State to train 20 million Kenyans digital Skills

The Kenyan government has launched a ten year programme to train 20 million Kenyans in digital skills as outlined in the recently launched Kenya National Digital Master Plan. According to the CS for ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs Joe Mucheru, the aim of the programme is to have digitally skilled citizens by equipping them with the competencies and expertise required for the digital economy and bridge the digital divide.

Speaking in Nairobi at the launch of the digital skills training program and the Kodris Africa coding platform for schools, Mucheru said said that he launched the Kenya National Digital Master Plan (2022-2032), which clearly outlines four pillars during this year’s Connected Kenya Summit in April.

Through the pillar, he said the government aims to develop digitally skilled citizens which will lead to increase innovation and digital entrepreneurship, increase utilization of ICT in business models and increase ICT production.

“I would like to thank Education CS Prof. George Magoha, for his immense support in the implementation of the Digital Literacy Programme (DLP). So far, the government has delivered over one million digital devices in over 22,000 public primary schools countrywide,” said Mucheru.

The CS also lauded partners, including Kodris Africa, who have supported the government’s efforts by contributing great ICT ideas and solutions for addressing skills challenges affecting public daily work and lives. “Kodris Africa, in particular, has signed an MOU with the ICT Authority to pilot the implementation of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) approved Coding content in public primary schools.  This will accelerate implementation of the Digital Literacy Programme, as well as the Competency Based Curriculum,” said the CS.

He explained that Kodris Africa will be providing the content through which students and pupils will learn coding using a Classroom License, where students in one classroom share their learning experience and which makes the product affordable and accessible.