Plans to set up a centre of excellence for digital innovation by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy (MICDE) are in advanced stages.

One digital hub estimated to cost Ksh26 million will be located at Ahero, some 21 kilometres south-east of lakeside city of Kisumu and housed at the Multipurpose Development Training Institute in Nyando, Kisumu County.

A similar initiative has been rolled out in Kasipul constituency to unlock online business and job opportunities for the local youth. Speaking during the site handover and ground-breaking ceremony on Tuesday, Assistant Director ICT, MICDE, Geoffrey Omwenga, disclosed that the ICT model hub will raise digital knowledge uptake and create online employment opportunities.

In Kasipul Omwenga disclosed that the national government targets to build about 100 digital hubs as centres of excellence across the 47 counties in the country. The hubs comprise of 47 digital centres of excellences and 53 standard hubs aimed at bringing services closer to the people.

He said the digital centre of excellence built in Kosele DCC grounds is part of the first set of the targeted 100 digital hubs in the 47 counties across the country.

Omwenga, who represented the ICT Secretary for Infrastructure, Washington Oduor, at the State Department of ICT and Digital Economy, noted that the initiative was part of the national government’s plan to establish about 100 digital centres of excellence countrywide.

“Apart from the 100 centres of excellence, the government intends to establish an additional 1,450 Jitume Digital Hubs in all the wards nationally in a bid to position Kenya as a key player in the global digital economy,” the official stated.

The project is being implemented by Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) in conjunction with Communication Authority with the construction phase expected to be complete within two and a half months.

The modern hub, Omwenga noted, is part of the Kenya Kwanza administration plan to fulfil the digital superhighway and creative economy agenda as envisaged in the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

The high-end hub will include a boardroom, computer laboratories, office spaces and a Huduma Centre unit.

After construction, he added, the national government will equip the centre with computers, internet connectivity, ICT training and digital job linkages. The centre will be open to the public to enable everyone to acquire digital skills.

Kisumu County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo, on his part lauded the actualisation of the project and termed it a game-changer in enhancing Wi-Fi connectivity in remote areas.

“Our youths will be the first ones to benefit from the digital jobs and the free access to faster internet connection. With most government services automated, the centre will offer locals a better opportunity to enjoy these services with minimal travelling and at low cost,” Leparmorijo underscored.

The digital hubs will contain, board rooms, training rooms, huduma centres among other modern facilities aimed at serving the local community.

Omwenga said the construction in Kasipul, which starts immediately, is estimated to cost Ksh23 million will be funded by the Communication Authority of Kenya and expected to be completed in three months.

Omwenga said the national government in total plans to build 1450 digital hubs across the country constructed through the support of friendly partners and the National Government Constituency Development Fund.

• A Tell / KNA report / By Robert Ojwang’ and Moseti Julius