Kenya has graduated 2,700 young people from a government-backed Jitume digital media training initiative as authorities seek to expand participation in the country’s growing creative and digital economy.
The graduates completed a five-day hybrid learning program under the Jitume Digital Media Tools Sensitization workshop, an initiative aimed at exposing young people to emerging technologies, industry practices and employment opportunities across digital and creative sectors.
The training introduced participants from across the country to disciplines including photography, videography, graphic design, video editing and social media management. Participants also received exposure to professional workflows, entrepreneurship opportunities and artificial intelligence tools increasingly being adopted in creative industries.
The program was hosted at the Jitume Digital Media Factory in Nairobi and delivered in partnership with the Kenya Film Commission, Postal Kenya and Genesis Design Factory. Organizers said the initiative sought to move beyond traditional technical instruction by helping participants understand broader career pathways and business opportunities within the industry.
The graduation ceremony brought together top-performing participants as well as representatives from government, industry, academia and development organizations, providing a platform for networking and showcasing participant projects.
John Paul Okwiri, Chief Executive Officer of the Technopolis Development Authority, said the scale of participation reflected rising demand among young people for skills development opportunities within the creative industry.
“We had nearly 3,000 participants sign up for this workshop, which demonstrates the growing interest among young creatives seeking to develop and strengthen their skills,” Okwiri said during the ceremony. “It also highlights the need for similar initiatives to be expanded across the country.”
Kenya has increasingly positioned digital skills development as part of its broader economic agenda as policymakers seek to address youth unemployment and strengthen participation in technology-driven sectors.
Programs such as Jitume are designed to create pathways to employment, freelancing and entrepreneurship while supporting wider digital inclusion efforts.
Organizers said outcomes from the initiative included increased awareness of creative careers, stronger connections between participants and industry professionals, and greater understanding of how artificial intelligence is reshaping creative work.
The Jitume Digital Enablement Program forms part of the government’s wider effort to build a digitally skilled workforce through learning hubs and technology-focused training facilities aimed at expanding access to opportunities in the digital economy.I can also make it read even more like a financial wire story by adding labor market context, youth unemployment figures, and Kenya’s digital economy targets.