Bomet County Unveils New ICT Laboratory to Boost Skills Development

BOMET, Kenya – A new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratory, valued at Sh4.8 million, has been established at the Kaplong Vocational Training College in Bomet. This initiative aims to offer free ICT skills training to individuals seeking to enhance their digital capabilities.

According to Kenya News Agency, the laboratory was inaugurated by Governor Hillary Barchok and ICT Chief Officer, Stellah Rotich. The project, funded and equipped by Safaricom’s M-Pesa Foundation, includes 40 state-of-the-art computers and aims to position Kaplong VTC as a Center of Excellence for ICT among the 33 colleges in the county.

Governor Barchok highlighted the partnership with Safaricom as a critical factor in the laboratory’s establishment. He emphasized the administration’s commitment to empowering youth with necessary skills for socio-economic development. The laboratory is expected to provide significant opportunities for students and residents of Bomet and neighboring areas, offering free training to enhance their ICT proficiency.

The launch event saw the enrollment of 40 students from Sotik Sub-county and Nyamira County in a three-month free ICT training program, showcasing the immediate impact of the new facility. Governor Barchok outlined plans to equip the remaining vocational training colleges in the county with computers, seeking support from partners and the national government to achieve this goal.

The ceremony was attended by notable figures, including Safaricom’s Territory Business Lead, Justus Rotich, Kelvin Momanyi, and Members of the County Assembly, Dennis Busienei, Banard Langat, and Denzel Kirui. This collaboration between Bomet County Government and Safaricom’s M-Pesa Foundation marks a significant step towards enhancing ICT education and training in the region.