Once a prime institution. Very technologically advanced and citadel of innovations. As an alumni, I spent my undergraduate studies admiring and receiving world class services and training between the years 2006-2010. The foods irrespective of whether it was the so famous end semester No. 9 or Ronaldo, or the luxurious menu of 32 which was a combination of meat, mboga, and Ugali and mostly consumed at the start of a semester. These were well cooked, well served and enjoyed in a clean cafeteria. Hostel corridors could be cleaned twice a day, loos could be cleaned more than that. The staff was friendly, ready to guide and listen irrespective of the approach of the students. But of course, there were a few isolated or a negligible number of staff with stinking attitude though never deserved any attention. Lawns were well watered, kept, walkways cleaned and well lit, lecture halls scrubbed, well lit, chairs repaired or replaced, window panes fixed and broken glasses replaced, no trace of dust. But, lol, that was 2010.
I had a rare opportunity to visit this prime institution, my alma mater on Thursday, September 1, 2016. I arrived at the main gate at exactly 7.00am. I was asked to leave my national ID at the gate, but I wondered why, especially after presenting my original self, original ID and after enduring the unfriendly attitude of the Askaris. They asked why I'm that early to the institutions and who I wanted to meet at 7.00am. Of course, I explained myself and had to get a copy of ID and leave at the gate because I was not sure whether I needed to identify myself again while inside. I left to the offices, met my former lecturer at about 7.25am. Finished my business with him and left to the Chairman's office.
It was already 7.50am, the offices not opened, and I met some first years on the corridors.
"Do you know so and so lecturer, teaching so and so Unit, oooh, the so and so Unit is supposed to be in this venue but we don't know the location of the venue, would assist us to locate the venue". Such were the questions from these newcomers.
Being an alumni, I used my yesteryears map to particular offices and halls I knew but realized most of them had either been relocated or locked. During all this time up to around 8.20am, only lecturers offices could be seen opened, but administrative offices were locked. Finally, the chairman's office gets opened by around 8.30am. I walked into the office and found his Secretary. A lady, warm at heart with a very broad smile. I needed not to introduce myself. She had a photographic memory. She smiled, warmly welcomed a former frequenter to their office and gave me a seat.
I informed her the reasons why I'm back to JKUAT after those years. She told me the Chairman ain't in already and she can't speculate when he's likely to be in. So we had to wait in some cloud of darkness. I realised the Chairman we left is no longer the one in charge. Though the current one taught us some very crazy Units of which getting a D was a celebration. After a lengthy conversation, I got to learn and knew that I was to deal with a very difficult person ahead.
At exactly 9.33 am, the Chairman arrives, I allowed him to settle and then I walked in. First, he didn't know me and I expected him not to. He needed a proof that I was a student in JKUAT at some moment. He sent me to the Examinations Unit of the Faculty. I dashed and met some mean looking lady seated behind I desktop computer. I said "good morning" and she responded coldly. I then introduced myself and relayed why I was in that office and what I needed. All this time, she kept glaring at her computer. She finally lifted up her face and looked at me. I explained myself again. She finally opened her mouth and said the person who could give me such information had already left and so I needed to come back the next day. Immediately, I looked at the watch and realised it was 9.50am.
I asked again her "you mean he has left for the day or to some errands?".
Her response "I don't know. I've told you to come back tomorrow and if, in any case, he will be around"
Then I said, "But, I think he's your colleague and you can easily stand in for him and assist me with the information I need?"
She calmed for some time, gazed at me and slowly but firmly repeated "Come back tomorrow, he will assist you tomorrow"
From this moment, I knew I was finished.
I went back to the Chairman's office, explained to him and right away, he sent me to the Central examination department. I dashed, found a receptionist. I greeted her "good morning". Her response "to you".
I explained myself while all this time, she was moving from one shelf to the other. She then said, " You're in the wrong department, you need to go back to the person who sent you to send you to the right place". At this time, I started feeling uncomfortable and I needed to act tough. All of a sudden I became loud and refused to leave until she directs me to the right office. She finally told me to go to the Admissions office. I moved quickly to the Admissions office because time was so much spent. At the Admissions, they again directed me to a different office. I dashed once more, only to realise it was the Registrar's Office. I explained myself then I was requested to write a letter to formally request the information I needed of which I did very fast.
Then now, I had to wait for some minutes to pick the letter. I was finally done.
But then here is the main story:
JKUAT was DIRTY & SMELLY
Corridors were dusty, offices smelly, toilets unwashed, broken and dark, lawns dry, walkways dusty, dirty and with the leaves of trees you can think about. No trace of cleaners.
