@Peter has it right, let's not veer into patriotism, there are many local firms that can do a similar system. The issue here is there are too many red flags for a firm that is dealing with real world money. If something similar had happened with Safaricom, CraftSilicon, Technobrain etc or any one of the large firms, the outcry would have been ridiculous. 

A tender awarded with questions un-answered, strange confidentiality clauses, low technical competence, if this was a company selling wheel barrows, fine, but dealing with our hard earned cash? 

Does anyone know where the cash that is in the "e-wallet" is held? We know Mpesa's is held by a trust as a requirement by Cbk. Such that if Safcom were to ever go down, we'd at least get our cash back, is there a similar requirement in place, or are we on our own?

Regards,

John K.

On 9 October 2015 at 14:42, Martin Chege via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:

so corruption is OK because it is a local company involved? There are many local companies that do legit business. Why aren't they given the deal?

Regards

On 9 October 2015 at 14:05, Peter Karunyu via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:

Guys, I think you are twisting this into a "patriotism" sort of discussion, which it is not.

From my techie perspective, the questions are simple and ideally should have simple answers:

1. The terms of the tender were that the applicant be affiliated with a bank. They said they are affiliated with KCB. KCB denied this. Why?

Note, the question here is not what affiliation means, or why it is necessary in this contract. The question is the assertion they made, which KCB denied.

2. The sub-optimal security implementation of their app. Now, if they are as good as you guys claim, don't you suppose this would have been common sense?

As an example, any sys-admin worth his/her salt here knows which openssl library NOT to use, it is simple common sense. 

Let me pose this then; when the system gets hacked, who will be blamed?

3. The confidentiality clause covers the discussions before and during the contract. So does this mean that spending of public money is not open to public scrutiny?

The only other government bodies I know that do this are DOD and NSIS. In essence, are we saying that any government body can enter into a contract with a private entity and seal all details under a confidentiality clause?

Them being the most expensive is okay, so long as they deliver value for money. But how can we deduce value for money if all the details are shrouded in confidentiality clauses?

On Fri, Oct 9, 2015 at 1:25 PM, Mwendwa Kivuva via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:

Exactly Liko. I don't know if people know how much we loose as an economy when we allow capital flight. China are so keen to protect their tuff that they better devalue their currency for their products to be affordable to the rest of the world. And when you buy from them,  what it means from all sense of the word is, "you work from January to December as a Chinese slave". Because all your earnings and sweat will end up in China in exchange of all types of toys and services.  It's time we supported our industries.

A by the way, what sustained Cuba all along during the 60year embargo was to ban all non essential imports of goods or services. The Cubans had to look within themselves for any solution they needed.

I hope the laptop project is given to locals, let us learn from our mistakes , let us foster our industries.

On Oct 9, 2015 12:57 PM, "Agosta Liko via skunkworks" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:

I use JamboPay. As techies, we should be rooting for them and the times when we feel SSL will end the world, I am sure its not hard to get a meeting.

We cannot want to grow as an ecosystem/techies but then look for any opportunity to pull them down.

Confidentiality is part of most contracts, Pricing - They offer a good solution - everyone here knows price is not the only consideration when choosing IT vendors

Govt needs to change procurement laws - Buying Timber is not the same as buying systems

Bottom Line - JamboPay works, Danson has done a brilliant job ... we should be screaming saying "He is one of us"

and not in the tribal sense

On Fri, Oct 9, 2015 at 12:24 PM, ANTONY NDUNG'U via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:

+1 Barrack, 

Unfortunately we start whining even before verifying media/ politicians reports, I’m not sure how many of us have verified the percentages/767.4m mentioned or the contentious confidentiality clause (I haven’t myself either), all I would say it’s perfectly in order to pay higher for a quality service. If the awarding of the tender was not above board let the investigators inform us. All I know it takes years of hard work to brand yourself in an environment like ours.

