Dear Listers, We need patriotic funds (tenders) for local firms (only) to build data centers (and services) in Kenya. No single firm should be allowed to handle data services for more than 10 counties unless it is a national government project. This will ensure we have 5 firms in Kenya acquiring the knowledge and funds to manage our data. You will never find well localized systems in departments or organizations in the private or public sector which favor non residents (including Kenyans outside their counties) who misunderstand local practices and circumstances. What is the point of trips if citizens on the ground are not well served? If we have 4 Billion for MCA travel and KES 6 Billion for MCA vehicles, then we can invest KES 10 Billion (per annum) for information systems in 47 counties. Per annum, this is about KES 1 Billion for a county/city like Nairobi and KES 50 million per annum for smaller counties. Yesterday, was not served in a Nairobi County office because there was no printer toner. I also noted expired (unprotected) software being used. The Kenya ICT Authority should also identify and award public/county officials in Kenya building information systems utilizing and empowering local firms/skills. County officials should also recognize firms (not their own) helping them develop and increase transparency/efficiency. We will steal less if we know our actions are audited and flagged by some information system. http://www.thereporterethiopia.com/index.php/news-headlines/item/2092-southw... We should note, Ethiopia may be be targeting Central Africa after noting Kenya as the East African IT Hub/Lead. http://www.thereporterethiopia.com/index.php/news-headlines/item/2092-southw... Results from some constructive politics... http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/microsoft-to-set-up-3-data... *Microsoft to set up 3 data centres in India by 2015* NEW DELHI: Microsoft plans to offer its commercial and cloud services - Azure and Office 365 - from three local data centres by the end of 2015, making it the first technology company to set up cloud data centres in India, a move that experts say will help the US-based software giant compete better in the domestic market. "When we think about the cloud opportunity in India itself, it is going to be a $2 trillion opportunity," chief executive Satya Nadella said in Delhi on Tuesday, adding that the move will help Indian companies, government and entrepreneurs. Without disclosing the investment involved in setting up the data centres, Nadella said they will have "sizeable" capacity. The announcement is significant given that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has been vocal about bringing local data centres to India to maintain data sovereignty. Besides, a large number of Indian enterprises have increasingly voiced concerns about hosting their data on the public cloud because none of the major players such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft or Google have cloud data centres in India. Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/43881117.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst Regards Murigi / Stanley Muraya "Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city." Prov 16:32