Bwana Mugo, You have said it for most of us. Daktari, At the end, Kenyans will celebrate your tireless effort as we benefit from the same and the media will write about that celebration. I guess the other way to see it is newspapers have to sell and radio/tv stations are dying to increase their ratings. For them its business at whatever cost. For you in the government, you are doing your role in the best way possible. I wish we would single out and encourage people who this hard in this country. They should have run a profile on you and your efforts in previous projects. Regards -----Original Message----- From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+bkioko=bernsoft.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of mugo@vision2030.go.ke Sent: Friday, August 10, 2012 1:03 AM To: bkioko@bernsoft.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Konza Land Issue In my 3 years working in government I am yet to work with (or come across) anyone who works as hard and as selflessly for Kenyans as Bitange Ndemo. We need more outside the box, courageous and big thinkers for Kenya in the mould of Dr. Ndemo. You have made believers of so many in govt who themselves have found motivation in your infectious love for (and belief in) Kenya. You made me believe we could get Vision 2030 done. Your reputation and name are bigger than any media story or agency. Indeed you've been down this path before with TEAMS and prevailed to the great benefit of Kenyans! I, for one, am firmly in your corner and I can hardly think of anyone else I would so confidently vouch for. Mugo Sent from my BlackBerryR -----Original Message----- From: bitange@jambo.co.ke Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2012 08:43:10 To: Mugo Kibati<mugo@vision2030.go.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Konza Land Issue Listers, A number of you have independently asked me to clarify the Konza Land issue that was in the papers yesterday. Let me briefly explain the problem. Prior to the purchase of Land we developed a conceptual framework on the locationing of a tech city. Here we largely relied on the work done by Booz Allen. Among other things research shows that a tech city must be located at least 30 minutes from the airport and be in the outskirts of a major city from where you can tap the human resource. With this we crafted a tender document that restricted the suitable land within the parameters of the conceptual framework. This was done openly and we assumed it was indeed an open tender. But it emerged that the definition of open was to advertise land availability anywhere without restrictions. This grey area in the law is rediculous since land in Wajir will have been of no use to us and as such we flouted the procurement law. After our competitive bid, we consulted with the Ministry of Lands to give us the valuation of which the recommendation was Ksh. 200,000. Since most quotes were in the 300 range we focused on the most suitable piece and offered to pay Ministry of Lands Valuation rate. In open tenders one is not allowed to negotiate even when it is in the interest of the country. Here it is said we manipulated the numbers. This clearly is a misunderstanding since we still have grey areas in the Procurement Law. Whereas KACC says we used direct or restricted tendering to buying the land, our view was that the method was open since and one that is in the interest of the country. We did indeed consult the AG's office if what we did was in order and we were given the clear. Much of this is done by various the departments but I bear the ultimate responsibility. What is absurd is the fact that the Daily Nation decided to highlight this issue while we were having the Konza conference here with international investors. This was the time we were telling investors that Kenya has changed and corruption is being dealt with. Well they did a great damage to my reputation. I read malice in the story since it is something that has been around. I would rather have taken a six month jail term than mess up with a project that I have devoted my life to. I have taken risky decisions to have this project take off but it is now clear that we only rejoice on successes. KACC has a right to question what we do and indeed in Teams they were on our case all through until the project was complete. The fact that they question does not amount to corruption. This is how we can change laws and make them dynamic with changing times. As much as I respect the Media, in this case they hurt my character dearly yet what I did was right and hoped we can change the law for future rational decisions. Never in my public life have I tried to do something that is not in the interest of the country. Ndemo. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mugo%40vision2030.go.k e 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. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bkioko%40bernsoft.com 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.