Daktari,

On the military, I was referring more to the local scenario than globally. Without military research we probably wouldn't have the Internet and GPS just to take two examples.

As regards Konza, IMO, its the right thing for us to do 20 years from now. Yes India is building a Konza in every state, but its building Konza when they already have a high technology industry which will take advantage of their Konzas. They have Tata, Mahindra Satyam, Infosys and similar $1b firms that can take advantage of these Konzas. 

But, for us, we do not even have a technology industry to speak of (please lets not call all these incubation centers pushing mobile apps that no one is buying an industry)

So, the difference btn us and them is that they are building their Konzas because they need them and we are building ours to be like India. The classic Build, ????, Profit scenario...

Before we invest such amounts of money in a real estate project, would it not have been more prudent and wise to invest that amount of money in research in our universities as an example? Yes, and it is true our universities are not doing enough research, yet, how much as a country are we investing in research in our own universities? If we are not investing anything much, then lets not sit and complain that they are not doing much.

Research costs real money as real mistakes will need to be made as we learn!

We do not need Konza for Vision 2030, but we do need to invest in research, we do need to invest in local technology firms (suppose 50% of that money was pushed to local firms to enhance their research and expand their business???), we do need to invest in teaching technology in our schools.

Waithaka Ngigi
A1.iO


On Wed, Oct 2, 2013 at 11:04 PM, Bitange Ndemo <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:
Military does invest in R&D through Universities.  Great ideas are
incubated, supported financially and intellectually.  Academics mill
around good ideas and help advance them.  That is why Zukerberg moved from
Harvard to Silicon Valley where he was supported by the Universities
around there, the Government through Small Business Administration
financed the incubation.  Now the Government is reaping the benefits of
taxes from thousands of employees working there.

Why do then debate so much on the merits and demerits of Konza.  India is
building a Konza in every state.  Ushahidi was a great idea that we lost a
chance to incubate and support its R&D plus financing its growth.
Unfortunately, not many Kenyans know this great idea.  Universities that
teach computer science hardly know new research areas to support the
vibrant ICT activities in the country.  How do we build an effective
triple helix?  How do we get the universities to do research that have a
meaning to its people?

Ndemo.



> Daktari,
>
> Problem is, technology generally moves along for both military and
> civilian
> use. Modern day terrorists and organised criminals are more than a match
> for full sovereign states electronic firepower. The only way military/law
> enforcement can ensure 'monopoly' of technology is by investing lots in
> R&D, which I don't think we as a country do!
>
> Waithaka Ngigi
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 2, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Bitange Ndemo <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:
>
>> Robert,
>> Nano technologies are here already.  Just like the Japanese miniaturized
>> everything, we should nononize some products.  I will work with one that
>> is a bit smaller.  Just imagine if we had one like that with night
>> vision.
>>  We could not have destroyed the entire parking.
>>
>> Ndemo.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > Daktari,
>> >
>> > Is this what you where referring to when you mentioned an inzi?
>> >
>> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5TdbMu8xc4
>> >
>> > Regards
>> >
>> > PS.  Encouraging gaming could be what saves us next time there is a
>> > terrorist hostage situation
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Robert Yawe
>> > KAY System Technologies Ltd
>> > Phoenix House, 6th Floor
>> > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
>> > Kenya
>> >
>> >
>> > Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
>> >
>> >
>> > ________________________________
>> >  From: Bitange Ndemo <bitange@jambo.co.ke>
>> > To: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk>
>> > Cc: bitange@jambo.co.ke; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>> > <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>> > Sent: Monday, 23 September 2013, 16:07
>> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Have we failed the nation yet again?
>> >
>> >
>> > Robert,
>> > There is absolutely nothing anybody will have done with ICTs after the
>> > terrorists stormed the Mall.  All IT gadgets worked properly.  CCTV
>> > footage is there and was aired on TV yesterday.  The screening askaris
>> had
>> > no chance since the assailants forced their way in.
>> >
>> > Perhaps what we need is more research to mount a camera on a fly
>> (inzi)
>> > with night vision to fly carefully within the terrorist hideout and
>> > establish strategically on how to respond.  Some flies could be loaded
>> > with sleeping gas to put assailants to sleep.  Drones do scan the
>> horizon
>> > giving military advance knowledge of the terrain.
>> >
>> > Right now we should spend a few minutes to praise our uniformed
>> forces.
>> > They did a commendable job.  In bitterness I am still proud to be
>> Kenyan.
>> >
>> >
>> > Ndemo.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >> Hi,
>> >>
>> >> As we console all those who where affected by the happenings at the
>> >> Westgate Mall over the weekend do we remain blameless as an industry?
>> >>
>> >> Regards
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Robert Yawe
>> >> KAY System Technologies Ltd
>> >> Phoenix House, 6th Floor
>> >> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
>> >> Kenya
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Tel: +254722511225,
>> >> +254202010696_______________________________________________
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>> >>
>> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>> >>
>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke
>> >>
>> >> 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.
>> >>
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>> >
>> >
>> > University of Nairobi
>> > Business School, Lower Kabete Campus
>>
>>
>> University of Nairobi
>> Business School, Lower Kabete Campus
>>
>>
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>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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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.
>>
>
>
>
> --
> *Regards,*
>
> *Wait**haka Ngigi*
> Chief Executive Officer | Alliance Technologies | MCK Nairobi Synod
> Building
> T + 254 (0) 20 2333 471 |Office Mobile: +254 786 28 28 28 | M + 254 737
> 811
> 000
> www.at.co.ke
>


University of Nairobi
Business School, Lower Kabete Campus




--
Regards,

Waithaka Ngigi
Chief Executive Officer | Alliance Technologies | MCK Nairobi Synod Building
T + 254 (0) 20 2333 471 |Office Mobile: +254 786 28 28 28 | M + 254 737 811 000
www.at.co.ke