The Rapid Tech Skills component of the Kenya Industry and Entrepreneurship Project (KIEP) – Strengthening Kenya’s Innovation Ecosystem (SKIES) program has been lauded for its “transformation aimed at increasing innovation and productivity in select private sector firms through equipping youth with practical, market-driven technical skills in collaboration with Kenya’s top public universities.”
Speaking during the graduation of the second cohort of 263 graduates of the KIEP-SKIES Rapid Tech-skills, drawn from seven participating public universities on Wednesday, May 28 2025, the Principal Secretary (PS), State Department for Industry, Dr. Juma Mukhwana who was the chief guest, said, “The occasion served as a compelling testament to the continued progress of our collective mission to nurture and empower Kenya’s next generation of innovators.”
The PS said the SKIES program “stands as a flagship component of the Kenya Industry and Entrepreneurship Project, noting, it had already yielded promising results as “graduates from Cohort 1 had secured meaningful tech-related employment, attributing their success directly to the program.”
He noted that the program is a direct investment in Kenya’s future and “It aligns with the Government’s Vision 2030, The Fourth Medium Term Plan and The Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda by fostering a generation of tech-enabled, future-ready professionals capable of powering Kenya’s industrial growth and global competitiveness.”
The Kenya Industry and Entrepreneurship Project (KIEP), is a US$50 million initiative implemented by the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry (MITI), through the State Department for Industry, with the support of the World Bank. The project aims to increase innovation and productivity among select private sector firms and strengthen the national innovation ecosystem.
Under the “Strengthening Kenya’s Innovation Ecosystem (SKIES)” component, the program focuses on building the capacity of innovation intermediaries, such as incubators, accelerators, and boot camp providers, by equipping youth with practical, market-driven technical skills in collaboration with Kenya’s top public universities.
In reference to the second cohort of 263 students, the PS said, “The young brilliant minds have been equipped with practical, hands-on skills that are not just theoretical, but practical and aligned with real industry needs.”
The students have been trained in high-demand areas such; as Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Soft Skills, and Entrepreneurship over a period of three months.
This year the program introduced a new training component in Animation and Visual Effects, marking a strategic step in strengthening Kenya’s creative digital economy, a move the PS acknowledged, “is a strategic step in preparing the next frontier of digital content creators and visual storytellers who will not only serve local industries but also compete on the global creative stage.
Through KIEP scholarship, the students have further earned globally recognized certifications in their areas of specialization enhancing their employability and positioning them competitively in both local and international job markets.
The diversity of projects developed by the students during training spans sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, education, housing, agriculture, and the creative sectors, reflecting the depth of talent and the wide applicability of the skills gained.
The PS appreciated the World Bank for its continued support and to the universities and facilitators for their commitment. “The collaboration between government, academia, and the private sector has proven that meaningful impact is possible when we work together towards a shared vision, Dr. Mukhwana noted.
He encouraged the graduates to leverage their skills in order to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
“Use your skills to lead, to innovate and to inspire others and not to harm the society…always remember you are pioneers of a new Kenya, one that is industrial, tech-enabled, and globally competitive,” said the PS.
The World Bank representative, Mr. Sameer Goyal said, the institution was delighted to partner with the Government of Kenya to support the development of tech skills which empower entrepreneurs and youths to expand their skills and explore new employment opportunities.
“Skills development is at the heart of changes in education and labour markets across the world prompted by the global mega trends- automation, digitalization of products and services, and a shrinking labour force – which are changing the nature of work and skills demands,” he said.
In her graduation message to graduands, JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, termed the ceremony a significant milestone in the journey of innovation, empowerment, and youth transformation through technology.
Prof. Ngumi said, the graduating class had completed intensive training in cyber security, mobile and web application development, entrepreneurship, French language, and hands-on project implementation, and remarkable student-led projects had emerged from the second cohort.
The Vice Chancellor who was represented by the Principal, College of Pure and Applied Sciences (COPAS), Prof. George Thiong’o, challenged the graduates “to use the skills, values, and networks you’ve gained and channel them toward building inclusive, tech-driven solutions that serve society.”
JKUAT team at the ceremony included JKUAT PI –SKIES program, Dr. Clifford Obiero, JHUB Lead, Dr. Lawrence Nderu, staff and facilitators of the training program, parents and guardians.
The ceremony was attended by KIEP project implementation unit, KIEP-SKIES university facilitators, SKIES management firm, representatives of various ministries and agencies, industry experts, graduands, parents and guardians.
Participating universities are JKUAT, Kenyatta University, Dedan Kimathi, Open University of Kenya, Mama Ngina University College, Technical University of Mombasa, and Kibabii.
