- KICTANet - KICTANet

Community fibre networks - a high level communique on the way forward
by Muriuki Mureithi 16 Jun '09

16 Jun '09

hi all National fibre infrastructure is now prevalent but unfortunately bypassing the rural and the poor. this should not happen and there is a way out. please read the attached communique for a way forward. cheers Muriuki Mureithi

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by Walubengo J 16 Jun '09

16 Jun '09

I agree with Dr. Ndemo et al. One of our greatest weakness is negative energy. And the root cause of this negative energy is tribalism. Our East African citizens (TZ,UG etc) know that Kenyans identify themselves first as being from their tribe, then 2nd as being from their clan and finally as being from their country ( the 'Navumulia' kua mkenya mentality). As noted by others, the sheer capacity of this negative energy will overide any marketing dollars that may be poured out there in "Brand Kenya" initiatives...There must be conscious and deliberate effort to sell Brand Kenya internally. We have to find a way to celebrate our diversity rather than exagerate our differences...This to me should have been one of the pillars in the Vision 2030 because it wont happen overnite. walu. --- On Mon, 6/15/09, Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Monday, June 15, 2009, 12:35 PM > Dakatari, thanks for the > elaboration....I hear you! I hope the media is also reading > this. > > Nyaki > > From: > "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > To: Catherine > Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com>; > kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > Cc: KICTAnet > ICT Policy Discussions > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Sent: Monday, > June 15, 2009 12:16:12 AM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day > 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths andWeaknesses > (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > > > Catherine, some barking dogs are causing untold pain to our > people. Hate against Kenyans in Tanzania is at its > worst. Irrespective who you are, you are refered to as > Mungiki who is after grabbing Tanzanian land. Whom do > you think created this image for our people? > > Mungiki is more of any economic crisis in our country but > our Media has refused to link the two. We lack > analytical depth in our media houses. What you read is > petty fitina. When a media house purpots that > "Cable lands into financial trouble" do you think > such media has the interests of this country at heart? > If they did they should have asked the right questions > before publishing. I do not think they have a clue how > such any article impacts the country negatively. > > The audience of what is published locally is not only > Kenyan people who read it. We must love our country > and stop hoping that someone else will change our > image. The sad part is that all of what has been > read throughout the world are all lies. Some people > reading this may never know that it was not true. > > This what I meant to say that negativity will fail us and > we should check every barking dog. > > Ndemo > > Sent from my BlackBerry® > > -----Original Message----- > From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> > > Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:36:34 > To: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, > Strengths and > Weaknesses (Observations from USA and > UK); and Trends and > Niches > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >

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Re: [kictanet] Fw: Re: Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths and Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by Luvisia Bakuli 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

Thanks LK for your observations. You sent the message to me and not the list. I am not sure if you wanted this to appear in public; but I think you made an important contribution that needs to be shared, for you might be speaking for the "silent majority." For that reason, I will whiteout your ID to share your message. You are right, I should have used a better metaphor for IBM than Godfather. Let me try a different one: IBM is like a hawk on the Serengeti. From its vantage point, 20/20 eyesight, and ease of movement it is capable of monitoring what's happening on the vast terrain. So what others in the food chain, e.g. hyenas, have learned to do when the undergrowth is thick and the prey (e. g. antelopes) too fast for them is to look up in the sky for signs of where there is a kill. They have learned that if they follow the hawk they hare sure to have food albeit leftover bones. And if they arrive early enough and are in a large group, they might even chase the lions away and inherit the carcass. Okay that's enough for the metaphor lest we overstretch it. But we might miss the point of the discussion if we focus on who's first, leader or right. I have read articles where IBM failed miserably in its bit to manage outsourcing for the state of Texas and history might teach us a lesson that not all visionaries are good at execution. So our major task might be to find the visionaries and if they are goofy in their execution, ignore their execution but go after the lucrative markets they have identified. I gotta go. It is raining, thundering, and I don't want to be the lightning's conduit to earth. Cheers, Luvisia Bakuli On Mon, 2009-06-15 at 10:07 -0700, LK wrote: > > Truth is IBM is NOT the Godfather of Cloud computing, in fact they are > way behind newz... Look at what Microsoft is already selling to the > federal government, my only objection is that they seem to be after > Stimulus money -- yani fighting the small guys for federal bail out > funds! > > http://www.publicsectorondemand.com/ > > I think Cloud computing for disaster recovery makes sense but like > everyone else I am concerned about data security until they come up > with an encryption that hackers cant get perhaps in the next > lifetime:-) > > > > > --- On Mon, 6/15/09, Luvisia Bakuli <luvisia.bakuli(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > From: Luvisia Bakuli <luvisia.bakuli(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, > Strengths and Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and > Trends and Niches > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Monday, June 15, 2009, 12:35 PM > > Thanks Catherine-- wil stick to the subject line next time. > Had posted > as I rushed out the door in the morning. > > The article that I forwarded addressed trends abd potential > niche > market as defined by IBM. Just like UNESCO leads the way in > social > culturall trends, IBM seems to pick winning markets. Luvisia > Bakuli > > On 6/15/09, Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > Thanks Luvisia, > > > > However, may I request all not to change the subject header > for ease of > > discussions, we will flesh out the relevant content as we go > along. So note > > inside the body of your discussion that you will focus on > niche areas but do > > not change the subject header. > > > > Thanks for your input, very insightful. > > > > Much appreciated, > > > > Nyaki (Moderator jointly with Walu) > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > From: Luvisia Bakuli <luvisia.bakuli(a)gmail.com> > > To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com > > Cc: eMatete(a)gmail.com; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 2:45:19 PM > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Niche Markets > > > > For those looking for niche areas, the following article > might generate > > some ideas. DBL > > > > ____________________ > > > > > > June 15, 2009 > > > > I.B.M. to Help Clients Fight Cost and Complexity > > By STEVE LOHR > > > > > > In 2000, the Linux operating system was a hot technology, > but it had not > > spread much beyond scientists, researchers and computer > programmers. > > Then I.B.M. declared that it would back Linux with > investment, research > > and marketing, and the technology moved swiftly into the > corporate > > mainstream. > > > > The same thing happened with the personal computer in the > early 1980s, > > when I.B.M. endorsed that upstart technology and entered the > market. > > > > Starting this week, I.B.M. is returning to the same > playbook, > > introducing some initial products and services and a roadmap > for its > > stable of corporate and government customers to comfortably > embrace > > cloud computing. > > > > Cloud computing — in which vast stores of information and > processing > > resources can be tapped from afar, over the Internet, using > a personal > > computer, cellphone or other device — holds great promise in > the > > corporate market. The cloud model, analysts say, has the > potential to > > cut the costs, complexity and headaches of technology for > companies and > > government agencies. > > > > Already, Amazon.com, Google and Salesforce.com, among > others, offer > > cloud-based Web services to companies, including e-mail, > computer > > storage and customer management software. But many big > companies and > > government agencies have been reluctant to get on board > because of > > traditional corporate-computing concerns like the security > of data, > > reliability of service and regulatory compliance. > > > > “I.B.M. knows how to do all of those things,” said Frank > Gens, chief > > analyst for IDC, a technology research firm. “Its strategy > is all about > > making cloud computing safe for enterprise customers.” > > > > Even if I.B.M. succeeds in its bid to make cloud computing > more > > palatable for big corporations, there is no guarantee that > it will be > > the main beneficiary of the trend. After I.B.M. helped > create the PC > > industry, lower-cost competitors ended up dominating the > business. > > > > In the cloud market, I.B.M. plans to take a tailored > approach. The > > hardware and software in its cloud offerings will be meant > for specific > > computing chores. Just as Google runs a computing cloud > optimized for > > Internet search, I.B.M. will make bespoke clouds for > computing workloads > > in business. > > > > Its early cloud entries, to be announced on Monday, follow > that model. > > One set of offerings is focused on streamlining the > technology used by > > corporate software developers and testers, which can consume > 30 percent > > or more of a company’s technology resources. > > > > The second set is virtual desktop services, in which > personal computer > > software, either from Microsoft or open-source alternatives, > is run on > > remote servers and piped to simple desktop machines equipped > with > > screens and keyboards. I.B.M. found in tests with clients > that such > > virtual PCs, with little desktop processing or storage, can > use 70 > > percent less power than conventional PCs and reduce > technical support > > costs by up to 40 percent,. > > > > Both the software development and desktop services are being > offered as > > an integrated bundle of hardware and software for a cloud > running inside > > a corporate or government data center, or as a cloud service > hosted in > > an I.B.M. data center. > > > > Other offerings are planned, I.B.M. executives said, > including clouds > > fine-tuned for data storage, and clouds for business > analytics, which is > > software that analyzes data for patterns of customer > behavior, market > > trends and other potentially valuable information. > > > > I.B.M. calls its approach of fine-tuning hardware and > software for > > specific jobs “hybrid computing.” And it will open a Hybrid > Computing > > Research lab later this year, inviting industry and > university > > scientists to work cooperatively on new application-specific > designs > > intended to improve performance by 100 to 1,000 times > compared with > > today’s systems. > > > > The fresh look at computer design is being prompted by the > surge in > > Internet data, from social networking to smartphone > applications to > > sensors monitoring food shipments and electrical use. By > 2011, IDC > > estimates, there will be one trillion Internet-connected > devices, up > > from 500 million in 2006. > > > > “This huge explosion of data is driving a movement to design > systems > > around workloads because it is the only way to deliver the > computation > > needed, and it’s far more energy-efficient,” said Kunle > Olukotun, a > > computer scientist at Stanford. > > > > I.B.M. had an initiative, begun in early 2008, called Blue > Cloud, which > > mainly involved adapting its server computers for cloud > technology. Most > > major technology suppliers have cloud-related hardware and > software > > products, including Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems > and Dell. > > But I.B.M., analysts say, is going further by offering > simplified, > > integrated stacks of hardware and software, as well as cloud > services. > > > > I.B.M.’s cloud strategy, the company said, is the > culmination of 100 > > prototype projects with companies and government agencies > over the last > > year, and its research partnership with Google. > > > > “The information technology infrastructure is under stress > already, and > > the data flood is just accelerating,” said Samuel J. > Palmisano, I.B.M.’s > > chief executive. “We’ve decided that how you solve that > starts by > > organizing technology around the workload.” > > > > One of I.B.M.’s test beds for cloud computing has been the > Interior > > Department’s National Business Center, a service center that > handles > > payroll, human relations, financial reporting, contracting > services and > > other computing tasks for dozens of federal agencies. The > center runs > > two large data centers, one in Northern Virginia and another > outside > > Denver. > > > > Douglas J. Bourgeois, the center’s director, said he is > introducing > > several cloud-style applications over the next nine months > including > > Web-based training, and staffing and recruitment software. > And in tests > > with financial and procurement software, the cloud-computing > environment > > has delivered efficiencies of 40 to 60 percent in > productivity and power > > consumption, he said. > > > > “For us, like other data centers, the volume of data > continues to > > explode,” Mr. Bourgeois said. “We want to solve some of > those problems > > with cloud computing, so we don’t have to build another $20 > million data > > center.” > > > > > > Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizaslider%40yahoo.com > > > > > > > > > > -- > Sent from my mobile device > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: lkimani(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lkimani% > 40yahoo.com >

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, StrengthsandWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

Dear David, No one wants to stop Media from reporting what is happening. Our media must move from incident reporting to providing analytical reports that can help us grow. Yes Government has challenges. Media too is not without challenges. The discussions here are calling for us to take individual responsibilities to change this country. A single editor can change that which can harm our collective being. If the manager at Mbs airport took his responsibility seriously, he could have even borrowed a generator. Our collective failure emanates from our individual lazyness and careless attention to responsibility. This is why I still want to state that it is imperative for us to separate Kenya from personality (our individual failures). On Mungiki, you know very well it is not the country Kenya that created them. It is generally our individual failures that has brought the problem. When a family continues to have children even when they cannot afford, they contribute to the problem. When someone corruptly misuses public resources, he/she contributes to the problem. Media should then get to the root cause of the problem by indetifying individual failures. Only then we can provide a comprehensive solution. Is it for nothing that China had to create a one child policy? Regards Ndemo. > I wonder, does the media report for outsiders or kenyans who need the info > to make decisions in their daily lives? We live right here and the media > has a duty to report reality not make-believe propaganda for foreign > investors. Government shud fix the corruption, insecurity, infrastructure > etc to create an environment for investment not plead with the media to > abdicate its obligation to report accurately. If it did that it would be > an accomplice in deception. No need burying our heads in the sand for > short term gain. > I have been to many countries and nothing tells me the kenyan media is > crazy, save for common professional shortcomings. If govt functioned half > as much as the media in the pursuit of greater kenya, we wud be far! > Last nite hundreds of pepole, me included, were stranded at moi airport in > msa because there were no lights on the runway so no planes could land or > take off. > I dont know how many pple missed their connecting international flights > but that does more damage to investor confidence than crime reports. I > read those everywhere i go but not about airports that have no lights. And > that takes just a generator. Or is that among the unspecified services > that the mysterious 1.5b in the budget will cater for? Long shot. > Bottomline- the media cant just be improvised to promote the interests of > the business and capitalist class. There is the rest of us citizens whose > welfare, life and worries too must be reported. Besides, it will be the > same media that will be whipped for keeping quiet when things were going > wrong. Remember the election fiasco? Yes, better blame the media now > rather than later for not warning of the danger lurking in our midst. Dont > beseech the media to join in the collective national amnesia and deception > of the world. Ask the govt to deal with the issues. > > David > Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device > > -----Original Message----- > From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > > Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:37:06 > To: <dmakali(a)yahoo.com> > Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions'<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths > andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > > > Listers, > Please take a moment and see what is on-line from our papers today and > understand what I am trying to say. You cannot convince even our people > in the diaspora to invest in Kenya. Compare that with what SA has on the > web from their papers. They have managed their violence especially on > foreingners well even as it continues. We are showing machetes to > investors without critical analysis and how we see the future of our > country. > > The few potential investors I met this morning are distgusted with what > they see. Allow me to request my brother Linus who is on this list to > remove the picture please. > > > Ndemo. > > > > > > >> Dr. Ndemo, >> >> I stopped watching news in the local media a while back. Too much >> negative >> stuff affecting the peace and tranquility I expect in my home. >> >> There is a lot of crime in S.A. yet the country is geared to host the >> World >> Cup come next year. How are they working to make it a success? >> >> I support you fully. It is high time we Kenyans started to think >> nationally >> as a nation. To look at the positives. We live in a real world and >> things >> will not always be perfect in any country, Kenya included. >> Therefore we should promote the positive aspects of Kenya first before >> we >> can expect outsiders to support us. >> >> >> Sammy Buruchara >> CEO NairobiNet Ltd >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: kictanet-bounces+sammy=opensystems.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+sammy=opensystems.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] >> On >> Behalf Of bitange(a)jambo.co.ke >> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 12:11 PM >> To: sammy(a)opensystems.co.ke >> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths >> andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches >> >> Prof. >> We should understand the impact of internet better. Our papers are >> on-line and they contribute the greatest content out there. A >> potential >> investor trying to surf the net, gets mostly negative information. I >> am >> not against our media but they could do better in setting the agenda. >> A >> few examples may help here. >> >> It is not only Kenya that has suffered the youth bulge. This is >> something >> that has affected countries world over. The US suffered in the 1930's >> leading the country to get rid of the problem by investing heavily on >> public works and the war. In China they put much of their people into >> labour intensive public works (roads, energy, ICTs ets). While they >> did >> this they also suffered a high rate of crime. This is how the Al >> Capones >> came up. Italy has had a mafia crisis over a long period of time but >> the >> media there did not only focus on crime. They suggested economic >> solutions that have helped reduce crime in the south go down. When we >> write about mungiki, we should also suggest a way forward. We must >> also >> create hope for our people because we are all responsible for what >> happens >> in our land. >> >> The recent US elections were all about hope that things will change. >> Look >> at the Uhuru Budget. It was a budget of hope. But read our yesterday >> papers. While one Media house attempted to create hope. The other >> focused on hopelessness - "the devil is in the details" - yet for once >> we >> were united in hope for our future. I had expected many positive >> headlines out of the budget but I was disappointed. This is a budget >> we >> should have leveraged to create a new Kenya. A Kenya where we all have >> hope. It gave us our much a waited new constitution. That we can >> devolve >> our resources based on the districts. That we may not need to dismantle >> a >> constitution that has relatively served us well for more than 40 years. >> That we may need only Parliament to amend only the governance aspects >> of >> our constitution as many civilized countries do. This where media had >> a >> chance to set the agenda for this country but they have yet again >> wasted >> the opportunity. It is not too late for them to bring hope. The >> Vision >> 2030 can be achieved if we all agree that it will bring the desired >> change. >> >> I am glad we deviated a little but this discussion will shape our >> future >> policies. Where we all respect one another. >> >> Regards >> >> >> Ndemo. >> >> >>> Dr. Ndemo, >>> >>> You have captured very well the problem with us Kenyans. At the same >>> time, >>> it is important to acknowledge that we have very many people who are >>> positive and are doing very good things for this country. But they are >>> drowned by the bad elements amongst us. However, things will not >>> change >>> if >>> we do not make a deliberate change intervention. According to me, it >>> will >>> be >>> almost impossible to achieve V2030 with this attitude. We must >>> change.I >>> strongly believe that there is a 4th pillar that V2030 >>> conceptualization >>> missed - NATIONAL COHESION. It is what is required to move forward and >>> fulfil the other plans. We could therefore argue that we need to sell >>> Kenya >>> to Kenyans before we go out to foreigners. Otherwise all the positive >>> messages that will be put out there in selling Kenya to investors by >>> whoever >>> (assuming we can get this right in the first instance) will soon be >>> negated >>> by the bad attitudes that you speak of. And who said Kenya must be >>> developed >>> by outsiders? >>> >>> I hope I have not sounded like a barking dog. >>> >>> tim mwololo >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 12:16 AM, <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: >>> >>>> Catherine, some barking dogs are causing untold pain to our people. >>>> Hate >>>> against Kenyans in Tanzania is at its worst. Irrespective who you >>>> are, >>>> you >>>> are refered to as Mungiki who is after grabbing Tanzanian land. Whom >>>> do >>>> you >>>> think created this image for our people? >>>> >>>> Mungiki is more of any economic crisis in our country but our Media >>>> has >>>> refused to link the two. We lack analytical depth in our media >>>> houses. >>>> What you read is petty fitina. When a media house purpots that >>>> "Cable >>>> lands into financial trouble" do you think such media has the >>>> interests >>>> of >>>> this country at heart? If they did they should have asked the right >>>> questions before publishing. I do not think they have a clue how >>>> such >>>> any >>>> article impacts the country negatively. >>>> >>>> The audience of what is published locally is not only Kenyan people >>>> who >>>> read it. We must love our country and stop hoping that someone else >>>> will >>>> change our image. The sad part is that all of what has been read >>>> throughout >>>> the world are all lies. Some people reading this may never know that >>>> it >>>> was >>>> not true. >>>> >>>> This what I meant to say that negativity will fail us and we should >>>> check >>>> every barking dog. >>>> >>>> Ndemo >>>> >>>> Sent from my BlackBerryR >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> >>>> >>>> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:36:34 >>>> To: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> >>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths >>>> and >>>> Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and >>>> Niches >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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 >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> kictanet mailing list >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>> >>>> This message was sent to: timwololo(a)gmail.com >>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>>> >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.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" >>> >>> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------- >> 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: sammy(a)opensystems.co.ke >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/sammy%40opensystems.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" > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: dmakali(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmakali%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" > > ---------------------------------------------- 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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Re: [kictanet] Media Reports
by Luvisia Bakuli 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

The media need to report both the good and the ugly news. Our wish that they focus more on positive stories than negative ones may not help the country in the long run. I think the anger voiced on the list at the current media stories about Mungiki's menace in Central Province is misdirected. Real people are dieing in those villages and we cannot wish that those deaths were not reported. Rather let's pressurize the Minister and PS in charge of internal security, the Administration Police, Police, Paramilitary (GSU), CID, Special Branch, etc to contain this menace. These government officials should be made to account for these deaths –I think we need direct our anger and questions at these people not the media. Bakuli

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths and Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by Luvisia Bakuli 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

