Mukurwe
ini leading with number of ICT hubs in Kenya,
also high number of youth earning from online platforms
The Mountain Journal
Ambrose Mwangi from remote Gitugi village, Mathioya has interest
in ICT and exploring online opportunities.
Last month after he was
thorugh with the incubation period earned the first payment of Sh1,182 for working
for a Indian company .
Mwangi
is among the many youths who throng ICT hubs at Kiriai ini, Gacharage-ini,
Kamacharia and Gitugi after they were trained on how best to get income from
online platforms.
“This
was my first assignment after I was trained in March and through patience I am
determined to go far. The payment was for 0.819 hours a prove one can get more
money through the online platforms,” said Mwangi.
The
department, he explained, has sensitized thousands of the youth on how to earn
from digital and digitally enabled enterprises through Ajira programmes.
Mwangi
further said the training took two days through virtual where he
was exposed to method one can employ to get online jobs, before
proceeding to a mentorship programme for a month.
“The
mentors are of much importance as as they give practical examples, where
one interact with other trainees and exchange of ideas becomes the order of the
day,” said Mwangi.
In
the nearby Nyakahura village in Kangema, Mzee Joseph Kirigwi recounts how his
two sons returned home from Nairobi ,and squeezed themselves in rooms they used
to reside during their high school and university days.
Life
in Nairobi had became unbearable following the pandemic after they lost their
jobs and had no option but return home.
Kirigwi
who is in his 50’s, said he could not understand what his sons were doing in
their rooms as they rarely moved out, only to learn they had found refuge in
online business.
“They
got sacked from where they were working after the management opted to scale
down the number of employees. Once they settled, they installed internet in
their rooms and they got into online business, and they are back in the
market,” said Kirigwi.
Working
from home is a concept that many of the youth adopted and settled in the
238 Constituency Innovation Hubs (CIH) in the 69 constituencies funded by
Ministry of ICT and NG-CDF
Internet
connections have immensely transforming lives in the rural set ups, with
thousands of young people earning from the use of online platforms.
As
Covid-19 pandemic bites and many young residents in various parts of Nyeri,
Murang’a, Kiambu and Laikipia have remained confined to their homes, their
living styles transformed from working and earning from the comfort of their
homes.
Coinciding
with the Covid-19 lockdowns, Wi-fi connections in homes near the ICT hubs
installed by the government looks like a game changer to many youths and their
families.
Many
school going children are using online platforms for learning powered by the
ICT hubs connectivity.
ICT
and Youth Affairs Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru said the hubs are spread out in
69 constituencies, with Mukurwe-ini and Kibwezi West leading each with eight
fully equipped facilities with hundreds of the youth registered for
trainings.
In
the hubs, established at social halls, churches, chief camps
and police stations the youth gather for training in high numbers
in search for knowledge, working online, and those in the innovation
sector marketing their products.
“There
are over 2 million young people who depend on ICT for generating income with
another group working online for local and international firms and individuals.
There
are ICT coordinators in the counties educating the youth on Ajira programmes
where they are minting millions of shillings saving them from wasting time
and engaging in criminal activities,” said Mucheru.
The
leading constituencies are Mukurwe ini, Sotik, Mvita Othaya, Mbeere South,
Njoro, Yatta, Mathioya, Borabu and Mwatate which have between eight
and six operational ICT hubs, said Principal Secretary Mr Jerome Ochieng
when he appeared before parliamentary Communication and Information committee
on August 23.
In
Mukurwe ini, MP Antony Kiai said there are 10 operational ICT hubs , with
plans for an additional four before the end of the year.
Kiai
said more than 500 youth have been trained on how best to use the Ajira
programmes and other on basic computer related packages.
“
We have 120 youth talented musicians who have been trained on using the online
to market their works” said the MP.
Under
Ajira programme, Mukurwe ini constituency, is leading with youth earning
between Sh 4,000 and Sh100,000 per month, through online writing among
other chores.
Best performing counties are Nyeri with 22, Kiambu 18, Makueni 15,
Kakamega 12 and Mombasa 12. Murang’a County has eight hubs.
The
poor performers are Lamu, Turkana, Tana River, Isiolo and Kisii with one hub
each.
Per
administrative region, in the utilisation of ICT hubs, Western 18
percent, Central 26 percent, Rift Valley 16 percent, Nyanza 11 percent, Nairobi
three percent, Eastern 17 percent and Coast 10 percent.
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