Do you mean this discussion with Dr Bitange Ndemo: Link

@ muthoniruth..i watched the K24 Ndemo/Koinange interview.

After so much deliberations in forums about the concept in relation to existing buildings such as Sammeer ICT Park, Ndemo still insists that Nairobi properties e.g Sammeer ICT park can not be occupied by ICT firms coz they do not have fire escapes,toilets, ventilation e.t.c.

He insists Konza city will attract ICT firms coz the buildings will be to international standards including the said facilities.

I dont buy into his logic because it takes an average of 1 week for a construction industry professional to install all the above facilities in any building.

These facilities cost 0.001% of the total building construction cost so money is usually not the issue-all a potential client needs to do is to request for the same and the landlord will not even ask for an increase in rent.

Ndemo should look for another viable reason as to why Sammeer ICT Park is still not fully occupied.

E.g Maybe their rents are high e.t.c but the sub-standard building reason does not hold water.

If you can tell us, why is it that they don't install those facilities if they are that cheap,compared to the total cost?
I have checked some nice buildings in nairobi and they don't have those sprinklers on their ceilings.

Why don't they do it?

I also asked sometime back where can one get at least 10,000 sq ft for BOP and nobody seemed to know.

The points Ndemo raised are very valid.
If you are an investor, you don't take things lightly,you can not rehearse or play act, as we could here on wazua,from the comfort of our cold seats.

Mention a few of those buildings [10,000 sq ft] and i will do the rest.
Thank you for the feedback.

Watching Ndemo and Kibati made me recall some arguments fronted here by @alma, @selah & @a4architect.

Both technocrats failed to sell Konza as an ICT project but instead made it appear like a real estate project just like the sceptics here were saying all along!

Thank you.

what have fire escapes, toilets, and buildings have to do with ICT?

This is a serious idea that needs planning. Not once was the need for training the people necessary to work in these spaces mentioned.

We shall end up with another Kimathi House..New fire fighting vehicles and no one to run them.

If the problem is poor state of offices in Nairobi that is not attracting investors, then lets solve that problem first. The poor state of offices is not because we don't have good laws, its because the people who are supposed to ensure that they are followed don't do the job.

These people include Ndemo as a member of the Gov't of Kenya. So transporting the same fellows to Konza does not a solution make. What happens when the investors say Konza is too hot, will now create another city in Mt. Kenya?

Konza can be anywhere in Kenya. The most likely scenario is that Turkana and Lamu will be finished faster than Konza. If it is buildings and towns that we want.

However, there will never be an ICT anything if we don't have an environment that encourages training in ICT, entrepreneurship in ICT and a business environment that encourages venture capitalism. That unfortunately is being swept under the carpet.

The underlying idea here is that, if we build big buildings, everyone in Kenya will be an ICT something or another. If Konza does not start, there will be no Seven Seas or Virtual City.

I beg to differ.

It will remain a real estate venture and I have no problems investing in it. Heck, I want a ka50x100 right in the middle of the city. But I'm not one to drink the coolaid of ICT branding. But now with Turkana coming along, I may be looking north for real estate deals.

A quick observation...I find it telling that this conversation was started in the property section of wazua.

I also finding rather telling that every time we talk about Konza we end up talking about fire escapes.

I see very little talk about ICT in each and every forum I have seen Konza being mentioned. That I find extremely interesting.

You can imagine when Apple was being started and all they were talking about was the toilets, fire escapes and the ventilation. If they are now on TV, can they please bring in someone who will talk only about ICT? Pretty please. Or are they scared we shall see right through the gimmick. Bring in an ICT guy who will explain Konza in ICT terms. Tell him/her not to mention toilets by the way.

As it stands only a4architect and property developers understand what they are talking about.

@ alma..other ambitious projects such as Thika road, LAPSET/Lamu port,pipeline and Turkana Oil are easy to see/comprehend how they will self-fund and repay back in a viable manner.
For Konza, the viability as an ICT Park is not easy to comprehend.

The viability as a real estate project is very easy to see at Konza-problem is that as a real estate project, tax payer money has been used to buy land then sell the same land to the same tax payer at a higher rate hence zero net-effect to the economy.

For Tatu city and Thika Greens, its allowed for the private sector to buy land, hype the same land and sell it at a profit since its not tax payer money they are using.

For Konza, the purchase and advert is funded by tax payer money direct from treasury. Clearance from PAC Bonny Khalwale et al is needed for such a venture especially on how the profits from land sale will be repatriated back to treasury.

Already AG Muigai has raised a point on this issue here

http://www.businessdaily.../-/15f2fe0/-/index.html

Ndemo says he would rather resign than follow AG Muigai's advice.

Once PAC /Bonny Khalwale come calling, its the full all guns blazing & no holds barred..

http://www.businessdaily.../-/15f2fe0/-/index.html