Many thanks, David... and what a resource...!,
Ladies and gentlemen, for those who have a keen interest in matters
pertaining energy, here is a huge resource we can interrogate.
Especially, where it has a direct bearing as a driver for ICT growth and
by extension to the Vision 2030.
I will revert on key elements, but I noted this part:-
4.3 Future Economic Outlook: The Vision 2030
Until 2007, the Economic Recovery Strategy for wealth and employment
creation (ERS) established the foundation upon which to build a prosperous
Kenya and a robust economic growth. Following ERS, the Government launched
the Vision 2030 for outlining the broader macro-economic objectives and
strategy of the country up to the year 2030. The Vision 2030 was further
elaborated in the Medium Term Plan 2008-2012 (MTP) which aims at
consolidating the gains of the ERS. This is based on the implementation of
a low and stable inflation and interest rates, sustainable public debt,
competitive environment and refurbishing of infrastructures. The Vision
2030 describes the way Kenya will be transformed from a low income
agrarian economy into a newly industrialized middle income country,
providing a high quality of life to all its citizens. This goal is based
on three pillars, namely political stability, social development and
economic growth. The economic objectives supporting the Vision 2030
require an annual GDP growth of at a least 10%, to be reached by the year
2015. For achieving this target six key sectors of production have been
identified: tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, wholesale and retail
trade, business processes out outsourcing (BPO) and financial services.
The Vision 2030 identifies energy and electricity as a key element of
Kenya’s sustained economic growth and transformation.
>From the statement of intent above we can interrogate 3 Key things in
relation with Vision2030:-
· The economic objectives supporting the Vision 2030 require an
annual GDP growth of at a least 10%, to be reached by the year 2015.-
Clearly, gains made are being speedily reversed in this area, looking at
the current inflation and interest rates that have shot up. Again the
Medium Term Plan, highlights these 2 as key areas, including improving the
business environment, and infrastructure refurbishment..
· Based on their analysis, the demand in the Energy sector
especially Electricity seems to draw a parallel to the shifting shadows in
GDP. Is this the only variable…? What about the pricing model, that
might also be driving away demand in form of investors choosing to invest
elsewhere ..?
· We stepping into an election year, the cycle we’ve witnessed
in the past dictates a meltdown in gains made run-up to the election year,
then we again start from scratch. How do we make a clean break with the
past, consolidate gains especially for the MTP, and ensure we remain on
track, come elections or not..?
I believe Mr. Mugo, you can address this…?
Harry
Harry
-----Original Message-----
From: David Otwoma [mailto:otwomad@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2012 3:20 PM
To: harry@comtelsys.co.ke
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Vision 2030: ICT and Other Sectors Converged (Day
3)
Sorry Harry,
Have been able to obtain the2nd draft but it is the 3rd draft National
Energy Policy document that will be availed for public comments/feedback
from 3rd to 11th February 2011. The venue of its first release (3rd
February) is the School of Monetary Studies.
As consolation attached please find the Least Cost Power Development Plan
2011-2031. Comments are welcome to feed into the next LCPDP
2013-2033 that will be out early next year. However, this is for
electricity sub sector only.
David
On 1/3/12, Harry Delano <harry@comtelsys.co.ke> wrote:
Thanks David,
Looking at the list of technocrats mentioned working on the National
Energy Policy, it looks to me the policy drafting is restricted to the
Energy sector technocrats. It doesn't look like we have any broad
based representation that cuts across the entire Public sector
spectrum, especially when it comes to dealing with such a crucial
sector. I thought, this is the spirit and letter under the new
constitution..? And is vision 2030 represented to ensure the policy is
in tune with the vision - I suppose then we can seek to make input via
their delegation on the team.
Any possibility, that you got your hands on the draft document for our
review...?
More later, as we check out the resources you gave out..
Many thanks, once again..
Regards,
Harry
-----Original Message-----
From: David Otwoma [mailto:otwomad@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, January 02, 2012 10:37 AM
To: harry@comtelsys.co.ke
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Vision 2030: ICT and Other Sectors Converged
(Day 3)
Harry,
Thank you for your email with suggestion of Energy concept Paper.
