The government of Kenya is set to launch the 2nd edition of the Presidential Digital Talent Programme in September. Launched in partnership with the private sector in 2014, the program seeks to transform the manner in which ICT is utilized for efficient and effective service delivery and is headed by the Ministry of Information Communications and Technology and spearheaded through the ICT Authority of Kenya.
The program targets fresh university graduates from both private and public institutions offering them an opportunity for a full year of on-the-job training in the private sector and public service. Over the 12 months, the interns will undergo an initial one week induction, two months internship in private sector and nine months internship in government (including Counties). Some of the private sector organizations involved include Oracle, Seven Seas Technologies, Microsoft and Huawei.
The first batch of the program took 100 interns who are set to graduate and then get deployed to the various government departments as employees with others opting for the private sector. Robert Mugo, acting chief executive ICT Authority says there are plans to increase the number of graduates being taken up, with 800 interns set to be recruited in 2017 from 400 this year. We shall keep you posted when the call up for applications kicks off.
The project received funding to the tune of KSh 250 million in last year’s budget with the government seeing it as a key success in implementing the ICT Master plan, a deliverable for the Jubilee government and the Vision 2030 Social and Economic strategic pillars.
