Inside the government’s plan to create a million jobs

The government is implementing new laws and policies that will facilitate the growth of IT-based services in the country, President William Ruto has said.

The objective, announced the President, is that these measures help the government unlock opportunities in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services sector.

Accordingly, the government is improving the country’s competitiveness and aligning it with global standards to accelerate the growth of the BPO and other IT-based services market.

The goal, he noted, is to increase government investments in relevant infrastructure, including national digital and broadband hubs, to create jobs for at least one million digital workers over the next five years.

“We are determined to claim our fair share of the BPO pie for the benefit of our young men and women who are eager to contribute to the growth of our economy,” he said.

He noted that Kenya’s strength lies in a large and qualified young workforce, government policies that prioritize the digital economy as a strategic pillar of the Upward Economic Transformation Agenda, an education system that emphasizes digital skills, a strategic geographic location that aligns with global time zones and proficiency in English, a language widely used in major economies.

President Ruto made these remarks during the launch of the Call Center International (CCI) Global Contact Center in Tatu town in Ruiru, Kiambu County, which has already created more than 5,000 jobs.

Present were Cabinet Secretaries Rebecca Miano and Eliud Owalo, Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, and US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman, among others.

The President said that the government is strengthening existing laws to create an enabling environment for the ICT-BPO industry to thrive.

“Our goal is to develop sector-specific legislation that aligns with international standards in the short, medium and long term,” he said.

The government’s efforts to strengthen the sector, President Ruto explained, include enforcing BPO standards that meet international best practices, updating tax and non-tax incentives to keep pace with technological advancements, and investing in green energy.

He said the government is also working with the private sector to improve the training of young Kenyans to ensure they are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow.

“These efforts demonstrate our commitment to fostering a thriving, sustainable and globally competitive BPO sector in Kenya,” he said.

The President appealed to investors to collaborate with the government on its digital hub program for BPO operations to succeed and expand.