On 5 March 2012 13:30, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo@gmail.com> wrote:

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 13:02, Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau <solo.mburu@gmail.com>wrote:

...

On 4 March 2012 20:50, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo@gmail.com> wrote:

...

CitizenTV attributes the following to Dr. Ndemo as pertains to the subject: "Information PS says over 1,000 ppl have applied for KBC jobs to replace striking workers from tomorrow".

Conditional upon the fact that we (listers) are entitled to our opinions, I'd like to believe this is one of those cases of "I was misquoted".

Dr. Ndemo??

In my view, the reason why there is a pregnant silence on this matter could be that the system at KBC and by far, MoIC, does not subscribe to change. I don't see why it should take the minister to arbitrarily fire people who are expressing their constitutional rights. I seen it like the legendary ostrich that buries it's head under the sand, yet the problem is still intact. The Minister should have listened to the voices of the striking workers and act according to the claims. I see the strike as the tip of the iceberg.

Solomon

I'll keep the fire burning on this one by quoting from the Social Media:

Munyao Jnr Vincent <https://www.facebook.com/senator.munyao> Ts always the hard way with the government institutions KBC should in the same league with CNN, BBC but due o stooges put there as MDs and directors whos tym has passed for new ideas and protecting individual interest for a few thats y we have had these problems in the corporation. M at pain wen i c Minister Poghision working like wahindi in ndustrial area while he is has been a lecturer in Communication for quite long

Stephen Sang <https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000532382248> Shutdown the station its useless.infact nobody watches it. Its programs are vague

Mugo J Mugo <https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000384364703> This is babaric and inhuman of Pogisho and he should withdraw his draconian rule of advertisin those posts. That shows how unwiling he and the government in general is in solving the existing issues. And for the kenyan population lets support these ladies and gentlemen in their strike let no 1 apply 4 this jobs its like robbing your brother his catch. This jobs ziko na wenyewe.

Why should the staff be sacked for striking, which is a constitutional right? These are the same staff who striked some time back and were convinced to get back to work, right? So there is no case of gross misconduct here, which is what warrants a dismissal, right? The strike obviously is about reforms, and reforms must be wholesome - good work environment, better pay, changing with the times... I wonder why the govt is using the carrot-and-stick tactic in this. Those newly recruited staff will face the same problems being faced now, and will strike some day too. It's better to solve the problem now, not sweep it under the carpet in a way..

And this KBC issue reflects quite negatively on Dr. Ndemo's management style, because he is the chief govt technocrat involved in this.... Is the PS (technocrat) rightly advising the Minister (politician) in this saga????

Thanks Odhiambo for these.

I'm also made to understand that the workers are not complaining of salaries, but there are issues to do with sexual harassment of female interns and other workers by their superiors.

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email.

_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/solo.mburu%40gmail.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.

I feel we should sort out our National Broadcaster. It's a pity that other private media stations have taken over KBCs position as we stood by and watched. At the moment, KBC still has good will and can recover. It also does not make sense for we to push for cutting edge initiatives such as Konza, TEAMS if we are going to let the state at KBC remain as it is. I am sure they can play a major role in local content creation. Having colleagues in the journalistic filed at KBC, I have heard rumours of situation where the national broadcaster's crew were first at ground breaking events (read disasters) in the country. However, such news is broken by private radio stations where the footage is sold even before it ever gets to KBCs studios. I have even heard more rumours of the broadcasters equipment being used to shoot footage that ends up with private broadcasters. I am sure the leaked payslips of staff at Standard Media Group <http://thejackalnews.com/media-news/news-media/1688-horror-of-massive-salary-discrepancies-at-standard-group-exposed>led to most of the staff questioning what it is they did wrong for their colleagues at media school to end up on the better side of luck . An amicable solution is required. We are all sure that the national broadcaster can make enough revenue to sustain a highly skilled workforce, given the right leadership. I believe Dr. Ndemo, having seeing his deeds in the ICT sector, can also be the champion credited with overhauling KBC.

Washington, KBC would emerge strong from this crisis. We found KBC with a debt of Ksh. 20 billion. It used be the conduit for corruption through dumping of technology especially the Medium Wave (MW) just as FM was emerging. It cost ten times more running a medium wave station than it is with FM. We are changing this. So far we have six new FM stations replacing the old technology. We have spilit the organization into theree, that is, infrastructure under Signet, Public Broadcast and Commercial Broabcast. The later two will basically content providers and would worry less on infrastructure that will be supplied by Signet. The strike was unnecessary since we had commited to implementing their demands. I had personally issued a circular to that effect. Even the Union they had joined advised them that the strike was illegal but unfortunately they defied this. Even more unfortunate they denounced the Union out of anger. We shall continue with the reforms and improve their welfare. It is not in our interest to see those we work with in the streets. I was shocked to realize that we have thousands of Kenyans seeking for employment. I think some of you may have watched TV the heaps of applications. By yesterday we had in excess of 10,000. I was not misquoted because on Sunday I was at the station and there were more than 1,000 applications. We must do something for our brothers and sisters. Either we start teaching them on areas of wealth creation or find ways of creating massive employment. We are trying in our sector but we have not done enough. Ndemo.

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 21:06, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:

...

I feel we should sort out our National Broadcaster. It's a pity that other private media stations have taken over KBCs position as we stood by and watched. At the moment, KBC still has good will and can recover.

It also does not make sense for we to push for cutting edge initiatives such as Konza, TEAMS if we are going to let the state at KBC remain as it is. I am sure they can play a major role in local content creation.

Having colleagues in the journalistic filed at KBC, I have heard rumours of situation where the national broadcaster's crew were first at ground breaking events (read disasters) in the country. However, such news is broken by private radio stations where the footage is sold even before it ever gets to KBCs studios. I have even heard more rumours of the broadcasters equipment being used to shoot footage that ends up with private broadcasters.

I am sure the leaked payslips of staff at Standard Media Group <http://thejackalnews.com/media-news/news-media/1688-horror-of-massive-salary-discrepancies-at-standard-group-exposed>led to most of the staff questioning what it is they did wrong for their colleagues at media school to end up on the better side of luck .

An amicable solution is required. We are all sure that the national broadcaster can make enough revenue to sustain a highly skilled workforce, given the right leadership.

I believe Dr. Ndemo, having seeing his deeds in the ICT sector, can also be the champion credited with overhauling KBC.

@Dennis,

For me, it's a simple question so far:

What is it that KBC doesn't have (and cannot afford) that the private broadcasters do have?

If someone can answer this for me, I'd be very happy because it's "looking at issues from BASIC PRINCIPLES". Maybe it's as hard as having to disband KBC, if that situation cannot be addressed. However, KBC being a National Broadcaster means it's funded by public taxes and that is a very very deep pocket! I am not ready to accept any explanation to the effect that the govt cannot put in place the necessary measures to make KBC a profitable business-case. Rumors have it that Management at KBC are well-connected individuals, not necessarily qualified, and that is typical for the govt, which is not a business and so is not expected to make profits, but KBC must make profits like other Media houses. I don't understand what it is that Citizen does right with its myriad Radio Stations that KBC cannot do, having been the only broadcaster before these FM Stations were born. Oh, most of KBC veterans can be heard at the private Radio Stations, especially Royal Media. Someone must be able to explain why they had to leave KBC for these other places. The reasons are obvious.

Perhaps the govt should just bite the bullet and shut down KBC if they cannot improve it and attract talent and stop acting stupid!

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://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.

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.

+1 on these questions, I believe they are well articulated and im also interested in hearing Daktaris response. On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 10:35 AM, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo@gmail.com>wrote:

Hello Dr. Ndemo,

I appreciate your response, but I'd like to know from you what it is that is ailing KBC - and kindly be open with facts as they are. So far, you've only said that KBC is grossly in debt, and you've only attributed this to dumping of technology which was being phased out - specifically Medium Wave equipment. Your answer is not convincing, unless you are saying the 20b comprises debt incurred in the dumping process and running of the MW equipment. Are there other factors that are associated with the debt and what is the govt doing to address those? A string of govt/KBC staff are responsible for this dumping, and we are talking about public funds here. Obviously, these people who did the dumping (when new FM stations were being licensed and operating everywhere) knew so well what they were doing. It's not really hard to prove connivance on their part. Did KBC import equipment without supervision/knowledge of CCK or whatever name the regulator was at that time? What action is being taken against those people? We do have an authority to deal with cases of corruption. Are they dealing already? How and when is the debt going to be serviced?

Anyway, the main issue in the current debate is about those grievances that led the staff to take to the streets. You are in the right position to tell us what these were specifically and which ones were genuine (or not). It's important that we also get insid information on what the actual truth is. What I've heard is "poor pay", "nepotism", "sexual harrassment". The issue about poor pay is rather obvious within the govt and some parastatals. How true are the later two? What action is being taken to address them?

And finally, you've mentioned that the govt's strategy is to replace the MW stations with FM stations. Good enough, because one of the issues you are addressing is the high cost of running the MW equipment. What strategy has the govt put in place to ensure that these FM stations will be able to be competitive and profitable in the current market regime - even to an extent of being self-sustaining? We (the taxpayers) are not always happy to carry the barden:-)

Two last questions:

1. How is the govt going to dispose of the MW equipment? I believe they are electronic waste. 2. Is the govt going to process the 1000+ applications you received so that it can replace the politically-correct employess with the right talent required to achieve the objective of turning KBC around? Please don't tell me that the same tainted team of managers (as alleged) is going to be same one tasked with turning it around. I am sure you know how diffiuclt it has been to change the work culture at Orange. Sometimes (more often actually) it requires the injection of new blood to turn things around. I am hoping that some of those 1000+ applicants are going to be given jobs at KBC to achieve this.

Once again, thank you for your time addressing this.

On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 08:57, <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

...

Washington, KBC would emerge strong from this crisis. We found KBC with a debt of Ksh. 20 billion. It used be the conduit for corruption through dumping of technology especially the Medium Wave (MW) just as FM was emerging. It cost ten times more running a medium wave station than it is with FM. We are changing this. So far we have six new FM stations replacing the old technology.

We have spilit the organization into theree, that is, infrastructure under Signet, Public Broadcast and Commercial Broabcast. The later two will basically content providers and would worry less on infrastructure that will be supplied by Signet.

The strike was unnecessary since we had commited to implementing their demands. I had personally issued a circular to that effect. Even the Union they had joined advised them that the strike was illegal but unfortunately they defied this. Even more unfortunate they denounced the Union out of anger.

We shall continue with the reforms and improve their welfare. It is not in our interest to see those we work with in the streets. I was shocked to realize that we have thousands of Kenyans seeking for employment. I think some of you may have watched TV the heaps of applications. By yesterday we had in excess of 10,000. I was not misquoted because on Sunday I was at the station and there were more than 1,000 applications. We must do something for our brothers and sisters. Either we start teaching them on areas of wealth creation or find ways of creating massive employment. We are trying in our sector but we have not done enough.

Ndemo.

...

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 21:06, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:

...

I feel we should sort out our National Broadcaster. It's a pity that other private media stations have taken over KBCs position as we stood by and watched. At the moment, KBC still has good will and can recover.

It also does not make sense for we to push for cutting edge initiatives such as Konza, TEAMS if we are going to let the state at KBC remain as it is. I am sure they can play a major role in local content creation.

Having colleagues in the journalistic filed at KBC, I have heard rumours of situation where the national broadcaster's crew were first at ground breaking events (read disasters) in the country. However, such news is broken by private radio stations where the footage is sold even before it ever gets to KBCs studios. I have even heard more rumours of the broadcasters equipment being used to shoot footage that ends up with private broadcasters.

I am sure the leaked payslips of staff at Standard Media Group < http://thejackalnews.com/media-news/news-media/1688-horror-of-massive-salary... led to most of the staff questioning what it is they did wrong for their colleagues at media school to end up on the better side of luck .

An amicable solution is required. We are all sure that the national broadcaster can make enough revenue to sustain a highly skilled workforce, given the right leadership.

I believe Dr. Ndemo, having seeing his deeds in the ICT sector, can also be the champion credited with overhauling KBC.

@Dennis,

For me, it's a simple question so far:

What is it that KBC doesn't have (and cannot afford) that the private broadcasters do have?

If someone can answer this for me, I'd be very happy because it's "looking at issues from BASIC PRINCIPLES". Maybe it's as hard as having to disband KBC, if that situation cannot be addressed. However, KBC being a National Broadcaster means it's funded by public taxes and that is a very very deep pocket! I am not ready to accept any explanation to the effect that the govt cannot put in place the necessary measures to make KBC a profitable business-case. Rumors have it that Management at KBC are well-connected individuals, not necessarily qualified, and that is typical for the govt, which is not a business and so is not expected to make profits, but KBC must make profits like other Media houses. I don't understand what it is that Citizen does right with its myriad Radio Stations that KBC cannot do, having been the only broadcaster before these FM Stations were born. Oh, most of KBC veterans can be heard at the private Radio Stations, especially Royal Media. Someone must be able to explain why they had to leave KBC for these other places. The reasons are obvious.

Perhaps the govt should just bite the bullet and shut down KBC if they cannot improve it and attract talent and stop acting stupid!

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at

http://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.

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.

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email.

_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/arebacollins%40gmail.co...

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.

