Sometimes I do wonder if all our linen is dirty or if we are constantly recycling dirty clothes due to lack of Omo and Water. It is not possible.

What is clearly coming out in all your contributions so far today is that the media has a huge responsibility in marketing Kenya to Kenyans first locally and in the diaspora, and then  by extension to the international community. I also hear the concern that many of you have which reminds me or a workshop I once attended where I asked some editors of the big media houses why they do not write more on ICTs/ICT industry/ICT4D trends etc (this was a few years ago and I believe a lot has improved though always in the middle of the newspapers somewhere or in the Business section).....the response then was "if it bleeds it leads"....I think I was dumbfounded as I tried to understand how I could make my ICT stories 'bleed'....but let me not digress but just to thank you on the discussions so far and encourage you to continue contributing but do remember even as we discuss our strengths and weaknesses, let us highlight the niche areas for our beloved Kenya.

With thanks,

Nyaki


From: Esther <emuchiri@andestbites.com>
To: elizaslider@yahoo.com
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 1:05:34 PM
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths and Weaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches

I am touched to see that there are many of us who hurt whenever we turn on
the TV to watch news. I once begged a journalist friend to stop writing
negative political news and start reporting on the many good things
happening in our country - even at the political level. The answer I got
was that he must write what is 'news worthy'.

They say headlines sell, but headlines also destroy!!! I long for the day
a good Kenyan will invest in a positive radio/TV station (and newspaper) -
and make so much noise that the negative vibes are drowned.

But it starts with us. If each of us can decide to do something positive -
and not be influenced by all the negativity, we can start bringing the
much desired change.

