Information, Communication and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary (CS) Eliud Owalo has said the government is keen to open up more job oportunities for the youth through training on digital skills.
This, he noted, was being done through the introduction of Ajira and Jitume digital programmes that are allowing many youth acquire the right skills by using the digital space.
He said the free Internet and hundreds of computers so far provided at various digital hub centres within constituencies have enabled the youth to learn digital tactics of doing research and business online.
e-Commerce skills strive to assist the youth and especially students buy and sell services and make good money, he said.
The CS was speaking at Rongo University where he officially launched the institution’s Konza Digital Laboratory to help students learn online skills, under the Jitume Digital Access Opportunities programme.
The Konza techno polis authority helped to establish the centre that would accommodate more than 100 students per every computer session.
Owalo said that the Kenya Kwanza government plans to establish some 1450 digital labs across the country to drive the country into a digital hub.
With this heavy training and free access to internet, the country stand to be an economic power house among the many other nations that had long grown into super highways using the digital space.
“We are moving very fast to connect markets with free internet broadband to enable our business people also buy and sell their wares online,” he said.
He said the laying of the 100,000 km internet broad band fiber ongoing across the country would see small markets and government institutions connect to offer free 3 WiFi services to the people.
The official said the government was also doing everything possible to improve roads, water supplies, and health services in Nyanza and elsewhere across the country.
Speaking elsewhere at Siala technical training institute (TTI), the CS emphasized on the need for the local people to work with the current government.
Owalo said time for political rhetoric had long elapsed and the local leaders and the people must now embrace political development.
He said the leaders must strive to join President William Ruto in his efforts to rejuvinate fishing, mining, and agricultural activities in Nyanza region.
The event was also graced by the PS ICT John Tanui, Konza techno polis acting CEO John Okwiri, Rongo Univeristy VC Samwel Gudu and Migori County Commissioner David Gitonga among other senior goverment officials.
By George Agimba
