Homa Bay: Some 290 youths who underwent a six-week intensive training in digital skills offered by the Huawei Digitruck initiative have graduated in a ceremony held at Oriwo Boys High in Rachuonyo North Sub County. The training, undertaken at Kanyapir Chief's Camp, equipped the youth with essential computer literacy, digital marketing, entrepreneurship, and cybercrime awareness to prepare them for the evolving digital landscape.
According to Kenya News Agency, Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo, who presided over the graduation, congratulated the youth for their dedication in attending classes to gain valuable skills. He highlighted that the Huawei digital skills training programme, launched in 2019 as a flagship initiative, has trained over 6,000 youths across the country in 36 counties. This year alone, the programme has equipped 1,648 individuals with digital skills, including 906 women, reflecting a strong commitment to gender inclusivity as part of the government's digital empowerment progress under the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Dr. Omollo emphasized the importance of the skills gained by the graduates, noting that these skills would enable them to start enterprises. He acknowledged the significant investment by the government and Huawei in addressing challenges such as digital literacy, job access, and technology-driven entrepreneurship, especially in counties like Homa Bay.
The PS reiterated his commitment to expanding digital inclusion across the country, calling for support from local leadership, business communities, and stakeholders in this mission. He stressed the importance of investing in digital education to build stronger communities and a more prosperous nation.
Adam Lane, a Huawei official, expressed his delight in supporting the digital skills training. He has been involved in training across universities and TVET institutions in Kenya as part of the Ajira opportunity programme. Lane thanked partners such as the National Youth Council, Ministry of ICT, and Safaricom for their support in the Huawei Digitruck digital training.
Lane encouraged the graduates to share their knowledge with others to maximize impact. He emphasized the importance of values like perseverance and dedication alongside skills for succeeding in life and contributing positively to their communities.