TVET trainers to train on digital literacy, digital freelancing and digital marketing.

Kirinyaga County government is set to roll out digital space skills courses in its youth polytechnics to help young people tap into the available online job opportunities. 

 

To prepare for the roll out of the courses, the County Government has started training tutors who will offer the courses to students.

 

The first lot of the trainers drawn from all the 16 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres have already completed the training on digital literacy, digital freelancing and digital marketing.

 

The training is being conducted by the African Centre for Women, Information and Communications Technology (ACWICT).

 

In a speech read on her behalf by Deputy Governor David Githanda during the closing ceremony of the training for the first lot of tutors to acquire the training, Governor Anne Waiguru said the initiative will help young people tap into job opportunities available through the online platforms.

“I believe that the knowledge that our tutors have acquired will be well utilized to increase the uptake of technology in polytechnics and our youth will be in a position to take advantage of the many online job opportunities offered in the digital space,” said the Governor.

Waiguru said digital platforms provide a wealth of online resources levelling the playing field for people who might not otherwise have access to high-quality education.

The Council of Governors Chair (CoG) said the training on digital literacy will give young people and women the skills they need to succeed in a work market that is becoming more and more tech-driven.

She challenged women and youth to take the lead in acquiring the digital skills so as to change the trajectory of their lives through the available money-making opportunities.

“Furthermore, ICT access cuts across geographical boundaries, allowing marginalized populations to communicate, exchange ideas, and take advantage of opportunities that were previously out of their reach,” she added.

Waiguru said her administration has invested in ICT infrastructure in county TVETs by establishing fully equipped computer labs with internet access.

“This training has therefore been a timely intervention and is in line with our ICT ambitions. We also expect that our polytechnics will become centers of ICT learning from which the surrounding communities will be imparted with knowledge,” the Governor said.

She said Kiamikuyu, Kaitheri, Mutitu and Mucii wa Urata polytechnics are among TVETs which already have computer labs.

“We are also in the process of equipping Nguka, Kiambwe and Kimwathi polytechnics in order to have their computer labs running,” the Governor added.

To inculcate digital competences from an early age, the Waiguru said the county government is piloting digital literacy in selected ECDE centers with a plan to eventually roll out the program in all the centers.

“Access to ICT has a significant impact on women and young people, not just in terms of employment and education but also in terms of promoting a more inclusive society. The society is able to magnify its voice, promote social justice and gender equity and equality, and dispel stereotypes that impede their advancement using online platforms,” Waiguru noted.

Elizabeth Wanja, ACWICT's head of programs, stated that there is need for students to acquire and enhance their freelancing skills before enrolling in colleges or universities in order to secure digital jobs such as online writing for them to be self-employed.

"I would describe this type of skills as short high impact courses and would therefore recommend it for every youth. For the polytechnics, you have curved a niche, there is no competition with other TVET institutions," she said.

Bernadette Wairimu Karanja, a tutor at Kaitheri Polytechnic who is one of the beneficiaries described the course as "eye-opening."

"Integrating ICT in Education will make the learning process more interesting, allowing learners to understand better and even ensure they have jobs after school," Wairimu said.

Ndiriti Polytechnic Principal Nelson Karani said he will utilize the digital marketing training to increase student population in the facility and help young people earn money through online jobs.

"Through digital marketing, the number of students in our institutions will grow. This course is also marketable and once we roll it out, we know it’s bound to arose lot of interest,” Karani said.

Ends………

 

Kianyaga stadium gets a facelift

 

Officials from Sports Kenya have visited General Kassam playfield in Kianyaga to access its status before the government commences process of upgrading the facility.

The technical team which toured the facility on Wednesday is expected to prepare a detailed report, potential designs and get financial estimates for the upgrade.

Sports Kenya Deputy Director for Technical Services Gabriel Komora said that the team had come to collect accurate data on the facility.

“We came to conduct a preliminary assessment of the facility to get an accurate picture of the space available, see what can fit in the field and know all the requirements we will need to transform it into a facility that is up to the required standards,” Komora said.

The visit comes just three weeks after President William Ruto agreed to Governor Anne Waiguru’s request for the national government to help the county government in upgrading the field into a modern stadium.

