Sir Isaac Newton was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, alchemist, inventor and natural philosopher. He is often regarded as the most influential scientist in history and is most famous for discovering the Laws of Gravity. He is quoted as having said “*If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants.*” I have heard many enterprising developers say that they have interest working with Safaricom and other industry leaders to expand their innovations to a wider market. One huge setback facing such developers is when the giant attempts to step on the poor developers by slaming them with “big-boy” revenue-share agreements. Why is revenue share is so inhibitive in our market? Currently if you partner with Safaricom, they will take about 60% of revenues (i stand to be corrected as i have not signed up with them yet). Elsewhere in the world, like in Japan, 70% goes to the developer. Nokia is also helping local developers market their apps globally, Nokia takes 30% and pays out 70% to the developer. I would be happy to hear more from Safaricom on this. How can Safaricom encourage us to test our innovations in this market as you have done so well with M-PESA before exporting it to other countries? Muthoni On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 1:11 PM, Matunda Nyanchama < mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com> wrote:
Congratulations are in order for these young girls in the above story<http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Girls%20who%20created%20social%20network%20for%20farmers%20/-/1056/1085706/-/6c0qcjz/-/index.html>; kudos.
My reading is that there are many such stories and potential successes that could happen. This was reinforced when I saw presentations at the most recent AITEC event in Nairobi. We just need the right environment and our tech sector will take off to even higher heights than the present trend suggests.
Couple of things that could help:
- Protection of Intellectual Property: I marveled at the ease with which those at the conference shared their creations and even creations that were on the drawing board! Question: how do they know who the prying eyes are in the public event? And prying eyes with deeper pockets and better knowledge of the business of IT? - Risk Capital: Silicon Valley wouldn't have been without risk capital? RIM (that produces the blackberry), one of the most successful Canadian tech creations, would not have happened without risk capital. For the longest time, the latter depended on government grants, which allowed them to go thru' teething stages! In Kenya, we may not have the kind money Canada has thrown into R&D in form of grants. However, we can have a variation of this. One possibility I have shared with friends relates to incentives, i.e. tax credits, R&D Levy Fund from which companies can get back some of the money invested in R&D, and even some form of "insurance" where risk capital would be compensated at a given % should a venture not materialize! - Active scouting of ideas for development in science fairs, tech conferences, etc and investing in those that offer promise.
Ukiona vyalea vimeundua or words to that effect from the wisdom of the old.Development cannot be left to chance. It reminds of a science project we did in high school: powering a radio using stored energy in a wind up spring! We got good marks; and off we went later to university, forgot about it and lo! years later, someone was selling wind up radios in rural Africa!
Shukrani.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * “If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.” * - George Bernard Shaw
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you.
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-- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!
Great thread Muthoni...you have touched the core of the problem stifling innovation in this country. What can be done differently to turn the 4 brilliant Kenyans into an army of 1 million innovators? I recall the regional innovation exhibitions that Kevit et al used to host annually, I'm reliably informed that a database of over 1,000 innovators with cutting edge ideas is just lying idle...why not mobilize this group of a thousand brilliant minds to transform our space? Edith From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Dorcas Muthoni Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 11:50 AM To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants Sir Isaac Newton was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, alchemist, inventor and natural philosopher. He is often regarded as the most influential scientist in history and is most famous for discovering the Laws of Gravity. He is quoted as having said "If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants." I have heard many enterprising developers say that they have interest working with Safaricom and other industry leaders to expand their innovations to a wider market. One huge setback facing such developers is when the giant attempts to step on the poor developers by slaming them with "big-boy" revenue-share agreements. Why is revenue share is so inhibitive in our market? Currently if you partner with Safaricom, they will take about 60% of revenues (i stand to be corrected as i have not signed up with them yet). Elsewhere in the world, like in Japan, 70% goes to the developer. Nokia is also helping local developers market their apps globally, Nokia takes 30% and pays out 70% to the developer. I would be happy to hear more from Safaricom on this. How can Safaricom encourage us to test our innovations in this market as you have done so well with M-PESA before exporting it to other countries? Muthoni On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 1:11 PM, Matunda Nyanchama <mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com<mailto:mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com>> wrote: Congratulations are in order for these young girls in the above story<http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Girls%20who%20created%20social%20network%20for%20farmers%20/-/1056/1085706/-/6c0qcjz/-/index.html>; kudos. My reading is that there are many such stories and potential successes that could happen. This was reinforced when I saw presentations at the most recent AITEC event in Nairobi. We just need the right environment and our tech sector will take off to even higher heights than the present trend suggests. Couple of things that could help: * Protection of Intellectual Property: I marveled at the ease with which those at the conference shared their creations and even creations that were on the drawing board! Question: how do they know who the prying eyes are in the public event? And prying eyes with deeper pockets and better knowledge of the business of IT? * Risk Capital: Silicon Valley wouldn't have been without risk capital? RIM (that produces the blackberry), one of the most successful Canadian tech creations, would not have happened without risk capital. For the longest time, the latter depended on government grants, which allowed them to go thru' teething stages! In Kenya, we may not have the kind money Canada has thrown into R&D in form of grants. However, we can have a variation of this. One possibility I have shared with friends relates to incentives, i.e. tax credits, R&D Levy Fund from which companies can get back some of the money invested in R&D, and even some form of "insurance" where risk capital would be compensated at a given % should a venture not materialize! * Active scouting of ideas for development in science fairs, tech conferences, etc and investing in those that offer promise. Ukiona vyalea vimeundua or words to that effect from the wisdom of the old.Development cannot be left to chance. It reminds of a science project we did in high school: powering a radio using stored energy in a wind up spring! We got good marks; and off we went later to university, forgot about it and lo! years later, someone was selling wind up radios in rural Africa! Shukrani. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com<mailto:mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com> Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com<http://www.aganoconsulting.com> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas." - George Bernard Shaw ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: dmuthoni@gmail.com<mailto:dmuthoni@gmail.com> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmuthoni%40gmail.com -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!
Hey all, I quickly want to point out that we're not, in fact, in a complete vacuum here: The ICT Board has actually supported and/or organised a number of initiatives that address just these issues, often at the IHub. One event that I participated in as the moderator was the ICT venture capital challenge in which eight ICT start ups pitched their ideas to a panel of VC funds and received instant feedback. Some were good and are, I believe, in talks to raise funds. Some weren't so good and that's normal, too :) This was in front of an audience of techies and developers so that they would understand what VC funds are looking for. The event had a good turnout and I believe there were plans to do more of them. The ICT Board gave out grants last year to both individuals and companies for local content creation. The IHub and the ICT Board have also hosted a bunch of events to bring in ICT entrepreneurs to talk about their own career and track record. I recall discussing with Kaburo that maybe a separate session or on intellectual property protection, writing a business plan etc would be useful. Finally, something worth bearing in mind: Not everyone is an entrepreneur - yet. I love all the different ideas, but often find that many people with smart technical ideas have little understanding of how to turn this into a business, to find the clients, to market the product. I'd like to see more emphasis on building this capacity, or of examples how start ups managed to acquire this knowledge (maybe by finding the right partners with a non-tech, commercial background?). Not everyone is an entrepreneur, period - I would actually like to see more information on careers in the tech space, and have just nudged Roland Omoresemi to talk about his company, Tezza Solutions<http://softwaretestingafrica.com/>, at the IHub to explain what a career in software testing could look like, what the prerequisites are, whether there is any certification etc. I think this talk will happen next week. If anyone on this list has something similar to offer, why not contact the ICT Board and the IHub and suggest a talk? We could also look at perhaps a panel with four or five different companies that introduce their portfolio, speak about career paths, and maybe use such an event as a hunting ground for interns/prospective employees. Happy new year, Andrea On 12 January 2011 12:11, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke> wrote:
Great thread Muthoni…you have touched the core of the problem stifling innovation in this country. What can be done differently to turn the 4 brilliant Kenyans into an army of 1 million innovators?
I recall the regional innovation exhibitions that Kevit et al used to host annually, I’m reliably informed that a database of over 1,000 innovators with cutting edge ideas is just lying idle…why not mobilize this group of a thousand brilliant minds to transform our space?
Edith
*From:* kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto: kictanet-bounces+eadera <kictanet-bounces%2Beadera>=idrc.or.ke@ lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *Dorcas Muthoni *Sent:* Wednesday, January 12, 2011 11:50 AM *To:* Edith Adera *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions *Subject:* [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
Sir Isaac Newton was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, alchemist, inventor and natural philosopher. He is often regarded as the most influential scientist in history and is most famous for discovering the Laws of Gravity.
He is quoted as having said “*If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants.*”
I have heard many enterprising developers say that they have interest working with Safaricom and other industry leaders to expand their innovations to a wider market. One huge setback facing such developers is when the giant attempts to step on the poor developers by slaming them with “big-boy” revenue-share agreements.
Why is revenue share is so inhibitive in our market? Currently if you partner with Safaricom, they will take about 60% of revenues (i stand to be corrected as i have not signed up with them yet).
Elsewhere in the world, like in Japan, 70% goes to the developer. Nokia is also helping local developers market their apps globally, Nokia takes 30% and pays out 70% to the developer.
I would be happy to hear more from Safaricom on this.
How can Safaricom encourage us to test our innovations in this market as you have done so well with M-PESA before exporting it to other countries?
Muthoni
On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 1:11 PM, Matunda Nyanchama < mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com> wrote:
Congratulations are in order for these young girls in the above story<http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Girls%20who%20created%20social%20network%20for%20farmers%20/-/1056/1085706/-/6c0qcjz/-/index.html>; kudos.
My reading is that there are many such stories and potential successes that could happen. This was reinforced when I saw presentations at the most recent AITEC event in Nairobi. We just need the right environment and our tech sector will take off to even higher heights than the present trend suggests.
Couple of things that could help:
- Protection of Intellectual Property: I marveled at the ease with which those at the conference shared their creations and even creations that were on the drawing board! Question: how do they know who the prying eyes are in the public event? And prying eyes with deeper pockets and better knowledge of the business of IT? - Risk Capital: Silicon Valley wouldn't have been without risk capital? RIM (that produces the blackberry), one of the most successful Canadian tech creations, would not have happened without risk capital. For the longest time, the latter depended on government grants, which allowed them to go thru' teething stages! In Kenya, we may not have the kind money Canada has thrown into R&D in form of grants. However, we can have a variation of this. One possibility I have shared with friends relates to incentives, i.e. tax credits, R&D Levy Fund from which companies can get back some of the money invested in R&D, and even some form of "insurance" where risk capital would be compensated at a given % should a venture not materialize! - Active scouting of ideas for development in science fairs, tech conferences, etc and investing in those that offer promise.
