Denis Opudo
Despite the fact that there is a great technology development in Kenya, women’s number in the ideas behind the development is still minimal. Judith Owigar, 32 years of age realized the low number of women and decided to work on increasing the women number in the industry. The fact that Judith was one of the few girls who were in their technology class back in college, gave her motivation in her zeal for technology making her start her first business in 2010.
Together with Marie Githinji, Linda Kamau and Angela Lungati they managed to launch Akirachix. The platform was meant to help young women in learning software, and in a span of one year, 30 girls benefited from the program. The program mainly offers a platform to girls with financial difficulties who might not be able to have education after high school. Owigar said that the only way to increase the number of women in technology is by making women think and decide to pursue technology careers.
One of the beneficiaries of the program Marline Khavene 19 years of age lauded the program and said that her target of becoming a software engineer which was hampered by lack of money to attend the university would one day be realized. The high number of people the program is attending to play a vital role in Kenyan technology development. The construction of Konza City gives the Kenyan women an opportunity to exercise their technology knowledge. The project that was laid down in 2012 is expected to be through by 2030.
Technology training for youths around or outside the city is one of the greatest challenges Kenyans are facing. Magdaline Sointa, a Maasai girl who is 22years of age talks about her motivation for learning to an extent of attaining her PhD in technology carrier. She talks about her urge in opening a private IT company in future. Soita and her mother operate a cyber café which helps many individuals within their locality. Research has it that only one Maasai girl out of 15 can go to high school after primary education. The Maasai culture and traditions are the factors which lead to a high number of girls dropping out of school. Soita’s mother who managed to be one out of 15 girls who attend high school takes educating her daughter as the topmost priority. Soita hopes to encourage more girls to attend school and have a career in technology to compete fully with men in that field.
The move by the government in making sure that all schools are connected with electricity and providing every child with tablets is seen as the best way of introducing children to the technology world at the right age. However, other people are arguing that the government’s support is somehow not enough. Ngatia Ndungu who founded Neutrade a mobile app which women, who sell the treats to save the little they get from the business, says that the government does not fund the upcoming technology innovations.
