Closing Africa’s Digital Divide: AWS empowers young Kenyans with cloud expertise

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has completed a three-day cloud computing training at the University of Nairobi, part of its broader push to equip Africa’s next generation of technology professionals with essential digital skills.

The initiative, held under the AWS Skills Center program, seeks to bridge Africa’s growing technology skills gap and prepare young professionals for careers in cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data.

The training brought together 125 computer science students, offering hands-on instruction in foundational cloud concepts and industry-recognized certifications.

Through its collaboration with the university, AWS hopes to make its Skills Center curriculum more accessible to Kenyan students, ensuring a pipeline of skilled professionals capable of meeting the region’s demand for cloud expertise.

AWS launched its first Skills Center outside the United States in South Africa in 2023, aiming to lower barriers to cloud education for individuals without technical backgrounds. The Cape Town centre offers both in-person and virtual training, enabling students across Africa—including those in Kenya who missed the Nairobi event—to participate in live, instructor-led sessions.

Why Digital Skills Matter in Africa

As cloud adoption accelerates across Africa, AWS is positioning itself as a key player in training a workforce ready for the continent’s digital economy. The AWS-UoN community classroom is part of a larger strategy to ensure Africa’s technology ecosystem keeps pace with global advancements.

The Nairobi training included six instructor-led courses, covering fundamental cloud computing principles and the "Becoming a Cloud Practitioner" series—an entry-level program designed for individuals without prior IT experience. These sessions cater not only to students transitioning into cloud careers but also to professionals seeking cloud literacy for business applications.

“We are thrilled to have collaborated with the University of Nairobi to bring in-person AWS instructor-led training to Kenyan students,” said Nondumiso Zibi, AWS Director for Support Engineering, EMEA. “Cloud computing is at the core of digital transformation, and we believe access to high-quality training is essential to unlocking career opportunities. This initiative aligns with our long-term commitment to equipping young people with the necessary technical skills to thrive in the current global job market.”

The University of Nairobi hailed the collaboration as a crucial step in ensuring students are industry-ready upon graduation.

“The future of work is digital, and our work with AWS ensures that our students gain practical, industry-relevant skills,” said Professor Andrew Kahonge, Chair of the Department of Computing and Informatics at UoN. “We recognize the increasing demand for cloud expertise and are committed to equipping our students with the knowledge and certifications that will give them a competitive edge in the job market.”

Prof. Leonidah Kerubo, Dean of the Department of Computing and Informatics at UoN, emphasized the importance of imparting practical skills to students as they prepare for the future of work. “We want our students to be market-ready. That’s why we are working very closely with industry players like AWS so they can fit with the current tech industry requirements,” she said. “AWS coming to show us how to close the skills gap is very important, and that’s why we appreciate them.”

Students gained exceptional skills

The training drew a diverse group of students eager to jumpstart their careers in technology. Many participants said the hands-on learning and real-world applications discussed during the sessions gave them a deeper understanding of cloud computing and its potential.

Cecilia K’Owiti, a second-year computer science student, described the training as a transformative experience. “Before this program, I had a rough understanding of how cloud computing works, but now I see its actual areas of application and the career paths it can open for me.”

For Neville Mwangangi, a fourth-year computer science student, the sessions were eye-opening. “Our instructor, Nigel Solomons, was great. He broke down complex core elements of cloud infrastructure into simple explanations. My idea of the cloud was mostly about storage, but I now understand it as a service.”

Terry Mukundi, a fourth-year computing student, said the training provided invaluable practical skills. “I knew about cloud computing but only in theory. This training helped me understand how to optimize the cloud for deploying workflows, and I’m now more confident in using AWS cloud services, especially for my final-year project.”

AWS encouraged students who completed the training to pursue their AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification and continue learning through AWS Educate, which provides free self-paced courses and hands-on labs.

The Cloud as an Enabler of Africa’s Digital Economy

According to the PwC Africa Cloud Business Survey 2023, half of African companies have already adopted cloud capabilities in all or most parts of their business. That number is expected to rise to 61% within the next two years, signaling a significant shift towards cloud-based solutions.

For startups and small businesses, cloud services level the playing field, allowing them to utilize enterprise-grade technologies that were once only accessible to large corporations. This democratization of IT resources is fueling innovation across sectors such as fintech, e-commerce, and health tech.

A 2024 report from McKinsey Global Institute projects that the global value of cloud computing could reach $3 trillion, with Africa and Europe combined standing to capture $797 billion of that total.

“Almost a fifth of African companies have all workloads in some sort of cloud environment, with most relying on public cloud services,” the report states. “Cloud expenditure across organizations accounts for an average of 38% of total IT spending, compared to a projected global cloud spend of about 50% of IT expenditure by 2025.”

Despite this growth, Africa faces a widening digital skills gap. A 2022 report by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) estimates that over 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030. Yet, access to specialized training remains limited, leaving many young people unprepared for the digital economy.

Cloud computing is not just about storage—it is a foundational technology that enables businesses to scale efficiently, reduce costs, and support innovation. Without a skilled workforce, African businesses risk operational inefficiencies and increased reliance on foreign expertise, limiting local job creation and economic empowerment.

AWS’s investment in cloud training aligns with Kenya’s ambition to position itself as a global technology hub. Nairobi, often referred to as the “Silicon Savannah”, has attracted major tech companies and startups, but the success of its digital economy hinges on a steady supply of cloud professionals.