Safaricom and the ICT Authority of Kenya have marked a significant milestone in the country’s digital skills development agenda with the graduation of the first cohort from the Connect Academy programme. The inaugural ceremony saw 48 trainees complete the fibre deployment and digital infrastructure training course, positioning them for immediate absorption into the rapidly expanding technology labour market.
The Connect Academy was launched during the 2024 Connected Africa Summit to address a persistent skills gap in digital infrastructure, particularly in areas such as fibre deployment, network maintenance, and field-level connectivity support. The programme seeks to train and equip young Kenyans with technical capabilities that match the needs of Kenya’s digital transformation, which continues to accelerate across government, private sector, and community-level projects.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said the achievement marks a strategic investment in Kenya’s future workforce. According to him, strengthening the talent pipeline is essential to supporting the country’s connectivity targets and ensuring reliable digital infrastructure nationwide.
“The Connect Academy to us represents our commitment to building Kenya’s digital future by investing in technical future-ready skills in the people who make connectivity possible. Today, this graduating class is stepping into a digitally led future, and we are assured that the future is in good hands,” Ndegwa said.
A Practical, Industry-Driven Training Model
The first cohort involved trainees selected from Safaricom’s technician base, recommendations from the Connected Africa Summit, and open community applications. This selection structure allowed the programme to balance industry needs with inclusive access to training opportunities, particularly for young people seeking technical roles in ICT.
Over three months, trainees underwent an intensive curriculum designed to blend technical instruction, hands-on fieldwork, and real-world problem solving. The training incorporated mentorship from industry experts and exposure to active fibre deployment environments. This approach ensured that graduates were equipped with both foundational knowledge and work-ready experience.
Key competencies delivered in the programme included fibre installation, network troubleshooting, safety protocols, testing and measurement, customer premise installations, project documentation, and teamwork in field deployment operations.
Data from the programme indicates strong market absorption, with 98 percent of the graduates already placed in jobs across Safaricom and partner organisations. The high placement rate demonstrates both the market relevance of the curriculum and the strong demand for technicians who can support the growth of Kenya’s digital infrastructure.
Alignment with Kenya’s National Digital Agenda
Speaking during the ceremony, ICT Authority Acting CEO Zilpher Owiti said the timing of the initiative aligns with the government’s national objective to strengthen Kenya’s ICT workforce. She noted that the Connect Academy is providing a pipeline of skilled technicians who are essential to modernising the country’s infrastructure.
“This partnership could not have happened at a more opportune time. As a country, we have a national goal of strengthening the ICT workforce. By ensuring alignment of training with industry needs, the Connect Academy is helping to create a continuous pipeline of skilled technicians who will drive Kenya’s digital infrastructure expansion in the coming years,” she said.
Kenya’s digital transformation agenda has recently expanded through national broadband initiatives, 5G deployment, digital government service rollout, last-mile connectivity projects, and data centre investments. These developments require thousands of trained technicians to support installation, maintenance, and field-level troubleshooting across regions.
By focusing on technical depth and practical readiness, the Connect Academy complements existing national digital skills programmes by narrowing a specific but critical talent shortage.
Dataset: Key Statistics from the Connect Academy Inaugural Cohort
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Cohort Size | 48 trainees |
| Programme Duration | 3 months |
| Placement Rate | 98 percent employed |
| Founding Partners | Safaricom and ICT Authority |
| Launch Event | Connected Africa Summit 2024 |
| Skills Focus | Fibre deployment and digital infrastructure |
| Next Cohort Intake | January 2026 |
The success of the first cohort underscores the potential of public-private partnerships in building specialised talent pipelines. Industry players note that digital infrastructure is one of the fastest-growing technical fields in Kenya, driven by increasing connectivity needs in education, enterprise solutions, fintech, logistics, and public services.
Future Expansion and Cohort 2 Plans
The Connect Academy will begin training its second cohort in January. The programme aims to expand intake numbers, strengthen partnerships with industry employers and refine training modules to respond to evolving market needs. Safaricom and the ICT Authority have stated that continued improvement and scaling of the academy will remain central to ensuring Kenya has a workforce capable of executing its long-term digital ambitions.
The broader goal is to create a sustainable model that continuously produces skilled technicians who can support connectivity rollouts at national scale. This includes rural broadband deployments, enterprise network installations, ICT infrastructure for schools and hospitals, and resilience projects for national communication systems.
As Kenya positions itself as a regional digital hub, the availability of a technically competent workforce remains a critical determinant of both investment attractiveness and long-term digital resilience. By producing an inaugural group that is almost fully absorbed into the labour market, the Connect Academy demonstrates tangible progress toward meeting this need.
Safaricom and the ICT Authority have signalled that the academy will continue to evolve to ensure relevance in a fast-changing technology landscape. With demand for digital infrastructure only expected to grow, stakeholders view the programme as a strategic component of Kenya’s digital future.