-- *“The twentieth century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: the growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy”*

Bwana Ndemo I have no doubt in the course of your duties you must have done an analysis into why the BBC, a state broadcaster is by and large one of the most successful not only in the UK but worldwide. I find it amazing that when I want to listen to news, BBC is the station I turn to. I remember many years ago in high school that our very able Kiswahili teacher, one Maathias Mwagonah told us bluntly the only station that spoke proper Kiswahili was the BBC Kiswahili Service! Why, in your opinion is BBC so successful? What lessons can we learn? On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 1:14 PM, <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

Washington, I simply gave you the high level problems that needs to be sorted out strategically.  KBC has been the training ground for the industry and to some extent literarly undermined by competition.  It is weighed down by legacy issues be it in technology or labour force.  We are dealing with the structure and technology first.  The labour issue is complex.  We have in the past tried to move as many redudant staff as we can but the retrenchment cost is as high as what you will need to change the organization.  GoK also must pay for public broadcast since in some stations will never make money as they are part of the universal access to broadcasting (CCK USF may be helpful).

Alot has been done and we need to do more.  The current strike brought out some issues where the artistes have been doing the job that should be done by someone.  Obviously not a great way to spend public resources.  But to untangle this we need the cooperation of the staff.  We have sent a team to do a work load and job analysis as well as skills inventory.  We must be scientific in the reform agenda otherwise we ran the risk of victimizing good workers.

We are not taking any actions on any issue at the moment antil we have finished all the audits we have started.  We must avoid knee jerk reactions at all costs.

There are mechanisms for disposing obsolete equipment.  If we have space, it will be a great way to have broadcasting museum.  It will help future engineers to understand where we have come from and possibly inspire new innovations.

Regards

Ndemo.

...

Hello Dr. Ndemo,

I appreciate your response, but I'd like to know from you what it is that is ailing KBC - and kindly be open with facts as they are. So far, you've only said that KBC is grossly in debt, and you've only attributed this to dumping of technology which was being phased out - specifically Medium Wave equipment. Your answer is not convincing, unless you are saying the 20b comprises debt incurred in the dumping process and running of the MW equipment. Are there other factors that are associated with the debt and what is the govt doing to address those? A string of govt/KBC staff are responsible for this dumping, and we are talking about public funds here. Obviously, these people who did the dumping (when new FM stations were being licensed and operating everywhere) knew so well what they were doing. It's not really hard to prove connivance on their part. Did KBC import equipment without supervision/knowledge of CCK or whatever name the regulator was at that time? What action is being taken against those people? We do have an authority to deal with cases of corruption. Are they dealing already? How and when is the debt going to be serviced?

Anyway, the main issue in the current debate is about those grievances that led the staff to take to the streets. You are in the right position to tell us what these were specifically and which ones were genuine (or not). It's important that we also get insid information on what the actual truth is. What I've heard is "poor pay", "nepotism", "sexual harrassment". The issue about poor pay is rather obvious within the govt and some parastatals. How true are the later two? What action is being taken to address them?

And finally, you've mentioned that the govt's strategy is to replace the MW stations with FM stations. Good enough, because one of the issues you are addressing is the high cost of running the MW equipment. What strategy has the govt put in place to ensure that these FM stations will be able to be competitive and profitable in the current market regime - even to an extent of being self-sustaining? We (the taxpayers) are not always happy to carry the barden:-)

Two last questions:

1. How is the govt going to dispose of the MW equipment? I believe they are electronic waste. 2. Is the govt going to process the 1000+ applications you received so that it can replace the politically-correct employess with     the right talent required to achieve the objective of turning KBC around? Please don't tell me that the same tainted team of     managers (as alleged) is going to be same one tasked with turning it around. I am sure you know how diffiuclt it has been to     change the work culture at Orange. Sometimes (more often actually) it requires the injection of new blood to turn things     around. I am hoping that some of those 1000+ applicants are going to be given jobs at KBC to achieve this.

Once again, thank you for your time addressing this.

On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 08:57, <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

...

Washington, KBC would emerge strong from this crisis.  We found KBC with a debt of Ksh. 20 billion.  It used be the conduit for corruption through dumping of technology especially the Medium Wave (MW) just as FM was emerging.  It cost ten times more running a medium wave station than it is with FM. We are changing this.  So far we have six new FM stations replacing the old technology.

We have spilit the organization into theree, that is, infrastructure under Signet, Public Broadcast and Commercial Broabcast.  The later two will basically content providers and would worry less on infrastructure that will be supplied by Signet.

The strike was unnecessary since we had commited to implementing their demands.  I had personally issued a circular to that effect.  Even the Union they had joined advised them that the strike was illegal but unfortunately they defied this.  Even more unfortunate they denounced the Union out of anger.

We shall continue with the reforms and improve their welfare.  It is not in our interest to see those we work with in the streets.  I was shocked to realize that we have thousands of Kenyans seeking for employment.  I think some of you may have watched TV the heaps of applications.  By yesterday we had in excess of 10,000.  I was not misquoted because on Sunday I was at the station and there were more than 1,000 applications. We must do something for our brothers and sisters.  Either we start teaching them on areas of wealth creation or find ways of creating massive employment.  We are trying in our sector but we have not done enough.

Ndemo.

...

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 21:06, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:

...

I feel we should sort out our National Broadcaster. It's a pity that other private media stations have taken over KBCs position as we stood by and watched. At the moment, KBC still has good will and can recover.

It also does not make sense for we to push for cutting edge initiatives such as Konza, TEAMS if we are going to let the state at KBC remain as it is. I am sure they can play  a major role in local content creation.

Having colleagues in the journalistic filed at KBC, I have heard rumours of situation where the national broadcaster's crew were first at ground breaking events (read disasters) in the country. However, such news is broken by private radio stations where the footage is sold even before it ever gets to KBCs studios. I have even heard more rumours of the broadcasters equipment being used to shoot footage that ends up with private broadcasters.

I am sure the leaked payslips of staff at Standard Media Group < http://thejackalnews.com/media-news/news-media/1688-horror-of-massive-salary... led to most of the staff questioning what it is they did wrong for their colleagues at media school to end up on the better side of luck .

An amicable solution is required. We are all sure that the national broadcaster can make enough revenue to sustain a highly skilled workforce, given the right leadership.

I believe Dr. Ndemo, having seeing his deeds in the ICT sector, can also be the champion credited with overhauling KBC.

@Dennis,

For me, it's a simple question so far:

What is it that KBC doesn't have (and cannot afford) that the private broadcasters do have?

If someone can answer this for me, I'd be very happy because it's "looking at issues from BASIC PRINCIPLES". Maybe it's as hard as having to disband KBC, if that situation cannot be addressed. However, KBC being a National Broadcaster means it's funded by public taxes and that is a very very deep pocket! I am not ready to accept any explanation to the effect that the govt cannot put in place the necessary measures to make KBC a profitable business-case. Rumors have it that Management at KBC are well-connected individuals, not necessarily qualified, and that is typical for the govt, which is not a business and so is not expected to make profits, but KBC must make profits like other Media houses. I don't understand what it is that Citizen does right with its myriad Radio Stations that KBC cannot do, having been the only broadcaster before these FM Stations were born. Oh, most of KBC veterans can be heard at the private Radio Stations, especially Royal Media. Someone must be able to explain why they had to leave KBC for these other places. The reasons are obvious.

Perhaps the govt should just bite the bullet and shut down KBC if they cannot improve it and attract talent and stop acting stupid!

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at

http://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.

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.

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://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.

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 http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/conradakunga%40gmail.co...

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.

BBC is adequately funded and everybody understands it's universal service obligation. When we tried to commercialize KBC we did not understand this cardinal principal. On language, there is need address the matter urgently. Our culture is not good with taking things seriously. We lack the ethics to embrace such words as merit. The Constitution has even made it worse with the equity in employment. We ain't seen nothin yet. We shall be on the streets once again trying to change the constitution. Ndemo. Sent from my iPhone On 06 Mar 2012, at 13:08, "Rad!" <conradakunga@gmail.com> wrote:

Bwana Ndemo I have no doubt in the course of your duties you must have done an analysis into why the BBC, a state broadcaster is by and large one of the most successful not only in the UK but worldwide. I find it amazing that when I want to listen to news, BBC is the station I turn to. I remember many years ago in high school that our very able Kiswahili teacher, one Maathias Mwagonah told us bluntly the only station that spoke proper Kiswahili was the BBC Kiswahili Service!

Why, in your opinion is BBC so successful? What lessons can we learn?

On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 1:14 PM, <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

...

Washington, I simply gave you the high level problems that needs to be sorted out strategically. KBC has been the training ground for the industry and to some extent literarly undermined by competition. It is weighed down by legacy issues be it in technology or labour force. We are dealing with the structure and technology first. The labour issue is complex. We have in the past tried to move as many redudant staff as we can but the retrenchment cost is as high as what you will need to change the organization. GoK also must pay for public broadcast since in some stations will never make money as they are part of the universal access to broadcasting (CCK USF may be helpful).

Alot has been done and we need to do more. The current strike brought out some issues where the artistes have been doing the job that should be done by someone. Obviously not a great way to spend public resources. But to untangle this we need the cooperation of the staff. We have sent a team to do a work load and job analysis as well as skills inventory. We must be scientific in the reform agenda otherwise we ran the risk of victimizing good workers.

We are not taking any actions on any issue at the moment antil we have finished all the audits we have started. We must avoid knee jerk reactions at all costs.

There are mechanisms for disposing obsolete equipment. If we have space, it will be a great way to have broadcasting museum. It will help future engineers to understand where we have come from and possibly inspire new innovations.

Regards

Ndemo.

...

Hello Dr. Ndemo,

I appreciate your response, but I'd like to know from you what it is that is ailing KBC - and kindly be open with facts as they are. So far, you've only said that KBC is grossly in debt, and you've only attributed this to dumping of technology which was being phased out - specifically Medium Wave equipment. Your answer is not convincing, unless you are saying the 20b comprises debt incurred in the dumping process and running of the MW equipment. Are there other factors that are associated with the debt and what is the govt doing to address those? A string of govt/KBC staff are responsible for this dumping, and we are talking about public funds here. Obviously, these people who did the dumping (when new FM stations were being licensed and operating everywhere) knew so well what they were doing. It's not really hard to prove connivance on their part. Did KBC import equipment without supervision/knowledge of CCK or whatever name the regulator was at that time? What action is being taken against those people? We do have an authority to deal with cases of corruption. Are they dealing already? How and when is the debt going to be serviced?

Anyway, the main issue in the current debate is about those grievances that led the staff to take to the streets. You are in the right position to tell us what these were specifically and which ones were genuine (or not). It's important that we also get insid information on what the actual truth is. What I've heard is "poor pay", "nepotism", "sexual harrassment". The issue about poor pay is rather obvious within the govt and some parastatals. How true are the later two? What action is being taken to address them?

And finally, you've mentioned that the govt's strategy is to replace the MW stations with FM stations. Good enough, because one of the issues you are addressing is the high cost of running the MW equipment. What strategy has the govt put in place to ensure that these FM stations will be able to be competitive and profitable in the current market regime - even to an extent of being self-sustaining? We (the taxpayers) are not always happy to carry the barden:-)

Two last questions:

1. How is the govt going to dispose of the MW equipment? I believe they are electronic waste. 2. Is the govt going to process the 1000+ applications you received so that it can replace the politically-correct employess with the right talent required to achieve the objective of turning KBC around? Please don't tell me that the same tainted team of managers (as alleged) is going to be same one tasked with turning it around. I am sure you know how diffiuclt it has been to change the work culture at Orange. Sometimes (more often actually) it requires the injection of new blood to turn things around. I am hoping that some of those 1000+ applicants are going to be given jobs at KBC to achieve this.

Once again, thank you for your time addressing this.

On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 08:57, <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

...

Washington, KBC would emerge strong from this crisis. We found KBC with a debt of Ksh. 20 billion. It used be the conduit for corruption through dumping of technology especially the Medium Wave (MW) just as FM was emerging. It cost ten times more running a medium wave station than it is with FM. We are changing this. So far we have six new FM stations replacing the old technology.

We have spilit the organization into theree, that is, infrastructure under Signet, Public Broadcast and Commercial Broabcast. The later two will basically content providers and would worry less on infrastructure that will be supplied by Signet.

The strike was unnecessary since we had commited to implementing their demands. I had personally issued a circular to that effect. Even the Union they had joined advised them that the strike was illegal but unfortunately they defied this. Even more unfortunate they denounced the Union out of anger.

We shall continue with the reforms and improve their welfare. It is not in our interest to see those we work with in the streets. I was shocked to realize that we have thousands of Kenyans seeking for employment. I think some of you may have watched TV the heaps of applications. By yesterday we had in excess of 10,000. I was not misquoted because on Sunday I was at the station and there were more than 1,000 applications. We must do something for our brothers and sisters. Either we start teaching them on areas of wealth creation or find ways of creating massive employment. We are trying in our sector but we have not done enough.

Ndemo.

...

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 21:06, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:

...

I feel we should sort out our National Broadcaster. It's a pity that other private media stations have taken over KBCs position as we stood by and watched. At the moment, KBC still has good will and can recover.

It also does not make sense for we to push for cutting edge initiatives such as Konza, TEAMS if we are going to let the state at KBC remain as it is. I am sure they can play a major role in local content creation.

Having colleagues in the journalistic filed at KBC, I have heard rumours of situation where the national broadcaster's crew were first at ground breaking events (read disasters) in the country. However, such news is broken by private radio stations where the footage is sold even before it ever gets to KBCs studios. I have even heard more rumours of the broadcasters equipment being used to shoot footage that ends up with private broadcasters.