*Ukiona vyalea vimeundua* or words to that effect from the wisdom of the old.Development cannot be left to chance. It reminds of a science project we did in high school: powering a radio using stored energy in a wind up spring! We got good marks; and off we went later to university, forgot about it and lo! years later, someone was selling wind up radios in rural Africa!
Shukrani.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Matunda Nyanchama, mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; **www.aganoconsulting.com*<http://www.aganoconsulting.com>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * “If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.” * - George Bernard Shaw
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you.
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-- Muthoni
My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:-
First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!
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-- Andrea Bohnstedt <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/andreabohnstedt> Publisher +254 720 960 322 www.ratio-magazine.com Find/post East Africa careers<http://www.ratio-magazine.com/careers/index.php> Find/post conferences, workshops, trainings, other business events<http://www.ratio-magazine.com/businessevents/index.php>
The point - we need to move beyond "talk" to have an organizing framework that will make things happen BIG and at a practical level so as to move the innovation wheel forward for profound change in the country. This army of young innovators needs to be mobilized (within a clear strategic framework) as a core foundation of the national innovation system in the country, if we are to make meaningful progress! Edith From: Andrea Bohnstedt [mailto:andrea.bohnstedt@ratio-magazine.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 1:47 PM To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants Hey all, I quickly want to point out that we're not, in fact, in a complete vacuum here: The ICT Board has actually supported and/or organised a number of initiatives that address just these issues, often at the IHub. One event that I participated in as the moderator was the ICT venture capital challenge in which eight ICT start ups pitched their ideas to a panel of VC funds and received instant feedback. Some were good and are, I believe, in talks to raise funds. Some weren't so good and that's normal, too :) This was in front of an audience of techies and developers so that they would understand what VC funds are looking for. The event had a good turnout and I believe there were plans to do more of them. The ICT Board gave out grants last year to both individuals and companies for local content creation. The IHub and the ICT Board have also hosted a bunch of events to bring in ICT entrepreneurs to talk about their own career and track record. I recall discussing with Kaburo that maybe a separate session or on intellectual property protection, writing a business plan etc would be useful. Finally, something worth bearing in mind: Not everyone is an entrepreneur - yet. I love all the different ideas, but often find that many people with smart technical ideas have little understanding of how to turn this into a business, to find the clients, to market the product. I'd like to see more emphasis on building this capacity, or of examples how start ups managed to acquire this knowledge (maybe by finding the right partners with a non-tech, commercial background?). Not everyone is an entrepreneur, period - I would actually like to see more information on careers in the tech space, and have just nudged Roland Omoresemi to talk about his company, Tezza Solutions<http://softwaretestingafrica.com/>, at the IHub to explain what a career in software testing could look like, what the prerequisites are, whether there is any certification etc. I think this talk will happen next week. If anyone on this list has something similar to offer, why not contact the ICT Board and the IHub and suggest a talk? We could also look at perhaps a panel with four or five different companies that introduce their portfolio, speak about career paths, and maybe use such an event as a hunting ground for interns/prospective employees. Happy new year, Andrea On 12 January 2011 12:11, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke<mailto:eadera@idrc.or.ke>> wrote: Great thread Muthoni...you have touched the core of the problem stifling innovation in this country. What can be done differently to turn the 4 brilliant Kenyans into an army of 1 million innovators? I recall the regional innovation exhibitions that Kevit et al used to host annually, I'm reliably informed that a database of over 1,000 innovators with cutting edge ideas is just lying idle...why not mobilize this group of a thousand brilliant minds to transform our space? Edith From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke<http://idrc.or.ke>@lists.kictanet.or.ke<http://lists.kictanet.or.ke> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera<mailto:kictanet-bounces%2Beadera>=idrc.or.ke<http://idrc.or.ke>@lists.kictanet.or.ke<http://lists.kictanet.or.ke>] On Behalf Of Dorcas Muthoni Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 11:50 AM To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants Sir Isaac Newton was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, alchemist, inventor and natural philosopher. He is often regarded as the most influential scientist in history and is most famous for discovering the Laws of Gravity. He is quoted as having said "If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants." I have heard many enterprising developers say that they have interest working with Safaricom and other industry leaders to expand their innovations to a wider market. One huge setback facing such developers is when the giant attempts to step on the poor developers by slaming them with "big-boy" revenue-share agreements. Why is revenue share is so inhibitive in our market? Currently if you partner with Safaricom, they will take about 60% of revenues (i stand to be corrected as i have not signed up with them yet). Elsewhere in the world, like in Japan, 70% goes to the developer. Nokia is also helping local developers market their apps globally, Nokia takes 30% and pays out 70% to the developer. I would be happy to hear more from Safaricom on this. How can Safaricom encourage us to test our innovations in this market as you have done so well with M-PESA before exporting it to other countries? Muthoni On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 1:11 PM, Matunda Nyanchama <mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com<mailto:mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com>> wrote: Congratulations are in order for these young girls in the above story<http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Girls%20who%20created%20social%20network%20for%20farmers%20/-/1056/1085706/-/6c0qcjz/-/index.html>; kudos. My reading is that there are many such stories and potential successes that could happen. This was reinforced when I saw presentations at the most recent AITEC event in Nairobi. We just need the right environment and our tech sector will take off to even higher heights than the present trend suggests. Couple of things that could help: * Protection of Intellectual Property: I marveled at the ease with which those at the conference shared their creations and even creations that were on the drawing board! Question: how do they know who the prying eyes are in the public event? And prying eyes with deeper pockets and better knowledge of the business of IT? * Risk Capital: Silicon Valley wouldn't have been without risk capital? RIM (that produces the blackberry), one of the most successful Canadian tech creations, would not have happened without risk capital. For the longest time, the latter depended on government grants, which allowed them to go thru' teething stages! In Kenya, we may not have the kind money Canada has thrown into R&D in form of grants. However, we can have a variation of this. One possibility I have shared with friends relates to incentives, i.e. tax credits, R&D Levy Fund from which companies can get back some of the money invested in R&D, and even some form of "insurance" where risk capital would be compensated at a given % should a venture not materialize! * Active scouting of ideas for development in science fairs, tech conferences, etc and investing in those that offer promise. Ukiona vyalea vimeundua or words to that effect from the wisdom of the old.Development cannot be left to chance. It reminds of a science project we did in high school: powering a radio using stored energy in a wind up spring! We got good marks; and off we went later to university, forgot about it and lo! years later, someone was selling wind up radios in rural Africa! Shukrani. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com<mailto:mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com> Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com<http://www.aganoconsulting.com> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas." - George Bernard Shaw ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: dmuthoni@gmail.com<mailto:dmuthoni@gmail.com> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmuthoni%40gmail.com -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!! _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: andrea.bohnstedt@ratio-magazine.com<mailto:andrea.bohnstedt@ratio-magazine.com> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/andrea.bohnstedt%40rati... -- Andrea Bohnstedt<http://ke.linkedin.com/in/andreabohnstedt> Publisher +254 720 960 322 www.ratio-magazine.com<http://www.ratio-magazine.com> Find/post East Africa careers<http://www.ratio-magazine.com/careers/index.php> Find/post conferences, workshops, trainings, other business events<http://www.ratio-magazine.com/businessevents/index.php>
Happy New Year friends, I agree with Andrea, not everyone is an entrepreneur, i agree with Edith we need frameworks, however business is about principles, as young people this is what needs to be inculcated, the current society is a get rich quick society and we must safeguard the minds of young people from such a mentality, in my opinion the Focus should be to continuously encourage young people to develop solutions to the problems in our society, the government on the other hand should continue supplementing the efforts of the industry and stakeholders to consume technology through awareness creation and creating an environment that demands the use of technology, lest i digress the question was shot at Safaricom. On Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 5:31 PM, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke> wrote:
The point - we need to move beyond “talk” to have an organizing framework that will make things happen BIG and at a practical level so as to move the innovation wheel forward for profound change in the country.
This army of young innovators needs to be mobilized (within a clear strategic framework) as a core foundation of the national innovation system in the country, if we are to make meaningful progress!
Edith
*From:* Andrea Bohnstedt [mailto:andrea.bohnstedt@ratio-magazine.com] *Sent:* Wednesday, January 12, 2011 1:47 PM
*To:* Edith Adera *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
Hey all,
I quickly want to point out that we're not, in fact, in a complete vacuum here:
The ICT Board has actually supported and/or organised a number of initiatives that address just these issues, often at the IHub. One event that I participated in as the moderator was the ICT venture capital challenge in which eight ICT start ups pitched their ideas to a panel of VC funds and received instant feedback. Some were good and are, I believe, in talks to raise funds. Some weren't so good and that's normal, too :) This was in front of an audience of techies and developers so that they would understand what VC funds are looking for. The event had a good turnout and I believe there were plans to do more of them.
The ICT Board gave out grants last year to both individuals and companies for local content creation.
The IHub and the ICT Board have also hosted a bunch of events to bring in ICT entrepreneurs to talk about their own career and track record. I recall discussing with Kaburo that maybe a separate session or on intellectual property protection, writing a business plan etc would be useful.
Finally, something worth bearing in mind:
Not everyone is an entrepreneur - yet. I love all the different ideas, but often find that many people with smart technical ideas have little understanding of how to turn this into a business, to find the clients, to market the product. I'd like to see more emphasis on building this capacity, or of examples how start ups managed to acquire this knowledge (maybe by finding the right partners with a non-tech, commercial background?).
Not everyone is an entrepreneur, period - I would actually like to see more information on careers in the tech space, and have just nudged Roland Omoresemi to talk about his company, Tezza Solutions<http://softwaretestingafrica.com/>, at the IHub to explain what a career in software testing could look like, what the prerequisites are, whether there is any certification etc. I think this talk will happen next week.
If anyone on this list has something similar to offer, why not contact the ICT Board and the IHub and suggest a talk? We could also look at perhaps a panel with four or five different companies that introduce their portfolio, speak about career paths, and maybe use such an event as a hunting ground for interns/prospective employees.
Happy new year, Andrea
On 12 January 2011 12:11, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke> wrote:
Great thread Muthoni…you have touched the core of the problem stifling innovation in this country. What can be done differently to turn the 4 brilliant Kenyans into an army of 1 million innovators?
I recall the regional innovation exhibitions that Kevit et al used to host annually, I’m reliably informed that a database of over 1,000 innovators with cutting edge ideas is just lying idle…why not mobilize this group of a thousand brilliant minds to transform our space?
Edith
*From:* kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto: kictanet-bounces+eadera <kictanet-bounces%2Beadera>=idrc.or.ke@ lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *Dorcas Muthoni *Sent:* Wednesday, January 12, 2011 11:50 AM *To:* Edith Adera *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions *Subject:* [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
Sir Isaac Newton was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, alchemist, inventor and natural philosopher. He is often regarded as the most influential scientist in history and is most famous for discovering the Laws of Gravity.
