Government keen on opening up more job opportunities, says ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo

ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The government is keen on opening up more job opportunities for the youth by training them on digital skills, Information, Communication, and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary (CS) Eliud Owalo has said.

Owalo challenged youths to embrace digital skills saying the government was doing this through Ajira and Jitume digital programs.

According to the CS, the programs would allow youths to acquire the right skills by using digital space.

"E-commerce skills strive to assist the youth, especially students in buying and selling services that help them make good money," said Mr. Owalo.

While speaking at Rongo University where he officially launched the institution's Konza Digital Laboratory, the CS indicated that the Kenya Kwanza government plans to establish about 1,450 digital labs across the country to drive the country into a digital hub.

The digital laboratory at Rongo University would help students learn online skills, under the Jitume Digital Access Opportunities programme.

It is set to accommodate more than 100 students per computer session. The CS indicated that the country stands to be an economic powerhouse with the heavy training and free access to the Internet the government is giving.

"We are moving very fast to connect markets with free Internet broadband to enable our business people to also buy and sell their wares online," CS Owalo said.

Owalo explained that the free Internet and hundreds of computers that have been provided at various digital hub centers within constituencies have enabled the youth to learn digital tactics for doing research and business online.

He indicated that they are now moving with speed to connect markets with free Internet broadband to enable business people to also buy and sell their wares online.

According to Owalo, already 100,000 km of internet broadband fiber is being put in place across the country.

This would see small markets and government institutions connect to free WiFi services.

Additionally, Owalo said that the government was doing everything possible to improve roads, water supplies, and health services in Nyanza and elsewhere across the country.

The CS asked leaders to join President William Ruto in efforts to rejuvenate fishing, mining, and agricultural activities in the Nyanza region.

The event was also graced by the PS ICT John Tanui, Konza Techno polis acting CEO John Okwiri, Rongo University VC Samwel Gudu, and Migori County Commissioner David Gitonga among other senior government officials.