I am sure the leaked payslips of staff at Standard Media Group < http://thejackalnews.com/media-news/news-media/1688-horror-of-massive-salary... led to most of the staff questioning what it is they did wrong for their colleagues at media school to end up on the better side of luck .

An amicable solution is required. We are all sure that the national broadcaster can make enough revenue to sustain a highly skilled workforce, given the right leadership.

I believe Dr. Ndemo, having seeing his deeds in the ICT sector, can also be the champion credited with overhauling KBC.

@Dennis,

For me, it's a simple question so far:

What is it that KBC doesn't have (and cannot afford) that the private broadcasters do have?

If someone can answer this for me, I'd be very happy because it's "looking at issues from BASIC PRINCIPLES". Maybe it's as hard as having to disband KBC, if that situation cannot be addressed. However, KBC being a National Broadcaster means it's funded by public taxes and that is a very very deep pocket! I am not ready to accept any explanation to the effect that the govt cannot put in place the necessary measures to make KBC a profitable business-case. Rumors have it that Management at KBC are well-connected individuals, not necessarily qualified, and that is typical for the govt, which is not a business and so is not expected to make profits, but KBC must make profits like other Media houses. I don't understand what it is that Citizen does right with its myriad Radio Stations that KBC cannot do, having been the only broadcaster before these FM Stations were born. Oh, most of KBC veterans can be heard at the private Radio Stations, especially Royal Media. Someone must be able to explain why they had to leave KBC for these other places. The reasons are obvious.

Perhaps the govt should just bite the bullet and shut down KBC if they cannot improve it and attract talent and stop acting stupid!

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at

http://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.

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.

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://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.

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 http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/conradakunga%40gmail.co...

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.

You could have funded Telkom Kenya for days on end with no results. With a 21,000 strong workforce mostly consisting of security guards and drivers how could you have gotten different results. KBC will always be an underfunded entity as long as it has a bloated workforce and has no savings to invest in modern technology because of its wage bill. On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 5:05 PM, Rad! <conradakunga@gmail.com> wrote:

I must disagree there. We have plenty of bodies in Kenya that are adequately funded that are running around in circles and there are those doing amazing work on shoestring budgets. It cannot be as simple as funding.

On Tuesday, March 6, 2012, Bitange Ndemo <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

...

BBC is adequately funded and everybody understands it's universal service obligation.  When we tried to commercialize KBC we did not understand this cardinal principal.

On language, there is need address the matter urgently.  Our culture is not good with taking things seriously.  We lack the ethics to embrace such words as merit.  The Constitution has even made it worse with the equity in employment.  We ain't seen nothin yet.  We shall be on the streets once again trying to change the constitution.

Ndemo.

Sent from my iPhone

On 06 Mar 2012, at 13:08, "Rad!" <conradakunga@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Bwana Ndemo I have no doubt in the course of your duties you must have done an analysis into why the BBC, a state broadcaster is by and large one of the most successful not only in the UK but worldwide. I find it amazing that when I want to listen to news, BBC is the station I turn to. I remember many years ago in high school that our very able Kiswahili teacher, one Maathias Mwagonah told us bluntly the only station that spoke proper Kiswahili was the BBC Kiswahili Service!

Why, in your opinion is BBC so successful? What lessons can we learn?

On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 1:14 PM,  <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

...

Washington, I simply gave you the high level problems that needs to be sorted out strategically.  KBC has been the training ground for the industry and to some extent literarly undermined by competition.  It is weighed down by legacy issues be it in technology or labour force.  We are dealing with the structure and technology first.  The labour issue is complex.  We have in the past tried to move as many redudant staff as we can but the retrenchment cost is as high as what you will need to change the organization.  GoK also must pay for public broadcast since in some stations will never make money as they are part of the universal access to broadcasting (CCK USF may be helpful).

Alot has been done and we need to do more.  The current strike brought out some issues where the artistes have been doing the job that should be done by someone.  Obviously not a great way to spend public resources.  But to untangle this we need the cooperation of the staff.  We have sent a team to do a work load and job analysis as well as skills inventory.  We must be scientific in the reform agenda otherwise we ran the risk of victimizing good workers.

We are not taking any actions on any issue at the moment antil we have finished all the audits we have started.  We must avoid knee jerk reactions at all costs.

There are mechanisms for disposing obsolete equipment.  If we have space, it will be a great way to have broadcasting museum.  It will help future engineers to understand where we have come from and possibly inspire new innovations.

Regards

Ndemo.

...

Hello Dr. Ndemo,

I appreciate your response, but I'd like to know from you what it is that is ailing KBC - and kindly be open with facts as they are. So far, you've only said that KBC is grossly in debt, and you've only attributed this to dumping of technology which was being phased out - specifically Medium Wave equipment. Your answer is not convincing, unless you are saying the 20b comprises debt incurred in the dumping process and running of the MW equipment. Are there other factors that are associated with the debt and what is the govt doing to address those? A string of govt/KBC staff are responsible for this dumping, and we are talking about public funds here. Obviously, these people who did the dumping (when new FM stations were being licensed and operating everywhere) knew so well what they were doing. It's not really hard to prove connivance on their part. Did KBC import equipment without supervision/knowledge of CCK or whatever name the regulator was at that time? What action is being taken against those people? We do have an authority to deal with cases of corruption. Are they dealing already? How and when is the debt going to be serviced?

Anyway, the main issue in the current debate is about those grievances that led the staff to take to the streets. You are in the right position to tell us what these were specifically and wh

_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jgmbugua%40gmail.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.

KBC has not been funded for public broadcasting for some time. It actually needs public resources for it's universal service obligations and avoid such embarrassing fund raising activities. Ndemo. Sent from my iPhone On 06 Mar 2012, at 13:13, lordmwesh <lordmwesh@gmail.com> wrote:

While at it, most of these media houses especially Royal media are doing well financially because they are involved in mega gambling and reaping the public of their hard earned money. KBC in recent times has also been involved in gambling promising viewers of wealth beyond Solomon's. Dr. Ndemo, is it in order for a public brodcaster to raise funds through such crude means, yet the public funds it through taxes? Something is very wrong .

On 06/03/2012, bitange@jambo.co.ke <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

...

Washington, I simply gave you the high level problems that needs to be sorted out strategically. KBC has been the training ground for the industry and to some extent literarly undermined by competition. It is weighed down by legacy issues be it in technology or labour force. We are dealing with the structure and technology first. The labour issue is complex. We have in the past tried to move as many redudant staff as we can but the retrenchment cost is as high as what you will need to change the organization. GoK also must pay for public broadcast since in some stations will never make money as they are part of the universal access to broadcasting (CCK USF may be helpful).

Alot has been done and we need to do more. The current strike brought out some issues where the artistes have been doing the job that should be done by someone. Obviously not a great way to spend public resources. But to untangle this we need the cooperation of the staff. We have sent a team to do a work load and job analysis as well as skills inventory. We must be scientific in the reform agenda otherwise we ran the risk of victimizing good workers.

We are not taking any actions on any issue at the moment antil we have finished all the audits we have started. We must avoid knee jerk reactions at all costs.

There are mechanisms for disposing obsolete equipment. If we have space, it will be a great way to have broadcasting museum. It will help future engineers to understand where we have come from and possibly inspire new innovations.

Regards

Ndemo.

...

Hello Dr. Ndemo,

I appreciate your response, but I'd like to know from you what it is that is ailing KBC - and kindly be open with facts as they are. So far, you've only said that KBC is grossly in debt, and you've only attributed this to dumping of technology which was being phased out - specifically Medium Wave equipment. Your answer is not convincing, unless you are saying the 20b comprises debt incurred in the dumping process and running of the MW equipment. Are there other factors that are associated with the debt and what is the govt doing to address those? A string of govt/KBC staff are responsible for this dumping, and we are talking about public funds here. Obviously, these people who did the dumping (when new FM stations were being licensed and operating everywhere) knew so well what they were doing. It's not really hard to prove connivance on their part. Did KBC import equipment without supervision/knowledge of CCK or whatever name the regulator was at that time? What action is being taken against those people? We do have an authority to deal with cases of corruption. Are they dealing already? How and when is the debt going to be serviced?

Anyway, the main issue in the current debate is about those grievances that led the staff to take to the streets. You are in the right position to tell us what these were specifically and which ones were genuine (or not). It's important that we also get insid information on what the actual truth is. What I've heard is "poor pay", "nepotism", "sexual harrassment". The issue about poor pay is rather obvious within the govt and some parastatals. How true are the later two? What action is being taken to address them?

And finally, you've mentioned that the govt's strategy is to replace the MW stations with FM stations. Good enough, because one of the issues you are addressing is the high cost of running the MW equipment. What strategy has the govt put in place to ensure that these FM stations will be able to be competitive and profitable in the current market regime - even to an extent of being self-sustaining? We (the taxpayers) are not always happy to carry the barden:-)

Two last questions:

1. How is the govt going to dispose of the MW equipment? I believe they are electronic waste. 2. Is the govt going to process the 1000+ applications you received so that it can replace the politically-correct employess with the right talent required to achieve the objective of turning KBC around? Please don't tell me that the same tainted team of managers (as alleged) is going to be same one tasked with turning it around. I am sure you know how diffiuclt it has been to change the work culture at Orange. Sometimes (more often actually) it requires the injection of new blood to turn things around. I am hoping that some of those 1000+ applicants are going to be given jobs at KBC to achieve this.

Once again, thank you for your time addressing this.

On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 08:57, <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

...

Washington, KBC would emerge strong from this crisis. We found KBC with a debt of Ksh. 20 billion. It used be the conduit for corruption through dumping of technology especially the Medium Wave (MW) just as FM was emerging. It cost ten times more running a medium wave station than it is with FM. We are changing this. So far we have six new FM stations replacing the old technology.

We have spilit the organization into theree, that is, infrastructure under Signet, Public Broadcast and Commercial Broabcast. The later two will basically content providers and would worry less on infrastructure that will be supplied by Signet.

The strike was unnecessary since we had commited to implementing their demands. I had personally issued a circular to that effect. Even the Union they had joined advised them that the strike was illegal but unfortunately they defied this. Even more unfortunate they denounced the Union out of anger.

We shall continue with the reforms and improve their welfare. It is not in our interest to see those we work with in the streets. I was shocked to realize that we have thousands of Kenyans seeking for employment. I think some of you may have watched TV the heaps of applications. By yesterday we had in excess of 10,000. I was not misquoted because on Sunday I was at the station and there were more than 1,000 applications. We must do something for our brothers and sisters. Either we start teaching them on areas of wealth creation or find ways of creating massive employment. We are trying in our sector but we have not done enough.

Ndemo.

...

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 21:06, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:

...

I feel we should sort out our National Broadcaster. It's a pity that other private media stations have taken over KBCs position as we stood by and watched. At the moment, KBC still has good will and can recover.

It also does not make sense for we to push for cutting edge initiatives such as Konza, TEAMS if we are going to let the state at KBC remain as it is. I am sure they can play a major role in local content creation.

Having colleagues in the journalistic filed at KBC, I have heard rumours of situation where the national broadcaster's crew were first at ground breaking events (read disasters) in the country. However, such news is broken by private radio stations where the footage is sold even before it ever gets to KBCs studios. I have even heard more rumours of the broadcasters equipment being used to shoot footage that ends up with private broadcasters.

I am sure the leaked payslips of staff at Standard Media Group < http://thejackalnews.com/media-news/news-media/1688-horror-of-massive-salary... led to most of the staff questioning what it is they did wrong for their colleagues at media school to end up on the better side of luck .

An amicable solution is required. We are all sure that the national broadcaster can make enough revenue to sustain a highly skilled workforce, given the right leadership.

I believe Dr. Ndemo, having seeing his deeds in the ICT sector, can also be the champion credited with overhauling KBC.

@Dennis,

For me, it's a simple question so far:

What is it that KBC doesn't have (and cannot afford) that the private broadcasters do have?

If someone can answer this for me, I'd be very happy because it's "looking at issues from BASIC PRINCIPLES". Maybe it's as hard as having to disband KBC, if that situation cannot be addressed. However, KBC being a National Broadcaster means it's funded by public taxes and that is a very very deep pocket! I am not ready to accept any explanation to the effect that the govt cannot put in place the necessary measures to make KBC a profitable business-case. Rumors have it that Management at KBC are well-connected individuals, not necessarily qualified, and that is typical for the govt, which is not a business and so is not expected to make profits, but KBC must make profits like other Media houses. I don't understand what it is that Citizen does right with its myriad Radio Stations that KBC cannot do, having been the only broadcaster before these FM Stations were born. Oh, most of KBC veterans can be heard at the private Radio Stations, especially Royal Media. Someone must be able to explain why they had to leave KBC for these other places. The reasons are obvious.

Perhaps the govt should just bite the bullet and shut down KBC if they cannot improve it and attract talent and stop acting stupid!

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at

http://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.

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.

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://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.

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 http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lordmwesh%40gmail.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.

-- ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva For Business Development Transworld Computer Channels Cel: 0722402248 twitter.com/lordmwesh transworldAfrica.com | Fluent in computing kenya.or.ke | The Kenya we know

_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://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.

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.