Esther

> Dear All,
>
> I also concur with the previous comments on the negativity brought about
> by
> Kenya's myopic character, and forgive me for using this harsh tome.
>
> Because I'm a Kikuyu, makes me think the other communities are just as
> feeble as I can imagine. This is perhaps the problem that makes our unique
> policies from seeing the light of day. And the cause for this...
> politicians.
>
> I like the approach we have adapted in this discussion forum - dealing
> with
> issues and forgetting the tribal jibes which have poisoned our minds for
> the
> last 46 years.
>
> I hope, as one of us has aptly put it, the media is listening and not be
> enslaved with political and character assassinations.
>
> The media, can shape the face of Kenya or destroy it. I hear it
> orchestrated
> the PEV. Just tune into your favourite TV  and what you see is images of
> poverty, illiteracy, political wars and other social ills that you can
> think
> of. Yet, through Citizen Journalism, there are unique stories of Kenyans
> who
> are doing impact and having a legacy within the local community.
> I see a future where Kenyans (whether the youth or old generation) will
> have
> an understanding of dealing with issues than tribes.
>
> Technology can bring us together and destroy those who would rather not
> change because they believe in outdated thoughts and ideals.
>
> Now to the issues of Weaknessses and Strengths in the BPO sector.
> *Strenghts*
>
>    1. The most recognizable strength is there are so many Kenyans who are
>    into IT and this would be a forum/ platform for flexing their muscles,
> while
>    driving Kenyans to economic growth
>    2. There is a lot of content which needs to be utilized. This means the
>    BPO will be central in making good use of the local content
>    3. There is political will in terms of capital, motivation, positive
>    perception by the political leadership. The State is actively involved
> in
>    the various formulation of the BPO (Dr. Ndemo is a case to note in this
>    regard)
>    4. Entrepreneurial developement will be achieved with the MTEF (2008 -
>    2012) and Vision 2030, because it is the BPO is an underlying factor in
>    national development, state security and health fields etc
>
> *Weaknesses*
>
>    1. There is a lack of confidence within the state corporations in
>    adapting IT (BPO) because of fear of 'losing' touch with the citizens.
>    Corporations such as the security department (CID, Army, NSIS,
> Immigration)
>    would need to get in touch with a person making any application for
> either
>    jobs, Certificate of Good Conduct etc), in order to verify the
> existence of
>    such an individual
>    2. Financial institutions have adapted technology, but cautiously. The
>    great fear is security. For instance, banks will not comunicate with a
>    customer through internet, phone, especially when discussing financial
>    status of an account holder. The same is true of hospitals etc.
>    3. Although we have internet savvy Kenyans, not all understand the
> spine
>    behind BPO. Further elaboration is needed on the basics behind the BPO
>
>
> My commemts!
>
>
>
> 2009/6/15 Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com>
>
>>
>> I agree with Dr. Ndemo et al.  One of our greatest weakness is negative
>> energy. And the root cause of this negative energy is tribalism. Our
>> East
>> African citizens (TZ,UG etc) know that Kenyans identify themselves first
>> as
>> being from their tribe, then 2nd as being from their clan and finally as
>> being from their country ( the 'Navumulia' kua mkenya mentality).
>>
>> As noted by others, the sheer capacity of this negative energy will
>> overide
>> any marketing dollars that may be poured out there in "Brand Kenya"
>> initiatives...There must be conscious and deliberate effort to sell
>> Brand
>> Kenya internally.  We have to find a way to celebrate our diversity
>> rather
>> than exagerate our differences...This to me should have been one of the
>> pillars in the Vision 2030 because it wont happen overnite.
>>
>> walu.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --- On Mon, 6/15/09, Catherine Adeya <elizaslider@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>> > From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider@yahoo.com>
>> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths
>> andWeaknesses (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
>> > To: jwalu@yahoo.com
>> > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>> > Date: Monday, June 15, 2009, 12:35 PM
>> > Dakatari, thanks for the
>> > elaboration....I hear you! I hope the media is also reading
>> > this.
>> >
>> > Nyaki
>> >
>> > From:
>> > "bitange@jambo.co.ke" <bitange@jambo.co.ke>
>> > To: Catherine
>> > Adeya <elizaslider@yahoo.com>;
>> > kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> > Cc: KICTAnet
>> > ICT Policy Discussions
>> > <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>> > Sent: Monday,
>> > June 15, 2009 12:16:12 AM
>> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day
>> > 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions, Strengths andWeaknesses
>> > (Observations from USA and UK); and Trends and Niches
>> >
>> >
>> > Catherine, some barking dogs are causing untold pain to our
>> > people.  Hate against Kenyans in Tanzania is at its
>> > worst.  Irrespective who you are, you are refered to as
>> > Mungiki who is after grabbing Tanzanian land.  Whom do
>> > you think created this image for our people?
>> >
>> > Mungiki is more of any economic crisis in our country but
>> > our Media has refused to link the two.  We lack
>> > analytical depth in our media houses.  What you read is
>> > petty fitina.  When a media house purpots that
>> > "Cable lands into financial trouble" do you think
>> > such media has the interests of this country at heart?
>> > If they did they should have asked the right questions
>> > before publishing.  I do not think they have a clue how
>> > such any article impacts the country negatively.
>> >
>> > The audience of what is published locally is not only
>> > Kenyan people who read it.  We must love our country
>> > and stop hoping that someone else will change our
>> >  image.  The sad part is that all of what has been
>> > read throughout the world are all lies.  Some people
>> > reading this may never know that it was not true.
>> >
>> > This what I meant to say that negativity will fail us and
>> > we should check every barking dog.
>> >
>> > Ndemo
>> >
>> > Sent from my BlackBerry®
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider@yahoo.com>
>> >
>> > Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:36:34
>> > To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke>
>> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10/11 of 12- BPO Discussions,
>> > Strengths and
>> >    Weaknesses (Observations from USA and
>> > UK); and Trends and
>> >  Niches
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> > kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>> >
>> >
>> > This message was sent to: bitange@jambo.co.ke
>> > Unsubscribe or change your options at
>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > -----Inline Attachment Follows-----
>> >
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>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Solomon Mburu
> P.O. Box 19343 - 00202 Nairobi
> Cell: (+254-0) 735 431041
>
> Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the
> same way to the side of a hill!
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> AND
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