Mr Davis Onsakia

Annual ICT Awards 2011

2011-11-24T08:32:00.001+03:00

I attended the Computer Society of Kenya (CSK) organized Annual ICT Awards Ceremony for the year 2011 and was disappointed in most areas.

Starting from getting information about the awards ceremony: information about the event even from the CSK website were scanty. Just check the CSK website at http://www.cskonline.org/ and you will be deeply disappointed at the usability level of the website! Honestly, I believe a college student who has done some website design and usability analysis requirements for websites can do so much better. The site is not navigable in the first place nor is it informative, it is cluttered with adverts on key areas right on the home page.

Secondly, publicity for the event was not adequate. In this age where technology is driving what is happening in the world, such an event not being advertised even on social media (for heaven's sake this is free) is rather disappointing. I've not checked but I wonder whether CSK is on any social media platform; be it Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. [I've checked on Facebook and I've seen that CSK has a page which was last updated on 29th July - no mention of the just ended event]. How can a society which is supposed to shape the future of technology space be so behind in using technology to disseminate what I consider so key? How can they champion what they don't use? ...........

The event, as per the invitation card that I had, was scheduled to start at 6.30 pm and end around 10.00pm. I arrived at Laico Regency Hotel at at 6.33pm and to my dismay, I was told that they were arranging some tables ( or whatever) and I just had to wait for some 30 minutes. By 7.00 pm the event had not started and people who were arriving were told to hang around as the preparations for the event was not complete. Just hang around and do nothing and yet people rushed through the jam to be there in time? There was no courtesy even to provide seats outside where we were standing! I was dismayed and disappointed to the core.

The event ultimately kicked off at around 8.00 pm - that is 1 hour and 30 minutes past the scheduled start time. I left around 9.35 pm after the induction to the ICT Hall of Fame of Dr. Katherin Getao of the eGovernment Directorate and Mr. Harish Parekh of Computer Technics.

You can find the complete list of the awardees at the link: http://www.cskonline.org/awards.html.

My verdict: poor event planning, poor publicity. Can do better.

I will seriously consider attending another CSK event in the future.

What is the value of certifications to companies and their customers?

2011-09-29T17:23:00.003+03:00

In the current Kenya setup, there are a number of companies that are aspiring to get coveted international certifications like ISO for quality management systems, environmental or security requirements compliance, etc but how many are actually striving to improve their service offerings to their customers? Few. Many just to flaunt them to their competitors and prospective customers but not on improvement of their service delivery.

Take the example of some public universities (I think almost all of them). They have ISO 9001:2008 certification. But how many lecturers and administrators in these universities appreciate that students are their most important customers? Very few. This is precisely the reason why you will have an ISO certified university that does not have a clear policy (or is it direction?) of where admission forms should be ‘deposited’.

I had a nasty experience the other day where I had to shuttle between two university campuses trying to convince the secretaries (these are the people you will interact with in a university set up) that, as per the forms, I was supposed to deposit them at their offices. Ultimately, since I would not convince any, I left in a huff and waited to hear from my colleagues where the forms are supposed to be taken. This incident brings me to the question: this university being ISO certified, does it mean that there is no clear policy on where admission forms are supposed to be delivered? What about what is indicated on the forms? If there is, whose responsibility is it that it is adhered to, when prospective students are sent from one corridor or campus to another and they have no recourse? It is very disheartening and annoying. Or just sort out the mess by implementing an online admission system. And issues will be sorted out, pap!

The other day, I'd the opportunity to walk to DT Dobie trying to locate some spare part for my car and I was indeed impressed by the service offered there. Honestly, those guys don't need an ISO certification for, as a customer, you feel adequately guided and valued as you enter the place. There is a place to pick an entry number, a clear way to queue, be served promptly and another place to pay and an additional place where to sit as you wait for the goods to be delivered (all this does not take more than 15 minutes). Also, all these activities happen within an area of less than 20 metres apart. Surely, does a company require an ISO certification to offer such services? My customers can feel their value once they step into my 'shop'. Inversely, an institution has all the certification it can afford to get but when customer calls, nobody cares to pick the call and when he comes around he is taken around the office as if he came to tour your offices! I have seen instances where corporations strive to be in their best behaviour when they hear that there is going to be an audit to be done. Is this the spirit of the certification? Nope!

