Some 390,000 youth have received digital skills training and certification since the inception of the Jitume Digital Empowerment programme last year.
ICT and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary (CS) Eliud Owalo said the programme, which is part of the government’s digital transformation agenda, aims at providing digital skills, e-services and online opportunities to young people across the country.
Speaking while officially launching the Ruiru ICT hub yesterday, Owalo divulged that the ministry has also created 139,000 digital jobs for the youth through the programme.
The programme is being implemented by several ministries, including the Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, and the Ministry of Labour.
The CS who was accompanied by Ruiru MP Simon King’ara said that the programme is designed to give Kenyan youth a platform to make a decent living, noting that it is the only way to beat the unemployment crisis in the country.
“This is a game changer and it is transformational. It is the only way to sort out the unemployment problem we have as a country. I urge our youth to take this programme very seriously,” Owalo said.
He revealed that plans are at an advanced stage to set up 1450 digital hubs across the country, adding that Parliament made an amendment to the CDF Act allowing them to utilize three per cent of the annual CDF allocation to set up the hubs in all Wards in their constituencies.
“We are partnering with the MPs to ensure success of this programme. After they set up the hubs, our work will be equipping them, facilitating training, ensuring there’s internet connectivity and connecting the youth with global tech firms. Our youths will be working remotely for firms in different countries,” Owalo said.
The CS exuded confidence that within three to five years, the programme will benefit at least one million young people across the country and reduce unemployment.
Owalo also indicated that the ministry has embarked on an ambitious programme to connect 25,000 markets with internet, hoping to revolutionize business operations for traders who will now be able to trade online from the comfort of their stalls.
On his part, King’ara said that about 4000 youth in the area will benefit from the online job initiative at the Ruiru ICT Hub where 200 computers have been installed.
He said plans are underway to have a similar hub in each of the 8 Wards of the constituency.
Noting that formal employment is no longer easy to get, the lawmaker appealed to young people to embrace the idea and enroll with the Jitume training programme, which is free of charge.
“You don’t have to be highly educated in order to benefit and you will not be charged anything. All one needs is a smart phone and after the training, you will be able to access opportunities of making money through the internet,” said King’ara.
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By Kamau Njoroge
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