However, the Ministry of Energy in conjunction with all players in
energy (ERC, GDC, KPLC, KenGen, NEPC, REA etc.) are working on an
National Energy Policy. A second draft was produced in December 2011
and will ask tomorrow if its allowed to circulate it and communicate
accordingly. A number of my colleagues are on the drafting Committees
(there is the Executive composed of PS, MoE; the MDs of ERC, GDC,
KPLC, KenGen, NEPC, REA etc.), (then technocrats composed of lawyers,
engineers, economists etc in MoE, ERC, GDC, KPLC, KenGen, NEPC, REA
etc.). Last timetable I have possession of envisages the National
Energy Policy being ready in early 2013. Usually such a Policy would
become a Sessional Paper (as the one of 2004 that led to the Energy
Act of 2006) once adopted by the Cabinet. Thereafter its
recommendations (legislation setting and regulatory matters if enacted
by Parliament become law) are the ones which may be for public
consumption. But we now have a Constitution that stipulates power
emanates from the people....not oozing from the Executive so....
On Dr. Ndemo he said ‘ Similarly, when the cost of energy goes up, we
should move towards the sabstitutes even if it is a monopoly
situation. By now we should have built solar to such levels that we
can force KPLC to be considerate in pricing.’ After he once advised me
to watch ‘Field of Dreams’ I somehow managed to get a few of the
team
members of the Least Cost Power Development Plan on my side and since
then I consider him a very progressive ally. Only last week an
aquittance born, bred and from Scandinavia categorically informed me
he is relocating permanently to our part of the world after more than
40 years working in the north. His logic is that ‘we (Kenyans) are
always fighting over a small cake when all around us there is flour,
baking powder, sugar and energy to bake very many small cakes enough
for all of us’. That reminded me of ‘Field of Dreams’.
Every time you see a small, medium and big building (house) be it in
uptown Runda or Mathare/Kibera informal settlement…anywhere dotted
along the roads/paths we drive/walk….it is a potential solar centre.
Only Ghana, at the close of 2011, in Africa is committed to
implementing smart grid technology. This is a no brainer as China,
Germany among other already use it. If you have solar on your building
during the day it saves you energy (converted to electricity when you
need it). Any excess may be offloaded to the grid who when they
balance their books either request for extra payment of make you a
cheque if you used less than you generated. If you have driven/walked
along Parliament road at night the street lights there use solar. Why
the City Council of Nairobi, Mombasa Municipal, Kisumu and all those
other county councils cannot replicate this is a mystery to me! All
schools, health centers, market places etc would also be having the
same.Dr. Ndemo is spot on when he says ‘By now we should have built
solar to such levels that we can force KPLC to be considerate in
pricing.’ as what is lacking in our beloved Kenya is the will. All
those power pylons may be made to each house unlike the current
situation where Kenyans 'beg' REA and/or KPLC to bring poles to them
after paying upfront. We need the implementation of the smart grid
technology locally…but remember Ghana is politically more mature than
Kenya (they already know who will be the Presidential hopefuls when
they hold their elections this year and additionally the two main
parties are issue based not individual based) and that contributed to
their economic growth being 14% (according to the ruling party but 8%
according to the main opposing party).
David
On 1/2/12, Harry Delano <harry@comtelsys.co.ke> wrote:
Ladies and Gentlemen,
David's well articulated summary herein below on the going's on in
the Energy Sector to date ( David I hope you do not mind working on
an Energy concept Paper as requested
by the Vision 2030), quite clearly indicates that we are in the woods
as we have stated before.
It is imperative that we realize that if we have to bring energy
efficiencies to speed and develop & industrialize this economy,
electricity has to lead from the front.
It therefore follows that we must streamline the main players – very
critical. We cannot tolerate a situation where investors are in full
flight citing the high cost of
electricity to set up industry here at home, while neighboring
countries can easily accommodate their needs.
I suppose that we can note with satisfaction the efforts being
undertaken in electricity generation so far, as earlier assessed.
However we have to address the
distribution sector.