He is quoted as having said “*If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants.*”
I have heard many enterprising developers say that they have interest working with Safaricom and other industry leaders to expand their innovations to a wider market. One huge setback facing such developers is when the giant attempts to step on the poor developers by slaming them with “big-boy” revenue-share agreements.
Why is revenue share is so inhibitive in our market? Currently if you partner with Safaricom, they will take about 60% of revenues (i stand to be corrected as i have not signed up with them yet).
Elsewhere in the world, like in Japan, 70% goes to the developer. Nokia is also helping local developers market their apps globally, Nokia takes 30% and pays out 70% to the developer.
I would be happy to hear more from Safaricom on this.
How can Safaricom encourage us to test our innovations in this market as you have done so well with M-PESA before exporting it to other countries?
Muthoni
On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 1:11 PM, Matunda Nyanchama < mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com> wrote:
Congratulations are in order for these young girls in the above story<http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Girls%20who%20created%20social%20network%20for%20farmers%20/-/1056/1085706/-/6c0qcjz/-/index.html>; kudos.
My reading is that there are many such stories and potential successes that could happen. This was reinforced when I saw presentations at the most recent AITEC event in Nairobi. We just need the right environment and our tech sector will take off to even higher heights than the present trend suggests.
Couple of things that could help:
- Protection of Intellectual Property: I marveled at the ease with which those at the conference shared their creations and even creations that were on the drawing board! Question: how do they know who the prying eyes are in the public event? And prying eyes with deeper pockets and better knowledge of the business of IT? - Risk Capital: Silicon Valley wouldn't have been without risk capital? RIM (that produces the blackberry), one of the most successful Canadian tech creations, would not have happened without risk capital. For the longest time, the latter depended on government grants, which allowed them to go thru' teething stages! In Kenya, we may not have the kind money Canada has thrown into R&D in form of grants. However, we can have a variation of this. One possibility I have shared with friends relates to incentives, i.e. tax credits, R&D Levy Fund from which companies can get back some of the money invested in R&D, and even some form of "insurance" where risk capital would be compensated at a given % should a venture not materialize! - Active scouting of ideas for development in science fairs, tech conferences, etc and investing in those that offer promise.
*Ukiona vyalea vimeundua* or words to that effect from the wisdom of the old.Development cannot be left to chance. It reminds of a science project we did in high school: powering a radio using stored energy in a wind up spring! We got good marks; and off we went later to university, forgot about it and lo! years later, someone was selling wind up radios in rural Africa!
Shukrani.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Matunda Nyanchama, mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; **www.aganoconsulting.com*<http://www.aganoconsulting.com>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * “If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.” * - George Bernard Shaw
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The problem is not having a framework. Watch Social Network, how Zuckerberg created facebook. On his own, he could not have gone far. We need to work in teams providing different capabilities and simply be honest to one another. We cannot succeed if our consideration for capabilities is where you come from. We mus subordinate our individual interest and pride for the greater benefits that change society. Ndemo. Sent from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:53:16 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: bitange@jambo.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke
Bw PS, The potential to develop innovations that bring meaning to the lives of the majority are myriad. On a larger scale, do you have any ideas on how the private sector as well as the public sector (via policy etc) can 'incentivize' innovation for social good? I hope you don't mind my quoting you on an article we're working on about business models for BoP innovations. Kind regards, *Muchiri* Nyaggah Director @muchiri +254 722 506400 Semacraft.com On Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 7:34 PM, <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:
The problem is not having a framework. Watch Social Network, how Zuckerberg created facebook. On his own, he could not have gone far. We need to work in teams providing different capabilities and simply be honest to one another. We cannot succeed if our consideration for capabilities is where you come from. We mus subordinate our individual interest and pride for the greater benefits that change society.
Ndemo.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message----- From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:53:16 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
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I agree we need to think large scale (BIG), which requires a bigger strategy (the point I was making earlier). Bw Ndemo has a point about individual responsibility working with others to innovate...but again Barack reminds us of the breakdown in social fabric (get rich quick...mentored by politicians and other "get-rich-quick-Kenyans). So we need "a new breed of young Kenyan innovators" with a different mentality from the norm......facilitated by an environment that will provide the "key drivers" to spur innovation. So the question is what are these drivers? (at large scale?). Andrea mentioned some of the drivers....finance, statutory incentives, IPR etc. Last thought...why not create an environment where the young dictate the terms of the VC rather than Safaricom retaining 70%, what will it take to tilt the scale? Edith ________________ Edith Ofwona Adera Senior Program Specialist ICT4D Program and Climate Change & Water Program International Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches pour le développement international Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa Tel: +254202713160 | Fax/Téléc: +254202711063 | Skype: edithadera eadera@idrc.or.ke<mailto:eadera@idrc.or.ke> | www.idrc.ca<http://www.idrc.ca/> | www.crdi.ca<http://www.crdi.ca/> ________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Muchiri Nyaggah [muchiri@semacraft.com] Sent: 12 January 2011 19:58 To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Re: Standing on the shoulders of giants Bw PS, The potential to develop innovations that bring meaning to the lives of the majority are myriad. On a larger scale, do you have any ideas on how the private sector as well as the public sector (via policy etc) can 'incentivize' innovation for social good? I hope you don't mind my quoting you on an article we're working on about business models for BoP innovations. Kind regards, Muchiri Nyaggah Director @muchiri +254 722 506400 Semacraft.com [cid:image001.jpg@01CB49C7.457E3650] On Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 7:34 PM, <bitange@jambo.co.ke<mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke>> wrote: The problem is not having a framework. Watch Social Network, how Zuckerberg created facebook. On his own, he could not have gone far. We need to work in teams providing different capabilities and simply be honest to one another. We cannot succeed if our consideration for capabilities is where you come from. We mus subordinate our individual interest and pride for the greater benefits that change society. Ndemo. Sent from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com<mailto:otieno.barrack@gmail.com>> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke<http://jambo.co.ke>@lists.kictanet.or.ke<http://lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:53:16 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke<mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>> Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: bitange@jambo.co.ke<mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: muchiri@semacraft.com<mailto:muchiri@semacraft.com> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/muchiri%40semacraft.com
Paul, See below - begins to answer some of your questions. How can we turn these fragmented efforts (noble as they are) to large scale efforts that begin to be felt at national level and touch the bottom line - economic growth. And how do we measure real outcomes of the efforts (not list of activities but outcomes). Edith ________________ Edith Ofwona Adera Senior Program Specialist ICT4D Program and Climate Change & Water Program International Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches pour le développement international Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa Tel: +254202713160 | Fax/Téléc: +254202711063 | Skype: edithadera eadera@idrc.or.ke<mailto:eadera@idrc.or.ke> | www.idrc.ca<http://www.idrc.ca/> | www.crdi.ca<http://www.crdi.ca/> ________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Edith Adera [eadera@idrc.or.ke] Sent: 12 January 2011 22:52 To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Re: Standing on the shoulders of giants I agree we need to think large scale (BIG), which requires a bigger strategy (the point I was making earlier). Bw Ndemo has a point about individual responsibility working with others to innovate...but again Barack reminds us of the breakdown in social fabric (get rich quick...mentored by politicians and other "get-rich-quick-Kenyans). So we need "a new breed of young Kenyan innovators" with a different mentality from the norm......facilitated by an environment that will provide the "key drivers" to spur innovation. So the question is what are these drivers? (at large scale?). Andrea mentioned some of the drivers....finance, statutory incentives, IPR etc. Last thought...why not create an environment where the young dictate the terms of the VC rather than Safaricom retaining 70%, what will it take to tilt the scale? Edith ________________ Edith Ofwona Adera Senior Program Specialist ICT4D Program and Climate Change & Water Program International Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches pour le développement international Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa Tel: +254202713160 | Fax/Téléc: +254202711063 | Skype: edithadera eadera@idrc.or.ke<mailto:eadera@idrc.or.ke> | www.idrc.ca<http://www.idrc.ca/> | www.crdi.ca<http://www.crdi.ca/> ________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Muchiri Nyaggah [muchiri@semacraft.com] Sent: 12 January 2011 19:58 To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Re: Standing on the shoulders of giants Bw PS, The potential to develop innovations that bring meaning to the lives of the majority are myriad. On a larger scale, do you have any ideas on how the private sector as well as the public sector (via policy etc) can 'incentivize' innovation for social good? I hope you don't mind my quoting you on an article we're working on about business models for BoP innovations. Kind regards, Muchiri Nyaggah Director @muchiri +254 722 506400 Semacraft.com [cid:image001.jpg@01CB49C7.457E3650] On Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 7:34 PM, <bitange@jambo.co.ke<mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke>> wrote: The problem is not having a framework. Watch Social Network, how Zuckerberg created facebook. On his own, he could not have gone far. We need to work in teams providing different capabilities and simply be honest to one another. We cannot succeed if our consideration for capabilities is where you come from. We mus subordinate our individual interest and pride for the greater benefits that change society. Ndemo. Sent from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com<mailto:otieno.barrack@gmail.com>> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke<http://jambo.co.ke>@lists.kictanet.or.ke<http://lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:53:16 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke<mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>> Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: bitange@jambo.co.ke<mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: muchiri@semacraft.com<mailto:muchiri@semacraft.com> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/muchiri%40semacraft.com
Edith Thanks Paul Kukubo Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board PO Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya 12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960 Fax: +254 20 2211962 website: www.ict.go.ke local content project: www.tandaa.co.ke, www.facebook.com/tandaakenya twitter:@tandaaKENYA BPO Project: www. doitinkenya.co.ke Digital Villages Project: www.pasha.co.ke personal contacts _______________ Cell: + 254 717 180001 skype: kukubopaul googletalk: pkukubo personal blog: www.paulkukubo.co.ke personal twitter: @pkukubo ____________________ Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment On Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 11:08 PM, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke> wrote:
Paul,
See below - begins to answer some of your questions. How can we turn these fragmented efforts (noble as they are) to large scale efforts that begin to be felt at national level and touch the bottom line - economic growth. And how do we measure real outcomes of the efforts (not list of activities but outcomes).
Edith
*________________ *
*Edith Ofwona Adera *
Senior Program Specialist
ICT4D Program and Climate Change & Water Program
International Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches pour le développement international
Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa
Tel: +254202713160 | Fax/Téléc: +254202711063 | Skype: edithadera
eadera@idrc.or.ke | www.idrc.ca | www.crdi.ca
------------------------------ *From:* kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke[kictanet-bounces+eadera= idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Edith Adera [ eadera@idrc.or.ke] *Sent:* 12 January 2011 22:52
*To:* Edith Adera *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Re: Standing on the shoulders of giants
I agree we need to think large scale (BIG), which requires a bigger strategy (the point I was making earlier). Bw Ndemo has a point about individual responsibility working with others to innovate...but again Barack reminds us of the breakdown in social fabric (get rich quick...mentored by politicians and other "get-rich-quick-Kenyans). So we need "a new breed of young Kenyan innovators" with a different mentality from the norm......facilitated by an environment that will provide the "key drivers" to spur innovation. So the question is what are these drivers? (at large scale?). Andrea mentioned some of the drivers....finance, statutory incentives, IPR etc.
