Kindiki advocates public-private partnership for technological advancement in Kenya

The meeting follows Wetangula's hosting of a delegation of students earlier in June, who represented Kenya at a global technology competition initiated by the tech giant. 

The Government of Kenya seeks to enter into partnership with the Asian tech giant as well as other technology companies in a bid to integrate people, the youth in particular, in public-private partnership solutions for advancing Kenya’s development into the 21st century.

DP Kindiki praised the partnership and the correlation that it has with people and technology, using Huawei’s 26-year journey in Kenya as an example. 

“Technology, people and partnerships will remain important going forward, and that is what this partnership between Huawei and the Government of Kenya is bringing on board”, said Kindiki, highlighting the importance of the Huawei-Kenya partnership.

In Kenya, Huawei has been holding the Digitruck programme where a mobile and autonomous IT classroom unit powered by solar energy reaches remote areas.

“In the coming month, immediately after Nyamira, the truck will be stationed in Tharka Nithi to offer digital skills to the students, and after that, we normally have an innovation competition,” said Khadija Mohammed, the Media Director at Huawei Kenya. 

The innovation competition is a platform where students showcase the skills learnt and they get to be awarded, with one case where a winning student was awarded a tablet, which enabled him to start a mobile cyber café for eCitizen and passport registrations.

“After that, the student started a boda boda fleet (motorbike) where he has employed seven people”, said Khadija. 

Last week, more than 150 young people in Kisii County successfully completed a four-week digital skills training under the Huawei DigiTruck program.

The program equipped participants with essential digital competencies including basic computer use, internet navigation, digital marketing, online safety, and entrepreneurship.

According to the World Bank’s 2023 report on digital inclusion in Kenya, only 38% of rural youth possess basic ICT skills, compared to 67% in urban areas, highlighting a significant literacy gap that limits equitable access to digital opportunities. Additionally, the World Bank’s Future Workforce report emphasizes that over 60% of jobs in Kenya by 2030 will require advanced digital and cognitive skills, underscoring the urgent need to prepare youth for a rapidly evolving labor market.

Digitruck aims to address the disparities by increasing access to technology and digital training, enabling youth from diverse backgrounds to gain vital skills necessary for the future of work and a digital economy.

As part of the initiative, participants also engaged in a DigiTruck Innovation Competition, where they proposed solutions to local challenges using their newly acquired skills.

The top three winners were awarded tablets and paired with mentors to support them in turning their ideas into reality.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba, praised the public-private collaboration behind the initiative, saying, “The success of the DigiTruck program in Kisii is a testimony to how well public-private partnerships align projects and programs with community needs.”