Owalo launches ultra-modern ICT hubs in Bungoma Institutions

The Ministry of Information and digital economy Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo on Friday launched the ultra-modern ICT hubs at Kisiwa technical training institute and Matili technical training institute in Bungoma County.

Owalo said that the facilities will equip TVET institutions across the country with 23,000 virtual desktops.

“The Jitume Labs programme is part of the Government’s digital skills development agenda, designed to equip TVET institutions countrywide with 23,000 virtual desktops,” said Owalo.

He added that they will also provide free training to learners with market-ready businesses and ICT-related courses.

Owalo said that the two projects are under the Jitume kazi and Jitume class initiatives that were launched by President William Ruto in a bid to address the surging issue of youth unemployment.

“As the world transforms to digital white collar jobs have become scarce, that is why our President moved very fast to launch this initiative so that our youths can get opportunities to work online in the digital space,” Owalo said.

The CS added that the Kenya Kwanza government is targeting to train youths on ICT skills using the existing TVET institutions with an aim of creating a mass skilled labour to support and benefit from in the digital economy.

“Our national digital master plan covering the year 2022 to 2032 envisages the scheming with ICT skills of over one million youths to enter the job market annually,” Owalo stated.

Owalo noted that in the two institutions he launched in Bungoma, the program will have two main components namely the Jitume class which will provide enhanced training on skills for the digital economy to enable youths to get access to digital jobs and Jitume kazi which is a work hub that provides a conducive environment for the digital jobs sourced from both local and internationally.

He added that the two major programs will address the high rate of unemployment in the country.

Owalo said that the government through the ministry of ICT and digital economy is planning to digitize all government services starting in February.

He added his ministry will work with that education to ensure that TVET institutions get the required support.

According to the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, 17 Jitume laboratories have been set up across the country and are ready for full operationalization by the end of February.

Godfrey Murunga, Kisiwa technical institute principal lauded the move by the government to consider setting up an ICT hub in his school saying that the project will go a long way in benefiting both the students and the community at large.

Murunga said that the project will be very beneficial to his students considering that for all the courses enrolled in the institution computer skills is a must.

“We have a current enrollment of 6,300 students and we ensure that they are all equipped with basic computer skills,” Murunga added.

Murunga said that in readiness for the hub the school had to renovate one of the existing lecture halls into a computer lab which cost the school a sum of Sh.3 million.

He said that the ICT hub hosts 100 computers which is a donation from Konza city.

“In a way, the president is the one who spearheaded this project as a way of trying to address the high number of youth unemployment in Kenya,” he said.

Speaking at Matili Technical training institute in Kimilili, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa lauded CS Owalo for considering Bungoma to launch the ICT hubs saying that the move will solve the high rate of unemployment in Kenya.

Barasa affirmed that through his NG-CDF he will support and grow the Matili technical institute.

Some of the leaders who attended the event included; Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, Kesses MP Julius Ruto and PS Esther Mworia (TVETs).

CS Owalo is expected to commission a similar laboratory in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.