For me, I would be keen on three areas:
1. The ‘goings-on’ at the Distributor – KPLC. If whether it
is a
parastatal, quasi-parastatal or its ownership remains a ‘mystery
shroud’
to
date, we need to resolve this now. Does this interfere in any way
with operational/pricing efficiencies filtering to the consumers?
There needs to be transparency with a critical national utility
Service provider such as this.. So can the right honorable gentlemen
please clear the air on this?
Grace.., possibly we could request Hon Rege for comment on this or
get on board an active member of the Committee on Energy..?
2. Monopoly – We still insist - Competition breeds competencies.
Can
we
systematically begin working on breaking up the monopoly setup we
currently have in place. What happened to the Energy Act 2006 that
was to remove monopoly of Kenya Power as distributor …?
3. ERC – Am still yet to fully comprehend the makeup
structure/mandate.
Can we make it work better – especially, on Electricity/Oil..?
Bw PS, while we may fully agree that Solar energy is a viable
alternative am afraid that by our standards here and now, we can only
develop some small scale domestic consumption in the short term. This
won’t
really make any much dent in KPLC’s side. Meanwhile, we are
discussing driving economy /industrial growth in the mid-term/long
term for Vision 2030. Electricity has to carry out the job and drive
this.
The general concern we all share right now is that, while we are
actively scaling up efforts to generate more power to fuel our
growth, we might just have to content with a bottleneck distribution,
and this is currently only done by KPLC and so far, this state of
affairs is quite unsatisfactory.
Harry
-----Original Message-----
From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke]
On Behalf Of David Otwoma
Sent: Sunday, January 01, 2012 10:35 PM
To: harry@comtelsys.co.ke
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Vision 2030: ICT and Other Sectors Converged
(Day
3)
Solomon,
Having moved from Science & Technology (under Ministry of Higher
Education, Science and Technology) to Nuclear Electricity Project
(under Ministry of Energy) there are some perceptions that the PS of
Information & Communication have that needs further interrogating.
While working outside Kenya (1998 to 2006) I was privileged to visit
many countries that operated nuclear power plants for electricity
generation and will share experiences from a few.
In France the energy giant is called EDF.see
http://france.edf.com/france-45634.html It is like combining Kenya
Power (distributors), KETRACO (transmitters), KenGen (generators) and
a myriad of others e.g. Nuclear Electricity Project, Geothermal
Development Co, Rural Electrification, etc. EDF owns power stations
(58 nuclear power plants, coal and gas power generators, hydro power
stations). EDF also owns the transmission lines (for both high and
low
voltages) and EDF is also a great marketer (sells electricity to over
30 million customers in France and over 25 million outside France).
Yet the government of France owns the lion share in EDF. What we call
here Independent Power Producers are insignificant in France. In fact
the regulators, who for example control the nuclear power
infrastructure (called the French Nuclear Safety Authority see
http://www.french-nuclear-safety.fr/ ) has only 5 Commissioners (2
selected by the President, 1 by the Prime Minister –the French have a
system whereby the losing party produces the prime Minister – one by
the equivalent of COTU, one by the professional in the nuclear
industry). This is similar to USA where Nuclear Regulatory Commission
also has 5 Commissioners, 3 chosen by the party in power and 2 by the
losing party. In both France and USA nuclear is therefore a national
matter and is not reduced to part politics.
In USA by contrast what we call here IPP reign supreme. In nuclear
for
example some equivalents of our Tana and Arthi River Develoment
Authority, Kerio Valley Authority I;e; Tennesse Valley Authority own
both hydro and nuclear power plants. Municipalities too own power
companies. So too do equivalents of IPPs here. Different entities
also
own transmission and distribution lines.
