I'd also like to add that govt policies and programs are the initial catalyst drive because the private sector is what it is i.e. does not fund research or development ( not in Kenya ). And for many decades economic policies have placed favour over import versus local development, we are at a stage today that it would probably takes us another 40-50 years to even design/produce the simplest semi-conductor available on the market today. The same design can be done at University levels in other countries. We are really at a tough place because if we don't fast track with imports, we will get left behind. And if we don't implement long term ways towards core development, we are bound to become literally a "sales,marketing and consultants" country which only has very short term benefits. Today, we give the chance to external partners to help with technology needs and systems, yet we are capable of creating or building upon these given the correct environment. It will be our biggest loss in future if we do not change course and take on the internal development segment with force and commitment. Just as the US identified itself as a major defense exporter economy thereby creating most of the advance systems-engineers-mulit-million dollar industries--highly educated employment, I think we also need to define what we want to do and how to get there.

On Thu, Aug 4, 2011 at 10:43 AM, <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

Aki,
You now can understand why we need to stop business and general degree
programmes. This is why we are more of traders than industrialists. I
went to US for studies in the 1980's. In 1987 I was President of
International Students at the University of Minnesota. We were 5,000
foreign students in a student population of 120,000. The majority of
students were from Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore and Korea. Of the Asian
students, 98% were in engineering courses the remaider were in creative
art degree program.

These countries became what we call Newly Industrialized Countries (NICs).
In economic comparative terms, they were behind Kenya. Today we buy
everything from them. They manufactured nothing then. Infact we used to
love at the Hyundai Ponny that was first manufactured by Koreans.

We now must remove all fees for any student enrolled in science and
creative degree programs. The rest can pay. When we started producing
more computer graduates, we started seeing application development in
Kenya to the extent that the world has started to recognize. Similarly,
if we indeed want to industrialize, we must move to science. There are no
options.

India has just realized this and they are taking jobs from overheating
China. Our comparative advatange in this region is the human resource.
Let us develop it, support it and guide it to the right direction.
Regional influence is what will matter in the days to come. As such we
must endeavor to see that Vision 2030 is realized in 2020. This is
possible.

Regards

Ndemo.