By Editor
Young people in Bungoma County are increasingly benefiting from transformative digital opportunities through the Government’s Jitume Digital Enablement Programme, a flagship initiative aimed at expanding digital job creation, strengthening digital skills, and narrowing the digital divide at the grassroots.
The programme, led by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy and implemented by the Technopolis Development Authority (formerly Konza Technopolis Development Authority), is steadily enhancing access to digital infrastructure and online employment opportunities for youth across the country through the rollout of Jitume Digital Hubs.
Bungoma County currently has eight Jitume Digital Hubs situated in Kabuchai, Webuye West, Kimilili, Chemoge, Tongaren, and Kanduyi. The hubs are providing young people with practical digital training, internet connectivity, mentorship, and access to digital devices, enabling them to actively participate in the expanding digital economy and secure online work opportunities.
At Bungoma National Polytechnic, beneficiaries using the Jitume Digital Hub shared experiences of how the initiative has improved their employability, opened doors to online jobs, and enabled them to earn income through digital skills and remote work opportunities.
The Jitume Digital Literacy Initiative is part of Kenya’s wider digital transformation agenda under the National Digital Masterplan 2022–2032, which aims to position the country as a leading digital economy in Africa.
Since its launch in 2023, the programme has established nearly 350 Jitume Digital Hubs nationwide, with the Government targeting the rollout of 1,450 hubs across all wards in the 47 counties. So far, over 140,000 young people have received digital skills training through the initiative, while approximately 42,000 digital job opportunities have been created for Kenyan youth.
The initiative continues to play a significant role in equipping young people with market-oriented digital competencies, increasing access to technology in underserved areas, and advancing the Government’s goal of creating one million digital jobs by 2032.
Jitume Digital Hubs are designed as community-based centres for digital empowerment, offering access to computers, stable internet connectivity, digital literacy training, mentorship programmes, innovation spaces, and online work opportunities. In addition, the construction of Jitume Centres of Excellence is ongoing in every county, with expanded facilities intended to support innovators, creatives, and digital workers.
Speaking during an engagement session with youth at Bungoma National Polytechnic, Ruth Muriithi, Manager for Knowledge Economy and Innovation, said the programme is helping strengthen Kenya’s position in the global digital economy.
“Kenya continues to rank among Africa’s leading countries in internet connectivity and digital innovation. Initiatives such as Jitume are critical in ensuring that young people at the grassroots level can access digital skills, online jobs, and technology infrastructure that empower them economically and position Kenya competitively in the global digital economy,” she said.
The Jitume Digital Enablement Programme is being implemented jointly by the Technopolis Development Authority, the Communications Authority of Kenya, and the ICT Authority under the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, in partnership with the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF).
