Banking on technology to create wealth

That high unemployment is rampant among the youth and productive population in Kenya is a reality. That job and wealth creation is low all over the country is a fact.

That the dearth of entrepreneurship among the Kenyan youth is true. That our current education system has acquired a reputation of training people for jobs that do not exist is also a reality.

From left: Prof Daniel M Oruoch, Vice Chancellor KCA University, Prof Arthur Eshiwani Chancellor, KCA University and Dr Martin Oduor – Otieno, Chairmain Board of Trustees VIST during the signing of the KCAU—VIST MoU.

VIST will address these latest research findings to address the entrepreneurship spirit.

VIST opens its doors this year. It will start with certificate and diploma programs that will evolve into an undergraduate science and technology college. "We want to establish a strong technical foundation based on information and communications technologies," says Mr Cornelius Nyaloti, Chief Operations Officer.

"VIST has signed an agreement with the KCA University to establish a Multimedia Innovation Centre. The Centre is serving as our platform for our core courses," he added.

VIST is working with a network of local and international supporters to create graduate schools of practice that will focus on creating new enterprises or refurbishing existing ones. "We envisage creating graduate schools of management, multimedia innovation, and green technologies," Mr Nyaloti said.

"Our model is to learn from the best around the world. For example, our courses will build on courses offered by institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Science and Technology (MIT). We are also partnering with other technology management leaders such as the College of Engineering at the University of California Santa Barbara."

"Like the legendary phoenix rising from the ashes, VIST is poignantly located at the Swan Centre, an epicenter for the post-election violence at the start of 2008. It therefore represents a rebirth of Kenya’s economy and hopes to spread its wings to other parts of the region by serving as a role model for others," said Prof Juma.

To start with, we have a donation of $ 10,000 by Prof Juma to enable us identify gifted entrepreneurial youths to go through training, mentoring and coaching at VIST. We invite young persons to apply for sponsorship through this fund.