The default assumption is correct, there have been some discussions (stemming out of recent controversy) such as excerpts from the one below about the diaspora playing a role in the country's economy. Instead of purchasing hotels, the diaspora if pointed to opportunities in other sectors such as ICT could play a key role. Hopefully KAIF will be able to have some representation at the forum. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Kanaka Ogendi <imo4492@gmail.com Date: Mon, Jul 7, 2008 at 6:09 AM Wananchi The idea of Diaspora Kenyans getting together to buy Grand Regency Hotel isn't a bad one. Of course, the timing may not be the best but I think it is a good idea subject to a number of provisions. In Australia increasing numbers of mzungus are teaming up to form cooperative-style arrangements that enable them achieve what no individual could achieve on his/her own. The overriding provisions for the success of such an arrangement include: 1. Mutual trust. If this is lacking there can be no success 2. Accountability/Transparency in all transactions 3. Shared goals, aspirations and strategies. 4. Access to information and resources required for the project. 5. Clearly identify risks and develop a clear management strategy Business partnerships thrive on trust. The moment trust is lost the partnership will crumble. For the current proposal to take off there must be trust amongst us and trust in the project leaders. Is it present? Accountability/transparency. This is something that people have to experience. It more or less guarantee smooth running of an endeavour once started. Shared goals, aspirations and strategies. What we want in our lives as individuals may vary from person to person. Some are quite happy and settled on the day job - 8am to 5pm type stuff. Others meet their needs by doing a second or third job and they are satisfied. Some are a bit more adventurous and seek to create additional income streams in form of investments etc. Others prefer some investment vehicles which others do not like. For instance, some people have no time for managed investment vehicles whereas others prefer to let 'professionals' manage investments for them. Do we have shared investment goals, aspirations and strategies? Without this I'm afraid this great idea will be difficult to kick off. Access to information & resources needed for the project. The Grand Regency is presently in the grip of a grand controversy. There is a caveat in place, a court injunction and signed sale documents. Access to the kind of information an investor will require is quite difficult in the current environment. This increases the risk substantially and hence is a disincentive. Matunda's suggestion of an elaborately laid out business plan and strategy complete with numbers will be very helpful in getting people interested. Mwangi's suggestion of waiting until the dust settles before jumping in is very reasonable, at least to me. It is a major undertaking and therefore utmost care and planning must go into it. Otherwise success can be elusive. My pesa nane. Kanaka Ogendi ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: nmatunda <matunda@hotmail.com> Date: Sun, Jul 6, 2008 at 8:53 AM Mwaniki, This is a good challenge. As we have discussed before, identify the investment target $$amount and challenge people to raise the money with clarity on how the money would be managed; and returns expectations. The last IPO (despite the calls of suspicion raised by some) generated substantial inflow of money into Kenya! It is almost scary to imagine the potential for investment that exists. Yet Safaricom attracted such monies for the reason that investors understand the potential there is in the shares and the returns thereof. It is also simple and straighforward. What KAIF needs is a couple of structured investment instruments, complete with projected returns, along with reporting on the investment performance. This can then be sold widely to people. By the way, Grand Regency is just one of the potential investment targets; the potential for investment in Kenya has never been higher! There is a well-educated workforce whose emoluments are modest and (yes) the people need jobs! Matunda Nyanchama --- In africa-oped@yahoogroups.com, FMwan@... wrote:
Wananchi, To quell this broil at home, let us all Kenyans abroad buy this asset
kill two birds with one stone: 1. Solve the malady occupying the minds of people that should be thinking of local dispensaries 2. Prove to ourselves that we care for our country This is not a test. Let us put a decent offer on the table and ask
and the
government to consider it now. We can in a matter of days put the financing and general management in place in the Kenyans Abroad Investment Fund (KAIF), which is open to all Kenyans overseas. If we pick people that we know can run a business, whether in India, South Africa, England, Canada, Japan or the USA, this is something very feasible and a snap. The point is to retain this asset as truly Kenyan and forget about what happened prior to now. There is nothing to be gained by consuming ourselves with misguided hatred. Tujiunge mikono and save ourselves from annoying each other but most importantly, re-asserting that Kenyans do not fail, they can stumble but they win TOGETHER. Problem solved. 1. KAIF is already registered in Kenya 2. We have an agreement with a major Kenyan bank (100% Kenyan owned) 3. We have the talent to gather the necessary funds Let us not be just talk. What say you? Regards, Frank Mwaniki, PhD Management Scientist
On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 10:35 AM, Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru@yahoo.com> wrote:
Our default assumption should be that the diaspora is interested. Recalling their sizable remittances, cultivating their goodwill and facilitating their hustle-free investment would solve some "localisation" challenges and exclusion perceptions.
--- On Mon, 7/14/08, Brian Munyao Longwe <brian@caret.net> wrote:
From: Brian Munyao Longwe <brian@caret.net> Subject: [kictanet] Kenya ICT Sector Stakeholder Public Forum (was Re: Legislation and Discipline & Ethics) To: alex.gakuru@yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Monday, July 14, 2008, 6:39 AM Hi all,
We are proposing a Public Forum on Thursday 31st of July to be held at a suitable venue in Nairobi. The objective will be to provide all the different ICT stakeholder organisations within Kenya a chance to introduce themselves and their policies to the public.
There will also be opportunity to evaluate Kenya's ICT ecosystem, especially with regards to the different entities, their missions, roles and goals. As well as provide organisations such as KEPSA with an opportunity to share their view/vision on how they expect ICT sector input/engagement.
Formal announcement will be posted once details have been worked out, but in the meantime please pencil this into your schedules. We can also explore the possibility of an IP stream for the Diaspora... if there is interest in tracking this.
Warm regards,
Brian