Eldoret: The Principal Secretary, State Department for Trade, Regina Ombam, has called for stronger collaboration between academia and industry to unlock the potential of Kenya’s growing youth population and accelerate the country’s journey towards industrialization. Speaking on Wednesday at the ongoing Kenya Software and AI Summit 2025 at Moi University Annex Campus in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Ombam said empowering young people with the right skills and innovation opportunities is key to building a resilient digital economy.
According to Kenya News Agency, Ombam stressed the importance of integrating young people into spaces where they can maximize their capabilities in transforming Kenya into an industrialized economy. She highlighted that Kenya’s burgeoning youth population and the expanding digital ecosystem position the country strategically to compete globally, provided the next generation of developers and startups are well-equipped.
Ombam emphasized the need to go beyond training developers by nurturing innovators who can shape the future. She pointed out that today’s developers must comprehend real human issues, value the supply chain, and confidently employ emerging technologies. Additionally, she stressed the importance of curriculum reforms, industry mentorship, and competency-based training focused on practical solution-building rather than traditional exam-based assessments.
The Principal Secretary highlighted that formal education has lagged behind market and industry demands, making private sector collaboration essential. She urged the youth to prioritize solving Kenya’s challenges before scaling those solutions continent-wide. Ombam also advocated for a supportive innovation ecosystem that facilitates business operations for startups, encourages public procurement from local innovators, and ensures affordable access to essential digital tools and resources.
Ombam further stressed bridging the gap between learning and practice by incorporating internships, hackathons, and mentorship programs into education from the first year. She called for broader participation from students, girls, rural youth, and informal sector innovators, emphasizing that diverse talent and representation fuel exponential innovation growth.
The Kenya Software and AI Summit 2025 gathered stakeholders from academia, government, and the tech sector to explore advancements in software and artificial intelligence and their implications for Kenya’s innovation and industrialization endeavors.