What is in USA is more of an exception and not the rule. The
rules/laws in USA for example would not tolerate a scenario where a
serving people’s representative (in Senate or Congress) would be a
wanted person for deals done when s/he was a Secretary (of State,
Energy, Treasury etc.) and a former MD (President in USA energy firm)
would be ‘respectable’ public figures after questions bordering on
criminality arise. Most of the world (Russia, China, Japan, South
Korea, Iran, Egypt, etc.) the government irrespective of the party in
power plays a very visible role in energy generation, transmission,
distribution and marketing. In Egypt for example electricity is
cheaper for manufacturers (hence fruits grown in Egypt by irrigation
using electricity to pump water from the nile to orchards are cheaper
in Kenya than our own locally produced fruits with rain fed
agriculture!) and heavily subsidized for the population so as to
ensure 98% electrification (Kenya we are just blow 20% while in
Hungary upto year 1999 every human habitation it was the duty of the
government to connect it with electricity that costs less than kshs.
40 per month for the dweller then irrespective of consumption).
Hansard has a report with the following in it.
The Energy Act 2006 removes monopoly of Kenya Power as distributor.
The Committee on Energy, Communications and Information was
constituted on June 17th 2009 and its membership is as follows:-
1. The Hon. (Eng.) James Rege, M.P. Chairman
2. The Hon. Maina Kamau, M.P Vice Chairman
3. The Hon. Danson Mwazo Mwakulegwa, M.P
4. The Hon. Mohamed Hussein Ali, M.P
5. The Hon. (Eng.) Nicholas Gumbo, M.P
6. The Hon. Edwin O. Yinda, M.P
7. The Hon. Emilio Kathuri, M.P
8. The Hon. Ekwee Ethuro ,M.P
9. The Hon. (Prof.) Phillip Kaloki, M.P
10. The Hon. Cyprian Omolo, M.P
The Committee is mandated to consider:-
• Development, production, maintenance and regulation of Energy.
• Communication.
• Information.
• Broadcasting, and
• Information Communications Technology (ICT) development.
The Committee executes its mandate in accordance with the provisions
of Standing
Order 198 (3), which is –
a) to investigate, inquire into, and report on all matters relating
to
the mandate,
management, activities, administration, operations and estimates of
the assigned
Ministries and Departments;
b) to Study the programme and policy objectives on Ministries and
Departments and
the effectiveness of the implementation;
c) to Study and review all legislation referred to it;
d) to study, assess and analyze the relative success of the
Ministries and
departments as measured by the results obtained as compared with
their stated
objectives;
e) to investigate and enquire into all matters relating to the
assigned Ministries and
departments as they may deem necessary, and as may be referred to
them by the
House or a Minister; and
f) to make reports and recommendations to the House as often as
possible,
including recommendation of proposed legislation.
Further, Standing Order No. 152 provide that:-
(1) Upon being laid before the National Assembly, the Annual
Estimates
shall stand
committed to the respective Departmental Committees according to
their
mandates.
(2) Each Departmental Committee shall consider, discuss and review
the Estimates
committed to it under this standing order and submit its report
thereon to the
House within twenty one days after they were first laid before the
House.
Ministries assigned
In executing its oversight mandate the Committee oversees the
following Ministries:-
i) Ministry of Energy
ii) Ministry of Information and Communications.
On Wednesday14th April, 2010 during the Afternoon Sitting, the Member
of Parliament
for Mumias Constituency, Hon. Benjamin Washiali asked the Ministry of
Energy the
following Question by Private Notice.
a. What is the relationship between Kenya Power and Lighting Company
(KPLC) and Rural Electrification Authority (REA)?
b. How much money has the Ministry paid to KPLC through REA since its
inception to date?
c. Could the Minister provide details of the amount paid as dividends
to the
major shareholders of KPLC since its privatization?
In addition to this Question, the Member for Yatta, Hon. Charles
Kilonzo had on
Tuesday 16th March, 2010 asked a Question on overcharging of
electricity consumers
by KPLC.
The two questions elicited a lot of interest from Members who sought
to know whether
KPLC is a parastatal or a private company, its shareholders, whether
it receives
funding or financial support from the Government, its working
relationship with REA,
the amount of dividends it had paid to its shareholders over time and
other issues
surrounding its ownership and management. As a result, on 14th April,
2010, the
Speaker directed that the Departmental Committee on Energy,
Communication and
Information should take up this matter and file a report in the House.
