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| President Ruto in an I.T HUB |
President William Ruto has announced that the government is implementing new laws and policies that will facilitate growth in the country’s IT services. President William Ruto during the launch of Call Centre International (CCI) Global Contact Centre at Tatu City. Ruto said that these measures were aimed at helping the government unlock job opportunities in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services sector. The goal, he noted, was to scale up government investments in the relevant infrastructure, including the national broadband and digital hubs, to create jobs for at least one million digital workers in the next five years. “We are determined to claim our fair share of the BPO pie for the benefit of our young men and women who are eager to contribute to growing our economy,” he said. He noted that Kenya’s strength is in a large, skilled, youthful workforce, government policies which give priority to the digital economy as a strategic pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, an education system that stresses digital skills, a strategic geographical location aligning with global time zones and proficiency in English, a language widely used in major economies. Call Centre International (CCI) Global Contact Centre Ruto made the remarks during the launch of Call Centre International (CCI) Global Contact Centre at Tatu City in Ruiru, Kiambu County, which has already created more than 5,000 jobs. The president said the government was strengthening existing laws to create a conducive environment for the ICT-BPO industry to thrive. “Our goal is to develop sector-specific legislation that aligns with international standards in the short, medium and long term,” he said. Government efforts in strengthening the sector, Ruto explained, include enforcing BPO standards that meet international best practices, updating fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to keep pace with technological advancements and investing in green energy. Training Kenyan youth for jobs of tomorrow He said the government was also working with the private sector to enhance skills training for Kenyan youth and ensure that they are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow. “These efforts demonstrate our commitment to fostering a thriving, sustainable and globally competitive BPO sector in Kenya,” he said. The president appealed to investors to collaborate with the government in its digital hubs programme for BPO operations to succeed and expand.
by Muyela Roberto