for is have the Guidelines upgraded into a Regulation or an Act of Parliament. Either achievement would be binding to all and sundry who operate in the BPO&CC world. A world which is moving the advancement of the human race from industrial age into information age. Just imagine Kenya having a binding law on Standards and a slice of the USD$310 Billion industry. It would make our young people, because they are the future force in the knowledge economy we keep talking about. What are the next immediate steps. Cozy relations between the Private Public Partnership. Another bullet I will let you peer into what you have been seeing but refuse to acknowledge is bullet No. 7. It was KPLC who introduced me to the world of BPO&CC when they sought S. African expertise to deal with their in-house contact centre better known to the general public (read Brian et al) as Customer Care Centre or Customer Relations Management. Ever wondered when power disappears at any time of the day or night where that 'frustrated' call 'agrily demanding 'where is power?' goes? Yes to a call center owned and managed by KPLC. KPLC as of 2005 when we engaged had a call centre running 24/7 with 210 seats in Nairobi alone. Telecom has a bigger one. Safaricom is soon overtaking Telecom with that news flash. Water companies have. So do all the banks, insurance, etc. companies both private and public owned. Since we have very able Chairs for Training, Marketing etc. I will stop there and go for my dear bottle.....tusker. David On Tue, Sep 2, 2008 at 6:12 PM, Brian Munyao Longwe < <brian(a)caret.net> brian(a)caret.net> wrote: > Excellent Feedback Gilda, > > So I see a few very clear issues arising out of your response: > > 1) There is a distinct global opportunity - but that calls for > appropriate positioning as well as preparation on Kenya's part > 2) Capacity issues need to be addressed - knowledge transfer could be > on way - but that implies finding someone who is willing to impart > the knowledge - do they come from inside or outside? > 3) Global standards must be recognised and adhered to in order to > ensure entry and competitiveness - what are these standards are they > clearly documented somewhere? > 4) Many local operations have not had the exposure necessary/needed > to develop expertise/efficiency/etc - what kind of interventions can > facilitate this? > 5) BPO is not the "Holy Grail" as some perceive it, but one piece of > the ICT puzzle that needs to be solved in order to help Kenya attain > it's ambitious goal of becoming a global ICT hub > 6) There is a distinct and precise training need for personnel to > supply the Kenyan BPO industry with "bodies to put on seats", > presumably to allow the BPO industry to harness and deliver against > the global opportunity - what interventions (planned or otherwise) > are we taking to meet this target? How accurate is this estimate and > can it be verified? > 7) Local Players - your website (must say it's very cute) lists quite > a number (28) - but I must say that I'm quite surprised at some of > the names I find there - didn't know KPLC was offering BPO services > for example - but maybe I'm mistaken in my assumptions.... > 8) Local opportunities: seems many/most local companies are looking > outside to outsource certain functions or simply "self-provisioning" > - why would Safaricom claim that it's too expensive to outsource > locally based on the price estimates that they got from industry. Is > there a need for our local BPO industry to do some kind of soul > searching and find ways of making themselves/their services more > palatable to local companies? > 9) The industry for some reason seems to have attracted brokers - who > are watering down/diluting the true opportunity - what kind of > interventions do we need to "eliminate the middleman" - a seemingly > consistent argument in many sector e.g. tea, coffee, flowers, tourism > etc..... > > Brian > > On Sep 2, 2008, at 4:10 PM, Gilda Odera wrote: > >> Hi Brian, >> >> You have raised very pertinent questions in your email below. >> Let me answer your queries. >> >> Firstly, it is true that BPO has taken centre stage in many >> discussions surrounding Kenya's ICT development and growth and it >> is a good thing, here's why: >> We are looking at a USD$310 Billion industry by next year, up for >> grabs for any destinations that get it right. India is currently >> taking up 45% of the total share and China and Phillipines are >> steadily growing. And what's more, it can only grow, with the fuel >> prices soaring each year,what choice is there for the companies out >> there to look for more affordable means of operating. >> It is a fact that the western countries are looking for new >> alternative destinations to Asia so they do not put all their eggs >> in one basket, not with the terrorism threats all over. Where else >> but Africa. Why would Kenya not put its house in order to take a >> piece of this pie? >> >> Now in regard to your comment on BPO taking centre stage in