Kenya DigiTruck Project Graduates 290 Youth in Homa Bay
On March 17, the Kenya DigiTruck project partners and trainees celebrated the graduation of 290 young people in Homa Bay. This six-week training phase, part of Huawei’s TECH4ALL digital inclusion initiative, focused on equipping 143 women and 147 men with essential digital skills. The course content covered computer literacy, digital marketing, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and cybersecurity.
The DigiTruck, a mobile classroom mounted on a truck, is fully solar-powered and equipped with workstations, Internet connectivity, and digital tools. Since its launch in Kenya in 2019, the DigiTruck program has provided free training for 6,030 youth across 36 counties, with a particular focus on young job seekers, girls, and women. In 2024, 906 out of 1,648 trainees were women, highlighting the program’s commitment to gender equality in digital skills training.
Dr. Raymond Omollo, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration of Kenya, emphasized the importance of digital literacy in today’s world. He stated that digital skills are no longer optional but essential for unlocking opportunities in various fields.
Adam Lane, Director of Government Affairs and Policy for Huawei, highlighted the DigiTruck’s role in reaching youth outside of formal education and in rural areas. The program aims to ensure equal gender representation among trainees and recognizes the necessity of digital skills for all individuals in the current economy.
The DigiTruck project is a collaborative effort between Huawei, Kenya’s ICT Authority, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the National Youth Council, Kenya National Innovation Agency, Safaricom, Computers for Schools Kenya, and other local partners. Aligned with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda and Digital Superhighway Agenda, the project aims to bridge the digital divide, nurture future digital leaders, and support the creative economy.
The training course in Homa Bay included an innovation competition where participants developed digital solutions to address community challenges. The competition winners created solutions to enhance healthcare service delivery, improve the lives of quarry workers, and raise awareness of online safety and cybersecurity.
Graduates of the DigiTruck program are expected to increase enrollment in ICT courses, promote digital entrepreneurship, and drive digital adoption in rural areas. The Skills on Wheels program, part of Huawei’s TECH4ALL initiative, has provided training in digital skills and cybersecurity awareness for over 110,000 individuals in 20 countries by the end of 2024.
TECH4ALL is Huawei’s digital inclusion initiative aimed at enabling inclusion and sustainability in the digital world through innovative technologies and partnerships. For more information, visit the Huawei TECH4ALL website and follow their updates on X.
In conclusion, the Kenya DigiTruck project has successfully empowered 290 youth in Homa Bay with essential digital skills. The program’s impact extends beyond graduation, as graduates are expected to drive digital progress in their communities. Through collaborative efforts and innovative initiatives like TECH4ALL, Huawei is making significant strides towards bridging the digital divide and fostering a more inclusive digital world.
