In recent years, Kenya has established itself as a leader in digital transformation on the African continent, with one of the most dynamic ICT ecosystems in the world.

In the coming months, Kenya will establish a Centre of Excellence for digital skilling of the public workforce. Indeed, on September 4, 2023, ICT Minister Eliud Owalo (photo, center), met with a delegation from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Microsoft Corporation. During the meeting, the three parties “deliberated on the development” of that center whose aim is to equip civil servants with the digital skills required to reinforce digitization.

The center aligns with one of the objectives of Kenya’s Digital Master Plan 2022-2032. It is announced three months after the signing of a partnership between the Kenyan government and the UNDP. The partnership focuses on key areas essential to driving an inclusive digital transformation, including training and skills enhancement, data governance, e-government, jobs, and digital businesses.

Once developed, the center will improve public workers’ ability to use digital technology for the delivery of public services. The aim is to accelerate the digital transformation of the economy and significantly reduce unemployment. According to Accenture's Africa iGDP Forecast, by 2025, Kenya's digital sector will add KES 1,400 billion ($9.5 billion) or 9.24% to the country's GDP.

Samira Njoya