The Ministry of Information Communications and the Digital Economy, through the auspices of the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA), has launched a Jitume Digital Hub at the Maasai Mara Technical and Vocational College in Narok East Sub-county.
The Jitume digital hub was launched by ICT and Digital Economy Principal Secretary (PS), Eng. John Tanui, who said 1,200 youths in the area had been trained on digital literacy free of charge.
The PS reiterated that through the partnership with KoTDA, over 450, 000 young people across the country have been trained on digital literacy and 14, 000 computers have been installed in 148 digital hubs countrywide.
The newly launched digital hub is equipped with 50 computers and high-speed internet to enable the users to be effective and efficient when using the machines.
“By January next year, we will have added another 50 computers as the demand is increasing. Also, we are going to install Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS), so that the users can continue working even when there is a temporary blackout,” he said.
He was accompanied by the Director of ICT Software Development & Digital Services, State Department of ICT & Digital Economy, Evan Gichuki, Narok East Member of Parliament (MP), Ken Aramat, and area National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) Chairman, Stephen Punyua, and area Deputy County Commissioner, Musa Salat, among other senior government officials and leaders.
PS Tanui urged the youth to take advantage of the digital space to better their lives and grow the Country’s Gross Domestic Product.
The Narok East Sub-county hub is the second to be launched in the County after the first one was operationalised at Emurua Dikir Technical Training Institute last year.
The government is set to establish other digital hubs at Narok West Technical Training Institute and Narok South Technical and Vocational College.
“All the digital hubs are open for the members of the public where they come to train for free. Even for the youth who do not have education, they can take advantage of the digital space to earn money,” he underscored.
Among the jobs available online, PS said, are digital content development, where one develops educative, entertaining, and informative content on their digital spaces and earns money from that.
“Other jobs include digital marketing, online writing, and digital media, where young people are earning money,” he said, adding that all young people should be brought on board as the jobs are enough for everyone.
Eng. Tanui reiterated that the Ministry is working with Members of Parliament to build digital hubs in all the wards across the county so that every young person can have the privilege of exploring the digital space at ease.
He underscored the government’s strides to improve industrialisation, saying out of 66 million phones that are in the hands of Kenya, 2 million of them are locally assembled.
“We started assembling phones last year, and already we have made a major strike as 2 million phones in the hands of Kenyans are locally assembled. This is one great way of unlocking job opportunities for our young people,” he said.
“We want to encourage more investors to invest in electronics not only to serve the Kenyan market but also the international market,” he said.
On his part, MP Aramat revealed he had set aside Sh. 23 million to construct four digital hubs in his constituency.
While calling on the local communities to take advantage of the Technical and Vocational College (TVC) in the area, he observed that only 200 students were locals out of the 4000 students enrolled in the institute.
“Here at Maasai Mara TVC, we are well equipped. We advise our people to take advantage of this college to better their livelihood,” said the MP.
On online jobs, the MP cited an example of one of his constituents, who is supporting his studies abroad after he made a lot of money in the digital space.
“When I was in the UK last week, I met a young man who is doing his Masters without the support of anyone. I encourage more young people to explore the digital space to earn a living,” reiterated the MP.
The team led by the PS also held an open forum at Narok East CDF Hall, where area chiefs, religious leaders, and youth groups were informed on the ongoing government programs, among them digital literacy.
By Ann Salaton
