By Checky Abuje
The United Kingdom government has partnered with Busia and Mandera county governments to scale up digital access among local communities at a cost of more than Ksh 600 million.
The funds aim at strengthening digital community projects that will create more access to digitalization skills and technologies to create employment spaces among youths, women, senior citizens as well as people living with disability in the marginalised areas of the two counties.
“This funding is aimed at Strengthening Digital Communities’ project to bridge the digital divide in Busia and Mandera Counties by enhancing access to digital skills and technology for women, young people, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PWDs),” said the British Deputy High Commissioner, Dr Ed Bernette.
Speaking during the launch of the Community Action Plan and the Agriculture Digital Platform at the Agriculture Training Centre in Busia County, the High Commissioner added that the project will place a special focus on digital employability by identifying and placing high-potential young women and youth in employability skills, mentorship, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship.
This program will also run community engagement and awareness campaigns to promote cyber hygiene, digital safety, and the benefits of digital inclusion and develop research outputs, policy briefs, and other materials to inform systemic improvements in ICT policies.
“It is with immense optimism that my administration celebrates this significant partnership with the British High Commission and we express our deepest appreciation to the Commission for the continued support through the Digital Access Programme. This partnership is not just an investment in technology but in the very future of the people of Busia, especially the underserved,” said Dr Paul Otuoma, Busia County Governor.
“This support is a cornerstone in our shared vision of a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous society. Through the provision of digital skills and training opportunities, we are confident that the program will benefit some of the most vulnerable and essential segments of our population—women, young people, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PWDs),” he added.
“Putting young people, women, and persons with disabilities at the heart of development is transformative. The UK is committed to working with Kenya to ensure these underserved groups within the population enhance their digital skills and their access to vital services like e-citizen, secure jobs, and participate meaningfully in this digital world”. Dr Bernett reiterated
Bernett said that her government is partnering with KICTANet on this important project in line with their commitment to supporting digital inclusion globally. “We can only go far, together, and I believe by working together, we can ensure that digital opportunities are accessible to everyone,” remarked High Commissioner.
“By empowering marginalized communities with digital skills and resources, we can break down barriers and create a more inclusive and equitable society. This project is about more than just technology—it’s about empowering communities and creating opportunities for those who have been left behind by the digital revolution,” said CEO of KICTANet, Dr Grace Githaiga.
This partnership between the British High Commission and KICTANet will work with various institutions including the National Council of Persons with Disabilities, Kenya Society for the Blind (KSB), and Technology For Growth (Tech4G) amongst others to ensure digital inclusivity. This will improve livelihoods and foster socio-economic growth in these two counties, which currently face significant challenges related to digital exclusion.
During his visit to Busia, the Deputy High Commissioner also visited a community health center where adolescents aged 15-19 years, are accessing reproductive health services, enabled by digital platforms, to tackle HIV infections, AIDS-related deaths, and teenage pregnancies. The project is managed by Tiko and was started with seed funding from the UK government.
The UK government’s Digital Access Programme (DAP) working in partnership with the Kenya Information Communication and Technology Action Network (KICTANet) aims to reach over 190,000 people and 10,000 young people with digital skills contributing to Kenya’s target of reaching 20 million digitally literate citizens by 2027.