The government has trained over 390,000 youth on digital jobs and created 139,000 online jobs in the last one year, Information, Communication, and The Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary (CS), Eliud Owalo, has said.
Speaking during the launch of the Jitume ICT Hub in Ruiru town yesterday, Owalo said the government’s digital transformation agenda has impacted several youths, enabling them to earn millions of shillings monthly while working remotely.
He said the government has been supportive through the construction and equipping of Jitume ICT hubs in almost all the constituencies across the country and installing them with internet connectivity.
While calling on the youth to take advantage of the free digital training programme offered in different digital hubs across the country, Owalo said the digital space is now one of the biggest employers.
He said the government aims to set up a total of 1,450 digital hubs across the country, which will be cascaded to the ward level to rope in more youth onto the programme.
“Gone are the days when office jobs were the only sources of employment. As a government, we have provided a facilitative environment, constructed Jitume hubs, and created over 100,000 digital jobs annually. This is the way to go,” Owalo said.
He also said they are working on a programme to ensure all markets are internet-connected to facilitate the growth of e-commerce and eventually transform the country into a 24-hour economy.
“Going forward, we have agreed with Kenya Power Company to allow internet cabling to be done using their poles, as opposed to underground cabling. This programme will ensure every house connected to electricity will also be internet-connected. We also have a plan to connect all 25,000 markets in the country with the internet to boost e-commerce,” he added.
The CS was accompanied by Ruiru MP Simon Kingara, who emphasised the need to work digitally, calling on the youth to take digital jobs seriously.
Kingara said plans are underway to construct eight digital hubs in his constituency, as resources have already been allocated.
Stephen Ochieng, a beneficiary, said that on a good month, he earns close to Sh1 million monthly working remotely, calling on the youth to embrace this space. Peter Karanja, another beneficiary, earns over Sh700,000 monthly working online.
Ochieng used to sell used computers before he discovered the digital space. He says making money then was a challenge. Karanja used to sell clothes in Githurai. They now say working online is a specialisation they are not willing to ditch.
By Victory Wangui and Muoki Charles