ICT >> development, I would say one thing we need in this country is >> opportunity for knowledge transfer done right here. We may produce >> more technology oriented personnel but as long as we operate within >> the Kenyan way of operating, we are not developing our personnel to >> the global standards we want them to attain.Not because we are not >> capable, but because many operations have not had the exposure. >> >> I would beg to differ (and government can speak for itself) that we >> are putting all eggs in one basket. BPO is but one sub-sector in >> the ICT arena. Many other sub-sectors within the sector are quite >> active. Software development is coming up and I keep reading >> debates on KICTANET. There is an interest. >> Content development is also being encouraged. The >> telecommunications sector is busy preparing for real competition >> and we the consumers can't wait for the benefits, they will have to >> have great value adds and affordable pricing. >> >> What steps are we taking to enhance BPO? I leave the ICT Board to >> answer that although as Kenya BPO and Contact Centre Society, we >> have presented to them the need to train not less than 10,000 per >> year, specifically for this sector. Frost and Sullivan who are >> normally 90% accurate in their new destination analysis says Kenya >> will by 2012 have a BPO sector employing about 120,000 direct jobs >> ( you can add indirect by another 3-5) as long as the fibre optic >> infrastructure is in place on time next year and marketing of the >> country takes root. >> >> Who are the players? Our members are on our website >> <http://www.kenyabposociety.or.ke>www.kenyabposociety.or.ke . There are ofcourse others quietly >> operating. >> What are the local opportunities- Our biggest challenge is getting >> local companies to outsource though some have started. We expected >> the giants like Safaricom to play a role even if it is a CSR role >> to demonstrate a level of confidence in the local companies. This >> is possible, other companies work with those they outsource to for >> a given period, and leave them running efficiently as they require. >> All is not lost. Some local companies are outsourcing BPO work and >> I wish to challenge Safaricom to outsource part of their BPO work >> if they say local outsourcing is not competitive. >> >> The international opportunities are the ones that I have mentioned >> are worth $310 Billion. The ball is in our court as Kenyans to >> market Kenya as a destination if we are to make any gains. We need >> to attract direct clients and not the current brokers who are >> exploiting the existing centres,much as their contracts are keeping >> some of the centres going. >> I hope I have addressed your queries. >> >> >> >> >> Gilda Odera >> Chair, Kenya BPO and Contact Centre Society >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brian Munyao Longwe" >> < <brian(a)caret.net>brian(a)caret.net> >> To: "Gilda Odera" < <godera(a)skyweb.co.ke>godera(a)skyweb.co.ke> >> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" < <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >> Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 11:12 AM >> Subject: [kictanet] BPO Industry Review (was Re: Stakeholder Queries:) >> >> >> Hi All, >> >> It is interesting that BPO seems to have taken a centre stage in many >> discussions surrounding Kenya's ICT development and growth. While I >> do believe that BPO/KPO has huge potential. I am a bit skeptical >> about this "silver bullet" approach which might be akin to putting >> all our eggs in one basket. >> >> What if the basket gets stepped on by some giant like Malaysia, South >> Africa or others? >> >> I would be very interested in taking a much closer look at the BPO >> industry in Kenya. Who are the players? What are the opportunities? >> What is the potential for growth? What steps are we taking to enhance/ >> develop/increase capacity in BPO/KPO? What kind(s) of investments are >> required to make this industry boom? What are the local opportunities >> for BPO/KPO? What are the international opportunities for BPO/KPO? >> >> I think that answers to these and many other questions will help >> other like me who are a bit unclear in their minds as to how BPO will >> be our saviour have a clearer view. It might also just show that BPO >> is a contributing factor and not necessarily the holy grail that at >> the moment seems to be the general perception. >> >> Regards, >> >> Brian >> >> >> >> On Sep 2, 2008, at 8:25 AM, David Otwoma wrote: >> >>> Dear All, >>> >>> "Comments from BPO operators and of course other Stakeholders" >>> please. >>> >>> Safaricom in Sh1bn customer care plan (see Daily Nation page 28) >>> >>> ------------------------------------------------- >>> >>> Many companies have been turning to BPOs as the financial benefits of >>> outsourcing continue to make it compelling, with cost savings and >>> efficiency improvements being the dominant reasons companies use such >>> services. However, companies