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Kenya, November 05, 2026 - Kenya wants to take digital training beyond Konza and closer to young people across the country. On November 4, 2026, ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo Gitau and Principal Secretary John Tanui met the Technopolis Development Authority board in Nairobi.
The meeting focused on Konza Technopolis, Jitume Digital Centres of Excellence and the new Technopolis Act, 2026. Officials say the goal is to expand digital skills, attract investment and create more opportunities for young Kenyans.
Konza, near Machakos, has long been promoted as Kenya’s flagship smart city. But the government now wants the idea to reach more counties. The Technopolis Act gives the authority a wider role in supporting technology hubs beyond Konza.
Jitume is at the centre of this plan. It is a government programme that gives young people access to digital skills, internet services and online-work opportunities. Government material says 355 Jitume digital hubs have been set up in more than 40 counties.
For a young person in a rural town, a working hub could change things. Imagine a student who learns graphic design or data entry at a local centre. With reliable internet, they could find clients online and earn money without moving to Nairobi.
But a hub is only the first step. Computers, buildings and training courses are inputs. Jobs, freelance income, internships and businesses are the real outcomes. The key question is whether young people who train at Jitume centres can actually earn a living.
The ministry statement did not say how many young people have been trained or how many have found work. It also did not give details on how many centres have steady electricity, internet, devices and trainers.
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The Technopolis Act, 2026 is meant to guide this expansion. It allows the authority to support technopoleis and innovation hubs beyond Konza. However, the public information provided does not explain how new hubs will be chosen, funded or managed with counties.
Counties will matter a lot. A hub may be built by national government, but county leaders, local trainers and employers must keep it useful. If a centre closes after launch or lacks internet, young people may lose trust in the programme.
There are also risks. Poor connectivity, power cuts, broken computers and weak maintenance can make a hub useless. Another risk is duplication, where new centres offer the same basic training without linking learners to real work.
Konza itself still faces a big test. The authority wants it to become a leading hub for technology, innovation and investment. But the meeting statement did not give updated figures on firms operating there, jobs created or residents living at the site.
The promise is big: give young Kenyans digital skills and connect them to work. The test will be whether Jitume centres stay open, whether training leads to income, and whether new technology hubs attract real businesses.
Kenyans should watch for new Jitume rollout data, county centres of excellence, rules under the Technopolis Act and Konza investment deals. Most importantly, they should watch whether trained young people start earning.