Thanks Catherine-- wil stick to the subject line next time. Had posted as I rushed out the door in the morning. The article that I forwarded addressed trends abd potential niche market as defined by IBM. Just like UNESCO leads the way in social culturall trends, IBM seems to pick winning markets. Luvisia Bakuli On 6/15/09, Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > Thanks Luvisia, > > However, may I request all not to change the subject header for ease of > discussions, we will flesh out the relevant content as we go along. So note > inside the body of your discussion that you will focus on niche areas but do > not change the subject header. > > Thanks for your input, very insightful. > > Much appreciated, > > Nyaki (Moderator jointly with Walu) > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Luvisia Bakuli <luvisia.bakuli(a)gmail.com> > To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com > Cc: eMatete(a)gmail.com; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 2:45:19 PM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Niche Markets > > For those looking for niche areas, the following article might generate > some ideas. DBL > > ____________________ > > > June 15, 2009 > > I.B.M. to Help Clients Fight Cost and Complexity > By STEVE LOHR > > > In 2000, the Linux operating system was a hot technology, but it had not > spread much beyond scientists, researchers and computer programmers. > Then I.B.M. declared that it would back Linux with investment, research > and marketing, and the technology moved swiftly into the corporate > mainstream. > > The same thing happened with the personal computer in the early 1980s, > when I.B.M. endorsed that upstart technology and entered the market. > > Starting this week, I.B.M. is returning to the same playbook, > introducing some initial products and services and a roadmap for its > stable of corporate and government customers to comfortably embrace > cloud computing. > > Cloud computing — in which vast stores of information and processing > resources can be tapped from afar, over the Internet, using a personal > computer, cellphone or other device — holds great promise in the > corporate market. The cloud model, analysts say, has the potential to > cut the costs, complexity and headaches of technology for companies and > government agencies. > > Already, Amazon.com, Google and Salesforce.com, among others, offer > cloud-based Web services to companies, including e-mail, computer > storage and customer management software. But many big companies and > government agencies have been reluctant to get on board because of > traditional corporate-computing concerns like the security of data, > reliability of service and regulatory compliance. > > “I.B.M. knows how to do all of those things,” said Frank Gens, chief > analyst for IDC, a technology research firm. “Its strategy is all about > making cloud computing safe for enterprise customers.” > > Even if I.B.M. succeeds in its bid to make cloud computing more > palatable for big corporations, there is no guarantee that it will be > the main beneficiary of the trend. After I.B.M. helped create the PC > industry, lower-cost competitors ended up dominating the business. > > In the cloud market, I.B.M. plans to take a tailored approach. The > hardware and software in its cloud offerings will be meant for specific > computing chores. Just as Google runs a computing cloud optimized for > Internet search, I.B.M. will make bespoke clouds for computing workloads > in business. > > Its early cloud entries, to be announced on Monday, follow that model. > One set of offerings is focused on streamlining the technology used by > corporate software developers and testers, which can consume 30 percent > or more of a company’s technology resources. > > The second set is virtual desktop services, in which personal computer > software, either from Microsoft or open-source alternatives, is run on > remote servers and piped to simple desktop machines equipped with > screens and keyboards. I.B.M. found in tests with clients that such > virtual PCs, with little desktop processing or storage, can use 70 > percent less power than conventional PCs and reduce technical support > costs by up to 40 percent,. > > Both the software development and desktop services are being offered as > an integrated bundle of hardware and software for a cloud running inside > a corporate or government data center, or as a cloud service hosted in > an I.B.M. data center. > > Other offerings are planned, I.B.M. executives said, including clouds > fine-tuned for data storage, and clouds for business analytics, which is > software that analyzes data for patterns of customer behavior, market > trends and other potentially valuable information. > > I.B.M. calls its approach of fine-tuning hardware and software for > specific jobs “hybrid computing.” And it will open a Hybrid Computing > Research lab later this year, inviting industry and university > scientists to work cooperatively on new application-specific designs > intended to improve performance by 100 to 1,000 times compared with > today’s systems. > > The fresh look at computer design is being prompted by the surge in > Internet data, from social networking to smartphone applications to > sensors monitoring food shipments and electrical use. By 2011, IDC > estimates, there will be one trillion Internet-connected devices, up > from 500 million in 2006. > > “This huge explosion of data is driving a movement to design systems > around workloads because it is the only way to deliver the computation > needed, and it’s far more energy-efficient,” said Kunle Olukotun, a > computer scientist at Stanford. > > I.B.M. had an initiative, begun in early 2008, called Blue Cloud, which > mainly involved adapting its server computers for cloud technology. Most > major technology suppliers have cloud-related hardware and software > products, including Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems and Dell. > But I.B.M., analysts say, is going further by offering simplified, > integrated stacks of hardware and software, as well as cloud services. > > I.B.M.’s cloud strategy, the company said, is the culmination of 100 > prototype projects with companies and government agencies over the last > year, and its research partnership with Google. > > “The information technology infrastructure is under stress already, and > the data flood is just accelerating,” said Samuel J. Palmisano, I.B.M.’s > chief executive. “We’ve decided that how you solve that starts by > organizing technology around the workload.” > > One of I.B.M.’s test beds for cloud computing has been the Interior > Department’s National Business Center, a service center that handles > payroll, human relations, financial reporting, contracting services and > other computing tasks for dozens of federal agencies. The center runs > two large data centers, one in Northern Virginia and another outside > Denver. > > Douglas J. Bourgeois, the center’s director, said he is introducing > several cloud-style applications over the next nine months including > Web-based training, and staffing and recruitment software. And in tests > with financial and procurement software, the cloud-computing environment > has delivered efficiencies of 40 to 60 percent in productivity and power > consumption, he said. > > “For us, like other data centers, the volume of data continues to > explode,” Mr. Bourgeois said. “We want to solve some of those problems > with cloud computing, so we don’t have to build another $20 million data > center.” > > > Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizaslider%40yahoo.com > > > > -- Sent from my mobile device

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THE STUDENT ENGINEER JOURNAL
by SAMUEL EYINDA M. 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

News in technology and related industries have been often misreported or given a media blackout all the same. Started just as a platform for students at UoN’s school of Engineering to exchange views and log in various student activities, The Student Engineer journal has matured over time and is now ready for the outside world. The journal, in its quest to link the students to the industry and keep them abreast of new technological trends, reports on these trends while profiling personalities and companies who define the ICT and Engineering industries. The journal calls upon all interested persons to be part of it’ success by sending in articles of written papers for publication via the e-mail address; studentengineer(a)ymail.com . you can also use the same e-mail to invite the Editorial board members to relevant events that require exclusive coverage, technological coverage. The journal’s latest edition is available online on the link; http://www.scribd.com/doc/16382459/Student-Engineer-June-2009n The October 2008 edition is also available online at; http://www.scribd.com/full/16376226?access_key=key-xh97xkqll3jot8ennft Use the email address provided to request for a printed copy of the journal’s latest edition. http://edsamich.blogspot.com

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Re: [kictanet] Niche Markets
by Luvisia Bakuli 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

For those looking for niche areas, the following article might generate some ideas. DBL ____________________ June 15, 2009 I.B.M. to Help Clients Fight Cost and Complexity By STEVE LOHR In 2000, the Linux operating system was a hot technology, but it had not spread much beyond scientists, researchers and computer programmers. Then I.B.M. declared that it would back Linux with investment, research and marketing, and the technology moved swiftly into the corporate mainstream. The same thing happened with the personal computer in the early 1980s, when I.B.M. endorsed that upstart technology and entered the market. Starting this week, I.B.M. is returning to the same playbook, introducing some initial products and services and a roadmap for its stable of corporate and government customers to comfortably embrace cloud computing. Cloud computing — in which vast stores of information and processing resources can be tapped from afar, over the Internet, using a personal computer, cellphone or other device — holds great promise in the corporate market. The cloud model, analysts say, has the potential to cut the costs, complexity and headaches of technology for companies and government agencies. Already, Amazon.com, Google and Salesforce.com, among others, offer cloud-based Web services to companies, including e-mail, computer storage and customer management software. But many big companies and government agencies have been reluctant to get on board because of traditional corporate-computing concerns like the security of data, reliability of service and regulatory compliance. “I.B.M. knows how to do all of those things,” said Frank Gens, chief analyst for IDC, a technology research firm. “Its strategy is all about making cloud computing safe for enterprise customers.” Even if I.B.M. succeeds in its bid to make cloud computing more palatable for big corporations, there is no guarantee that it will be the main beneficiary of the trend. After I.B.M. helped create the PC industry, lower-cost competitors ended up dominating the business. In the cloud market, I.B.M. plans to take a tailored approach. The hardware and software in its cloud offerings will be meant for specific computing chores. Just as Google runs a computing cloud optimized for Internet search, I.B.M. will make bespoke clouds for computing workloads in business. Its early cloud entries, to be announced on Monday, follow that model. One set of offerings is focused on streamlining the technology used by corporate software developers and testers, which can consume 30 percent or more of a company’s technology resources. The second set is virtual desktop services, in which personal computer software, either from Microsoft or open-source alternatives, is run on remote servers and piped to simple desktop machines equipped with screens and keyboards. I.B.M. found in tests with clients that such virtual PCs, with little desktop processing or storage, can use 70 percent less power than conventional PCs and reduce technical support costs by up to 40 percent,. Both the software development and desktop services are being offered as an integrated bundle of hardware and software for a cloud running inside a corporate or government data center, or as a cloud service hosted in an I.B.M. data center. Other offerings are planned, I.B.M. executives said, including clouds fine-tuned for data storage, and clouds for business analytics, which is software that analyzes data for patterns of customer behavior, market trends and other potentially valuable information. I.B.M. calls its approach of fine-tuning hardware and software for specific jobs “hybrid computing.” And it will open a Hybrid Computing Research lab later this year, inviting industry and university scientists to work cooperatively on new application-specific designs intended to improve performance by 100 to 1,000 times compared with today’s systems. The fresh look at computer design is being prompted by the surge in Internet data, from social networking to smartphone applications to sensors monitoring food shipments and electrical use. By 2011, IDC estimates, there will be one trillion Internet-connected devices, up from 500 million in 2006. “This huge explosion of data is driving a movement to design systems around workloads because it is the only way to deliver the computation needed, and it’s far more energy-efficient,” said Kunle Olukotun, a computer scientist at Stanford. I.B.M. had an initiative, begun in early 2008, called Blue Cloud, which mainly involved adapting its server computers for cloud technology. Most major technology suppliers have cloud-related hardware and software products, including Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems and Dell. But I.B.M., analysts say, is going further by offering simplified, integrated stacks of hardware and software, as well as cloud services. I.B.M.’s cloud strategy, the company said, is the culmination of 100 prototype projects with companies and government agencies over the last year, and its research partnership with Google. “The information technology infrastructure is under stress already, and the data flood is just accelerating,” said Samuel J. Palmisano, I.B.M.’s chief executive. “We’ve decided that how you solve that starts by organizing technology around the workload.” One of I.B.M.’s test beds for cloud computing has been the Interior Department’s National Business Center, a service center that handles payroll, human relations, financial reporting, contracting services and other computing tasks for dozens of federal agencies. The center runs two large data centers, one in Northern Virginia and another outside Denver. Douglas J. Bourgeois, the center’s director, said he is introducing several cloud-style applications over the next nine months including Web-based training, and staffing and recruitment software. And in tests with financial and procurement software, the cloud-computing environment has delivered efficiencies of 40 to 60 percent in productivity and power consumption, he said. “For us, like other data centers, the volume of data continues to explode,” Mr. Bourgeois said. “We want to solve some of those problems with cloud computing, so we don’t have to build another $20 million data center.” Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths and Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by Wainaina Mungai 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

Well, I am a mwananchi wa kawaida first...then a media or ICT person. Thinking as a mwananchi, i'd prefer a media that listens to wananchi. The bit that is similar in both govt&media is the insistence that they "speak for us" but neither wants to "listen to us". Listen to the IDPs and you'd temper the politics and focus on development. Listen to the hungry youth and you'd discuss solutions - not (only) point fingers. That said, it's not a media versus government war. It's meant to be engagement in various ways so as to achieve the good for mwananchi. However - most of our media is part of the 'capritalist class' being vilified by some. Resilience must be our greatest strength as a nation. Wainaina On 6/15/09, dmakali(a)yahoo.com <dmakali(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > I wonder, does the media report for outsiders or kenyans who need the info > to make decisions in their daily lives? We live right here and the media has > a duty to report reality not make-believe propaganda for foreign investors. > Government shud fix the corruption, insecurity, infrastructure etc to create > an environment for investment not plead with the media to abdicate its > obligation to report accurately. If it did that it would be an accomplice in > deception. No need burying our heads in the sand for short term gain. > I have been to many countries and nothing tells me the kenyan media is > crazy, save for common professional shortcomings. If govt functioned half as > much as the media in the pursuit of greater kenya, we wud be far! > Last nite hundreds of pepole, me included, were stranded at moi airport in > msa because there were no lights on the runway so no planes could land or > take off. > I dont know how many pple missed their connecting international flights but > that does more damage to investor confidence than crime reports. I read > those everywhere i go but not about airports that have no lights. And that > takes just a generator. Or is that among the unspecified services that the > mysterious 1.5b in the budget will cater for? Long shot. > Bottomline- the media cant just be improvised to promote the interests of > the business and capitalist class. There is the rest of us citizens whose > welfare, life and worries too must be reported. Besides, it will be the same > media that will be whipped for keeping quiet when things were going wrong. > Remember the election fiasco? Yes, better blame the media now rather than > later for not warning of the danger lurking in our midst. Dont beseech the > media to join in the collective national amnesia and deception of the world. > Ask the govt to deal with the issues. > > David > Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device > > -----Original Message----- > From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > > Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:37:06 > To: <dmakali(a)yahoo.com> > Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions'<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths > andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > > > Listers, > Please take a moment and see what is on-line from our papers today and > understand what I am trying to say. You cannot convince even our people > in the diaspora to invest in Kenya. Compare that with what SA has on the > web from their papers. They have managed their violence especially on > foreingners well even as it continues. We are showing machetes to > investors without critical analysis and how we see the future of our > country. > > The few potential investors I met this morning are distgusted with what > they see. Allow me to request my brother Linus who is on this list to > remove the picture please. > > > Ndemo. > > > > > > >> Dr. Ndemo, >> >> I stopped watching news in the local media a while back. Too much negative >> stuff affecting the peace and tranquility I expect in my home. >> >> There is a lot of crime in S.A. yet the country is geared to host the >> World >> Cup come next year. How are they working to make it a success? >> >> I support you fully. It is high time we Kenyans started to think >> nationally >> as a nation. To look at the positives. We live in a real world and >> things >> will not always be perfect in any country, Kenya included. >> Therefore we should promote the positive aspects of Kenya first before we >> can expect outsiders to support us. >> >> >> Sammy Buruchara >> CEO NairobiNet Ltd >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: kictanet-bounces+sammy=opensystems.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+sammy=opensystems.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On >> Behalf Of bitange(a)jambo.co.ke >> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 12:11 PM >> To: sammy(a)opensystems.co.ke >> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths >> andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches >> >> Prof. >> We should understand the impact of internet better. Our papers are >> on-line and they contribute the greatest content out there. A potential >> investor trying to surf the net, gets mostly negative information. I am >> not against our media but they could do better in setting the agenda. A >> few examples may help here. >> >> It is not only Kenya that has suffered the youth bulge. This is something >> that has affected countries world over. The US suffered in the 1930's >> leading the country to get rid of the problem by investing heavily on >> public works and the war. In China they put much of their people into >> labour intensive public works (roads, energy, ICTs ets). While they did >> this they also suffered a high rate of crime. This is how the Al Capones >> came up. Italy has had a mafia crisis over a long period of time but the >> media there did not only focus on crime. They suggested economic >> solutions that have helped reduce crime in the south go down. When we >> write about mungiki, we should also suggest a way forward. We must also >> create hope for our people because we are all responsible for what happens >> in our land. >> >> The recent US elections were all about hope that things will change. Look >> at the Uhuru Budget. It was a budget of hope. But read our yesterday >> papers. While one Media house attempted to create hope. The other >> focused on hopelessness - "the devil is in the details" - yet for once we >> were united in hope for our future. I had expected many positive >> headlines out of the budget but I was disappointed. This is a budget we >> should have leveraged to create a new Kenya. A Kenya where we all have >> hope. It gave us our much a waited new constitution. That we can devolve >> our resources based on the districts. That we may not need to dismantle a >> constitution that has relatively served us well for more than 40 years. >> That we may need only Parliament to amend only the governance aspects of >> our constitution as many civilized countries do. This where media had a >> chance to set the agenda for this country but they have yet again wasted >> the opportunity. It is not too late for them to bring hope. The Vision >> 2030 can be achieved if we all agree that it will bring the desired >> change. >> >> I am glad we deviated a little but this discussion will shape our future >> policies. Where we all respect one another. >> >> Regards >> >> >> Ndemo. >> >> >>> Dr. Ndemo, >>> >>> You have captured very well the problem with us Kenyans. At the same >>> time, >>> it is important to acknowledge that we have very many people who are >>> positive and are doing very good things for this country. But they are >>> drowned by the bad elements amongst us. However, things will not change >>> if >>> we do not make a deliberate change intervention. According to me, it >>> will >>> be >>> almost impossible to achieve V2030 with this attitude. We must change.I >>> strongly believe that there is a 4th pillar that V2030 conceptualization >>> missed - NATIONAL COHESION. It is what is required to move forward and >>> fulfil the other plans. We could therefore argue that we need to sell >>> Kenya >>> to Kenyans before we go out to foreigners. Otherwise all the positive >>> messages that will be put out there in selling Kenya to investors by >>> whoever >>> (assuming we can get this right in the first instance) will soon be >>> negated >>> by the bad attitudes that you speak of. And who said Kenya must be >>> developed >>> by outsiders? >>> >>> I hope I have not sounded like a barking dog. >>> >>> tim mwololo >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 12:16 AM, <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: >>> >>>> Catherine, some barking dogs are causing untold pain to our people. >>>> Hate >>>> against Kenyans in Tanzania is at its worst. Irrespective who you are, >>>> you >>>> are refered to as Mungiki who is after grabbing Tanzanian land. Whom >>>> do >>>> you >>>> think created this image for our people? >>>> >>>> Mungiki is more of any economic crisis in our country but our Media has >>>> refused to link the two. We lack analytical depth in our media houses. >>>> What you read is petty fitina. When a media house purpots that "Cable >>>> lands into financial trouble" do you think such media has the interests >>>> of >>>> this country at heart? If they did they should have asked the right >>>> questions before publishing. I do not think they have a clue how such >>>> any >>>> article impacts the country negatively. >>>> >>>> The audience of what is published locally is not only Kenyan people who >>>> read it. We must love our country and stop hoping that someone else >>>> will >>>> change our image. The sad part is that all of what has been read >>>> throughout >>>> the world are all lies. Some people reading this may never know that >>>> it >>>> was >>>> not true. >>>> >>>> This what I meant to say that negativity will fail us and we should >>>> check >>>> every barking dog. >>>> >>>> Ndemo >>>> >>>> Sent from my BlackBerryR >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> >>>> >>>> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:36:34 >>>> To: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> >>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths and >>>> Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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 >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> kictanet mailing list >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>> >>>> This message was sent to: timwololo(a)gmail.com >>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>>> >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.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" >>> >>> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------- >> 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: sammy(a)opensystems.co.ke >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/sammy%40opensystems.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" > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: dmakali(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmakali%40yahoo.com > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya… > -- Sent from my mobile device --- http://www.bungesms.com http://www.madeinkenya.org

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths and Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by Solomon Mburu 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

Dear All, I also concur with the previous comments on the negativity brought about by Kenya's myopic character, and forgive me for using this harsh tome. Because I'm a Kikuyu, makes me think the other communities are just as feeble as I can imagine. This is perhaps the problem that makes our unique policies from seeing the light of day. And the cause for this... politicians. I like the approach we have adapted in this discussion forum - dealing with issues and forgetting the tribal jibes which have poisoned our minds for the last 46 years. I hope, as one of us has aptly put it, the media is listening and not be enslaved with political and character assassinations. The media, can shape the face of Kenya or destroy it. I hear it orchestrated the PEV. Just tune into your favourite TV and what you see is images of poverty, illiteracy, political wars and other social ills that you can think of. Yet, through Citizen Journalism, there are unique stories of Kenyans who are doing impact and having a legacy within the local community. I see a future where Kenyans (whether the youth or old generation) will have an understanding of dealing with issues than tribes. Technology can bring us together and destroy those who would rather not change because they believe in outdated thoughts and ideals. Now to the issues of Weaknessses and Strengths in the BPO sector. *Strenghts* 1. The most recognizable strength is there are so many Kenyans who are into IT and this would be a forum/ platform for flexing their muscles, while driving Kenyans to economic growth 2. There is a lot of content which needs to be utilized. This means the BPO will be central in making good use of the local content 3. There is political will in terms of capital, motivation, positive perception by the political leadership. The State is actively involved in the various formulation of the BPO (Dr. Ndemo is a case to note in this regard) 4. Entrepreneurial developement will be achieved with the MTEF (2008 - 2012) and Vision 2030, because it is the BPO is an underlying factor in national development, state security and health fields etc *Weaknesses* 1. There is a lack of confidence within the state corporations in adapting IT (BPO) because of fear of 'losing' touch with the citizens. Corporations such as the security department (CID, Army, NSIS, Immigration) would need to get in touch with a person making any application for either jobs, Certificate of Good Conduct etc), in order to verify the existence of such an individual 2. Financial institutions have adapted technology, but cautiously. The great fear is security. For instance, banks will not comunicate with a customer through internet, phone, especially when discussing financial status of an account holder. The same is true of hospitals etc. 3. Although we have internet savvy Kenyans, not all understand the spine behind BPO. Further elaboration is needed on the basics behind the BPO My commemts! 2009/6/15 Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> > > I agree with Dr. Ndemo et al. One of our greatest weakness is negative > energy. And the root cause of this negative energy is tribalism. Our East > African citizens (TZ,UG etc) know that Kenyans identify themselves first as > being from their tribe, then 2nd as being from their clan and finally as > being from their country ( the 'Navumulia' kua mkenya mentality). > > As noted by others, the sheer capacity of this negative energy will overide > any marketing dollars that may be poured out there in "Brand Kenya" > initiatives...There must be conscious and deliberate effort to sell Brand > Kenya internally. We have to find a way to celebrate our diversity rather > than exagerate our differences...This to me should have been one of the > pillars in the Vision 2030 because it wont happen overnite. > > walu. > > > > > > --- On Mon, 6/15/09, Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths > andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > Date: Monday, June 15, 2009, 12:35 PM > > Dakatari, thanks for the > > elaboration....I hear you! I hope the media is also reading > > this. > > > > Nyaki > > > > From: > > "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > > To: Catherine > > Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com>; > > kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > Cc: KICTAnet > > ICT Policy Discussions > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > Sent: Monday, > > June 15, 2009 12:16:12 AM > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day > > 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths andWeaknesses > > (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > > > > > > Catherine, some barking dogs are causing untold pain to our > > people. Hate against Kenyans in Tanzania is at its > > worst. Irrespective who you are, you are refered to as > > Mungiki who is after grabbing Tanzanian land. Whom do > > you think created this image for our people? > > > > Mungiki is more of any economic crisis in our country but > > our Media has refused to link the two. We lack > > analytical depth in our media houses. What you read is > > petty fitina. When a media house purpots that > > "Cable lands into financial trouble" do you think > > such media has the interests of this country at heart? > > If they did they should have asked the right questions > > before publishing. I do not think they have a clue how > > such any article impacts the country negatively. > > > > The audience of what is published locally is not only > > Kenyan people who read it. We must love our country > > and stop hoping that someone else will change our > > image. The sad part is that all of what has been > > read throughout the world are all lies. Some people > > reading this may never know that it was not true. > > > > This what I meant to say that negativity will fail us and > > we should check every barking dog. > > > > Ndemo > > > > Sent from my BlackBerry® > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> > > > > Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:36:34 > > To: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, > > Strengths and > > Weaknesses (Observations from USA and > > UK); and Trends and > > Niches > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: solo.mburu(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/solo.mburu%40gmail.com > -- Solomon Mburu P.O. Box 19343 - 00202 Nairobi Cell: (+254-0) 735 431041 Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the same way to the side of a hill! AND It is better to die in dignity than in the ignomity of ambiguous generosity!

