Ministry partners with universities to accelerate digital hubs initiative

CHARLES MUOKI-KNA

The Government has intensified its push to expand digital access and skills development across Kenya, leveraging partnerships with local universities as part of the national digital transformation agenda.

Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo inspected the ongoing assembly of 3,000 digital devices at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

He emphasized that the collaboration is designed to build local capacity and expertise, ensuring that Kenyans are equipped to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital economy.

Kabogo was accompanied by ICT Authority CEO Jessy Maruti and other senior officials. The Cabinet Secretary noted that increasing the availability of devices and strengthening infrastructure will help bridge the digital divide, expand access to technology and create new economic opportunities.

In addition to the JKUAT assembly, Moi University is concurrently producing 7,000 devices, expected to be completed within three weeks.

“These devices will be deployed to digital innovation hubs nationwide, accelerating the rollout of infrastructure and services.”

“This initiative complements the government’s ambitious plan to lay 100,000 kilometers of fibre optic cable across the country. 

Already, more than 20,000 devices have been installed in over 300 operational hubs,” he said.

The long-term target is 1,450 hubs, according to the CS is ensuring that every ward has at least one facility to support digital access, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

He noted that implementation is being carried out in collaboration with Members of the National Assembly through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), which is financing the construction of hub facilities.

Kabogo stressed that the partnership enhances local ownership and guarantees sustainability of the programme.

Earlier in the week, the Cabinet Secretary appeared before a joint sitting of the National Assembly Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, chaired by John Kiarie, and the NG-CDF Committee, chaired by Musa Sirma, to present progress on the Digital Hubs Project.

He outlined milestones achieved, challenges encountered, and measures being taken to streamline coordination among implementing agencies to fasttrack delivery.

Currently, more than 300 hubs are operational, with a timebound plan to equip and staff 101 completed hubs within two months.

Additionally, 199 hubs are under construction across 22 constituencies, to be equipped on a first-completed, first-equipped basis.