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Huawei and Konza Technopolis Development Authority have launched an AI-powered business process outsourcing (BPO) platform at a community digital hub in Siaya County, marking the first such deployment within Kenya’s digital hub network.
The initiative, unveiled during the Siaya Digital Summit 2026 in Bondo, aims to create jobs for young people while expanding access to digital services in rural areas. The hub is part of the government-backed Jitume Digital Hubs programme, which seeks to establish technology access points across all 1,450 wards nationwide.
Twenty youth have been trained to operate the AI-assisted contact centre platform, enabling them to handle customer service requests across messaging, web and voice channels. The system uses artificial intelligence to generate responses, log interactions and analyse case data to improve efficiency and service quality.
Officials said the BPO will serve both local and international clients, positioning rural Kenya as a competitive player in the global outsourcing market.
“This initiative reflects the power of technology to transform communities,” said Ruth Mokaya, a cloud solutions engineer at Huawei, adding that the programme aligns with the company’s global Tech4All initiative and Kenya’s digital economy agenda.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo Gitau, said the project demonstrates how partnerships between government and private sector players can expand digital opportunities beyond major cities.
“The success of Kenya’s digital transformation will ultimately be measured by how widely opportunities are shared,” Kabogo said, noting that digital hubs provide infrastructure, skills and platforms for youth participation in the economy.
The government is expanding its digital infrastructure under the Digital Superhighway project, which includes over 100,000 km of fibre optic cable. Officials say the rollout is creating jobs in installation, maintenance and ICT services.
As part of the summit, Huawei also trained 100 youth under its Huawei Certified ICT Associate (HCIA) programme, focusing on networking, cabling and infrastructure management skills.
John Paul Okwiri, CEO of Konza Technopolis Development Authority, said digital hubs are key to building a broader innovation ecosystem by providing access to infrastructure, mentorship and collaboration spaces.
The Siaya hub is one of 290 already established across Kenya, benefiting more than 400,000 young people, according to government data.
Participants in the BPO training programme said the skills gained would enable them to access online work opportunities and compete globally.
The project is expected to be replicated in other digital hubs across the country as Kenya seeks to leverage its youthful population—over 75% of whom are under 35—to drive digital job creation and economic growth.
Officials said continued collaboration between government, private sector and communities will be critical to ensuring digital transformation translates into tangible employment opportunities.