Amazon set to train 10,000 locals on cloud computing

The logo of tech giant Amazon at the distribution centre in Moenchengladbach, western Germany. FILE PHOTO | AFP

Tech giant Amazon will train at least 10,000 learners from 10 universities in Kenya in an initiative meant to bridge the cloud computing skills gap that has led to talent poaching in recent months.

This follows a deal between the firm’s computing arm Amazon Web Services (AWS), which is one of the major dominant cloud providers around the world, and the Kenyan government through the ICT Authority.

These skills will prepare learners for careers in cloud administration, database management, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning, cloud support engineers, cloud security analysts, cloud network engineers, cloud software engineers, cloud data scientists and cloud architects.

ICT Principal Secretary John Tanui said the move is aimed at ensuring Kenyans are getting the skills and being open to opportunities in the global space.

He said this will enable them to exploit chances available online and earn a sustainable income.

ICT authority boss Stanley Kamanguya said issues of skills at both the county and national levels of government have come out strongly during the summit and would need to be addressed.

“We need to build a digitally enabled workforce if we are going to achieve and realise the dream of a digital economy,” he said.

He said the skills will be placed on individuals in the public sector workforce and also on citizens who need to be trained on how to consume the services that are put online and utilise the infrastructure for economic gain.

AWS Regional Lead for West, East and Central Africa Robin Njiru said that after the training, the youth will be linked to job opportunities across the world.

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