April 30 2019                        

By Cheruiyot Korir

The Smart Africa Initiative, a continental body aimed at creating a single digital Market in Africa has appointed Kenya to develop a blue print for digital economy in Africa, Principal Secretary for ICT Jerome Ochieng has said.

Mr Ochieng said, the vibrant  ICT infrastructure,  the innovative  capabilities and the wealth of digital skills in Kenya, has inspired the Smart Africa Initiative to nominate the country to develop a ICT strategies to be replicated in African Countries to grow the content’s economy.

Speaking at the Kenya School of Government today when he presided over the graduation of the third Cohort of the Presidential Digital Talent Program (PDTP), Mr Ochieng said, the government in partnership with the private sector have had 900 skilled engineering and ICT graduates mentored in a one-year internship program.

He said through the PDTP, the government was making deliberate efforts to create a large pool of ICT skilled graduates who would support ICT development in the country. He said the graduates were instrumental in the success of the current National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS).

The Principal Secretary underscored the importance of a vibrant ICT ecosystem to drive the digital economy to promote job and wealth creation.

The Chief Executive Officer of ICT Authority Dr Kate Getao emphasised on the need for young graduates to exercise discipline  and good values  as the foundation of their lives.

Dr Getao said the young generation had a responsibility to provide innovative solutions to the challenges facing the society.