On Tuesday the Jubilee government's partnership with the private sector, consisting of both global brands and local companies, aimed at improving ICT in the country, bore fruits as it saw the launch of the Presidential Digital Talent Program (PDTP), aimed at improving ICT in the country.

Some of the government's partners include; CIO East Africa magazine, PWC, Huawei, Microsoft, liquid telecom and Oracle, to name but a few. To view the rest of the partners, follow this link.

These private sector partners have helped the Jubilee government come up with a programme, Presidential Digital Talent Program, that is designed to build and entrench ICT capacity within the Kenyan Government to ensure ICT effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery.

Through the Presidential Digital Talent Program, the government; through the Ministry of ICT is looking for young Kenyans with a passion for ICT and public service to participate in the program, which takes 12 months, as management trainees.

The government will identify potential sponsors and seek their support for the program. Interns in Government Institutions will serve a number of purposes.

These include providing training ground for potential employees in the future and will offer affordable labor pool of freshly qualified (or to be qualified) individuals.

The launch conducted at the Nairobi University was presided over by President Uhuru Kenyatta. This occasion gave the Vice-chancellor, University of Nairobi (UoN), Prof. Peter Mbithi, cause for appreciation as shown by his speech:

"We (UoN) are pleased to be associated with this program," Mbithi said. "Hosting this initiative in the University of Nairobi Taifa hall is a great honor." He added.

Information, Communication and Technology Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'I, directing his comments to the head of state, said:

"The Presidential Digital Talent Program (PDTP) is born with your (the President's) vision of providing Kenya with a 21st century government," Matiang'I affirmed.

"On the 18th of june after the digital migration we will build the LTE network to allow Kenyans broader access to the internet, and we will have a real 21st century government, as it were." He added.

Speaking during the occasion at the University of Nairobi's Main Campus, the President said:

"Today, we begin the next chapter of our story. Today, we inaugurate the next phase of ICT transforming opportunity for all people." President Kenyatta said.

"This programme is not just about technology and efficiency. We expect you to bring in a new sense of integrity, professionalism, accountability and commitment to public service delivery," The President added.

"My government, therefore, has committed itself to expanding and intensifying the development and application of digital technology. We expect this to accelerate our determined drive towards productivity, efficiency, innovation and accountability," he continued.

The Presidential Digital Talent Program Advisory council chairman and partner at PWC, Mr. Muchemi Wambugu, spoke during the event noting that ICT plays a crucial role in the economy's development, he noted that the initiative started about 20 weeks ago, he went on to explain that it begun with 100 interns who were given; stipends, a laptop each and a branded shirt (with the program's logo).

After graduating from the program, the 100 interns will proceed to various offices to carry out what they have learned.

The president spoke about wanting to take the program to a higher level within the near future, saying:

"You are the first one hundred, there will be a lot of another one hundred and next year we want to push that group up to 400," the President concluded.