Lubao FM News 
By Harriet Alaka
In a move aimed at accelerating the country’s transition to a digital economy, Kenya’s First Lady Rachel Ruto on [Date] launched the 83rd Digital Hub at Butere Girls High School in Kakamega County. The launch was attended by Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo, who reiterated the government’s commitment to providing digital literacy training and job opportunities for Kenyan youth.
The Jitume Digital Hub project has already connected over 28,000 users, with over 8,700 courses enrolled and 118 digital job platforms connected across the country. The project aims to empower students and young people with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing job market. Speaking during the launch, the First Lady emphasized the importance of digital literacy and cautioned students against cybercrime, cybersecurity, and cyberbullying.
“We must be agile and adaptable as we navigate the fourth industrial revolution,” she said. “We must be prepared to take advantage of emerging opportunities and seize the future.” The government has made significant strides in establishing digital hubs in 203 institutions across the country, equipping them with over 13,000 devices. Additionally, it has trained 490,000 youth in digital skills and created 139,000 digital jobs for Kenyan youth.
Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo announced plans to establish over 1,450 ward-based digital hubs for citizen digital literacy training, film production, and public access to government services. He also revealed plans to set up 25,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across the country. The government’s digitalization efforts have already seen a significant increase in access to government services, with over 16,892 services currently available on the E-citizen platform.
The government is committed to transforming Kenya into a digital economy, with a focus on providing affordable education and job opportunities for Kenyan youth. President William Ruto’s vision is for a paperless government and a 24-hour economy. To achieve this goal, the government is rolling out 100,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable to connect all parts of the country to the internet.
The launch of the Jitume Digital Hub is seen as a major step towards achieving this goal. It is part of a broader effort to equip Kenyan youth with the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing job market. By providing access to digital literacy training and job opportunities, the government hopes to empower young people to take advantage of emerging opportunities and drive economic growth.
