Hey Bill - I have to agree with everything you say in this mail. Brilliant stuff! Kenyans need to be promoted into all sorts of leadership positions. Secondly, the meeting being called is a good idea but it must be by and for KENYANS. We got to start believing in ourselves. If this meeting is organized with participation of all and with the small matter of involving only KENYANS taken into account, then I will definitely attend. I also agree with Bw. Manthi that Flo, though being the nice personality she is, should not chair the meeting as there are many qualified KENYANS. About the other mail promoting me to the honourable position of goat herder I have to disappoint you since I have been goat-herding for a number of years now. Everyone who knows me well knows that whenever I get a chance I am always upcountry in Mukangu village, Kakamega. This in addition to my other work as WITSA Director and Vice President (feel free to call me Mr Vice President), still serving my term on ICANN Nom-Com, on the Board of IFIP, Co-Chair of WITFOR busy preparing the next meeting in Vietnam 2009, Board Member at the ICC BASIS in Paris, etc. In WITSA I have to serve until after the 2012 World IT Congress in Canada - and that is renewable! You see, rearing goats does not exclude one from being busy. We need to meet over tea Bill, preferably in the village. Long live KENYA, Waudo On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:36:45 +0300, "Bill Kagai" <billkagai@gmail.com> sa id: On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 7:57 PM, <[1]alkags@alkags.com> wrote: I wonder if protectionist policies would enhance our global competitiveness as a country in the larger scheme of things? Alkags, I have written too much (today), but kindly indulge me with this one last post I could not resist because it harbours on what I do for a living - information vending ;-) You know about Unilver Tea. Basic stats look like this...and another reason why you should subscribe to MediaCorp services NSE Sector Agricultural Company Unilever Tea Code UNLV Year Of 1925 Year of Listing 1972 Issued Shares 48,875,000.00 Share Float 11 All Time Low 36.00 All Time High 130.00 Market Capitalisation (Million) 2.26B Par Value Top 10 Shareholders Name % Shareholder1 Brooke Bond Group Ltd. - 88.23 Shareholder2 Board of Trustees Of NSSF 2.94 Shareholder3 KCB Staff Pension 0.52 Shareholder4 UAP Provincial Insurance 0.33 Shareholder5 Old mutual life Ass 0.29 Shareholder6 BBK Nominees 0.27 Shareholder7 Co-op Bank Kenya 0.22 Shareholder8 BBK Nominees 0.22 Shareholder9 xxxx Shareholder10 Ins Co. of East Africa 0.17 Top10Total Shares 93.37 Profit Before Tax (Year) [Million] Profit After Tax (Year) [Million] 2000 410.00 2000 450.00 2001 420.00 2001 220.00 2002 415.00 2002 130.00 2003 400.00 2003 60.00 2004 450.00 2004 370.00 2005 100.00 2005 70.00 2006 100.00 2006 60.00 2007 2007 Earning Per Share Kshs Dividend PayOut Kshs 2000 9.20 2000 6.00 2001 4.60 2001 2.00 2002 2.50 2002 2.50 2003 1.30 2003 6.00 2004 7.40 2004 8.00 2005 1.40 2005 2.00 2006 1.10 2006 2.00 2007 2007 P/E Ratio Bankers Barclay bank of Kenya,Citibank NA,Cooperative Bank Registrars Cooperative Bank Registrars My point Foreigners hold 88% of the company and thus in a position to make board decisions regardless of the African investors thinking after all..they holding only 12%. Some investors bought into this company at more than kshs 100 and when it ceased trading, shares were moving in the 40-45 range. The shares will be called back because the foreigners agenda is different and there intention is not to make money for the local investors. [Country of origin and Fair trade issues]. The local investors including NSSF, KCB pensioners and many more Wanjikus have been screwed. RVR is coming next. Joe is therefore really not far from the point...if Unilever lesson is anything to go by. We need a unified approach ...If you want to do business in Kenya...get Kenyan partner...is simply not enough... We need to get Kenyans in decision making positions also. PS. Regarding Flo's kind request to facilitate... Ownership of the process is what is critical. Locals should not only drive but own and ultimately be responsible for the direction they take. You have done well...but maybe...as Frank Sinatra would sing...its time for MY WAY. Ciao, Bill References 1. mailto:alkags@alkags.com People make a plan work, a plan alone seldom makes people work (Confucius).