My only concern with this whole google digitizing government data business is in ownership of the digitized data. A week ago i tried to download map data for Nairobi from google mapmaker and lets just say the hoops they make you jump and the questions i was required to answer to access data that I had helped collate sickened me. i resorted to get it elsewhere.So does google own the kenya gazzette data or does the government? can I download any issue of the Kenya gazzette? Doesn&#39;t appear so.<br>

<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, May 31, 2011 at 7:44 PM, aki <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:aki275@gmail.com">aki275@gmail.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">

<div>I think I finally understand the level of how bad the developer industry in kenya really is, in my amateur opinion :</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>- World bank cannot be accused of trying to protect the loans given to countries, as corruption and track records of governments has more to do with this. So whatever selections take place are done with such conditions in mind. </div>


<div> </div><div>-Kenyan govt (tech sector-Min of Info, KICTB and the rest) has no money, it is flat broke when it comes to the developer/software industry and can only make show appearences or be seen with successful companies/organizations that it played no part whatsoever in. So the best attempt that the industry can expect is a BIG NOTHING!. period. Until the World Bank gives some money for projects, it really is utterly useless. Generally, these depts operate as brokers and are also passing on the culture.</div>


<div> </div><div>- The over-rated and wishful thinking of local innovation dream and syndrome is just for those who can finance it themselves. The rest 99% are barely surviving in the industry through being self innovative enough to survive in a very bad environment of pirated software, shortcuts and no access to any funds.</div>


<div> </div><div>- Borrowing money from local banks at the high rates almost makes it impossible to use the facilities. With no money to build on a successful business, any start-ups are doomed within a very short time. </div>


<div> </div><div>-In come the VC mentality, which means that your project can get off the ground. However, VCs are looking at very unique business plans and projection, it would be a very rare ocassion that something in Africa really takes off. So remains the NGO types of mentality as the final option for finding funding, again a rare thing which may last for a short period.</div>


<div> </div><div><u>Gentlemen, Ladies of the KE developer world.</u> </div><div> </div><div>- How can we raise local capital? I have no answer to this because we have been left to our own means. </div><div> </div><div> </div>


<div> </div><div> </div><div> </div>
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