NAIROBI — Kenya is making a determined push to reduce its dependence on imported technology by expanding its pool of digitally skilled professionals. On Wednesday, 263 university students graduated from an intensive three-month training programme aimed at equipping them with vital digital skills.
At the ceremony, Industry Principal Secretary Dr Juma Mukhwana highlighted the country’s heavy reliance on foreign software and called for a shift towards homegrown innovation.
“We are buying a lot of software from other people. We pay subscriptions for networking, computing, and cybercrime software,” Mukhwana said. “Instead of wasting time on the internet abusing others, focus on how to make money in this space.”
The graduates completed the Rapid Tech Skills initiative, a Ksh 6.5 billion ($50 million) programme co-funded by the Kenyan government and the World Bank. The training, implemented by Spineberg and E4Impact, covered areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, software engineering, data science, as well as soft skills and entrepreneurship.
“This government has prioritised the digital economy,” Mukhwana added. “That is why we are building Konza City to support cloud computing and cloud storage. We want you to have the skills to thrive.”
The initiative is part of the Kenya Industry and Entrepreneurship Project (KIEP) under the Strengthening Kenya’s Innovation Ecosystem (SKIES) programme, which has been running since 2018 and will continue through 2025.
Sameer Goyal, a representative from the World Bank, underscored the importance of digital skills in Kenya’s economic future.
“You are well equipped to support businesses in your country,” Goyal said. “Developing digital skills can help transform the economy by improving employability and enabling firms to compete both at home and abroad.”
The graduation marks a step forward in Kenya’s ambition to build a more self-reliant technology sector, reduce cybercrime risks, and fuel economic growth through innovation. Yet, experts note that sustaining this momentum will require continued investment and collaboration between government, industry, and educational institutions.