Just seen "breaking news" sms....now Hon Anyang' Nyong'o issues the same threat as the I&C Ministry....why threaten workers with sacking rather than get to the bottom of the problem and find amicable solutions. Just back from city centre where kiosk owners are staging a sit-in outside the PM's office protesting the demolition of their kiosks....what's going on? Bwana Ndemo, you are known to advocate for unearthing the root of problems and not treating the symptoms...what's your take on all these industrial actions? what's going on and what does the future hold? Edith ________________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of James Mbugua [jgmbugua@gmail.com] Sent: 06 March 2012 13:27 To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike Hidden in all these back and forths is the fact that KBC is sagging under the weight of a bloated workforced and a lot of pensioners who have no business being in the organization today but take it as their birthright to be at KBC. There is multiplication of duties where one position can have up to six editors and you wonder what exactly they do. Many of those technicians behind cameras and transmission and all typically come drunk especially during soccer tournament broadcasts (My media house once teamed up with them). In short, I side with Dr. Ndemo, the ministry and the MD Waihenya. KBC needs to be cleaned up, deadwood weeded out, and streamlined to have a lean efficient workforce not people who hardly work but are at the front line of demanding better perks. The younger talent works as hard as anybody in the industry but they will never advance anywhere as long as those pensioners are there and they end up being frustrated. I rather suspect, that besides of course the poor working terms cited, that the announcement that employees would be vetted to see how skill sets match with the organization's requirements could have triggered this strike as people seek to protect their jobs. The vetting, preferably by the likes of PWC or KPMG should go on while a HR consultancy should be enaged to come up with the ideal organizational structure of KBC from management down and these filled according to the findings of the skills audit report. A lean, mean, KBC can trump any private media house in this country but undeserving deadwood and beneficiaries of nepotism over the years must be weeded out! James On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 1:14 PM, <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

Washington, I simply gave you the high level problems that needs to be sorted out strategically. KBC has been the training ground for the industry and to some extent literarly undermined by competition. It is weighed down by legacy issues be it in technology or labour force. We are dealing with the structure and technology first. The labour issue is complex. We have in the past tried to move as many redudant staff as we can but the retrenchment cost is as high as what you will need to change the organization. GoK also must pay for public broadcast since in some stations will never make money as they are part of the universal access to broadcasting (CCK USF may be helpful).

Alot has been done and we need to do more. The current strike brought out some issues where the artistes have been doing the job that should be done by someone. Obviously not a great way to spend public resources. But to untangle this we need the cooperation of the staff. We have sent a team to do a work load and job analysis as well as skills inventory. We must be scientific in the reform agenda otherwise we ran the risk of victimizing good workers.

We are not taking any actions on any issue at the moment antil we have finished all the audits we have started. We must avoid knee jerk reactions at all costs.

There are mechanisms for disposing obsolete equipment. If we have space, it will be a great way to have broadcasting museum. It will help future engineers to understand where we have come from and possibly inspire new innovations.

Regards

Ndemo.

...

Hello Dr. Ndemo,

I appreciate your response, but I'd like to know from you what it is that is ailing KBC - and kindly be open with facts as they are. So far, you've only said that KBC is grossly in debt, and you've only attributed this to dumping of technology which was being phased out - specifically Medium Wave equipment. Your answer is not convincing, unless you are saying the 20b comprises debt incurred in the dumping process and running of the MW equipment. Are there other factors that are associated with the debt and what is the govt doing to address those? A string of govt/KBC staff are responsible for this dumping, and we are talking about public funds here. Obviously, these people who did the dumping (when new FM stations were being licensed and operating everywhere) knew so well what they were doing. It's not really hard to prove connivance on their part. Did KBC import equipment without supervision/knowledge of CCK or whatever name the regulator was at that time? What action is being taken against those people? We do have an authority to deal with cases of corruption. Are they dealing already? How and when is the debt going to be serviced?

Anyway, the main issue in the current debate is about those grievances that led the staff to take to the streets. You are in the right position to tell us what these were specifically and which ones were genuine (or not). It's important that we also get insid information on what the actual truth is. What I've heard is "poor pay", "nepotism", "sexual harrassment". The issue about poor pay is rather obvious within the govt and some parastatals. How true are the later two? What action is being taken to address them?

And finally, you've mentioned that the govt's strategy is to replace the MW stations with FM stations. Good enough, because one of the issues you are addressing is the high cost of running the MW equipment. What strategy has the govt put in place to ensure that these FM stations will be able to be competitive and profitable in the current market regime - even to an extent of being self-sustaining? We (the taxpayers) are not always happy to carry the barden:-)

Two last questions:

1. How is the govt going to dispose of the MW equipment? I believe they are electronic waste. 2. Is the govt going to process the 1000+ applications you received so that it can replace the politically-correct employess with the right talent required to achieve the objective of turning KBC around? Please don't tell me that the same tainted team of managers (as alleged) is going to be same one tasked with turning it around. I am sure you know how diffiuclt it has been to change the work culture at Orange. Sometimes (more often actually) it requires the injection of new blood to turn things around. I am hoping that some of those 1000+ applicants are going to be given jobs at KBC to achieve this.

Once again, thank you for your time addressing this.

On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 08:57, <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

...

Washington, KBC would emerge strong from this crisis. We found KBC with a debt of Ksh. 20 billion. It used be the conduit for corruption through dumping of technology especially the Medium Wave (MW) just as FM was emerging. It cost ten times more running a medium wave station than it is with FM. We are changing this. So far we have six new FM stations replacing the old technology.

We have spilit the organization into theree, that is, infrastructure under Signet, Public Broadcast and Commercial Broabcast. The later two will basically content providers and would worry less on infrastructure that will be supplied by Signet.

The strike was unnecessary since we had commited to implementing their demands. I had personally issued a circular to that effect. Even the Union they had joined advised them that the strike was illegal but unfortunately they defied this. Even more unfortunate they denounced the Union out of anger.

We shall continue with the reforms and improve their welfare. It is not in our interest to see those we work with in the streets. I was shocked to realize that we have thousands of Kenyans seeking for employment. I think some of you may have watched TV the heaps of applications. By yesterday we had in excess of 10,000. I was not misquoted because on Sunday I was at the station and there were more than 1,000 applications. We must do something for our brothers and sisters. Either we start teaching them on areas of wealth creation or find ways of creating massive employment. We are trying in our sector but we have not done enough.

Ndemo.

...

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 21:06, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:

...

I feel we should sort out our National Broadcaster. It's a pity that other private media stations have taken over KBCs position as we stood by and watched. At the moment, KBC still has good will and can recover.

It also does not make sense for we to push for cutting edge initiatives such as Konza, TEAMS if we are going to let the state at KBC remain as it is. I am sure they can play a major role in local content creation.

Having colleagues in the journalistic filed at KBC, I have heard rumours of situation where the national broadcaster's crew were first at ground breaking events (read disasters) in the country. However, such news is broken by private radio stations where the footage is sold even before it ever gets to KBCs studios. I have even heard more rumours of the broadcasters equipment being used to shoot footage that ends up with private broadcasters.

I am sure the leaked payslips of staff at Standard Media Group < http://thejackalnews.com/media-news/news-media/1688-horror-of-massive-salary... led to most of the staff questioning what it is they did wrong for their colleagues at media school to end up on the better side of luck .

An amicable solution is required. We are all sure that the national broadcaster can make enough revenue to sustain a highly skilled workforce, given the right leadership.

I believe Dr. Ndemo, having seeing his deeds in the ICT sector, can also be the champion credited with overhauling KBC.

@Dennis,

For me, it's a simple question so far:

What is it that KBC doesn't have (and cannot afford) that the private broadcasters do have?

If someone can answer this for me, I'd be very happy because it's "looking at issues from BASIC PRINCIPLES". Maybe it's as hard as having to disband KBC, if that situation cannot be addressed. However, KBC being a National Broadcaster means it's funded by public taxes and that is a very very deep pocket! I am not ready to accept any explanation to the effect that the govt cannot put in place the necessary measures to make KBC a profitable business-case. Rumors have it that Management at KBC are well-connected individuals, not necessarily qualified, and that is typical for the govt, which is not a business and so is not expected to make profits, but KBC must make profits like other Media houses. I don't understand what it is that Citizen does right with its myriad Radio Stations that KBC cannot do, having been the only broadcaster before these FM Stations were born. Oh, most of KBC veterans can be heard at the private Radio Stations, especially Royal Media. Someone must be able to explain why they had to leave KBC for these other places. The reasons are obvious.

Perhaps the govt should just bite the bullet and shut down KBC if they cannot improve it and attract talent and stop acting stupid!

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at

http://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.

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.

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://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.

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 http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jgmbugua%40gmail.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.

_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eadera%40idrc.or.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. 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.

--- On Tue, 3/6/12, bitange@jambo.co.ke <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:>> There are mechanisms for disposing obsolete equipment.  If we have space, it will be a great way to have broadcasting museum.  It will help future engineers to understand where we have come from and possibly inspire new innovations.

...

I know some college Multimedia University, they have a museum for old telecommunication equipment. It would be nice to add the KBC - broadcasting equipment there as well.

walu. --- On Tue, 3/6/12, bitange@jambo.co.ke <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote: From: bitange@jambo.co.ke <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike To: jwalu@yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Tuesday, March 6, 2012, 1:14 PM Washington, I simply gave you the high level problems that needs to be sorted out strategically.  KBC has been the training ground for the industry and to some extent literarly undermined by competition.  It is weighed down by legacy issues be it in technology or labour force.  We are dealing with the structure and technology first.  The labour issue is complex.  We have in the past tried to move as many redudant staff as we can but the retrenchment cost is as high as what you will need to change the organization.  GoK also must pay for public broadcast since in some stations will never make money as they are part of the universal access to broadcasting (CCK USF may be helpful). Alot has been done and we need to do more.  The current strike brought out some issues where the artistes have been doing the job that should be done by someone.  Obviously not a great way to spend public resources.  But to untangle this we need the cooperation of the staff.  We have sent a team to do a work load and job analysis as well as skills inventory.  We must be scientific in the reform agenda otherwise we ran the risk of victimizing good workers. We are not taking any actions on any issue at the moment antil we have finished all the audits we have started.  We must avoid knee jerk reactions at all costs. There are mechanisms for disposing obsolete equipment.  If we have space, it will be a great way to have broadcasting museum.  It will help future engineers to understand where we have come from and possibly inspire new innovations. Regards Ndemo.

Hello Dr. Ndemo,

I appreciate your response, but I'd like to know from you what it is that is ailing KBC - and kindly be open with facts as they are. So far, you've only said that KBC is grossly in debt, and you've only attributed this to dumping of technology which was being phased out - specifically Medium Wave equipment. Your answer is not convincing, unless you are saying the 20b comprises debt incurred in the dumping process and running of the MW equipment. Are there other factors that are associated with the debt and what is the govt doing to address those? A string of govt/KBC staff are responsible for this dumping, and we are talking about public funds here. Obviously, these people who did the dumping (when new FM stations were being licensed and operating everywhere) knew so well what they were doing. It's not really hard to prove connivance on their part. Did KBC import equipment without supervision/knowledge of CCK or whatever name the regulator was at that time? What action is being taken against those people? We do have an authority to deal with cases of corruption. Are they dealing already? How and when is the debt going to be serviced?

Anyway, the main issue in the current debate is about those grievances that led the staff to take to the streets. You are in the right position to tell us what these were specifically and which ones were genuine (or not). It's important that we also get insid information on what the actual truth is. What I've heard is "poor pay", "nepotism", "sexual harrassment". The issue about poor pay is rather obvious within the govt and some parastatals. How true are the later two? What action is being taken to address them?

And finally, you've mentioned that the govt's strategy is to replace the MW stations with FM stations. Good enough, because one of the issues you are addressing is the high cost of running the MW equipment. What strategy has the govt put in place to ensure that these FM stations will be able to be competitive and profitable in the current market regime - even to an extent of being self-sustaining? We (the taxpayers) are not always happy to carry the barden:-)

Two last questions:

1. How is the govt going to dispose of the MW equipment? I believe they are electronic waste. 2. Is the govt going to process the 1000+ applications you received so that it can replace the politically-correct employess with      the right talent required to achieve the objective of turning KBC around? Please don't tell me that the same tainted team of      managers (as alleged) is going to be same one tasked with turning it around. I am sure you know how diffiuclt it has been to      change the work culture at Orange. Sometimes (more often actually) it requires the injection of new blood to turn things      around. I am hoping that some of those 1000+ applicants are going to be given jobs at KBC to achieve this.

Once again, thank you for your time addressing this.

On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 08:57, <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

...

Washington, KBC would emerge strong from this crisis.  We found KBC with a debt of Ksh. 20 billion.  It used be the conduit for corruption through dumping of technology especially the Medium Wave (MW) just as FM was emerging.  It cost ten times more running a medium wave station than it is with FM. We are changing this.  So far we have six new FM stations replacing the old technology.

We have spilit the organization into theree, that is, infrastructure under Signet, Public Broadcast and Commercial Broabcast.  The later two will basically content providers and would worry less on infrastructure that will be supplied by Signet.

The strike was unnecessary since we had commited to implementing their demands.  I had personally issued a circular to that effect.  Even the Union they had joined advised them that the strike was illegal but unfortunately they defied this.  Even more unfortunate they denounced the Union out of anger.

We shall continue with the reforms and improve their welfare.  It is not in our interest to see those we work with in the streets.  I was shocked to realize that we have thousands of Kenyans seeking for employment.  I think some of you may have watched TV the heaps of applications.  By yesterday we had in excess of 10,000.  I was not misquoted because on Sunday I was at the station and there were more than 1,000 applications. We must do something for our brothers and sisters.  Either we start teaching them on areas of wealth creation or find ways of creating massive employment.  We are trying in our sector but we have not done enough.

