The government is targeting to train over one million youths through the Ajira Digital Programme.
The programme is being implemented by the ICT, Youth and Gender Affairs, Education, Foreign Affairs ministries in partnership with the civil society and private sector.
Its aim is to bridge the gap between skills demand and lack of jobs.
Speaking during the official opening of the five days training at the Kenyatta University, Mombasa campus, Mr Mucheru said the training is part of the Ajira Digital Programme, whose goal is to provide practical solutions to the unemployment challenge that the country faces.
He congratulated the 202 youths from the region selected for the training.
“The demand for the training was very high I must congratulate you all for making it to the final list of applicants we planned to train during this pioneering phase.
Mentorship
“This training aims to introduce the young people to online work and provide tools, training and mentorship you need to be able to bid for work and earn a decent income from it,” he said.
In the current phase, the ICT Ministry is training 10,000 youths in six centres in Nairobi, Kisumu, Meru, Nakuru and Mombasa.
“We hope to expand this opportunity to other counties in the coming days,” he said.
Hubs
“We are grateful to all the agencies for collaborating with us to achieve this objective. Rockefeller Foundation has helped us with financial support towards this training. Kenya Private Sector Alliance for coming on board as our implementing partner,” said Mr Mucheru.
The Constituency Innovation Hubs (CIH) Project is included in the programme and is designed to complement the uptake of online work.
Mr Mucheru said hubs will act as a national support network that will enable youths to access training, digital devices, mentorship and job opportunities through the Ajira Digital portal.
