By Fredrick Odiero
The Stanbic Bank of Kenya has donated 20 computers to the Kisumu Rotary
Vocational and Training Center within the county.
The items were handed over to the school trough the Governor professor Peter Anyang Nyong’o, who in turn gave them to the institution.
Speaking during the event at the institution, the Stanbic Kenya Chief
Executive, Mr. Charles Mudiwa said the deal is part of a Memorandum of
Understanding with the County Government of Kisumu in a bid to
contribute to the growth and development of the county.
“We are honored to be here today to partner with the county government
of Kisumu and invest in the third largest city in the county, he said.
Mudiwa said the partnership agreement, which is part of the banks
FutureNiDigital campaign, was launched in 2021.
He said the programme will offer training on digital knowledge and
skills; training on entrepreneurship and access to markets; availing
affordable financing to mass market and corporates; and exploring ICT
innovations around renewable energy, environment and climate change,
empowering the youth, women and MSMEs towards building strong
enterprises in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals SDGs.
He said the partnership will see 1,000 government employees trained and
seconded to the program as instructors.
Mudiwa said the digital skills training is a major boost to the Kenya
government’s Digital Economy Blueprint, which among others, aims to
foster innovation-driven digital enterprise.
Nyong’o noted, that Kisumu is open to collaborate with strategic
partners who can contribute to turning the county into an economic hub.
‘I believe that this partnership with Stanbic will help my
administration unlock our full potential by investing in SME’s and
individuals.” He said.
The governor said the county government has focused its development
plans on agriculture, health and education, key pillars that are also in
line with the bank’s corporate social investments.
He commanded the bank for supporting 15 children’s homes in the region
by supplying food and hand washing stations to help combat the spread of
COVID-19. In addition, they have built classrooms and donated sanitary
towels.
The Head of the Stanbic Kenya Foundation, Pauline Mbayah also noted that
the body has come a long way from when we launched in 2020.
Mbayah said the partnerships that they have forged along the way have
not only had an impact on the lives of small businesses and individuals,
but on a socio-economic level.
He said the collaboration with Kisumu County will help achieve their
objectives of realizing the Global Sustainable Development Goals
(SDG’s).
Mbayah said this is in line with the bank’s It Can Be brand promise to
support and empower the communities in which they operate in, and in
turn drive Kenya’s socio-economic growth. .
He said the Foundation has achieved significant milestones along the
way and has made a mark in Education, Job Creation and Enterprise
Development, through the launch of the Accelerate Program that positions
Kenya businesses for success.
‘Since last year, the bank has successfully forged similar
partnerships with various county governments including Nairobi, Nakuru,
Meru, Mombasa, Kiambu and Laikipia, in an effort to equip SME’s with
the digital skills to survive and grow their businesses in a dynamic
environment, especially after the negative effects of the COVID-19
pandemic. ‘ he said.
