Technological breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, automation, and digital transformation are reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace.
From the Internet of Things to blockchain, big data, machine learning, 2D, 3D, and generative AI, these advances are revolutionizing all facets of human activity worldwide.
This consequently means that for Kenya to stay competitive, it must embrace continuous innovation, strategic adaptation, and proactive skilling to harness these technologies for sustained economic growth.
Kenya, like much of Africa, faces the challenge of unlocking opportunities for its youth, who dominate the population. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics’ (KNBS) 2019 Population Survey pegged the country’s youth—those under 35—at 75 percent of the then-47 million citizens.
Today, with an estimated population of 54 million, roughly 40 million are young people. This "youth bulge" is a golden opportunity as Kenya shifts from an agriculture- and manufacturing-based economy to a digitally driven one. Yet, barriers persist.
First, inadequate infrastructure and access to digital tools stifle potential. Many Kenyan youths lack the devices needed to join the digital economy, and the high cost of establishing well-equipped digital labs remains a big hurdle.
Second, high-quality capacity-building is critical. Classroom learning lays the groundwork, but hands-on, workplace-integrated training is essential to skill, reskill, and upskill the workforce for a fast-evolving digital landscape.
Third, reliable support services—affordable internet and consistent power—are non-negotiable. Interruptions undermine the continuity and speed demanded by digital work.
And the Government of Kenya is responding. Through the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Konza Technopolis, and partners like the Communications Authority, ICT Authority, TVETA, and the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), Phase 2 of the Jitume Digital Enablement Program is underway.
This phase will deliver 47 Jitume Centers of Excellence—one per county—and 53 standard digital hubs, advancing the goal of 1,450 ward-level hubs. Private-sector collaboration ensures competitive programs and job linkages.
These hubs, tied to Konza Technopolis’ ICT infrastructure and the National Data Center, will offer digital skilling, job pathways, innovation support, creative economy growth, connectivity, e-waste management, e-commerce, and co-creation spaces.
Phase 1, with 38 Centers of Excellence under construction in counties like Nairobi, Siaya, Kisumu, and Marsabit, is set for completion by June 2025.
Equipped with 10,000 devices, each center—built at an average cost of 26 million Kenyan shillings—will feature training facilities for 100 people, work hubs, creative spaces, e-government desks, and public Wi-Fi.
By year-end, 400 hubs will be operational, with the rest funded through NG-CDF. This initiative promises to equip Kenya’s youth with digital skills, connect them to jobs, and tap into the global market.
Research projects Africa’s Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and IT-enabled services sector could create 1-1.5 million jobs by 2030, doubling current figures.
With 85 per cent of global firms eyeing Africa for customer experience outsourcing, Kenya’s tech-savvy youth are well-positioned to seize of this opportunity.
As the latest Africa Business Report notes, Kenya’s growing talent pool, paired with government investment in ICT and the digital economy, primes the East African nation’s BPO sector for take-off.
But success hinges on execution. If Kenya bridges the infrastructure gap, prioritizes practical training, and ensures reliable services, its youth can lead the nation into a digital future.
The writer is the CEO at Konza Technopolis Development Authority.