Ndemo.

...

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 21:06, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:

...

I feel we should sort out our National Broadcaster. It's a pity that other private media stations have taken over KBCs position as we stood by and watched. At the moment, KBC still has good will and can recover.

It also does not make sense for we to push for cutting edge initiatives such as Konza, TEAMS if we are going to let the state at KBC remain as it is. I am sure they can play  a major role in local content creation.

Having colleagues in the journalistic filed at KBC, I have heard rumours of situation where the national broadcaster's crew were first at ground breaking events (read disasters) in the country. However, such news is broken by private radio stations where the footage is sold even before it ever gets to KBCs studios. I have even heard more rumours of the broadcasters equipment being used to shoot footage that ends up with private broadcasters.

I am sure the leaked payslips of staff at Standard Media Group < http://thejackalnews.com/media-news/news-media/1688-horror-of-massive-salary... led to most of the staff questioning what it is they did wrong for their colleagues at media school to end up on the better side of luck .

An amicable solution is required. We are all sure that the national broadcaster can make enough revenue to sustain a highly skilled workforce, given the right leadership.

I believe Dr. Ndemo, having seeing his deeds in the ICT sector, can also be the champion credited with overhauling KBC.

@Dennis,

For me, it's a simple question so far:

What is it that KBC doesn't have (and cannot afford) that the private broadcasters do have?

If someone can answer this for me, I'd be very happy because it's "looking at issues from BASIC PRINCIPLES". Maybe it's as hard as having to disband KBC, if that situation cannot be addressed. However, KBC being a National Broadcaster means it's funded by public taxes and that is a very very deep pocket! I am not ready to accept any explanation to the effect that the govt cannot put in place the necessary measures to make KBC a profitable business-case. Rumors have it that Management at KBC are well-connected individuals, not necessarily qualified, and that is typical for the govt, which is not a business and so is not expected to make profits, but KBC must make profits like other Media houses. I don't understand what it is that Citizen does right with its myriad Radio Stations that KBC cannot do, having been the only broadcaster before these FM Stations were born. Oh, most of KBC veterans can be heard at the private Radio Stations, especially Royal Media. Someone must be able to explain why they had to leave KBC for these other places. The reasons are obvious.

Perhaps the govt should just bite the bullet and shut down KBC if they cannot improve it and attract talent and stop acting stupid!

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at

http://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.

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.

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://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.

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 http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.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.

Robert Yes KBC has a HR department. It is one of the nine departments of the Corporation with others being finance and administration, ICT, units for audits and procurement, radio services, television services, news and editorial, technical, and sales. It also has a strategic plan (2007-2012). I was involved in a study on 'Public Broadcasting in Africa series', and I was the Kenyan Researcher. This is a project that was supported by the Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project (AfriMAP) the Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA). The study was launched by PS Ndemo in October last year. Please see chapter 6 on KBC as a Corporation (from pg 69), and chapter 7 on how it is funded. KBC has had funding challenges. PS Ndemo has been instrumental in pushing for reinstatement of funding for KBC from exchequer (just giving credit where due), and by institutionalizing this funding as stipulated in the The Broadcasting Regulations 2009 in section 11(2). For more please refer to the full study. http://www.afrimap.org/english/images/report/MAIN%20report%20final%20web%20r... Some concerns raised: 1. KBC has substantial debts. Some going way back to 1989. As of May 2009, a massive Kes. 8.2 billion was owed to the government of Japan for the installation of medium wave (MW) transmission stations. This project was part of an agreement concluded between the two governments in 1989. MW is an obsolete technology and changing from MW to FM meant additional costs for KBC. Before the launch, it was reported that the government had agreed to negotiate with its Japanese counterpart on how to deal with the debt with a view to having it written of. 2. The KBC board needs to be knowledgeable, comprising people with an education and with skills in areas indicated in the KBC Act section 4(1). This requirement to have board members with specialized skills has not always been followed. In the course of the research, I was informed that KBC has even at some point had board members who had no inkling of specific tasks of the broadcaster. Many are the times when the board has had members who are retired civil servants and politicians who did not make it to Parliament as a way of being rewarded. 3. KBC has a staff contingent of 890 members excluding artistes, marketing freelancers and part-timers. Between 2005 and 2008, the Corporation reduced its workforce drastically from 1 300. Artistes are like correspondents who have a retainer (not a salary). This is a bloated workforce. 4. The salaries of KBC staff – the middle and lower levels in particular – are low and out of kilter with those in the wider broadcasting industry. The low salaries have resulted in a high staff turnover as other stations offer better pay packages: This happens especially after staff have undergone training which KBC provides in conjunction with international organisations such as the BBC and Deutsche Welle (DW). Infact there are unconfirmed reports that the entire KBC Maasai service has been poached by a competitor. Staff also complained on the way promotions have been effected suggesting favoritism. The study makes several recommendations for example the need for a new KBC Act that guarantee editorial independence for the KBC, and has a design for a modern organisational structure. Further, after the enactment of new legislation for the KBC and the establishment of a new board, the government should take over all debts on the Corporation’s books to enable KBC make a new start with a clean slate. RgdsGG ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is all about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth and rule the World! Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2012 05:57:01 +0000 From: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike CC: kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke To: ggithaiga@hotmail.com PS Ndemo, Just a quick question, does KBC have a HR department? Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +254722511225 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, +254202010696 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +254202010696 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ----- Original Message ----- From: "bitange@jambo.co.ke" <bitange@jambo.co.ke> To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2012, 13:14 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike

Bar for the Dual Citizenship clause in the new constitution, and granted, no one has yet applied for and obtained the dual-citizenship status, I think we should accept that when a Kenyan migrates to another country, gets that country's citizenship, they cease to be "a Kenyan". On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 12:40, luke mulunda <lmulunda@yahoo.com> wrote:

Guys, Trust you are well. Just came across this inspiring story of a Kenyan fighting for space on Walmart Shelves. check the link

http://businesstoday.co.ke/news/2012/03/8/kenyan-lady-pitches-walmart-shelve...

thanks

** ------------------------------ *From:* Grace Githaiga <ggithaiga@hotmail.com> *To:* luke <lmulunda@yahoo.com> *Cc:* kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke *Sent:* Thursday, March 8, 2012 11:43 AM *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike

Robert

Yes KBC has a HR department. It is one of the nine departments of the Corporation with others being finance and administration, ICT, units for audits and procurement, radio services, television services, news and editorial, technical, and sales. It also has a strategic plan (2007-2012).

I was involved in a study on '*Public Broadcasting in Africa series*', and I was the Kenyan Researcher. This is a project that was supported by the Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project (AfriMAP) the Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA). The study was launched by PS Ndemo in October last year. Please see chapter 6 on KBC as a Corporation (from pg 69), and chapter 7 on how it is funded. KBC has had funding challenges. PS Ndemo has been instrumental in pushing for reinstatement of funding for KBC from exchequer (just giving credit where due), and by institutionalizing this funding as stipulated in the *The Broadcasting Regulations 2009 in section 11(2)**.*

For more please refer to the full study. http://www.afrimap.org/english/images/report/MAIN%20report%20final%20web%20r...

Some concerns raised:

1. KBC has substantial debts. Some going way back to 1989. As of May 2009, a massive Kes. 8.2 billion was owed to the government of Japan for the installation of medium wave (MW) transmission stations. This project was part of an agreement concluded between the two governments in 1989. MW is an obsolete technology and changing from MW to FM meant additional costs for KBC. Before the launch, it was reported that the government had agreed to negotiate with its Japanese counterpart on how to deal with the debt with a view to having it written of.

2. The KBC board needs to be knowledgeable, comprising people with an education and with skills in areas indicated in the KBC Act section 4(1). This requirement to have board members with specialized skills has not always been followed. In the course of the research, I was informed that KBC has even at some point had board members who had no inkling of specific tasks of the broadcaster. Many are the times when the board has had members who are retired civil servants and politicians who did not make it to Parliament as a way of being rewarded.

3. KBC has a staff contingent of 890 members excluding artistes, marketing freelancers and part-timers. Between 2005 and 2008, the Corporation reduced its workforce drastically from 1 300. Artistes are like correspondents who have a retainer (not a salary). This is a bloated workforce.

4. The salaries of KBC staff – the middle and lower levels in particular – are low and out of kilter with those in the wider broadcasting industry. The low salaries have resulted in a high staff turnover as other stations offer better pay packages: This happens especially after staff have undergone training which KBC provides in conjunction with international organisations such as the BBC and Deutsche Welle (DW). Infact there are unconfirmed reports that the entire KBC Maasai service has been poached by a competitor. Staff also complained on the way promotions have been effected suggesting favoritism.

The study makes several recommendations for example the need for a new KBC Act that guarantee editorial independence for the KBC, and has a design for a modern organisational structure. Further, after the enactment of new legislation for the KBC and the establishment of a new board, *the government should take over all debts on the Corporation’s books to enable KBC make a new start with a clean slate.* * * Rgds GG

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is all about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth and rule the World!

------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2012 05:57:01 +0000 From: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike CC: kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke To: ggithaiga@hotmail.com

PS Ndemo,

Just a quick question, does KBC have a HR department?

Regards

Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya

Tel: +254722511225 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +254722511225 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, +254202010696begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +254202010696 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

----- Original Message ----- From: "bitange@jambo.co.ke" <bitange@jambo.co.ke> To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2012, 13:14 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike

...

_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lmulunda%40yahoo.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.

_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/odhiambo%40gmail.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.

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email.

The study makes several recommendations for example the need for a new KBC Act that guarantee editorial independence for the KBC.

Editorial independence by KBC would not be a wise move. Even BBC promotes Imperial and British agenda across the world. KBC in the same breadth should promote the Kenyan agenda in the region On 8 March 2012 12:42, Bitange Ndemo <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

Grace, Thanks for your comprehensive response.

Ndemo.

Sent from my iPhone

On 08 Mar 2012, at 11:43, Grace Githaiga <ggithaiga@hotmail.com> wrote:

Robert

Yes KBC has a HR department. It is one of the nine departments of the Corporation with others being finance and administration, ICT, units for audits and procurement, radio services, television services, news and editorial, technical, and sales. It also has a strategic plan (2007-2012).

I was involved in a study on '*Public Broadcasting in Africa series*', and I was the Kenyan Researcher. This is a project that was supported by the Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project (AfriMAP) the Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA). The study was launched by PS Ndemo in October last year. Please see chapter 6 on KBC as a Corporation (from pg 69), and chapter 7 on how it is funded. KBC has had funding challenges. PS Ndemo has been instrumental in pushing for reinstatement of funding for KBC from exchequer (just giving credit where due), and by institutionalizing this funding as stipulated in the *The Broadcasting Regulations 2009 in section 11(2)**.*

For more please refer to the full study. <http://www.afrimap.org/english/images/report/MAIN%20report%20final%20web%20res.pdf> http://www.afrimap.org/english/images/report/MAIN%20report%20final%20web%20r...

Some concerns raised:

1. KBC has substantial debts. Some going way back to 1989. As of May 2009, a massive Kes. 8.2 billion was owed to the government of Japan for the installation of medium wave (MW) transmission stations. This project was part of an agreement concluded between the two governments in 1989. MW is an obsolete technology and changing from MW to FM meant additional costs for KBC. Before the launch, it was reported that the government had agreed to negotiate with its Japanese counterpart on how to deal with the debt with a view to having it written of.

2. The KBC board needs to be knowledgeable, comprising people with an education and with skills in areas indicated in the KBC Act section 4(1). This requirement to have board members with specialized skills has not always been followed. In the course of the research, I was informed that KBC has even at some point had board members who had no inkling of specific tasks of the broadcaster. Many are the times when the board has had members who are retired civil servants and politicians who did not make it to Parliament as a way of being rewarded.

3. KBC has a staff contingent of 890 members excluding artistes, marketing freelancers and part-timers. Between 2005 and 2008, the Corporation reduced its workforce drastically from 1 300. Artistes are like correspondents who have a retainer (not a salary). This is a bloated workforce.

4. The salaries of KBC staff – the middle and lower levels in particular – are low and out of kilter with those in the wider broadcasting industry. The low salaries have resulted in a high staff turnover as other stations offer better pay packages: This happens especially after staff have undergone training which KBC provides in conjunction with international organisations such as the BBC and Deutsche Welle (DW). Infact there are unconfirmed reports that the entire KBC Maasai service has been poached by a competitor. Staff also complained on the way promotions have been effected suggesting favoritism.

The study makes several recommendations for example the need for a new KBC Act that guarantee editorial independence for the KBC, and has a design for a modern organisational structure. Further, after the enactment of new legislation for the KBC and the establishment of a new board, *the government should take over all debts on the Corporation’s books to enable KBC make a new start with a clean slate.* * * Rgds GG

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is all about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth and rule the World!

------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2012 05:57:01 +0000 From: <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk>robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike CC: <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke To: <ggithaiga@hotmail.com>ggithaiga@hotmail.com

PS Ndemo,

Just a quick question, does KBC have a HR department?

Regards

Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya

Tel: +254722511225 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +254722511225 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, +254202010696begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +254202010696 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

----- Original Message ----- From: "bitange@jambo.co.ke" <bitange@jambo.co.ke> To: <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk>robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2012, 13:14 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike

...

