Ajira Digital Program team from KEPSA together with EldoHub hosted an engaging forum for Business Leaders in Uasin Gishu county at Eka hotel, Eldoret on 9^th November 2022. The forum received attendance from the local businesses across various economic sectors, innovators, youth, county government and digital platforms. The participants explored the emerging digital opportunities, value of digitizing their business processes, the challenges and fears of digitizing and the work opportunities for the young people in the county.

Gracing the forum was Eng. Martha Cheruto, Uasin Gishu County Executive Committee Member of Trade and immediate former KEPSA Deputy CEO in charge of Foundation and Projects. Dr. Ehud Gachugu, Director Ajira Digital Program and Youth Employment at KEPSA also led the participants through the impact the Program and digital economy has had towards the private and public sector, the youth employment and entrepreneurship as well as the contribution to the national economy. The forum was climaxed by an engaging panel discussion with representation of businesses, digital platforms and BPOs and young people who have benefitted from digitization.

Here are some key highlights and insights discussed during the forum:

“Uasin Gishu is a to-go-to county for investors, given the conducive business environment and the endowment found within the region. Besides the global recognition of Uasin Gishu being a home of champions in the athletes and sports areas, the County is renowned for its large-scale wheat and maize farming. Digital transformation by businesses will mean strategically pushing the County further up in the map and especially as it awaits being awarded a city’s status.” – Eng. Martha Cheruto, County Executive Committee Member of Trade.

“The future business environment unlike before has an impact on work, workers, and the workplace. This transition affects both the larger and small enterprises and work opportunities for the youth. Ajira Digital Program catalyzes the value that businesses receive from digitization as well as enhances the creation of jobs for the youth. We export labour without necessarily moving people from their geographical locations. On the other hand, companies both locally and globally can access talents through the digital space.” – Dr. Ehud Gachugu, Director Ajira Digital Program and Youth Employment at KEPSA.

“We run entrepreneurship development programs as well as incubate startups to bring their ideas to life. Through programs such as SasaKazi, we have been able to link tech talents with businesses to fulfill digital projects such as e-commerce, website development, and digital marketing among others. As a result of the program, we have been able to achieve a 90% job absorption rate and delivered over 300 digital projects for the host SMEs.” – Joshua Kemboi, Program Manager at EldoHub.

“Through Ajira Digital Program, we have been able to equip the young people with the necessary digital skills. Currently we are training 27 modules ranging from basic to intermediary digital skills which have been advised by what the market and especially businesses are seeking. The Program does not stop at just trainings, but these young people are mentored and hand held to ensure quality delivery of work and services as well as empower them to explore other digital and digitally-enabled work opportunities.” – Simon Murimi, Universities and TVETs Program Manager at eMobilis.

“The challenge in digitization and outsourcing digital talents by businesses is how and what value we stand to gain as well as the risk of data privacy and access to trustworthy local digital providers. We then end up postponing the uptake of digitization or even look for solutions elsewhere like from international BPOs and digital platforms. These challenges cut across all businesses from different parts of this country.” – Antonio David, Director, Moiben Connections Limited.

“There are many challenges preventing businesses from digitization but businesses need to see the value they stand to gain instead. Placing your business online even as simple as on Facebook platform will make your business accessible by your potential customers. All is required is quality packaging of the content to best articulate what you are offering and how customers can reach you. On the fears of trust,these can be eliminated through proof of work, portfolio of customers worked with previously and legally binding agreements.” – Peter Kironji, CEO and Founder, Twiva.

It was concluded that digitization is not limited and has great values to businesses as well as in promoting creation of work opportunities for young people. There are small but scalable ways that businesses can start on digitization by pushing products on social platforms where their target market spends most time. Alternatively, go through digital platforms and BPOs for support and access of digital talents.