By Faith Anene, Kakamega
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has launched two digital hubs set to enhance digital learning for the youth in Kakamega.
Mudavadi launched the hub at the Kakamega Polytechnic and at Shianda polytechnic, noting that the facility will play a key role in equipping the young people with digital skills to enable them benefit in the digital economy.
In his address, he said that the hub will provide employment opportunities for the youth and provide easy access to ICT education to the youth in the county.
“This is the opportunity to use technology to expand our businesses. The world of opportunities is right here in your devices. I reiterate the government’s commitment to integrate technology with our education system. Our commitment is to upscale e-learning in all learning institutions,” he said. “I encourage stakeholders to go further in setting up more digital infrastructure.”
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa said that the launch of the hubs will help bolster digital transformation in the county.
He noted that that ICT will automatically impact all other sectors within the county and help digitize service delivery.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi (in white ) launching an ICT hub at Kakamega County Polytechnic. – Photo/Faith Anene/County Splash
“We need digital information in every superhighway. In fact ICT is managing to bridge the gap faster than we have ever imagined,” said Barasa.
Huawei Deputy CEO Steven Zhang said that the launch will enable them to upscale their digital footprint across the county.
He said that Huawei has so far tapped into the health and education sectors within the county and plans to further expand their operations countrywide.
“We promised to connect 120 million extra people to the internet access across the globe by December 2025. Today, I am happy to announce that Huawei has already exceeded this target 1 year early. By the end of October 2024, Huawei’s ICT solutions had connected 121 million people in rural areas of nearly 80 countries,” said Zhang, adding, “34 of those countries are on the UN’s list of the world’s 46 least developed countries.”
The hub was established through a partnership between Huawei in Kenya, the ICT Ministry and the Konza Technopolis. Huawei provided smart screens, enhanced training and internet connectivity to the hubs.
So far, according to the Jitume programme, about 450,000 jobs have been provided with the aim of employing 1 million young people by the end of 2025.