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by Walubengo J 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

--- On Mon, 6/15/09, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: > The few potential investors I met this morning are > distgusted with what they see. Allow me to request my brother Linus who > is on this list to remove the picture please. Bwana PS, Whereas I/we understand where you are coming from, you have to be careful that tomorrows headlines dont read " PS orders media website shutdown"... Maybe the media should explore having different editions of their publications, I mean truly we dont have to always washing our dirty linen all the time. But if we have to, lets at least keep it local. This headlines do cause panic even to Kenyan diaspora, so one can imagine what it does to non-kenyans... walu. --- On Mon, 6/15/09, 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] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions'" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Monday, June 15, 2009, 1:37 PM > Listers, > Please take a moment and see what is on-line from our > papers today and > understand what I am trying to say. You cannot > convince even our people > in the diaspora to invest in Kenya. Compare that with > what SA has on the > web from their papers. They have managed their > violence especially on > foreingners well even as it continues. We are showing > machetes to > investors without critical analysis and how we see the > future of our > country. > > The few potential investors I met this morning are > distgusted with what > they see. Allow me to request my brother Linus who is > on this list to > remove the picture please. > > > Ndemo. > > > > > > > > Dr. Ndemo, > > > > I stopped watching news in the local media a while > back. Too much negative > > stuff affecting the peace and tranquility I expect in > my home. > > > > There is a lot of crime in S.A. yet the country is > geared to host the > > World > > Cup come next year. How are they working to make it a > success? > > > > I support you fully. It is high time we Kenyans > started to think > > nationally > > as a nation. To look at the positives. We > live in a real world and > > things > > will not always be perfect in any country, Kenya > included. > > Therefore we should promote the positive aspects of > Kenya first before we > > can expect outsiders to support us. > > > > > > Sammy Buruchara > > CEO NairobiNet Ltd > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: kictanet-bounces+sammy=opensystems.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+sammy=opensystems.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] > On > > Behalf Of bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > > Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 12:11 PM > > To: sammy(a)opensystems.co.ke > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO > Discussions, Strengths > > andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and > Trends and Niches > > > > Prof. > > We should understand the impact of internet > better. Our papers are > > on-line and they contribute the greatest content out > there. A potential > > investor trying to surf the net, gets mostly negative > information. I am > > not against our media but they could do better in > setting the agenda. A > > few examples may help here. > > > > It is not only Kenya that has suffered the youth > bulge. This is something > > that has affected countries world over. The US > suffered in the 1930's > > leading the country to get rid of the problem by > investing heavily on > > public works and the war. In China they put much > of their people into > > labour intensive public works (roads, energy, ICTs > ets). While they did > > this they also suffered a high rate of crime. > This is how the Al Capones > > came up. Italy has had a mafia crisis over a > long period of time but the > > media there did not only focus on crime. They > suggested economic > > solutions that have helped reduce crime in the south > go down. When we > > write about mungiki, we should also suggest a way > forward. We must also > > create hope for our people because we are all > responsible for what happens > > in our land. > > > > The recent US elections were all about hope that > things will change. Look > > at the Uhuru Budget. It was a budget of > hope. But read our yesterday > > papers. While one Media house attempted to > create hope. The other > > focused on hopelessness - "the devil is in the > details" - yet for once we > > were united in hope for our future. I had > expected many positive > > headlines out of the budget but I was > disappointed. This is a budget we > > should have leveraged to create a new Kenya. A > Kenya where we all have > > hope. It gave us our much a waited new > constitution. That we can devolve > > our resources based on the districts. That we > may not need to dismantle a > > constitution that has relatively served us well for > more than 40 years. > > That we may need only Parliament to amend only the > governance aspects of > > our constitution as many civilized countries do. > This where media had a > > chance to set the agenda for this country but they > have yet again wasted > > the opportunity. It is not too late for them to > bring hope. The Vision > > 2030 can be achieved if we all agree that it will > bring the desired > > change. > > > > I am glad we deviated a little but this discussion > will shape our future > > policies. Where we all respect one another. > > > > Regards > > > > > > Ndemo. > > > > > >> Dr. Ndemo, > >> > >> You have captured very well the problem with us > Kenyans. At the same > >> time, > >> it is important to acknowledge that we have very > many people who are > >> positive and are doing very good things for this > country. But they are > >> drowned by the bad elements amongst us. However, > things will not change > >> if > >> we do not make a deliberate change intervention. > According to me, it > >> will > >> be > >> almost impossible to achieve V2030 with this > attitude. We must change.I > >> strongly believe that there is a 4th pillar that > V2030 conceptualization > >> missed - NATIONAL COHESION. It is what is required > to move forward and > >> fulfil the other plans. We could therefore argue > that we need to sell > >> Kenya > >> to Kenyans before we go out to foreigners. > Otherwise all the positive > >> messages that will be put out there in selling > Kenya to investors by > >> whoever > >> (assuming we can get this right in the first > instance) will soon be > >> negated > >> by the bad attitudes that you speak of. And who > said Kenya must be > >> developed > >> by outsiders? > >> > >> I hope I have not sounded like a barking dog. > >> > >> tim mwololo > >> > >> > >> On Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 12:16 AM, <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > wrote: > >> > >>> Catherine, some barking dogs are causing > untold pain to our people. > >>> Hate > >>> against Kenyans in Tanzania is at its > worst. Irrespective who you are, > >>> you > >>> are refered to as Mungiki who is after > grabbing Tanzanian land. Whom > >>> do > >>> you > >>> think created this image for our people? > >>> > >>> Mungiki is more of any economic crisis in our > country but our Media has > >>> refused to link the two. We lack > analytical depth in our media houses. > >>> What you read is petty fitina. > When a media house purpots that "Cable > >>> lands into financial trouble" do you think > such media has the interests > >>> of > >>> this country at heart? If they did they > should have asked the right > >>> questions before publishing. I do not > think they have a clue how such > >>> any > >>> article impacts the country negatively. > >>> > >>> The audience of what is published locally is > not only Kenyan people who > >>> read it. We must love our country and > stop hoping that someone else > >>> will > >>> change our image. The sad part is that > all of what has been read > >>> throughout > >>> the world are all lies. Some people > reading this may never know that > >>> it > >>> was > >>> not true. > >>> > >>> This what I meant to say that negativity will > fail us and we should > >>> check > >>> every barking dog. > >>> > >>> Ndemo > >>> > >>> Sent from my BlackBerryR > >>> > >>> -----Original Message----- > >>> From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> > >>> > >>> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:36:34 > >>> To: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > >>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > >>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO > Discussions, Strengths and > >>> Weaknesses > (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches > >>> > >>> > >>> > _______________________________________________ > >>> 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 > >>> > >>> > _______________________________________________ > >>> kictanet mailing list > >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >>> > >>> This message was sent to: timwololo(a)gmail.com > >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at > >>> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.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" > >> > >> > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > > 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: sammy(a)opensystems.co.ke > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/sammy%40opensystems.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" > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >

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Training & Workshop Schedule Q3
by njeri.rionge＠igniteconsulting.co.ke 15 Jun '09

15 Jun '09

Dear Colleagues, After reading a number of emails related to Human Resource competency development needs. I have decided to send a Q3 calender schedule of training and workshops that we believe are relevant to the industry. Please note the developmental areas are soft skills based, around the already good technical skills. For more information please access our website www.igniteconsulting.co.ke. The new calender will be uploaded on to the website later in the day. For more information contact the undersigned. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Njeri Rionge (Ms) Founder & Executive Director __________________________________ Tel: +254 20 2364072 (Orange Fixed Plus) Tel: +254 772 522136 (Orange Mobile) Tel: +254 722 522136 (Safaricom Mobile) URL: www.igniteconsulting.co.ke P. O. Box 15568 Nairobi 00100, Kenya ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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Villagers to host digital world in East Africa
by Edith Adera 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

Villagers to host digital world in East Africa (http://www.dailynews.co.tz/home/?n=2530&cat=home) JAMES MPINGA in Lugoba, Coast Region, 14th June 2009 The dateline is an unlikely sleepy village called Lugoba now sitting on a super global 'knowledge highway' - whose residents did not know they have a high-level delegation of scientists and policy-makers from five East African Community (EAC) member states in their midst to prove just that. The EAC citizens - and technical partners from Sweden - were out here to demonstrate that villages could soon be playing host to the most advanced technological networks across the world. The delegates from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and hosts Tanzania were attending a regional 'hands-on' training workshop on community fibre networks at the Peacock Millennium Hotel in suburban Msasani in Dar es Salaam (June 9-12, 2009). At the end of the workshop, they declared in a joint communiqué: "Community fibre networks are not only within reach to serve and empower our communities in the region but also, the cost of implementation is now cheaper and affordable. "With emerging national fibre infrastructure now under implementation and the launching of submarine cable to link east Africa with the rest of the world for the first time on fibre, it is necessary for the communities to prepare to take advantage of this fibre infrastructure to stimulate socio-economic development," The regional workshop convened and organised by the Tanzania Commission of Science and Technology (COSTECH) and sponsored by Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) was inspired by the availability of emerging national fibre networks in the region built by governments, national operators, power and energy utilities, rail companies as well as water organizations among others. However, there weren't any illusions that all this will happen tomorrow. "Services may take a long time to reach the 'last mile' in each country and therefore it is important for the community to be sensitized on other possibilities of building their own networks bottom-up," they cautioned, adding that the 'first mile' was the greatest challenge in creating awareness about the benefit of community fibre networks among them. The events in rural Tanzania provided a fitting backdrop to neighbouring Kenya which celebrated its ascent to a major technological take-off after the much-awaited East African Marine System (Teams) fibre optic cable landed in Mombasa. The cable, launched by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki yesterday at Fort Jesus in the seaside city, the country's second biggest, connects the East African nation to worldwide cable networks. On June 27, 2009 Tanzania will be connected to another artery on the global highway - the Seacom - linking it to its SADC neighbours in South Africa and Mozambique. In both Kenya and Tanzania, the cable will improve Internet connectivity and reduce the cost of data transmission - and create thousands of jobs, especially in the telecommunications sector. Tanzania alone has more than 7,000km of fibre 'jealously' guarded by public utilities unaware of the immense opportunities that ICT now provides due to outdated legislative frameworks - or simply unwilling to share it out. The delegates therefore called on governments to live up to the "important role of creating an enabling environment for community networks to thrive." "Here in Lugoba village... not even the president knew that his own village had gone 'digital' until someone sent him an e-mail message from his own place of birth (Lugoba) ... the president was then in Washington, DC," narrated Theophilus Mlaki, who took some of the delegation on a field trip to Chalinze and Wami last week - where ICT is changing lives among the villagers. The regional workshop also recommended that all stakeholders should take advantage of emerging national fibre networks now under implementation to work with rural communities yet to be covered with communication services. Unfortunately, the emerging projects are often not interconnected and hence fell short of appropriate synergy. However, where the networks traversed, they provided an opportunity to serve the rural communities. The objective of the event was therefore to: . Build awareness on the potential for customer/ community fibre deployment in helping to meet connectivity needs; .Lay grounds to effect policy changes that may be required to allow for community owned fibre infrastructure developments, and Encourage the use of fibre for improving connectivity. The regional workshop brought together 28 participants who included ICT regulators, ICT ministries, Chair ICT Parliamentary Committee Kenya, managers of community owned networks and members of academia. The Royal Institute of Technology of Sweden facilitated the workshop.

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Re: [kictanet] [Bpoteam] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues
by muriuki mureithi 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

Good afternoon everyone, Like other issues that have been discussed (Day 1 to day 6), my take is that we must have things right from the beginning. A BPO-specific outfit (like the BPO society) should have the mandate to enforce (or at least lobby the law enforcers) labour laws for this young industry. This way, issues like the one that appeared on the Standard Newspaper sometime back (http://www.eastandard.net/sciencetech/InsidePage.php?id=1144013244 <http://www.eastandard.net/sciencetech/InsidePage.php?id=1144013244&ci> &ci) will be unheard of. Furthermore, some clients especially from the US are concerned about how the vendor he/she is giving work to treats employees. On a light note; could we begin re-thinking this whole issue of interpretation gender issues to mean women issues; men are threatened too! Muthoni ________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+muthoni=uonbi.ac.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+muthoni=uonbi.ac.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Catherine Adeya Sent: 10 June 2009 08:08 To: muthoni(a)uonbi.ac.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator Thanks Walu, will do so shortly. Best, Nyaki (aka Dr. C. Adeya, C. Nyaki Adeya and C. Adeya-Weya) ________________________________ From: Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 7:58:41 AM Subject: [kictanet] Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator Dear Listers, As per the schedule, I am pleased to hand-over the rest of the moderation to Nyaki who will introduce the remaining themes starting with the "Youth and Gender" theme today. Nyaki's CV is too long to fit in one email but its suffice to say that she belongs to this breed of Researchers that wants to bridge the gap between Academia and Socio-economic realities of out times. The rest of her story can be googled, but remember to use her official "handle" - Dr. Catherine Adeya. Over to you Nyaki. Plse tell us about today's theme. walu. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizaslider%40yahoo .com ----------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner <http://www.mailscanner.info/> , and is believed t o be clean. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality performance from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2000 standard. University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ----------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner <http://www.mailscanner.info/> , and is believed t o be clean. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality performance from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2000 standard. University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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Re: [kictanet] [Bpoteam] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues
by muriuki mureithi 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

Muthoni, Two issues here but I think we should focus more on the first paragraph that you discuss so well. However, I will allow the occasional digression on the second issue of interpreting gender issues but that debate has been on in various fora and for now we know that gender issues in Kenya seem more inclined to women's issues though we know the definition includes both. For now listers delve on the questions and if the definitional issues come up in the course of answering them then that is an added bonus. Why the silence? Why the silence? Why the silence? We are almost there just 3 days left in a very successful discussion so far. Please write...... Nyaki ________________________________ From: Muthoni Masinde <muthoni(a)uonbi.ac.ke> To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 2:14:43 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Bpoteam] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues Good afternoon everyone, Like other issues that have been discussed (Day 1 to day 6), my take is that we must have things right from the beginning. A BPO-specific outfit (like the BPO society) should have the mandate to enforce (or at least lobby the law enforcers) labour laws for this young industry. This way, issues like the one that appeared on the Standard Newspaper sometime back (http://www.eastandard.net/sciencetech/InsidePage.php?id=1144013244 <http://www.eastandard.net/sciencetech/InsidePage.php?id=1144013244&ci> &ci) will be unheard of. Furthermore, some clients especially from the US are concerned about how the vendor he/she is giving work to treats employees. On a light note; could we begin re-thinking this whole issue of interpretation gender issues to mean women issues; men are threatened too! Muthoni ________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+muthoni=uonbi.ac.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+muthoni=uonbi.ac.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Catherine Adeya Sent: 10 June 2009 08:08 To: muthoni(a)uonbi.ac.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator Thanks Walu, will do so shortly. Best, Nyaki (aka Dr. C. Adeya, C. Nyaki Adeya and C. Adeya-Weya) ________________________________ From: Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 7:58:41 AM Subject: [kictanet] Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator Dear Listers, As per the schedule, I am pleased to hand-over the rest of the moderation to Nyaki who will introduce the remaining themes starting with the "Youth and Gender" theme today. Nyaki's CV is too long to fit in one email but its suffice to say that she belongs to this breed of Researchers that wants to bridge the gap between Academia and Socio-economic realities of out times. The rest of her story can be googled, but remember to use her official "handle" - Dr. Catherine Adeya. Over to you Nyaki. Plse tell us about today's theme. walu. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizaslider%40yahoo .com ----------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner <http://www.mailscanner.info/> , and is believed t o be clean. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality performance from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2000 standard. University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ----------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner <http://www.mailscanner.info/> , and is believed t o be clean. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality performance from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2000 standard. University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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Re: [kictanet] New Mobile Phenomenon
by muriuki mureithi 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

Interesting article... "For Teens, later to bed, the Worse the Outlook" by Greg Toppo, USA Today Teens whose parents let them stay up after midnight on weeknights have a much higher chance of being depressed or suicidal than teens whose parents enforce an earlier bedtime, says research being presented today at a national sleep conference. The findings are the first to examine bedtimes' effects on kids' mental health - and the results are noteworthy. Middle- and high-schoolers whose parents don't require them to be in bed before midnight on school nights are 42 percent more likely to be depressed than teens whose parents require a 10 p.m. or earlier bedtime. And teens who are allowed to stay up late are 30 percent more likely to have had suicidal thoughts in the past year. The differences are smaller but still significant - 25 percent and 20 percent, respectively - after controlling for age, sex, race and ethnicity. A team led by Columbia University Medical Center's James Gangwisch examined surveys from 15,659 teens and their parents who took part in a National Institutes of Health (NIH) adolescent health study. Previous research has established a firm connection between teens getting less sleep and feeling depressed or suicidal. The NIH survey found that kids whose parents called for a 9-10 p.m. bedtime said they were in bed, on average, by 10:04 p.m. They slept for 8 hours and 10 minutes on average, compared with 7 hours for kids allowed to stay up past midnight. The lesson for parents is simple, Gangwisch says: try to sell teenagers on the importance of getting enough sleep. They need about nine hours, the NIH says. Rafael Pelayo, an associate professor of pediatric sleep medicine at Stanford University, agrees. "They've got to think it's in their own best interest to get to sleep," says Pelayo, who read the study. Says Gangwisch, "We feel like we can just eat into our sleep time, but we pay for it in many different ways." The data come from analyses of NIH surveys from 1994 to 1996. Gangwisch believes disparities between teens with and without prescribed bedtimes are greater today, given greater distractions. In 1996, for instance, teens couldn't stay up late texting and checking Facebook. "I would guess that there are more kids getting less sleep," he says. Gangwisch is presenting the findings in Seattle at SLEEP 2009, the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies. Disclaimer: Views expressed here (except those quoted or referenced) are the authors own On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 11:34 AM, Gakuru Alex <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> wrote: Mwende, Let's get touch base, locally. I am investigating a compliant report where mobile companies through the Sunday Nation (last page) reportedly caused to be published invitation to (SMS) content that would contravene Section 84(d) of Kenya Communications (Amendment) Act. I shall revert with my findings. regards, Alex On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 5:36 AM, mwende njiraini<mwende.njiraini(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Dear all, > > Given that most people including children have access to mobiles, there is > now a growing problem being referred to as 'sexting'. > (View CBS news > clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xOZ81dXzdA <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xOZ81dXzdA&feature=channel_page> &feature=channel_page). > > Are there the parental control services available in Kenya? > > Kind regards > Mwende > > > Disclaimer: Views expressed here (except those quoted or referenced) are the > authors own > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alexgakuru.lists%40 gmail.com >

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Re: [kictanet] [Bpoteam] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues
by muriuki mureithi 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

Good afternoon everyone, Like other issues that have been discussed (Day 1 to day 6), my take is that we must have things right from the beginning. A BPO-specific outfit (like the BPO society) should have the mandate to enforce (or at least lobby the law enforcers) labour laws for this young industry. This way, issues like the one that appeared on the Standard Newspaper sometime back (http://www.eastandard.net/sciencetech/InsidePage.php?id=1144013244 <http://www.eastandard.net/sciencetech/InsidePage.php?id=1144013244&ci> &ci) will be unheard of. Furthermore, some clients especially from the US are concerned about how the vendor he/she is giving work to treats employees. On a light note; could we begin re-thinking this whole issue of interpretation gender issues to mean women issues; men are threatened too! Muthoni ________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+muthoni=uonbi.ac.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+muthoni=uonbi.ac.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Catherine Adeya Sent: 10 June 2009 08:08 To: muthoni(a)uonbi.ac.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator Thanks Walu, will do so shortly. Best, Nyaki (aka Dr. C. Adeya, C. Nyaki Adeya and C. Adeya-Weya) ________________________________ From: Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 7:58:41 AM Subject: [kictanet] Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator Dear Listers, As per the schedule, I am pleased to hand-over the rest of the moderation to Nyaki who will introduce the remaining themes starting with the "Youth and Gender" theme today. Nyaki's CV is too long to fit in one email but its suffice to say that she belongs to this breed of Researchers that wants to bridge the gap between Academia and Socio-economic realities of out times. The rest of her story can be googled, but remember to use her official "handle" - Dr. Catherine Adeya. Over to you Nyaki. Plse tell us about today's theme. walu. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizaslider%40yahoo .com ----------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner <http://www.mailscanner.info/> , and is believed t o be clean. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality performance from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2000 standard. University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ----------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner <http://www.mailscanner.info/> , and is believed t o be clean. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality performance from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2000 standard. University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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Re: [kictanet] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues
by muriuki mureithi 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

Nyaki, It would be nice to be reminded (in some cases informed) of the Kenyan labour law and implications within the context of BPO sector Edith ________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Catherine Adeya Sent: 10 June 2009 08:12 To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues - Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues - Morning all, Walu has done a fantastic job moderating so far and now you are stuck with me for the next four days. Todays theme is on Youth and Gender issues. It is obvious we have touched on a number of issues that focus on this theme in the last few days; however, it is still pertinent to address it as an exclusive issue. Some of you have wondered why we keep referring to S. Africa, Mauritius and India. I would like to re-emphasize that those are the countries where the research was conducted but views from other countries are welcome. The idea is not to compare Kenya per se but to bench-mark on our (or potential) competitors. Views based on other countries are very welcome, the researchers could not visit more countries due to funding constraints. It is useful to begin by noting that the researchers found that the unemployment rate (2008 est) was 40% in Kenya, 21.7% in S. Africa, 7.6% in Mauritius and 6.8% in India. The researchers also found that the minimum qualification for professional staff was a Bachelors degree in all four countries. However, the minimum qualification for operators/agents varied. In Kenya it was a certificate, diploma or degree depending on operation; in S. Africa it was Grade 12; Mauritius school certificate or below and in India it was a High school certificate. The common work related challenges include project management (especially meeting deadlines) and long hours. Some employees in Kenya complained about challenges with transportation. The detailed summary findings will be availed. Generally there were more women in call centres than male but more males in the professional cadre. The youth are mostly found in the agent/operator jobs. The following are some country specific issues: 1. In, India there is the Equal Remuneration Act ensures that there is equal remuneration to men and women for same jobs. Under this law, no discrimination is permissible in recruitment and service conditions except where employment of women is prohibited or restricted by the law. NASSCOM has launched the Women in Leadership-IT Initiative to enhance participation of women in the workforce and ensure there are more women leaders in the IT-BPO industry. 2. In South Africa, there are 40% more females than males below 25 years working in the BPO sector. However, there are 7% more males than females above 25 years old. There is no gender or age based discrimination in the work place. There exists no law or policy that prefers youth from other groups of people in employment. 3. In Mauritius, there is no 24 hour work culture. In addition, the Labor Act prohibits employment of female employees in industrial undertakings between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m; while youth are not allowed to work between between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Interestingly, there is clause that no person shall, except with the Permanent Secretary's written consent, transport a female worker or cause a female worker to be transported in a goods vehicle; any other vehicle, unless the vehicle is provided with an easy means of entering and alighting which does not involve climbing. In Kenya we have the Employment Act which many of you know. This leads us to the following discussion questions: Discussion Q9: Are the Kenyan laws adequate to protect the youth and women from exploitation by BPO&O employers? Discussion Q. 10: The BPO sector is not seen as a long term source of employment for most employees. Most believe it is a stepping stone to other lucrative opportunities. What needs to be done to ensure the youth and women view the industry as attractive, especially in terms of quality of employment and career progression? Discussion Q11: Attrition and poaching are prevalent in most countries studied. What mechanisms should employers adopt to attract and retain their staff? Let the games (oops! Discussion) begin! Thanks Nyaki To be Encl: Synthesis 4 Youth and Gender Issues

