How Sakaja is leveraging Amazon tech for school feeding program
Nairobi Governor Johson Sakaja, on Wednesday, October 4, during the launch of the Amazon Web Services (AWS) regional development center revealed how the county government had harnessed Technology to ensure the smooth running of the school feeding programme.
The county boss said that the tap-to-eat school feeding application would see all children in Nairobi wearing a specialised watch and getting fed.
“We are using technology to know how many children are eating everywhere, the quantity of food they are taking, the consent, and we can tell they have paid through the technology,” said Sakaja.
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The county boss also noted that they are keen on maximizing with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to digitize their operations.
“Through AWS, we have also co-created a citizen engagement and disaster reporting application and website, “Semana047.Nairobi.go.ke, which we’ll launch very soon this month because we’ll leverage on this platform as part of our El-Nino preparedness so people can report incidents and get a response immediately from the county,” said the Nairobi Governor.
Sakaja also rallied the youth to take advantage of the AWS opportunity.
In May 2021, over 700 students received advanced training in programming, networking, security, and relational database skills through real-world, scenario-based learning, hands-on labs, and coursework.
The unemployment rate in Kenya is currently at 12.7 percent, with young people aged 15-34 being the most affected, with a 67 percent unemployment rate.
Over 1 million young people enter the labor market every year without any skills to help them get gainful employment.
“According to the World Economic Forum, 97 million new jobs will be created by 2025 because of cloud computing and digitization,” observed Sakaja.
AWS and the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Authority announced plans to upskill 10,000 students using AWS Academy in April 2023.
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This acquisition of advanced, market-relevant skills is expected to tackle underemployment in the country, as more than 50,000 Kenyans graduate from institutions of higher learning every year with very few being gainfully employed in their area of training.
“This investment allows local talent to impact global customer solutions and experiences. We are thrilled to be expanding our investment in Kenya, which is a testament to the quality and depth of skills in the region,” said Robin Njiru, Public Sector Lead West, East & Central Africa at AWS.
Kenya has positioned itself as the “Silicon Savannah” in recent years, attracting significant investment in the global tech ecosystem.
Nairobi has become a leading global tech hub, from being a pioneer in mobile money to hosting multiple incubation hubs that attract billions of dollars in investment.
President William Ruto, who was also present, made a key announcement during the launch of the Amazon Web Services (AWS) regional development center.
“This decision to open a new development center in Kenya is evidence of AWS’s trust in our people and our economy. I look forward to our continued partnership with AWS as they deepen their commitment to our country,” said President Ruto, emphasizing the importance of the Kenyan technology sector as a source of growth and job creation during times of uncertainty.
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