Antony

On Fri, Oct 9, 2015 at 9:02 AM, Barrack Otieno via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:

Assumption is the lowest form of knowledge , looking at the website
https://www.jambopay.com/Account/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fMembers%2fTransummary.aspx,
how did the organization partner with leading banking services and
payment solution providers if they did not know what they were doing
?, let us allow those who are investigating to do their job while also
considering available facts. This Project has been spearheaded by
among others Deputy Governor Mueke who are re-known stalwarts in the
ICT Industry and it would be cheap to belittle their intelligence when
it comes to deployment of this kind of system in this day and age
where everyone is under scrutiny we should consider all facts. I am
happy to see local and youth led companies like Jambo Pay and Alliance
Technologies among others run key government operations we have what
it takes.

Regards

On 10/9/15, Martin Chege <mcnjoroge@gmail.com> wrote:
> If you have a system meant to collect/handle money you have to be
> associated with a bank. And it is wrong to say that it is OK for a corrupt
> deal to go to a local company. We've many local companies that are doing
> business the right way. Corruption is corruption.
>
> Regards
>
> On 9 October 2015 at 09:07, Barrack Otieno via skunkworks <
> skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
>
>> This were the same sentiments that were used to discourage the growth
>> of MPESA, it took leaders who were ready to dare to nurture the
>> system.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> On 10/8/15, John K. via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
>> > Banks follow cbk regulations and these are there for a reason, if we
>> > just
>> > let anyone move money around, who knows who can use it launder money
>> > (terrorists, drug dealers etc). Not to mention the fact that we're
>> dealing
>> > with taxpayer money, would you want you hard earned taxes going to an
>> > unknown entity that follows no rules?
>> >
>> > Regards,
>> > John K.
>> >
>> > On 8 October 2015 at 16:09, Oliver Ndegwa <olie.ndegwa@gmail.com>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> >> Do i really need to have an association with a bank to develop an e
>> >> payment system. Partnerships are formed on demand and they do not have
>> to
>> >> be formal, they are for convenience as long as the client is safe and
>> >> happy. That to me sounds like a jealous character who can not believe
>> how
>> >> much successful the system has been besides its falls here and there.
>> >> To
>> >> me
>> >> the kenyan company rightfully deserved to win the job, they are
>> >> reputable,
>> >> have a history in the same business. Everything else is all politics
>> >>
>> >> Me 2 cents
>> >> Oliver
>> >>
>> >> On Thu, Oct 8, 2015 at 2:49 PM, John K. via skunkworks <
>> >> skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>>
>> >>> I'll just leave this here.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> http://www.nation.co.ke/counties/nairobi/MPs-want-Kidero-probed-over-jambopay/-/1954174/2900522/-/90pvr/-/index.html
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> How did they win a tender when they were not associated with a
>> financial
>> >>> institution? KCB denied any links with them. I don't know what can
>> >>> save
>> >>> this country.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> Regards,
>> >>> John K.
>> >>>
>> >>> _______________________________________________
>> >>> skunkworks mailing list
>> >>> skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke
>> >>> ------------
>> >>> List info, subscribe/unsubscribe
>> >>> http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks
>> >>> ------------
>> >>>
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>> >>> http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94
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>> >>> Other services @ http://my.co.ke
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Warm Regards,
>> >> Oliver Ndegwa
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> *TRIPLE PLAY COMMUNICATION*P.O.Box 5207-00506, Nairobi  | Phone : 254
>> >> 02688421 | Cell: +254 713777001, 717883937
>> >>  Dev Towers, Tubman Rd ,Nairobi, Kenya. | website: |
>> >> www.tripleplaylive.net | skype:oliver.snom | Google talk:olie.ndegwa
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> Barrack O. Otieno
>> +254721325277
>> +254-20-2498789
>> Skype: barrack.otieno
>> http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>


--
Barrack O. Otieno
+254721325277
+254-20-2498789
Skype: barrack.otieno
http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/

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