From: wsargeant@igc.apc.org (Winslow L. Sargeant)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: IPS:Kenya, making a mess of information
Date: 21 Jul 92 17:38:19 GMT

/* Written 12:04 am  Jul 21, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
/* ---------- "KENYA: MAKING A MESS OF INFORMATION" ---------- */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Reference: Trade & Finance
Title: KENYA: MAKING A MESS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY


an inter press service feature

by pamphil h. kweyuh

nairobi, jul 18 (ips) -- kenyans returning home from overseas
trips often bring back with them excess luggage of ''personal
effects''.

with scarcity of foreign exchange becoming chronic and
procedures of getting import licences frustrated in a maze of
corruption in this country, returning residents say it pays to
bring in high-demand items as accompanying luggage.

as more and more kenyan businesspersons, academics and
professionals jump on the bandwagon of information technology
recording transactions and research write-ups on floppy disks,
microcomputers are much in demand.

according to sources at the main entry point, nairobi's jomo
kenyatta international airport, there is an insatiable demand
for information processing devices in the east african country.

''there was a day when i handled 100 computers from 11
flights in a single six-hour shift'', agnes munyasia, a customs
officer at the airport told ips.  ''hundreds of systems are
being brought in as hand baggage'', she adds.

computers and household electronic consumer goods are all
classified as ''luxury'' items at kenya's customs counters,
attracting 100 percent duty and value added tax of 18 percent
of cost price.

but with the price overseas averaging 1,000 dollars while in
kenya a computer sells for an around 3,000 dollars, kenyans have
every reason to bring in the equipment, pay duty and tax, and
resell at close to 100 percent profit.

airport customs and security officials however are accused of
taking kickbacks instead of abiding by the regulations, thus
denying state coffers revenue from these imports.

as a result ''informatics'' in the country is in a mess,
according to george okado, chair of kenya computer industry
(kci).

''imports, back-up, maintenance, education and anything to do
with computers here is in disarray. unless the government acts
fast, the situation will worsen and what was previously
perceived to be development may turn out as a waste of scarce
resources'', okado warns. (more/ips)


kenya: making (2)

the number of computer dealers in kenya has shot up tenfold
from about 10 in 1985, while software services are available
from even more outlets.

but the mushrooming of hardware and software dealers has made
long term investment in the field of information science
meaningless as customers are not assured of reliable backup
service, according international computers limited (icl)
managing director in kenya.

''computers are being thrown away by users after a month or
two due to lack of spare parts and rare technological aspects
which none outside the manufacturing factory understands'', says
martin oketch.

''if a computer cannot be modified to cope with changing
times and needs, then, as a rule, it must not be for the kenyan
market'', oketch suggests.

given that kenya's economy is underdeveloped, reckless
importation of computer systems that are incompatible has no
justification, notes okado, an informatics consultant.

''the industry as it stands now is in an urgent need of
the formulation of acceptable standards'', he adds, urging
formation of a body, representing private and public sector
interests, to regulate the industry.

according to the consultant, the information technology
sector in kenya has been left to grow on its own with disastrous
effects while the country has no capacity to keep pace with the
latest developments in the field.

''it is time the kenya bureau of standards was brought in by
the government to determine our needs and priorities and what
systems can satisfy such needs'', he says.

kenya's technical training and applied technology minister,
sam ongeri says his ministry, in collaboration with the ministry
of industry, intend to streamline the industry.

''the computer is our tool to facing the challenges of the
future. we cannot allow anything detrimental to development to
go on unchecked'', ongeri notes. (end/ips/phk/ar/92)