Kitui County has constructed and equipped 24 ICT centres to enhance the uptake and adoption of entrepreneurial skills among the youth and women to create business opportunities.
On the same score, the national government has set up Sh. 8.9 million ICT hub and youth empowerment center in Migwani Sub-County.
Speaking to Kenya News Agency on Thursday during a tour of the centre in Migwani area, Kitui County Youth Development Officer, Peter Burugu said the center which is 99 per cent complete will train the youth on the use of ICT to create online businesses.
“This will be an ICT hub for the youth in this area to tap into the potential and growing space for online businesses at the click of a button. Working online will empower the youth and mitigate delinquent behavior such as drug and substance abuse,” said Burugu.
According to Burugu, the internet has unlimited potential for online jobs such as data clerks, online writers among others which excite the youth who are techno savvy.
The officer has been trained on how to source for online jobs using the government’s Ajira portal and he is an ‘Ajira’ expert to help youth in the area become self-reliant.
The centre has an in-door games section, computer lab, counselling and guidance room, a youth friendly VCT clinic and a meeting hall.
“AMREF donated games equipment valued at Sh. 1.2 million for the centre. We will mount them once the building is handed over to us for use,” said Burugu.
The design of the youth empowerment facility is envisaged to generate its own income through the use of ICT services and meeting hall rental services.
Daniel Waruingi, area Examinations Officer, said that such a centre will receive traction if the youth are sensitized on the importance of engaging in vocational skill training at the polytechnic level.
Waruingi lamented that in last year’s KCSE results, a whopping 735 candidates scored below D plain in the Sub-County, adding that those who obtained such grades did not meet the criteria for selection to tertiary institutions.
By Yobesh Onwong’a
