Wajir youth urged to harness digital skills for economic empowerment

More than 180 young people from Wajir have completed a six-week digital skills training programme aimed at expanding access to technology-driven opportunities in underserved communities.

The initiative, led by Huawei Kenya through its flagship DigiTruck programme, seeks to advance digital inclusion and equip young people with skills needed to participate in the digital economy. The programme is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services and the Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy.

Participants received practical training in basic ICT literacy, online safety, digital productivity tools, entrepreneurship and data privacy.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Culture and Heritage Principal Secretary Umi Bashir underscored the importance of digital literacy in driving economic empowerment in today’s technology-driven world. She noted that digital skills open pathways to employment and self-employment.

“The digital world is where opportunities are. These skills will enable you to earn a living, whether through employment or self-employment. What you have learned through the DigiTruck programme equips you to earn a living, secure employment, or even create jobs for others,” she said.

In his remarks, Wajir East MP Adan Daud welcomed the programme, describing it as a critical intervention in addressing the skills and infrastructure gaps that have historically limited access to digital literacy in marginalised regions. He announced the establishment of an ICT hub in the constituency to enable graduates to access remote job opportunities and fully utilise their newly acquired skills.

“Digital literacy is no longer optional; it is a foundation for empowerment and economic inclusion. The future is in ICT, and you now have the tools. Use them wisely to build your lives and support your families,” he said.

Wajir County Commissioner Karuku Ngumo urged the graduates to exercise responsibility in their online engagements. He reminded them to comply with the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, cautioning that misuse of digital platforms, including social media, could attract legal consequences.

Reaffirming the company’s commitment to Kenya’s digital transformation agenda, Yuta Leng, Director of Public Affairs at Huawei Kenya, said the DigiTruck initiative continues to play a pivotal role in bridging the country’s digital divide.

One of the graduates, Muna Hassan, expressed gratitude to the government and programme partners for bringing the training to Wajir, saying it had created new opportunities for young women to acquire digital skills and improve their employment prospects.

The Huawei DigiTruck is a solar-powered mobile classroom that delivers free, hands-on digital training directly to grassroots communities. With Wajir becoming the 40th county to host the programme, the initiative has now trained more than 9,000 young people nationwide.