from MARIA MACHARIA in Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya Bureau
NAIROBI, (CAJ News) – THE Kenyan government is to train hundreds of women in digital skills, which would enable them access government services online.
First Lady, Rachel Ruto, has officially launched the initiative, under the aegis of the Digital Skills Literacy programme, launched in partnership with the Computers for Schools Kenya.
This has been unveiled in the capital Nairobi’s Embakasi East Constituency, aligned with the 2023 International Women’s Day, theme: “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.”
It is hailed as a powerful declaration aimed at leaving no woman behind in the digital revolution.
Digital Skills Literacy targets to train women in 500 women groups in Nairobi, before rolling out to other counties.
The training will further enable the targeted women to access online services including the more than 5 000 government processes and services set to be digitised by June 2023.
“The COVID-19 crisis taught us the importance of going digital in business, relationships, worship, and even family meetings,” Ruto said.
She added, “During the lockdowns, digital innovation enabled many essential services to withstand disruptions.”
Among attendees at the launch was the Principal Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy, Eng. John Tanui, the chairman of Computers for Schools Kenya, Dr Tom Musili, and the Deputy County Commissioner for Njiru Sub County, James Chacha.
Empowering women is among the campaign pledges of the government of President William Ruto, in power since last August.
– CAJ News