The Kenyan First Lady Rachael Ruto launched the Jitume Digital Hub program at Butere Girls High School. The program is aimed at promoting digital literacy in schools as well as providing the relevant skills that will prepare the students for digital Kenya.
During her address, the first lady noted that the project at Butere Girls is the 83rd hub in Kenya which has seen over 28,000 users connected, over 8700 courses enrolled, and 118 digital job platforms connected.
“One hundred kilometers of high-speed fiber optic infrastructure will be installed to provide the internet to all schools, government institutions and offices, health facilities, rural businesses, homes, and public spaces”, said the first lady.
She said the program is in tandem with the government’s vision of promoting a digital economy through affordable digital education.
“The government plans to establish internet hotspots to serve innovators, youths, and entrepreneurs as well as 1450 ward-based digital hubs for citizen digital literacy training, film production, and public access to government services”, she added.
Rachael Ruto referencing Proverbs 22:29, asked the Butere Girls students to use the digital hub to acquire skills that will be beneficial after completing their high school education.
“The Digital Hub will spare parents the school fees they would have paid for their daughters after completing form four”, noted Rachael.
The first lady was accompanied by the Information, Communications, and Digital Economy CS Eliud Owalo, who revealed that plans are underway to launch a digital hub in each ward in the country to solve the unemployment challenge.
“We have 16892 services on E-Citizen and Kenyans can access government services in the comfort of their homes”, revealed Owalo.
In addition, the CS said they are working with the Kenya Power and Lighting Company to assist in the transmission of fiber optics to enable more user connection.
The Butere girls principal Mrs. Jenipher Omondi applauded the first lady for her initiative at the school, where she is an alumnus, saying more than 50 computers that were donated at the launch is a major boost in her school’s digital education program.
The ACK diocese of Butere Rose Okeno was represented by The Very Rev. Moses Omoke. Others in attendance were the Kakamega County deputy governor Ayub Savula, Butere Girls High School board chairperson Lady Justice Hellen Wasilwa among others.
