Leaving No-One Behind Through the Adaption Of Digital Transformation in Counties While Enhancing Job Creation And Growth of Businesses
The Ajira Digital program continues with the Eastern region counties’ engagement forums in efforts to sensitize businesses in these counties to embrace digital transformation for increased productivity, creation of jobs for young people, and growth of the economy. Today, the Program hosted business owners, government representatives, technology providers, and young people as well as digital economy key players at the Semara Hotel in Machakos for an engagement forum.
The digital transformation for SMEs and job creation forum for Machakos is well aligned with the ongoing national efforts in promoting Kenya across the globe for investment opportunities and trade relations with a particular focus on nurturing Kenya’s thriving start-up sector, especially in tech. Through these efforts, the young people in Kenya will be the main beneficiaries with the main aim of helping reduce the growing youth unemployment. Towards, the same, digital and digitally-enabled work is a promising venture which will help the youth access work opportunities both locally and globally while raising the spirit of entrepreneurship.
“Digital technologies not only transform businesses but also the lives of our people. For instance, if a young parent today gets their child has a fever, the first thing before rushing them to a health center is to check on possible home remedies via the internet. The same applies to a person thinking of starting a business where they begin with benchmarking from other entrepreneurs online who have a similar business and are doing well. Such information is available online,” said Francis Mangagi, Deputy Mwangangi while gracing the Ajira Digital business engagement forum in Machakos.
Mwangangi encouraged traders to welcome the idea of digital transformation as it is where the world is currently at and leverage the benefits that come with the emerging technology opportunities. Referring to the recently launched Open University located at Konza in Machakos by President William Ruto, the Deputy Governor explained that now any person including the ordinary Mwananchi can access professional training of their choice wherever they are. This virtual university operates under the theme of ‘The Innovative University for Inclusive Prosperity’ which is an indication of how digital technologies embrace inclusivity leaving no one behind including the rural and peri-urban areas.
Speaking during the forum, Dr. Ehud Gachugu, Director Ajira Digital Program and Youth Employment at the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) said that the profiling of Kenya as a talent hub destination is rising internationally through the various participation by the leadership at global forums. He however challenged the businesses in attendance to do a quick check on how they are matching the set standards to enhance their capacities to compete globally while at the same time improving the livelihoods of its people through the creation of work opportunities.
Dr. Gachugu emphasized that as Machakos continues to embrace technology even by being the first county to host Kenya’s Silicon Savannah through the Konza City and other ICT initiatives, it is equally important for these businesses to be intentional about youth employment who are its future customers. He explained further that SMEs are at the heart of solving global complex problems and should consider adapting technologies to help achieve the same.
Digital Technologies are an enabler for SMEs to maximize access to market opportunities and trade on the continent which is a key emphasis of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). For SMEs to tap into the foreseen outcomes of AfCFTA which include boosting the regional income by US 450 billion and lifting 30 million people out of extreme poverty by 2035, digital technologies will help strengthen the readiness of small businesses to participate in the AfCFTA marketplace.
On the issue of standards and quality of service delivered, Alex Kamanga, Co-founder, Fundis, a web and mobile application that helps contractors and individuals find and hire competent, vetted, and accredited artisans and builders, explained that digital technologies offer standardization and measure of quality where such digital platforms can highlight a profile and ratings of talent such as the fundis onboard, and while a customer is shopping they can
countercheck on their ratings to build the level of confidence. Mwangangi highlighted that such trends brought about by ICT can be applicable even to government services but it calls for a review of the existing policies and regulations that can embrace such opportunities.
The dangers of businesses not keeping up with the digital transformation as highlighted at the forum was the issue of some businesses closing shops due to lack of an online presence. Some business owners explained how their beauty and clothing shops are experiencing losses due to competition from other similar businesses that are riding on digital marketing.
On the issue of accessing capital financing from lenders, the Equity Bank as well as the Youth Fund representatives highlighted the importance of businesses having an online presence as that can be used to convince the lenders on the potential and operationalization of one’s business. Also, technologies have also helped in record keeping and data analysis which can be used as collateral.
Brian Otwoma who is a digital work participant from Machakos has been offering digital solutions to businesses in Ireland where he makes about Ksh. 40,000 per month. Whenever he gets more clients he is able to sub-contract the work to his peers who are also offering digital work. Hence, Brian regarded himself as an entrepreneur who was creating jobs for other young people.
Additionally, the forum had an attendance of persons with disabilities who created awareness of the businesses and corporates to consider engaging and outsourcing this category of persons to offer them services. Persons with disabilities are big on technology and have mastered various skills that can be beneficial to businesses. In addition, digital technologies offer them an opportunity for inclusion to deliver their expertise and talents to businesses.
With the heavy attendance of close to 200 businesses from Machakos attending the forum, this was proof of how SMEs are enthusiastic about taking advantage of emerging digital technologies. From the feedback drawn after the session, most of these business owners were planning to implement digitization in their enterprises as well as take advantage of the data to advise on their customers’ behavior and expectations. Highlighting the evolution of policies that support the digital economy and service delivery at the county level, the deputy governor also called for ideas on how they can resolve county and trader conflicts, mainly referred to as hawkers, using digital technologies and coexist in harmony.
Francis Mwangangi, Deputy Governor Machakos County at a panel session during the Digital Transformation for SMEs and Job Creation Engagement Forum at Semara Hotel.
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