REPORT ON ATTACHMENT

NAME: SOLOMON NAMONYO

REG NO: INF/6002/2016

AT

PERIOD OF ATTACHMENT

START: 11/05/2017 FINISH: 05/08/2017

DATE OF REPORT SUBMISSION: 15TH AUGUST 2017

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of Institute of advanced Technology

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DECLARATION
I SOLOMON NAMONYO declare that this is my original work and to the best of my
knowledge have never been evaluated or presented again in any forum.

SOLOMON NAMONYO
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATICS
REG NO: INF/6002/2016
PHONE:0705788353.
EMAIL:…[email protected]
SIGN:…………………………………………DATE:……………………………

SUBMITTED TO:
ATTATCHMENT SUPERVISOR (IAT)
MR/MRS...................................
EMAIL:………………………………………
SIGN:…………………………………………DATE:……………………………

HUMAN RESOURCE (ADMINISTRATION)

INTERNS CORDINATOR
PHONE:……………………………………..
EMAIL:………………………………………
SIGN:………………………………………..DATE:……………………………

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
All my gratitude goes to all the geothermal development company (GDC) technical department
team for their humble time and support throughout my attachment period. Special appreciation
to ICT manager and my supervisor Mr. Martin Nderitu and Mr. Richard Kalelbei for their
supervision, devoted time, and ensuring that I had something to do always and following up on
the progress. My final appreciation goes to Mr. Mungai, Mr. Allan Njoroge together with
highly skilled GDC company ICT officers; Mr. Martin Kinyanjui, Mr. Henry Karani and Mr.
Patrick Keter for their undying support during my attachment period. Their participation and

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insight are truly appreciated. All deserve my thanks and gratitude. Thanks to my entire
supervisors, Lectures, staff, the administration for providing me with a chance to learn and
benefit with knowledge they impacted to me throughout my class work experience at IAT.
Thanks to Mr. Joshua Ondu for his assistance and willingness to help me with the guidelines
and layout of this report.
Thank you all.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Geothermal Development Company (GDC) is a 100% state-owned company, formed by
The Government of Kenya as a Special Purpose Vehicle to fast track the development of
geothermal resources in the country. The company is currently involved in various operations
and services such as the information and technology system in installation of VSAT(very
small aperture terminal networks),steam drilling operations, power generation storage and
transportation, servers 3 phase diesel generators installation and components, security
biometric systems, CCTV components, GPS tracking systems and radio communication
systems. The company through the human resource manager absorbs university and college
students where they train and provide conducive learning environment for at least a period of 3
months without enumerations. Students undergo field/workshop training guided by highly
trained and competent engineers and technicians where they gain knowledge in various fields
of information technology systems and radio communication systems, steam drilling
operations,3 phase power generation storage and transportation, 3 phase diesel generators
storage and components maintenance, security biometric systems, CCTV installation and
components, GPS tracking systems, in their various major departments i.e. drilling department,
ICT/technical department, cementing department and Geology/Physics department.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY iv

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION1

1.1.History of GDC 1

1.2.Main functions of GDC 1

1.2.1.GDC’s Mandate 2

1.3.Vision, mission statement and core value of GDC 2

1.4.Organizational structure of GDC 2

1.5.Duties and responsibilities of the key personnel in GDC 3

CHAPTER TWO: HOST DEPARTMENT 5

2.1.Key functions of the department 5

2.2.Staff establishment of the department 5

2.3. Student’s main objectives for the attachment exercise 6

2.4. Attaché’s assigned routine duties and department participation. 7

CHAPTER THREE: EVALUATION OF THE ATTACHMENT 7

3.1. Success and failures of the attachment exercise 8

3.2. Challenges I encountered during the attachment period. 8

3.3. How the challenges were solved 8

3.4.Recommendations as to how the attachment exercise can be improved by the university

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CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1. History of GDC

