Ken Mwenda, Co- Founder and Managing Director eMobilis
Kenya’s most valuable resource may not be buried underground but trained in classrooms in the form emerging technologies, this is according to experts in the human resource space.
As global economies race to harness the $1 trillion (Sh129 trillion) cloud computing industry, Kenya’s own cloud market is surging, worth an estimated $959 million (Sh123.8 billion) in 2024 and projected to grow nine per cent annually through 2032.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Senior Program Manager for Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa Lucas Ruengeler, says that this explosive growth is reshaping the economy, with cloud computing powering fintech, e-commerce, healthtech, and AI — sectors that are increasingly defining Kenya’s digital economy.
He points out that the real game-changer is not just local adoption, but the emergence of a highly skilled Kenyan cloud workforce that is positioning itself as an exportable asset.
“This trend is particularly relevant in Kenya, where a growing digital economy is creating a high demand for skilled professionals, especially in areas like cloud computing and cybersecurity” said Ruengeler.
He added that the evolving job market, professional certifications have become increasingly vital, addressing a skills gap not always met by traditional university curricula.
This has led to innovative partnerships between academic institutions, ed-tech startups, and technology companies to better prepare the workforce.
Industry leaders say this pipeline is not only plugging Kenya’s domestic skills gap but creating a workforce capable of serving global clients remotely.
Speaking during the first-ever Amazon Web Services re/Start Career Fair in Nairobi, eMobilis Co-founder and Managing Director Ken Mwenda, said Kenya is witnessing an explosive growth in the demand for cloud computing skills.
“The initiative is designed to build a robust tech talent pipeline by not only skilling young Kenyans but also by mentoring and linking them with industries to access dignified and fulfilling digital opportunities, which in turn helps to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the economic growth of the nation,” said Mwenda.
Since 2021, the Ajira AWS re/Start program, delivered by eMobilis with support from the Mastercard Foundation, has trained more than 2,100 young Kenyans in cloud computing, Linux, networking, Python, and cybersecurity, with many now holding the globally recognized AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner badge.
The opportunity is immense. Multinational companies are expanding cloud operations, yet a recent Vinsys report shows only 25% have structured training programs to meet demand.
Kenya’s growing cadre of cloud professionals — fluent in the technologies underpinning the digital economy — could step in to fill this gap globally, just as Indian developers once became a world export.
For Kenya, this is more than an employment play. A strong, export-ready digital workforce could become a major driver of GDP growth, much like remittances and traditional exports.
Mwenda added that with cloud computing ranked among the top five most in-demand skills worldwide, Kenya’s trained youth stand at the frontlines of a new kind of resource economy.
