State to launch 1m laptops campaign

The Government will launch a one-million lap-tops campaign to increase information and communication technology penetration.

Towards this end, it has trained over 30,000 youth in entrepreneurial skills to take advantage of fibre optic opportunities when the project is complete.

Information and Communication PS Dr Bitange Ndemo, said the countrywide training focused on equipping the youth with necessary business skills so that the country is ready for the ICT revolution that will come with the entry of the fibre optic.

Dr Ndemo said that the one million laptops campaign will ensure easy access to ICT opportunities when the fibre optic finally arrives.

“Kenya will have the fibre optic in June next year. We want to be sure that as country, we benefit from the immense opportunities, and skills acquisition for the youth is critical,” said Dr Ndemo. He spoke at a the Kenya Film Commission-sponsored Animators exhibition.

The PS said that Kenya may lose out of the fibre optic project unless entrepreneurs moved in a proactive manner to embrace the opportunities especially in the film industry.

“We are proactive in creating a good environment for the movie industry. It would be a tragedy if we don’t use the opportunities to create jobs and wealth for Kenya,” he said.

Demand content

Dr Ndemo said that the fibre optic would demand content and it is up to the Kenyan entrepreneurs to move with speed and fill the vacuum.

“If you don’t develop content, somebody else will do so and Kenya will lose out,” he said.

The PS challenged youth entrepreneurs to take advantage of the opportunities brought about by the growing appetite for local content in TV stations to develop movies.

“As animators, you now have the opportunity to be creative and sell your products both locally and internationally,” said Mr David Maingi, the Kenya Film Commission managing director.