Leaders Driving Change Through Digital Economy: Gem Constituency

With Ted Odhiambo 

Anniversaries are a time to celebrate, but more importantly, a time to reflect on the past, lessons learnt and how to steer towards the desired future.

Indeed on this independence day, the role of the digital economy deserves a mention as a key driver of development. Tools available today in the digital space promote ease of doing business and open opportunities for local talent to participate in the global job market.

For instance, the Mutumbu digital lab that was launched by H.E. (Dr.) William Ruto in October this year is a case in point. An initiative of Hon. Elisha Odhiambo, the lab has trained over 100 youth in its first 90 days, many young people coming in as jobless and graduating as possible employers.

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The first of its kind under the Jitume digital program, Hon. Elisha Odhiambo has sponsored 40 youth trained at the community lab to attend various events, the recent Kenya Innovation Week and the just concluded Youth Connekt Africa.

In his view, training in itself is not enough to jump-start the long-awaited opportunity train that comes with the benefits of a digital economy. Mentoring and purposeful engagement in practical problem-solving are the ways to encourage and develop young leaders and innovators to take their rightful place in a global digital workspace.

Today, we celebrate leaders who have embraced change and are taking deliberate steps towards resolution of problems affecting Kenyan youth.

–Ted Odhiambo