biggest concerns on outsourcing >>> relate to >>> data security. >>> >>> >>> ----------------------------------------------------- >>> >>> The move, seen a precautionary measure in the face of growing >>> competition, marks a complete turnaround by the mobile provider which >>> in July last year had sought quotations from local Business Process >>> Outsourcing (BPO) firms. >>> >>> "Outsourcing the customer care function proved to be too expensive >>> for >>> the kind of quality that we required. We will just have to run the >>> service in-house," said Safaricom chief executive Michael Joseph. >>> >>> >>> <http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/-/1006/466372/-/jiyt3xz/-/> http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/-/1006/466372/-/jiyt3xz/-/ >>> index.html >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Sep 1, 2008 at 8:58 PM, Sean Moroney >>> < <seanm(a)aitecafrica.com>seanm(a)aitecafrica.com> wrote: >>>> Dear Liko, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> We would like to invite you to make a presentation at the >>>> forthcoming >>>> Outsourcing & Contact Centre Conference, which we will be holding >>>> over 4-5 >>>> November under the auspices of the Ministry of Information & >>>> Communications >>>> and in partnership with the ICT Board. The programme of confirmed >>>> presentations so far is attached. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> It would be great if you would be willing to share your experience >>>> with the >>>> other participants. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Yours sincerely, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Sean Moroney >>>> >>>> Chairman >>>> >>>> AITEC Africa >>>> >>>> <seanm(a)aitecafrica.com>seanm(a)aitecafrica.com >>>> >>>> UK Tel: +44(0)1480-880774 >>>> >>>> UK Fax: +44(0)1480-880765 >>>> >>>> UK Mobile: +44(0)7973-499224 >>>> >>>> Kenya Mobile: +254(0)721-845674 >>>> >>>> Mozambique Mobile: +258-82-6181618 >>>> >>>> Nigeria Mobile: +234(0)802-0571766 >>>> >>>> SA Mobile: +27(0)724-577887 >>>> >>>> Skype: seanmoroney >>>> >>>> <http://www.aitecafrica.com>www.aitecafrica.com >>>> >>>> Please visit our discussion group on The Banking Technology sector >>>> in Africa >>>> at: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/africanbankingtech> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/africanbankingtech >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> AITEC Africa is the trading name of AITEC Conferences Limited >>>> UK Company registration number: 4698475 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ________________________________ >>>> >>>> From: kictanet-bounces+seanm= <aitecafrica.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> aitecafrica.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>> [ <kictanet-bounces>mailto:kictanet-bounces <kictanet-bounces> >>>> +seanm= <aitecafrica.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> aitecafrica.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] On >>>> Behalf Of Peres Were >>>> Sent: 01 September 2008 12:23 >>>> To: <seanm(a)aitecafrica.com>seanm(a)aitecafrica.com >>>> >>>> Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' >>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Stakeholder Queries: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Liko, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> It would be great to hear from you and others, your insights into >>>> sales and >>>> marketing insights that can benefit the BPO, KPO sector. We can >>>> continue the >>>> discussion off the list. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Kind regards >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Peres Were >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ________________________________ >>>> >>>> From: kictanet-bounces+pwere= <cascadegl.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> cascadegl.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>> [ <kictanet-bounces+pwere=cascadegl.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> mailto:kictanet-bounces <kictanet-bounces>+pwere= cascadegl.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] >>>> On Behalf >>>> Of Liko Agosta >>>> Sent: 01 September 2008 10:33 >>>> To: <pwere(a)cascadegl.com>pwere(a)cascadegl.com >>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Stakeholder Queries: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> About ICT Board and all these Boards … >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Do they ever have open sessions where stakeholders can review >>>> strategy, >>>> advice, brainstorm ? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> As CEO of verviant, I have been able to get business … I feel like >>>> I have >>>> insights into the sales and marketing process that can benefit other >>>> software/ICT providers … >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Thanks >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Liko Agosta, CEO >>>> >>>> Verviant Consulting Services. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> <http://www.verviant.com>www.verviant.com >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Phone : 1-919-341-1820 >>>> >>>> Fax : 1-978-268-8403 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Toll Free: 1-866-551-4935 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Pager: <9193891551(a)txt.att.net>9193891551(a)txt.att.net >>>> >>>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >>>> From: Brian Longwe < <blongwe(a)gmail.com>blongwe(a)gmail.com> >>>> Date: Aug 29, 2008 9:31 AM >>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] ICT Board Strategy a Farce >>>> To: <wambuiwakarema(a)yahoo.co.uk>wambuiwakarema(a)yahoo.co.uk >>>> >>>> Very strong language - but I think you should relax as your >>>> concerns are >>>> unfounded. >>>> >>>> I am at the Strategic retreat. Unfortunately Gilda Odera - >>>> Chairperson of >>>> BPO, who was supposed to be present had to cancel at the last >>>> minute. >>>> >>>> Brian >>>> >>>> On 8/29/08, Wambui Wakarema < <wambuiwakarema(a)yahoo.co.uk> wambuiwakarema(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> I have read with surprise the Kictanet mailout from the ICT Board >>>> claiming >>>> they are going for a stakeholders strategy workshop in Naivasha. >>>> >>>> Who are these stakeholders? Are there any representing the BPO >>>> sector?? I >>>> ask this because I have contacted the industry association and >>>> they dont >>>> seem >>>> >>>> to be in the know either. This is quite bizarre, especially since >>>> BPO is a >>>> key sector of the ICT Board's mandate. >>>> >>>> Who are the stakeholders from the other ICT sectors? Shouldnt the >>>> Board be >>>> getting input from key stakeholders at this workshop. >>>> >>>> They are wasting government resources going to write strategies >>>> and then >>>> 'presenting' to stakeholders, yet stakeholders should have been >>>> involved >>>> from the word go. >>>> >>>> The >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> David Otwoma, >>> Chief Science Secretary, >>> National Council for Science and Technology, >>> Utalii House 9th Floor, >>> Mobile tel: +254 722 141771, >>> Office tel: +254 (0)20 2346915, >>> P. O. Box 29899 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya >>> email: <otwomad(a)gmail.com>otwomad(a)gmail.com & <otwoma(a)ncst.go.ke> otwoma(a)ncst.go.ke >>> <http://www.ncst.go.ke>www.ncst.go.ke >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> This message was sent to: <brian(a)caret.net>brian(a)caret.net >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ >>> mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40caret.net >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: <godera(a)skyweb.co.ke>godera(a)skyweb.co.ke >> Unsubscribe or change your options at <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ >> mailman/options/kictanet/godera%40sky <http://web.co.ke>web.co.ke > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: <otwomad(a)gmail.com>otwomad(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otwomad%40gmail.com> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otwomad%40gmail.com > -- David Otwoma, Chief Science Secretary, National Council for Science and Technology, Utalii House 9th Floor, Mobile tel: +254 722 141771, Office tel: +254 (0)20 2346915, P. O. Box 29899 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya email: <otwomad(a)gmail.com>otwomad(a)gmail.com & <otwoma(a)ncst.go.ke> otwoma(a)ncst.go.ke www.ncst.go.ke _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: <likoa(a)verviant.com>likoa(a)verviant.com Unsubscribe or change your options at <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/likoa%40verviant.com> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/likoa%40verviant.com _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: <brian(a)caret.net>brian(a)caret.net Unsubscribe or change your options at <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40caret.net> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40caret.net ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: <godera(a)skyweb.co.ke>godera(a)skyweb.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/godera%40skyweb.co.ke> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/godera%40skyweb.co.ke _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: <blongwe(a)gmail.com>blongwe(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/blongwe%40gmail.com> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/blongwe%40gmail.com -- Brian Munyao Longwe e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com cell: + 254 722 518 744 blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com

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BPO STUDY LAUNCH WORKSHOP
by Evelyne Majale 03 Sep '08

03 Sep '08

Dear all The launch workshop takes place on 10th September 2008 and not 12th as indicated in my email today. Apologies. Evelyne

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