KPLC is a public company that was incorporated in 1922 as a private
company and was
later listed in the NSE in 1954. On diverse dates between 1960 and
1975, the
government bought KPLC shares totaling to 32,853,268 which represents
40.4% of the
voting shares of the Company. It is responsible for transmission,
distribution and retail
supply of electrical energy to end users. It purchases power in bulk
from KenGen and
the IPPs through bilateral contracts or Power Purchase Agreements
(PPAs) approved
by ERC.
KPLC is responsible for ensuring that there is adequate line capacity
to maintain supply
and quality of electricity across the country. The interconnected
network of transmission
and distribution lines covers about 41,486 kilometers. It has more
than 1,500,000
customers who consumed over 5,432 Gigawatt hours of electricity in
the
financial year
2008/9. During the year, the maximum daily electricity peak demand
recorded was
1,072 MW.
The Energy Act and the Sessional Paper No. 4 of 2004 on Energy widely
liberalized the
energy sector in the country which was started in 1997 when KenGen
was
formed out of
KPLC. The Policy Paper among others established a single energy
regulator and
unbundled KPLC to form KETRACO, REA and GDC.
KPLC is the only licensed supplier, distributor and retailer of
electrical energy in Kenya
KPLC is a single buyer for all the power generated in Kenya and
injected into the interconnected grid for sale to the consumers. The
trading arrangements between KPLC and each of the generators are
governed by a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) approved by
ERC. Such PPAs comprise capacity charge, energy charge, fuel pass
through and inflation indexed clauses. The retail tariff structure
comprises of a fixed charge, energy charge and capacity charge.
On Wednesday 14th April, 2010, while answering a Question by Private
Notice by Hon.
B. Washiali, the Assistant Minister for Energy, Hon. M.M. Mohamud was
not clear on
whether KPLC is a parastatal or not. At one point he informed the
House that KPLC was
a private company with the Government as one of the shareholders. At
another point,
he informed the House that ‘…KPLC is a Government parastatal, but a
different
parastatal from other parastatals. It is in a different category with
other parastatals. There are parastatals which are not listed at the
NSE. So this is different to that extent.’ The Government needs to be
clear on whether KPLC is a Government Parastatal or a private company.
The Committee notes the importance of KPLC to service delivery in the
country and that
the achievement of Vision 2030 depends on the success of the
electricity sector. It is
evident that the Government largely supports KPLC through guaranteed
loans and profit
plough-backs and also appoints a majority of directors to the
company’s Board of
Directors. Further, the Company’s vehicles have blue registration
number plates, a
preserve of parastatals contributing to the uncertainty as to whether
KPLC is a
parastatal or a private company. Due to the importance of the
electricity sector in the
country and the regular support offered to KPLC, the Government
should not allow
KPLC to be in the control of business people who are motivated by
profits at the
expense of the citizens.
KPLC could be termed a State Corporation if it was ‘wholly owned or
controlled by the
government or by a state corporation’ in accordance with the
definition proffered in the
State Corporations Act. Following the disposal of shares by NSSF, the
Company does
not meet the requirements stipulated for it to qualify as a state
corporation. Furthermore,
KPLC has not submitted fully to the provisions of the Public Audit
Act, by having its
accounts audited by the Controller and Auditor General and submitted
to the National
Assembly for examination by the Public Investments Committee (PIC).
he Controller and Auditor General last submitted audited accounts for
KPLC for the
year 2001/2002. PIC queried the non submission of KPLC accounts for
the subsequent
years in its 12th Report of 2004. Thereafter, accounts for the
financial year 2007/2008
were tabled in December 2009. That notwithstanding, in 2004 PIC
examined the
following non accounting issues:-
i) KPLC’s pension’s scheme,
ii) Contracts between KPLC and IPPs,
iii) The general financial status of the company and
iv) Supply of treated poles during the Financial year 2004/2005 (13th
Report).
The Committee therefore recommends that:-
i) The Government proceeds with the conversion of some of its 7.85%
redeemable
non-cumulative preference shares (87.12 million shares which Treasury
has
approved) into ordinary shares at a ratio of 1:1 and retains the
ordinary shares so
as to raise its stake in KPLC to 75% thus qualifying the company as a
parastatal.
