400 Interns Inducted in DigiTalent Programme

The Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs have conducted induction for 400 Presidential Digital Talent programme  (PDTP) cohort VI interns for the 2021-2022 financial year.

According to Joe Mucheru, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of ICT, Innovation & Youth Affairs, the government is aware that the digital economy requires highly skilled ICT talents to drive SMEs. As a result, the PDTP internship was initiated to fill the gap.

“The government is committed to fostering a globally responsive, competitive, and adaptive ICT workforce through such programs as PDTP, Ajira Digital and Digital Literacy Programme to respond to the industry’s current and future demands on digital skills,” he said.

As a result, his Ministry has been making tremendous efforts to increase connectivity and internet access to enable the uptake of technology solutions and bridge the digital divide. He assures that the government remains committed to fostering a globally responsive, competitive, and adaptive ICT workforce through such programs as PDTP, Ajira Digital and Digital Literacy Programme to respond to the industry’s current and future demands on digital skills. 

The CS noted that ICT plays a great role in the achievement of the Big Four Agenda as outlined by HE President Uhuru Kenyatta and the future of our country will be driven by ICT.He added that the Digitalent interns being onboarded today have a role in creating that future.The CS made the remarks when he presided over the virtual induction of 400 P`\residential Digital Talent Programme (PDTP) for Cohort VI that was attended by among others, the ICT Authority (ICTA) Board Directors led by the Chairman, Prof. Fredrick Owino, Ag. CEO ICT Authority Dr. Ronoh Kipronoh and Ms. Zilpher Owiti, Director Partnership, Innovation and Capacity.

“With skilled people, industries grow, and this creates more job opportunities for young people. The PDTP internship is one way through which the government is developing a pool of ICT talent to take leadership roles and prepare the country for the future,” said Jerome Ochieng’, the Principal Secretary State Department of ICT and Innovation.

ICTA Board Chairman Prof Fredrick Owino, noted that the PDTP program can help Kenya achieve its goal of ensuring that everythat every citizen has access to technology and that they can participate and thrive in a digital economy. 

Through PDTP, the ICT Authority is championing the growth of an African-wide digital economy as envisioned by H.E the President. He encouraged the incoming cohorts to be Bearers of the Digital Promise.

ICT Authority’s Ag Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh on his part said that the ICTA is privileged to be mandated to address the challenge of youth employabilityemployability in the ICT industry caused by lack of experience and skills. Dr. Ronoh also observed that the PDTP internship is in line with the Authority’s mandate of promoting ICT Literacy, capacity, innovation, and enterprise as envisioned by the ICT Masterplan of 2017.

He also said that through PDTP, the ICT Authority is championing the growth of Africa-wide digital economy as envisioned by H.E the President. He added that the current cohort of interns will be key in championing and implementing various government ICT initiatives among them training of 20 million Kenyans on digital skills which is a critical mandate of the Authority.

On her part, Director Partnership, Innovation & Capacity, Zilpher Owiti said that all interns had gone through rigorous competitive recruitment conducted by both the public and private sectors partners. The Director stated that the recruitment process was transparent and reflected the face of Kenya with talents being drawn from all the 47 counties. She noted that the Digital Economy has come with possibilities that require reskilling and Digitalent is one of the finest internship programs where the government invest and pride in building skills through our local and international partners.