Kenya has in the recent past been in the spotlight as a hot bed of innovation and Nairobi has been touted as the next Silicon Valley in Africa.
The attention has been spawned by unique initiatives some of which have gone global such as the open source crisis management platform Ushahidi and the mobile money transfer sensation M-pesa.
The local tech scene is choking with talent waiting to be tapped and hopefully result into more world-class successes or case studies that will make Kenya a true innovation hub.
Why then are we not seeing showcases that will speak of the talent that is rife?
There is a severe knowledge gap within Kenya’s top management.
I’m talking about chief executives, marketing managers, brand managers, permanent secretaries, government ministers and the list could go on…yes, I called them out, and for a reason.
Although the mobile industry in Kenya is only 10 years young and dripping with opportunity and talent, we are yet to witness the next logical step where the influencers who represent big brands and government harness this talent.
While acknowledging what Information PS Bitange Ndemo and his team have done to improve the country’s infrastructure as pertains to connectivity to the world, the task ahead is still daunting and it cannot be left to one team.
I am yet to come across an executive course that offers key learning on the mobile space, which has become an integral part of business and social life.
The approach I would advocate is the training of knowledge champions in organisations, who will be well versed in the entire mobile ecosystem and understand the various players and value propositions available to them.
This understanding will plant the seeds of innovation with organisations having the ability to generate ideas from within, thus creating ownership.
I guarantee the implementation of these ideas will not be a problem since we are not short of talent.
If we can bridge the knowledge gap between brand owners, managers and innovators, the benefits will be three fold: innovative product and service ideas stemming from a knowledge position, engagement of the talented yet underused resource base leading to improved skill sets and we may just cement ourselves as the Silicon Valley in Africa.
After all, we have it all going for us.
BY Mbugua Njihia
Why then are we not seeing showcases that will speak of the talent that is rife?
There is a severe knowledge gap within Kenya’s top management.
I’m talking about chief executives, marketing managers, brand managers, permanent secretaries, government ministers and the list could go on…yes, I called them out, and for a reason.
Although the mobile industry in Kenya is only 10 years young and dripping with opportunity and talent, we are yet to witness the next logical step where the influencers who represent big brands and government harness this talent.
While acknowledging what Information PS Bitange Ndemo and his team have done to improve the country’s infrastructure as pertains to connectivity to the world, the task ahead is still daunting and it cannot be left to one team.
I am yet to come across an executive course that offers key learning on the mobile space, which has become an integral part of business and social life.
The approach I would advocate is the training of knowledge champions in organisations, who will be well versed in the entire mobile ecosystem and understand the various players and value propositions available to them.
This understanding will plant the seeds of innovation with organisations having the ability to generate ideas from within, thus creating ownership.
I guarantee the implementation of these ideas will not be a problem since we are not short of talent.
If we can bridge the knowledge gap between brand owners, managers and innovators, the benefits will be three fold: innovative product and service ideas stemming from a knowledge position, engagement of the talented yet underused resource base leading to improved skill sets and we may just cement ourselves as the Silicon Valley in Africa.
After all, we have it all going for us.
BY Mbugua Njihia
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