This week Ajira Digital is in Embu County participating in the ongoing Pre-Madaraka Day Celebrations where Cooperatives, Micro and Small Businesses from the region are exhibiting their products and showcasing their adaptability to technology. The theme of this event is “Empowering Sustainable National Development through Cooperatives, Micro and Small Businesses” and has seen different key players including the government, revenue authorities, and private sector players engage in panel sessions and discussions with these traders to explore best strategies to enhance their businesses and the national economy.

H.E President William Ruto officially opened the event on Thursday by launching a Government Public Wi-Fi Service at Embu University and thereafter led a panel discussion on affordable housing in Kenya highlighting the affordability, access, and economic impact. The event has seen the attendance of other key government officials and the private sector including the H.E Rigathi Gachagua, Deputy President of Kenya; Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime Cabinet Secretary; Eliud Owallo, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy; Hon. Cecily Mbarire, Governor of Embu County; John Tanui, Permanent Secretary Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy; Mr. Ouma Sylla, Director for Regional Office for Africa-UN Habitat; Rispah Simiyu, Ag. Commissioner General Kenya Revenue Authority, among others.

Ajira Digital Program through its partners including KEPSA is showcasing the digital work talents that the Program has produced and what solutions they are able to accord to all businesses including the MSMEs and traders across the county and the region. This includes digital marketing, data management, content writing, virtual assistance, professional services such as HR, Accounting, and Tax, as well as advanced IT services such as software development, AI, and Data annotation solutions.

The leaders have also had time to engage with these young people participating in digital and digitally-enabled work to understand the impact of the program on job creation and earning them a dignified livelihood. The young people explained that the Program gives them an alternative to working experience as the formal jobs are quite limited in the country and better off gives them a chance to offer solutions to businesses both within the country and globally.

The President also indicated how the housing program is strategized to create jobs for young people in Kenya such as those to work in quarries, in transport and shipping of the construction materials among other services required in the value chain.

Here are comments from the other key delegates and digital work participants during the event:

“Traders can use platforms such as the e-commerce portal to break physical boundaries and reach wider markets. Bringing government services online will also promote ease of doing business and allow compliance, hence increase in revenue.” – Stanley Kamanguya, CEO of ICT Authority.

“The government has done a lot thus far to support connectivity and the digital economy. There are plans of ensuring connectivity in all the 1,450 wards and have started with the markets and matatu stages. We also have platforms where citizens can engage the government directly.” – John Tanui, PS Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy.

“No country in the world can develop without raising their own revenue and this is done through businesses and its citizens. Technology will help enhance revenue collection. For instance, KRA’s digitization of their process has positioned it as one of the best revenue authorities in the region. Technology should also be adopted across all sectors including in Agriculture.” – Prime Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Musalia Mudavadi.

“The county now has a dedicated department focusing on ICT and is working to see the county develop and hit its revenue target. For instance, there is an upcoming training of 300 women traders on e-commerce which will help them learn how to do business using their mobile phones.The President launched free Wi-Fi and now traders can do business online” – Cecily Mbarire, Governor Embu County.

“Having cleared high school in 2017, it was frustrating to try to secure a job and especially without a college certification. Ajira Digital Program offered me an opportunity to train on work readiness skills where I trained in areas of transcription. Today, I am able to live a dignified life as I take home Kes. 25,000 to 30,000 every month.” – Faith Mukami, Digital work participant with Ajira Digital Program.