There is a fallacy more so in government owned institutions where ISO certification is becoming part of their performance contract rather than an improvement on their service offering; before they can even think of any certification. How many institutions have the ISO certification but their inefficiency stinks to high heaven and conversely how many institutions do not have any certifications but their service delivery is superb? Private companies can survive if only their service offerings are better than their competition, but they also need to do so that they can weather the storm.

My guess is that government institutions are being ‘forced’ to offer quality services by getting a certification! But is this helping? My honest opinion is No! It is not helping at all: until their business processes are refined or re-engineered, theirs is a waste of money and it is indeed demeaning to Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) that they should certify some clearly incompetent entities. Let KEBS and their partners advise prospective certifees ( I hope there is such a term) that they need to put their house in order before that paper can be handed to them. It is my sincere hope that these certifications will not be considered a worthless paper by offering it to some dubious characters.

Customers demand quality services and not certifications hanging from offices’ walls!

Mr Davis Onsakia: The battle for dotAfrica; who will get the crown jewels?

2011-07-14T07:53:00.000+03:00

Mr Davis Onsakia: The battle for dotAfrica; who will get the crown jewels?

The battle for dotAfrica; who will get the crown jewels?

2011-07-12T15:53:00.004+03:00

This is an article which I penned in the Business Daily of 8th July 2011 concerning the battle for .africa domain name.

The article can also be accessed at http://www.africareview.com/Special+Reports/Battle+on+for+dotAfrica/-/979182/1197116/-/87uo0s/-/index.html - on the African Review website.

The same article can be found on the AllAfrica website at http://allafrica.com/stories/201107081489.html.

'Censoring' your status updates, tweets etc on social media

2011-04-30T13:28:00.000+03:00

National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has indicated that they plan to track any hate speech on social media and promptly nab any wayward status updates on Facebook, racial or discriminative tweets on twitter and all other social media.

The following is my honest take on this:

It is important to know how to communicate by taking into consideration your audience and a myriad of other factors like the time of your talk. However, how can this be done when 'saying' something online? The internet is accessible by the whole world! Anyway, social media has greatly helped the revolution in the North African Nations of Tunisia and Egypt ( and the Arab world) and the revolution is virally spreading further to Libya, Mali and a host of other nations; even closer home, to our next door neighbour, Uganda – I don’t like the treatment being meted out to Besigye and company – it is barbaric and a crime against humanity: unfair and the highest level of cowardice. This might be trigger like that of the young Tunisian man setting him ablaze that set the whole country ablaze and ultimately set it free!

I have tracked some of the comments and status updates on Facebook (and I want to single this media out), and I can say that they are quite diabolical in the heavy tribal undertones some of them have. Sometimes I feel that we bash our politicians when all of us indeed might do precisely what the politicians do and say. It is embarrassing and irritating at the same time. Unfortunately this is the case despite the fact that some of those comments are being made by people who are below 40 years - whom one expects to be more open minded and have less baggage of tribes and races in their blood and even talk. But if those comments are anything to go by, then Kenya has a long journey to go before we reach that Promised Land. Probably some 40 biblical years can do for Kenya to reach the Promised Land, our Canaan.

One thing is for sure: NCIC will not have easy work trying to locate these guys. This is due to the fact that they use pseudonyms rather than their real names when posting some nasty comments - this itself means that they know it is wrong and hence cannot afford to identify themselves. However, in a worst case scenario, every device connected to the Net can be uniquely identified by an IP address which can be located to an individual (device) – this way these guys cannot hide forever.

However, why hide if you believe that what you are saying is right? Just say it and even if people might not agree with you now you will be their hero tomorrow, once you convince them. Have the muscle, the stamina and the courage to stand up for your ideas and you will stand to be counted later on; when vindicated by time.

Stop hate speech to have a freerer world.

Joining the Internet Society

2011-02-08T09:04:00.000+03:00

We need to shape the future and direction of the Internet. We can only do so by joining a global body like the Internet Society to be able to put our case across.

However, I'm rather disappointed to realize that the society does not have have a Kenyan Chapter may be because we don't have the numbers. We need to register, as Kenyans, both locally and from the diaspora, to be able to form vibrant local chapter which can handle 'internet' matters concerning Kenya and our beloved country.

It should be noted that 'young' countries like Rwanda have a local chapter. What does this mean to us? That Rwanda is technologically ahead of us? I don't know but it seems like it is. We need to do something for ourselves and this can be the opportunity.

Register yourselves at https://portal.isoc.org/EBusiness/NewMemberStepOne.aspx?refid=xd1371053hf to shape the future of this very important resource.