The Geothermal Development Company (GDC) is a 100% state-owned
company, formed by the Government of Kenya as a Special Purpose Vehicle to
fast track the development of geothermal resources in the country.
Geothermal energy is an indigenous, abundant, reliable and environmentally-
friendly source of electricity.
The creation of GDC was based on the government’s policy on energy -
Seasonal paper No. 4 of 2004, and the energy Act No.12 of 2006 - which un-
bundled the key players in the electricity sector to ensure efficiency.
The search for geothermal energy is not new in Kenya. It started in 1957. But
this has so far yielded 209MW only against a massive potential estimated at
7000MW to 10,000MW. Evidently, the speed of harnessing geothermal
resources has been too low necessitating the creation of GDC.
Kenya’s GDP is expected to grow by at least 10% from 2012. In Vision 2030,
Kenya aspires to become a mid-income economy. To attain Vision 2030, the
government’s forecast is to generate 15,000 MW, 5000MW will come from
geothermal. Today, the total effective installed capacity stands at 1533 MW.
For a long time, Kenya has relied on hydroelectricity with perennial power
outages forcing the government to invite emergency power producers who use
diesel to generate electricity. This stop-gap measure is a two edged sword. First,
it increases the cost of electricity and second, it causes massive pollution.
The government has identified the country's untapped geothermal potential as
the most suitable indigenous source of electricity. GDC will drill 1400 steam
wells to provide steam for the generation of 5,000MW of geothermal power by
2030.
1.2. Main functions of GDC

The geothermal company currently is drilling steam wells in menengai crater

and already commissioned electricity supply to kengen from its wells in
Naivasha to untapped country’s geothermal potential as the most suitable
indigenous source of electricity. GDC will drill 1400 steam wells to provide
steam for the generation of 5,000MW of geothermal power by 2030.in line with
the steam power generation there are various operation and services being
undertaken such as telecommunication services (VSAT internets and mobile
networks) and radio communication system to ensure smooth running of drilling
operation among its stuff between Nairobi and Nakuru and then Generation
house/polo centre and finally to menengai at the campsite and rigs.

1.2.1. GDC’s Mandate

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  To promote rapid development of geothermal resources in Kenya through
surface exploration and drilling for steam.
 To avail steam to power plant developers for electricity generation.
 To manage the geothermal reservoirs- to ensure constant supply of steam for
power generation
 To promote alternative uses of geothermal resources other than electricity
Generation
These include greenhouse heating, drying of grains, pasteurizing milk, cooling
and heating of rooms, among others.

1.3. Vision, mission statement and core value of GDC.

Vision
 To be a world leader in the development of the geothermal resources

Kenya’s GDP is expected to grow by at least 10% from 2012. In Vision 2030,
Kenya aspires to become a mid-income economy. To attain Vision 2030, the
government’s forecast is to generate 15,000MWe, 5000MWe will come from
geothermal. Today, the total effective installed capacity stands at 1533MWe.
Mission
 To develop 5000MWe from geothermal resources by 2030

The government has identified the country's untapped geothermal potential as

the most suitable indigenous source of electricity. GDC will drill 1400 steam
wells to provide steam for the generation of 5,000MW of geothermal power by
2030.

Core values
 Integrity: GDC subscribes to high ethical standards, openness and honesty.
 Professionalism: GDC embraces excellence, quality service and continual
improvement.

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 1.4. Organizational structure of GDC
They offer a non-bureaucratic, accessible management team that has the knowledge,
skills and experience to provide specialist and technical expertise to generate 15,000
MWto attain Vision 2030. From where it stands today, the company has several
departments including drilling department, ICT/Technical department, geology/physic
department, property department, chemistry department among others making its stuff
number to stands at about 10,000. The Geothermal Development Company (GDC) is a
100% state-owned company, formed by the Government of Kenya as a Special Purpose
Vehicle to fast track the development of geothermal resources in the country.
1.5. Duties and responsibilities of the key personnel in GDC
The Board of Directors is charged with the responsibility of:

i. Amending the company’s bylaws or articles of incorporation

ii. Act on behalf of the company and its best interests with an appropriate

‘duty of care’ at all times.

iii. Act with loyalty to the company and its shareholders.

iv. Participate in regular meetings of the board of directors.

v. Approving certain company activities and transactions including contracts

and agreements, asset purchases and sales, approval of new company

policies and more.

