Kenya still deficient of adequate ICT skills

Children undergoing computer basics training

The quality of talent among IT graduates in Kenya is still wanting. This could slow down the impact the industry is expected to have on the Kenyan economy.

Among the areas that have gross deficiency of skills is mobile applications development, despite its popularity. Industry experts note that many local firms are tasked with the responsibility of further training new recruits.

Mr Ken Mwenda, the chief executive of eMobilis, a firm that trains local talent on mobile and wireless cellular technologies, says that despite the capability of mobile technology to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty, there lacks a conscious effort to develop and champion mobile-phone based applications. He notes that despite the buzz around mobile phone apps, there are still few individuals and companies that have capacity to offer tailor-made solutions for the numerous socio-economic challenges.

“We train students in mobile content development, and at the end of the training, the students are able to sell their mobile content throughout using our contracts,” says Mwenda. The students can create games, tools, screen-savers, themes, mobile inventory management systems, mobile car tracking systems, distributed gaming applications and business utilities.

He said that most companies opt to have graduates undertake tailor-made courses to meet demand for certain solutions, making the case for institutions offering tailor made ICT solutions. “Mobile application development is a growth industry for aspiring programmers and business people. It is also a way to stimulate economic growth through better information flows and increased access to information for economic and social purposes,” said Mwenda.

Ms Allela Atieno, an alumni of eMobilis, recently won a UN Habitat award for conceptualising a device which intends to make the environment much cleaner by curbing poor sanitation in Kisumu County.

Known as TRID, which is an inverse for the word dirt, the device tackles the challenges of sewer spillages. The device can alert that the sewer is about to fill up and should thus be emptied before it spills out and contaminates clean water and surrounding areas. Atieno got admitted to the institution on a scholarship that targets girls willing to partake of ICT.

Mwenda, who has worked closely with various firms including Safaricom, Nokia and several ministries such as the Department of Defence, says with an increase in interest from students willing to pursue these courses, Kenya is likely to see an explosion of mobile innovations. This could see the creation of successful mobile oriented ventures for social good and development.