_______________________________________________

kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke> http://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.

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 http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lordmwesh%40gmail.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.

-- ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva For Business Development Transworld Computer Channels Cel: 0722402248 twitter.com/lordmwesh transworldAfrica.com | Fluent in computing kenya.or.ke | The Kenya we know

Um, the right lawfully to withdraw one's labour is a basic human right. Unless you have some reason to think that the strike is unlawful, you may be better off supporting the people on strike. And, to be honest, if ever there was a country where capital is eating labour alive, Kenya is it. I've seen credible argument that our living standard is now below that enjoyed in the late colonial era. Perhaps the greater power of unions in the late 50s has something to do with it. Daniel Waweru www.kenyaimagine.com Art and analysis; debate and opinion. On 9 March 2012 13:56, robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

They should be FIRED.

Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya

Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ------------------------------ *From:* Grace Githaiga <ggithaiga@hotmail.com> *To:* robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk *Cc:* kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke *Sent:* Thursday, 8 March 2012, 11:43 *Subject:* RE: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike

Robert

Yes KBC has a HR department. It is one of the nine departments of the Corporation with others being finance and administration, ICT, units for audits and procurement, radio services, television services, news and editorial, technical, and sales. It also has a strategic plan (2007-2012).

I was involved in a study on '*Public Broadcasting in Africa series*', and I was the Kenyan Researcher. This is a project that was supported by the Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project (AfriMAP) the Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA). The study was launched by PS Ndemo in October last year. Please see chapter 6 on KBC as a Corporation (from pg 69), and chapter 7 on how it is funded. KBC has had funding challenges. PS Ndemo has been instrumental in pushing for reinstatement of funding for KBC from exchequer (just giving credit where due), and by institutionalizing this funding as stipulated in the *The Broadcasting Regulations 2009 in section 11(2)**.*

For more please refer to the full study. http://www.afrimap.org/english/images/report/MAIN%20report%20final%20web%20r...

Some concerns raised:

1. KBC has substantial debts. Some going way back to 1989. As of May 2009, a massive Kes. 8.2 billion was owed to the government of Japan for the installation of medium wave (MW) transmission stations. This project was part of an agreement concluded between the two governments in 1989. MW is an obsolete technology and changing from MW to FM meant additional costs for KBC. Before the launch, it was reported that the government had agreed to negotiate with its Japanese counterpart on how to deal with the debt with a view to having it written of.

2. The KBC board needs to be knowledgeable, comprising people with an education and with skills in areas indicated in the KBC Act section 4(1). This requirement to have board members with specialized skills has not always been followed. In the course of the research, I was informed that KBC has even at some point had board members who had no inkling of specific tasks of the broadcaster. Many are the times when the board has had members who are retired civil servants and politicians who did not make it to Parliament as a way of being rewarded.

3. KBC has a staff contingent of 890 members excluding artistes, marketing freelancers and part-timers. Between 2005 and 2008, the Corporation reduced its workforce drastically from 1 300. Artistes are like correspondents who have a retainer (not a salary). This is a bloated workforce.

4. The salaries of KBC staff – the middle and lower levels in particular – are low and out of kilter with those in the wider broadcasting industry. The low salaries have resulted in a high staff turnover as other stations offer better pay packages: This happens especially after staff have undergone training which KBC provides in conjunction with international organisations such as the BBC and Deutsche Welle (DW). Infact there are unconfirmed reports that the entire KBC Maasai service has been poached by a competitor. Staff also complained on the way promotions have been effected suggesting favoritism.

The study makes several recommendations for example the need for a new KBC Act that guarantee editorial independence for the KBC, and has a design for a modern organisational structure. Further, after the enactment of new legislation for the KBC and the establishment of a new board, *the government should take over all debts on the Corporation’s books to enable KBC make a new start with a clean slate.* * * Rgds GG

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is all about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth and rule the World!

------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2012 05:57:01 +0000 From: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike CC: kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke To: ggithaiga@hotmail.com

PS Ndemo,

Just a quick question, does KBC have a HR department?

Regards

Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya

Tel: +254722511225 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +254722511225 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, +254202010696begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +254202010696 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

----- Original Message ----- From: "bitange@jambo.co.ke" <bitange@jambo.co.ke> To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2012, 13:14 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike

...

_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/daniel.waweru%40gmail.c...

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.

Yes they do. Sent from my iPhone On 08 Mar 2012, at 8:57, robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

PS Ndemo,

Just a quick question, does KBC have a HR department?

Regards

Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya

Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

----- Original Message ----- From: "bitange@jambo.co.ke" <bitange@jambo.co.ke> To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2012, 13:14 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike

Washington, I simply gave you the high level problems that needs to be sorted out strategically. KBC has been the training ground for the industry and to some extent literarly undermined by competition. It is weighed down by legacy issues be it in technology or labour force. We are dealing with the structure and technology first. The labour issue is complex. We have in the past tried to move as many redudant staff as we can but the retrenchment cost is as high as what you will need to change the organization. GoK also must pay for public broadcast since in some stations will never make money as they are part of the universal access to broadcasting (CCK USF may be helpful).

Alot has been done and we need to do more. The current strike brought out some issues where the artistes have been doing the job that should be done by someone. Obviously not a great way to spend public resources. But to untangle this we need the cooperation of the staff. We have sent a team to do a work load and job analysis as well as skills inventory. We must be scientific in the reform agenda otherwise we ran the risk of victimizing good workers.

We are not taking any actions on any issue at the moment antil we have finished all the audits we have started. We must avoid knee jerk reactions at all costs.

There are mechanisms for disposing obsolete equipment. If we have space, it will be a great way to have broadcasting museum. It will help future engineers to understand where we have come from and possibly inspire new innovations.

Regards

Ndemo.

...

Hello Dr. Ndemo,

I appreciate your response, but I'd like to know from you what it is that is ailing KBC - and kindly be open with facts as they are. So far, you've only said that KBC is grossly in debt, and you've only attributed this to dumping of technology which was being phased out - specifically Medium Wave equipment. Your answer is not convincing, unless you are saying the 20b comprises debt incurred in the dumping process and running of the MW equipment. Are there other factors that are associated with the debt and what is the govt doing to address those? A string of govt/KBC staff are responsible for this dumping, and we are talking about public funds here. Obviously, these people who did the dumping (when new FM stations were being licensed and operating everywhere) knew so well what they were doing. It's not really hard to prove connivance on their part. Did KBC import equipment without supervision/knowledge of CCK or whatever name the regulator was at that time? What action is being taken against those people? We do have an authority to deal with cases of corruption. Are they dealing already? How and when is the debt going to be serviced?

Anyway, the main issue in the current debate is about those grievances that led the staff to take to the streets. You are in the right position to tell us what these were specifically and which ones were genuine (or not). It's important that we also get insid information on what the actual truth is. What I've heard is "poor pay", "nepotism", "sexual harrassment". The issue about poor pay is rather obvious within the govt and some parastatals. How true are the later two? What action is being taken to address them?

And finally, you've mentioned that the govt's strategy is to replace the MW stations with FM stations. Good enough, because one of the issues you are addressing is the high cost of running the MW equipment. What strategy has the govt put in place to ensure that these FM stations will be able to be competitive and profitable in the current market regime - even to an extent of being self-sustaining? We (the taxpayers) are not always happy to carry the barden:-)

Two last questions:

1. How is the govt going to dispose of the MW equipment? I believe they are electronic waste. 2. Is the govt going to process the 1000+ applications you received so that it can replace the politically-correct employess with the right talent required to achieve the objective of turning KBC around? Please don't tell me that the same tainted team of managers (as alleged) is going to be same one tasked with turning it around. I am sure you know how diffiuclt it has been to change the work culture at Orange. Sometimes (more often actually) it requires the injection of new blood to turn things around. I am hoping that some of those 1000+ applicants are going to be given jobs at KBC to achieve this.

Once again, thank you for your time addressing this.

On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 08:57, <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

...

Washington, KBC would emerge strong from this crisis. We found KBC with a debt of Ksh. 20 billion. It used be the conduit for corruption through dumping of technology especially the Medium Wave (MW) just as FM was emerging. It cost ten times more running a medium wave station than it is with FM. We are changing this. So far we have six new FM stations replacing the old technology.

We have spilit the organization into theree, that is, infrastructure under Signet, Public Broadcast and Commercial Broabcast. The later two will basically content providers and would worry less on infrastructure that will be supplied by Signet.

The strike was unnecessary since we had commited to implementing their demands. I had personally issued a circular to that effect. Even the Union they had joined advised them that the strike was illegal but unfortunately they defied this. Even more unfortunate they denounced the Union out of anger.

We shall continue with the reforms and improve their welfare. It is not in our interest to see those we work with in the streets. I was shocked to realize that we have thousands of Kenyans seeking for employment. I think some of you may have watched TV the heaps of applications. By yesterday we had in excess of 10,000. I was not misquoted because on Sunday I was at the station and there were more than 1,000 applications. We must do something for our brothers and sisters. Either we start teaching them on areas of wealth creation or find ways of creating massive employment. We are trying in our sector but we have not done enough.

Ndemo.

...

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 21:06, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:

...

I feel we should sort out our National Broadcaster. It's a pity that other private media stations have taken over KBCs position as we stood by and watched. At the moment, KBC still has good will and can recover.

It also does not make sense for we to push for cutting edge initiatives such as Konza, TEAMS if we are going to let the state at KBC remain as it is. I am sure they can play a major role in local content creation.

Having colleagues in the journalistic filed at KBC, I have heard rumours of situation where the national broadcaster's crew were first at ground breaking events (read disasters) in the country. However, such news is broken by private radio stations where the footage is sold even before it ever gets to KBCs studios. I have even heard more rumours of the broadcasters equipment being used to shoot footage that ends up with private broadcasters.

I am sure the leaked payslips of staff at Standard Media Group < http://thejackalnews.com/media-news/news-media/1688-horror-of-massive-salary... led to most of the staff questioning what it is they did wrong for their colleagues at media school to end up on the better side of luck .

An amicable solution is required. We are all sure that the national broadcaster can make enough revenue to sustain a highly skilled workforce, given the right leadership.

I believe Dr. Ndemo, having seeing his deeds in the ICT sector, can also be the champion credited with overhauling KBC.

@Dennis,

For me, it's a simple question so far:

What is it that KBC doesn't have (and cannot afford) that the private broadcasters do have?

If someone can answer this for me, I'd be very happy because it's "looking at issues from BASIC PRINCIPLES". Maybe it's as hard as having to disband KBC, if that situation cannot be addressed. However, KBC being a National Broadcaster means it's funded by public taxes and that is a very very deep pocket! I am not ready to accept any explanation to the effect that the govt cannot put in place the necessary measures to make KBC a profitable business-case. Rumors have it that Management at KBC are well-connected individuals, not necessarily qualified, and that is typical for the govt, which is not a business and so is not expected to make profits, but KBC must make profits like other Media houses. I don't understand what it is that Citizen does right with its myriad Radio Stations that KBC cannot do, having been the only broadcaster before these FM Stations were born. Oh, most of KBC veterans can be heard at the private Radio Stations, especially Royal Media. Someone must be able to explain why they had to leave KBC for these other places. The reasons are obvious.

Perhaps the govt should just bite the bullet and shut down KBC if they cannot improve it and attract talent and stop acting stupid!

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at

http://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.

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.

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://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.

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 http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.u...

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.

Dr.Ndemo, I am not sure though why you are surprised at the number of applications. The rate of educated unemployed youth is a time bomb in waiting in this beloved nation of ours. I am hoping others in position of influence are reading this. It is very dangerous watching the strikes move from one group to another. The warning signals are so clear to see. Is anyone out there who is vying for Presidency watching this? If so, what are the solutions on offer before any explosion? I dare to ask. As you have correctly stated, there was corruption and mis-use of funds- I would say the employees are aware of this too and are wondering why they should be paying the price. We need to ask ourselves,how and when will this be put to an end and people made accountable. You are now having to bear the brunt of something you were not party to. Time for Kenyans to wake up! Kind regards, Gilda Quoting bitange@jambo.co.ke:

Washington, KBC would emerge strong from this crisis. We found KBC with a debt of Ksh. 20 billion. It used be the conduit for corruption through dumping of technology especially the Medium Wave (MW) just as FM was emerging. It cost ten times more running a medium wave station than it is with FM. We are changing this. So far we have six new FM stations replacing the old technology.

We have spilit the organization into theree, that is, infrastructure under Signet, Public Broadcast and Commercial Broabcast. The later two will basically content providers and would worry less on infrastructure that will be supplied by Signet.

The strike was unnecessary since we had commited to implementing their demands. I had personally issued a circular to that effect. Even the Union they had joined advised them that the strike was illegal but unfortunately they defied this. Even more unfortunate they denounced the Union out of anger.

We shall continue with the reforms and improve their welfare. It is not in our interest to see those we work with in the streets. I was shocked to realize that we have thousands of Kenyans seeking for employment. I think some of you may have watched TV the heaps of applications. By yesterday we had in excess of 10,000. I was not misquoted because on Sunday I was at the station and there were more than 1,000 applications. We must do something for our brothers and sisters. Either we start teaching them on areas of wealth creation or find ways of creating massive employment. We are trying in our sector but we have not done enough.

Ndemo.

...

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 21:06, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:

...