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Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator
by muriuki mureithi 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

Dear Listers, As per the schedule, I am pleased to hand-over the rest of the moderation to Nyaki who will introduce the remaining themes starting with the "Youth and Gender" theme today. Nyaki's CV is too long to fit in one email but its suffice to say that she belongs to this breed of Researchers that wants to bridge the gap between Academia and Socio-economic realities of out times. The rest of her story can be googled, but remember to use her official "handle" - Dr. Catherine Adeya. Over to you Nyaki. Plse tell us about today's theme. walu. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mureithi%40summitstrate gies.co.ke

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Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues
by muriuki mureithi 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

- Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues - Morning all, Walu has done a fantastic job moderating so far and now you are stuck with me for the next four days. Todays theme is on Youth and Gender issues. It is obvious we have touched on a number of issues that focus on this theme in the last few days; however, it is still pertinent to address it as an exclusive issue. Some of you have wondered why we keep referring to S. Africa, Mauritius and India. I would like to re-emphasize that those are the countries where the research was conducted but views from other countries are welcome. The idea is not to compare Kenya per se but to bench-mark on our (or potential) competitors. Views based on other countries are very welcome, the researchers could not visit more countries due to funding constraints. It is useful to begin by noting that the researchers found that the unemployment rate (2008 est) was 40% in Kenya, 21.7% in S. Africa, 7.6% in Mauritius and 6.8% in India. The researchers also found that the minimum qualification for professional staff was a Bachelors degree in all four countries. However, the minimum qualification for operators/agents varied. In Kenya it was a certificate, diploma or degree depending on operation; in S. Africa it was Grade 12; Mauritius school certificate or below and in India it was a High school certificate. The common work related challenges include project management (especially meeting deadlines) and long hours. Some employees in Kenya complained about challenges with transportation. The detailed summary findings will be availed. Generally there were more women in call centres than male but more males in the professional cadre. The youth are mostly found in the agent/operator jobs. The following are some country specific issues: 1. In, India there is the Equal Remuneration Act ensures that there is equal remuneration to men and women for same jobs. Under this law, no discrimination is permissible in recruitment and service conditions except where employment of women is prohibited or restricted by the law. NASSCOM has launched the Women in Leadership-IT Initiative to enhance participation of women in the workforce and ensure there are more women leaders in the IT-BPO industry. 2. In South Africa, there are 40% more females than males below 25 years working in the BPO sector. However, there are 7% more males than females above 25 years old. There is no gender or age based discrimination in the work place. There exists no law or policy that prefers youth from other groups of people in employment. 3. In Mauritius, there is no 24 hour work culture. In addition, the Labor Act prohibits employment of female employees in industrial undertakings between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m; while youth are not allowed to work between between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Interestingly, there is clause that no person shall, except with the Permanent Secretary's written consent, transport a female worker or cause a female worker to be transported in a goods vehicle; any other vehicle, unless the vehicle is provided with an easy means of entering and alighting which does not involve climbing. 4. In Kenya we have the Employment Act which many of you know. This leads us to the following discussion questions: Discussion Q9: Are the Kenyan laws adequate to protect the youth and women from exploitation by BPO&O employers? Discussion Q. 10: The BPO sector is not seen as a long term source of employment for most employees. Most believe it is a stepping stone to other lucrative opportunities. What needs to be done to ensure the youth and women view the industry as attractive, especially in terms of quality of employment and career progression? Discussion Q11: Attrition and poaching are prevalent in most countries studied. What mechanisms should employers adopt to attract and retain their staff? Let the games (oops! Discussion) begin! Thanks Nyaki To be Encl: Synthesis 4 Youth and Gender Issues

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Re: [kictanet] [Bpoteam] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues
by muriuki mureithi 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

Muthoni, Two issues here but I think we should focus more on the first paragraph that you discuss so well. However, I will allow the occasional digression on the second issue of interpreting gender issues but that debate has been on in various fora and for now we know that gender issues in Kenya seem more inclined to women's issues though we know the definition includes both. For now listers delve on the questions and if the definitional issues come up in the course of answering them then that is an added bonus. Why the silence? Why the silence? Why the silence? We are almost there just 3 days left in a very successful discussion so far. Please write...... Nyaki ________________________________ From: Muthoni Masinde <muthoni(a)uonbi.ac.ke> To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 2:14:43 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Bpoteam] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues Good afternoon everyone, Like other issues that have been discussed (Day 1 to day 6), my take is that we must have things right from the beginning. A BPO-specific outfit (like the BPO society) should have the mandate to enforce (or at least lobby the law enforcers) labour laws for this young industry. This way, issues like the one that appeared on the Standard Newspaper sometime back (http://www.eastandard.net/sciencetech/InsidePage.php?id=1144013244 <http://www.eastandard.net/sciencetech/InsidePage.php?id=1144013244&ci> &ci) will be unheard of. Furthermore, some clients especially from the US are concerned about how the vendor he/she is giving work to treats employees. On a light note; could we begin re-thinking this whole issue of interpretation gender issues to mean women issues; men are threatened too! Muthoni ________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+muthoni=uonbi.ac.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+muthoni=uonbi.ac.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Catherine Adeya Sent: 10 June 2009 08:08 To: muthoni(a)uonbi.ac.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator Thanks Walu, will do so shortly. Best, Nyaki (aka Dr. C. Adeya, C. Nyaki Adeya and C. Adeya-Weya) ________________________________ From: Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 7:58:41 AM Subject: [kictanet] Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator Dear Listers, As per the schedule, I am pleased to hand-over the rest of the moderation to Nyaki who will introduce the remaining themes starting with the "Youth and Gender" theme today. Nyaki's CV is too long to fit in one email but its suffice to say that she belongs to this breed of Researchers that wants to bridge the gap between Academia and Socio-economic realities of out times. The rest of her story can be googled, but remember to use her official "handle" - Dr. Catherine Adeya. Over to you Nyaki. Plse tell us about today's theme. walu. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizaslider%40yahoo .com ----------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner <http://www.mailscanner.info/> , and is believed t o be clean. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality performance from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2000 standard. University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ----------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner <http://www.mailscanner.info/> , and is believed t o be clean. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality performance from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2000 standard. University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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Re: [kictanet] Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator
by muriuki mureithi 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

Thanks Walu, will do so shortly. Best, Nyaki (aka Dr. C. Adeya, C. Nyaki Adeya and C. Adeya-Weya) ________________________________ From: Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 7:58:41 AM Subject: [kictanet] Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator Dear Listers, As per the schedule, I am pleased to hand-over the rest of the moderation to Nyaki who will introduce the remaining themes starting with the "Youth and Gender" theme today. Nyaki's CV is too long to fit in one email but its suffice to say that she belongs to this breed of Researchers that wants to bridge the gap between Academia and Socio-economic realities of out times. The rest of her story can be googled, but remember to use her official "handle" - Dr. Catherine Adeya. Over to you Nyaki. Plse tell us about today's theme. walu. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/elizaslider%40yahoo .com

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10 of 10- BPO Discussions, Strengths and Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by Alex Gakuru 14 Jun '09

14 Jun '09

--- On Sat, 6/13/09, Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > very true. I wonder how many of the discussants here run or > have ever attempted *any* outsourcing business, locally or > internationally? > btw, either as an 'outsourcer' or the 'outsourcee'? 8-)

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10 of 10- BPO Discussions, Strengths and Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
by Alex Gakuru 13 Jun '09

13 Jun '09

--- On Sat, 6/13/09, Sam Aguyo <saguyo(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > We need to involve > everybody in this matter, in my understanding organisations > such as auditing > firms, research firms have been involved in outsourcing for > a long period of > time! > very true. I wonder how many of the discussants here run or have ever attempted *any* outsourcing business, locally or internationally? > All this should be coordinated by a > substantive > office which will market all this abroad. At the moment > confusing though! > Sam Aguyo > The office exists. Seek Legal Notice No. 26 of 2nd March, 2007, State Corporations Act (Cap 446) for that office creation, its clear functions and an elaborate mandate spelled-out.

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Kenya gets undersea broadband fibre optic cable - 1 hour ago
by Alex Gakuru 12 Jun '09

12 Jun '09

Kenya gets undersea broadband fibre optic cable 1 hour ago MOMBASA, Kenya (AFP) — An undersea fibre optic cable bringing broadband Internet connectivity to east Africa, reached the Kenyan coast from the United Arab Emirates on Friday, the president said. The East Africa Marine Systems (TEAMS) fibre optic submarine cable project is a joint venture of the Kenyan government and Emirates Telecommunication Technology (Etisalat) and a consortium of local investors. It is expected to boost internet connections and greatly reduce the cost of telecommunications, especially data transmission in the region. It is expected to become operational next month. President Mwai Kibaki said the project was a landmark in Kenya's national development history. "With the launch of this project Kenya is now equipped with one of the most advanced and cost effective, nation-building tools," said Kibaki, adding it would allow east Africans to be "fully digital citizens of the 21st century" The 4,500 kilometre (2,790 mile) cable links Mombasa on the Kenyan coast to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. Initially projected at 82 million dollars when it was initiated in 2006 an alternative to the East African Submarine Cable System which the government felt was dominated by South Africa. Alcatel-Lucent won the contract to lay the cable. Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More » <http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gLTAqnEgDXYbpYzaGDte25k5…>

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Re: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues
by Matunda Nyanchama 12 Jun '09

12 Jun '09

Waudo Siganga, That is an interesting report. It appears that we have a long way to go with respect to IT skills development. I would be interesting to understand the "business skills" referred to in the report and whether these include project management, customer service, financial skills (cost versus gross profit), etc. On a related note, what is the current ICT contribution to national GDP? What is the related resource allocation (both private and public) to this sector? And is it commensurate to the sector's contribution or projected contribution? Finally, how do these numbers compare with other countries, especially NIC's like India, China, Malaysia, as well as developing countries? regards ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “If you have less than 1 year to invest, plant rice. If you have 10 to 25 yearsto invest, build a house. If you have more than 25 years to invest, invest in your children" - Anonymous. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ________________________________ From: waudo siganga <emailsignet(a)mailcan.com> To: mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, June 8, 2009 10:03:13 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues Dear Catherine - That report (which dealt with the overall ICT workforce rather than just BPO) was handed over to the sponsor, USAID in Dec. 2006. I do not know what they did with it but I have attached a copy for those who may want to browse it. It contained some policy recomendations maybe some are still relevant. Kind Regards, Waudo On Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:12 -0700, "Catherine Adeya" <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Apology I meant CSK (Computer Society of Kenya) conducted a study some years back and not CFSK (Computers for Schools Kenya). N ________________________________ From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke Sent: Monday, June 8, 2009 3:13:47 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues Tim et. al, If I am not wrong there have been attempts to find a way to develop a skills inventory in Kenya especially of IT or IT-related graduates. I do believe CFSK conducted a study a few years back, am not sure what became of the study. There were also attempts by others to develop such a database but some were curtailed due to lack of funding or good-will....if some of you are out here in cyberspace kindly do share so we build on what you have done and do not reinvent the wheel. Walu, you may remember some of the round-tables we were involved in some years ago. What we realized immediately is that the universities did not even know where their graduates were, they did not have an active alumni network to help them identify the sectors that were absorbing their graduates and where the gaps were as this could inform curriculum review. I know it is a long shot to expect the universities to do this but I think it would help if specific departments tried to collate this information. If the potential graduates knew it would be beneficial for them to share that information once they graduate then it may ease the process. Beneficial in two ways, to help with curriculum review and place share their names and details with those looking for the relevant skills....ok am waffling I know. I think the team was on to something there but we kind of dwelt too much on the successful South African model where they did an excellent study titled the SAITIS study as far back as 1998 and I think updated the study and implementation around 2004 or so, I can't remember off the top of my head. I know that relevant institutions came together to share their expertise in the study so that it was representative and collaborative. The studies basically covered a number of issues including the national IT Education and Training intiatives in SA (including schools, tertiary institutions, government and private sector iniatives. It attempted to categorize jobs and skills in the IT industry and looked at it in the context of global trends. There are similar studies elsewhere but I thought I may highlight on this one as I read about it years ago. Best, Nyaki ________________________________ From: Mwololo Tim <timwololo(a)gmail.com> To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke Sent: Monday, June 8, 2009 1:47:11 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues Bwana Ndemo, These are good initiatives. However, I believe we need to look at the total secondary and tertiary education system to make sure it produces the skill sets we require for the BPO&O sector, depending on the strategy we take as a country. One university college, which is new and still struggling to "stand up", so to speak, will not do. Of course we need the skills inventory you talk about to know where we are so that we can take an appropriate strategy for skills development. I know KNBS is currently very busy focusing on the census and I am not sure they have adequate capacity to push several large projects simultaneously, which may mean delays here. We might therefore need to find ways of expediting this exercise. tim On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 1:31 PM, <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: Walubengo, With respect to capacity building, the Government has done the following Established Multimedia University to focus on IT Skills Development; Contracted the Central Bureau of Statistics through CCK to conduct ICT Skills inventory in Kenya and Set up a task force to look into Skills development as recommended by MaKinsey in the just concluded Value Proposition. We are in the process of appointing other stakeholders into the committee. Although we do not have a sector strategy on Capacity building, the Governemnt takes issues of skills development very seriously. This is a matter that NESC emphasizes as key to our competitiveness. In this regard we look forward to a quick finalization of the skills inventory and the task force recommendation. Regards Ndemo. > -Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, Human Capacity Issues > > Morning all, > > I trust you had a refreshing weekend. Today I want to introduce the theme > on Human Resource Development for the BPO industry. The Researchers found > that India, S.Africa and Mauritius had a comprehensive inventory of their > skill-base that was also available for Validation by prospective employers > and investors. Another observation was ofcourse the sheer numbers of > Indian graduates (millions) that made it the largest base of highly > skilled pool of graduates with strong mathematical/scientific orientation. > Whereas, Mauritius was producing only 10,000 (university) graduates per > year compared to Kenya's 30,000 per year, Mauritius had the advantage of > properly documenting their national graduates database and marketing it > appropriately to potential clients in Europe/America. In addition, the > Researchers noted that Mauritius had a government funded but > Private-Sector oriented ICT Academy that produced graduates specificially > for the ICT industry. > > In Kenya, the Researchers observed that apart from the lack of a national > database on the available skills/graduates, some of the BPO operators were > engaged in vicious poaching cycles where Agents trained in-house by one > Operater are immediately hired by the Competing Operators. It was noted, > that an attempt has been made by the .KE Government to create an > Industry-specific University (Multimedia University College of Kenya) to > address the HR gap but its success or otherwise will remain to be seen in > a few years time. The Researchers also noted that Kenya's > English-speaking labor force had an edge over the Indian one given that > the average Kenyan had a "neutral" accent unlike the Indian graduate who > tended to have an "ethnic" accent that often distracted the Euro-American %3 ---------------------------------------------- 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: timwololo(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.com

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Handing over to Nyaki - 2nd Moderator
by Walubengo J 11 Jun '09

11 Jun '09

Dear Listers, As per the schedule, I am pleased to hand-over the rest of the moderation to Nyaki who will introduce the remaining themes starting with the "Youth and Gender" theme today. Nyaki's CV is too long to fit in one email but its suffice to say that she belongs to this breed of Researchers that wants to bridge the gap between Academia and Socio-economic realities of out times. The rest of her story can be googled, but remember to use her official "handle" - Dr. Catherine Adeya. Over to you Nyaki. Plse tell us about today's theme. walu.

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Re: [kictanet] Day 8 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues
by Catherine Adeya 11 Jun '09

11 Jun '09

Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:25:46 -0700 (PDT) From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Bpoteam] Day 8 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues To: Solomon Mburu <solo.mburu(a)gmail.com> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Solomon, Interesting perspective bringing in the issue of the Youth Fund not supporting BPO. In addition, kindly reply all or you will miss the list as it was addressed to me only. Finally you are not late as you may note that this theme was to be discussed for 2 days and I just rehashed the same summary today. The only thing I will encourage is that you put the subject header as day 8 like I have now done as still very relevant. Thanks Catherine ________________________________ From: Solomon Mburu <solo.mburu(a)gmail.com> To: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 10:37:34 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Bpoteam] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues Morning, Apologies for late intervention. My own views in as far as youth and gender employment are concerned, will involves the element of equipping them with the right materials for their empowerment. This is because the varoius factors which promote entrepreneurial development include sound policies (the govt says at least a third of positions in public offices should be given to women), enough funding (through the youth fund and women development fund) and offering incentives to the target group. The Kenyan situation is not so conducive when it comes to promoting the youth in entrepreneurship. While the Youth Fund has helped the youth become economic independent, it is only pegged to activities such as hardware, human rights etc, but it does not support any technological advancement. Only the private sector have the BPO loosely in the specific organizations such as Safaricom Jambo Centre, Kencall etc. The employment of the youth and women in such a sector has not received the government support. Do we really have a govt fully run and supported BPO? That is where the problem is, because the government does not want to establish such an opportunity for the youth, probably due to fear, resources and the level of innovation that is shielded in govt shelves due to 'lack of funds' etc. The BPO sector is thus not supported by this Fund maybe due to the cost implications attached and the fear of adapting change. How about the labour laws? They are perhaps silent on the development of the BPO sector because they have been overtaken by the political sentiments and COTU's fighting for the rights of workers in Industrial Area! -- Solomon Mburu P.O. Box 19343 - 00202 Nairobi Cell: (+254-0) 735 431041 Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the same way to the side of a hill! AND It is better to die in dignity than in the ignomity of ambiguous generosity! --0-1156563532-1244723146=:87324 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii <html><head><style type="text/css"></style></head><body><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"><div>Solomon, Interesting perspective bringing in the issue of the Youth Fund not supporting BPO. In addition, kindly reply all or you will miss the list as it was addressed to me only. Finally you are not late as you may note that this theme was to be discussed for 2 days and I just rehashed the same summary today. The only thing I will encourage is that you put the subject header as day 8 like I have now done as still very relevant. Thanks Catherine </div><div style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><hr size="1">From: Solomon Mburu <solo.mburu(a)gmail.com> To: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 10:37:34 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Bpoteam] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues Morning, Apologies for late intervention. My own views in as far as youth and gender employment are concerned, will involves the element of equipping them with the right materials for their empowerment. This is because the varoius factors which promote entrepreneurial development include sound policies (the govt says at least a third of positions in public offices should be given to women), enough funding (through the youth fund and women development fund) and offering incentives to the target group. The Kenyan situation is not so conducive when it comes to promoting the youth in entrepreneurship. While the Youth Fund has helped the youth become economic independent, it is only pegged to activities such as hardware, human rights etc, but it does not support any technological advancement. Only the private sector have the BPO loosely in the specific organizations such as Safaricom Jambo Centre, Kencall etc. The employment of the youth and women in such a sector has not received the government support. Do we really have a govt fully run and supported BPO? That is where the problem is, because the government does not want to establish such an opportunity for the youth, probably due to fear, resources and the level of innovation that is shielded in govt shelves due to 'lack of funds' etc.  The BPO sector is thus not supported by this Fund maybe due to the cost implications attached and the fear of adapting change. How about the labour laws? They are perhaps silent on the development of the BPO sector because they have been overtaken by the political sentiments and COTU's  fighting for the rights of workers in Industrial Area!   -- Solomon Mburu P.O. Box 19343 - 00202 Nairobi Cell: (+254-0) 735 431041 Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the same way to the side of a hill! AND It is better to die in dignity than in the ignomity of ambiguous generosity! </div></div></div> </body></html> --0-1156563532-1244723146=:87324--

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Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues
by Walubengo J 11 Jun '09

11 Jun '09

-Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, Human Capacity Issues Morning all, I trust you had a refreshing weekend. Today I want to introduce the theme on Human Resource Development for the BPO industry. The Researchers found that India, S.Africa and Mauritius had a comprehensive inventory of their skill-base that was also available for Validation by prospective employers and investors. Another observation was ofcourse the sheer numbers of Indian graduates (millions) that made it the largest base of highly skilled pool of graduates with strong mathematical/scientific orientation. Whereas, Mauritius was producing only 10,000 (university) graduates per year compared to Kenya's 30,000 per year, Mauritius had the advantage of properly documenting their national graduates database and marketing it appropriately to potential clients in Europe/America. In addition, the Researchers noted that Mauritius had a government funded but Private-Sector oriented ICT Academy that produced graduates specificially for the ICT industry. In Kenya, the Researchers observed that apart from the lack of a national database on the available skills/graduates, some of the BPO operators were engaged in vicious poaching cycles where Agents trained in-house by one Operater are immediately hired by the Competing Operators. It was noted, that an attempt has been made by the .KE Government to create an Industry-specific University (Multimedia University College of Kenya) to address the HR gap but its success or otherwise will remain to be seen in a few years time. The Researchers also noted that Kenya's English-speaking labor force had an edge over the Indian one given that the average Kenyan had a "neutral" accent unlike the Indian graduate who tended to have an "ethnic" accent that often distracted the Euro-American markets/clients. But this advantage is yet to be exploited - even as the Indians move up the BPO value chain and concentrate on non-accent related processes such as Software Engineering, Research (Financial, Medicine, etc), Product (e.g. Civil and Architectural) Design amongst others. Which leads us to todays questions. Qtn 7: How do we develop a national database on the wide-range of available ICT skill in Kenya - specifically which institution should be mandated to realise this, ensuring that such a database is kept upto date over the years? Qtn 8: What strategies should the country adopt to ensure a continuous supply of relevant and timely BPO-Specific skills? Please, lets have your comments flowing,dig yahjwalu starting now... walu. Encl: Synthesis 3 - HR Issues

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Re: [kictanet] Day 8 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues
by Walubengo J 11 Jun '09