The Managing Director of the company has the duties and responsibility to:

i. Work alongside the board members to identify operational performance

measures.

ii. Implement company policies and changes to them.

iii. Ensure that the company’s strategy is geared towards the company’s growth,

profits and increasing shareholder return.

iv. Be a communication channel between the Board and the shareholders.

v. Represent the company in the public.

vi. Lead, coach and mentor board members and support their professional

development.

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The General Managers:

i) Drilling department

i.) Conceptualization and execution of the company’s long-term

drilling programs from acquisition of materials and equipment to

exploration, appraisal and production drilling.

ii.) Provides leadership and supervision to drilling contractors.

iii.) Storage and transportation of steam.
ii) Human Resource
i.) Responsible for hiring staff members, keeping them in their position
and ensure they perform to expectation.
ii.) Administer human resource matters and deal with the
organization of people within the company.
iii) Corporate Affairs and Legal matters
i.) Advising the board on legal matters that may arise in the
development of the company and corporate affairs.
ii.) Assisting the Managing Director in his statutory role as
secretary to the Board of Directors.
iii.) Participate in formation of the company’s policies and
ensure that they are within the existing legislation.
iv.) Ensuring that the company has appropriate structures and
programs in place to operate within the highest ethics, compliance
and corporate governance practices.
iv) Business Development
i.) Follow up new business opportunities and setting up meetings.
ii.) Planning and preparing presentations.
iii.) Communicating new product development to prospective
clients.
iv.) Overseeing the development of marketing literature.
v.) Writing reports.

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CHAPTER TWO: HOST DEPARTMENT(ICT)

2.1. Key functions of the department

 Acquire, develop and implement new software/hardware applications.
 Manage ICT infrastructures.
 Integrate GDC systems with other sector players to enhance information
gathering, sharing and knowledge management.
 Make hardware and software recommendations.
 Manage organization’s telephone systems, call systems,
Authentication systems, and communications network in event of
disaster.
 Website management / development
 Ensure ICT security standards are in operation.

ICT department-this department was headed by Mr. Martin Nderitu who

coordinates several sub departments namely:
 CCTV department: involved CCTV systems installation, remote off-site
monitoring and recording of CCTV using 3g/edge/GPRS.
 Project implementation department: dealt with developing and
implementing various ICT/technical projects.
 Maintenance department: this department provided maintenance
services to the clients. Internet services, local mails servers, general
personal computers services, biometric systems and many others services.
 Tracking department: dealt with the installation of the GPS/GPRS/GSM
tracking units for monitoring GDC fleets.

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2.2. Staff establishment of the department
The Department of Information Communication and Technology at the Geothermal
Development Company is headed by Mr. Martin Nderitu who works hand in hand with
the chief officers.
The department has a total of around 20 employees who have their duties and
responsibilities divided among them as follows:
i) Information Communication and Technology Director:
 Manage and provide
oversight for implementation of security strategy, recovery plan and minimal
risk of data privacy of the company’s information.
i.) Prepare strategic and operational plans for the department to ensure
all tools, processes and systems meet the company’s requirement.
ii.) Ensure continuous improvement of quality and cost effective
Information Technology services.
iii.) Provide methods, tools and procedures for data integrity.
ii) Assistant Director:
Works hand in hand with the department director and stands in for the
director if absent.
iii) Information Communication and Technology Officers:
i.) Ensure safety of company systems.
ii.) Create and sustain safe internet communication at the company.
iii.)Supervise employees in the department, provide training and evaluate
students on attachment.
iv.) Reporting inappropriate system use to relevant authorities in the
department.
iv) Assistant Information Communication and Technology Technicians:
i.) Install and maintain company systems.
ii.)Work hand in hand with the senior and chief officers.

