The government today launched the Ajira Digital Program, an intensive program aimed at  introducing Kenyans to take up on-line jobs by providing tools, training, and mentorship program needed to enable young people to work and earn income.

The Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication, and Technology, Mr. Joe Mucheru said the Ajira Digital Program is in line with government policy of job creation and a response to globally growing market for online work.

In a statement to the media, after opening a two day workshop for 150 Youth Officers at the KCB Leadership Center in Nairobi today, Mr. Mucheru said after extensive sensitization and training among the youth countrywide, it is projected that over one million youth in the country will be working online by the end of next year.

Mr. Mucheru said already over 40, 000 Kenyans engage in online work making Kenya ranked the 10th biggest global supplier of online workers and second in Africa.

The Cabinet Secretary said with the current extensive development of broadband infrastructure, coordinated training and mentorship provided by Ajira program, Kenya ispoised to be the world’s number one supplier of online workers in the next one year.

He said, in the short term, the government plans train 350 Youth Officers from all the 47 counties to drive sensitization campaign and mobilize the youth to take up on-line jobs.

Mucheru said the government would soon launch constituency innovation hubs across the country located in constituencies with 24-hour internet access to enable the youth to register, download and upload work.

He said through the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs, the government will facilitate provision of working space, skills and tools to enable the youth access online work. He added that the government would finance acquisition of digital devices through affirmative Fund for the program to take off.

The Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Youth, and Gender Affairs Ms. Sicily Kariuki said through collaboration, the government was determined to create employment for youth as a strategy to grow the economy.
November 24-2016, By Cheruiyot korir