Waiguru trains youths on digital skills to accelerate tech-driven agriculture

Kirinyaga agriculture executive John Gachara presenting certificates to graduates at Kirinyaga Agriculture Technical and Vocational Training Institute on March 11, 2026 /ALICE WAITHERA

Sixty students have graduated with certificates in computer studies from the Kirinyaga Agriculture Technical and Vocational Training Institute facilitated by the county government.

Through the programme that is sponsored through the Sh440 million Ward Development Fund, the county administration has intensified efforts to align youth skills with a fast-changing, technology-driven economy

The graduates, drawn from Karumandi ward, completed the pioneer programme accredited by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA), aimed at integrating digital competencies into agriculture and other emerging sectors.

Each of the 20 wards receives Sh22 million to enhance local projects such as road gravelling, water projects, community infrastructure and empowerment drives.

Agriculture executive John Gachara said the county deliberately introduced digital literacy as a foundational course to prepare youth for modern agriculture. 

He spoke at Kamweti during the graduation ceremony.

“Digital literacy is critical for any course. That is why we started with it because agriculture today is technology-driven,” Gachara said.

Other accredited agriculture-based courses including aquaculture, horticulture and dairy farming are set to be rolled out in May, offering progression from short courses to diploma level training.

He said the county is embracing e-agriculture to enable farmers’ access information through digital platforms, noting the institution will progressively roll out additional accredited courses and widen its intake.

“As a county, we shall roll out more accredited courses in phases. This centre will also admit students from neighbouring counties to position it as a regional hub,” Gachara said.

He lauded Governor Anne Waiguru for supporting the transformation of the institution and urged young people to register as students, saying education plays a broader role beyond employment.

Karumandi MCA Caroline Wanjiku said the graduates had received nationally recognised certificates that would increase their chances of employment.

She said those who missed out in the pioneer enrolment will be considered in the next cohort, further announcing that her ward had been allocated Sh6.5 million to assist needy students.

The MCA said the opening of the Kamweti institution positions the area to benefit from ongoing developments.

“Kamweti institution will benefit from ongoing developments, including the Gichugu dam, which is expected to boost the local economy. I also encourage graduates to take advantage of digital platforms such as the Ajira programme,” MCA Wanjiku said.

The institution’s principal, Francis Wanyoike, described the graduation as the beginning of a wider learning journey for the students.

He said the institution will support graduates to advance into agriculture-related programmes that integrate digital technologies, noting that it will enable them to apply digital solutions in agriculture, including identifying crop pests, determining appropriate fertiliser use and accessing markets.

Wanyoike further observed that support from the county government, including budgetary allocation, has strengthened the institution’s capacity to deliver quality training.

Shanelle Stacy said the course had equipped her with skills that will support her future studies, adding that being computer savvy will come in as she joins the job market.  

Emmanuel Macharia said the programme had improved his computer literacy and opened new opportunities.

“Today, the world does not favour someone who is not computer literate,” he said, urging other youth to enrol in similar courses.

This came against the backdrop of the country’s intensified digital push through policies like the National Digital Master Plan (2022-32) and the Digital Superhighway initiative that aim to expand broadband infrastructure, digitise up to 80 per cent of government services, and promote digital skills and innovation.

So far, the government has digitised 22,500 services that are accessible through the e-citizen platform, covering 583 government agencies, allowing Kenyans to interact with the government on their mobile phones rather than physically.