By Eddah Waithaka
Young people in Bungoma County now access life-changing digital opportunities through the Government’s Jitume Digital Enablement Programme. The initiative accelerates digital job creation, enhances digital skills, and bridges the digital divide at the grassroots level.
The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy spearheads the programme, and the Technopolis Development Authority (formerly Konza Technopolis Development Authority) implements it. Together, they expand access to digital infrastructure and online work opportunities for youth across Kenya by establishing Jitume Digital Hubs.
Bungoma County currently hosts eight Jitume Digital Hubs in Kabuchai, Webuye West, Kimilili, Chemoge, Tongaren, and Kanduyi. These hubs equip young people with practical digital skills, internet access, mentorship, and digital devices. These resources enable youth to participate meaningfully in the growing digital economy and access online employment opportunities.
At Bungoma National Polytechnic, youth beneficiaries using the Jitume Digital Hub shared powerful testimonies. They explained how the initiative opens pathways to digital work, enhances their employability, and enables them to generate income through online opportunities and digital skills training.
The Jitume Digital Literacy Initiative forms part of Kenya’s broader digital transformation agenda under the National Digital Masterplan 2022–2032. That masterplan seeks to position Kenya as Africa’s leading digital economy.
Since the programme launched in 2023, nearly 350 Jitume Digital Hubs have been established across the country. The National Government targets rolling out 1,450 hubs across all wards in the 47 counties. To date, more than 140,000 young people have undergone digital skills training through the programme, while close to 42,000 digital job linkages have been created for Kenyan youth.
The initiative plays a critical role in empowering youth with market-driven digital competencies. It expands access to technology in underserved communities and supports the Government’s target of creating one million digital jobs for Kenyans by 2032.
Jitume Digital Hubs function as community centres for digital empowerment. They provide access to computers, reliable internet connectivity, digital literacy programmes, mentorship, innovation spaces, and online work opportunities. Construction of Jitume Centres of Excellence in each county is underway, with an expanded scope to also accommodate innovators, creatives and digital workers.
Speaking during an engagement session with youth at Bungoma National Polytechnic, Ruth Muriithi, Manager for Knowledge Economy & Innovation, noted that the programme strengthens Kenya’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
“Kenya continues to rank among Africa’s leading countries in internet connectivity and digital innovation. Initiatives such as Jitume are critical. They ensure that young people at the grassroots level can access digital skills, online jobs, and technology infrastructure. These tools empower them economically and position Kenya competitively in the global digital economy,” she said.
The Jitume Digital Enablement Programme operates through a collaboration between the Technopolis Development Authority, the Communications Authority of Kenya, and the ICT Authority under the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy. They implement the programme in partnership with the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF).