I look forward to seeing you onboard soon.

Road accidents - how can technology help?

2010-12-29T16:16:00.000+03:00

The other day I listened to the Police Commissioner releasing the grim statistics about road accidents during this festive season. The only question that kept popping in my mind is: what can we do? Surely, I believe that the road infrastructure is improving courtesy of Government interventions, there is no drinking in the wee hours of the morning... then the question is 'What more can be done to reduce the road carnage?'

As a technology person, I wonder why we cannot ( specifically the Traffic Department) use technology to help curb the growing list of accidents on our roads. Take the example of AccessKenya (AK) Initiative of installing cameras monitoring traffic on major highways. Why can't the government contract AK to monitor any misbehaving traffic offenders on the road? Such guys should be informed ( preferably through an SMS) to report to the nearest police station for onward 'towing' to the court and they should be fined promptly. Even the government can make money from such a venture.

This is not a new technology. It was been deployed elsewhere and it is proven that it can work. Let the Police Commissioner talk to AK to run even on a pilot basis this technology and see how it works. I believe that AK will be more than willing to help since even right now they are not charging a penny to those using this service.

We need to stop losing our loved ones on the roads due to the recklessness of a few among us.

How God fits into the equation of your life

2010-10-08T16:12:00.000+03:00

How does God fit into the equation in a techies' daily life? From experience and observation, most techies relegate God to the back seat as they take the front seat of their lives. But is this the ideal scenario? Definitely not.

I ask myself questions like: how the sun rise, passes overhead ( without falling on me!), goes 'under' and in the morning I expect it to be up, lighting my room - just to inform me that it is morning wake, that is if I'm not up! These things and many others, I have no answers and no scientist is yet to convince me that this is physics at play! If not God at play, then surely there is another mighty force somewhere out there 'pulling strings' on our lives. I will be very interested to know who or what controls the 'mighty force'.. The force of gravity is our creation with the help of mathematicians and physicists. But who created the force of gravity before 'it was discovered'? What remaining to be discovered yet? The other day, scientists 'discovered a number of new species' in Papua Guinnea! These animals or insects or whatever we can call them, have been in existence before they were 'busted' in they serene environment.

So to me some things don't add up and I know that I'm yet to discover what God created in me and in the whole world. What about you? My readers you are the judge.

Implications of Oracle buying sun on MySQL - authorities' view

2009-11-13T16:19:00.001+03:00

The Economist's story of the tussle between the anti-trust authorities.

Mr Davis Onsakia: Implications of Oracle buying sun on MySQL

2009-10-23T17:47:00.000+03:00

Mr Davis Onsakia: Implications of Oracle buying sun on MySQL

Implications of Oracle buying sun on MySQL

2009-10-23T17:38:00.007+03:00

Oracle is finally buying Sun Microsystems Limited that recently bought MySQL open source database . What are the implications to the open source enthusiasts if Oracle decides to drop MySQL database in favour of their very expensive Oracle, from their offerings? Personally, I will be very opposed to such a move: the relevant authorities should not allow this to happen.

MySQL database is the leading open source database at the moment and who ever is using MySQL is not ready to pay a penny for an expensive software like Oracle's. As Richard argues in the linked in article, we cannot afford to lose MySQL database to Oracle for any reason whatsoever.

Probably, we can create a movement to stop such move.

I have created a poll on Linkedin which might help to get the feedback of other professionals. Please click on this link to vote and as well see the thoughts of your colleagues. http://polls.linkedin.com/p/62694/pbugc (copy and paste it to your browser).

Even the antitrust authorities are not taking the whole thing kindly: check the Economist on http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14861553&subjectID=348909&fsrc=nwl.

Google building some floating data centres!

2009-05-06T08:17:00.002+03:00

Google is planning on building some floating data centers deep in the sea. What might be up these guys' sleeves? Their innovativeness continues to amaze me.

I think only innovative business will survive more so in this economic crunch period. Brace yourself for more from Eric Schmidt and his team.

Mr Davis Onsakia: Oracle buying Sun Microsystems Limited!

2009-04-25T13:08:00.000+03:00

Mr Davis Onsakia: Oracle buying Sun Microsystems Limited!

Oracle buying Sun Microsystems Limited!

2009-04-24T09:24:00.004+03:00

Just check this article in the Economist: http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13527430&fsrc=nwl&mode=comment&intent=postBottom.