I feel we should sort out our National Broadcaster. It's a pity that other private media stations have taken over KBCs position as we stood by and watched. At the moment, KBC still has good will and can recover.

It also does not make sense for we to push for cutting edge initiatives such as Konza, TEAMS if we are going to let the state at KBC remain as it is. I am sure they can play a major role in local content creation.

Having colleagues in the journalistic filed at KBC, I have heard rumours of situation where the national broadcaster's crew were first at ground breaking events (read disasters) in the country. However, such news is broken by private radio stations where the footage is sold even before it ever gets to KBCs studios. I have even heard more rumours of the broadcasters equipment being used to shoot footage that ends up with private broadcasters.

I am sure the leaked payslips of staff at Standard Media Group

<http://thejackalnews.com/media-news/news-media/1688-horror-of-massive-salary... discrepancies-at-standard-group-exposed>led

...

to most of the staff questioning what it is they did wrong for their colleagues at media school to end up on the better side of luck .

An amicable solution is required. We are all sure that the national broadcaster can make enough revenue to sustain a highly skilled workforce, given the right leadership.

I believe Dr. Ndemo, having seeing his deeds in the ICT sector, can also be the champion credited with overhauling KBC.

@Dennis,

For me, it's a simple question so far:

What is it that KBC doesn't have (and cannot afford) that the private broadcasters do have?

If someone can answer this for me, I'd be very happy because it's "looking at issues from BASIC PRINCIPLES". Maybe it's as hard as having to disband KBC, if that situation cannot be addressed. However, KBC being a National Broadcaster means it's funded by public taxes and that is a very very deep pocket! I am not ready to accept any explanation to the effect that the govt cannot put in place the necessary measures to make KBC a profitable business-case. Rumors have it that Management at KBC are well-connected individuals, not necessarily qualified, and that is typical for the govt, which is not a business and so is not expected to make profits, but KBC must make profits like other Media houses. I don't understand what it is that Citizen does right with its myriad Radio Stations that KBC cannot do, having been the only broadcaster before these FM Stations were born. Oh, most of KBC veterans can be heard at the private Radio Stations, especially Royal Media. Someone must be able to explain why they had to leave KBC for these other places. The reasons are obvious.

Perhaps the govt should just bite the bullet and shut down KBC if they cannot improve it and attract talent and stop acting stupid!

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://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.

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 http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/godera%40skyweb.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.

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.

------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/

Dr. Ndemo, It is good to see that the issues of KBC where always visible to the ministry but mine is to respond to your issue of MW and FM from a technical point as we have kept being reminded that this is more a technology forum. As a third world country with the ambition of becoming a second world country around the year 2030 we need to be weary of just dumping technology that someone else has advised us to be obsolete, we need to milk what we have until it literally drops dead. For those who might not be in the know medium wave and short wave was the method used to get VOK to your grandfathers Sanyo radio out there in the middle open spaces of rural Kenya.  If you remember that was the radio which would pick national service all the way from Mombasa to Kisumu without needing to change channels. Today the half baked radio stations you listen to as you travel through the traffic to the congested city are likely to be FM which gets muffled as you near the CBD and disappear immediately you pass the weigh bridge at Mlolongo.  You might have realised to the channel for your favourite radio station is different in different towns forcing you to carry a log book if you are to remain tuned in as you travel. The killing of MW in a developing country is tantamount to development suicide, but since most of us only commute within of radius of 10 kilometres from the CBD we might strongly believe that MW is dead and the solution is FM, lets be careful not to follow the path of Telkom/Orange who at one time contemplated killing CDMA (10 - 50 KM radius per BTS) for GSM (2 KM radius per BTS). So Dr. Ndemo, before we start scraping off equipment and declaring technology redundant lets carry out an informed analysis before you hastily layoff that MW technician.  Regards   Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ----- Original Message ----- From: "bitange@jambo.co.ke" <bitange@jambo.co.ke> To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2012, 8:57 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike Washington, KBC would emerge strong from this crisis.  We found KBC with a debt of Ksh. 20 billion.  It used be the conduit for corruption through dumping of technology especially the Medium Wave (MW) just as FM was emerging.  It cost ten times more running a medium wave station than it is with FM.  We are changing this.  So far we have six new FM stations replacing the old technology. We have spilit the organization into theree, that is, infrastructure under Signet, Public Broadcast and Commercial Broabcast.  The later two will basically content providers and would worry less on infrastructure that will be supplied by Signet. The strike was unnecessary since we had commited to implementing their demands.  I had personally issued a circular to that effect.  Even the Union they had joined advised them that the strike was illegal but unfortunately they defied this.  Even more unfortunate they denounced the Union out of anger. We shall continue with the reforms and improve their welfare.  It is not in our interest to see those we work with in the streets.  I was shocked to realize that we have thousands of Kenyans seeking for employment.  I think some of you may have watched TV the heaps of applications.  By yesterday we had in excess of 10,000.  I was not misquoted because on Sunday I was at the station and there were more than 1,000 applications. We must do something for our brothers and sisters.  Either we start teaching them on areas of wealth creation or find ways of creating massive employment.  We are trying in our sector but we have not done enough. Ndemo.

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 21:06, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:

...

I feel we should sort out our National Broadcaster. It's a pity that other private media stations have taken over KBCs position as we stood by and watched. At the moment, KBC still has good will and can recover.

It also does not make sense for we to push for cutting edge initiatives such as Konza, TEAMS if we are going to let the state at KBC remain as it is. I am sure they can play  a major role in local content creation.

Having colleagues in the journalistic filed at KBC, I have heard rumours of situation where the national broadcaster's crew were first at ground breaking events (read disasters) in the country. However, such news is broken by private radio stations where the footage is sold even before it ever gets to KBCs studios. I have even heard more rumours of the broadcasters equipment being used to shoot footage that ends up with private broadcasters.

I am sure the leaked payslips of staff at Standard Media Group <http://thejackalnews.com/media-news/news-media/1688-horror-of-massive-salary-discrepancies-at-standard-group-exposed>led to most of the staff questioning what it is they did wrong for their colleagues at media school to end up on the better side of luck .

An amicable solution is required. We are all sure that the national broadcaster can make enough revenue to sustain a highly skilled workforce, given the right leadership.

I believe Dr. Ndemo, having seeing his deeds in the ICT sector, can also be the champion credited with overhauling KBC.

@Dennis,

For me, it's a simple question so far:

What is it that KBC doesn't have (and cannot afford) that the private broadcasters do have?

If someone can answer this for me, I'd be very happy because it's "looking at issues from BASIC PRINCIPLES". Maybe it's as hard as having to disband KBC, if that situation cannot be addressed. However, KBC being a National Broadcaster means it's funded by public taxes and that is a very very deep pocket! I am not ready to accept any explanation to the effect that the govt cannot put in place the necessary measures to make KBC a profitable business-case. Rumors have it that Management at KBC are well-connected individuals, not necessarily qualified, and that is typical for the govt, which is not a business and so is not expected to make profits, but KBC must make profits like other Media houses. I don't understand what it is that Citizen does right with its myriad Radio Stations that KBC cannot do, having been the only broadcaster before these FM Stations were born. Oh, most of KBC veterans can be heard at the private Radio Stations, especially Royal Media. Someone must be able to explain why they had to leave KBC for these other places. The reasons are obvious.

Perhaps the govt should just bite the bullet and shut down KBC if they cannot improve it and attract talent and stop acting stupid!

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://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.

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 http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.u... 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.

commercial break: Finally met Bobby (aka Robert Yawe) this evening at the eBanking conference.  He looks "friendlier" offline :-) Back to Dr. Ndemo... walu. --- On Wed, 3/7/12, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo@gmail.com> wrote: From: Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike To: jwalu@yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 6:37 PM Bobby, This is a very interesting angle you have introduced. Personally, all I have heard Dr. Ndemo say is that it is "expensive" to run the MW equipment. Of course he stopped short of quantifying the "expensive". Now I believe that he should, while the iron is still hot. It would be nice if Daktari can table the figures on this so as to dispell the negative thoughts, one of which could be that replacing the MW with FM is just another of those plots for some well-connected individuals to get "their cut" of the cake! Keep it up, Bobby! On Wed, Mar 7, 2012 at 09:06, robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Dr. Ndemo, It is good to see that the issues of KBC where always visible to the ministry but mine is to respond to your issue of MW and FM from a technical point as we have kept being reminded that this is more a technology forum. As a third world country with the ambition of becoming a second world country around the year 2030 we need to be weary of just dumping technology that someone else has advised us to be obsolete, we need to milk what we have until it literally drops dead. For those who might not be in the know medium wave and short wave was the method used to get VOK to your grandfathers Sanyo radio out there in the middle open spaces of rural Kenya.  If you remember that was the radio which would pick national service all the way from Mombasa to Kisumu without needing to change channels. Today the half baked radio stations you listen to as you travel through the traffic to the congested city are likely to be FM which gets muffled as you near the CBD and disappear immediately you pass the weigh bridge at Mlolongo.  You might have realised to the channel for your favourite radio station is different in different towns forcing you to carry a log book if you are to remain tuned in as you travel. The killing of MW in a developing country is tantamount to development suicide, but since most of us only commute within of radius of 10 kilometres from the CBD we might strongly believe that MW is dead and the solution is FM, lets be careful not to follow the path of Telkom/Orange who at one time contemplated killing CDMA (10 - 50 KM radius per BTS) for GSM (2 KM radius per BTS). So Dr. Ndemo, before we start scraping off equipment and declaring technology redundant lets carry out an informed analysis before you hastily layoff that MW technician.  Regards  Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ----- Original Message ----- From: "bitange@jambo.co.ke" <bitange@jambo.co.ke> To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2012, 8:57 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike Washington, KBC would emerge strong from this crisis.  We found KBC with a debt of Ksh. 20 billion.  It used be the conduit for corruption through dumping of technology especially the Medium Wave (MW) just as FM was emerging.  It cost ten times more running a medium wave station than it is with FM.  We are changing this.  So far we have six new FM stations replacing the old technology. We have spilit the organization into theree, that is, infrastructure under Signet, Public Broadcast and Commercial Broabcast.  The later two will basically content providers and would worry less on infrastructure that will be supplied by Signet. The strike was unnecessary since we had commited to implementing their demands.  I had personally issued a circular to that effect.  Even the Union they had joined advised them that the strike was illegal but unfortunately they defied this.  Even more unfortunate they denounced the Union out of anger. We shall continue with the reforms and improve their welfare.  It is not in our interest to see those we work with in the streets.  I was shocked to realize that we have thousands of Kenyans seeking for employment.  I think some of you may have watched TV the heaps of applications.  By yesterday we had in excess of 10,000.  I was not misquoted because on Sunday I was at the station and there were more than 1,000 applications. We must do something for our brothers and sisters.  Either we start teaching them on areas of wealth creation or find ways of creating massive employment.  We are trying in our sector but we have not done enough. Ndemo.

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 21:06, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:

...

I feel we should sort out our National Broadcaster. It's a pity that other private media stations have taken over KBCs position as we stood by and watched. At the moment, KBC still has good will and can recover.

...

It also does not make sense for we to push for cutting edge initiatives such as Konza, TEAMS if we are going to let the state at KBC remain as it is. I am sure they can play  a major role in local content creation.

...

Having colleagues in the journalistic filed at KBC, I have heard rumours of situation where the national broadcaster's crew were first at ground breaking events (read disasters) in the country. However, such news is

...

broken by private radio stations where the footage is sold even before it ever gets to KBCs studios. I have even heard more rumours of the broadcasters equipment being used to shoot footage that ends up with private broadcasters.

I am sure the leaked payslips of staff at Standard Media Group

...

<http://thejackalnews.com/media-news/news-media/1688-horror-of-massive-salary-discrepancies-at-standard-group-exposed>led

...

to most of the staff questioning what it is they did wrong for their colleagues at media school to end up on the better side of luck .

An amicable solution is required. We are all sure that the national

...

broadcaster can make enough revenue to sustain a highly skilled workforce, given the right leadership.

I believe Dr. Ndemo, having seeing his deeds in the ICT sector, can also be the champion credited with overhauling KBC.

@Dennis,

For me, it's a simple question so far:

What is it that KBC doesn't have (and cannot afford) that the private

broadcasters do have?

If someone can answer this for me, I'd be very happy because it's "looking at issues from BASIC PRINCIPLES". Maybe it's as hard as having to disband

KBC, if that situation cannot be addressed. However, KBC being a National Broadcaster means it's funded by public taxes and that is a very very deep pocket! I am not ready to accept any

explanation to the effect that the govt cannot put in place the necessary measures to make KBC a profitable business-case. Rumors have it that Management at KBC are well-connected individuals, not necessarily

qualified, and that is typical for the govt, which is not a business and so is not expected to make profits, but KBC must make profits like other Media houses. I don't understand what it is that Citizen does right with its

myriad Radio Stations that KBC cannot do, having been the only broadcaster before these FM Stations were born. Oh, most of KBC veterans can be heard at the private Radio Stations, especially Royal Media. Someone must be able to explain why they had to

leave KBC for these other places. The reasons are obvious.

Perhaps the govt should just bite the bullet and shut down KBC if they cannot improve it and attract talent and stop acting stupid!

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the

scrambler.

Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke

http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://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.