11 Jun '09

folks, indeed she 'deliberately' repeated day 7 issues. The catch is that we have 2days to discuss the Youth and Gender issue... meanwhile, i noted in yesterdays Daily Nation, pag 15 - its like Safaricom has finally published tenders to outsource part of the Customer Services? Kazi kwa vijana. walu. --- On Thu, 6/11/09, Wainaina Mungai <wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org> wrote: > From: Wainaina Mungai <wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 8 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009, 1:49 AM > Nyaki, > > I got that very same feeling that day 8 intro is a repeat > of day 7's intro... > > might be a time zone issue ;-) > > Wainaina > > On 6/11/09, Bill Kagai <billkagai(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > > This looks like repetition of Day7 unless am missing > > something.....or..... confused..... > > > > On Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 12:24 AM, Catherine > Adeya<elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> > > wrote: > >> > >> - Day 8 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender > Issues Continued - > >> > >> It is a few minutes past midnight now so let me > introduce Day 8 of the > >> discussions. > >> > >> Today we continue with the theme of Youth and > Gender issues. The following > >> is part of the summary I sent yesterday (the > detailed attachment I sent > >> yesterday is re-attached). > >> > >> It is useful to begin by noting that the > researchers found that the > >> unemployment rate (2008 est) was 40% in Kenya, > 21.7% in S. Africa, 7.6% in > >> Mauritius and 6.8% in India. The researchers also > found that the minimum > >> qualification for professional staff was a > Bachelor’s degree in all four > >> countries. However, the minimum qualification > for operators/agents > >> varied. > >> In Kenya it was a certificate, diploma or degree > depending on operation; > >> in > >> S. Africa it was Grade 12; Mauritius school > certificate or below and in > >> India it was a High school certificate. > >> > >> The common work related challenges include project > management (especially > >> meeting deadlines) and long hours. Some employees > in Kenya complained > >> about > >> challenges with transportation. The detailed > summary findings will be > >> availed. > >> > >> Generally there were more women in call centres > than male but more males > >> in > >> the professional cadre. The youth are mostly > found in the agent/operator > >> jobs. The following are some country specific > issues: > >> > >> In, India there is the Equal Remuneration Act > ensures that there is equal > >> remuneration to men and women for same jobs. Under > this law, no > >> discrimination is permissible in recruitment and > service conditions except > >> where employment of women is prohibited or > restricted by the law. NASSCOM > >> has launched the Women in Leadership-IT Initiative > to enhance > >> participation > >> of women in the workforce and ensure there are > more women leaders in the > >> IT-BPO industry. > >> In South Africa, there are 40% more females than > males below 25 years > >> working in the BPO sector. However, there are 7% > more males than females > >> above 25 years old. There is no gender or age > based discrimination in the > >> work place. There exists no law or policy that > prefers youth from other > >> groups of people in employment. > >> In Mauritius, there is no 24 hour work culture. In > addition, the Labor Act > >> prohibits employment of female employees in > industrial undertakings > >> between > >> 10 p.m. and 5 a.m; while youth are not allowed to > work between between 6 > >> p.m. and 6 a.m. Interestingly, there is clause > that no person shall, > >> except > >> with the Permanent Secretary's written consent, > transport a female worker > >> or > >> cause a female worker to be transported in a goods > vehicle; any other > >> vehicle, unless the vehicle is provided with an > easy means of entering and > >> alighting which does not involve climbing. > >> > >> 4. In Kenya we have the Employment Act which > many of you know. > >> > >> This leads us to the following discussion > questions: > >> > >> Discussion Q9: Are the Kenyan laws adequate to > protect the youth and women > >> from exploitation by BPO&O employers? > >> > >> Discussion Q. 10: The BPO sector is not seen as a > long term source of > >> employment for most employees. Most believe it is > a stepping stone to > >> other > >> lucrative opportunities. What needs to be done to > ensure the youth and > >> women > >> view the industry as attractive, especially in > terms of quality of > >> employment and career progression? > >> > >> Discussion Q11: Attrition and poaching are > prevalent in most countries > >> studied. What mechanisms should employers adopt to > attract and retain > >> their > >> staff? > >> > >> Let the discussions continue as we move to another > topic tomorrow. > >> > >> Thanks > >> > >> Nyaki > >> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> kictanet mailing list > >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > >> This message was sent to: billkagai(a)gmail.com > >> Unsubscribe or change your options at > >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/billkagai%40gmail.com > >> > >> > > > > > > > > -- > > Bildad Kagai > > MD - MediaCorp Limited > > Nairobi Stock Exchange Authorised Information Vendor > > Suite B2, Tetu Court, State House Avenue > > P. O. Box 20311 - 00200 > > Nairobi, Kenya > > Tel. 254 20 272 8332 > > Fax. Rendered Obsolete > > S - 1°17'13.8" > > E - 36°48'22.7" > > www.mediacorp.co.ke > > --- > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya… > > > > -- > Sent from my mobile device > > --- > http://www.bungesms.com > > http://www.madeinkenya.org > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >

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Executive e-Learning Strategy Development & Implementation workshop, July 6-10, Windhoek Namibia
by Gakiria 10 Jun '09

10 Jun '09

Dear all, Attached for your information. The aim of the workshop is to expose participants to practical success stories on e-Learning strategy development and implementation from a policy and strategic level. There will be expert presentations and coaching by Prof Johannes Cronje, a leading international e-Learning expert from South Africa, including working group sessions and practical, interactive activities. Please refer to the attached information sheet and application form. Kind regards Andrew Gakiria Kenya e-Learning Center

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Executive e-Learning Strategy Development & Implementation workshop, July 6-10, Windhoek Namibia
by Gakiria 10 Jun '09

10 Jun '09

Dear all, Attached for your information. The aim of the workshop is to expose participants to practical success stories on e-Learning strategy development and implementation from a policy and strategic level. There will be expert presentations and coaching by Prof Johannes Cronje, a leading international e-Learning expert from South Africa, including working group sessions and practical, interactive activities. Please refer to the attached information sheet and application form. Kind regards Andrew Gakiria Kenya e-Learning Center

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues
by Walubengo J 10 Jun '09

10 Jun '09

My comments on the Employment Laws - I maybe wrong but I tend to think the BPO industry is so young and fragile that employers do get away ignoring most of what could be in the employment laws such as leave, working hours, medical cover etc. Most of these youngsters are technically "casual labourers" engaged on long-term basis without the above employment benefits. And as long as Atwoli (that Labour acrobatic Leader ;-) doesnt get to hear about this - it is good for an emerging industry to be very liberal at the beginning. Eventually, with sufficient maturity (when this will be I dont know), then Employers should be compelled to respect and abide by labor laws. walu. --- On Wed, 6/10/09, Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: [kictanet] Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth and Gender Issues > To: "Walubengo J" <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 9:11 AM > > > > > - Day 7 of 10- BPO Discussions, Youth > and Gender Issues - > > > > Morning all, > > Walu has done a fantastic job > moderating so far and now you > are stuck with me for the > next four days. Today’s theme is on Youth and > Gender issues. It is > obvious we have touched on a number of issues that focus on > this theme in the > last few days; however, it is still pertinent to address it > as an exclusive > issue. > > Some of > you have > wondered why we keep referring to S. Africa, Mauritius and > India. I would like > to re-emphasize that those are the countries where the > research was conducted > but views from other countries are welcome. The idea is not > to compare Kenya > per se but to bench-mark on our (or potential) competitors. > Views based on > other countries are very welcome, the researchers could not > visit more > countries due to funding constraints. > > It is useful to begin by noting that > the researchers found > that the unemployment rate (2008 est) was 40% in Kenya, > 21.7% in S. Africa, > 7.6% in Mauritius and 6.8% in India. The researchers also > found that the > minimum qualification for professional staff was a > Bachelor’s degree in all > four countries. However, the > minimum > qualification for operators/agents varied. > In Kenya it was a certificate, diploma or degree > depending on operation; > in S. Africa it was Grade 12; Mauritius school certificate > or below and in > India it was a High school certificate. > > The common work related challenges > include project > management (especially meeting deadlines) and long hours. > Some employees in > Kenya complained about challenges with transportation. The detailed summary findings will be > availed. > > > Generally there were more women in > call centres than male > but more males in the professional cadre. The youth are mostly found in the > agent/operator jobs. The following are some country > specific issues: > > In, India there is the > Equal Remuneration Act ensures that there is equal > remuneration to men and > women for same jobs. Under this law, no discrimination > is permissible in > recruitment and service conditions except where > employment of women is > prohibited or restricted by the law. NASSCOM has launched the Women in > Leadership-IT Initiative > to enhance participation of women in the workforce and > ensure there are > more women leaders in the IT-BPO industry.In South Africa, there are > 40% more females than males below 25 years working in > the BPO sector. > However, there are 7% more males than females above 25 > years old. There is no gender or age based > discrimination in the work place. There exists > no law or policy > that prefers youth from other groups of people in > employment.In > Mauritius, there is no 24 hour work > culture. In addition, the Labor Act prohibits > employment of female > employees in industrial undertakings between 10 > p.m. and 5 a.m; > while youth are not allowed to work between between 6 > p.m. and 6 a.m. Interestingly, > there is > clause that no person shall, except with the > Permanent Secretary's > written consent, transport a female worker or cause a > female worker to be > transported in a goods vehicle; any other vehicle, > unless the vehicle is > provided with an easy means of entering and alighting > which does not > involve climbing. > > 4. > In Kenya we have the Employment Act > which many of you know. > > > This leads > us to > the following discussion questions: > > Discussion Q9: Are the Kenyan laws adequate to > protect the youth and women from > exploitation by BPO&O employers? > > Discussion Q. 10: The BPO sector > is not seen as a long term source of > employment for most employees. Most believe it is a > stepping stone to other > lucrative opportunities. What needs to be done to ensure > the youth and women > view the industry as attractive, especially in terms of > quality of employment > and career progression? > > Discussion Q11: Attrition and > poaching are prevalent in most countries studied. What > mechanisms should > employers adopt to attract and retain their staff? > > Let the games (oops! Discussion) > begin! > > Thanks > > Nyaki > > To be Encl: > Synthesis > 4 – Youth and Gender Issues > > > > >

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UN-HABITAT's Opportunities Fund: New deadline 15. June 2009
by Constance Georgina Khaendi Walyaro 10 Jun '09

10 Jun '09

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may see it online. UN-HABITAT's Opportunities Fund: New deadline 15. June 2009 The deadline for applications for the UN-HABITAT Opportunities Fund for Urban Youth-led Development has been extended to 15 June 2009. If your organization is working on an innovative and sustainable project that will improve the lives of young people and make a positive impact on your community, you could be eligible to receive a grant. Please find application documents in English, French and Spanish at www.unhabitat.org/opfund. The Opportunities Fund for Urban Youth-led Development has been set up to support urban based Youth-led organizations in developing countries who are working to improve the living conditions of their communities. The Fund will give grants between $5,000 and $25,000 to organizations led by young people, aged 15-32 years. The Fund is committed to support innovative youth-led projects in areas such as employment, education, environment, health and safety. Applications from organizations partnering with government agencies and the private sector are encouraged. Projects promoting gender equality are particularly welcome. PLEASE DISTRIBUTE TO YOUR NETWORKS!! (French and Spanish translation below - please forward on to your friends!!) --- Fonds d'Opportunités de ONU־HABITAT : Nouveau délai : 15 Juin 2009 La date limite du dépôt des candidatures concernant les fonds d'opportunités pour un développement urbain mené par la jeunesse a été étendu au 15 Juin 2009. Si votre organisation travaille sur un projet durable et innovateur qui contribuera à améliorer la vie des jeunes et d'avoir un impact positif sur votre communauté, vous pourrez être éligible. Les documents pour le dépôt des candidatures sont disponibles sur le site Web : www.unhabitat.org/opfund en Anglais, Français et Espagnole. Les Fonds d'Opportunités pour le développement urbain mené par la jeunesse ont été établit pour soutenir les organisations dirigées par les jeunes qui travaillent dans l'optique d'améliorer les conditions de vie de leur communauté dans les pays en voie de développement. Les Fonds mettrons à la disposition des organisations dirigées par les jeunes âgés de 15-32 ans, les subventions d'une valeur comprise entre 5.000 USD et 25.000 USD. Les Fonds sont destinés à soutenir les projets innovateurs dirigés par la jeunesse, dans les domaines tels que l'emploi, l'éducation, l'environnement, la santé et la sécurité. Le dépôt des candidatures des organisations travaillant en partenariat avec les agences gouvernementales et le secteur privé est encouragé. Les projets promouvant l'égalité du genre sont en particulier sollicités. --- Fondo de Oportunidades UN-HABITAT: Nuevo plazo, 15 de junio de 2009. El plazo para aplicaciones para el Fondo de Oportunidades para el Desarrollo Impulsado por la Juventud Urbana fue extendido para el 15 de junio de 2009. Si su organización está trabajando en un proyecto innovador y sustentable que mejorará la vida de los jóvenes y impactará positivamente en su comunidad, usted puede ser seleccionado para recibir la subvención. Por favor encuentren los documentos en inglés, francés y español en la página www.unhabitat.org/opfund. E Fondo de Oportunidades para el Desarrollo Impulsado por la Juventud Urbana fue creado para apoyar organizaciones dirigidas por jóvenes urbanos en países en vías de desarrollo que estén trabajando para mejorar las condiciones de vida de los jóvenes, entre 15-32 años. El Fondo está comprometido en apoyar proyectos liderados por jóvenes en áreas como empleo, ecuación, medioambiente, salud, y seguridad. Aplicaciones de organizaciones socias de agencias gubernamentales y del sector privado son incentivadas. Proyectos que promuevan equidad de género son particularmente bienvenidos. --- Are you on Facebook? Twitter? If so then follow what is happening at the fund on facebook at: http://tinyurl.com/opfund and join us on twitter at: http://twitter.com/youthfund Looking forward to chatting with you!! --- Youth Led Resource list Please find below a list of resources on urban youth development. Please send us anything more you may have!! Urban Youth Development Articles (click on title) Community Mapping: An Annotated Bibliography (University of Colorado) Creating Livable Cities for All Ages: Intergenerational Strategies and Initiatives (WUF IV) Dialogue Paper Youth in Urban Development: Bringing Ideas into Action (WUF III) Eight Lessons on Peacebuilding from Joaquim Chissano, Former President of Mozambique, UN HABITAT Youth Ambassador (WUF IV) Growing up with expectations. Better understanding the expectations of community partners in participatory action research projects (Community Alliance) Space for Change (please contact author: clarissawilkinson(a)gmail.com) The Youth Friendly City: World Urban Forum III Youth Led Development in Sustainable Cities From Idea, to Policy to Practice (Sustainable Cities) Youth Led Development (PeaceChild) Websites Children, Youth and Environments Journal Environmental Youth Alliance Peacechild International Sustainable Cities TakingITglobal UMAP (University of Colorado) UN HABITAT "Twits" to follow (on twitter!!) who write about youth development Doug Ragan (Community Alliance): twitter.com/ddragan Jennifer Corriero (TakingITGlobal: twitter.com/jenergy Joao Scarpelini (UN HABITAT Youth Advisory Board): twitter.com/jfscarpelini Leaders of Tomorrow: twitter.com/leadersot --- Innovative mobile network links youth globally Mobile Movement is a network that connects people from all over the world with a social mandate using mobile technologies. Their goal is to help bridge the gap between rich and poor with micro-financing, business partnerships and information exchanges. Their first project is in Nairobi, Kenya, where they are working with 15 youth groups from the slums and low-income neighborhoods of Nairobi who are working with UN-HABITAT's "Urban Entrepreneurship Program" which trains young people and encourages the development of socially responsible small businesses. The project gave these youth groups mobile phones so they can shoot video of their projects, and put them on the mobilemovement.tv site for you to see. You can chat with these groups on the Mobile Movement website, share experiences, and, if you like, support their project financially. The Environmental Youth Alliance will manage and administer funds raised by Mobile Movement on behalf of youth participating in the "Urban Entrepreneurship Program". 90% of proceeds go directly to the youth. 10% will be reserved to administer the fund and maintain the website. If you have any questions, please contact the Mobile Movement team at team(a)mobilemovement.tv Click here and join them on Youtube or Facebook. --- Youth Led Survey!! Get Involved and You Might Win a New IPOD!! UN-HABITAT is committed to supporting youth in cities. To do so they need to know more about youth organizations - so, they are asking youth organizations to help by participating in a research program they are undertaking on youth-led organizations by filling out a survey at http://tinyurl.com/youthled. If you complete the survey, you will automatically be entered into a draw to WIN A NEW IPOD! Deadline to complete the survey is June 15th, 2009. Winners will be notified by phone or e-mail. Environmental Youth Alliance Suite 305 - 119 West Pender, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6B 1S5 www.eya.ca Sustainable Cities 415 - 1788 West 5th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6J 1P2 www.icsc.ca This email was sent to constancegeorgina(a)yahoo.co.uk. To ensure that you continue receiving our emails, please add us to your address book or safe list. manage your preferences | opt out using TrueRemove®. Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails. powered by --- On Tue, 9/6/09, Opportunities Fund for Urban Youth Led Development <youthfund(a)ca.inter.net>

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Entrepreneurs needed for an August Event.
by Jose' 10 Jun '09

10 Jun '09

Hey Folks, We run Kimathi Centre as an urban Digital Village here in Eastlands Nairobi.Every August for two years now we have been partnering with University Of British Columbia and Starthmore university to train young adults on business writing concepts for 18 days then thereafter they graduate with a certificate. During Tuesday and Thursday sessions,we have guest entrepreneurs who come and speak on selected enterprise topics that last for 30-45 minutes.This year we have four sites being- I.C.C church Mombasa road,K.A.G-Bahati in east lands,Friends church-Next to Prestige plaza and Mathare.I am looking for up to 16 practicing entrepreneurs who will psyche up the participants.contact me off list and I will give you more details.Thanking you in advance. Check out this link on the successful entertainers who participated in last years class. http://www.africa.sauder.ubc.ca/testimonials-SuccessStories.html regards, Jose' Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri | Readiness | Availability | Uptake | Impact |

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New Mobile Phenomenon
by mwende njiraini 10 Jun '09

10 Jun '09

Dear all, Given that most people including children have access to mobiles, there is now a growing problem being referred to as 'sexting'. (View CBS news clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xOZ81dXzdA&feature=channel_page) Are there the parental control services available in Kenya? Kind regards Mwende *Disclaimer: Views expressed here (except those quoted or referenced) are the author’s own*

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Re: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues
by Esther 09 Jun '09

09 Jun '09

Apologies for joining this discussion late! My contribution to Qtn 7 is that the BPO sector has other processes that are not necessarily ICT, e.g. financial management, payroll, transcription etc. Should we have another database of skills in these fields? In answer to Qtn. 8, the KBPO Society has taken the lead by developing a BPO Training Competency Framework that highlights all skills and competencies required to work in this industry not just by graduates, but by those in tertiary institutions as well. The Framework was developed after an extensive research of international curriculums in India, Mauritius, S. Africa, UK, and US, and is an excellent resource for training institutions, BPO operators, and students. And I agree with the suggestion that it needs to be customized to suit the Kenyan environment very true! While I fully support the idea of entrenching a BPO curriculum in the university program, I am afraid the approval process can sometimes be too long. For training institutions that want to start offering BPO training, they can adopt the BPO Framework and immediately start training and this will ensuring a continuous supply of trained manpower. Esther > > > ----- Forwarded message from Peres Were <pwere(a)cascadegl.com> ----- > Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:01:55 +0300 > From: Peres Were <pwere(a)cascadegl.com> > Reply-To: Peres Were <pwere(a)cascadegl.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues > To: godera(a)skyweb.co.ke > > There is too much emphasis on equipping graduates at the expense of > neglecting those in tertiary institutions, as mentioned by Lily below. > If Kenya is aiming at a niche in Call Centre/Data Processing (which > seems to be the case) then we should look at equipping students even > in tertiary level institutions. > > > > > > > Quoting lily marusoi <lmarusoi(a)yahoo.com>: > >> >> My take on Q 7&8 >> >> We need to come up with a standardized national curriculum for the >> BPO sector a "finishing school" for those aspiring to work in the >> BPO sector. Having looked at the KBPO society training framework I >> feel there is a need to customise it to fit our Kenyan situation as >> some skills set were assumed to be obvious. >> >> When we talk of equiping the graduates, lets not also forget that we >> have so many other youths graduating from tertiary institutions >> with certificates and diplomas. >> >> Some major industry players have hinted that they prefer non >> graduates so long as they have the right attitudes, it is easier to >> train skills but not attitudes which is a major factor in the BPO >> sector. >> >> Regards >> Lily >> >> >> --- On Mon, 6/8/09, Judy Okite <judyokite(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> From: Judy Okite <judyokite(a)gmail.com> >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues >> To: lmarusoi(a)yahoo.com >> Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> Date: Monday, June 8, 2009, 11:50 AM >> >> >> to answer both Q 7&8 >> >> my suggestion on this.....all graduates,should be equipped to work >> in a BPO,at the time of their graduation. BPO specifics,should be >> entrenched,within the curriculum.....with this there will be no >> descrimination and I believe it will bring in quality to this >> market e.g in USIU,I know you have to do a foreign language....at >> some point in your 2years of your time with them...it doesnt really >> matter what course your taking and level. >> >> Kind Regards, >> >> >> On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 8:06 AM, Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> >> -Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, Human Capacity Issues >> >> Morning all, >> >> I trust you had a refreshing weekend. Today I want to introduce the >> theme on Human Resource Development for the BPO industry. The >> Researchers found that India, S.Africa and Mauritius had a >> comprehensive inventory of their skill-base that was also available >> for Validation by prospective employers and investors. Another >> observation was ofcourse the sheer numbers of Indian graduates >> (millions) that made it the largest base of highly skilled pool of >> graduates with strong mathematical/scientific orientation. Whereas, >> Mauritius was producing only 10,000 (university) graduates per year >> compared to Kenya's 30,000 per year, Mauritius had the advantage of >> properly documenting their national graduates database and >> marketing it appropriately to potential clients in Europe/America. >> In addition, the Researchers noted that Mauritius had a government >> funded but Private-Sector oriented ICT Academy that produced >> graduates specificially for the ICT industry. >> >> In Kenya, the Researchers observed that apart from the lack of a >> national database on the available skills/graduates, some of the BPO >> operators were engaged in vicious poaching cycles where Agents >> trained in-house by one Operater are immediately hired by the >> Competing Operators. It was noted, that an attempt has been made by >> the .KE Government to create an Industry-specific University >> (Multimedia University College of Kenya) to address the HR gap but >> its success or otherwise will remain to be seen in a few years time. >> The Researchers also noted that Kenya's English-speaking labor >> force had an edge over the Indian one given that the average Kenyan >> had a "neutral" accent unlike the Indian graduate who tended to have >> an "ethnic" accent that often distracted the Euro-American >> markets/clients. >> >> But this advantage is yet to be exploited - even as the Indians move >> up the BPO value chain and concentrate on non-accent related >> processes such as Software Engineering, Research (Financial, >> Medicine, etc), Product (e.g. Civil and Architectural) Design >> amongst others. Which leads us to todays questions. >> >> Qtn 7: How do we develop a national database on the wide-range of >> available ICT skill in Kenya - specifically which institution should >> be mandated to realise this, ensuring that such a database is kept >> upto date over the years? >> >> Qtn 8: What strategies should the country adopt to ensure a >> continuous supply of relevant and timely BPO-Specific skills? >> >> Please, lets have your comments flowing,dig yahjwalu starting now... >> >> walu. >> >> Encl: Synthesis 3 - HR Issues >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: judyokite(a)gmail.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/judyokite%40gmail.com >> >> >> >> >> -- >> "Each of us is great insofar as we perceive and act on the infinite >> possibilities which lie undiscovered and unrecognized about us." >> James Harvey Robinson >> >> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: lmarusoi(a)yahoo.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lmarusoi%40yahoo.com >> >> >> >> > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: godera(a)skyweb.co.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/godera%40skyweb.co.ke > > ----- End forwarded message ----- > > > > > ------------------------------------------------- > This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ > -- ANDEST BITES LIMITED Caxton House - 2nd Floor Suite 10 Kenyatta Avenue P.O. Box 849, 00600 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254-724-164346; 733-720619 URL: www.andestbites.com