Windows of lecture buildings and offices broken and unfixed, walls dirty and unpainted, students looked emaciated and frail, staff were late, lazy, lacked focus and looked exceptionally bored and gloomy without any limited form of motivation. Let me not spoil the party for the three rats that crossed my path while moving along the walkways. I thought about the hostels and immediately realised that bedbugs have a nice environment to thrive. Rats are having a field day. Students could be seen in Students Centre all bearing the smell of cigarette smoke early in the morning.
When it comes to service provision, excellence should be celebrated by everyone, whether the provider is your friend or enemy.
When the service rendered is to the dogs, the attitude stinks, the processes are confused and decentralised and the condition is extremely poor, it doesn't matter whether the provider is your bed mate or sworn enemy. It's not about gender or being malicious. JKUAT is EMACIATED of services.
JKUAT NEEDS A SAVIOUR. JKUAT IS FRAIL. JKUAT IS DYING
Tuesday, 6 September 2016
Friday, 30 January 2015
Embracing Disruptive Technology
Tongues waging, cries all over, confusion abound about the changing face of business. All these blamed on disruptive technology. However, what is the real meaning of this elephant? According to a May 2013 report by Mckinsey & Company, disruptive technologies are advances that will transform life, business and global economy. Over the years, the world has witnessed a spectrum of success in almost all sectors. And many have not failed to observe the rapidness with which change and transformation have confronted resistance in all these spectra. Scanning through the various sectors in our society, it's not a surprise how technology and its flexibility is being accepted reluctantly.
Mobile phone makers like Nokia used to be the world leader in terms of handsets production and sales. Nokia is credited for being the first handset maker to sell a billionth handset in 2005, way when no competition was stiff enough to bend their neck. In 2007, the year Apple launched its first iPhone, Nokia was listed as the fifth most valued brand in the world. However, in 2009 Nokia posted its first loss for ten years. Facing stiff competition from newcomer Apple and handset makers powered by Google's new Android Operating System (OS). According to the Guardian, slicker and nice looking touchscreen devices, including Apple iPhone, Palm Pre and HTC Hero ate into the commanding lead once enjoyed by Nokia. Nokia has continued to suffer it's lowest moments, surrendering the lead to Samsung and its name being dropped by Microsoft from the Lumia gadgets.This has seriously resulted into a shake-up in their work force.Nokia has had it's fair share of the competition as it struggle to fight in the changing market using the same old Symbian OS.
Microsoft is facing similar competitions from companies like Apple and Google who have not only made browsing easier with slimmer and slicker gadgets but also flexible. It's nolonger a secret that Microsoft is working on a new Chrome-like browser dubbed Spartan, for Windows 10, suggesting that Internet Explorer could be on it's way out. Microsoft has had to shrug itself off from the effect created by a Nokia brand, even leading to more job cuts in some of its divisions.
In post services it's commendable and notable that most companies have embraced email services and moved on, others are still reluctant to accept, thereby retaining the services of huge boxes of letters to post offices.
In banking sector, some banks have accepted the use of ATMs in cash transfers, deposits and withdrawals, others have retained the services of cashiers/tellers to perform the same tasks.
In Telecoms industry, scanning through the life and times of Telcom Kenya illustrates the struggle to embrace mobile phones, per second billing and data services. This struggle turned the initially giant service provider to a lame duck, as was witnessed with the entry of "mega- disruptors" like Safaricom, Airtel Kenya and Yu mobile into this conservative yet loyal market.
All these spells disruptions and effects of new platforms. Its high time Kenyan media accepted the entry of digital platforms and appreciated the positives, since the probability of migrating to digital broadcasting from analogue is one. As long as Consumers would not like to spend much, quality and alternatives do matter and comes first. The major drive of any customer focused company is to develop and reshape itself into technology-based ways of delivering value. The digital delivery of products and services can open tremendous new pathways for growth and companies need to shift their underlying business operations to support and accept this new business model. I expect my grandmother who's still unable to receive the analogue signals to date, be able to watch not only clear channels of KTN, NTV & Citizen, but also have the flexibility to watch Maisha Magic without calling her grandson to change the decoders. The digital platforms disruption is therefore more likely to create more opportunities than analogue platform has created. We are likely to see even more demand for reporters and more cash from advertising, since the market segments that were never reached due to poor and boring signals, will be reached.
The truth on what we are currently witnessing is purely on sale of content distribution gadgets, this has in no way relational effect to the current staff employed by the three media houses while on analogue platform. This shows an increasing list of those either being caught on the wrong side of technology, or just being reluctant to accept change and move on. It's either you fall because of "the next big thing" or accept, adjust and play the game.