Last thought...why not create an environment where the young dictate the terms of the VC rather than Safaricom retaining 70%, what will it take to tilt the scale?
Edith
* ________________ *
*Edith Ofwona Adera *
Senior Program Specialist
ICT4D Program and Climate Change & Water Program
International Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches pour le développement international
Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa
Tel: +254202713160 | Fax/Téléc: +254202711063 | Skype: edithadera
eadera@idrc.or.ke | www.idrc.ca | www.crdi.ca
------------------------------ *From:* kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke[kictanet-bounces+eadera= idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Muchiri Nyaggah [ muchiri@semacraft.com] *Sent:* 12 January 2011 19:58 *To:* Edith Adera *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Re: Standing on the shoulders of giants
Bw PS,
The potential to develop innovations that bring meaning to the lives of the majority are myriad. On a larger scale, do you have any ideas on how the private sector as well as the public sector (via policy etc) can 'incentivize' innovation for social good? I hope you don't mind my quoting you on an article we're working on about business models for BoP innovations.
Kind regards,
*Muchiri* Nyaggah
Director
@muchiri
+254 722 506400
Semacraft.com
On Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 7:34 PM, <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:
The problem is not having a framework. Watch Social Network, how Zuckerberg created facebook. On his own, he could not have gone far. We need to work in teams providing different capabilities and simply be honest to one another. We cannot succeed if our consideration for capabilities is where you come from. We mus subordinate our individual interest and pride for the greater benefits that change society.
Ndemo.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message----- From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:53:16 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
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Hi, I believe we are missing a critical point and since the PS said "we need to be honest to one another", our so called great developers want the fame of Zuckerberg without the sweat and I request you all watch the movie Social Network to better appreciate what it took to create facebook. To make any major breakthrough you first and foremost need the heart and enthusiasm for what you are doing and not just the vision of the expected financial gain. When Ronaldinho was horning his soccer skills on the streets of Porto Alegre he was not thinking of the billions he will earn when he becomes a star he played for the passion of the sport. Safaricom is not a charitable organisation and if you actual develop, not imagine, a radically industry shifting product like MPesa or facebook then not only Safaricom but the other players in the industry will beat a path to your doorstep but so long as you put the money before the product then we might as well forget about development. I have a live example of 2 law students who spent countless hours with no return to develop what is now the leading electronic version of the laws of Kenya. When they came to me what they needed was computers, office space and web access, they already had the passion and energy which is something that money can not buy. For the icing on the cake, there is another developer who currently runs the site www.live.mystocks.co.ke which is the leading stock market information portal developed the initial site www.mystocks.co.ke from the challenge from me that there where no good developers just programmers in Kenya. Well he proved me wrong without hin raising the issues of money, partnership, legal environment, government support or standing on giants shoulders. With the way this product is going any serious service provider will soon be blazing a bath to the door. Let us live up to our peculiar ways and stop textbook approaches to a never before experienced problem, so before you stand on the shoulders of the giant make sure that are aware of your presence there cause one wrong move by the giant and all will be over. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ________________________________ 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: Wed, 12 January, 2011 19:34:03 Subject: Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Re: Standing on the shoulders of giants The problem is not having a framework. Watch Social Network, how Zuckerberg created facebook. On his own, he could not have gone far. We need to work in teams providing different capabilities and simply be honest to one another. We cannot succeed if our consideration for capabilities is where you come from. We mus subordinate our individual interest and pride for the greater benefits that change society. Ndemo. Sent from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:53:16 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: bitange@jambo.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.u...
The main challenge with our ecosystem, is that there is a disjoint between the policy makers and the doers ... The policy makers attend these big grand meetings, come up with strategy and write documents about the same. They have a better track record at getting money ...... to create the documents. They have access to the worldbank, IFC, the foundations etc etc. The doers .... do. But they don't have as much access to money and in most cases, most policy makers don't even know them unless they scale to a certain level To make life just a little bit easier, the policy makers and the doers need to meet more often so that documents show whats actually on the ground. That means all these people with think tank jobs should spend more time at the ihub, skunk-works, Mobile Monday and such fora so that they get a better understanding of whats going on. Dr Ndemo and Paul Kukubo in my view are policy makers {from Government} who are spending a fair amount of time learning about whats going on at the grassroots and they have done a good job setting up events and even funding some initiatives ... for that, I say kudos my two cents On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 9:20 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Hi,
I believe we are missing a critical point and since the PS said "we need to be honest to one another", our so called great developers want the fame of Zuckerberg without the sweat and I request you all watch the movie Social Network to better appreciate what it took to create facebook.
To make any major breakthrough you first and foremost need the heart and enthusiasm for what you are doing and not just the vision of the expected financial gain. When Ronaldinho was horning his soccer skills on the streets of *Porto Alegre **he was not thinking of the billions he will earn when he becomes a star he played for the passion of the sport.* * * *Safaricom is not a charitable organisation and if you actual develop, not imagine, a radically industry shifting product like MPesa or facebook then not only Safaricom but the other players in the industry will beat a path to your doorstep but so long as you put the money before the product then we might as well forget about development.* * * *I have a live example of 2 law students who spent countless hours with no return to develop what is now the leading electronic version of the laws of Kenya. When they came to me what they needed was computers, office space and web access, they already had the passion and energy which is something that money can not buy. * * * For the icing on the cake, there is another developer who currently runs the site www.live.mystocks.co.ke which is the leading stock market information portal developed the initial site www.mystocks.co.ke from the challenge from me that there where no good developers just programmers in Kenya. Well he proved me wrong without hin raising the issues of money, partnership, legal environment, government support or standing on giants shoulders. With the way this product is going any serious service provider will soon be blazing a bath to the door. * * *Let us live up to our peculiar ways and stop textbook approaches to a never before experienced problem, so before you stand on the shoulders of the giant make sure that are aware of your presence there cause one wrong move by the giant and all will be over.* * * *Regards*
Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya
Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
------------------------------ *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:* Wed, 12 January, 2011 19:34:03 *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Re: Standing on the shoulders of giants
The problem is not having a framework. Watch Social Network, how Zuckerberg created facebook. On his own, he could not have gone far. We need to work in teams providing different capabilities and simply be honest to one another. We cannot succeed if our consideration for capabilities is where you come from. We mus subordinate our individual interest and pride for the greater benefits that change society.
Ndemo.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message----- From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:53:16 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
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Hi Listers, To echo what Lico has so charmingly articulated, JKUAT/JKUATES got a consultancy in 2009 to develop a curriculum for converting ICT upstarts to digital village managers/entrepreneurs from ICT Board. We developed 12 fantastic modules in all areas such how to start and manage a business successfully in ICT sector. I am sure Paul can avail that curriculum which they used to train 7000 budding ICT entrepreneurs in all Kenyan districts/counties. We used local case studies like Liko's etc.. and so there is no need to go for international one suit fit all how to manage business downloads. My team at JKUAT are still available for anybody who require them But as somebody said, there is a big difference between entrepreneurs and business people. ENTREPRENEURS MAKE SYSTEMIC CHANGES, BUSINESS PEOPLE MAKE A LITTLE PROFIT FOR A WHILE AND THEN PERISH Over to you all and happy new year Charles CHARLES N. NDUATI GENERAL MANAGER JKUAT ENTERPRISES LTD JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY JUJA MAIN CAMPUS, THIKA P. O. BOX 79324-00200 NAIROBI, KENYA TEL: 254-067-52420 OR 254-067-52711 FAX: 254-067-52438 MOBILE:254-722728815 EMIAL:charlesnduati2002@yahoo.co.uk,cnduati@gmail.com,bm@jkuates.jkuat.ac.ke www.jkuat.ac.ke ________________________________ From: Agosta Liko <agostal@gmail.com> To: charlesnduati2002@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thu, 13 January, 2011 15:03:11 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants The main challenge with our ecosystem, is that there is a disjoint between the policy makers and the doers ... The policy makers attend these big grand meetings, come up with strategy and write documents about the same. They have a better track record at getting money ...... to create the documents. They have access to the worldbank, IFC, the foundations etc etc. The doers .... do. But they don't have as much access to money and in most cases, most policy makers don't even know them unless they scale to a certain level To make life just a little bit easier, the policy makers and the doers need to meet more often so that documents show whats actually on the ground. That means all these people with think tank jobs should spend more time at the ihub, skunk-works, Mobile Monday and such fora so that they get a better understanding of whats going on. Dr Ndemo and Paul Kukubo in my view are policy makers {from Government} who are spending a fair amount of time learning about whats going on at the grassroots and they have done a good job setting up events and even funding some initiatives ... for that, I say kudos my two cents On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 9:20 AM, robertyawe<robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Hi,
I believe we are missing a critical point and since the PS said "we need to be honest to one another", our so called great developers want the fame of Zuckerberg without the sweat and I request you all watch the movie Social Network to better appreciate what it took to create facebook.
To make any major breakthrough you first and foremost need the heart and enthusiasm for what you are doing and not just the vision of the expected financial gain. When Ronaldinho was horning his soccer skills on the streets of Porto Alegrehe was not thinking of the billions he will earn when he becomes a star he played for the passion of the sport.
Safaricom is not a charitable organisation and if you actual develop, not imagine, a radically industry shifting product like MPesa or facebook then not only Safaricom but the other players in the industry will beat a path to your doorstep but so long as you put the money before the product then we might as well forget about development.
I have a live example of 2 law students who spent countless hours with no return to develop what is now the leading electronic version of the laws of Kenya. When they came to me what they needed was computers, office space and web access, they already had the passion and energy which is something that money can not buy.
For the icing on the cake, there is another developer who currently runs the site www.live.mystocks.co.ke which is the leading stock market information portal developed the initial site www.mystocks.co.ke from the challenge from me that there where no good developers just programmers in Kenya. Well he proved me wrong without hin raising the issues of money, partnership, legal environment, government support or standing on giants shoulders. With the way this product is going any serious service provider will soon be blazing a bath to the door.
Let us live up to our peculiar ways and stop textbook approaches to a never before experienced problem, so before you stand on the shoulders of the giant make sure that are aware of your presence there cause one wrong move by the giant and all will be over.
Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya
Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
________________________________ 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: Wed, 12 January, 2011 19:34:03 Subject: Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Re: Standing on the shoulders of giants
The problem is not having a framework. Watch Social Network, how Zuckerberg created facebook. On his own, he could not have gone far. We need to work in teams providing different capabilities and simply be honest to one another. We cannot succeed if our consideration for capabilities is where you come from. We mus subordinate our individual interest and pride for the greater benefits that change society.
