from MARIA MACHARIA in Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya Bureau
NAIROBI, (CAJ News) – KENYA reports it has created digital jobs for around 182 000 youth that now work virtually for overseas-based companies, since the current administration assumed power in 2022.
This, according to a government official, is a positive development to the East African country as it positions itself as a hub for digital outsourcing.
“We have created digital jobs for 182 000 youth,” said Eliud Owalo, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the President: Performance and Delivery Management.
He was speaking while officially opening the Artificial Intelligence Conference at the Rongo University in the western county of Mugori on Wednesday.
“We have youth working from right here in the villages for companies based in America, Belgium, United Kingdom, India, Singapore… Not long ago, this was not possible. These youth are being paid in foreign currencies.”
Owalo said the focus on creating these business process outsourcing (BPO) jobs for local youth was stemming rural-urban migration.
“Through technology, we are bringing more people into the income bracket,” he said.
The government of President William Ruto is prioritising youth in its economic agenda, following 2024 anti-government protests led by youngsters disgruntled by joblessness and taxation policies by the administration.
Demonstrations left around 50 people dead and scores were arrested.
In another tech related development, Owalo revealed that the number of services on the government’s online portal had increased from 350 when the fifth administration was elected in 2022 to over 22 00 curently.
“This is the extent that you can consume all government services from the comfort of wherever you are,” he said at Rongo University.
– CAJ News