Finally I am glad this subject has come up. For a while now I have watched with horror and utter amazement at the gradual obliteration of polytechnics as they migrate to offer degree courses. These institutions were the foundation of manufacturing.

Today you can hardly find a graduate who can open up an electronic device to repair it or design a circuit chip. Majority of the workforce being churned out of the universities are "white collar" managers but there is no one to manage at the factories.

Kenya must seriously think about changing the current education system to return the polytechnics or build new ones if we are to achieve the manufacturing goals of an industrialized country.

Regards
Sammy Buruchara

From: Phares Kariuki <pkariuki@gmail.com>
Date: Monday, December 24, 2012 6:15 PM
To: <buruchara@mac.com>
Cc: Kictanet Mail list <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Digital migration and local manufacturing

If we need to focus on manufacturing, shouldn't we then, be building more polytechniques and less universities? 

http://www.africanexecutive.com/modules/magazine/articles.php?article=6985&magazine=418 last section of the article. 

Vocational training is needed. 



On Mon, Dec 24, 2012 at 4:55 PM, Kivuva <Kivuva@transworldafrica.com> wrote:
Thank you Dr. Ndemo for spotting the elephant in the room.

Mahatma Gandhi did his country good for preaching self sustainability.
With proper implementation of brand Kenya initiative, we might use
more local products and follow India's footsteps. Just remember, "the
cowards never started, the weak died in the way, only the strong
arrived. They were the pioneers."

Francois-Marie Arouet de Voltaire Said, "No problem can withstand the
assault of sustained thinking." I think Daktari you are thinking in
the right direction.

On 24/12/2012, bitange@jambo.co.ke <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:
> Kivuva,
> I am really having a terrible time with internet connectivity here in
> India.  It cost more than Ksh. 2,000 per an hour for a 512K link.  By the
> time I read a two page attachment, the time is over with no warning.
>
> I want to thank you for reviving the local manufacturing issue.  As Mwale
> states, this where I started anticipating migration by 2012.  We could not
> get support in spite of Dr. Gachigi's effort to develop a prototype.  I
> personally went round talking to our industrialists.  They wanted numbers.
>  I could not provide attractive numbers since this is a stop gap measure.
> Instead I went round talking how we can leverage 3D printing to start
> elevating Jua Kali Industries into local manufacturing without necessarily
> getting into the economies of scale trap.
>
> The good news is that Dr. Gachigi is still determined.  Just recently I
> wrote that he needed Ksh. 15 million to start local manufacturing of hand
> sets.  I went further and talked to two chip makers who have gracefully
> accepted to give us their mobile handset platform.  We have no investors
> (risk takers) yet but it is going to work and we propel our country into
> light electronic manufacturing.  It needs the commitment of Kenyans to buy
> local.  Every 10 vehicles I count here in India, seven are local.
> Actually even the foreign brands are manufactured locally.  This not a
> government problem but a serious cultural dilemma.
>
> Ndemo.
>
>
>
>> Dear Dr. Ndemo, wishing you a safe flight back home, and a quick
>> recovery to your loved one.
>>
>> Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you too
>>
>> On 21/12/2012, bitange@jambo.co.ke <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:
>>> Stephen,
>>> I wanted to stay out of this till the ruling in court but I cannot keep
>>> quiet when you tell the whole world lies on mobile penetration in Kenya.
>>> Virtually every adult Kenyan has access to mobile in 2G.  The fastest
>>> growing market is broadband because of the growing needs by the poor to
>>> get their produce to market or get the best pricing.  This is what the
>>> many applications that are being developed in Kenya will do.  Rural
>>> schools need the broadband most since education too is going e. While
>>> mobile coverage in Kenya is at 90% (mostly 2G coverage), land mass
>>> coverage stands at 40% with 80% mobile penetration.  Mpesa is not for
>>> the
>>> rich like Mutoro but the poor and is accessible to 90% of the poor.
>>>
>>>
>>> The need to migrate to 4G is critical in planning our broadband needs in
>>> the next one year.  For us to meet the projected demand we must get to
>>> the
>>> last mile.  This means that getting to the poor since mot of the rich
>>> have
>>> fibre connevtivity to their homes.
>>>
>>>
>>> I take great exception with your statements.  My Key Performance Index
>>> (KPI)is how many people in Kenya rich and poor have access to internet.
>>> This is significantly different from your KPI of counting how many cases
>>> you have taken to court over the perceived infringement of consumer
>>> rights. While you can criticise me as a public servant, I am not able to
>>> even know your funding sources and the motives for funding.  I do not
>>> question but this is what Kenyans are talking in low tones.
>>>
>>> What we can do for now is to rephrase John F. Kennedy's quote to read
>>> "ask
>>> not what the poor may be wanting; ask what you have done to remove
>>> poverty".  Going to court purpoting to represent the poor is a bouguasie
>>> cover up.  Let us stand up for the poor and help eliminate poverty by
>>> teaching them to navigate the high seas of technology and fish for their
>>> sustainable living.
>>>
>>> I am in India for some family medical case but I must report that Delhi
>>> whose per capita income is lower than Nairobi, has fully migrated to
>>> Digital.  The poor are now enjoying watching TV in the languages they
>>> understand (this is a requirement in our constitution).  Three hundred
>>> new
>>> channels have come up including one helping consumers understand what is
>>> in the market and how it compares with other competitors.  Perhaps you
>>> need to upgrade your approach to consumerism.  Only technology will help
>>> be more effective.
>>>
>>> Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year my brother.
>>>
>>>
>>> Ndemo.
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> ______________________
>> Mwendwa Kivuva
>> For
>> Business Development
>> Transworld Computer Channels
>> Cel: 0722402248
>> twitter.com/lordmwesh
>> transworldAfrica.com | Fluent in computing
>> kenya.or.ke | The Kenya we know
>>
>
>
>


--
______________________
Mwendwa Kivuva
For
Business Development
Transworld Computer Channels
Cel: 0722402248
twitter.com/lordmwesh
transworldAfrica.com | Fluent in computing
kenya.or.ke | The Kenya we know

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Warm Regards,

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_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/buruchara%40mac.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.