The government is keen on opening up more job opportunities for the youth by training them on digital skills through the Jitume and Ajira digital programs.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura revealed that the number of beneficiaries of the two programs has increased from 41,382 in 2022 to 182,568 in 2025, thus reducing unemployment and strengthening Kenya’s digital workforce tremendously.
Speaking at the Maasai National Polytechnic in Kajiado County, during a tour of the Jitume Digital lab, Mwaura challenged youth to utilize the available programs, so as to gain digital skills, which will enable them access online jobs as well as become self-employed.
He said that over 600 youth have so far been trained on digital skills at the institution, with many of them taking advantage of available online jobs and becoming self-employed.
“I want to urge the youth to take advantage of the Jitume program so as to gain digital skills, which will enable them to become self-employed and get online jobs,” said Mwaura.
The government spokesperson noted that over 280 digital hubs have so far been created countrywide to support online learning, ecommerce and remote work and the youth must take advantage of the opportunities so as to better their lives.
Mwaura said the labs which have been opened up at TVET institutions countrywide are fully equipped with enough equipment, reliable power and broadband connectivity to ensure ease of access.
He further revealed that the expansion of the fibre optic connectivity will ensure digital inclusivity countrywide, allowing Kenyans to access government services online.
Mwaura said the number of digitized government services had grown from 350 in 2022 to 20,985 in 2025 integrated with e-citizen and mobile platforms, thereby improving revenue collection to between Sh700 million and Sh1 billion shillings per day.
The Jitume program is part of the implementation of the Kenya National Digital Master Plan (2022-2032) that envisages ICT skill development targeting over one million youth who enter the job market annually.
The Program is aimed at providing access to digital skills, e-services and online opportunities to the youth across the country and seeks to complement and build up on the successes of other existing programs among them the Ajira Digital and Kenya youth employment program by addressing the key challenges of Connectivity, Device access, Skills and job opportunities.
It encourages the youth to take it upon themselves to access digital devices to learn and be certified in digital skills for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
By Rop Janet
