A total of 263 university students have graduated after completing a three-month intensive training program in digital technology, equipping them with critical skills in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, software engineering, and data science. The training was implemented under the Ksh 6.5 billion ($50 million) Rapid Tech Skills initiative, a collaboration between the Government of Kenya and the World Bank, executed by Spineberg and E4Impact.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Industry Principal Secretary Dr. Juma Mukhwana emphasized the importance of developing homegrown technological solutions to address national challenges such as cybercrime. He criticized the over-reliance on foreign software, urging young people to channel their online time towards innovation and economic productivity.
“We are buying a lot of software from other people. All these we pay subscriptions for. Let us look for solutions. Don’t spend your time on the internet abusing others—spend time looking for how to make money in that space,” Dr. Mukhwana urged the graduates.
The program also focused on soft skills and entrepreneurship, preparing the learners to adapt to the fast-evolving demands of the global digital economy. Mukhwana noted that the government has prioritized the digital economy, citing the ongoing development of Konza Technopolis as a major step in building cloud computing and data storage capacity locally.
The training is part of the Kenya Industry and Entrepreneurship Project (KIEP) under the Strengthening Kenya’s Innovation Ecosystem (SKIES) initiative, which has been running since 2018 and is expected to continue until 2025.
World Bank representative Sameer Goyal praised the program, noting its potential to transform Kenya’s workforce and boost the country’s economic competitiveness. “You are very well equipped to support the businesses in your country,” he told the graduates. “Developing digital tech skills enhances employability, improves labor productivity, and helps firms compete both locally and globally.”
As Kenya positions itself as a regional tech hub, such initiatives are expected to play a pivotal role in nurturing talent, driving innovation, and advancing the country’s digital transformation agenda.
