The government has declared a major victory in the war on youth unemployment, announcing that over 119,000 young Kenyans have secured "gainful employment" through the Jitume Program. But behind the glossy statistics, questions remain about the quality and sustainability of these digital jobs.

ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo, the face of this digital crusade, revealed the figures this week, touting the initiative as a game-changer for the "Hustler Nation." Launched with fanfare by President Ruto in December 2022, the program aims to turn Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions into digital factories, churning out online workers for the global gig economy. With 390,000 youth reportedly trained so far, the conversion rate to employment stands at roughly 30%—a figure the state celebrates, but one that economists view with cautious skepticism.

Parsing the Numbers

The claim of 119,462 jobs is significant. If accurate, it would mean the Jitume Program has done more for youth employment in two years than the Kazi Mtaani initiative did in its entirety. However, the definition of "gainful employment" in the digital space is notoriously fluid. Are these permanent roles with benefits, or sporadic gig work on platforms like Remotasks and Upwork where income is volatile and dependent on foreign algorithms?

Critically, the program relies on the concept of "digital labor export." We are essentially training our youth to be the back-office support for Silicon Valley and European firms. While it brings in forex—a desperate need for our shilling—it also exposes our workforce to the whims of global tech giants. The recent exit of major AI annotation firms from other African markets serves as a cautionary tale: digital sweatshops can close as quickly as they open.

• The Infrastructure Gap: The government has deployed 17 Jitume Labs with 100 Virtual Desktop Infrastructures (VDIs) each. Yet, reports from the ground in counties like Bungoma and Uasin Gishu suggest that power outages and reliable internet connectivity remain significant hurdles. A digital job is useless without a digital connection.
• The Skills Mismatch: While data entry and transcription offer a foothold, the real money lies in coding, software engineering, and data science. The curriculum at these TVETs must evolve beyond basic digital literacy if Kenya is to become the "Silicon Savannah" we were promised, rather than just a source of cheap online labor.

A Step in the Right Direction?

Despite the skepticism, credit must be given where it is due. For a young person in rural Kirinyaga or Rarieda, earning $300 (KES 39,000) a month online is transformative. It beats the hopelessness of tarmacking in Nairobi. The success stories, like those from the Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology, are real and life-changing for the individuals involved.

The challenge now for CS Owalo and the Kenya Kwanza administration is transparency. We need a breakdown of these jobs. We need to know the median income, the retention rates, and the career progression. Until then, the Jitume Program remains a promising vessel navigating the choppy waters of the gig economy—afloat, but not yet safe in harbor.