French Ambassador to Kenya Arnaud Suquet has revealed that his government will explore ways to support the Siaya Community Digital Hub with the aim of boosting the creative space in line with the French government’s commitment to support ICT hubs in the country.
Speaking during a tour of the hub in Bondo, Amb. Suquet observed that Kenya has a vibrant creative space, and the French government is willing to support the growth of the creative economy so that talented individuals could earn a living.
Siaya Community Digital Hub has been training the youth on digital skills like Artificial Intelligence with the first 200 creatives trained on filmmaking graduating in early May.
Amb. Suquet, who was flanked by the Principal Secretary in the State Department of Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, Mr Fikirini Jacobs, said his country has a long and historic friendship with the Luo Nyanza, which informed the reopening of Kisumu’s Alliance Francaise to facilitate learning of the French language in the region.
He further disclosed that the French Embassy in Kenya is already supporting a girl’s school in the region to teach French, adding that because of the huge demand to learn the language, his government would consider supporting additional schools in Siaya County to teach French.
PS Fikirini on his part revealed that the Department of Youth Affairs and Creative Economy has already developed the Creative Economy Bill that would address the management, regulation and monetization of the creative industry. He said the bill would also attract funding that will catalyse the industry.
The PS disclosed that the bill would be taken to the youth and stakeholders of the industry to ensure that the final bill is not only suitable but also takes care of the needs of the stakeholders in the creative industry.
“We have already crafted the Creative Economy Bill and we are awaiting stakeholder engagement to come up with a stakeholder “owned” bill. During my interview for the position of PS, I promised to always take bills to stakeholders instead of doing the in-board rooms. This enhances acceptability by stakeholders,” Fikirini said.
Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, who is also the Founder of the Siaya Community Digital Hub, disclosed that the idea to establish a hub that not only trains the youth but also provides online job opportunities for them was hatched 15 years ago during a visit to India.
He said that although the Indian hub was based in the urban setup, he opted to set up a similar hub in a rural set up to give the youth in rural areas a chance to learn digital skills and work for international companies.
Oburu disclosed that Siaya Community Digital Hub would be opening a new branch in Gem constituency later in the month to benefit youth from the Northern part of Siaya County.
The occasion was attended by Siaya County Speaker Mr George Okode and Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor.
By Brian Ondeng