Ndemo.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message----- From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:53:16 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
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A great African scholar, Prof Mammo Muchie, recently said....to transform Africa...we need leaders who "hate money"!! Your point very well taken! Edith From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of robert yawe Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 9:21 AM To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants Hi, I believe we are missing a critical point and since the PS said "we need to be honest to one another", our so called great developers want the fame of Zuckerberg without the sweat and I request you all watch the movie Social Network to better appreciate what it took to create facebook. To make any major breakthrough you first and foremost need the heart and enthusiasm for what you are doing and not just the vision of the expected financial gain. When Ronaldinho was horning his soccer skills on the streets of Porto Alegre he was not thinking of the billions he will earn when he becomes a star he played for the passion of the sport. Safaricom is not a charitable organisation and if you actual develop, not imagine, a radically industry shifting product like MPesa or facebook then not only Safaricom but the other players in the industry will beat a path to your doorstep but so long as you put the money before the product then we might as well forget about development. I have a live example of 2 law students who spent countless hours with no return to develop what is now the leading electronic version of the laws of Kenya. When they came to me what they needed was computers, office space and web access, they already had the passion and energy which is something that money can not buy. For the icing on the cake, there is another developer who currently runs the site www.live.mystocks.co.ke<http://www.live.mystocks.co.ke> which is the leading stock market information portal developed the initial site www.mystocks.co.ke<http://www.mystocks.co.ke> from the challenge from me that there where no good developers just programmers in Kenya. Well he proved me wrong without hin raising the issues of money, partnership, legal environment, government support or standing on giants shoulders. With the way this product is going any serious service provider will soon be blazing a bath to the door. Let us live up to our peculiar ways and stop textbook approaches to a never before experienced problem, so before you stand on the shoulders of the giant make sure that are aware of your presence there cause one wrong move by the giant and all will be over. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ________________________________ 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: Wed, 12 January, 2011 19:34:03 Subject: Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Re: Standing on the shoulders of giants The problem is not having a framework. Watch Social Network, how Zuckerberg created facebook. On his own, he could not have gone far. We need to work in teams providing different capabilities and simply be honest to one another. We cannot succeed if our consideration for capabilities is where you come from. We mus subordinate our individual interest and pride for the greater benefits that change society. Ndemo. Sent from my BlackBerry(r) -----Original Message----- From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com<mailto:otieno.barrack@gmail.com>> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:53:16 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke<mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>> Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: bitange@jambo.co.ke<mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk<mailto:robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.u...
Just one small issue with the "meetings" in Nairobi with particular emphasis on those organized by the ICT Board. We need to ensure that the youth KNOW when the meetings are and who will be there. Many events are organized and the same youth are invited over and over again. It becomes a very elitist undertaking. Is there some way to better publicize the ongoings of such organizations to encourage increased participation? Crystal On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 4:32 PM, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke> wrote:
A great African scholar, Prof Mammo Muchie, recently said….to transform Africa…we need leaders who “hate money”!!
Your point very well taken!
Edith
*From:* kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto: kictanet-bounces+eadera <kictanet-bounces%2Beadera>=idrc.or.ke@ lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *robert yawe *Sent:* Thursday, January 13, 2011 9:21 AM *To:* Edith Adera
*Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
Hi,
I believe we are missing a critical point and since the PS said "we need to be honest to one another", our so called great developers want the fame of Zuckerberg without the sweat and I request you all watch the movie Social Network to better appreciate what it took to create facebook.
To make any major breakthrough you first and foremost need the heart and enthusiasm for what you are doing and not just the vision of the expected financial gain. When Ronaldinho was horning his soccer skills on the streets of *Porto Alegre **he was not thinking of the billions he will earn when he becomes a star he played for the passion of the sport.*
*Safaricom is not a charitable organisation and if you actual develop, not imagine, a radically industry shifting product like MPesa or facebook then not only Safaricom but the other players in the industry will beat a path to your doorstep but so long as you put the money before the product then we might as well forget about development.*
*I have a live example of 2 law students who spent countless hours with no return to develop what is now the leading electronic version of the laws of Kenya. When they came to me what they needed was computers, office space and web access, they already had the passion and energy which is something that money can not buy. *
For the icing on the cake, there is another developer who currently runs the site www.live.mystocks.co.ke which is the leading stock market information portal developed the initial site www.mystocks.co.ke from the challenge from me that there where no good developers just programmers in Kenya. Well he proved me wrong without hin raising the issues of money, partnership, legal environment, government support or standing on giants shoulders. With the way this product is going any serious service provider will soon be blazing a bath to the door.
*Let us live up to our peculiar ways and stop textbook approaches to a never before experienced problem, so before you stand on the shoulders of the giant make sure that are aware of your presence there cause one wrong move by the giant and all will be over.*
*Regards*
Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya
Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
------------------------------
*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:* Wed, 12 January, 2011 19:34:03 *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Re: Standing on the shoulders of giants
The problem is not having a framework. Watch Social Network, how Zuckerberg created facebook. On his own, he could not have gone far. We need to work in teams providing different capabilities and simply be honest to one another. We cannot succeed if our consideration for capabilities is where you come from. We mus subordinate our individual interest and pride for the greater benefits that change society.
Ndemo.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message----- From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:53:16 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
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-- Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Kigoni Executive Director Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development crystal@voicesofafrica.org http://www.voicesofafrica.org/ Intersat Africa, Ltd Rural Internet Kiosks Project Coordinator crystal.kigoni@intersat.ae Twitter: VOA_Crystal Skype: crystal.naliaka Facebook group: Voices of Africa "You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi
Crystal. All people are invited .... Some people make time, some don't. I don't see how the ICT Board should take the blame for that. If the donkey cannot come to the river .... :) On 1/13/11, Crystal Watley Kigoni <crystal@voicesofafrica.org> wrote:
Just one small issue with the "meetings" in Nairobi with particular emphasis on those organized by the ICT Board. We need to ensure that the youth KNOW when the meetings are and who will be there. Many events are organized and the same youth are invited over and over again. It becomes a very elitist undertaking. Is there some way to better publicize the ongoings of such organizations to encourage increased participation?
Crystal
On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 4:32 PM, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke> wrote:
A great African scholar, Prof Mammo Muchie, recently said….to transform Africa…we need leaders who “hate money”!!
Your point very well taken!
Edith
*From:* kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto: kictanet-bounces+eadera <kictanet-bounces%2Beadera>=idrc.or.ke@ lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *robert yawe *Sent:* Thursday, January 13, 2011 9:21 AM *To:* Edith Adera
*Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
Hi,
I believe we are missing a critical point and since the PS said "we need to be honest to one another", our so called great developers want the fame of Zuckerberg without the sweat and I request you all watch the movie Social Network to better appreciate what it took to create facebook.
To make any major breakthrough you first and foremost need the heart and enthusiasm for what you are doing and not just the vision of the expected financial gain. When Ronaldinho was horning his soccer skills on the streets of *Porto Alegre **he was not thinking of the billions he will earn when he becomes a star he played for the passion of the sport.*
*Safaricom is not a charitable organisation and if you actual develop, not imagine, a radically industry shifting product like MPesa or facebook then not only Safaricom but the other players in the industry will beat a path to your doorstep but so long as you put the money before the product then we might as well forget about development.*
*I have a live example of 2 law students who spent countless hours with no return to develop what is now the leading electronic version of the laws of Kenya. When they came to me what they needed was computers, office space and web access, they already had the passion and energy which is something that money can not buy. *
For the icing on the cake, there is another developer who currently runs the site www.live.mystocks.co.ke which is the leading stock market information portal developed the initial site www.mystocks.co.ke from the challenge from me that there where no good developers just programmers in Kenya. Well he proved me wrong without hin raising the issues of money, partnership, legal environment, government support or standing on giants shoulders. With the way this product is going any serious service provider will soon be blazing a bath to the door.
*Let us live up to our peculiar ways and stop textbook approaches to a never before experienced problem, so before you stand on the shoulders of the giant make sure that are aware of your presence there cause one wrong move by the giant and all will be over.*
*Regards*
Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya
Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
------------------------------
*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:* Wed, 12 January, 2011 19:34:03 *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Re: Standing on the shoulders of giants
The problem is not having a framework. Watch Social Network, how Zuckerberg created facebook. On his own, he could not have gone far. We need to work in teams providing different capabilities and simply be honest to one another. We cannot succeed if our consideration for capabilities is where you come from. We mus subordinate our individual interest and pride for the greater benefits that change society.
Ndemo.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message----- From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:53:16 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
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-- Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Kigoni Executive Director Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development crystal@voicesofafrica.org http://www.voicesofafrica.org/
Intersat Africa, Ltd Rural Internet Kiosks Project Coordinator crystal.kigoni@intersat.ae
Twitter: VOA_Crystal Skype: crystal.naliaka Facebook group: Voices of Africa
"You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi
-- Sent from my mobile device
It would be nice to see it publicly advertised. That would allow for people from other parts of the country to come. To be honest, I have not been aware of the last two meetings. I would have made time or would have asked someone from our team to go. I think there are hidden pockets of talent that would participate more if it was more widely present in the media or through the common mailing lists or something. I would like to see more new faces... :) Crystal On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 6:02 PM, Agosta Liko <agostal@gmail.com> wrote:
Crystal.
All people are invited .... Some people make time, some don't. I don't see how the ICT Board should take the blame for that.
If the donkey cannot come to the river .... :)
Just one small issue with the "meetings" in Nairobi with particular emphasis on those organized by the ICT Board. We need to ensure that the youth KNOW when the meetings are and who will be there. Many events are organized and the same youth are invited over and over again. It becomes a very elitist undertaking. Is there some way to better publicize the ongoings of such organizations to encourage increased participation?
Crystal
On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 4:32 PM, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke> wrote:
A great African scholar, Prof Mammo Muchie, recently said….to transform Africa…we need leaders who “hate money”!!
Your point very well taken!
Edith
*From:* kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke[mailto: kictanet-bounces+eadera <kictanet-bounces%2Beadera>=idrc.or.ke@ lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *robert yawe *Sent:* Thursday, January 13, 2011 9:21 AM *To:* Edith Adera
*Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
Hi,
I believe we are missing a critical point and since the PS said "we need to be honest to one another", our so called great developers want the fame of Zuckerberg without the sweat and I request you all watch the movie Social Network to better appreciate what it took to create facebook.
