As the future of work continues to evolve, a paradigm shift is clearly underway—one that prioritises hands-on, tech-driven experience over traditional certificate-based qualifications.

In Kenya, this shift has triggered a talk about the importance of digital skills training within tertiary institutions, especially as youth unemployment continues to rise in tandem with market volatility.

This as more businesses are exiting than entering the Kenyan market, largely due to regulatory hurdles and an unforgiving business environment, causing concern among the youth.

And while every exit tells a story of corporate struggles, it’s the youth—often in their early career stages—who bear the brunt, left vulnerable in a job market that’s shrinking even as their numbers swell.

Yet within this challenge is an opportunity, experts say, that by equipping the Kenyan youth with digital skills early on, the country creates a powerful buffer against economic turbulence.

Young people, naturally ambitious and resilient, are more likely to weather such instability if they are armed with relevant, marketable tech capabilities.

This notion isn’t just theoretical and it is echoed across the globe by local and international observers. According to the “What Young People Want” survey conducted by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH), more than 700,000 young respondents identified education, skills, and employment as their top priorities. Especially among adolescents aged 15–19 and young girls, there is a growing cry for learning opportunities and quality education as essential tools for building a stable and prosperous future.

Through the State Department for Technical Vocational Education and Training (SDTVET), Kenya may appear to be listening to the youth but a lot needs to be put in place for impact.

Esther Muoria, the department’s Principal Secretary, said during the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the Southern Africa Region Huawei ICT Competition Award Ceremony that the newly formalised three-year partnership between the Ministry and Huawei aims to build a digitally skilled workforce capable of supporting the country’s transformation agenda.

“This collaboration with Huawei is a vital step in equipping Kenyan youth with the digital skills required to succeed in the global economy,” Muoria stated, noting that industry-driven training embedded within the TVET system will help bridge the widening digital skills gap.

According to a recent World Economic Forum report, some 92 million jobs globally could be disrupted by technological advancements by 2030, with 63 per cent of employers citing a shortage of digital skills as a key barrier to business transformation.
“Trends such as generative AI and rapid technological shifts are upending industries and labour markets,” noted Till Leopold, Head of Work, Wages and Job Creation at the World Economic Forum. “This is the moment for governments and businesses to collaborate, invest in skills, and build an equitable and resilient global workforce.”

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) estimates that nearly 70 per cent of Kenyan youth do not possess the digital skills required to participate meaningfully in today’s digital economy. With almost half of all global employees needing reskilling by the end of 2025, particularly in high-demand fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, and cybersecurity, the urgency is undeniable.
The good news is that some young Kenyans are already proving what’s possible when this digital foundation is laid.

Kennedy Karanja is one such example. As a tech entrepreneur and contract worker, Kennedy has built a growing business by continuously upgrading his digital competencies. “I spend a lot of time and resources learning and improving on my skills because at the end of the day, what you offer your clients is what matters,” he said. His focus on reskilling has not only driven the growth of his enterprise but has also allowed him to employ four other young people.

His story reflects the power of digital skills in fostering self-reliance, economic participation, and community upliftment.

However, for every Kennedy, there are thousands of other youths with untapped potential, often due to geographic and economic constraints. The underutilisation of talent, especially in rural areas where access to technology remains limited, continues to undermine Kenya’s broader employment and development goals.

This is where partnership aims to make a transformative impact. Over the next three years, Huawei will establish 150 ICT Academies in Kenyan TVET institutions. These academies will offer specialised training in critical areas like cloud computing, artificial intelligence, networking, and cybersecurity.

Each year, 1,000 students will be certified at the Huawei Certified ICT Associate (HCIA) level, while 150 instructors will undergo Training-of-Trainers programs to ensure continuity and quality of instruction.

Complementing this are Huawei’s plans to host annual ICT competitions, job fairs, and industry workshops designed to connect students with employment pathways and bring academia closer to industry needs. Xu Yongbo, Director of Huawei Southern Africa, put it succinctly: “By leveraging our technological expertise alongside SDTVET’s educational framework, we are creating a skilled workforce that will drive innovation and contribute to Kenya’s Vision 2030.”

The State Department, in turn, will play a key facilitative role—identifying institutions to host the academies, promoting Huawei’s certification programmes, and recognizing the Huawei Certified Instructor Certificate (HCAI) as a standard of teaching excellence.

Additionally, the Ministry will support all talent development activities by ensuring alignment with the national skills development strategy.

Through such collaborations, grounded in practical training and real-world exposure, Kenya can future-proof its workforce, foster economic inclusion, and ensure that no young Kenyan is left behind in the future of the work revolution.