Oracle has made a bid of $7.4 billion to purchase Sun. What does this portend to your business? Remember recently Sun purchased MySQL - the leading open source RDBMS. Now Oracle is purchasing Sun and hence MySQL! And as you know Oracle leads in the database RDBMS. So the question is: is Oracle going to trash MySQL? Very likely since MySQL has been competing with the expensive Oracle. Then what are the implications of this? Many and varied and have far reaching consequences.

I really feel bad from within me. I don't think this purchase proposal should be let to continue. It flies on the face of fair business practices: these guys will supply the server, the OS and the business software! I'm not against an integrated company but not this deal.

Your comments though, are welcome.

The effects of the PWC report on the NSE and CMA

2009-02-12T17:41:00.002+03:00

The PWC released later last year a damning report about the goings at Nyaga Stockbrokers and the CMA has not released the report officially to the public.

However, from what we have read from the media, there is strong evidence linking the CMA, NSE, Nyaga stockbrokers and two investment banks in the scam.

What is worrying to a common mwananchi like me, is the fact that CMA as the regulator did not act as there was tell tale signs that Nyaga was in problems. Why? I humbly ask myself.

Is this a case of a wolf taking care of a lonely sheep in the steep mountains of Mt. Elgon? Do what you want to the poor animal? Who wants to trade through the NSE not knowing whether the proceeds will be yours in the next 24 hours?

You have invested a cool 1 million and you can get a maximum compensation of up to Ksh. 50,000.00. What unfairness can be meted on a poor individual with no recourse? What insensitivity can this be?

People, I'm greatly disappointed with the NSE, CMA and CDSC altogether. If this is the kind of investment environment we are talking about in 2009, then we are yet not out of the woods brethren.

Pray and pray very hard for God is more than able to help you.

Cloud computing?

2008-11-20T13:42:00.002+03:00

Salesforce.com started the whole game. Dell even the tried (in vain) to patent the term cloud computing'. Where is your organization heading in terms of this industry buzzword: cloud computing?

You can outsource, yes, but do you need to give control of your crucial data to the 'outside forces'? These are some of the hard questions CIOs and IT managers across organizations are pondering on.

What is your take on cloud computing.

Your comnents are most welcome.

The current business environment

2008-09-22T13:56:00.003+03:00

The current business environment is worrying worldwide.

The question on most business minded people is: how long is this going to last and after the storm, 'who' going to be left standing and 'who' is going to sink? AIG in the USA has been bailed out by the state at a cost of $ 85 billion! Who is going to bail out the worlds' businesses as most face imminent closure?

What about Kenya? What are the ripple effects of this global crisis? Safaricom, the most profitable company in East and Central Africa is not doing well at all at the NSE. Its share price has plummeted below the IPO price of Ksh. 5.00 per share. Retail investors (and I believe some fund managers) are scampering for safety as soon and as fast as they can. The reasoning being that it is better to make a 10% loss rather than wait and make 70% or more loss.

Business people are a worried lot.

Going south, the Africa economic powerhouse, South Africa is in turmoil. The president, Mr. Thabo Mbeki has been ousted from the seat of power - he has obliged quite state manly unexpected in some countries in Africa. Worse off, he might take the highly respected Finance Minister, Trevor Manuel with him as well as the VP. This leaves Africa in a very challenging business environment.

Couple this with running inflation hovering at around 30% in Kenya. Kenyans can't afford to save nor afford to invest anything. In any case they are liquidating any assets that they had to meet short term cash requirements.

What a bleak future it looks like.

However, hold on buddies, the sun might start shining soon!

The Safaricom IPO

2008-03-20T16:44:00.003+03:00

The much awaited Safaricom IPO is here at last: the going has been ridden with many challenges - legal as well as investor confidence. But I believe, the Minister for Finance, can at last heave a sigh of relief and say 'It is done man!'

We all accept, including myself, that even now the IPO is not correctly timed; bearing in mind that Nyaga Stockbrokers are under statutory management - but when might have been the correct time to bring this to the market? An ideal time? I don't think that this exists in the investment world: every investment opportunity has its risks which an investor will have to bear before you sink you money into it.

The question right now is: what is going to be the effect of this IPO on the capital markets in Kenya and the whole of the East African Community's economies? As with the Kengen IPO where some Kenyans emerged millionaires, I hope that also come 9th June (when the Safaricom shares start trading at the NSE) some Kenyans and East Africans will laugh all the way to the bank.

