Joseph, Five years ago, being conversant on energy issues, my proposal was rejected as there were some sections not only our dear partners wanted removed but sadly our own brothers and sisters also agreed with the development partners.....Reading you now five years later its like we are stuck in mud or worse running on a treadmill and thinking we are covering miles. What is important now according to an article titled 'It's in your head' page 51 of Newsweek of July 21 'new research suggests thatpolicy may not be the most important thing....attitudes....attitudes and values. Below please find a piece of that rejected thesis. David Sub-Saharan Africa's economic growth will be stifled unless the region's power shortage can be a thing of the past. Of importance is the Electric Bill 1997 and its adoption by parliament in October 1997 which aims to 'amend and consolidate the law relating to the generation, transmission, transformation, distribution, supply and the use of electrical energy for lighting and other purposes, and for connected purposes' (Republic of Kenya 1997). The Act separated power generation, regulation and distribution heralding an energy shift from the monolithic, cumbersome and inefficient energy policy which had existed for more than 7 decades since the British colonial government started electricity power industry in Kenya. Previously the Kenya Power Company and now Kenya Electricity Generating Company (* KenGen*) have taken the generation functions from Kerio Valley Development Authority, Tana River Development Authority and Kenya Power and Lighting Company (*KPLC*). KPLC is now solely responsible for distribution and sale of power generated by KenGen while the Electricity Regulatory Board is charged with licensing of prospective investors. One disesteeming feature of the regulatory body is that although it has broad administrative brief, the final decision is left to the Minister for Energy a situation which creates opportunities for the Minister, a political appointee, to veto the decisions of the Board, the technical body. Whose interests and traditions and also what values does the legislation manifest, or better not represent? Hughes (1983) looks at the history of electrification in Britain, in particular London, and compares it to that of cities like Chicago and Berlin, in the period 1880 – 1930. He concludes that 'the overall backwardness of London's utilities foundered on the rocks of legislative obstruction, especially the Electric Lighting Act of 1888 which imposed crippling hardships'. He insisted that in 1902 in Britain 'a large number of strongly established interests had a highly developed instinct for conservatism'. Almost a century later in Kenya 'conservative political interests' are at work given the immense powers that the minister of energy retains pointing out that the politicians seem wary of relaxing the government's regulatory hold of the electric power sector. In the past the government's role has been marred by inability to satisfy demand and allegation of corruption. Poor performance in the economic sector mainly reflects inefficiency in manufacturing arising from the dilapidated infrastructure particularly roads, insufficient supply of power, incidences of import dumping and non-payment of import duty says the monthly Economic Review report released by Central Bank of Kenya (Daily Nation 28th March 2000). Another telling case being charges from Price Waterhouse on methods used by KPLC to contract two private companies, Iber-Africa and Westmont, did not follow transparent procedures in inviting bids and did not provide adequate information to bidders to enable them to submit their best bid (Daily Nation 10 November 1997). This is probable in an atmosphere where the minister can discriminate using the scale of what politicians view as 'political correct' and 'anti establishment' and thus a source of 'kickback taking' which signifies a state which is not transparent and accountable. Wachira Maina (Sunday Nation 19th October 1997) gives a telling critique to the Act pointing out that the powers of the Minister compromise the liberalization policy. Hibou (1999) points that standard economic theory, discretionary interventions in the economy are conducive to corruption, and it is for this reason that a maximum degree of consistency and uniformity is desirable. Not according fairness to all diminishes assurances to potential investors as occurred when the World Bank, in July-August 1997 suspended its aid to Kenya's power sector projects (The Economic Review January 1998). Why then do we have a decadent situation? On 7/24/08, joseph wafula <muliaro@yahoo.com> wrote:
I congratulate Mr Njoroge for the appointment as DG for CCK, however I still find the criteria used weak if what was in last Saturday Nation newspaper was part of the criteria. What is clear is that we are far from expecting CCK to meet WTO expectation of an independent regulator. CCK is strongly under what I term "political capture". The issue of salary one earns as a prerequisite for short-listing for the post makes it even worse in my view. What is the future for such criteria in the eyes of all stakeholders particularly those in private sector, Foregn Direct Investors etc? the question is, how can such officer be free from government influence and special interest? Perhaps the criteria of appointment need to be revised to give an independent outfit and sectoral professionalsm to CCK DG position.