Mobile phone makers like Nokia used to be the world leader in terms of handsets production and sales. Nokia is credited for being the first handset maker to sell a billionth handset in 2005, way when no competition was stiff enough to bend their neck. In 2007, the year Apple launched its first iPhone, Nokia was listed as the fifth most valued brand in the world. However, in 2009 Nokia posted its first loss for ten years. Facing stiff competition from newcomer Apple and handset makers powered by Google's new Android Operating System (OS). According to the Guardian, slicker and nice looking touchscreen devices, including Apple iPhone, Palm Pre and HTC Hero ate into the commanding lead once enjoyed by Nokia. Nokia has continued to suffer it's lowest moments, surrendering the lead to Samsung and its name being dropped by Microsoft from the Lumia gadgets.This has seriously resulted into a shake-up in their work force.Nokia has had it's fair share of the competition as it struggle to fight in the changing market using the same old Symbian OS.
Microsoft is facing similar competitions from companies like Apple and Google who have not only made browsing easier with slimmer and slicker gadgets but also flexible. It's nolonger a secret that Microsoft is working on a new Chrome-like browser dubbed Spartan, for Windows 10, suggesting that Internet Explorer could be on it's way out. Microsoft has had to shrug itself off from the effect created by a Nokia brand, even leading to more job cuts in some of its divisions.
In post services it's commendable and notable that most companies have embraced email services and moved on, others are still reluctant to accept, thereby retaining the services of huge boxes of letters to post offices.
In banking sector, some banks have accepted the use of ATMs in cash transfers, deposits and withdrawals, others have retained the services of cashiers/tellers to perform the same tasks.
In Telecoms industry, scanning through the life and times of Telcom Kenya illustrates the struggle to embrace mobile phones, per second billing and data services. This struggle turned the initially giant service provider to a lame duck, as was witnessed with the entry of "mega- disruptors" like Safaricom, Airtel Kenya and Yu mobile into this conservative yet loyal market.
All these spells disruptions and effects of new platforms. Its high time Kenyan media accepted the entry of digital platforms and appreciated the positives, since the probability of migrating to digital broadcasting from analogue is one. As long as Consumers would not like to spend much, quality and alternatives do matter and comes first. The major drive of any customer focused company is to develop and reshape itself into technology-based ways of delivering value. The digital delivery of products and services can open tremendous new pathways for growth and companies need to shift their underlying business operations to support and accept this new business model. I expect my grandmother who's still unable to receive the analogue signals to date, be able to watch not only clear channels of KTN, NTV & Citizen, but also have the flexibility to watch Maisha Magic without calling her grandson to change the decoders. The digital platforms disruption is therefore more likely to create more opportunities than analogue platform has created. We are likely to see even more demand for reporters and more cash from advertising, since the market segments that were never reached due to poor and boring signals, will be reached.
The truth on what we are currently witnessing is purely on sale of content distribution gadgets, this has in no way relational effect to the current staff employed by the three media houses while on analogue platform. This shows an increasing list of those either being caught on the wrong side of technology, or just being reluctant to accept change and move on. It's either you fall because of "the next big thing" or accept, adjust and play the game.
Wednesday, 23 April 2014
South Sudan Deserves Better
Quite heartening and mind boggling to realize that most dreams have been cut short in South Sudan. The acts of ethnic cleansing currently under-way in South Sudan is a shame in 21st century. While the two leaders (Notably, Salva Kiir and Riek Machar)'s families are having all the freebies gained from bloodshed, and enjoying peace in Kenya, they continue to subject the civilians to their selfish ambitions. They've made sure that a generation is passing without knowing the practical existence and true meaning of peace.
It's quite unfortunate that the world continues to watch this genocide, while sitting peacefully and allowing it to continue. A wise man and true leader will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority. A close examination of the machinery of politics in South Sudan and its achievements so far, will return negative result in all forms. What has the history of war and the fight for independence of the South Sudan achieved? Nothing but failure and defeat, not even a single reform to ameliorate the economic and social stress of the people has been achieved so far. Yet the two protagonists are back to guerilla tactics, in the information age.
Of uttermost concern is the way the soldiers who live like paupers with no sense of perspective in life, continue to execute the orders of these men, making violent protest through the barrels of guns against the harmless and helpless population whose social and economic situations have made them soft spots for these cruel, heartless monstrous wild beasts, whose joy is to destroy life and bathe in blood.
It's quite unfortunate that the world continues to watch this genocide, while sitting peacefully and allowing it to continue. A wise man and true leader will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority. A close examination of the machinery of politics in South Sudan and its achievements so far, will return negative result in all forms. What has the history of war and the fight for independence of the South Sudan achieved? Nothing but failure and defeat, not even a single reform to ameliorate the economic and social stress of the people has been achieved so far. Yet the two protagonists are back to guerilla tactics, in the information age.
Of uttermost concern is the way the soldiers who live like paupers with no sense of perspective in life, continue to execute the orders of these men, making violent protest through the barrels of guns against the harmless and helpless population whose social and economic situations have made them soft spots for these cruel, heartless monstrous wild beasts, whose joy is to destroy life and bathe in blood.
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