By Wasike Elvis
Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and the Digital Economy Eliud Owalo has launched Jitume ICT Laboratory at The Eldoret National Polytechnic in Uasin Gishu county.
Speaking during the launch, Owalo said President Ruto conceived the Jitume program to complement the successes of the existing Digital Enablement Programmes, such as Ajira Digital and the Kenya Youth Employment Programme.
“The Jitume Labs Programme is part of the Kenya Kwanza Government’s digital skills development agenda, designed to equip technical and vocational education and training institutions (TVETs) countrywide with 23,000 virtual desktops,” said the CS after the launch.
He noted that the ultimate goal is to equip one million learners with market-ready business and ICT-related courses for free.
The Jitume Lab project seeks to address issues of connectivity, device access and digital skills, as well as job opportunities targeted at the youth countrywide.
“17 Jitume labs have already been set up and connected. We expect them to be fully operational by the end of February 2023. Trainees at the Kabete National Polytechnic are already beneficiaries, with some earning from digital jobs up to US$ 2,000 per month,” he said.
He said the Ministry is intensifying the Digital Talent Programme, whose key components are skill development, on-the-job coaching, mentorship, training, certification and ICT innovations.
“This is a twelve-month internship package to develop ICT high-end skills in recent graduates. The programme provides a platform for structured training, coaching and mentoring and also aims to promote ICT innovation and solutions development among the trainees,” he said.
Owalo said the government is targeting to train the youth on ICT skills using existing TVET institutions with its aim on creating a critical mass of skilled labor to support and benefit from the digital economy.
The CS added that under the program, 356 students graduated in November 2022 and another 400 interns recruited in December 2022 are in training.
The Kenya National Digital Master Plan (2022-2032) envisages the skilling with ICT skills of over one million youth to enter the job market annually. Training them on ICT and other vocational areas will support the rapid adoption of ICT in business. Many of these young people are unable to access training facilities and this is the gap the program will address.