2.3. Student’s main objectives for the attachment exercise

The internship training has assisted me in evaluating my class work in real life
situation with a great success. It has helped me develop positive attitude towards
the field of Information Communication and Technology.
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 The main objectives during the attachment period were:
i. To gain experience and knowledge of the work environment
ii. To improve my confidence in problem solving and gain knowledge how to
tackle them
iii. To get an opportunity to meet and work with potential employers

iv. To apply the Information and Technology knowledge obtained in class in an

environment that is challenging and demanding.

v. To strengthen my relationship with my fellow interns and create good career

networks with knowledge oriented people
2.4. Attaché’s assigned routine duties and department participation.
Our internship begun with a brief introduction to the management staff, and later the
technical departments.The first phase of the internship was to familiarize and get skills
at polo centre third floor where repair and maintenance of the computer hardware’s
took place.

Under the supervision of the ICT manager, I was able to undertake and learn the
following task;
i.) Installation of software to computers.

ii.) Installation of operating systems to computers.

iii.) Repairing and restoration of system units.

iv.) Blowing and maintenance of computers.

v.) Termination of internet cables.

vi.) Maintenance of uninterrupted power supply units.

vii.) Pulling of cables for security cameras.

viii.) Installation of the cameras.

ix.) Configuration of the cameras.

x.) Attending SAP/ABAP training.

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CHAPTER THREE: EVALUATION OF THE ATTACHMENT

3.1. Success and failures of the attachment exercise

Successes

i.) I gained knowledge and experience of the working environment

ii.) I improved my confidence in problem solving and gained ideas on how to
solve different problems.
iii.) I got an opportunity to work with potential and great minded employees
iv.) I was able to apply the information and technology knowledge obtained in
class in some challenging situations and environment.
There were no failures since I attained all my main objectives and also gained more
than I expected.

3.2. Challenges I encountered during the attachment period.

i.) Not enough work

Part of the reason i took the internship in the first place was to gain valuable work
experience, so it got extremely frustrating when we stayed idle in the ICT office

There are times when I got assignments from my supervisor that were completely
unclear, and I dint want to be annoying or get in anyone’s way, but also I had no idea
what I was doing. I thought of calling my boss for what felt like the tenth time to clarify
something or try to figure it out on my own.

After some weeks, I had the right amount of work, and didn’t have any specific
questions about any assignment I was working on, and I had no feedback from my
supervisor. I really wanted to know if there was something I could improve upon.
Generally the experience in the company was excellent.

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3.3. How the challenges were solved

i.) I BECAME PROACTIVE

I found that i had to finish my assignment before time so I had to ask for more work and
also involved myself in other activities that were beneficial to my field of work and
course.

ii.) I STOPED BEING AFRAID OF ASKING QUISTIONS

Sometimes it’s easy for the supervisor to forget that one is new to the industry and I felt
it was important to reach out for help when I needed it and also I knew that my
supervisor would understand that I was not an expert. Most of the times I paid a lot of
attention and took notes when the supervisor explained to avoid him repeating things he
said during the practicals

iii.) I FOUND A MENTOR AND SET UP WEEKLY MEETINGS

I found a mentor and set up weekly meetings. I knew the best way to get feedbacks was
to actively seek it. My supervisor and i set up weekly meetings so that I could check in
and make sure I met my expectations.

3.4. Recommendations as to how the attachment exercise can be improved by the

university
i.) The university should help students in getting internship opportunities in
such large institutions as the one i was lucky to work with.
ii.) It should find ways of weekly assessing students on internship so as to
motivate them.

3.5. REFERENCE
GEOTHERMAL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

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