Maseno students develop Western IT hub

Members of the Lakeside IT hub in one of their recent meetings at Maseno University. [PHOTO: MAUREEN ODIWUOR/STANDARD]

By Maureen Odiwuor

Western Kenya region now has its first Information Technology (IT) hub, thanks to an idea developed by a Maseno University student James Odede.

Mr Odede, 22, is the founder of Lakeside Hub, which he says was “formed to bring together like-minded professionals with a zeal for IT”.

The formation of Lake Hub brings to seven the number of IT hubs in Kenya and it is the only hub outside the Nairobi region.

A hub is an IT community meant to bring together professionals with the same interests.

The Western Kenya hub will also comprise non-IT professionals with a passion in the field. Odede’s idea is meant to fill the gap in western Kenya and provide an opportunity for the growth of students and professionals outside Nairobi based in the region to develop skills and expertise in the field.

“Many students in the IT field graduate from this region but are always forced to go to Nairobi to seek employment opportunities. This is why we found it wise to establish our own,” he said.

The hub has a membership of 350 with five officials drawn from different professions but with marked interests in IT. Other organisers of Lakeside hub are Allan Nyawanda, Simeon Obuogo, Evan Green, Herbert Kisara and Peter Mbari who provide technical support and financial needs.

The lakeside hub is expected to give support in innovation and knowledge in IT, and also act as a link between developers and companies. Odede says the hub will provide a perfect opportunity for sharing practical information among members like programming and website creation.

“This is where students will get practical experience in IT which they don’t get exposed to in institutions of higher learning,” he says.

Unemployment

The hub will also compete with the developed hubs to put the country in a global field by achieving quality technological manpower.

“We will soon have the best creative developers from this region who will take IT to the next level. We are striving to nurture students into established developers,” he says.

The hub will also solve employment issues whereby not all opportunities will be based in Nairobi forcing those living in other towns like Kisumu to pursue the rare chances from the capital city.

It has been difficult getting jobs directly in Kisumu since most often people apply, go for interviews in Nairobi then later get posted.

They have so far struck a deal with KnK Coffee shop which has granted them space at Mega City where they assemble  from 1pm-5pm every Saturday.

“Companies that need IT experts can now approach us in case they have vacancies because we have equally qualified persons just like those found in Nairobi hubs,” he says.

Maseno University Information Technology Lecturer Mr Cyprian Ratemo says the innovation will be a platform for students to learn and establish networks for job opportunities.

“The network will be vital for students within Western Kenya because they will get an opportunity to learn and also make money through connections provided via the hub,” Ratemo says.