I hope that the mood, the confidence and the stability is maintained so that we can rope in more investors to the NSE and to Kenya so that our lives can improve for the better. These are the three pillars on which investors can troop to a country to sink their investment.

But remember in all this, God reigns supreme and there is nothing we can do without His help and assistance: remember to thank Him for the night in the morning and to thank Him in the evening for the day and surely He'll not disappoint you.

See you after 9th June 2008 and see how much you have made.

Happy investing.

The Business Environment in Kenya

2008-03-13T14:55:00.002+03:00

As most of you might be a ware, Kenya is coming from a scary last two months: lives have been lost and property has been destroyed. But as I requested in the previous post, prayers, I believe have saved Kenya from a catastrophe (or is it near a catastrophe?).

Now, as we wait to see how the power sharing is being implemented, the question on most people's lips is: is Kenya any better to start doing business again now? What is the probability that the deal will be implemented to the letter and that all will agree that all is Ok? I wish that there's somebody out there who can provide candid answers to such pertinent questions: I know that these are some of the questions that are going on in the minds of investors both locally and internationally.

The jittery among the investors is being reflected on the declining prices at the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE). Local as well as international investors are quite wary of the way words have started flying around concerning the National Accord And Reconciliation Bill which is about to be debated in parliament soon. Every political divide is interpreting the Accord in a way that suits them and not in the interests of Kenyans and this puts to doubt the probability of them agreeing ultimately. However, all of us are waiting with bated breath till when the bill is enacted into law. We hope that the politicians will rise above their partisan interests and put the welfare of other Kenyans in front and enact this bill, which is what is holding Kenya together.

Some might argue that the declining prices at the bourse are due the much awaited Safaricom IPO but I tend to differ with my little experience at the NSE: some previous IPOs other than Kengen - which romped many investors to the bourse - have had no much effect on the prices at the NSE before.

My prayer still remains that Kenyans - both politicians and Wanjikus - will put aside their personal interests so that this all-important bill is enacted into law so that investors can have once again the confidence Kenya deserves.

The effects on the post election violence

2008-02-07T16:51:00.000+03:00

Dear Kenyans and all concerned people of the world,

All us know the destruction of property and the loss of life that visited Kenya after the 27th December 2007 General elections.

I don't want to delve into the details since you might have heard and read all these in the local and international dailies both in the print and electronic media.

But my question is just one: for how long can this go on? For sure, it is precisely one month and one week since the violence started here in Kenya and all of us, Kenyans and non-Kenyans living in Kenya, have felt the heat. The prices of basic commodities have skyrocketed: fuel is on all the time high, milk is going up on a daily basis, bread is just climbing ... what shall we do?

It seems like the only string holding us(Kenyans) together is the mediation that is ongoing, chaired by the former UN Secretary General, Mr Koffi Annan. I foresee a situation where if the mediation fails, Kenya collapsing.

But the question I am humbly asking all of us, where is God and is He concerned about the life of a young child being snubbed out in somewhere in Kericho? I believe He is. But He is just standing and watching? I don't believe so. So what He is doing? We might be tempted to ask. I pray that Kenya can turn to Him for help: any help from Him is all that we need now NOT analysis of the elections. We all know what happened after the elections. We want to get out of this situation and the only 'person' who can give us that highly desired solution - to all parties - is only Him (maybe through somebody).

I hope and pray that Kenyans can turn to the one who understands their pain, their loss; who mourns with them and who comforts an ailing soul- the comfort of a father only a son knows and feels the warmth of his father wrapping his arms around a forlorn son.

Kenyans, please let us turn to God for only Him can solve our crisis! Please!

The Standard Group year end results

2007-08-02T12:51:00.000+03:00

We are witnessing a tremendous growth of this media house. They have just reported a 176% growth in profit. What do you think of this stock in terms of future growth prospects?
Also, we have seen that they have had some management changes with the introduction of some experience faces in the media industry. What might this mean to the future of Standard group.

Business Ideas?

2007-07-12T14:43:00.000+03:00

Hi buddies,

Does anybody have any information on a business where one can earn money without necessarily being there physically?
Any info on this will be greatly appreciated.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,
Davis M Onsakia

Welcome

2007-01-24T08:07:00.000+03:00

I want to welcome you all to my blog for comments and suggestions on any relevant isssues that might be affecting our lives.

Please feel free to put bring your ideas to the fore.

Once again, welcome.

Regards,

Davis M Onsakia