Youth Complete Digital Literacy Skills Training as New Report Identifies Digital Skilling as Key to GDP Growth in AI Era
330 youth graduated from a digital skills program in Chepkorio Village, Elgeyo Marakwet today at a ceremony attended by Dr. Gideon Kimaiyo Kipkoech, MP for Keiyo South Constituency, Opiyo Wandayi, Cabinet Secretary Energy and Petroleum and Eng. John Tanui, PS for ICT and the Digital Economy.
The training was delivered using the Huawei DigiTruck by Computers for Schools Kenya and the Office for the Data Protection Commissioner. The content covered the basics of using computers, smartphones and the internet, key productivity software, cybersecurity, and how to find jobs and buy and sell online.
The graduation comes days after a new report was released by GSMA Intelligence in collaboration with Huawei. Bridging the Divide: Enhancing Digital Literacy in the AI Era identifies a digital divide impacting 3.1 billion people globally caused by a shortage of digital skills, user trust, and AI literacy, and that closing the gap could add around $3.5 trillion to global GDP by 2030. The report finds that AI could act as both a bridge and a barrier for underserved communities, with AI-powered applications that work with images, audio, video, and text easier to use and of great help to those with low-levels of digital literacy.
At the same time, they raise the security and critical-thinking standards required to stay safe online such as making it harder to identify risks such as fraud and deepfakes.
Without targeted interventions in basic digital training, the authors warn, rapid AI adoption risks entrenching existing inequalities even in areas with full network coverage. The report emphasizes the need for community-based delivery models, citing Huawei's DigiTruck initiative as a field-tested example that was pioneered in Kenya and which, a report released in 2024 found, has proven to increase trainees’ incomes and employment opportunities.
“Infrastructure without digital skills is a highway with no vehicles. That is why this intensive, one-month digital training for 330 youth in Keiyo South is the ultimate highlight of our strategy. We are equipping our young people first, so that as we aggressively roll out last-mile fibre optic cables leveraging Kenya Power's infrastructure, we have a ready workforce. Through the Huawei DigiTruck and the upcoming Chepkorio Centre of Excellence Digital Hub, Keiyo South is creating the human capital needed to drive President Ruto’s Digital Superhighway program into the future.”— said Eng. John Tanui, PS for ICT and the Digital Economy
Speaking during the ceremony Hon Opiyo Wandayi, Cabinet Secretary Energy and Petroleum commended Huawei on the Digitruck initiative “We commend Huawei for bringing the DigiTruck initiative to Elgeyo Marakwet and for investing in the digital skills and capabilities of communities that are at the heart of Kenya’s digital transformation. Digital skills can only deliver their full value when communities have reliable access to both connectivity and power. As Government, we are committed to expanding internet and electricity connectivity particularly in underserved areas so that the knowledge and skills gained through initiatives such as DigiTruck can be translated into real opportunities, livelihoods and better services. We thank Huawei for being a valued partner in advancing this shared vision.”
Adam Lane, Director for Policy and Partnerships at Huawei Kenya, congratulated the youth who won the Innovation Competition for their ideas on using their digital skills to improve their community, and emphasized the plan for continually updating the DigiTruck curriculum with their partners as AI evolves to help Kenyans avoid risks and take advantage of AI.
Dr. Gideon Kimaiyo Kipkoech, MP for Keiyo South Constituency further expressed his appreciation to Huawei on the impactful initative “Today as we celebrate the graduation of our youth from the Huawei DigiTruck ICT program in Keiyo South, I want to express my deepest appreciation to Huawei Kenya for this transformative partnership. You have not just brought a truck, you have brought digital skills, hope and opportunity right to the doorstep of our rural villages. The 330+ graduates today are now equipped to compete in the digital economy and this is true empowerment. On behalf of the people of Keiyo South, thank you for investing in our future.