To make any major breakthrough you first and foremost need the heart and enthusiasm for what you are doing and not just the vision of the expected financial gain. When Ronaldinho was horning his soccer skills on the streets of *Porto Alegre **he was not thinking of the billions he will earn when he becomes a star he played for the passion of the sport.*
*Safaricom is not a charitable organisation and if you actual develop, not imagine, a radically industry shifting product like MPesa or facebook
not only Safaricom but the other players in the industry will beat a
to your doorstep but so long as you put the money before the product then we might as well forget about development.*
*I have a live example of 2 law students who spent countless hours with no return to develop what is now the leading electronic version of the laws of Kenya. When they came to me what they needed was computers, office space and web access, they already had the passion and energy which is something that money can not buy. *
For the icing on the cake, there is another developer who currently runs the site www.live.mystocks.co.ke which is the leading stock market information portal developed the initial site www.mystocks.co.ke from
challenge from me that there where no good developers just programmers in Kenya. Well he proved me wrong without hin raising the issues of money, partnership, legal environment, government support or standing on giants shoulders. With the way this product is going any serious service
will soon be blazing a bath to the door.
*Let us live up to our peculiar ways and stop textbook approaches to a never before experienced problem, so before you stand on the shoulders of the giant make sure that are aware of your presence there cause one wrong move by the giant and all will be over.*
*Regards*
Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya
Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
------------------------------
*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:* Wed, 12 January, 2011 19:34:03 *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Re: Standing on the shoulders of giants
The problem is not having a framework. Watch Social Network, how Zuckerberg created facebook. On his own, he could not have gone far. We need to work in teams providing different capabilities and simply be honest to one another. We cannot succeed if our consideration for capabilities is where you come from. We mus subordinate our individual interest and
On 1/13/11, Crystal Watley Kigoni <crystal@voicesofafrica.org> wrote: then path the provider pride
for the greater benefits that change society.
Ndemo.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message----- From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:53:16 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
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-- Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Kigoni Executive Director Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development crystal@voicesofafrica.org http://www.voicesofafrica.org/
Intersat Africa, Ltd Rural Internet Kiosks Project Coordinator crystal.kigoni@intersat.ae
Twitter: VOA_Crystal Skype: crystal.naliaka Facebook group: Voices of Africa
"You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi
-- Sent from my mobile device
-- Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Kigoni Executive Director Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development crystal@voicesofafrica.org http://www.voicesofafrica.org/ Intersat Africa, Ltd Rural Internet Kiosks Project Coordinator crystal.kigoni@intersat.ae Twitter: VOA_Crystal Skype: crystal.naliaka Facebook group: Voices of Africa "You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi
As a matter of fact, I would love to have flyers to post at the local universities. Could the dates be set on a schedule that be publically published? I could commit to posting them regularly in at least 3 local universities... Any other willing participants? I am so very proud of the work these girls have done. Akira Chicks are an extremely cool bunch of girls with incredible talent and a heartfelt desire for a better Kenya. This is real ICT4D and change in action. We need to try to bring out more of these amazing youth to join in. There is more than enough work for everyone, if you think about it. That means that more people have to get involved and to know where, when, and how. Best regards, Crystal On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 6:36 PM, Crystal Watley Kigoni < crystal@voicesofafrica.org> wrote:
It would be nice to see it publicly advertised. That would allow for people from other parts of the country to come. To be honest, I have not been aware of the last two meetings. I would have made time or would have asked someone from our team to go. I think there are hidden pockets of talent that would participate more if it was more widely present in the media or through the common mailing lists or something. I would like to see more new faces... :)
Crystal
On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 6:02 PM, Agosta Liko <agostal@gmail.com> wrote:
Crystal.
All people are invited .... Some people make time, some don't. I don't see how the ICT Board should take the blame for that.
If the donkey cannot come to the river .... :)
Just one small issue with the "meetings" in Nairobi with particular emphasis on those organized by the ICT Board. We need to ensure that the youth KNOW when the meetings are and who will be there. Many events are organized and the same youth are invited over and over again. It becomes a very elitist undertaking. Is there some way to better publicize the ongoings of such organizations to encourage increased participation?
Crystal
On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 4:32 PM, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke> wrote:
A great African scholar, Prof Mammo Muchie, recently said….to transform Africa…we need leaders who “hate money”!!
Your point very well taken!
Edith
*From:* kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke[mailto: kictanet-bounces+eadera <kictanet-bounces%2Beadera>=idrc.or.ke@ lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *robert yawe *Sent:* Thursday, January 13, 2011 9:21 AM *To:* Edith Adera
*Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
Hi,
I believe we are missing a critical point and since the PS said "we need to be honest to one another", our so called great developers want the fame of Zuckerberg without the sweat and I request you all watch the movie Social Network to better appreciate what it took to create facebook.
To make any major breakthrough you first and foremost need the heart and enthusiasm for what you are doing and not just the vision of the expected financial gain. When Ronaldinho was horning his soccer skills on the streets of *Porto Alegre **he was not thinking of the billions he will earn when he becomes a star he played for the passion of the sport.*
*Safaricom is not a charitable organisation and if you actual develop, not imagine, a radically industry shifting product like MPesa or facebook
not only Safaricom but the other players in the industry will beat a
to your doorstep but so long as you put the money before the product then we might as well forget about development.*
*I have a live example of 2 law students who spent countless hours with no return to develop what is now the leading electronic version of the laws of Kenya. When they came to me what they needed was computers, office space and web access, they already had the passion and energy which is something that money can not buy. *
For the icing on the cake, there is another developer who currently runs the site www.live.mystocks.co.ke which is the leading stock market information portal developed the initial site www.mystocks.co.ke from
challenge from me that there where no good developers just programmers in Kenya. Well he proved me wrong without hin raising the issues of money, partnership, legal environment, government support or standing on giants shoulders. With the way this product is going any serious service
will soon be blazing a bath to the door.
*Let us live up to our peculiar ways and stop textbook approaches to a never before experienced problem, so before you stand on the shoulders of the giant make sure that are aware of your presence there cause one wrong move by the giant and all will be over.*
*Regards*
Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya
Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
------------------------------
*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:* Wed, 12 January, 2011 19:34:03 *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Re: Standing on the shoulders of giants
The problem is not having a framework. Watch Social Network, how Zuckerberg created facebook. On his own, he could not have gone far. We need to work in teams providing different capabilities and simply be honest to one another. We cannot succeed if our consideration for capabilities is where you come from. We mus subordinate our individual interest and
On 1/13/11, Crystal Watley Kigoni <crystal@voicesofafrica.org> wrote: then path the provider pride
for the greater benefits that change society.
Ndemo.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message----- From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:53:16 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
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-- Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Kigoni Executive Director Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development crystal@voicesofafrica.org http://www.voicesofafrica.org/
Intersat Africa, Ltd Rural Internet Kiosks Project Coordinator crystal.kigoni@intersat.ae
Twitter: VOA_Crystal Skype: crystal.naliaka Facebook group: Voices of Africa
"You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi
-- Sent from my mobile device
-- Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Kigoni Executive Director Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development crystal@voicesofafrica.org http://www.voicesofafrica.org/
Intersat Africa, Ltd Rural Internet Kiosks Project Coordinator crystal.kigoni@intersat.ae
Twitter: VOA_Crystal Skype: crystal.naliaka Facebook group: Voices of Africa
"You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi
-- Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Kigoni Executive Director Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development crystal@voicesofafrica.org http://www.voicesofafrica.org/ Intersat Africa, Ltd Rural Internet Kiosks Project Coordinator crystal.kigoni@intersat.ae Twitter: VOA_Crystal Skype: crystal.naliaka Facebook group: Voices of Africa "You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi
Agosta, Tafathali tuwache ku pakana mafuta, there are 37 million Kenyans all of who need to benefit from state resources. All that our friends at the KICT Board needed to do is have the function broadcast on one of the terrestrial channels and my former classmates in Chepalungu can benefit from this functions paid for by their parents taxes. The remote participants could then send in there questions and contributions via calling in, email, sms or voice mail which would cost a fraction of the cost of travelling to Nairobi. We are supposed to be solution providers not reincarnations of Maria Antoinette and if we do become her do not blame the masses for beheading us. "Think like a capitalist but act like a socialist" Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ________________________________ From: Agosta Liko <agostal@gmail.com> To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thu, 13 January, 2011 18:02:12 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants Crystal. All people are invited .... Some people make time, some don't. I don't see how the ICT Board should take the blame for that. If the donkey cannot come to the river .... :) On 1/13/11, Crystal Watley Kigoni <crystal@voicesofafrica.org> wrote:
Just one small issue with the "meetings" in Nairobi with particular emphasis on those organized by the ICT Board. We need to ensure that the youth KNOW when the meetings are and who will be there. Many events are organized and the same youth are invited over and over again. It becomes a very elitist undertaking. Is there some way to better publicize the ongoings of such organizations to encourage increased participation?
Crystal
On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 4:32 PM, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke> wrote:
A great African scholar, Prof Mammo Muchie, recently said….to transform Africa…we need leaders who “hate money”!!
Your point very well taken!
Edith
*From:* kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto: kictanet-bounces+eadera <kictanet-bounces%2Beadera>=idrc.or.ke@ lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *robert yawe *Sent:* Thursday, January 13, 2011 9:21 AM *To:* Edith Adera
*Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
Hi,
I believe we are missing a critical point and since the PS said "we need to be honest to one another", our so called great developers want the fame of Zuckerberg without the sweat and I request you all watch the movie Social Network to better appreciate what it took to create facebook.
To make any major breakthrough you first and foremost need the heart and enthusiasm for what you are doing and not just the vision of the expected financial gain. When Ronaldinho was horning his soccer skills on the streets of *Porto Alegre **he was not thinking of the billions he will earn when he becomes a star he played for the passion of the sport.*
*Safaricom is not a charitable organisation and if you actual develop, not imagine, a radically industry shifting product like MPesa or facebook then not only Safaricom but the other players in the industry will beat a path to your doorstep but so long as you put the money before the product then we might as well forget about development.*
*I have a live example of 2 law students who spent countless hours with no return to develop what is now the leading electronic version of the laws of Kenya. When they came to me what they needed was computers, office space and web access, they already had the passion and energy which is something that money can not buy. *
For the icing on the cake, there is another developer who currently runs the site www.live.mystocks.co.ke which is the leading stock market information portal developed the initial site www.mystocks.co.ke from the challenge from me that there where no good developers just programmers in Kenya. Well he proved me wrong without hin raising the issues of money, partnership, legal environment, government support or standing on giants shoulders. With the way this product is going any serious service provider will soon be blazing a bath to the door.
*Let us live up to our peculiar ways and stop textbook approaches to a never before experienced problem, so before you stand on the shoulders of the giant make sure that are aware of your presence there cause one wrong move by the giant and all will be over.*
*Regards*
Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya
Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
------------------------------
*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:* Wed, 12 January, 2011 19:34:03 *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Re: Standing on the shoulders of giants
The problem is not having a framework. Watch Social Network, how Zuckerberg created facebook. On his own, he could not have gone far. We need to work in teams providing different capabilities and simply be honest to one another. We cannot succeed if our consideration for capabilities is where you come from. We mus subordinate our individual interest and pride for the greater benefits that change society.
