Kikuyu Jitume Centre to boost digital skills, innovation in Kiambu
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
Kenya’s digital agenda Thursday received a boost following the groundbreaking of the Kikuyu Jitume Centre of Excellence (CoE) Kiambu County.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, Kikuyu Member of Parliament, Kimani Ichungwa noted that the Jitume Centre of Excellence represented the Government’s continued investment in the Kenyan youth.
“The establishment of the Digital Centre of Excellence in Kikuyu reflects the Government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that Kenyans can participate meaningfully in the digital economy,” Ichungwa said.
Adding that: “By investing in digital infrastructure, digital skills and innovation ecosystems, we are creating opportunities for our young people to innovate, establish technology-driven enterprises and secure digital jobs thus contributing to Kenya’s economic transformation.”
Ichungwa who presided over the event remarked that the Centre will strengthen this network by providing a higher-level platform for advanced digital skills, innovation, research and entrepreneurship.
He was accompanied by officials from the implementing agency, Technopolis Development Authority (formerly Konza Technopolis Development Authority) and other government leaders reinforcing the national government’s drive to build a nationwide digital infrastructure network.
The completed centre is envisioned to anchor digital skills training, innovation, creative and entrepreneurship for young people and communities across Kiambu County.
The Kikuyu Centre of Excellence forms part of the government’s efforts to build world-class digital infrastructure, develop a future-ready workforce and accelerate the growth of Kenya’s digital economy through sustained investment in technology, innovation and youth.
The Jitume Digital Enablement Program is implemented by the Technopolis Development Authority, under the Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy with a focus to establish one Jitume Centre of Excellence in every county.
The 47 county Centres of Excellence will be in addition to the more than 330 Jitume Digital Hubs already established across Kenya, creating a seamless pathway from foundational digital literacy to advanced digital skills, innovation, creative and entrepreneurship.
Kiambu County consists of 10 digital and innovation hub sites spread out across Kiambu, Kikuyu, Lari, Limuru, Ruiru and Thika demonstrating the county’s growing digital access infrastructure.
In his remarks , Technopolis Development Authority CEO John Paul Okwiri, represented by the Manager Building Services, Eng. Paul Kioi said: “On completion, the Kikuyu Jitume Centre of Excellence will provide an ideal working environment for digital creatives and include spaces for eCommerce, studios, learning centres alongside other government services.”
He noted that the CoE will be equipped with modern digital infrastructure and spaces that nurture innovation alongside, collaborative workstations, high-speed internet connectivity to support youth and innovators creativity and skilling in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, software development, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data analytics, digital content creation and among others.
“This forms part of our larger vision to have one CoE in every county across Kenya,” he said.
Since the program’s inception in the year 2023, nearly 30,000 digital devices have been deployed across the country to train over 100,000 youths, with 91,428 accessing digital jobs.
Collectively, the Jitume Digital Hubs and Centres of Excellence will spur digital skilling and unlock opportunities in the digital economy and national innovation, supporting the Government’s ambition of creating one million digital jobs for Kenyan youth.
Technopolis Development Authority CEO further noted that the Jitume COE would serve as a catalyst for regional innovation and economic transformation.
“The Digital Centre of Excellence is more than a physical facility; it is an investment in Kenya’s digital future and youth. Through this Centre we are creating an environment where young digital entrepreneurs and innovators can acquire globally competitive skills and transform ideas into sustainable businesses that create jobs and drive inclusive economic growth.”
The establishment of the Kikuyu Jitume Centre of Excellence also advances the Government’s Digital Superhighway agenda and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) by expanding access to digital infrastructure, skills and opportunities at the grassroots level.
The Jitume Digital Enablement Programme is implemented by the Technopolis Development Authority in collaboration with the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), the ICT Authority (ICTA) and the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF).
Reporting originally appeared via KBC Digital. Read the full source for additional context.