The Government’s shareholding in KPLC be determined by the shares
held in the
name of the Permanent Secretary, Treasury and not other state
agencies who
might later on dispose their shares without approval from the Treasury.
Before unbundling of electricity generation from transmission and
distribution in the
1990s, there were 5 major players in the power sector, namely Kenya
Power Company
(KPC), Tana River Development Company (TRDC), Tana and Athi Rivers
Development Authority (TARDA), Kerio Valley Development Authority
(KVDA) and
KPLC. The initial unbundling comprised first merging TRDC and KPC in
1996 to KPC
which changed its name to KenGen in 1998. The second step comprised
consolidating
all the power generation assets, owned by the five (5) parastatals
under KenGen and
the transmission and distribution assets under KPLC. By October 1999,
all power
generation assets from KPLC, TRDC, KPC, TARDA and KVDA were
transferred to
KenGen at ‘depreciated replacement costs’. Similarly, transmission
and
distribution
assets owned by other entities were transferred to KPLC at
depreciated
replacement
costs.
The Committee recommends that, like the previous unbundling:-
i) All assets under the REP since 1973 should be tracked and taken
over and
reflected in the books of REA. Currently such assets are owned by the
Government
but under KPLC.
ii) All transmission assets should be tracked and taken over and
reflected in the books
of KETRACO. Currently such assets acquired before the formation of
KETRACO in
2008, are owned by KPLC while KETRACO will own new assets that it
will develop.
KPLC should surrender all transmission assets to KETRACO.
iii) All assets under geothermal exploration and extraction held by
KenGen (including
Olkaria I & II) should be taken over by GDC to avoid the Government
competing
with itself.
The Committee notes that ERC has failed to deliver on its mandate
especially with
regards to protecting energy consumers. This is reflected in the high
costs of electricity
in Kenya as compared to its neighbours which is a key factor in
driving investors out of
the country. Further, the high electricity costs cause most Kenyans
to resort to
traditional sources of energy such as charcoal and firewood, further
depleting our
environment. While unbundling the electricity sub-sector, the
Government intended to
make the electricity clean, quality and affordable which is evidently
not the case.
The Committee also notes with concern that under the Energy Act, ERC
is expected to
ensure that the industry players such as KenGen remain profitable and
viable which
impacts negatively on the consumers despite the PPAs guaranteeing
reasonable
profits. The Committee therefore recommends that the Energy Act be
amended and
that ERC puts in place feedback mechanisms to ensure that demand is
met with
reliable, cost effective and high quality energy services in an
environmentally friendly
manner.
The Committee further recommends that the Government increase its
subsidies for
the transmission and operation costs so that they are not reflected
in
the tariffs and the
consumer bills.
The Committee notes that the public is misinformed on the operations
of the various
players in the power sector and recommends that the Government carry
out public
education to inform the public on the various initiatives and power
players which will
promote transparency in the energy sector. Further, the price
variations reflected on
the consumer bills should be demystified to the public.
In conclusion what PS, Ministry of Information and Communications
raises i.e. inviting Hon Rege who is Chairman of Energy and
Information & Communication to shed light on how the Committees
recommendations have been taken up by the relevant institutions.
In conclusion and as noted in some earlier debate, energy is an
enabler and the current situation is not sustainable i.e. Kenya is
dominated by petroleum and electricity which are the prime movers of
the modern sector economy, while wood fuel provides energy needs of
the traditional sector including rural communities and urban poor. At
the national level, wood fuel and other biomass account for about 68%
of the total primary energy consumption followed by petroleum at 22%,
electricity at 9% and others including coal at about less than 1%.