Ndemo.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message----- From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:53:16 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
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-- Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Kigoni Executive Director Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development crystal@voicesofafrica.org http://www.voicesofafrica.org/
Intersat Africa, Ltd Rural Internet Kiosks Project Coordinator crystal.kigoni@intersat.ae
Twitter: VOA_Crystal Skype: crystal.naliaka Facebook group: Voices of Africa
"You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi
-- Sent from my mobile device _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.u...
Hi, Its a good point that there needs to be early notification on these meetings but lets not forget that Kenya is not Nairobi what about those who are situated away from the City does it mean that they must all relocate to Nairobi if they are to benefit from this functions? "The digital divide widens right in front of us" Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ________________________________ From: Crystal Watley Kigoni <crystal@voicesofafrica.org> To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thu, 13 January, 2011 17:06:36 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants Just one small issue with the "meetings" in Nairobi with particular emphasis on those organized by the ICT Board. We need to ensure that the youth KNOW when the meetings are and who will be there. Many events are organized and the same youth are invited over and over again. It becomes a very elitist undertaking. Is there some way to better publicize the ongoings of such organizations to encourage increased participation? Crystal On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 4:32 PM, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke> wrote: A great African scholar, Prof Mammo Muchie, recently said….to transform Africa…we need leaders who “hate money”!!
Your point very well taken!
Edith
From:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of robert yawe Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 9:21 AM To: Edith Adera
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
Hi,
I believe we are missing a critical point and since the PS said "we need to be honest to one another", our so called great developers want the fame of Zuckerberg without the sweat and I request you all watch the movie Social Network to better appreciate what it took to create facebook.
To make any major breakthrough you first and foremost need the heart and enthusiasm for what you are doing and not just the vision of the expected financial gain. When Ronaldinho was horning his soccer skills on the streets of Porto Alegre he was not thinking of the billions he will earn when he becomes a star he played for the passion of the sport.
Safaricom is not a charitable organisation and if you actual develop, not imagine, a radically industry shifting product like MPesa or facebook then not only Safaricom but the other players in the industry will beat a path to your doorstep but so long as you put the money before the product then we might as well forget about development.
I have a live example of 2 law students who spent countless hours with no return to develop what is now the leading electronic version of the laws of Kenya. When they came to me what they needed was computers, office space and web access, they already had the passion and energy which is something that money can not buy.
For the icing on the cake, there is another developer who currently runs the site www.live.mystocks.co.ke which is the leading stock market information portal developed the initial site www.mystocks.co.ke from the challenge from me that there where no good developers just programmers in Kenya. Well he proved me wrong without hin raising the issues of money, partnership, legal environment, government support or standing on giants shoulders. With the way this product is going any serious service provider will soon be blazing a bath to the door.
Let us live up to our peculiar ways and stop textbook approaches to a never before experienced problem, so before you stand on the shoulders of the giant make sure that are aware of your presence there cause one wrong move by the giant and all will be over.
Regards
Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
________________________________
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: Wed, 12 January, 2011 19:34:03 Subject: Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Re: Standing on the shoulders of giants
The problem is not having a framework. Watch Social Network, how Zuckerberg created facebook. On his own, he could not have gone far. We need to work in teams providing different capabilities and simply be honest to one another. We cannot succeed if our consideration for capabilities is where you come from. We mus subordinate our individual interest and pride for the greater benefits that change society.
Ndemo.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message----- From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:53:16 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: {Disarmed} Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
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Edith Happy New Year! "We need to move beyond talk". I ask, with the greatest respect, who is 'talking'? Things have moved so much in the ICT Sector in Kenya that generalized statements should invite substantiation. "Framework?" "Army of young innovators", "clear strategic framework", "foundation for a national innovation system", "profound change" All great and welcome... Is there any way one can contribute? What might that framework look like? What are the views specifically about current actions? I ask this to make the wider point about engagement and true involvement. There is a feeling that issues can sometimes over-articulated, over-generalized and glossed over. With the usual dose of "government should do this and that...." all too easy. last year was a great year for the Kenya ICT Board and we moved forward. We hosted inspirational speakers like the founder of Kayak.com, and paypal.com, a few venture capitalists visited the country, to meet, mentor and fund entrepreneurs. All this on top of the government disbursing the first batch of grants under the Tandaa Program, and providing laptop subsidies under the Wezesha program and providing subsidized bandwidth to Every tertiary institution in Kenya. Just this Monday PS Infocom organized for Yvonne Muinde to 'speak' to the sector on the visual effects industry. A most inspiration speaker. PS set up a task force to take the thinking forward. First meeting Tuesday next week. 1st Visual effects workshop march 30th to include all stakeholders. Specifics are welcome. We at the Kenya ICT Board as a implementing agency are always open to the challenge to do more. Warmest regards. Paul Kukubo CEO Kenya ICT Board Sent from my iPad On 12 Jan 2011, at 17:31, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke> wrote:
The point - we need to move beyond “talk” to have an organizing framework that will make things happen BIG and at a practical level so as to move the innovation wheel forward for profound change in the country.
This army of young innovators needs to be mobilized (within a clear strategic framework) as a core foundation of the national innovation system in the country, if we are to make meaningful progress!
Edith
From: Andrea Bohnstedt [mailto:andrea.bohnstedt@ratio-magazine.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 1:47 PM To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
Hey all,
I quickly want to point out that we're not, in fact, in a complete vacuum here:
The ICT Board has actually supported and/or organised a number of initiatives that address just these issues, often at the IHub. One event that I participated in as the moderator was the ICT venture capital challenge in which eight ICT start ups pitched their ideas to a panel of VC funds and received instant feedback. Some were good and are, I believe, in talks to raise funds. Some weren't so good and that's normal, too :) This was in front of an audience of techies and developers so that they would understand what VC funds are looking for. The event had a good turnout and I believe there were plans to do more of them.
The ICT Board gave out grants last year to both individuals and companies for local content creation.
The IHub and the ICT Board have also hosted a bunch of events to bring in ICT entrepreneurs to talk about their own career and track record. I recall discussing with Kaburo that maybe a separate session or on intellectual property protection, writing a business plan etc would be useful.
Finally, something worth bearing in mind:
Not everyone is an entrepreneur - yet. I love all the different ideas, but often find that many people with smart technical ideas have little understanding of how to turn this into a business, to find the clients, to market the product. I'd like to see more emphasis on building this capacity, or of examples how start ups managed to acquire this knowledge (maybe by finding the right partners with a non-tech, commercial background?).
Not everyone is an entrepreneur, period - I would actually like to see more information on careers in the tech space, and have just nudged Roland Omoresemi to talk about his company, Tezza Solutions, at the IHub to explain what a career in software testing could look like, what the prerequisites are, whether there is any certification etc. I think this talk will happen next week.
If anyone on this list has something similar to offer, why not contact the ICT Board and the IHub and suggest a talk? We could also look at perhaps a panel with four or five different companies that introduce their portfolio, speak about career paths, and maybe use such an event as a hunting ground for interns/prospective employees.
Happy new year, Andrea
On 12 January 2011 12:11, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke> wrote:
Great thread Muthoni…you have touched the core of the problem stifling innovation in this country. What can be done differently to turn the 4 brilliant Kenyans into an army of 1 million innovators?
I recall the regional innovation exhibitions that Kevit et al used to host annually, I’m reliably informed that a database of over 1,000 innovators with cutting edge ideas is just lying idle…why not mobilize this group of a thousand brilliant minds to transform our space?
Edith
From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Dorcas Muthoni Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 11:50 AM To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
Sir Isaac Newton was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, alchemist, inventor and natural philosopher. He is often regarded as the most influential scientist in history and is most famous for discovering the Laws of Gravity.
He is quoted as having said “If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants.” I have heard many enterprising developers say that they have interest working with Safaricom and other industry leaders to expand their innovations to a wider market. One huge setback facing such developers is when the giant attempts to step on the poor developers by slaming them with “big-boy” revenue-share agreements. Why is revenue share is so inhibitive in our market? Currently if you partner with Safaricom, they will take about 60% of revenues (i stand to be corrected as i have not signed up with them yet). Elsewhere in the world, like in Japan, 70% goes to the developer. Nokia is also helping local developers market their apps globally, Nokia takes 30% and pays out 70% to the developer. I would be happy to hear more from Safaricom on this. How can Safaricom encourage us to test our innovations in this market as you have done so well with M-PESA before exporting it to other countries?
Muthoni
On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 1:11 PM, Matunda Nyanchama <mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com> wrote:
Congratulations are in order for these young girls in the above story; kudos.
My reading is that there are many such stories and potential successes that could happen. This was reinforced when I saw presentations at the most recent AITEC event in Nairobi. We just need the right environment and our tech sector will take off to even higher heights than the present trend suggests.
Couple of things that could help:
Protection of Intellectual Property: I marveled at the ease with which those at the conference shared their creations and even creations that were on the drawing board! Question: how do they know who the prying eyes are in the public event? And prying eyes with deeper pockets and better knowledge of the business of IT? Risk Capital: Silicon Valley wouldn't have been without risk capital? RIM (that produces the blackberry), one of the most successful Canadian tech creations, would not have happened without risk capital. For the longest time, the latter depended on government grants, which allowed them to go thru' teething stages! In Kenya, we may not have the kind money Canada has thrown into R&D in form of grants. However, we can have a variation of this. One possibility I have shared with friends relates to incentives, i.e. tax credits, R&D Levy Fund from which companies can get back some of the money invested in R&D, and even some form of "insurance" where risk capital would be compensated at a given % should a venture not materialize! Active scouting of ideas for development in science fairs, tech conferences, etc and investing in those that offer promise. Ukiona vyalea vimeundua or words to that effect from the wisdom of the old.Development cannot be left to chance. It reminds of a science project we did in high school: powering a radio using stored energy in a wind up spring! We got good marks; and off we went later to university, forgot about it and lo! years later, someone was selling wind up radios in rural Africa!
Shukrani.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.” - George Bernard Shaw ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you.
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-- Muthoni
My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:-
First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!
