120,000 Kenyans to Gain Digital Skills to Drive Meaningful Digital Inclusion
The Communications Authority of Kenya, through the Universal Service Fund (USF), is set to equip 120,000 Kenyans across 19 counties with digital skills over the next three years, strengthening their ability to use digital technologies to access opportunities, services and participate in Kenya’s growing digital economy.
The initiative is designed to ensure that the expansion of digital connectivity translates into meaningful and inclusive digital access, particularly for communities in unserved and underserved areas. With an investment of KSh100 million, the project will focus on building practical digital capabilities that enable citizens to use technology confidently for education, employment, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion and access to government services.
The project supports the Government’s digital transformation agenda and contributes to the ambition of the Kenya National Digital Master Plan 2022–2032 to equip 20 million Kenyans with digital skills. The programme also advances the Authority’s mandate to promote universal access to and use of ICT services, while contributing to the vision of a digitally empowered society.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ workshop to deliberate on the implementation of the Digital Skilling Project, the Director, Universal Service Fund Eng. Dennis Chepkwony said that digital inclusion must extend beyond connectivity towards ensuring that citizens have the capacity to derive tangible value from digital technologies.
Kenya has made significant gains in expanding digital connectivity, with growing access to mobile devices, broadband and online services. However, access to a network does not automatically translate into meaningful participation in the digital economy. Digital skills are increasingly essential for citizens to navigate online platforms, access public services, pursue economic opportunities and participate safely and productively in an increasingly digital society.
The Digital Skilling Project therefore seeks to close this capability gap by reaching communities that risk being left behind as Kenya accelerates its digital transformation. Its impact will be measured not simply by the number of people trained, but by the extent to which newly acquired skills enable citizens to access services, create livelihoods, improve productivity and participate more fully in the digital economy.
The stakeholder workshop brings together government institutions and strategic partners to strengthen a coordinated approach to implementation and ensure that the project delivers sustainable impact. The engagement will validate the implementation framework, clarify institutional responsibilities and establish a coordinated roadmap for delivery.
The collaborative approach is intended to maximise the impact of USF resources, minimise duplication of digital inclusion initiatives and strengthen ownership among institutions and partners working to advance digital empowerment.
Ultimately, the project represents a shift from connecting communities to empowering communities; ensuring that those who gain access to digital infrastructure also have the knowledge and confidence to use it to improve their lives.
By equipping 120,000 Kenyans with relevant digital skills, the Authority, through USF, is contributing to a more inclusive digital society in which connectivity becomes a pathway to opportunity, innovation, livelihoods and improved access to essential services, supporting the Government’s broader ambition of a digitally transformed and economically empowered Kenya.