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Day 6 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues (Continued)
by Walubengo J 09 Jun '09

09 Jun '09

Hey, Amazing contributions. The value of a network is indeed a function of what their membership puts on the table and I have to agree I have never seen so much value put forth in such a long time... Luckily, on our schedule, which I copy below for the benefit of the late-joiners, we have another day (today) to exhaust the HR issues. ===schedule===== 1.The policy, legal and institutional frameworks for BPO sector (2days, Walu moderating) 2.Subsidies accorded to BPO sector (2days, Walu moderating) 3.Human capacity issues (2days, Walu moderating) 4.Youth and gender issues (2days, Nyaki moderating) 5.Strengths and challenges for Kenya as a BPO destination (2days, Nyaki moderating) ====ends=== So lets have more contributions on HR and ofcourse belated contributions on previous themes (just post against the corresponding theme/subject line) walu. --- On Tue, 6/9/09, n_macharia(a)yahoo.co.uk <n_macharia(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > From: n_macharia(a)yahoo.co.uk <n_macharia(a)yahoo.co.uk> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues] > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2009, 1:52 AM > Marilyn, > I agree with you entirely on the fact the graduates have > the necessary business, computing and relevant techinical > skills to take up jobs in BPO. Obviously no academic > ttaining must be followed by job training. > The present universities curriculum are under constant and > regular reviews to make absolutely relevant and demand > driven. CHE (Commision for Higher Education) demands > that reviews and revions be done after every Five years. > Such curriculum developments and revisions must provide > evidence of all stakeholders participation ( professionals, > industry, government, alumni etc) in curriculum development. > In addition, IUCEA is also giving new guidelines for > curriculum development esp for accreditation purposes. The > formation of other bodies would look to mw like duplication. > The principal focus is to create a suitable environment to > manage and operate domestic BPOs which will be building > capacity while > we manage and repair our tarnished image > abroad. Such investiments would not only create the > much needed job opportunities but would also provide avenues > for skills development and transfer. > > Nancy > Sent from my BlackBerry® > > -----Original Message----- > From: "Marilyn M. Kamuru" <mkamuru(a)emanageafrica.com> > > Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 18:00:16 > To: <n_macharia(a)yahoo.co.uk> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: Day 5 of 10- BPO > Discussions, HR Issues] > > > > Excellent point! I think we are making a huge mistake > especially in light > of the post election violence focusing so heavily on the > foreign investors > and the international BPO market. > > I have been following this discussion and as a local BPO > operator focused > on the domestic market I can tell you we have a difficult > time convincing > local companies to outsource and while all this talk is > good frankly I > think we are missing the point. If the point is > development, then why > aren't we focusing on how to develop this industry as > quickly and > effectively as possible? In my view the low hanging > fruit are the > domestic opportunities but we need a lot more work in the > form of > government incentives to operators AND businesses to > promote and support > the nascent outsourcing industry. Yes, I read the > post on the judiciary > plans to outsource the transcription but I think there is > plenty more work > that can be outsourced and if the government wasn't so > focused on the > foreign investor and looked at the government as a consumer > of outsourced > services and the local private sector we may make more > progress. My hope > is that we can focus on creating the environment that makes > it conducive > to manage and operate domestic BPOs which will be building > capacity while > we manage and frankly repair our much tarnished image > abroad. Just like a > company needs to look at reinvesting retained earnings > before it seeks > outside financing, we need to look at what we can do > locally before we > start tapping the international market, especially given > the heightened > risk factors that Kenya faces since 2007/8. > > This means: > 1. Government departments, agencies outsourcing work > to local companies > and looking at outsourcing not as a way to shed jobs but as > a means to > better manage scare resources. > 2. Tax breaks for local BPO operators and private > companies contracting > outsourcing services locally to incentivize operator > investment and > company adaption of services in this industry. Tax > breaks should be > immediate and not dependant on the entry or attraction of > foreign > investors. Those of us currently in operation are > betting on Kenya. > Instead of waiting we are putting our money to work > believing in the > future of this country...I don't think we are asking for > too much when we > ask the government to support our development. > 3. Less focus on what we do not have and a greater focus on > what we have. > Skills, entrepreneurs and an optimistic view of our country > as well as a > domestic market and potential to tap into the larger > regional market (EAC > & COMESA). > > Finally, I am of the contrarian view: we have the skill > set, but because > we are not willing to start where we are we are asking > students and > graduates to pay more money to get additional certification > before we can > get foreign investors interested in our country...Frankly I > think we place > too much stock in certificates and paper > qualifications. If we ask these > graduates to take another training class with the promise > of better > opportunity they will...instead I suggest we recognize the > current > intellectual capital that we have and those of us in the > industry focus on > the job training and going back to the role that government > can play, > obtain tax credits for this on the job training. Lets > us make sure these > graduates have work and build on that instead of creating > additional > hurdles to employment. > > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO > Discussions, HR Issues > From: "S.Murigi Muraya" <murigi.muraya(a)gmail.com> > Date: Mon, June 8, 2009 5:17 pm > To: mkamuru(a)emanageafrica.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Priority: Normal > > > > Let us also factor in on the job training to improve > our skill sets. > > Software engineers become masters of their craft by > doing projects and > > by exchanging (code and concepts) with their peers. A > classroom setting > > possibly contributes to less than 10% of all their > success. > > > > There have been a number of comments in these (BPO) > discussions > > comparing us with India, South Africa and Mauritius. > > > > We cannot rely on the whims of those with negative > (but often valid) > > perceptions towards us. We need to give ourselves a > chance that is of > > our own creation. > > > > @ 40 Million (our 2010 population) growing at 2.5% > > (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ke.html > > and others estimate our population growth @ almost > 2.7% per annum) we > > will add 1 Million Kenyans to our population next > year. 2030 is sure to > > see us with a population of at least 60 Million. > > > > With that in mind and given the fact political > instability is the > > current (and unfortunately valid) excuse to avoid > Kenya, we would be > > most ignorant NOT to focus most of our BPO efforts > internally. This will > > build up LOCAL companies and on a REGIONAL basis. This > will build up > > local talent who may otherwise be demoralized for not > being Western > > enough to Foreign BPO companies. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > wrote: > >> Walubengo, > >> With respect to capacity building, the Government > has done the following > >> Established Multimedia University to focus on IT > Skills Development; > >> Contracted the Central Bureau of Statistics > through CCK to conduct ICT > >> Skills inventory in Kenya and Set up a task force > to look into Skills > >> development as recommended by MaKinsey in the just > concluded Value > >> Proposition. We are in the process of > appointing other stakeholders > >> into > >> the committee. > >> > >> Although we do not have a sector strategy on > Capacity building, the > >> Governemnt takes issues of skills development very > seriously. This is a > >> matter that NESC emphasizes as key to our > competitiveness. In this > >> regard > >> we look forward to a quick finalization of the > skills inventory and the > >> task force recommendation. > >> > >> Regards > >> > >> > >> Ndemo. > >> > >> > >> > >> > >>> -Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, Human Capacity > Issues > >>> > >>> Morning all, > >>> > >>> I trust you had a refreshing weekend. > Today I want to introduce the > >>> theme > >>> on Human Resource Development for the BPO > industry. The Researchers > >>> found > >>> that India, S.Africa and Mauritius had a > comprehensive inventory of > >>> their > >>> skill-base that was also available for > Validation by prospective > >>> employers > >>> and investors. Another observation was > ofcourse the sheer numbers of > >>> Indian graduates (millions) that made it the > largest base of highly > >>> skilled pool of graduates with strong > mathematical/scientific > >>> orientation. > >>> Whereas, Mauritius was producing only > 10,000 (university) graduates > >>> per > >>> year compared to Kenya's 30,000 per year, > Mauritius had the advantage > >>> of > >>> properly documenting their national graduates > database and marketing it > >>> appropriately to potential clients in > Europe/America. In addition, the > >>> Researchers noted that Mauritius had a > government funded but > >>> Private-Sector oriented ICT Academy that > produced graduates > >>> specificially > >>> for the ICT industry. > >>> > >>> In Kenya, the Researchers observed that apart > from the lack of a > >>> national > >>> database on the available skills/graduates, > some of the BPO operators > >>> were > >>> engaged in vicious poaching cycles where > Agents trained in-house by one > >>> Operater are immediately hired by the > Competing Operators. It was > >>> noted, > >>> that an attempt has been made by the .KE > Government to create an > >>> Industry-specific University (Multimedia > University College of Kenya) > >>> to > >>> address the HR gap but its success or > otherwise will remain to be seen > >>> in > >>> a few years time. The Researchers also > noted that Kenya's > >>> English-speaking labor force had an edge over > the Indian one given that > >>> the average Kenyan had a "neutral" accent > unlike the Indian graduate > >>> who > >>> tended to have an "ethnic" accent that often > distracted the > >>> Euro-American > >>> > >> %3 > >> > >> > >> ---------------------------------------------- > >> 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: murigi.muraya(a)gmail.com > >> Unsubscribe or change your options at > >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/murigi.muraya%40gmail.… > >> > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: mkamuru(a)emanageafrica.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mkamuru%40emanageafric… > > > > > -- > Many thanks and best regards, > > > Marilyn Muthoni Kamuru > eManage Africa Limited > P.O.Box 18136 00500 > Nairobi, Kenya > Tel: (254) 20 828 383; 2034 550 > Personal Cell: (254) 0725 527 972, 0736 225 384 > www.emanageafrica.com > > > -- > Many thanks and best regards, > > > Marilyn Muthoni Kamuru > eManage Africa Limited > P.O.Box 18136 00500 > Nairobi, Kenya > Tel: (254) 20 828 383; 2034 550 > Personal Cell: (254) 0725 527 972, 0736 225 384 > www.emanageafrica.com > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: n_macharia(a)yahoo.co.uk > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/n_macharia%40yahoo.co.… > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >

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Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues]
by Jotham Kilimo Mwale 09 Jun '09

09 Jun '09

That is a good move by the PS and I hope some fruits will come out of it soon. I have this feeling (and I stand to be corrected) that the BPO sector is somewhat relying too much on the government for them to do business. I say so because I keep hearing of incentives, tax breaks, and others. As the PS has rightly pointed, this may cause other sectors (agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, financial services, etc) to demand similar treatment, a situation I think is not sustainable. One way of building the sector without much reliance on the incentives and tax breaks is to have a vibrant domestic BPO sector to build capacity and confidence in readiness for the external business (when it comes after putting our image in order). As we wait for the PS to convince his colleagues on the need to outsource some jobs locally, I suggest that the sector operators mount an aggressive campaign to do the same (to complement the PSs efforts) and also venture into private sector. Someone has suggested that KNBS could make use of local BPOs during the coming census, and I add that KRA could also do the same as they process end of year tax returns. Is the sector ready for these jobs if they were to be given today? This takes me to the issue of training. In the absence of a national BPO skills competency programme, the options are numerous and the result is varying skills training programmes in the market (many in-house) without a benchmark for what is relevant or not. This gives rise to various competing programmes, mostly foreign, and different operators having their own preferences. How can we build a national database of BPO skills in such a situation? Put another way, given the varying skills needs of the sector, is there need for a national qualification? Regards, Jotham --- On Mon, 6/8/09, 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] [Fwd: Re: Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues] To: jokilimo(a)yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Monday, June 8, 2009, 9:58 AM Listers, I have consulted with my colleagues in those departments that are looking at outsourcing and they are willing to discuss with stakeholders to gain better understanding of the trade. I will therefore arrange for this meeting towards the end of the month. One thing that may be difficult for us is the Tax Break request for local BPO organizations. If that is granted, Treasury will be hard put to explain why all other organizations should not get the tax break. I understand tax break for export of service but locally sourced jobs, we may be asking for too much. Ndemo. > > Excellent point! I think we are making a huge mistake especially in light > of the post election violence focusing so heavily on the foreign investors > and the international BPO market. > > I have been following this discussion and as a local BPO operator focused > on the domestic market I can tell you we have a difficult time convincing > local companies to outsource and while all this talk is good frankly I > think we are missing the point. If the point is development, then why > aren't we focusing on how to develop this industry as quickly and > effectively as possible? In my view the low hanging fruit are the > domestic opportunities but we need a lot more work in the form of > government incentives to operators AND businesses to promote and support > the nascent outsourcing industry. Yes, I read the post on the judiciary > plans to outsource the transcription but I think there is plenty more work > that can be outsourced and if the government wasn't so focused on the > foreign investor and looked at the government as a consumer of outsourced > services and the local private sector we may make more progress. My hope > is that we can focus on creating the environment that makes it conducive > to manage and operate domestic BPOs which will be building capacity while > we manage and frankly repair our much tarnished image abroad. Just like a > company needs to look at reinvesting retained earnings before it seeks > outside financing, we need to look at what we can do locally before we > start tapping the international market, especially given the heightened > risk factors that Kenya faces since 2007/8. > > This means: > 1. Government departments, agencies outsourcing work to local companies > and looking at outsourcing not as a way to shed jobs but as a means to > better manage scare resources. > 2. Tax breaks for local BPO operators and private companies contracting > outsourcing services locally to incentivize operator investment and > company adaption of services in this industry. Tax breaks should be > immediate and not dependant on the entry or attraction of foreign > investors. Those of us currently in operation are betting on Kenya. > Instead of waiting we are putting our money to work believing in the > future of this country...I don't think we are asking for too much when we > ask the government to support our development. > 3. Less focus on what we do not have and a greater focus on what we have. > Skills, entrepreneurs and an optimistic view of our country as well as a > domestic market and potential to tap into the larger regional market (EAC > & COMESA). > > Finally, I am of the contrarian view: we have the skill set, but because > we are not willing to start where we are we are asking students and > graduates to pay more money to get additional certification before we can > get foreign investors interested in our country...Frankly I think we place > too much stock in certificates and paper qualifications. If we ask these > graduates to take another training class with the promise of better > opportunity they will...instead I suggest we recognize the current > intellectual capital that we have and those of us in the industry focus on > the job training and going back to the role that government can play, > obtain tax credits for this on the job training. Lets us make sure these > graduates have work and build on that instead of creating additional > hurdles to employment. > > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues > From: "S.Murigi Muraya" <murigi.muraya(a)gmail.com> > Date: Mon, June 8, 2009 5:17 pm > To: mkamuru(a)emanageafrica.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Priority: Normal > > >> Let us also factor in on the job training to improve our skill sets. >> Software engineers become masters of their craft by doing projects and >> by exchanging (code and concepts) with their peers. A classroom setting >> possibly contributes to less than 10% of all their success. >> >> There have been a number of comments in these (BPO) discussions >> comparing us with India, South Africa and Mauritius. >> >> We cannot rely on the whims of those with negative (but often valid) >> perceptions towards us. We need to give ourselves a chance that is of >> our own creation. >> >> @ 40 Million (our 2010 population) growing at 2.5% >> (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ke.html >> and others estimate our population growth @ almost 2.7% per annum) we >> will add 1 Million Kenyans to our population next year. 2030 is sure to >> see us with a population of at least 60 Million. >> >> With that in mind and given the fact political instability is the >> current (and unfortunately valid) excuse to avoid Kenya, we would be >> most ignorant NOT to focus most of our BPO efforts internally. This will >> build up LOCAL companies and on a REGIONAL basis. This will build up >> local talent who may otherwise be demoralized for not being Western >> enough to Foreign BPO companies. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> bitange(a)jambo.co.ke wrote: >>> Walubengo, >>> With respect to capacity building, the Government has done the >>> following >>> Established Multimedia University to focus on IT Skills Development; >>> Contracted the Central Bureau of Statistics through CCK to conduct ICT >>> Skills inventory in Kenya and Set up a task force to look into Skills >>> development as recommended by MaKinsey in the just concluded Value >>> Proposition. We are in the process of appointing other stakeholders >>> into >>> the committee. >>> >>> Although we do not have a sector strategy on Capacity building, the >>> Governemnt takes issues of skills development very seriously. This is a >>> matter that NESC emphasizes as key to our competitiveness. In this >>> regard >>> we look forward to a quick finalization of the skills inventory and the >>> task force recommendation. >>> >>> Regards >>> >>> >>> Ndemo. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> -Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, Human Capacity Issues >>>> >>>> Morning all, >>>> >>>> I trust you had a refreshing weekend. Today I want to introduce the >>>> theme >>>> on Human Resource Development for the BPO industry. The Researchers >>>> found >>>> that India, S.Africa and Mauritius had a comprehensive inventory of >>>> their >>>> skill-base that was also available for Validation by prospective >>>> employers >>>> and investors. Another observation was ofcourse the sheer numbers of >>>> Indian graduates (millions) that made it the largest base of highly >>>> skilled pool of graduates with strong mathematical/scientific >>>> orientation. >>>> Whereas, Mauritius was producing only 10,000 (university) graduates >>>> per >>>> year compared to Kenya's 30,000 per year, Mauritius had the advantage >>>> of >>>> properly documenting their national graduates database and marketing >>>> it >>>> appropriately to potential clients in Europe/America. In addition, >>>> the >>>> Researchers noted that Mauritius had a government funded but >>>> Private-Sector oriented ICT Academy that produced graduates >>>> specificially >>>> for the ICT industry. >>>> >>>> In Kenya, the Researchers observed that apart from the lack of a >>>> national >>>> database on the available skills/graduates, some of the BPO operators >>>> were >>>> engaged in vicious poaching cycles where Agents trained in-house by >>>> one >>>> Operater are immediately hired by the Competing Operators. It was >>>> noted, >>>> that an attempt has been made by the .KE Government to create an >>>> Industry-specific University (Multimedia University College of Kenya) >>>> to >>>> address the HR gap but its success or otherwise will remain to be seen >>>> in >>>> a few years time. The Researchers also noted that Kenya's >>>> English-speaking labor force had an edge over the Indian one given >>>> that >>>> the average Kenyan had a "neutral" accent unlike the Indian graduate >>>> who >>>> tended to have an "ethnic" accent that often distracted the >>>> Euro-American >>>> >>> %3 >>> >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------- >>> 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: murigi.muraya(a)gmail.com >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/murigi.muraya%40gmail.… >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: mkamuru(a)emanageafrica.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mkamuru%40emanageafric… >> > > > -- > Many thanks and best regards, > > > Marilyn Muthoni Kamuru > eManage Africa Limited > P.O.Box 18136 00500 > Nairobi, Kenya > Tel: (254) 20 828 383; 2034 550 > Personal Cell: (254) 0725 527 972, 0736 225 384 > www.emanageafrica.com > > > -- > Many thanks and best regards, > > > Marilyn Muthoni Kamuru > eManage Africa Limited > P.O.Box 18136 00500 > Nairobi, Kenya > Tel: (254) 20 828 383; 2034 550 > Personal Cell: (254) 0725 527 972, 0736 225 384 > www.emanageafrica.com > > > _______________________________________________ > 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" _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: jokilimo(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jokilimo%40yahoo.com

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Re: [kictanet] [Skunkworks] e-Gorvenment: What have been the achievements and challenges?
by John K. Njoroge 09 Jun '09

