By Linet Akinyi and Kevin Wanyama
The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy in partnership with Mastercard Foundation and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) has trained 45 youths on digital skills in Kisii County.
According to the Youth Enterprise Fund Coordinator Aatos Mogoi, the four-days training held in Kisii town, will equip youths with ICT skills to enable them to work and explore online job opportunities as well as local jobs.
Mr Mogoi said the training is part of the Ajira Digital Program and the online opportunities that are available for the young people include graphic design, content creation, academic writing and web design using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“As the Youth Enterprise Fund, we also provide access to affordable finance, issue gadgets and create spaces for doing online work for the youths,” he told Kenya News Agency.
The Fund Coordinator pointed out that their office is willing to support more young people in building their digital skills and urged them to embrace the Ajira Digital Program training.
Samuel Oluoch, one of the program’s trainer, noted the program had provided employment for a number of people on part-time and full-time basis.
Oluoch encouraged the young people to take advantage of the existing online jobs instead of spending a lot of time and data online for entertainment purposes.
He cited some of the challenges they encounter at the workplace including digital illiteracy, lack of awareness of existing opportunities online and political hindrances.
Catherine Robert, one of the beneficiaries of the program, said that she has been able to utilise her time well by working and earning online.
“I am now able to source for online jobs on websites such as Upwork, 99 Designs, Fiverr, and Behance using the knowledge I gained throughout the training,” she noted.
On his part, Wellington Omondi who studies at Kisii University and is a beneficiary of the program, noted the training promotes a skill-based curriculum that enables individuals to earn from the same.
Omondi added he had learnt data entry and machine language skills that will enable him to work both locally and internationally.
The student who is also part of the Ajira Club at the institution, pointed out that he had earned approximately Sh80,000 since he joined the program.
“I am grateful that the program has enabled me to cater for all my needs without the help of my parents and I am appealing to those yet to join to make haste so that they can enjoy the fruits,” he concluded.
The Ajira Digital Program is a government initiative designed to empower over one million young Kenyans by facilitating access to digital job opportunities.