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Paul, Happy New Year! I am wondering if the Kenya ICT Incubation Program would fit the bill by providing the tools needed to launch the innovators? As IDA states Business incubators have proven to be an effective way for fostering sustainable business growth and stimulating entrepreneurship. Information and How to start an Incubator Toolkit, Success Stories and ICT Tools - can be found at http://www.idisc.net/en/index.html. My pesa nane. Lucy --- On Wed, 1/12/11, Paul Kukubo ICT Board <pkukubo@ict.go.ke> wrote: From: Paul Kukubo ICT Board <pkukubo@ict.go.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants To: lkimani@yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 3:00 PM Edith Happy New Year! "We need to move beyond talk". I ask, with the greatest respect, who is 'talking'? Things have moved so much in the ICT Sector in Kenya that generalized statements should invite substantiation. "Framework?" "Army of young innovators", "clear strategic framework", "foundation for a national innovation system", "profound change" All great and welcome... Is there any way one can contribute? What might that framework look like? What are the views specifically about current actions? I ask this to make the wider point about engagement and true involvement. There is a feeling that issues can sometimes over-articulated, over-generalized and glossed over. With the usual dose of "government should do this and that...." all too easy. last year was a great year for the Kenya ICT Board and we moved forward. We hosted inspirational speakers like the founder of Kayak.com, and paypal.com, a few venture capitalists visited the country, to meet, mentor and fund entrepreneurs. All this on top of the government disbursing the first batch of grants under the Tandaa Program, and providing laptop subsidies under the Wezesha program and providing subsidized bandwidth to Every tertiary institution in Kenya. Just this Monday PS Infocom organized for Yvonne Muinde to 'speak' to the sector on the visual effects industry. A most inspiration speaker. PS set up a task force to take the thinking forward. First meeting Tuesday next week. 1st Visual effects workshop march 30th to include all stakeholders. Specifics are welcome. We at the Kenya ICT Board as a implementing agency are always open to the challenge to do more. Warmest regards. Paul Kukubo CEO Kenya ICT Board Sent from my iPad On 12 Jan 2011, at 17:31, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke> wrote: The point - we need to move beyond “talk” to have an organizing framework that will make things happen BIG and at a practical level so as to move the innovation wheel forward for profound change in the country. This army of young innovators needs to be mobilized (within a clear strategic framework) as a core foundation of the national innovation system in the country, if we are to make meaningful progress! Edith From: Andrea Bohnstedt [mailto:andrea.bohnstedt@ratio-magazine.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 1:47 PM To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants Hey all, I quickly want to point out that we're not, in fact, in a complete vacuum here: The ICT Board has actually supported and/or organised a number of initiatives that address just these issues, often at the IHub. One event that I participated in as the moderator was the ICT venture capital challenge in which eight ICT start ups pitched their ideas to a panel of VC funds and received instant feedback. Some were good and are, I believe, in talks to raise funds. Some weren't so good and that's normal, too :) This was in front of an audience of techies and developers so that they would understand what VC funds are looking for. The event had a good turnout and I believe there were plans to do more of them. The ICT Board gave out grants last year to both individuals and companies for local content creation. The IHub and the ICT Board have also hosted a bunch of events to bring in ICT entrepreneurs to talk about their own career and track record. I recall discussing with Kaburo that maybe a separate session or on intellectual property protection, writing a business plan etc would be useful. Finally, something worth bearing in mind: Not everyone is an entrepreneur - yet. I love all the different ideas, but often find that many people with smart technical ideas have little understanding of how to turn this into a business, to find the clients, to market the product. I'd like to see more emphasis on building this capacity, or of examples how start ups managed to acquire this knowledge (maybe by finding the right partners with a non-tech, commercial background?). Not everyone is an entrepreneur, period - I would actually like to see more information on careers in the tech space, and have just nudged Roland Omoresemi to talk about his company, Tezza Solutions, at the IHub to explain what a career in software testing could look like, what the prerequisites are, whether there is any certification etc. I think this talk will happen next week. If anyone on this list has something similar to offer, why not contact the ICT Board and the IHub and suggest a talk? We could also look at perhaps a panel with four or five different companies that introduce their portfolio, speak about career paths, and maybe use such an event as a hunting ground for interns/prospective employees. Happy new year, Andrea On 12 January 2011 12:11, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke> wrote: Great thread Muthoni…you have touched the core of the problem stifling innovation in this country. What can be done differently to turn the 4 brilliant Kenyans into an army of 1 million innovators? I recall the regional innovation exhibitions that Kevit et al used to host annually, I’m reliably informed that a database of over 1,000 innovators with cutting edge ideas is just lying idle…why not mobilize this group of a thousand brilliant minds to transform our space? Edith From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Dorcas Muthoni Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 11:50 AM To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants Sir Isaac Newton was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, alchemist, inventor and natural philosopher. He is often regarded as the most influential scientist in history and is most famous for discovering the Laws of Gravity. He is quoted as having said “If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants.” I have heard many enterprising developers say that they have interest working with Safaricom and other industry leaders to expand their innovations to a wider market. One huge setback facing such developers is when the giant attempts to step on the poor developers by slaming them with “big-boy” revenue-share agreements. Why is revenue share is so inhibitive in our market? Currently if you partner with Safaricom, they will take about 60% of revenues (i stand to be corrected as i have not signed up with them yet). Elsewhere in the world, like in Japan, 70% goes to the developer. Nokia is also helping local developers market their apps globally, Nokia takes 30% and pays out 70% to the developer. I would be happy to hear more from Safaricom on this. How can Safaricom encourage us to test our innovations in this market as you have done so well with M-PESA before exporting it to other countries? Muthoni On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 1:11 PM, Matunda Nyanchama <mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com> wrote: Congratulations are in order for these young girls in the above story; kudos. My reading is that there are many such stories and potential successes that could happen. This was reinforced when I saw presentations at the most recent AITEC event in Nairobi. We just need the right environment and our tech sector will take off to even higher heights than the present trend suggests. Couple of things that could help: Protection of Intellectual Property: I marveled at the ease with which those at the conference shared their creations and even creations that were on the drawing board! Question: how do they know who the prying eyes are in the public event? And prying eyes with deeper pockets and better knowledge of the business of IT? Risk Capital: Silicon Valley wouldn't have been without risk capital? RIM (that produces the blackberry), one of the most successful Canadian tech creations, would not have happened without risk capital. For the longest time, the latter depended on government grants, which allowed them to go thru' teething stages! In Kenya, we may not have the kind money Canada has thrown into R&D in form of grants. However, we can have a variation of this. One possibility I have shared with friends relates to incentives, i.e. tax credits, R&D Levy Fund from which companies can get back some of the money invested in R&D, and even some form of "insurance" where risk capital would be compensated at a given % should a venture not materialize! Active scouting of ideas for development in science fairs, tech conferences, etc and investing in those that offer promise. Ukiona vyalea vimeundua or words to that effect from the wisdom of the old.Development cannot be left to chance. It reminds of a science project we did in high school: powering a radio using stored energy in a wind up spring! We got good marks; and off we went later to university, forgot about it and lo! years later, someone was selling wind up radios in rural Africa! Shukrani. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.” - George Bernard Shaw ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: dmuthoni@gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmuthoni%40gmail.com -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!! _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: andrea.bohnstedt@ratio-magazine.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/andrea.bohnstedt%40rati... -- Andrea Bohnstedt Publisher +254 720 960 322 www.ratio-magazine.com Find/post East Africa careers Find/post conferences, workshops, trainings, other business events _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: pkukubo@ict.go.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/pkukubo%40ict.go.ke -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: lkimani@yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lkimani%40yahoo.com
Thanks Edith You raise very valid points as regards how Safaricom can step into this space and actively contribute to assisting local innovators to bring their ideas to fruition profitably for them as well. At Safaricom we are closely looking into a process to manage this and shall shortly be sharing. Rgds Betty Chief officer - New Products & services Safaricom ltd Sent from my iPad On Jan 12, 2011, at 12:13 PM, "Edith Adera" <eadera@idrc.or.ke> wrote:
Great thread Muthoni…you have touched the core of the problem stifling innovation in this country. What can be done differently to turn the 4 brilliant Kenyans into an army of 1 million innovators?
I recall the regional innovation exhibitions that Kevit et al used to host annually, I’m reliably informed that a database of over 1,000 innovators with cutting edge ideas is just lying idle…why not mobilize this group of a thousand brilliant minds to transform our space?
Edith
From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Dorcas Muthoni Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 11:50 AM To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Standing on the shoulders of giants
Sir Isaac Newton was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, alchemist, inventor and natural philosopher. He is often regarded as the most influential scientist in history and is most famous for discovering the Laws of Gravity.
He is quoted as having said “If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants.” I have heard many enterprising developers say that they have interest working with Safaricom and other industry leaders to expand their innovations to a wider market. One huge setback facing such developers is when the giant attempts to step on the poor developers by slaming them with “big-boy” revenue-share agreements. Why is revenue share is so inhibitive in our market? Currently if you partner with Safaricom, they will take about 60% of revenues (i stand to be corrected as i have not signed up with them yet). Elsewhere in the world, like in Japan, 70% goes to the developer. Nokia is also helping local developers market their apps globally, Nokia takes 30% and pays out 70% to the developer. I would be happy to hear more from Safaricom on this. How can Safaricom encourage us to test our innovations in this market as you have done so well with M-PESA before exporting it to other countries?
Muthoni
On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 1:11 PM, Matunda Nyanchama <mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com> wrote:
Congratulations are in order for these young girls in the above story; kudos.
My reading is that there are many such stories and potential successes that could happen. This was reinforced when I saw presentations at the most recent AITEC event in Nairobi. We just need the right environment and our tech sector will take off to even higher heights than the present trend suggests.
Couple of things that could help:
Protection of Intellectual Property: I marveled at the ease with which those at the conference shared their creations and even creations that were on the drawing board! Question: how do they know who the prying eyes are in the public event? And prying eyes with deeper pockets and better knowledge of the business of IT? Risk Capital: Silicon Valley wouldn't have been without risk capital? RIM (that produces the blackberry), one of the most successful Canadian tech creations, would not have happened without risk capital. For the longest time, the latter depended on government grants, which allowed them to go thru' teething stages! In Kenya, we may not have the kind money Canada has thrown into R&D in form of grants. However, we can have a variation of this. One possibility I have shared with friends relates to incentives, i.e. tax credits, R&D Levy Fund from which companies can get back some of the money invested in R&D, and even some form of "insurance" where risk capital would be compensated at a given % should a venture not materialize! Active scouting of ideas for development in science fairs, tech conferences, etc and investing in those that offer promise. Ukiona vyalea vimeundua or words to that effect from the wisdom of the old.Development cannot be left to chance. It reminds of a science project we did in high school: powering a radio using stored energy in a wind up spring! We got good marks; and off we went later to university, forgot about it and lo! years later, someone was selling wind up radios in rural Africa!
Shukrani.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.” - George Bernard Shaw ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you.
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My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:-
First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!
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participants (15)
-
Agosta Liko -
Andrea Bohnstedt -
Barrack Otieno -
Betty Mwangi -
bitange＠jambo.co.ke -
charles nduati -
Crystal Watley Kigoni -
Dorcas Muthoni -
Edith Adera -
Lucy Kimani -
Michael Ouma -
Muchiri Nyaggah -
Paul Kukubo -
Paul Kukubo ICT Board
-
robert yawe