Comments on: The Diamond Plaza phenomenon: the best of us, the worst of us http://www.sunwords.com/2007/07/01/the-diamond-plaza-phenomenon-the-best-of-us-the-worst-of-us/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:24:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Kim Bhari http://www.sunwords.com/2007/07/01/the-diamond-plaza-phenomenon-the-best-of-us-the-worst-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-33230 Kim Bhari Wed, 20 May 2009 09:20:11 +0000 http://www.sunwords.com/2007/07/01/the-diamond-plaza-phenomenon-the-best-of-us-the-worst-of-us/#comment-33230 Hi Sunny Interesting article. We call them "rockets" and they call us ABCD (African Born Confused Desi"). Why do Kenyan Businessmen employ Rockets and not the ABCD. Simple it comes down to costs. The ABCD will cost more than the Rocket and point two is that we are so few left in the country now. It is quite difficult to get qualified ABCD accountants in Kenya. So India is the next stop for many businessmen. In many ways it is healthy for us to face competition as we may have become a bit complacent over the decades Hi Sunny

Interesting article. We call them “rockets” and they call us ABCD (African Born Confused Desi”).

Why do Kenyan Businessmen employ Rockets and not the ABCD. Simple it comes down to costs. The ABCD will cost more than the Rocket and point two is that we are so few left in the country now. It is quite difficult to get qualified ABCD accountants in Kenya. So India is the next stop for many businessmen.

In many ways it is healthy for us to face competition as we may have become a bit complacent over the decades

]]> By: Pinakin Patel http://www.sunwords.com/2007/07/01/the-diamond-plaza-phenomenon-the-best-of-us-the-worst-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-1330 Pinakin Patel Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:00:05 +0000 http://www.sunwords.com/2007/07/01/the-diamond-plaza-phenomenon-the-best-of-us-the-worst-of-us/#comment-1330 Hi Sunny, Couldn't help but comment on your rocket reference. I am a Kenyan Asian living in canada with my Indian (citizen) wife. So as you can imagine, I believe in a global workplace and I dont hate Indians...( I luv my wife). While I have no problems with highly qualified indians coming to kenyan with their skills and working and earning big bucks while they train kenyans to take over, I have a big problem with the current tread of Rockets coming in and forming management mafias that dont train kenyans to take over and instead form barriers to the career progression of kenyans. Many indigenous kenyans may think that it is just targeted at them...and i wont blame them for that impreesion. The reality is that in many kenyan asian owned companys the greatest crime is being a kenyan(irrespective of race...kenyan wahindis face the same problem) unless you are related by blood to the owners. This trend must be corrected immediately and we should stop conferring CEO of the year awards to those who create cream jobs for rockets rather than kenyans. The famous paper mill which i heard closed recently was filled with rockets in top & middle management and also engineering positions....despite being in the country for over 40 years and our govt being an equal partner. I had to get out of kenya to get equal opportunity. Why can't our businessmen and industrialists think beyond their egos and bank balances to play a part in creating a future for skilled and educated kenyans? Hi Sunny,
Couldn’t help but comment on your rocket reference. I am a Kenyan Asian living in canada with my Indian (citizen) wife. So as you can imagine, I believe in a global workplace and I dont hate Indians…( I luv my wife).
While I have no problems with highly qualified indians coming to kenyan with their skills and working and earning big bucks while they train kenyans to take over, I have a big problem with the current tread of Rockets coming in and forming management mafias that dont train kenyans to take over and instead form barriers to the career progression of kenyans. Many indigenous kenyans may think that it is just targeted at them…and i wont blame them for that impreesion. The reality is that in many kenyan asian owned companys the greatest crime is being a kenyan(irrespective of race…kenyan wahindis face the same problem) unless you are related by blood to the owners. This trend must be corrected immediately and we should stop conferring CEO of the year awards to those who create cream jobs for rockets rather than kenyans. The famous paper mill which i heard closed recently was filled with rockets in top & middle management and also engineering positions….despite being in the country for over 40 years and our govt being an equal partner. I had to get out of kenya to get equal opportunity. Why can’t our businessmen and industrialists think beyond their egos and bank balances to play a part in creating a future for skilled and educated kenyans?

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