The technology agenda as advocated by President Uhuru Kenyatta is a critical sector that will transform the country to industrialisation, create employment for the youth and harness their potential.
ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs Cabinet Secretary Mr. Joe Mucheru on Thursday said “we must create jobs for our young people and opportunities to show case all of the things they are capable of doing.”
Mucheru was speaking at Freedom hall in Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DEKUT) in Nyeri County during the launch DEKUT-Kenya Film Commission Film Hub.
The film hub is a joint venture between the University, Kenya Film Commission and other partners to tap the youth’s talents in the film industry that is transforming the world through creative innovations.
He said that during this time of Covid-19 pandemic that has curtailed travel, tourists are able to see how the country is looking like through the film sector and the launching of the hub would be of great assistance.
Mucheru said that the launch of the hub would enable the youth to develop programmes and animations adding that DEKUT is one of the two institutions in the country with film hubs, the other being Konza city.
The CS added that the facility would also be used in education noting “We are able to see that you can use machines in different places and control them remotely to develop products and that is the way we want to go in the fourth industrial revolution.”
He said products would be designed in a way that works for each and every individual.
“It is the government’s intention to expand the programme even beyond the two to get other universities and institutions where they can have animations and film production and augmented realities that will help us create jobs and inform the country better,” Mucheru said.
The CS disclosed that the electronic factory that is being started at the university has delayed due to Convid-19 pandemic as experts from overseas cannot travel but the project was still in progress.
He challenged the youths in Nyeri and the country at large to take advantage of the facility and exploit their potential in the film industry.
Speaking during the occasion, DEKUT Vice Chancellor Prof Ndirangu Kioni said the role of the university would be to source for financiers and other partners to purchase products from the film hub.
Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga said the County government would continue to work jointly with the national government to boost development in the region for the benefit of the residents.
By Mwangi Gaitha