Dr Muliaro Wafula
Lecturer JKUAT & Director
Kenya E-governance and E-Content Backbone
--- On *Wed, 7/23/08, Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho@yahoo.com>* wrote:
From: Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] New DG To: muliaro@yahoo.com Cc: "New Vision List" <newvisionkenya@yahoogroups.com>, "Robert Onyango-Alai" <alai.robert@gmail.com>, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" < kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2008, 6:14 AM
Dougi,
Of course Google (and its variants!) has never been the only method to gauge qualification! Sadly, it is/they are the only measure we have these days, especially for ICT!
Brian, I have never known in any profession what you say to be a parameter for qualification or eligibility. Otherwise if it were, wouldn't people like Atieno Ochola (gender notwithstanding), Matano Ndaro, Michael Katundu, John Omo, and many more at CCK be as much deserving?
Lest am asked: 'declare your interest', let me do so. The other day I noticed an MP (who is either a present or past CCK director) contribute to a motion on CCK without 'declaring interest'; he was lucky to get away with it. I too applied for this job, not because I expected to be considered, but to find out if Kenya had changed; if we had moved on to a New Kenya where it didn't matter where [in Kenya] you came from, who you knew, whose son/daughter you had married, etc. We do not seem to have learnt from the events of the turn of the [last] year! Kenya appears to be sitting on a time bomb. Formation of the coalition does not seem to have detonated it.
I have previously contended that Kenyan informaticians are endangered. How right I am/was. The words 'mediocricity, political expediency, ethnic bigotry' keep ringing on my ears. So, it now appears we cannot find an eligible informatician to lead CCK and we have to get an economist! I wait for the day, for instance, when the IMF shall be headed by an informatician, or one James Rege shall be Finance Minister! Short of the ICT professionals organizing themselves and regaining their space, we have a long wait.
Best rgrds,
Shem
--- On *Mon, 7/21/08, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe@gmail.com>* wrote:
From: Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] New DG To: "Shem Ochuodho" <shemochuodho@yahoo.com> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Monday, July 21, 2008, 5:54 PM
IMHO Njoroge has been "the power behind the throne" for every one of the last DGs. I think he will make an excellent leader. His time has come.
Congrats Bw Njoroge
Brian Sent from my iPhone
On 21 Jul 2008, at 9:32 PM, "waudo siganga" <emailsignet@mailcan.com> wrote:
Anyone with background info on new DG? Google only has the appointment dd 21/7
On Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:40:24 +0300, "Wainaina Mungai" <wainaina@madeinkenya.org> said:
I would assume Nyaki meant "effective engagement" rather than "effective management"
Regards Wainaina
On Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 4:45 PM, Catherine Adeya <elizaslider@yahoo.com> wrote:
Walu,
Your suggestion for 3.5 is good though I think it should simply be 'How to organize Associations for Effective Managment with the Government.
Unless I heard wrong, KTN Sunrise news this morning announced Mr Charles Kinyanjui Njoroge as the new CCK DG.
Nyaki
----- Original Message ---- From: John Walubengo <jwalu@yahoo.com> To: elizaslider@yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, July 21, 2008 2:31:33 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Forum Agenda - Lets focus
Harry,
Indeed it would be a public forum - but to what extend has the message gone outside Nairobi given that most listservers have subscribers in NRB? Maybe there's need to have the traditional notice in the print media.
As for the Agenda proposed and copied below, 1. Forum Objectives 2. Association presentations 3. General Discussion 4. Way forward
I would add - 3.5. How to Organise the different Associations for effective engagement with Govt.
walu. nb: meanwhile, unconfirmed reports from my moles indicate that a new DG for CCK has been unveiled. Anybody with such a copy?
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