The State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy is accelerating its nationwide digital transformation agenda, with a key digital hub in Chepkorio Ward of Keiyo South sub-county set for completion within the next two months.
Speaking on the vast potential of the digital economy, ICT Principal Secretary Eng. John Tanui emphasized that the digital skills unlock massive opportunities both locally and internationally.
He noted that Kenya has successfully opened numerous international markets, placing the responsibility on local youth to actively position themselves and seize these global opportunities.
The PS was speaking at Chepkorio Vocational Training Centre during the graduation of 360 youth who graduated with Huawei digitruck skills after undergoing a one-month training where they were trained on how to use digital skills in commerce.
The Chepkorio hub, the PS said, is part of a broader government master plan to construct 1,450 digital hubs across all wards in the country, with the facilities designed to provide young people with a dedicated space to access the digital arena, combat unemployment, and establish self-employment using just their smartphones.
Echoing the PS’s sentiments, Eng. Anthony Sang from Konza Technopolis reiterated that ICT has become mandatory in modern times, especially as government services transition fully to online platforms.
He encouraged residents to market local agricultural produce, such as potatoes, directly to online buyers, calling on the youth to pass on basic digital skills to the elderly so they too can participate in digital marketplaces.
Saying that two digital hubs will soon be completed within the sub-county, Eng. Sang challenged the graduates to launch their own online shops rather than relying on traditional brokers.
“We should not sell through brokers but direct to the customers,” Eng. Sang urged, advising locals to utilize upcoming county aggregation parks for value addition.
Carolyne Tanui, the Assistant Director of Corporate Communications at the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), underscored that personal data is the foundation of digital transformation, but it must be handled strictly according to the law.
“One cannot access the digital space without their personal data,” she stated, advising the public to be vigilant. “Before giving your data to any person or organisation, you should ask what it is being used for,” she said.
Adams Makau, the Lead Trainer for the Huawei DigiTruck program under Computers for Schools Kenya, said the training was part of the government and partners’ efforts to reach out to remote areas to bridge the digital divide.
He urged graduates to embrace modern tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI) responsibly to achieve their desired professional results.
Keiyo South Member of Parliament, Gideon Kimaiyo, confirmed that the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) will actively establish ICT centers in every ward, calling on local youth to maximize these spaces to transform their economic fortunes.
By Alice Wanjiru
