Government Provides Mentorship And ICT Capacity Building For Interns

by Dennis Gichuki.

The Principal Secretary for ICT and Innovation Mr. Jerome Ochieng has said that the government has initiated ICT training and mentorship program designed to build the ICT capacity in the government efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery.

Speaking at the Kenya School of Government, today, Mr. Ochieng said that the government has introduced the Presidential Digital Talent Program (PDTP) which focuses on building high end ICT skills on young graduates to transform the business sector.

The Principal Secretary said that through the PDTP program, the government aims to produce a critical mass of high-end ICT human capital envisioned in the ICT master plan and the Digital Economy Blue print launched last year.

He observed that, the PDTP program, now in its fourth year since inception, and initially targeted at ICT and engineering graduates, has expanded to include graduates from the field of law, medicine, environment and agriculture.

The Principal Secretary explained that the government is committed to transforming public service delivery by integrating ICT applications and services to expand opportunities and increase livelihoods for young people.

He commended the interns for their contribution towards the efficiency of the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) processes last year that led to early release of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) results.

He said that 357 interns are currently placed in various ministries, departments and agencies to work and gain experience and skills. He said that 205 interns had been placed in the private sector to understand how the sector operates.

Among those who were present ate ICT Authority Chief Executive officer, Dr. Kate Getao and the Authority’s Director of partnerships, Eunice Kariuki.