This is not sustainable as electricity providing less than 10% of
energy yet we plan to industrialize! The October 2011 National Energy
Conference revealed that even the 20+% oli bill almost 10% goes to
burn in diesel generators to produce the expensive fuel levy
reflected
in electricity bills. While making Dr. Ndemo play Presidential
aspirant it was concluded that while electricity has the least Cost
Power Development Plan team doing 20 year rolling plans no such
activity is in the oil sector! Is that by design or its a long term
oversight? Wood (read biomass) never got any country on earth
industrialized and hence government cannot (should not) wait for
Independent Power Producers to invest in energy, as the easiest
return
(short term of course) is in charcoal burning, followed by burning
oil
(again returns occur in less than a Parliamentary term) not putting
up
a nuclear power plant.
Best wishes for 2012 to all.
David
On 12/31/11, Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau <solo.mburu@gmail.com> wrote:
Dr. Ndemo,
With due respect, I find your comment on listers' popints to Mr.
Mugo
not satisfying (to your expectations). However, in the foregoing, I
understand that most of us were not privy to the conception of the
Vision 2030, and perhaps, we were raisin issues per what we see
happening, for example on energy. Kenya Power as a monopoly enjoys
100% benefit in the power sector, yet in the ccompetitive and
liberalized world, competition thrives when the market is not capped
on one firm. Kenya Power, while being good in blackouts, stills
enjoys
support from the government, yet as we speak about achieving the
Vision, energy is the most important aspect driving us towards the
realization of the flashship projects pointed out.
Generally, without education, there is nothing like achieving
development in it's full scale.
In my view, I think the contributors interrogating Mr. Mugo did
their
level best to make the Vision clear in a layman language, more
sepcifically, Mr. Mugo himself.
Regards,
Solomon
On 31/12/2011, bitange@jambo.co.ke <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:
Eric,
I am not done with your questions yet. On Government blocking
investment
in
energy. This is what we are trying to address: The role of
government in
enterprise. If you go deeper into Schumpeter's theory, you will
find that
no government can block an idea or innovation whose time has come.
When Graham Bell invented the telephone, the British Post dismissed
the
idea
saying there were enough messengers around. With the invention of
mobile
telephony, the land line is undergoing the same fate it brought to
communication early in the 20th century. This is what is called
"creative
destruction".
We must understand this theory if indeed we want to survive in the
days to
come. In my recent visit to China, I saw what the future would be
like.
A
city the size of Nairobi is using both solar and wind energy to
light up
street lights. This innovation even in Kenya does not require
government
approval. Further we have enriched the Arab world far too long
when we
use
parrafin to power our rudimentally oil lamps. Instead we should by
now
have
provided a simple battery, a solar panel and a micro wind vane to
every
household for energy supply. This will save us billions of dollars
that
we
can invest in preventive medical care.
Your problem is that you want to replicate what you have seen in
advanced
economies. Your approach would fail. You must first create the
market
through simple understandable solutions. The demands for energy
will then
be incremental such that even if you were to build 10,000 MW you
have a
ready market.
On colonialism; This is non sense in my view. Those who colonized
us are
dead and most of those who were colonized are dead too. We must
not
forget
that this happened but our focus should be to build confidence in
ourselves
to face the world. Take China for example, Japan dominated them
but they
have not spent their lives grumbling about the past. They have
faced up
to
Japan and today they compete on an equal footing.
Although parts of Africa are still under the French colony, you
must be
grateful that the British colonized us. The British were only
interested
in
domination and material wealth. The French's integration approach
still
has
implications on their colonies. Indeed as I write there are
Africans in
Africa who consider themselves French. There are African states
that
still
pay French tax. Mineral resources on African continent still
belong to
France.
I have nothing against the French. If our Francophone brothers
feel
comfortable this way, let it be. The best we can do is to face up
to our
colonial power, leverage on the Common Wealth
Association to build a new alliance that benefits all of us.
Together we
have more voting power and ability to lead the agenda.
Regards.
Ndemo.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message-----
From: "Eric M.K Osiakwan" <emko@internetresearch.com.gh>
Sender:
kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.keDate:
Fri,
30 Dec 2011 15:51:57
To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke>
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Subject: [kictanet] Vision 2030: ICT and Other Sectors Converged
(Day
3)
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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
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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
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bandwidth,
share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect
privacy, do
not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
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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.
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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.
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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.