Hundreds of youths in Migori County will be employed if each of the eight constituencies will set up proposed ICT Innovation Hub.
The Migori County National Government ICT Coordinator, Geoffrey Odhiambo said the government is committed to ease unemployment among youths in constituencies once the MPs fast track the completion of the Innovation Hubs.
While speaking at his office in Migori town on Thursday, Odhiambo said were working on fiber connectivity in all the eight sub counties. “The initiative that is expected to be completed by June this year will avail internet to all government offices including proposed ICT Hubs,” he added.
Odhiambo revealed that Telkom Kenya will complete the hardware and software installation once a Member of Parliament has constructed or identified proposed Innovation Hub building at constituency level.
“Indeed this is a big opportunity for the Members of Parliament to ease mass unemployment among youths who remain jobless even after completion of their courses,” Odhiambo added.
He said “Ajira” is a government ambitious program which is expected to engage thousands of youth in online jobs by 2030.
Odhiambo noted that ICT department is committed to train youths on “Ajira” program, saying the training will be made easier and more successful if the Innovations Hubs are identified.
On his part, Suna East Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Dennis Mutiso thanked Rongo MP, Paul Abuor and his counterpart, Walter Owino for Awendo constituency for building modern constituency ICT Hubs for their constituents.
Mutiso said the remaining six Members of Parliament from Migori have shown support for the Innovation Hubs in their constituencies and will soon role out their plans.
He said the office of the County Commissioner is in constant communication with Migori MPs and Department of ICT in a plan to have Migori youths to live better lives through online work.
“Each constituency was allocated Sh.40 million under Constituency Development Funds for Innovation Hubs,” Mutiso revealed.
The DCC said the Hub will engage the youths in online jobs and also an opportunity to better ICT skills especially who completed schools or colleges.
Ajira program is not popular among the youths or Migori residents because there are no public or affordable internet connectivity centres which can easily accessed by the youths.
“I am completely unaware of this ‘Ajira’ initiative but the government should engage internet connectivity providers to reach all the constituencies,” Chacha Mwita a youth leader in Kegonga, Kuria East Sub County said.
Mwita tasked the National and County Governments to provide free internet to attract more youths to embrace technology as the ultimate solution of problems facing the 21st century and beyond.
By Geoffrey Satia