Creating Techies

Kenya is a key player in Africa’s tech landscape and has experienced remarkable growth in technology adoption and innovation. The nation is known for its vibrant tech ecosystem, which has propelled it to the forefront of technological advancement in the region. Kenya boasts a thriving startup scene with numerous tech hubs and incubators, such as iHub and the Kenya Innovation Hub. These centers provide crucial support for entrepreneurs, offering mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to funding. Nairobi, the capital city, is a hotspot for tech startups, fostering innovation in various sectors including agriculture, health, education, and e-commerce.

Kenya is investing in education and skill development to nurture a tech-savvy workforce. Initiatives like the Presidential Digital Talent Program aim to develop ICT talent and bridge the skills gap. Universities and colleges are expanding their computer science and IT programs while coding bootcamps and online courses are becoming popular avenues for acquiring tech skills. Accordingly, Ngong Road Children’s Foundation has been creating programs aimed at fostering technological advancements for our students. 

NRCF’s technology programs are structured as below:

Primary	Secondary	Post-secondary	Alumni
Basic computer training	Advanced computer training	Computer packages certification	TechMates programming and digital marketing training internships
Computer applications training	Programming courses	Coding boot camps	Lido Nation relationship for developer internship
Scratch programming		Laptop lending programs	Small business training
Creative sessions		DirectEd partnership
Science mill camps
Elimu Hub (Computer Lab + Library)			Blockchain Lab

Michael, one of our 2023 high school graduates, exemplifies the success of our technology-focused programs. Below, he shares his experiences and those of his peers in embracing technology. 

“At the beginning of the year, we underwent computer training, which provided us with essential skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and email writing among others. This foundational knowledge prepared us for both academic and professional endeavors.

We then participated in a coding bootcamp offered by Directed Development Foundation. Throughout this program, we engaged in various technology-driven projects. For instance, we created a simple website using HTML, styled it with custom CSS, and made it functional with JavaScript. One of my projects was a website for a taco restaurant, where I structured, styled, and added interactive features.

Additionally, we developed a Chrome extension to save visited URLs and created personal professional portfolios to help us in our future careers. We also built a blog post platform using the MERN stack, enabling users to publish blog posts. Our training even extended to working with large language models, similar to ChatGPT.

Beyond the structured projects, I pursued personal endeavors during the bootcamp. I created a racing game, a PDF loader chatbot, and a political blog post. Currently, I am delving into machine learning, training generative pretrained transformers (GPT). My passion for technology has grown immensely, and I am thrilled to have a strong foundation in this field. In September, I will be joining the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) to study mathematics and computer science, which aligns with my interests and offers more advanced learning opportunities than the data science course I was initially selected for.”

Michael’s journey is an example of the impact of our technological programs and how our students can be prepared to thrive in their future careers. As the country continues to invest in education and skill development, tech programs like these are crucial in fostering the next generation of tech-savvy professionals. By nurturing young talents and equipping them with essential skills, Kenya is set to remain at the forefront of technological advancement, driving innovation and growth across various sectors.