Comments on: The Emancipation Proclamation… http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/mobile-phone-keny Hugh MacLeod: "In terms of becoming an entrepreneur, probably the most useful thing I learned in the last twenty years was how to enjoy my own company for long stretches of time". Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:58:24 +0000 hourly 1 By: Nairobienne http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/mobile-phone-keny#comment-105724 Nairobienne Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:34:46 +0000 http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/?p=2300#comment-105724 Didier's comments sound ignorant and uninformed. What Mzeiya says is true, with regards to America's diversity in majors. Majority of American universities employ a liberal arts curriculum, for which the putpose is to ensurethe student is well rounded. In addition, your post-graduate opportunities vary. The idea that engineering, math and science courses are the basis of innovation and wealth creation is an attitude that has seen Kenyans emphasize on getting degrees rather than technical skills that whether from formal or informal training, are needed to produce commodities that are valuable. With regards to the Indian contractor, the specialization in his fieled means that he will require an accountant to do his auditing, a grocer to provide foodstuffs to buy since he has opted not to farm, a location/tailor to provide him with clothes to purchase......one area of specialization allows for others to crop up. Trade is the key, we cannot all do sciences, it is illogical and impractical. Just as countries specialize in producing goods in which they possess the comparative advantage, these economic principles trickle down to the microeconomy....its what rational people do: I am good at finance....I'll venture into the realm of finance, etc... It is unilateral opinions such as didier's that many politicians carry and land us into so many avoidable problems.

Didier’s comments sound ignorant and uninformed. What Mzeiya says is true, with regards to America’s diversity in majors. Majority of American universities employ a liberal arts curriculum, for which the putpose is to ensurethe student is well rounded. In addition, your post-graduate opportunities vary. The idea that engineering, math and science courses are the basis of innovation and wealth creation is an attitude that has seen Kenyans emphasize on getting degrees rather than technical skills that whether from formal or informal training, are needed to produce commodities that are valuable. With regards to the Indian contractor, the specialization in his fieled means that he will require an accountant to do his auditing, a grocer to provide foodstuffs to buy since he has opted not to farm, a location/tailor to provide him with clothes to purchase……one area of specialization allows for others to crop up. Trade is the key, we cannot all do sciences, it is illogical and impractical. Just as countries specialize in producing goods in which they possess the comparative advantage, these economic principles trickle down to the microeconomy….its what rational people do: I am good at finance….I’ll venture into the realm of finance, etc… It is unilateral opinions such as didier’s that many politicians carry and land us into so many avoidable problems.

]]> By: MZEIYA http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/mobile-phone-keny#comment-104799 MZEIYA Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:01:19 +0000 http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/?p=2300#comment-104799 DIDIER, I'm not upset at all, just troubled by your assertions. It's all fine and dandy that the kenyan indian studied abroad, worked abroad and returned home to start a construction business, that's really good, howevr as for the son, the son already had it made, there's more respect given to his father than the son. Also one thing kenyans don't understand that in the west, speaking about america what you did for undergrad is not as relevant as it is in kenya. Even the major investment banks on wall stret hire recruits from a diverse source of college majors from chemistry, biology, history. You'd be surprised to larn that those chieftains on wall street took bachelors in things like history of wstern european art...no kiddin. By the way we can't all be scientists or such, one thing kenyans have is a scarcity mentality in kenya only certain courses will guarantee your future, thus there's no room for pple taking sociology and the like, plus not everyone has an affinity for the sciences. Kenya needs more socilogists as it does telecom engineers, and mental health professionals, coz mental illness is seriuos in kenya but no one acknowledges it coz of taboo.

DIDIER,
I’m not upset at all, just troubled by your assertions.
It’s all fine and dandy that the kenyan indian studied abroad, worked abroad and returned home to start a construction business, that’s really good, howevr as for the son, the son already had it made, there’s more respect given to his father than the son.
Also one thing kenyans don’t understand that in the west, speaking about america what you did for undergrad is not as relevant as it is in kenya. Even the major investment banks on wall stret hire recruits from a diverse source of college majors from chemistry, biology, history. You’d be surprised to larn that those chieftains on wall street took bachelors in things like history of wstern european art…no kiddin.
By the way we can’t all be scientists or such, one thing kenyans have is a scarcity mentality in kenya only certain courses will guarantee your future, thus there’s no room for pple taking sociology and the like, plus not everyone has an affinity for the sciences.
Kenya needs more socilogists as it does telecom engineers, and mental health professionals, coz mental illness is seriuos in kenya but no one acknowledges it coz of taboo.

]]> By: mwalimu http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/mobile-phone-keny#comment-104771 mwalimu Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:46:21 +0000 http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/?p=2300#comment-104771 KEUnbeleivable, caught with your pants down again.N again…Why are you attacking didier for something u were pushing for just a few months ago.. Step up the stds n take care with kind of disciples u r making...COZ…we r watching U . Lets see.. entrepreneur..I doubt…DELETE!

