By B, KNA
The Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board (KYEB) Chief Executive Officer Lilian Kimeto has challenged the youth countrywide to utilize their smartphones as their workplace and not entertainment tool.
Speaking at a Kabarnet Resort Thursday during the start of a two-day county sensitization forum on Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), Kimeto regretted that a growing number of youths were engaging in non-productive online activities.
She said that the national government has invested heavily in the Digital Superhighway, which is a central pillar of BETA, aiming to create jobs and foster a digital economy for close to 18 million Kenyan youth.
“Let us sensitize our youth to venture into online jobs, freelance gigs and earn income from it,” Kimeto said.
She noted that quite a number of the youth are already online citizens, but they need support on how they can monetize their skills and talents in the various social media platforms.
The CEO who also advocated for skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI), said some jobs in the near future will depend on individuals, who are acquainted with them.
Kimeto flanked by Dr. Loice Rono, Health Advisor in the Office of the President and Baringo County Commissioner Stephen Kutwa, noted that the AI knowledge was key because, “ if you don’t have the skills, you are going to be a stranger citizen in a digital world which will define your nature of work.”
The multi-agency exercise being spearheaded by the Executive Office of the President seeks to review the five pillars of BETA including Agricultural Transformation, Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Economy, Healthcare, Housing and Settlement as well as Digital Superhighway and Creative Industry.
