The Kajiado Jitume Digital Center of Excellence is being constructed in Kitengela town, marking a significant step towards expanding access to digital infrastructure, skills, innovation, and economic opportunities for young people in the county. The center is part of the Government's broader investment in building a future-ready workforce and expanding access to digital opportunities at the grassroots through the Jitume Digital Enablement Programme. This programme seeks to establish a Jitume Centre of Excellence in every county.
Kajiado East Member of Parliament Kakuta Mai Mai led a section of county leaders in calling for the prosecution of individuals allegedly grabbing land meant for government institutions. The leaders stated that their days were numbered, and they would not tolerate selfish individuals grabbing public land. Recently, seventy acres grabbed at the Kitengela Institute of Technology were retrieved following a directive by President William Ruto during his visit to the county.
The Kajiado Jitume Digital Centre of Excellence is envisioned to provide an enabling environment where young people, innovators, creatives, and entrepreneurs can access digital infrastructure, acquire relevant skills, and pursue opportunities within Kenya's growing digital economy. The Centre will provide modern digital infrastructure and spaces that support digital skills development, innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration, including areas such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics, software development, and cybersecurity.
The Jitume Digital Enablement Programme is implemented by the Technopolis Development Authority in collaboration with the Communications Authority of Kenya, ICT Authority, and the National Government Constituencies Development Fund. Since its inception in 2023, nearly 30,000 digital devices have been deployed nationally to train more than 100,000 young people, with 91,428 accessing digital jobs.
The Centre is expected to contribute to the Government's broader ambition of expanding digital infrastructure and opportunities across the country while supporting the development of a digitally skilled workforce capable of participating in emerging areas of the economy. Technopolis Development Authority Chief Manager for Construction, Operation & Management, Eng. Anthony Sang, stated that the development of Centres of Excellence across the country aims to create stronger pathways for young Kenyans to move from digital access and skills development to innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment.
The Jitume Centres of Excellence are designed to support areas such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics, software development, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data analytics, and digital content creation, alongside collaborative workspaces and high-speed internet connectivity. The facilities will bring the infrastructure and ecosystem needed to participate in the digital economy closer to young people and communities.
The Kajiado Centre represents an important investment in the future of young people in Kajiado County, marking the beginning of an exciting journey towards digital excellence and skills development in Kajiado East. The county's residents will no longer have to travel to neighboring counties to access digital skills, technology, and opportunities, as the Centre is expected to be completed in a few months.
Key points
- The Jitume Digital Enablement Programme aims to establish a Jitume Centre of Excellence in every county, complementing the network of over 300 Jitume Digital Hubs being established across the country.