KEUnbeleivable, caught with your pants down again.N again…Why are you attacking didier for something u were pushing for just a few months ago.. Step up the stds n take care with kind of disciples u r making…COZ…we r watching U . Lets see.. entrepreneur..I doubt…DELETE!

]]> By: mwalimu http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/mobile-phone-keny#comment-104770 mwalimu Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:43:19 +0000 http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/?p=2300#comment-104770 KE Unbeleivable, caught with your pants down again. N again...Why are you attacking didier for something u were pushing for just a few months ago.. Step up the stds n care with kind of disciples u make...we r watching U Lets see.. entrepreneur..I doubt...DELETE!

KE
Unbeleivable, caught with your pants down again.
N again…Why are you attacking didier for something u were pushing for just a few months ago.. Step up the stds n care with kind of disciples u make…we r watching U
Lets see.. entrepreneur..I doubt…DELETE!

]]> By: didier http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/mobile-phone-keny#comment-104764 didier Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:47:17 +0000 http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/?p=2300#comment-104764 mzeiya et al, ALL y'all upset because i say the Truth. I'm not against anyone doing sociology, my point is that by my estimation most kenyans who go abroad have scored more than c+ in math and sciences. Instead of taking a sociology course abroad please take Math and Science... hata kama ni biology... Something at least that has some technology and innovation involved. The issue of remuneration matters only to a point MZEIYA. Look, do you know the company that gets the most international contracts to build the five star tourist hotels in Kenya is owned by a Kenyan Indian who studied and worked in the U.S.A for a long time but decided to move back to Kenya. Now the dude is old, his son went to the U.S.A prestigious school to study Architecture and Construction and is back in Kenya continuing and taking over his dads business. I know the odds are there but once you break the glass ceiling and work for a bit and have the real skills you can actually become a pioneer for a whole industry with the skills. The problem with many Kenyans is they all want to join politics. But again that's a story for another day, i don't want to get y'all more upset. Check out this website and learn... The other problem with Kenyans is that they won't want to move from their comfort zones... http://www.parikh-sondhi.com/index.html

mzeiya et al,

ALL y’all upset because i say the Truth. I’m not against anyone doing sociology, my point is that by my estimation most kenyans who go abroad have scored more than c+ in math and sciences. Instead of taking a sociology course abroad please take Math and Science… hata kama ni biology… Something at least that has some technology and innovation involved.

The issue of remuneration matters only to a point MZEIYA. Look, do you know the company that gets the most international contracts to build the five star tourist hotels in Kenya is owned by a Kenyan Indian who studied and worked in the U.S.A for a long time but decided to move back to Kenya.

Now the dude is old, his son went to the U.S.A prestigious school to study Architecture and Construction and is back in Kenya continuing and taking over his dads business. I know the odds are there but once you break the glass ceiling and work for a bit and have the real skills you can actually become a pioneer for a whole industry with the skills.

The problem with many Kenyans is they all want to join politics. But again that’s a story for another day, i don’t want to get y’all more upset.

Check out this website and learn… The other problem with Kenyans is that they won’t want to move from their comfort zones…

http://www.parikh-sondhi.com/index.html

]]> By: Mbaki http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/mobile-phone-keny#comment-104753 Mbaki Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:54:40 +0000 http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/?p=2300#comment-104753 Hey KE. This is my kind of discussion. I die to see Kenyans and Africans in general ignore politics. The future is bright if we harness what we got. I have been checking your page. I am happy with the discussions. I am a technologist. We need to pinpoint the gifted citizens of all ages and help them so they can spearhead innovations. I was very gifted in my younger years but nobody cared. I wish somebody figured my aptitudes. That is how we are letting talents go to waste each day. We need a department or national commission that spots talents and develop them.

Hey KE.
This is my kind of discussion. I die to see Kenyans and Africans in general ignore politics. The future is bright if we harness what we got. I have been checking your page. I am happy with the discussions. I am a technologist.
We need to pinpoint the gifted citizens of all ages and help them so they can spearhead innovations. I was very gifted in my younger years but nobody cared. I wish somebody figured my aptitudes. That is how we are letting talents go to waste each day. We need a department or national commission that spots talents and develop them.

