At the beginning of last year, Kenyan tech industry had its biggest setback yet by losing Dr. Ndemo . The Jubilee Government did not see it fit to allow him to continue leading the ICT docket. So we have new guys that to be honest have not done much. Almost a year now and there is nothing to show for being in the office. ICT Board which had a number of initiatives and programs going on, now seems to be limping. With an acting CEO, you get the feeling that there is nothing much they can do.
Ndemo or no Ndemo the industry needs to move on, but the most worrying trend is how everything has gone flat. No visible partnerships to help the industry grow, no talk of real innovation. Of course there are that nonsense of “we are digital hashtags”…more on that later. At the height of everything, Silicon Savanah(Konza) was the talk of the town( world even). That is no more. Ok, it is still there but it is good as dead. The problem does not end there, we don’t hear much about Vision 2030.
A friend of mine on his FAcebook page, indicated that the current Government hate structure and long term planning. He reasoned that the Problem with long term projects is that you can’t do “we look good” PR on them. With that the Government has left many of the on going projects to rot because they don’t provide that instant “see us” doing it PR value. Here is the Facebook update
Jubilee leadership has no focus they are shooting everywhere and in the dark. Theirs is a trial and error government that lacks the discipline to implement anything structured. You will notice how excited they look when speaking off the cuff and distracted when reading a formally written speech. The Vision 2030 implementation is under threat because the leadership seems to abhor anything structured and with clear targets. Since the departure of Mugo Kibati from the Vision 2030 delivery secretariat there is no longer passion or even urgency in delivering the vision.
With the creeping in of the roadside policy declaration, Moi Style, I can’t agree more.
Back to hashtags. This year so far, the number of hashtags has reduced but it is still too early. Just in case you have forgotten , the following were the major hashtags last year:
#DigitalPresidency
#UhuruGovtScorecard2013
#AskDigitalQs
#digital
#NewRailwayKE
#OneTeam
#DigitalGOK
#ForTheSoldiersKE
#UsalamaWatch
#SecureKE
#NyumbaKumi
#TransformKE
#parastatalReforms
#HudumaKE
#Signed
#PoliceAbstract
#TransformingKenya
#NHIF
#ReportingCorruption
#UmojaCrash
#OurTaxesOurDevelopment
#LenkuStatement
#MashujaaWetu
#KDF
#AskWaikenda
#GOKProcurementExpo
#AGPO
#WomenYouthExpo
#AU
#AUsumit
#Westgate
#Omamo
#youth
#JusticeForLiz
#WestgateAftermathUpdate
#WeAreOne
#WithoneAccord
#finallyover
#ForeignAffairs
#ALD
#KenyaAt50
#KEPSA
#srilanka
#DRC
#Arab-Africa
#Palestinian
#kuwait
#ICC
#HotubaYaRaisKwaBungeNovemba2013
#Connect
#Innovate
#TransformAfrica2013
#IGAD
#GovtKE
#SolutionProcess
#KenyaAirways
#kenyans
#JCC
#KenyaKuwait
#AfricaArabSummit
#Africa
#GCC
#CHOGM
#UNHCR
#IntercontinentalHotel
#IBM
#CUEA
#WaterWheel
#women
#Ugandans
#environment
#BetterServices.
#JKIADev
#JKIAisBack
#GreenfieldLaunch
#JKIA
#SouthSudanRescue
#SalvaKiir
#Kiir
#DigitalSwitchKE
#SouthSudan
#RIPNelsonMandela
#MachakosCity
#IBMResearchlab
