Cs Owalo – Development of 1,450 ICT Hubs in Wards to Commence in 2024
In assuring stakeholders of the government’s unwavering commitment to the digital superhighway project, CS Owalo highlighted the prospective job opportunities, particularly for the youth.
L- Hon Sylvanus Maritim, Chairman ICTA, ICT CS Eliud Owalo, ICT & DE PS Eng. John Tanui and Stanley Kamanguya CEO ICTA cutting the ICTA cake at the Gala Dinner
The Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, Eliud Owalo, has officially announced the initiation of a groundbreaking project involving the establishment of 1,450 ICT hubs in every ward nationwide, slated to commence in 2024.
Addressing a gathering during the commemoration of the 10th-anniversary event of the ICT Authority in Nairobi, CS Owalo emphasized the imperative of nurturing the grassroots ICT sector, underscoring its pivotal role in laying a robust foundation for ICT-related development and the digital economy.
In assuring stakeholders of the government’s unwavering commitment to the digital superhighway project, CS Owalo highlighted the prospective job opportunities, particularly for the youth. He stated, “I can assure you that come the new year, you will not find us in the offices. We shall be in the field, rolling out the 1,450 digital hubs. With all government services available on the e-citizen platform and considering our efforts in training youth at the village level, we are resolute in realizing our digital economy aspirations.”
CS Owalo envisioned the creation of 300 digital jobs at each hub, potentially resulting in 1,500 employment opportunities for youth in a constituency with an average of five wards. He stressed the collaboration between local and international firms and emphasized the crucial role of cooperation in achieving success.
“Let us work together to position Kenya effectively as the ICT hub of Africa and even globally, by way of comparative advantage,” added CS Owalo.
Eng. John Tanui, the PS for ICT and the Digital Economy, echoed these sentiments, asserting that the ICT hubs would play a pivotal role in propelling the industry forward. Reflecting on the past decade’s achievements, he expressed confidence that the country, through the ICT Authority, is well-positioned to serve as a data hub for the continent.
Stanley Kamanguya, CEO of the ICT Authority, acknowledged the pivotal achievements of the Authority over the past 10 years, including the development of ICT master plans, the implementation of digital literacy programs, and the accreditation of ICT suppliers nationwide. He expressed gratitude to partners who contributed to these milestones, highlighting collaborative efforts in developing initiatives like the e-citizen platform.
The gala dinner, attended by former ICTA CEOs and Chairmen, received support from various sponsors, including KCB Bank, Teltonika, Geonet, Fiber Home, Prime Telecoms, Convergence, and Huawei.
Established in August 2013 as a State Corporation under the Ministry of Information Communication and Technology, the ICT Authority’s mandate involves rationalizing and streamlining the management of all Government of Kenya ICT functions, enforcing ICT standards, and promoting ICT literacy, capacity, innovation, and enterprise
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