6,000 youth have benefited from the Huawei DigiTruck Initiative to date, marking a significant milestone in empowering the next generation of tech leaders with the digital skills required to thrive in today’s fast-evolving ICT industry.
Speaking in Nairobi, National Assembly’s Communication, Information, and Innovation Committee Chair and Dagoretti South Member of Parliament John Kiarie lauded the partnership and collaboration between Huawei, the national and county governments, and training partners such as Computers for Schools Kenya which has been key in the success of the ‘DigiTruck’ initiative.
“Real transformation with a shared vision, and this is what is at the heart of the Digitruck partnership. A dream where each school-leaving youth, especially from underserved communities in Kenya, has the basic ICT skills to earn a livelihood or join the digital workforce,” commented Kiarie.
He further emphasized the importance of technology in spurring growth and advancement of all economic sectors.
“In today’s world, no discipline stands alone independent of technology. If you think education, you have to think EduTech, for Agriculture, AgriTech, finance, FinTech, if you think Health, you have to think HealthTech and so on. Meaning that, Digital Skills, today, are as important as Basic Literacy and Numeracy,” said the Dagoretti South lawmaker.
‘DigiTruck’, a mobile classroom converted from a shipping container and fully equipped with laptops, smartphones, and Virtual Reality headsets, was launched in 2019. This mobile learning facility travels to remote areas, providing hands-on training on essential digital skills.
The initiative has also been instrumental in helping youth bridge the digital divide and prepare for the future, thus driving positive change and expanding opportunities for youth in Kenya.
The program aims to empower young people by teaching them how to navigate the digital world to access online education, remote job opportunities, and digital trade. With an emphasis on improving access to technology and education, DigiTruck opens new doors for youth in rural and underserved communities.
The DigiTruck program is part of Huawei’s ongoing commitment to investing in Kenya’s future by developing a sustainable talent ecosystem in ICT. In 2024, DigiTruck trained 1,648 youth, with females accounting for 55% of the trainees. The trainees were drawn from six counties: Trans-Nzoia, Kiambu, Murang’a, Nairobi, Uasin Gishu, and Marsabit.
Speaking during the dissemination of the 2024 Digitruck Status Report, Adam Lane, Government Affairs Director at Huawei Technologies Kenya challenged the youth to develop their digital skills further and use technology to secure livelihoods and solve community problems.
“The skills you’ve gained are not only designed to propel you into the digital space but also to help you create solutions for your communities and access job opportunities through various online platforms. We encourage all young people to continue learning and upskilling, exploring new areas of growth as emerging technologies take center stage in our increasingly digital world,” said Lane.