09 Jun '09

Muskiv (MKC): Certainly, there has been great progress towards the achievements of e-Government in Kenya, via alot of Public-Private-People Partnerships (PPPP). The Directorate of e-Government (DeG) continously works together with all Government Agencies in this Government Agenda. Below is a small description of the various developments. So far: *Government-to-Citizen (G2C) * - e-Services for Citizens include: - Public Service Jobs Online - Tracking status of ID & Passport Applications (Online and Via SMS) - Checking Exam Results & Candidate Selection (Online and Via SMS) - Government Information Portal (www.information.go.ke) - Submitting Tax Returns Online - Reporting Corruption Online - Kenya Judiciary (e-law Reports) - HELB Loan Repayment Status Online - Other, in progress include – Land registration, Health Information, civil registration, etc - All govt. ministries have information websites showing among others, their services (and service charter), functions and day-to-day activities, organization structure, news and events, etc. *Government-to-Business (G2B) * - e-Services for Businesses in Kenya include: - Submitting Tax Returns Online - Customs Services Online - Reporting Corruption Online - Kenya Judiciary (e-law Reports) - Other, in progress include – Companies registry. - All govt. ministries have information websites showing among others, their services (and service charter), functions and day-to-day activities, organization structure, news and events, etc. - Specifically: - E-procurement – Website for Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA). Efforts through PPOA (conjunction with Min. of Finance) are ongoing to develop a government-wide procurement portal to harmonize government procurement. - Central Bank Of Kenya Website gives financial indicators – Interest rate, inflation, Com bank rates, exchange rates, monthly economic reviews - Ministry of Trade website gives trade regulations and laws and related links e.g. to KAM ** *Government-to-Government (G2G) *This Government-to-Employee (G2E) component you mentioned exists under G2G. - e-Services for Government include: - Public Service Jobs Online - Reporting Corruption Online - The Government Common Core Network (GCCN) – This is a private network for Government of Kenya. It entails networking of Government Buildings including KICC. A Network Operation Centre (NOC) managed by a network management team already in place. - Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) at Min. of Finance. IFMIS is used government-wide by all government agencies. - Integrated Personnel and Payroll Data (IPPD) at Min. of State for Public Service. IPPD is used government-wide by all central government agencies. - Enterprise Messaging And Collaboration System (EMACS) – EMACS, a Government email system for all civil servants, is intended to improve cross-ministry communication and to be used government-wide by all government agencies. Its adoption has been rather slow (but picking-up now). Note, public sector organizations (at all levels) continue to face challenges with inter- and intra-agency communications – from emergency preparedness and management to budgeting and basic health and human services. The email system, therefore, provides improved collaborative work processes and streamlined sharing of information across public sector entities. - The website for Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA) provides necessary information for all Government Procurement Officers (to use in their day-to-day activities). These efforts through PPOA (conjunction with Min. of Finance) are ongoing to develop a government-wide procurement portal to harmonize government procurement. - Standardization of IT hardware and systems – Technical Specifications are similar across-board as developed by the Directorate of e-Government. Government websites are primarily Content Management Systems and database-driven. - Monthly ICT Forums held for the sole purpose of exchanging experiences across government. - Ongoing recruitment of ICT Officers even during Civil Service recruitment embargo. - Regular technical training and capacity-building in ICT, taking up to 15% of the e-Government budget annually. - Annual review of technical specifications for ICT equipment. - Partnerships with development partners (local and international) on various e-Government areas, e.g. ICT equipment and capacity-building. The future is bright for the Government of Kenya and indeed Kenya as a country, in terms of e-Government and the use of ICTs and the Internet. We are all working together and your support and encouragement is duly welcome. Visit www.e-government.go.ke or contact us at DeG for detailed information. On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 4:06 PM, muskiv <kulebak(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Skunkers, > The achievement of e-Government in Kenya has been one of the main > priorities of the Government of Kenya towards the realization of national > development goals and objectives for Wealth and Employment Creation, as > stipulated in the Kenya Vision 2030. The Government of Kenya established the > e-Government Programme in June 2004. Subsequently, the Directorate of > e-Government (DeG) was established in June 2004 as a Government commitment > to make e-Government a reality and to ensure that it provides better > services to Kenyans. > > We have all seen effort across different Govt arms towards adoption of some > form of e-government and if my memory doesn't fail me, i know there have > been lost of exchanges in this forum directly and indirectly in this > respect. (e.g. KRA onlines services...and whether they work, the e-gov > portal launched by KICTB etc) > > I read Mworia's article on making of a revolution (posted Frid last week... > I think 5/0/08) and what captured my attention are the misconceptions that > many of us could be harboring. > > Now...(To the Point) to those knowledgeable than some of us are, could some > one highlight to me what the broad achievements and REAL impediments have > been within the last 5 years regarding the provision of following > e-government services: > 1. Government-to-Citizen (G2C) > 2. Government-to-Business (G2B), > 3. government-to-Employee (G2E), and > 4. Government-to-Government (G2G) > > Much said. > > Many thanks. > > MKC > > > > _______________________________________________ > Skunkworks mailing list > Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke > http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks > Other services @ http://my.co.ke > Other lists > ------------- > Skunkworks announce: > http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce > Science - http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science > kazi - http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general > > -- John K. Njoroge Directorate of e-Government (KENYA) Tel: 020-2227411 (Ext 22098) Other Email: kabogojn(a)kenya.go.ke; john.njoroge(a)e-government.go.ke; kabogojn(a)hotmail.com

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Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues]
by Walubengo J 09 Jun '09

09 Jun '09

Ikua, Very true. Security procedures for many organisations is often considered an extra cost burden to be avoided. It actually requires compelling legislation to have it practiced and instituted - not just in BPO setups but accross other sectors as well. I long for the day when organisations file their (financial) audited accounts TOGETHER with their Information Systems (IS) Audits. walu. --- On Tue, 6/9/09, Evans Ikua <ikua(a)lpakenya.org> wrote: > From: Evans Ikua <ikua(a)lpakenya.org> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: Re: Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues] > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2009, 11:23 AM > Listers, > One area I see as a major challenge for our industry will > be Security (Data Protection). For any oversees company to > outsource their data processing to us, they will need to see > data protection legislation in place. This will assure them > that their data and information will not be vulnerable. I > suggest that the PS should fast track the Data Protection > Bill and also involve the industry in the process. > > KEBS is in the process of adopting certain ISO standards on > IT security but there is an urgent need for legislation in > this area. > > > --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 godera(a)skyweb.co.ke: > > > > > Dr.Ndemo, > > > > This is very encouraging. We at the Kenya BPO and > Contact Centre Society had > > initiated a similar sensitisation program with the > late Dr.Juma Okech who had so > > graciously agreed to facilitate the sensitisation > engagements with various > > government departments but as fate would have it,we > lost our dear friend. > > I can see the predicament on the argument on why other > organisations would also > > not ask for tax breaks thus creating a major headache > for government but I > > believe there are other incentives for local BPOs that > we can possibly work > > out,especially in the area of skills development. > > > > Gilda Odera > > Quoting bitange(a)jambo.co.ke: > > > >> Listers, > >> I have consulted with my colleagues in those > departments that are looking > >> at outsourcing and they are willing to discuss > with stakeholders to gain > >> better understanding of the trade. I will > therefore arrange for this > >> meeting towards the end of the month. > >> > >> One thing that may be difficult for us is the Tax > Break request for local > >> BPO organizations. If that is granted, > Treasury will be hard put to > >> explain why all other organizations should not get > the tax break. I > >> understand tax break for export of service but > locally sourced jobs, we > >> may be asking for too much. > >> > >> Ndemo. > >> > >> > >> > > >> > Excellent point! I think we are making > a huge mistake especially in light > >> > of the post election violence focusing so > heavily on the foreign investors > >> > and the international BPO market. > >> > > >> > I have been following this discussion and as > a local BPO operator focused > >> > on the domestic market I can tell you we have > a difficult time convincing > >> > local companies to outsource and while all > this talk is good frankly I > >> > think we are missing the point. If the > point is development, then why > >> > aren't we focusing on how to develop this > industry as quickly and > >> > effectively as possible? In my view the > low hanging fruit are the > >> > domestic opportunities but we need a lot more > work in the form of > >> > government incentives to operators AND > businesses to promote and support > >> > the nascent outsourcing industry. Yes, > I read the post on the judiciary > >> > plans to outsource the transcription but I > think there is plenty more work > >> > that can be outsourced and if the government > wasn't so focused on the > >> > foreign investor and looked at the government > as a consumer of outsourced > >> > services and the local private sector we may > make more progress. My hope > >> > is that we can focus on creating the > environment that makes it conducive > >> > to manage and operate domestic BPOs which > will be building capacity while > >> > we manage and frankly repair our much > tarnished image abroad. Just like a > >> > company needs to look at reinvesting retained > earnings before it seeks > >> > outside financing, we need to look at what we > can do locally before we > >> > start tapping the international market, > especially given the heightened > >> > risk factors that Kenya faces since 2007/8. > >> > > >> > This means: > >> > 1. Government departments, agencies > outsourcing work to local companies > >> > and looking at outsourcing not as a way to > shed jobs but as a means to > >> > better manage scare resources. > >> > 2. Tax breaks for local BPO operators > and private companies contracting > >> > outsourcing services locally to incentivize > operator investment and > >> > company adaption of services in this > industry. Tax breaks should be > >> > immediate and not dependant on the entry or > attraction of foreign > >> > investors. Those of us currently in > operation are betting on Kenya. > >> > Instead of waiting we are putting our money > to work believing in the > >> > future of this country...I don't think we are > asking for too much when we > >> > ask the government to support our > development. > >> > 3. Less focus on what we do not have and a > greater focus on what we have. > >> > Skills, entrepreneurs and an optimistic view > of our country as well as a > >> > domestic market and potential to tap into the > larger regional market (EAC > >> > & COMESA). > >> > > >> > Finally, I am of the contrarian view: we have > the skill set, but because > >> > we are not willing to start where we are we > are asking students and > >> > graduates to pay more money to get additional > certification before we can > >> > get foreign investors interested in our > country...Frankly I think we place > >> > too much stock in certificates and paper > qualifications. If we ask these > >> > graduates to take another training class with > the promise of better > >> > opportunity they will...instead I suggest we > recognize the current > >> > intellectual capital that we have and those > of us in the industry focus on > >> > the job training and going back to the role > that government can play, > >> > obtain tax credits for this on the job > training. Lets us make sure these > >> > graduates have work and build on that instead > of creating additional > >> > hurdles to employment. > >> > > >> > > >> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day > 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues > >> > From: "S.Murigi Muraya" > <murigi.muraya(a)gmail.com> > >> > Date: Mon, June 8, 2009 5:17 > pm > >> > To: mkamuru(a)emanageafrica.com > >> > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy > Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > >> > Priority: Normal > >> > > >> > > >> >> Let us also factor in on the job training > to improve our skill sets. > >> >> Software engineers become masters of > their craft by doing projects and > >> >> by exchanging (code and concepts) with > their peers. A classroom setting > >> >> possibly contributes to less than 10% of > all their success. > >> >> > >> >> There have been a number of comments in > these (BPO) discussions > >> >> comparing us with India, South Africa and > Mauritius. > >> >> > >> >> We cannot rely on the whims of those with > negative (but often valid) > >> >> perceptions towards us. We need to give > ourselves a chance that is of > >> >> our own creation. > >> >> > >> >> @ 40 Million (our 2010 population) > growing at 2.5% > >> >> (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ke.html > >> >> and others estimate our population growth > @ almost 2.7% per annum) we > >> >> will add 1 Million Kenyans to our > population next year. 2030 is sure to > >> >> see us with a population of at least 60 > Million. > >> >> > >> >> With that in mind and given the fact > political instability is the > >> >> current (and unfortunately valid) excuse > to avoid Kenya, we would be > >> >> most ignorant NOT to focus most of our > BPO efforts internally. This will > >> >> build up LOCAL companies and on a > REGIONAL basis. This will build up > >> >> local talent who may otherwise be > demoralized for not being Western > >> >> enough to Foreign BPO companies. > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > wrote: > >> >>> Walubengo, > >> >>> With respect to capacity building, > the Government has done the > >> >>> following > >> >>> Established Multimedia University to > focus on IT Skills Development; > >> >>> Contracted the Central Bureau of > Statistics through CCK to conduct ICT > >> >>> Skills inventory in Kenya and Set up > a task force to look into Skills > >> >>> development as recommended by > MaKinsey in the just concluded Value > >> >>> Proposition. We are in the > process of appointing other stakeholders > >> >>> into > >> >>> the committee. > >> >>> > >> >>> Although we do not have a sector > strategy on Capacity building, the > >> >>> Governemnt takes issues of skills > development very seriously. This is a > >> >>> matter that NESC emphasizes as key to > our competitiveness. In this > >> >>> regard > >> >>> we look forward to a quick > finalization of the skills inventory and the > >> >>> task force recommendation. > >> >>> > >> >>> Regards > >> >>> > >> >>> > >> >>> Ndemo. > >> >>> > >> >>> > >> >>> > >> >>> > >> >>>> -Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, > Human Capacity Issues > >> >>>> > >> >>>> Morning all, > >> >>>> > >> >>>> I trust you had a refreshing > weekend. Today I want to introduce the > >> >>>> theme > >> >>>> on Human Resource Development for > the BPO industry. The Researchers > >> >>>> found > >> >>>> that India, S.Africa and > Mauritius had a comprehensive inventory of > >> >>>> their > >> >>>> skill-base that was also > available for Validation by prospective > >> >>>> employers > >> >>>> and investors. Another > observation was ofcourse the sheer numbers of > >> >>>> Indian graduates (millions) that > made it the largest base of highly > >> >>>> skilled pool of graduates with > strong mathematical/scientific > >> >>>> orientation. > >> >>>> Whereas, Mauritius was > producing only 10,000 (university) graduates > >> >>>> per > >> >>>> year compared to Kenya's 30,000 > per year, Mauritius had the advantage > >> >>>> of > >> >>>> properly documenting their > national graduates database and marketing > >> >>>> it > >> >>>> appropriately to potential > clients in Europe/America. In addition, > >> >>>> the > >> >>>> Researchers noted that Mauritius > had a government funded but > >> >>>> Private-Sector oriented ICT > Academy that produced graduates > >> >>>> specificially > >> >>>> for the ICT industry. > >> >>>> > >> >>>> In Kenya, the Researchers > observed that apart from the lack of a > >> >>>> national > >> >>>> database on the available > skills/graduates, some of the BPO operators > >> >>>> were > >> >>>> engaged in vicious poaching > cycles where Agents trained in-house by > >> >>>> one > >> >>>> Operater are immediately hired by > the Competing Operators. It was > >> >>>> noted, > >> >>>> that an attempt has been made by > the .KE Government to create an > >> >>>> Industry-specific University > (Multimedia University College of Kenya) > >> >>>> to > >> >>>> address the HR gap but its > success or otherwise will remain to be seen > >> >>>> in > >> >>>> a few years time. The > Researchers also noted that Kenya's > >> >>>> English-speaking labor force had > an edge over the Indian one given > >> >>>> that > >> >>>> the average Kenyan had a > "neutral" accent unlike the Indian graduate > >> >>>> who > >> >>>> tended to have an "ethnic" accent > that often distracted the > >> >>>> Euro-American > >> >>>> > >> >>> %3 > >> >>> > >> >>> > >> >>> > ---------------------------------------------- > >> >>> 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: murigi.muraya(a)gmail.com > >> >>> Unsubscribe or change your options > at > >> >>> > >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/murigi.muraya%40gmail.… > >> >>> > >> >>> > >> >> > >> >> > _______________________________________________ > >> >> kictanet mailing list > >> >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >> >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> >> > >> >> This message was sent to: mkamuru(a)emanageafrica.com > >> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at > >> >> > >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mkamuru%40emanageafric… > >> >> > >> > > >> > > >> > -- > >> > Many thanks and best regards, > >> > > >> > > >> > Marilyn Muthoni Kamuru > >> > eManage Africa Limited > >> > P.O.Box 18136 00500 > >> > Nairobi, Kenya > >> > Tel: (254) 20 828 383; 2034 550 > >> > Personal Cell: (254) 0725 527 972, 0736 > 225 384 > >> > www.emanageafrica.com > >> > > >> > > >> > -- > >> > Many thanks and best regards, > >> > > >> > > >> > Marilyn Muthoni Kamuru > >> > eManage Africa Limited > >> > P.O.Box 18136 00500 > >> > Nairobi, Kenya > >> > Tel: (254) 20 828 383; 2034 550 > >> > Personal Cell: (254) 0725 527 972, 0736 > 225 384 > >> > www.emanageafrica.com > >> > > >> > > >> > > _______________________________________________ > >> > 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" > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> kictanet mailing list > >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > >> This message was sent to: godera(a)skyweb.co.ke > >> Unsubscribe or change your options at > >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/godera%40skyweb.co.ke > >> > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------- > > This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: ikua(a)lpakenya.org > > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ikua%40lpakenya.org > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >

1 0

[Fwd: Re: Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues]
by Marilyn M. Kamuru 09 Jun '09

09 Jun '09

Excellent point! I think we are making a huge mistake especially in light of the post election violence focusing so heavily on the foreign investors and the international BPO market. I have been following this discussion and as a local BPO operator focused on the domestic market I can tell you we have a difficult time convincing local companies to outsource and while all this talk is good frankly I think we are missing the point. If the point is development, then why aren't we focusing on how to develop this industry as quickly and effectively as possible? In my view the low hanging fruit are the domestic opportunities but we need a lot more work in the form of government incentives to operators AND businesses to promote and support the nascent outsourcing industry. Yes, I read the post on the judiciary plans to outsource the transcription but I think there is plenty more work that can be outsourced and if the government wasn't so focused on the foreign investor and looked at the government as a consumer of outsourced services and the local private sector we may make more progress. My hope is that we can focus on creating the environment that makes it conducive to manage and operate domestic BPOs which will be building capacity while we manage and frankly repair our much tarnished image abroad. Just like a company needs to look at reinvesting retained earnings before it seeks outside financing, we need to look at what we can do locally before we start tapping the international market, especially given the heightened risk factors that Kenya faces since 2007/8. This means: 1. Government departments, agencies outsourcing work to local companies and looking at outsourcing not as a way to shed jobs but as a means to better manage scare resources. 2. Tax breaks for local BPO operators and private companies contracting outsourcing services locally to incentivize operator investment and company adaption of services in this industry. Tax breaks should be immediate and not dependant on the entry or attraction of foreign investors. Those of us currently in operation are betting on Kenya. Instead of waiting we are putting our money to work believing in the future of this country...I don't think we are asking for too much when we ask the government to support our development. 3. Less focus on what we do not have and a greater focus on what we have. Skills, entrepreneurs and an optimistic view of our country as well as a domestic market and potential to tap into the larger regional market (EAC & COMESA). Finally, I am of the contrarian view: we have the skill set, but because we are not willing to start where we are we are asking students and graduates to pay more money to get additional certification before we can get foreign investors interested in our country...Frankly I think we place too much stock in certificates and paper qualifications. If we ask these graduates to take another training class with the promise of better opportunity they will...instead I suggest we recognize the current intellectual capital that we have and those of us in the industry focus on the job training and going back to the role that government can play, obtain tax credits for this on the job training. Lets us make sure these graduates have work and build on that instead of creating additional hurdles to employment. Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues From: "S.Murigi Muraya" <murigi.muraya(a)gmail.com> Date: Mon, June 8, 2009 5:17 pm To: mkamuru(a)emanageafrica.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Priority: Normal > Let us also factor in on the job training to improve our skill sets. > Software engineers become masters of their craft by doing projects and > by exchanging (code and concepts) with their peers. A classroom setting > possibly contributes to less than 10% of all their success. > > There have been a number of comments in these (BPO) discussions > comparing us with India, South Africa and Mauritius. > > We cannot rely on the whims of those with negative (but often valid) > perceptions towards us. We need to give ourselves a chance that is of > our own creation. > > @ 40 Million (our 2010 population) growing at 2.5% > (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ke.html > and others estimate our population growth @ almost 2.7% per annum) we > will add 1 Million Kenyans to our population next year. 2030 is sure to > see us with a population of at least 60 Million. > > With that in mind and given the fact political instability is the > current (and unfortunately valid) excuse to avoid Kenya, we would be > most ignorant NOT to focus most of our BPO efforts internally. This will > build up LOCAL companies and on a REGIONAL basis. This will build up > local talent who may otherwise be demoralized for not being Western > enough to Foreign BPO companies. > > > > > > > bitange(a)jambo.co.ke wrote: >> Walubengo, >> With respect to capacity building, the Government has done the following >> Established Multimedia University to focus on IT Skills Development; >> Contracted the Central Bureau of Statistics through CCK to conduct ICT >> Skills inventory in Kenya and Set up a task force to look into Skills >> development as recommended by MaKinsey in the just concluded Value >> Proposition. We are in the process of appointing other stakeholders >> into >> the committee. >> >> Although we do not have a sector strategy on Capacity building, the >> Governemnt takes issues of skills development very seriously. This is a >> matter that NESC emphasizes as key to our competitiveness. In this >> regard >> we look forward to a quick finalization of the skills inventory and the >> task force recommendation. >> >> Regards >> >> >> Ndemo. >> >> >> >> >>> -Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, Human Capacity Issues >>> >>> Morning all, >>> >>> I trust you had a refreshing weekend. Today I want to introduce the >>> theme >>> on Human Resource Development for the BPO industry. The Researchers >>> found >>> that India, S.Africa and Mauritius had a comprehensive inventory of >>> their >>> skill-base that was also available for Validation by prospective >>> employers >>> and investors. Another observation was ofcourse the sheer numbers of >>> Indian graduates (millions) that made it the largest base of highly >>> skilled pool of graduates with strong mathematical/scientific >>> orientation. >>> Whereas, Mauritius was producing only 10,000 (university) graduates >>> per >>> year compared to Kenya's 30,000 per year, Mauritius had the advantage >>> of >>> properly documenting their national graduates database and marketing it >>> appropriately to potential clients in Europe/America. In addition, the >>> Researchers noted that Mauritius had a government funded but >>> Private-Sector oriented ICT Academy that produced graduates >>> specificially >>> for the ICT industry. >>> >>> In Kenya, the Researchers observed that apart from the lack of a >>> national >>> database on the available skills/graduates, some of the BPO operators >>> were >>> engaged in vicious poaching cycles where Agents trained in-house by one >>> Operater are immediately hired by the Competing Operators. It was >>> noted, >>> that an attempt has been made by the .KE Government to create an >>> Industry-specific University (Multimedia University College of Kenya) >>> to >>> address the HR gap but its success or otherwise will remain to be seen >>> in >>> a few years time. The Researchers also noted that Kenya's >>> English-speaking labor force had an edge over the Indian one given that >>> the average Kenyan had a "neutral" accent unlike the Indian graduate >>> who >>> tended to have an "ethnic" accent that often distracted the >>> Euro-American >>> >> %3 >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------- >> 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: murigi.muraya(a)gmail.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/murigi.muraya%40gmail.… >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: mkamuru(a)emanageafrica.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mkamuru%40emanageafric… > -- Many thanks and best regards, Marilyn Muthoni Kamuru eManage Africa Limited P.O.Box 18136 00500 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: (254) 20 828 383; 2034 550 Personal Cell: (254) 0725 527 972, 0736 225 384 www.emanageafrica.com -- Many thanks and best regards, Marilyn Muthoni Kamuru eManage Africa Limited P.O.Box 18136 00500 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: (254) 20 828 383; 2034 550 Personal Cell: (254) 0725 527 972, 0736 225 384 www.emanageafrica.com

5 4

Re: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues
by lily marusoi 09 Jun '09