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 http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.u... 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 http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/odhiambo%40gmail.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. -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.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.

great. so u were  that Mbugua behind the jgmbugua@gmail.com.  i think we need to occasionally have face2face meetings just to map the faces behind the emails. walu. --- On Wed, 3/7/12, jgmbugua@gmail.com <jgmbugua@gmail.com> wrote: From: jgmbugua@gmail.com <jgmbugua@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike-finally met him To: "Walubengo J" <jwalu@yahoo.com>, kictanet-bounces+jgmbugua=gmail.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 8:10 PM I was also there and SAW both of you.  I asked about regulations and Walu asked about los of skills in the shared Services session Sent from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com> Sender: kictanet-bounces+jgmbugua=gmail.com@lists.kictanet.or.keDate: Wed, 7 Mar 2012 08:54:42 To: <jgmbugua@gmail.com> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike-finally met him _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jgmbugua%40gmail.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.

Robert, This is not one of those hasty decisions. Most people do not even know that MW or SW ever existed. Some cars come with only FM. This too is to die within 5 years as we move towards Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) that will be more cost effective. During Garang's funeral, we fired up the SW in Dandora and we ended up with a 50 million shilling electric bill in one month. The 600 MW station can broadcast up to Egypt but the content may not be relevant in such distances. Older technologies are expensive to maintain. Ndemo. Sent from my iPhone On 07 Mar 2012, at 9:06, robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

Dr. Ndemo,

It is good to see that the issues of KBC where always visible to the ministry but mine is to respond to your issue of MW and FM from a technical point as we have kept being reminded that this is more a technology forum.

As a third world country with the ambition of becoming a second world country around the year 2030 we need to be weary of just dumping technology that someone else has advised us to be obsolete, we need to milk what we have until it literally drops dead.

For those who might not be in the know medium wave and short wave was the method used to get VOK to your grandfathers Sanyo radio out there in the middle open spaces of rural Kenya. If you remember that was the radio which would pick national service all the way from Mombasa to Kisumu without needing to change channels.

Today the half baked radio stations you listen to as you travel through the traffic to the congested city are likely to be FM which gets muffled as you near the CBD and disappear immediately you pass the weigh bridge at Mlolongo. You might have realised to the channel for your favourite radio station is different in different towns forcing you to carry a log book if you are to remain tuned in as you travel.

The killing of MW in a developing country is tantamount to development suicide, but since most of us only commute within of radius of 10 kilometres from the CBD we might strongly believe that MW is dead and the solution is FM, lets be careful not to follow the path of Telkom/Orange who at one time contemplated killing CDMA (10 - 50 KM radius per BTS) for GSM (2 KM radius per BTS).

So Dr. Ndemo, before we start scraping off equipment and declaring technology redundant lets carry out an informed analysis before you hastily layoff that MW technician.

Regards

Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya

Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

----- Original Message ----- From: "bitange@jambo.co.ke" <bitange@jambo.co.ke> To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2012, 8:57 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike

Washington, KBC would emerge strong from this crisis. We found KBC with a debt of Ksh. 20 billion. It used be the conduit for corruption through dumping of technology especially the Medium Wave (MW) just as FM was emerging. It cost ten times more running a medium wave station than it is with FM. We are changing this. So far we have six new FM stations replacing the old technology.

We have spilit the organization into theree, that is, infrastructure under Signet, Public Broadcast and Commercial Broabcast. The later two will basically content providers and would worry less on infrastructure that will be supplied by Signet.

The strike was unnecessary since we had commited to implementing their demands. I had personally issued a circular to that effect. Even the Union they had joined advised them that the strike was illegal but unfortunately they defied this. Even more unfortunate they denounced the Union out of anger.

We shall continue with the reforms and improve their welfare. It is not in our interest to see those we work with in the streets. I was shocked to realize that we have thousands of Kenyans seeking for employment. I think some of you may have watched TV the heaps of applications. By yesterday we had in excess of 10,000. I was not misquoted because on Sunday I was at the station and there were more than 1,000 applications. We must do something for our brothers and sisters. Either we start teaching them on areas of wealth creation or find ways of creating massive employment. We are trying in our sector but we have not done enough.

Ndemo.

...

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 21:06, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:

...

I feel we should sort out our National Broadcaster. It's a pity that other private media stations have taken over KBCs position as we stood by and watched. At the moment, KBC still has good will and can recover.

It also does not make sense for we to push for cutting edge initiatives such as Konza, TEAMS if we are going to let the state at KBC remain as it is. I am sure they can play a major role in local content creation.

Having colleagues in the journalistic filed at KBC, I have heard rumours of situation where the national broadcaster's crew were first at ground breaking events (read disasters) in the country. However, such news is broken by private radio stations where the footage is sold even before it ever gets to KBCs studios. I have even heard more rumours of the broadcasters equipment being used to shoot footage that ends up with private broadcasters.

I am sure the leaked payslips of staff at Standard Media Group <http://thejackalnews.com/media-news/news-media/1688-horror-of-massive-salary-discrepancies-at-standard-group-exposed>led to most of the staff questioning what it is they did wrong for their colleagues at media school to end up on the better side of luck .

An amicable solution is required. We are all sure that the national broadcaster can make enough revenue to sustain a highly skilled workforce, given the right leadership.

I believe Dr. Ndemo, having seeing his deeds in the ICT sector, can also be the champion credited with overhauling KBC.

@Dennis,

For me, it's a simple question so far:

What is it that KBC doesn't have (and cannot afford) that the private broadcasters do have?

If someone can answer this for me, I'd be very happy because it's "looking at issues from BASIC PRINCIPLES". Maybe it's as hard as having to disband KBC, if that situation cannot be addressed. However, KBC being a National Broadcaster means it's funded by public taxes and that is a very very deep pocket! I am not ready to accept any explanation to the effect that the govt cannot put in place the necessary measures to make KBC a profitable business-case. Rumors have it that Management at KBC are well-connected individuals, not necessarily qualified, and that is typical for the govt, which is not a business and so is not expected to make profits, but KBC must make profits like other Media houses. I don't understand what it is that Citizen does right with its myriad Radio Stations that KBC cannot do, having been the only broadcaster before these FM Stations were born. Oh, most of KBC veterans can be heard at the private Radio Stations, especially Royal Media. Someone must be able to explain why they had to leave KBC for these other places. The reasons are obvious.

Perhaps the govt should just bite the bullet and shut down KBC if they cannot improve it and attract talent and stop acting stupid!

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://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.

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 http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.u...

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.

Washington, You missed one of my points on SW. While it is great in coverage, the relevancy of content in such coverage is not there. That is why BBC is more relevant in such a situation than Mulembe FM for example. We cannot afford to run multiple SW station as we do in FM. The cost will be astronomical and this is the very reason why we shall be moving to DAB. DAB will allow true universal access to broadcast as you can practically get all of local languages. Sometimes we assume everybody understands what our leaders say in English. Perhaps that is why there is a disconnect between rural and urban Kenya. We simply discriminate many Kenyans when we do not communicate in languages they understand. We shall do a lot more with the youth if the sheng station were to have wider coverage. I am sure there are messages that must be communicated in languages that are understood best by some communities. I am not sure whether SW transmiters are in production. I know MW is trying to introduce its digital vaersion but we have socialized our people in such a way that nobody moves between different technologies. When we were young we knew you could access BBC in SW and KBC in MW but today these are vocaburaries that are not understood. Perhaps some expersts in the list can comment on merits of these technological developments. Ndemo.

Daktari,

Please share with us the actual figures of running MW, SW and FM per month. Are there any variables that affect the figures or is everything static over a 24-hrs running period?

PS: I hope the Sudanese govt footed the 50million shilling bill from their oil revenue.

On Wed, Mar 7, 2012 at 21:16, Bitange Ndemo <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

...

Robert, This is not one of those hasty decisions. Most people do not even know that MW or SW ever existed. Some cars come with only FM. This too is to die within 5 years as we move towards Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) that will be more cost effective. During Garang's funeral, we fired up the SW in Dandora and we ended up with a 50 million shilling electric bill in one month. The 600 MW station can broadcast up to Egypt but the content may not be relevant in such distances.

Older technologies are expensive to maintain.

Ndemo.

Sent from my iPhone

On 07 Mar 2012, at 9:06, robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

Dr. Ndemo,

It is good to see that the issues of KBC where always visible to the ministry but mine is to respond to your issue of MW and FM from a technical point as we have kept being reminded that this is more a technology forum.

As a third world country with the ambition of becoming a second world country around the year 2030 we need to be weary of just dumping technology that someone else has advised us to be obsolete, we need to milk what we have until it literally drops dead.

For those who might not be in the know medium wave and short wave was the method used to get VOK to your grandfathers Sanyo radio out there in the middle open spaces of rural Kenya. If you remember that was the radio which would pick national service all the way from Mombasa to Kisumu without needing to change channels.

Today the half baked radio stations you listen to as you travel through the traffic to the congested city are likely to be FM which gets muffled as you near the CBD and disappear immediately you pass the weigh bridge at Mlolongo. You might have realised to the channel for your favourite radio station is different in different towns forcing you to carry a log book if you are to remain tuned in as you travel.

The killing of MW in a developing country is tantamount to development suicide, but since most of us only commute within of radius of 10 kilometres from the CBD we might strongly believe that MW is dead and the solution is FM, lets be careful not to follow the path of Telkom/Orange who at one time contemplated killing CDMA (10 - 50 KM radius per BTS) for GSM (2 KM radius per BTS).

So Dr. Ndemo, before we start scraping off equipment and declaring technology redundant lets carry out an informed analysis before you hastily layoff that MW technician.

Regards

Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya

Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

----- Original Message ----- From: "bitange@jambo.co.ke" <bitange@jambo.co.ke> To: <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk>robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2012, 8:57 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dr. Ndemo & the KBC Staff Strike

Washington, KBC would emerge strong from this crisis. We found KBC with a debt of Ksh. 20 billion. It used be the conduit for corruption through dumping of technology especially the Medium Wave (MW) just as FM was emerging. It cost ten times more running a medium wave station than it is with FM. We are changing this. So far we have six new FM stations replacing the old technology.

We have spilit the organization into theree, that is, infrastructure under Signet, Public Broadcast and Commercial Broabcast. The later two will basically content providers and would worry less on infrastructure that will be supplied by Signet.

The strike was unnecessary since we had commited to implementing their demands. I had personally issued a circular to that effect. Even the Union they had joined advised them that the strike was illegal but unfortunately they defied this. Even more unfortunate they denounced the Union out of anger.

We shall continue with the reforms and improve their welfare. It is not in our interest to see those we work with in the streets. I was shocked to realize that we have thousands of Kenyans seeking for employment. I think some of you may have watched TV the heaps of applications. By yesterday we had in excess of 10,000. I was not misquoted because on Sunday I was at the station and there were more than 1,000 applications. We must do something for our brothers and sisters. Either we start teaching them on areas of wealth creation or find ways of creating massive employment. We are trying in our sector but we have not done enough.

Ndemo.

...

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 21:06, Dennis Kioko < <dmbuvi@gmail.com> dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:

...

I feel we should sort out our National Broadcaster. It's a pity that other private media stations have taken over KBCs position as we stood by and watched. At the moment, KBC still has good will and can recover.

It also does not make sense for we to push for cutting edge initiatives such as Konza, TEAMS if we are going to let the state at KBC remain as it is. I am sure they can play a major role in local content creation.

Having colleagues in the journalistic filed at KBC, I have heard rumours of situation where the national broadcaster's crew were first at ground breaking events (read disasters) in the country. However, such news is broken by private radio stations where the footage is sold even before it ever gets to KBCs studios. I have even heard more rumours of the broadcasters equipment being used to shoot footage that ends up with private broadcasters.

I am sure the leaked payslips of staff at Standard Media Group <<http://thejackalnews.com/media-news/news-media/1688-horror-of-massive-salary-discrepancies-at-standard-group-exposed> http://thejackalnews.com/media-news/news-media/1688-horror-of-massive-salary... led to most of the staff questioning what it is they did wrong for their colleagues at media school to end up on the better side of luck .

An amicable solution is required. We are all sure that the national broadcaster can make enough revenue to sustain a highly skilled workforce, given the right leadership.

I believe Dr. Ndemo, having seeing his deeds in the ICT sector, can also be the champion credited with overhauling KBC.

@Dennis,

For me, it's a simple question so far:

What is it that KBC doesn't have (and cannot afford) that the private broadcasters do have?

If someone can answer this for me, I'd be very happy because it's "looking at issues from BASIC PRINCIPLES". Maybe it's as hard as having to disband KBC, if that situation cannot be addressed. However, KBC being a National Broadcaster means it's funded by public taxes and that is a very very deep pocket! I am not ready to accept any explanation to the effect that the govt cannot put in place the necessary measures to make KBC a profitable business-case. Rumors have it that Management at KBC are well-connected individuals, not necessarily qualified, and that is typical for the govt, which is not a business and so is not expected to make profits, but KBC must make profits like other Media houses. I don't understand what it is that Citizen does right with its myriad Radio Stations that KBC cannot do, having been the only broadcaster before these FM Stations were born. Oh, most of KBC veterans can be heard at the private Radio Stations, especially Royal Media. Someone must be able to explain why they had to leave KBC for these other places. The reasons are obvious.

Perhaps the govt should just bite the bullet and shut down KBC if they cannot improve it and attract talent and stop acting stupid!

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at

<http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke> http://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.

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>kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.uk> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.u...

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 http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/odhiambo%40gmail.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.

-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. Please consider the environment before printing this email. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

Unsubscribe or change your options at http://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.

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.