By David Mukara

22^nd November, 2018.

Principal Secretary for ICT Mr Jerome Ochieng has called upon public and private players to help in build human capacity in the area of ICT as it plays a critical role in Kenya’s Social Economic Development and the Big 4 Agenda.

The PS said because digital transformation is inevitable, there is need to be futuristic by training young people in the field of ICT that is rapidly evolving.

“Digital transformation is a must; we really do not have an option. But then the question we need to ask ourselves as we go through the motion of digital transformation is, do we have the requisite human capacity?” Observed the PS.

He was speaking at a Nairobi hotel during an award Ceremony for Huawei ICT competition in Kenya. During the Ceremony, 11 students from different Universities were awarded in various categories with Kennedy Muthaura of Zetech University emerging as the overall winner. The winners will participate in a continental competition in South Africa.

The Principal Secretary thanked Huawei for being in the frontline in the digital skills transformation.

Also present during the event were Principal Secretary in State Department for Post Training and Skills Development Mr Alfred Cheruiyot, Huawei Kenya CEO Mr Stone He, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Mr. Li Xuhang and Director of UNESCO region office Ann Therese.

Principal Secretary in the State Department for Post Training and Skills Development Mr Alfred Cheruiyot said the Ministry of Education is committed to promoting skills development especially in the area of ICT.

“There is a gap between what the students are accorded and the skills which are there in the market, and what we are doing as a department (in the Ministry of Education) is to try and bridge that gap, he said.”

He thanked Huwaei for promoting skills development for young people in Kenya by through  ICT competition and supporting the Presidential Digital Talent Programme. He added that the Ministry of Education will continue to work closely with the Ministry of ICT for the continuity of the Digital Literacy programme.

Huawei ICT competition is global a competition for University and College talents with ICT background. The competition is carried in national, regional and global rounds, with this year’s competition expected to cover 50 countries worldwide with 80,000 contestants from over 1000 universities in the globe.