Bitange Ndemo: The Visionary Who Transformed Kenya's ICT Landscape

In the future, when we build the ICT Hall of Fame, no one will oppose the idea of Amb - Prof Bitange Ndemo getting the first star on that Walk of Fame. Few government officials have ever worked with a singular focus to transform their sectors like Bitange Ndemo did in his eight-year stint as the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communication. Even fewer have walked the talk with unmatched passion.

Early Life and Education

Born in 1959 in Manga, Isecha, Kisii County, Bitange Ndemo is a descendant of the famous Bogonko clan. His half-brother, Lawrence Sagini, was the founding Member of Parliament of Kitutu Chache, Kenya's first Minister of Natural Resources, and one of the Kenyans who attended the Lancaster House Conference.

Ndemo's educational journey took him from Kenya to the United States, where he earned a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota. He later obtained a PhD in Industrial Economics from the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom.

Career in the United States and Return to Kenya

In the early 1990s, Ndemo worked as a senior Financial Analyst in the United States, earning a substantial salary of $60,000 per year. However, in 1993, he made the bold decision to quit his job and return to Kenya, driven by a desire to contribute to his home country's development.

Upon his return, Ndemo faced significant challenges. Kenya was grappling with hyperinflation in the aftermath of the 1992 elections, following the printing of money for the YK92 (Youth for KANU '92), a campaign group led by politician Cyrus Jirongo. The Central Bank was trying to clean up the mess, and banks were not lending money, as treasury bills paid more. In one fell swoop, Ndemo lost his $160,000 savings (equivalent to Sh 20 million at today's rates).

Out of work and savings, and having just gotten married, Ndemo had to hustle. He started working for a relation that exported horticultural products to Europe, driving around Central and Eastern Kenya searching for French beans and snow peas. Back home, people gossiped that their learned son was now selling vegetables in Nairobi, a presumed preserve of illiterate mama mboga (women who sell vegetables), and not an American-educated son.

Joining Academia and the Ministry of Information and Communication

Despite the profitability of his vegetable venture, a chance encounter with Jimmy Angwenyi, former Kitutu Chache (North) MP and then Chairman of the Business Department at the University of Nairobi, led Ndemo to a teaching job. Although the salary was only Sh 7,000 while his monthly rent was Sh 12,000, Ndemo embraced the opportunity to share his knowledge and expertise with students.

Ndemo's true impact, however, came during his tenure as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication from 2005 to 2013. Serving under ministers Mutahi Kagwe and Samuel Poghisio, and with the support of President Mwai Kibaki, Ndemo became the driving force behind the ministry's transformation.

Transforming Kenya's ICT Sector

If Kenyans enjoy cheap phone calls, faster internet connectivity, liberalized media, and some of the most progressive structures and policies in the ICT sector, it is courtesy of Bitange Ndemo's tireless efforts.

One of Ndemo's most significant achievements was spearheading the construction of The East African Marine System (TEAMS), a submarine fibre optic cable that drastically reduced the cost of mobile phone calls and internet charges. Together with Minister Mutahi Kagwe, Ndemo delivered the first fibre optic project in East Africa, which changed the way Kenyans communicate for good.

Before the TEAMS project, it used to cost Sh 35 per minute to make a phone call on the Safaricom network and up to Sh 50 per minute to other networks. Kenyans waited until late at night to make calls, prompting the then Safaricom CEO, Michael Joseph, to label Kenyans as having peculiar calling habits. The network used to be jammed by the many calls, and internet connections were nightmarishly slow as the country relied on satellites to access the Internet.

Ndemo and Kagwe's dedication to the TEAMS project saw them receive death threats, as their move had kicked out gatekeepers at Telkom-Kenya who made a killing from exploiting Kenyans. Despite the challenges, the Kenyan government and a consortium of Kenyan firms spent Sh 8.1 billion to build TEAMS, which delivered broadband internet to millions of Kenyans, brought crisp-clear phone calls, and reduced the cost of calls by 99 percent.

Other Notable Achievements

Besides the TEAMS project, Ndemo oversaw several other initiatives that transformed Kenya's ICT sector. These include:

• The development of the business process outsourcing industry
• The reduction of mobile termination rates (MTRs)
• The Kenya Open Data initiative
• The growth of several tech hubs such as iHub and mLab in Kenya
• The formative formulation of Konza City (despite later being implicated in a land scandal, for which he was acquitted)
• Ndemo was also instrumental in creating a friendly and progressive regulatory environment that fostered innovation and growth in the ICT sector. It was during his tenure that Safaricom launched the revolutionary mobile money platform, M-PESA, which has since become a global success story.

Writing and Thought Leadership

Beyond his work in the ministry, Bitange Ndemo is a prolific writer and thought leader in the realm of ICT, innovation, and entrepreneurship. His articles and columns in the Business Daily Africa and the Daily Nation are among the most widely read in the country, and he is known for his bold and sometimes controversial ideas.

One of Ndemo's most famous concepts is that of "dead capital," which refers to the stately homes Kenyans build in the countryside, where they rarely reside. These homes cannot be sold or rented out due to ancestral attachments and the graves that dot the land, effectively rendering them unproductive assets.

Another notable idea put forth by Ndemo was the need for a machine to standardize the quality and texture of ugali, a staple food in Kenya. While the suggestion was met with vehement opposition from ugali lovers, it highlighted Ndemo's innovative thinking and willingness to challenge the status quo.

Current Roles and Continued Impact

After leaving the government, Ndemo resumed teaching as a Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Nairobi's Business School. In April 2022, he was appointed Kenya's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union, where he continues to serve.

Ndemo remains actively involved in research and advisory roles, focusing on the intersection of ICT, entrepreneurship, and economic development. He is a Senior Advisor at the Gini Centre for Applied Sciences in Emerging Technologies and has served as the Honorary Chair of the Alliance for Affordable Internet - A4AI (A4AI) and an Advisor to the Better Than Cash Alliance , a global initiative to digitize payments.

In recognition of his distinguished services in the ICT sector, Ndemo was awarded the prestigious presidential Chief of the Burning Spear Award (CBS) in 2006.

Conclusion

Bitange Ndemo's journey from selling vegetables to shaping Kenya's digital revolution is a testament to his vision, dedication, and unwavering commitment to progress. His contributions to the ICT sector have not only transformed the way Kenyans communicate and access information but have also positioned the country as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa.

As Kenya continues to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the digital age, the legacy of Bitange Ndemo serves as an inspiration for current and future leaders in the ICT sector. His story reminds us that with passion, perseverance, and a willingness to take risks, one individual can make a profound impact on the lives of millions.

FINTAK salutes and celebrates Amb - Prof Bitange Ndemo for his invaluable contributions to the ICT sector, which have laid the foundation for the thriving fintech ecosystem we have today. Thank you, Sir, for your visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to Kenya's digital transformation.

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