On his part, President Ruto who spoke during the commissioning of the Gichugu Affordable Housing project in Kianyaga last month, committed to upgrade the facility once the county government allocates sh.100 million promised by Governor Waiguru to kick-start the works.

The Council of Governors (CoG) chair said once upgraded, the stadium will host more local, regional and national sporting events and the same time generate more revenue

Komora said the team would hand over its report to the Ministry of Sport once its completed.

Deputy Governor David Githanda who represented Governor Waiguru during the tour, said that the visit by the technical team shows President Ruto’s commitment to fulfil his promise to the people.

He expressed optimism that the construction work would start soon.

“Residents are excited as this stadium will provide a venue for local sports matches as well as provide a well-equipped place for high altitude training,” he added.

Githanda said the county government was waiting for the official commissioning and handing over of Wang’uru Stadium for use by members of the public.

The Deputy Governor said that for the last six years, the county government has put emphasis on upgrading sports fields so that the county can nurture local talents.

Once upgraded, the facility will become second stadium in the county after Wanguru International Stadium.

The sport field is named after a renown independence freedom fighter General Kassam and is strategically located at the heart of Gichugu Constituency which is branded as a resort city in Governor Waiguru’s Mountain Cities Blue Print.

Sports enthusiast in Kirinyaga have welcomed plans to into a stadium saying upgrading of the facility was long overdue and offers hope for upcoming sportsmen.

Ends……….

 

 

Registration of farmers

 

Kirinyaga kicks off farmers’ registration on a high as county registers over 8,000 in two days

The County Government of Kirinyaga has kicked off the farmers’ registration exercise on a high note with 8,081 farmers being registered in the first two days.

The exercise that kicked off on Monday is expected to yield to a comprehensive county farmers’ data base that will inform both the county and the national governments’ agricultural intervention programs in Kirinyaga.

A total of 329 agripreneurs and 36 supervisors have been assigned to undertake the exercise across the county’s 20 wards with each of the agripreneurs expected to register at least 15 households per day.

The Principal Secretary for State Department for Crop Development, Kello Harsama, expressed his satisfaction in the professional manner in which the county government was executing the registration exercise noting that it has been the best organized among all the counties. “This is a model county and this is what we want to see all other counties doing. I asked to be given the best organized county and I was given Kirinyaga where the whole exercise starting from recruitment has been done in a very transparent manner.” Said the PS.

The PS was on an assessment tour to the county where he was taken around to witness the ongoing registration in the county. He also met with hundreds of farmers who had been convened for a training forum by the county government at Kamiigua Youth Polytechic.

“Allow me to commend and thank Governor Anne Waiguru for her outstanding contribution in the agricultural sector. Kirinyaga is a well-organized county with a strong agricultural vision.,” he said, hailing the good working relationship between Kirinyaga County Executive, the Assembly and the National Government when it came to delivery of services to the residents.

He noted that having the farmers’ data was crucial in determining how many people required what type of support in the agricultural sector which include the distribution of subsidized farm inputs and market access which are all encompassed in the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. (BETA).

Kirinyaga Deputy Governor, David Githanda, said that the County Government was closely working with the National Government to ensure that the registration exercise is seamlessly executed to the end. He said having the farmers profile database will enable the county government implement the Wezesha Kirinyaga program in a more effective and efficient manner. He called on all the farmers to ensure that they are registered.

Kangai Member of County Assembly, James Njiru, who is also the assembly’s Agriculture Committee Chairperson assured residents that with Governor Anne Waiguru,  the county’s agriculture sector was in safe hands. He reiterated the assembly’s commitment to working harmoniously with the county executive in delivering services to Kirinyaga residents.

Other MCAs present at the forum expressed their satisfaction in the way the county is being managed noting that collaboration between stakeholders will adequately address the needs of the farmers.

Margaret Wambui, a farmer from Baragwi Ward, stated that registration will help them gain market for their produce as well as access subsidized farm inputs such as fertilizer.

Present at the forum was also Dr. Mary Mwale, the chair of the farmer's Registration program who noted that Kirinyaga has started the exercise exemplary well and the Agri-preneurs selected were well trained and were doing a good job.