Kikuyu: TECHzMagazine – News Desk
Kenya’s ambitious plan to decentralize its digital economy took a major leap forward today with the groundbreaking of the Kikuyu Jitume Centre of Excellence in Kiambu County. The new hub is a cornerstone of the government’s nationwide strategy to build digital capacity beyond Nairobi, aiming to establish 100 fully equipped digital innovation centers across all 47 counties.
The groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by Kikuyu MP and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, alongside officials from the Technopolis Development Authority and the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy.
Unlike foundational digital access points, the Kikuyu Centre of Excellence is designed as a self-sustaining ecosystem that offers higher-level platforms for advanced tech skills, research, and entrepreneurship. Once completed, the facility will feature advanced training labs equipped for emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics, software development, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
The hub will also house dedicated music and film production studios, digital content creation zones, and business support infrastructure, including eCommerce spaces, Kazi hubs, and modern offices for local entrepreneurs. Additionally, the facility will integrate public utilities like eCitizen service points, high-speed public Wi-Fi zones, a server room, and leisure spaces like a food court and outdoor workspaces.
This new facility complements the more than 330 Jitume Digital Hubs already operational across the country. According to the implementing agency, this network creates a seamless pathway for Kenyan youth to progress from basic digital literacy to advanced, globally competitive skills.
A representative during the ceremony emphasized that the establishment of the Kikuyu center reflects the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring all Kenyans can participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
Since the program’s inception in 2023, the government has aggressively scaled its tech infrastructure. Nearly 30,000 digital devices have been deployed nationwide to train over 100,000 young people. Official figures show that 91,428 participants have successfully accessed digital jobs as a result, pushing toward the national ambition of creating one million tech-driven livelihoods.
By expanding digital opportunities to the grassroots level, the Kikuyu hub serves as a direct implementation of both the government’s Digital Superhighway agenda and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
