6^th August 2018                      By Cheruiyot Korir

The Ministry of ICT is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to lobby international companies that outsource their work on online platforms to open up opportunities to Kenyan freelance workers.

Speaking at the University of Nairobi today during the launch of Ajira Digital, a youth training program on online work, Principal Secretary for ICT Jerome Ochieng said, as the country has a pool of skilled and credible youth who have been prepared and trained by the government to take up on-line employment.

The Principal Secretary said the government plans to have over one million youth work on-line in the next one year, saying the program that started with the first cohort of 100 students from the University of Nairobi will be expanded and rolled out to all local universities.

Mr Ochieng pointed out that digital work was genuine work that needed commitment and diligence, noting that technology was providing millions of online jobs opportunities to large and diverse groups. He added that the government planned to have some assignments put on-line for completion by freelancers.

The Principal Secretary reiterated that the government in collaboration with the private sector, was committed to leveraging on ICT to avail digital jobs to Kenyans.  Mr Jerome said, to fast-track digital employment, the government was setting up Community Innovation Hubs (CIH) across the 290 constituencies that will enable the youth to access on-line work

The Principal Secretary said the Innovation Hubs will be equipped with digital devices and provide with optic fibre connectivity to enable youth access online jobs, innovate and market their creative digital content.