09 Jun '09

My take on Q 7&8 We need to come up with a standardized national curriculum for the BPO sector a "finishing school" for those aspiring to work in the BPO sector. Having looked at the KBPO society training framework I feel there is a need to customise it to fit our Kenyan situation as some skills set were assumed to be obvious. When we talk of equiping the graduates, lets not also forget that we have so many other youths graduating from tertiary institutions with certificates and diplomas. Some major industry players have hinted that they prefer non graduates so long as they have the right attitudes, it is easier to train skills but not attitudes which is a major factor in the BPO sector. Regards Lily --- On Mon, 6/8/09, Judy Okite <judyokite(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: Judy Okite <judyokite(a)gmail.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues To: lmarusoi(a)yahoo.com Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Monday, June 8, 2009, 11:50 AM to answer both Q 7&8 my suggestion on this.....all graduates,should be equipped to work in a BPO,at the time of their graduation. BPO specifics,should be entrenched,within the curriculum.....with this there will be no descrimination and I believe it will bring in quality to this market e.g in USIU,I know you have to do a foreign language....at some point in your 2years of your time with them...it doesnt really matter what course your taking and level. Kind Regards, On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 8:06 AM, Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: -Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, Human Capacity Issues Morning all, I trust you had a refreshing weekend. Today I want to introduce the theme on Human Resource Development for the BPO industry. The Researchers found that India, S.Africa and Mauritius had a comprehensive inventory of their skill-base that was also available for Validation by prospective employers and investors. Another observation was ofcourse the sheer numbers of Indian graduates (millions) that made it the largest base of highly skilled pool of graduates with strong mathematical/scientific orientation. Whereas, Mauritius was producing only 10,000 (university) graduates per year compared to Kenya's 30,000 per year, Mauritius had the advantage of properly documenting their national graduates database and marketing it appropriately to potential clients in Europe/America. In addition, the Researchers noted that Mauritius had a government funded but Private-Sector oriented ICT Academy that produced graduates specificially for the ICT industry. In Kenya, the Researchers observed that apart from the lack of a national database on the available skills/graduates, some of the BPO operators were engaged in vicious poaching cycles where Agents trained in-house by one Operater are immediately hired by the Competing Operators. It was noted, that an attempt has been made by the .KE Government to create an Industry-specific University (Multimedia University College of Kenya) to address the HR gap but its success or otherwise will remain to be seen in a few years time. The Researchers also noted that Kenya's English-speaking labor force had an edge over the Indian one given that the average Kenyan had a "neutral" accent unlike the Indian graduate who tended to have an "ethnic" accent that often distracted the Euro-American markets/clients. But this advantage is yet to be exploited - even as the Indians move up the BPO value chain and concentrate on non-accent related processes such as Software Engineering, Research (Financial, Medicine, etc), Product (e.g. Civil and Architectural) Design amongst others. Which leads us to todays questions. Qtn 7: How do we develop a national database on the wide-range of available ICT skill in Kenya - specifically which institution should be mandated to realise this, ensuring that such a database is kept upto date over the years? Qtn 8: What strategies should the country adopt to ensure a continuous supply of relevant and timely BPO-Specific skills? Please, lets have your comments flowing,dig yahjwalu starting now... walu. Encl: Synthesis 3 - HR Issues _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: judyokite(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/judyokite%40gmail.com -- "Each of us is great insofar as we perceive and act on the infinite possibilities which lie undiscovered and unrecognized about us." James Harvey Robinson -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: lmarusoi(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lmarusoi%40yahoo.com

6 5

Re: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues
by waudo siganga 08 Jun '09

08 Jun '09

Dear Catherine - That report (which dealt with the overall ICT workforce rather than just BPO) was handed over to the sponsor, USAID in Dec. 2006. I do not know what they did with it but I have attached a copy for those who may want to browse it. It contained some policy recomendations maybe some are still relevant. Kind Regards, Waudo On Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:12 -0700, "Catherine Adeya" <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Apology I meant CSK (Computer Society of Kenya) conducted a study some years back and not CFSK (Computers for Schools Kenya). N ____________________________________________________________ From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider(a)yahoo.com> To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke Sent: Monday, June 8, 2009 3:13:47 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues Tim et. al, If I am not wrong there have been attempts to find a way to develop a skills inventory in Kenya especially of IT or IT-related graduates. I do believe CFSK conducted a study a few years back, am not sure what became of the study. There were also attempts by others to develop such a database but some were curtailed due to lack of funding or good-will....if some of you are out here in cyberspace kindly do share so we build on what you have done and do not reinvent the wheel. Walu, you may remember some of the round-tables we were involved in some years ago. What we realized immediately is that the universities did not even know where their graduates were, they did not have an active alumni network to help them identify the sectors that were absorbing their graduates and where the gaps were as this could inform curriculum review. I know it is a long shot to expect the universities to do this but I think it would help if specific departments tried to collate this information. If the potential graduates knew it would be beneficial for them to share that information once they graduate then it may ease the process. Beneficial in two ways, to help with curriculum review and place share their names and details with those looking for the relevant skills....ok am waffling I know. I think the team was on to something there but we kind of dwelt too much on the successful South African model where they did an excellent study titled the SAITIS study as far back as 1998 and I think updated the study and implementation around 2004 or so, I can't remember off the top of my head. I know that relevant institutions came together to share their expertise in the study so that it was representative and collaborative. The studies basically covered a number of issues including the national IT Education and Training intiatives in SA (including schools, tertiary institutions, government and private sector iniatives. It attempted to categorize jobs and skills in the IT industry and looked at it in the context of global trends. There are similar studies elsewhere but I thought I may highlight on this one as I read about it years ago. Best, Nyaki ____________________________________________________________ From: Mwololo Tim <timwololo(a)gmail.com> To: elizaslider(a)yahoo.com Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke Sent: Monday, June 8, 2009 1:47:11 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues Bwana Ndemo, These are good initiatives. However, I believe we need to look at the total secondary and tertiary education system to make sure it produces the skill sets we require for the BPO&O sector, depending on the strategy we take as a country. One university college, which is new and still struggling to "stand up", so to speak, will not do. Of course we need the skills inventory you talk about to know where we are so that we can take an appropriate strategy for skills development. I know KNBS is currently very busy focusing on the census and I am not sure they have adequate capacity to push several large projects simultaneously, which may mean delays here. We might therefore need to find ways of expediting this exercise. tim On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 1:31 PM, <[1]bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: Walubengo, With respect to capacity building, the Government has done the following Established Multimedia University to focus on IT Skills Development; Contracted the Central Bureau of Statistics through CCK to conduct ICT Skills inventory in Kenya and Set up a task force to look into Skills development as recommended by MaKinsey in the just concluded Value Proposition. We are in the process of appointing other stakeholders into the committee. Although we do not have a sector strategy on Capacity building, the Governemnt takes issues of skills development very seriously. This is a matter that NESC emphasizes as key to our competitiveness. In this regard we look forward to a quick finalization of the skills inventory and the task force recommendation. Regards Ndemo. > -Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, Human Capacity Issues > > Morning all, > > I trust you had a refreshing weekend. Today I want to introduce the theme > on Human Resource Development for the BPO industry. The Researchers found > that India, S.Africa and Mauritius had a comprehensive inventory of their > skill-base that was also available for Validation by prospective employers > and investors. Another observation was ofcourse the sheer numbers of > Indian graduates (millions) that made it the largest base of highly > skilled pool of graduates with strong mathematical/scientific orientation. > Whereas, Mauritius was producing only 10,000 (university) graduates per > year compared to Kenya's 30,000 per year, Mauritius had the advantage of > properly documenting their national graduates database and marketing it > appropriately to potential clients in Europe/America. In addition, the > Researchers noted that Mauritius had a government funded but > Private-Sector oriented ICT Academy that produced graduates specificially > for the ICT industry. > > In Kenya, the Researchers observed that apart from the lack of a national > database on the available skills/graduates, some of the BPO operators were > engaged in vicious poaching cycles where Agents trained in-house by one > Operater are immediately hired by the Competing Operators. It was noted, > that an attempt has been made by the .KE Government to create an > Industry-specific University (Multimedia University College of Kenya) to > address the HR gap but its success or otherwise will remain to be seen in > a few years time. The Researchers also noted that Kenya's > English-speaking labor force had an edge over the Indian one given that > the average Kenyan had a "neutral" accent unlike the Indian graduate who > tended to have an "ethnic" accent that often distracted the Euro-American %3 ---------------------------------------------- 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 [2]kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [3]http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: [4]timwololo(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at [5]http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwol olo%40gmail.com References 1. mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke 2. mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke 3. http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet 4. mailto:timwololo@gmail.com 5. http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/timwololo%40gmail.com

2 1

FW: Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues
by Walubengo J 08 Jun '09

08 Jun '09

from MM --- On Mon, 6/8/09, muriuki mureithi <mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke> wrote: Please send this to the list - my mail was rejected by the system that it is spam ------- Hi listers >From the researcher's brief, it is very clear that Kenya cannot compete with India if the sheer volume of skilled resource is the determinant for market penetration. There is another way however, it is time we evaluate our strength and focus on a niche market. This way we can put our human resource base development efforts to considerable advantage. What is our niche or what could be our niche? Do we know? On the specific question of a database, I suspect one institution may not adequately manage the database largely due to the limited mandate. A way forward to categorise the human resource skills into a) academic skills 2) industrial skills 3) in-house specialised skills. Under a) the ministries of education or one of its institutions has or should have a mandate to keep track of what goes through its institutions of tertiary or higher learning. Under b) ministry of labour and hopefully Department of Industrial Training should have a database because they have oversight on industrial training. This would also strengthen the capacity of those institutions to do what they should do and mandated to do sustainably Cheers muriuki Mureithi

1 0

Fwd: [AfrISPA.Discuss] US cuts off 'criminal' ISP
by Brian Munyao Longwe 08 Jun '09

08 Jun '09

FYI ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Charles Amega-Selorm <cas(a)internetresearch.com.gh> Date: Sat, Jun 6, 2009 at 8:42 PM Subject: [AfrISPA.Discuss] US cuts off 'criminal' ISP To: members(a)gispa.org.gh, discuss(a)afrispa.org US cuts off 'criminal' net firm An American ISP allegedly involved in distributing spam and images of child abuse has been thrown off the net. The US Federal Trade Commission asked for Pricewert LLC's net links to be severed after it had gathered evidence of the firm's 'criminal' connections. The FTC alleges that Pricewert had created one of the "leading US-based havens for illegal, malicious, and harmful content". Pricewert denied the allegations and said it would fight them in court. Legal fight In an official complaint filed in a San Jose Federal court, the FTC described Pricewert as a "rogue" or "black hat" ISP that acted as a hosting centre for many hi-tech criminals. The FTC alleges that Pricewert was paid to host "child pornography, botnet command and control servers, spyware, viruses, trojans, phishing-related sites, illegal online pharmacies, investment and other web-based scams". The evidence against Pricewert was gathered with the help of Nasa's computer crime division, Symantec, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, as well as groups such as Spamhaus and the Shadowserver Foundation. In its statement accompanying its filing, the FTC said its complaint was "not a finding or ruling that the defendant has actually violated the law". That, it said, would be decided by a court. A preliminary hearing will be heard on 15 June. So far, the FTC has not been able to identify who was behind Pricewert. Although its servers are based in the US, it is registered as a business in Belize and many of its employees are thought to be located in Eastern Europe. Talking to technology news site Network World, a spokesman for Pricewert said the action was "unfair" and it would take legal action to defend itself. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8084726.stm -- Charles Amega-Selorm Research Associate Internet Research Tel: +233-28-7297327 Fax: +233-21-258811 PMB 208, Accra-North http://www.internetresearch.com.gh To unsubscribe send a mail to: imailsrv(a)afrispa.org. Type the following in the body of your mail (not header): "Unsubscribe discuss" (without quotes). This List is operated by ZAnet Internet Services: www.zanet.co.za on behalf of www.afrispa.org. For any List Admin queries send mail to William(a)zanet.co.za -- 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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Re: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues
by lily marusoi 08 Jun '09

08 Jun '09

Hi Walu, Indeed we had a very refreshing weekend. To suggest on what strategies the country should adopt to ensure a continous supply of relevant and timely BPO specific skills: 1. --- On Mon, 6/8/09, Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: From: Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> Subject: [kictanet] Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, HR Issues To: lmarusoi(a)yahoo.com Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Monday, June 8, 2009, 9:06 AM -Day 5 of 10- BPO Discussions, Human Capacity Issues Morning all, I trust you had a refreshing weekend. Today I want to introduce the theme on Human Resource Development for the BPO industry. The Researchers found that India, S.Africa and Mauritius had a comprehensive inventory of their skill-base that was also available for Validation by prospective employers and investors. Another observation was ofcourse the sheer numbers of Indian graduates (millions) that made it the largest base of highly skilled pool of graduates with strong mathematical/scientific orientation. Whereas, Mauritius was producing only 10,000 (university) graduates per year compared to Kenya's 30,000 per year, Mauritius had the advantage of properly documenting their national graduates database and marketing it appropriately to potential clients in Europe/America. In addition, the Researchers noted that Mauritius had a government funded but Private-Sector oriented ICT Academy that produced graduates specificially for the ICT industry. In Kenya, the Researchers observed that apart from the lack of a national database on the available skills/graduates, some of the BPO operators were engaged in vicious poaching cycles where Agents trained in-house by one Operater are immediately hired by the Competing Operators. It was noted, that an attempt has been made by the .KE Government to create an Industry-specific University (Multimedia University College of Kenya) to address the HR gap but its success or otherwise will remain to be seen in a few years time. The Researchers also noted that Kenya's English-speaking labor force had an edge over the Indian one given that the average Kenyan had a "neutral" accent unlike the Indian graduate who tended to have an "ethnic" accent that often distracted the Euro-American markets/clients. But this advantage is yet to be exploited - even as the Indians move up the BPO value chain and concentrate on non-accent related processes such as Software Engineering, Research (Financial, Medicine, etc), Product (e.g. Civil and Architectural) Design amongst others. Which leads us to todays questions. Qtn 7: How do we develop a national database on the wide-range of available ICT skill in Kenya - specifically which institution should be mandated to realise this, ensuring that such a database is kept upto date over the years? Qtn 8: What strategies should the country adopt to ensure a continuous supply of relevant and timely BPO-Specific skills? Please, lets have your comments flowing,dig yahjwalu starting now... walu. Encl: Synthesis 3 - HR Issues -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: lmarusoi(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lmarusoi%40yahoo.com

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Day 4 of 10- BPO Discussions, Govt Subsidies
by Sam Aguyo 06 Jun '09

06 Jun '09

Members I would note that surprisingly there is little participation of the practitioners. This could be strategic or otherwise. Their effective participation would give practical problems affecting the industry on the ground. Sometimes it is good to avoid generalization, for example a good comparison is between same environments – a goat with a goat, a sheep with a sheep and not a goat with an Elephant, the latter even though animals but totally different characteristics. We may want to compare with our Indian brothers; however the environments could be different. In this respect facts and figures would reveal more. I mean, the government provided this sort of incentive/subsidy targeting this for this period and the output was this. Based on this, it would be critical to narrow down to specifics that require intervention or subsidy, grants. As an example, the government should improve the environment within the EPZ by availing affordable and reliable bandwidth commensurate with the requirements of the players then invite the players to station there. In return, such incentive would attract a certain percentage of players of different configurations able to employ a certain number of people and such configurations can source jobs from such kinds of markets. This would add up! We should not loose focus, what would be the return on investment for such subsidy/incentive. These words i.e. subsidy/incentive have the propensity to read handouts. Sam Aguyo ________________________________ From: Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: sam aguyo <saguyo(a)yahoo.com> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2009 9:48:07 PM Subject: [kictanet] Day 4 of 10- BPO Discussions, Govt Subsidies -Dear Listers, I must thank all for your insights over the last few days. I like the challenge that asked whether we are "over-regulating" an emerging market as the "answer" to the question on if we have legal and regulatory gaps. Listers are encouraged to challenge and not just answer the questions. Other arising issues included where we want to play within the BPO Value Chain, the Impact of the Political (in-)stability, the need to map our Data Protection laws to those in the target markets are just but some of the highlights I picked - and by all means this is NOT exhaustive as am still reading through the contributions. But today we need to open the theme on Government subsidies. The Researchers found the S.Africa and India had elaborate subsidy provisions for the sector that included Tax Holidays and Exemptions, Investment Grants to BPO operators, Training Subsidies, One-stop shop for Corporate Company Registrations that could be 100% foreign owned, etc. The Researchers noted the unique Mauritius case which had similar incentives but eventually abolished most of them arguing that they were more beneficial to the Operators than to the Nation. On the Kenyan front - other than the not so succesfull Govt Bandwidth subsidies for Operators, very little in terms of incentives was available to BPO Operators. It was noted that the BPO operators had to be within the EPZ in order to enjoy the subsidies other EPZ corporates operates - the problem being that most BPO operaters exist outside the EPZ area. Whats more, BPO operators had to pay additional charges to be registered by the CCK (Regulator) and should be at least 20% locally owned. Qtn6: What incentives / subsidies should the government provide to BPO operators? What of the clause requiring 20% Local shareholding in foreign companies - is it prohibitive or helpful? Floor is open comments. walu. Encl: Synthesis 2:- Subsidies and Incentives

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Fw: [ISOC] ISOC launches IGF 2009 Ambassador Program
by alice munyua 06 Jun '09

06 Jun '09

For those who follow global internet governance policy processes, this could be a chance to attend the 4th IGF which will be held in Egypt in November. Best Alice ------Original Message------ From: Constance Bommelaer Sender: isoc-members-announce-bounces(a)elists.isoc.org To: isoc-members-announce(a)elists.isoc.org Subject: [ISOC] ISOC launches IGF 2009 Ambassador Program Sent: Jun 4, 2009 4:35 PM Dear all, Following the successful ISOC Ambassador program to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2005, to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Rio in 2007 and in Hyderabad in 2008, we are pleased to announce a call for expressions of interest to participate in the ISOC Ambassador program to the Internet Governance Forum meeting in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in November 2009. As part of the ISOC Internet Leaders program, the Ambassador program is designed to involve members in ISOC's global engagement activities while providing valuable expertise and know-how to the IGF meeting in Sharm El Sheikh. This year, ISOC is supporting not only the participation of first time Ambassadors, but also of returning Ambassadors to the Internet Governance Forum. The IGF 2009 meeting will take place Sunday 15 through Wednesday 18 November 2009. Interested individuals should be available to arrive no later than Saturday 14 November. Further details on ISOC's IGF 2009 Ambassador program can be found here: http://www.isoc.org/pubpolpillar/igfambassadors/ Read also about: ISOC Internet Leaders program: http://www.isoc.org/leaders/ Internet Governance Forum: http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/ Best regards, Constance Bommelaer Senior Manager Strategic Global Engagement Internet Society (ISOC) +41 22 807 14 48 +33 6 62 17 31 86 http://www.isoc.org _______________________________________________ Isoc-members-announce mailing list Isoc-members-announce(a)elists.isoc.org http://elists.isoc.org/mailman/listinfo/isoc-members-announce

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Re: [kictanet] Day 2 of 10:-BPO discussions, Legal and Regulatory Frameworks
by Jotham Kilimo Mwale 05 Jun '09

05 Jun '09

Gilda, You are right when you say we must develop both domestic and international markets in tandem. But I think there is something to lose when the focus is too much on international market. We lose the opportunity to develop the domestic market, which, in my view, is one of the basic building block for the BPO sector in terms of capacity building/ experience which in turn will give confidence to the international market. When we talk of bad publicity for this country hampering the growth/attractiveness of the international BPO market, I believe a vibrant domestic BPO market will counter that (bad image) in a more convincing manner than asking the media to tone down on divisive politics, and will make the work easier for our international marketers. Also, I think that the move taken by some local companies to have their own in-house call/contact centres rather than outsource is a statement of 'no confidence' on the BPO operators. It has just made marketing Kenya as a BPO destination a little more difficult. Regards, Jotham --- On Thu, 6/4/09, godera(a)skyweb.co.ke <godera(a)skyweb.co.ke> wrote: From: godera(a)skyweb.co.ke <godera(a)skyweb.co.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 2 of 10:-BPO discussions, Legal and Regulatory Frameworks To: jokilimo(a)yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Thursday, June 4, 2009, 4:59 AM Peres, I fully agree with your sentiments. I especially am of the very strong opinion (and I stand stoned by some) that we must develop both domestic and international markets in tandem. Much as there has been a school of thought that we focus on domestic first, I beg to differ. We need to do so in tandem with the international market. What have we to lose? Gilda > > > External perception is absolutely critical in the race to obtain > international BPO contracts. No one wants to outsource to a country > which they 'percieve' as unstable, or which they percieve as > underdeveloped. The truth is that most executives in our source > markets for BPO work, in particular USA, percieve Africa as one > country with a myriad of ills: > > Somalia -Pirates > Congo - Wars > Darfur- kicking out the Aid organizations, starvation > Kenya ? Post Elections Violence > Nigeria ? 419 Scams > Zimbabwe ? Cholera and Inflation > Etc., etc. > > The best way to counter these perceptions is to have in-coming trade > delegations from our source markets, so they can see for themselves > what Kenya has to offer. > > W need to work on changing these negative perceptions of Kenya/Africa, > BUT at the same time build up our internal capacity. We cannot do one > without the other. Local outsourcing market needs to be developed in > tandem with the international. > > Peres > > Quoting Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com>: > > > Colleagues your comments are right, however we seemed to be more inclined > at > > external perceptions as opposed to building up internal capacity, must it > > take foreigners to show us our potential? > > > > On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 9:01 AM, munyiva ngea <munyivangea(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > > > >> Good morning, > >> > >> I agree with Peter about perception take Mauritius for example the > >> Board of Investment and the BPO Vendors strive to change the > >> perception of the country as a mere tourist attraction to an ICT Hub. > >> They invite prospective investors or clients to the country take them > >> to their lavish well equipped offices, which are probably located in > >> Ebene Cyber City the landing point of the Submarine cable so the > >> clients are assured of available internet infrastructure.After the > >> site visit the clients are then whisked away to have a fantastic > >> weekend on the beaches or on a boat. Simply put they show clients they > >> can do much more than provide BPO services they can offer quality of > >> life. > >> > >> To answer Question 3 i think without the government and local vendors > >> taking decisive steps to attract and retain investors and clients to > >> the country. Basically we need to give officials who are marketing the > >> country the funds to be able to invite the prospective investors and > >> clients to the country to show them we sufficient infrastructure and > >> Human resources. > >> > >> In order to build confidence in the country's capabilities we have to > >> have to EVIDENCE of these capabilities take India for example with its > >> National Skills Registry which is an industry initiative to ensure > >> that individuals employed by organizations have their background and > >> antecedents verified > >> (http://news.indiamart.com/news-analysis/national-skills-regi-13182.html) > >> prospective clients need only to browse through the site to be assured > >> that the country has the Human resource capacity needed. What about > >> Kenya apart from various websites which allow individuals to upload > >> their CVs where can a prospective client get information on the > >> available agents, software developers and so on?? this information is > >> not available on various institutional websites (universities, > >> colleges) so how do we expect a client to actually believe that we are > >> capable if we are unable to show it (Perception again!!) > >> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> Best regards > >> Munyiva Ngea > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> kictanet mailing list > >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > >> This message was sent to: otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com > >> Unsubscribe or change your options at > >> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail… > >> > > > > > > > > -- > > Barrack O. Otieno > > ISSEN CONSULTING > > Tel: > > +254721325277 > > +254733206359 > > http://projectdiscovery.or.ke > > To give up the task of reforming society is to give up ones responsibility > > as a free man. > > Alan Paton, South Africa > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: godera(a)skyweb.co.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/godera%40skyweb.co.ke > ------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: jokilimo(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jokilimo%40yahoo.com

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