UK commits to boost Kenya’s digital transformation in agricultural sector

BY SALOME ALWANDA AND RODGERS OMONDI (KNA)

The United Kingdom has committed to supporting the Kenyan government in enhancing digital transformation in the country. 

Speaking during the launch of a community action plan and an agricultural digital platform at the Busia Agricultural Training Centre, UK Deputy High Commissioner Ed Barnett stated that the UK has much to learn from Kenyan innovators and vice versa. 

“Here in Busia, we want to translate that commitment into tangible goals through the support of agricultural digital platforms,” he said. 

Dr. Barnett announced that the UK will initiate a Sh390 million project in Busia and Mandera Counties to support youth, women, and people with disabilities. 

He further stated that the project will provide digital literacy skills to farmers and other citizens to enable them to use digital tools and platforms to access relevant content and services. 

“It will train young people to develop their digital skills as community digital champions, they will pass on this training which includes financial literacy, entrepreneurship and psycho-social and mental health wellness to the wider community,” he said. 

The official added that the project is part of the broad digital access programme across Kenya that started in 2019 and has reached over five million people. 

“We have supported government websites like e-citizen and other 14,000 government digital services,” he said. 

The Deputy High Commissioner at the same time said his government has also undertaken a comprehensive accessibility assessment to ensure that persons with disability benefit from the project. 

Busia County Governor Paul Otuoma said Digital Access Program (DAP) will revolutionise Busia and Mandera County by enhancing digital inclusivity to ensure universal access to digital resources and technology to foster socio-economic empowerment among marginalized groups. 

Otuoma noted that a number of youth in the county had no access to employment, adding that mothers are also struggling to pay school fees. 

He urged Members of County Assembly to mobilise the residents and ensure that youth and women participate in the programme. 

The Governor at the same time said the agricultural digital platform will connect farmers to markets, improve access to agricultural services across the county and offer real time weather updates, crop management advice and market information. 

On the community action plan the governor said, “The plan will address real aspirations and challenges by empowering local leaders and residents, we aim to build a more resilient and dynamic community. We cannot continue to do agriculture the way our ancestors did it. 

"We must be able to know what our input and output is. That is the only way we will be able to monetize our rural economies and bring our people out of poverty.  

Former Busia governor, who is now the chair of New Partnership for Africa’s Development Africa Peer Review Mechanism NEPAD/APRM Sospeter Ojaamong, promised to partner with Busia County to ensure effective delivery in the area of agriculture, youth empowerment and good governance.