The Information, Communications and Technology ministry, in collaboration with the ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs, has launched an online portal, ajiradigital.go.ke, where youths can register and work online.
The programme that was launched by the government on Thursday will see over one million unemployed youth in Kenya employed.
ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru said the programme is in line with the government’s promise of job creation and a response to a globally growing market for online work.
Mucheru said the programme aims to introduce young people to online work by providing them with tools, training and mentorship to work and earn through online work.
Youths will be earning Sh2,200 for every job they do and they will only be taxed at 5 per cent, to allow them to reap enough income for sustainability.
He said at the moment, the ICT ministry estimates that there are 400,000 Kenyans working online but the demand is still high.
To facilitate this, the ministry is already in the process of procuring equipment that will be stationed in the 47 counties and has already awarded a tender to Telkom Kenya to provide Internet services.
Ajira Digital has recruited 150 officers from all the 47 counties to help in sensitising and facilitating the youths with the skills to enable them to work online.