Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Eliud Owalo Friday launched two Jitume kazi labs in Vihiga County in a bid to enable youth have access to computers and internet.
Speaking at Friends College Kaimosi and at Sabatia Technical and Vocational College where he launched the two labs with 100 computers each donated by the government in collaboration with Konza Technopolis and ICT Authority, Owalo called on the youth to embrace technology.
The CS challenged the beneficiaries of the Jitume kazi programme to leverage on the opportunity and become self-employed by working online since there are no enough white-collar jobs. He said the initiative aimed at eradicating youth unemployment.
Owalo said the government has established 100,000 kilometres of fiber optic cables across the country which is making it easier for citizens to access internet adding the Jitume kazi labs will not only be used to train the youth but will also ensure the youth earn as they lear
He therefore advised the youth to use some of the money they will get to buy their own digital gadgets which they can use to access online jobs even at home.
“I urge you to take advantage of these digital labs and the ICT hubs so that you learn technical skills which will enable you to earn as you learn,” reiterated Owalo.
He said the government targeted to set up 1,450 ICT hubs across the country; in all the wards and 25,000 free WIFI hotspots which to ensure easy access to internet and digital skills training.
He said the government is planning to come up with companies that can assemble cheap smart phones and laptops that can be used by citizens especially youth and women in the rural areas to access internet.
The cabinet secretary disclosed that apart from the Jitume Kazi programme, there is the Ajira digital platform where 73,000 youth have already been trained and another lot of 120,000 youths have been enrolled for training so that they can do online jobs.
Vihiga County Women Representative Beatrice Adagala asked the youth to train women especially in rural areas on how to use computers so that they can also be digital compliant.
She regretted that in this era of technology most women in rural areas cannot access the internet since smartphones are expensive, calling on the government to look for ways of coming up with cheaper smartphones.
By Maureen Imbayi