]]> By: MZEIYA http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/mobile-phone-keny#comment-104752 MZEIYA Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:25:37 +0000 http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/?p=2300#comment-104752 "The truth is if we had more Kenyans taking engineering courses abroad it would give Kenya a wider technological knowledge DIDIER My friend, You could not be more wrong! and let me tell u why ? If Kenyans abroad studied engineering, the reality is that most would remain in their host countries to gain employment there, a sthere would be more opportunities and better opportunities for them there. I mean if you go to a good 4 year engineering college in the U.S., You're going to spend quite some money on tuition alone, thus when you finish, you'll have to get a job that will have a reasonable rate of return on the education investment. There is no way a kenyan would get an engineering degree and come back to kenya immediately to look for an engineering job, no way. You'll have to gain some experience first and i believe that the western countries are at the forefront of engineering dicsoveries and new concepts based on the fact that they have more engioneering related amenities in their society like super highways, trams, tarins, subways etc. Also, th reason india is a magnet for foreign capital in terms of engineering related jobs is that it has indian bred engineers who will do the same exact work as a wstern engineer but for considerably less pay. A western educated engineer whether indian or kenyan will not relocate to his home country to work for less when he knows he can make 4 times the amount if he stays out west. As for you looking down on socilogy, it is a pity for you. Yes, Sociologists do indeed play important roles in modern society. I think you should open up your mind a lil bit

“The truth is if we had more Kenyans taking engineering courses abroad it would give Kenya a wider technological knowledge

DIDIER My friend, You could not be more wrong! and let me tell u why ?
If Kenyans abroad studied engineering, the reality is that most would remain in their host countries to gain employment there, a sthere would be more opportunities and better opportunities for them there.
I mean if you go to a good 4 year engineering college in the U.S., You’re going to spend quite some money on tuition alone, thus when you finish, you’ll have to get a job that will have a reasonable rate of return on the education investment.

There is no way a kenyan would get an engineering degree and come back to kenya immediately to look for an engineering job, no way. You’ll have to gain some experience first and i believe that the western countries are at the forefront of engineering dicsoveries and new concepts based on the fact that they have more engioneering related amenities in their society like super highways, trams, tarins, subways etc.
Also, th reason india is a magnet for foreign capital in terms of engineering related jobs is that it has indian bred engineers who will do the same exact work as a wstern engineer but for considerably less pay. A western educated engineer whether indian or kenyan will not relocate to his home country to work for less when he knows he can make 4 times the amount if he stays out west.

As for you looking down on socilogy, it is a pity for you. Yes, Sociologists do indeed play important roles in modern society. I think you should open up your mind a lil bit

]]> By: kenyanentrepreneur http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/mobile-phone-keny#comment-104728 kenyanentrepreneur Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:11:55 +0000 http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/?p=2300#comment-104728 Didier: My point is that a country like Kenya should provide financial support to those students who have shown a natural aptitude for math and science. They should not be forced to quit school because of lack of school fee's. However, not everyone has this natural aptitude and it's unrealistic to expect everyone to become a scientist or engineer. So, yes, every country should encourage the study of science, but you also need to balance that out with an appreciation for art and other non-scientific things. Science makes the world work, but art makes the world livable.

Didier:
My point is that a country like Kenya should provide financial support to those students who have shown a natural aptitude for math and science. They should not be forced to quit school because of lack of school fee’s.

However, not everyone has this natural aptitude and it’s unrealistic to expect everyone to become a scientist or engineer.

So, yes, every country should encourage the study of science, but you also need to balance that out with an appreciation for art and other non-scientific things.

Science makes the world work, but art makes the world livable.

]]> By: didier http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/mobile-phone-keny#comment-104727 didier Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:32:10 +0000 http://www.kenyanentrepreneur.com/?p=2300#comment-104727 yo, The truth is if we had more Kenyans taking engineering courses abroad it would give Kenya a wider technological knowledge base. All because of having more Kenyans working for these engineering companies and being on same level with the leading countries. That was my first reaction because honestly I'm not discriminative about other courses and I agree with what you say that entrepreneurship is not restricted to any course. My point we'd be better off if we had more engineers from abroad to inject the much needed sanity in these fields. Look at India which has the Infosys and has one of the biggest and diverse manufacturing base in Bangalore. Atimes you need to move away from thinking that Entreprenership stands on its own without support. Some courses are really relevant to be able to know which technological direction the world is going. I mean, how do you think Kenya will build its own knowledge base....? You keep talking about knowledge base all the time and that the country lacks knowledge base in various fields. My view is that our knowledge base has to come from our own people being trained and skilled in these fields.

yo,

The truth is if we had more Kenyans taking engineering courses abroad it would give Kenya a wider technological knowledge base.

All because of having more Kenyans working for these engineering companies and being on same level with the leading countries. That was my first reaction because honestly I’m not discriminative about other courses and I agree with what you say that entrepreneurship is not restricted to any course.

My point we’d be better off if we had more engineers from abroad to inject the much needed sanity in these fields. Look at India which has the Infosys and has one of the biggest and diverse manufacturing base in Bangalore.

Atimes you need to move away from thinking that Entreprenership stands on its own without support. Some courses are really relevant to be able to know which technological direction the world is going.

I mean, how do you think Kenya will build its own knowledge base….? You keep talking about knowledge base all the time and that the country lacks knowledge base in various fields. My view is that our knowledge base has to come from our own people being trained and skilled in these fields.

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