Baringo Hosts Business and Digital Innovation Summit to Boost Youth Empowerment and Connectivity
Baringo County has taken a bold step toward strengthening digital inclusion and youth-driven entrepreneurship with the hosting of the Baringo County Business and Digital Innovation Summit. The event, held in partnership with the State Department for ICT and Digital Economy and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), brought together key government officials, technology leaders, and local enterprises to assess progress in digital connectivity and explore new opportunities for jobs and innovation.
The summit, attended by Principal Secretary for MSME Development Susan Mang’eni and ICT PS John Tanui, focused on evaluating last-mile digital infrastructure across the county. Leaders toured several ICT centers, where they observed youth and women actively using digital tools for learning, online work, and small business operations. According to the PS, the growing number of young people earning through online platforms reflects the expanding potential of Kenya’s digital economy—a central pillar of President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The government plans to roll out 100,000 kilometers of digital superhighways within the next five years to support this vision, with a target of connecting 8.5 million homes and businesses nationwide.
The summit also featured a vibrant exhibition showcasing Baringo’s diverse economic value chains, including honey, cotton, coffee, edible oils, leather, dairy, and tomato production. PS Mang’eni highlighted that strengthening MSMEs in these sectors is crucial to job creation, value addition, and local manufacturing growth. She encouraged the youth to take advantage of existing government interventions such as the Hustler Fund, which has supported millions of Kenyans since its launch. She announced that during the fund’s second anniversary later this month, an upgraded product will be unveiled to reward disciplined borrowers with higher loan limits.
Looking ahead, government officials emphasized that technology and entrepreneurship will play a central role in transforming Baringo’s economy. Local leaders, including Baringo Central MP Joshua Kandie and Women Representative Florence Jematia, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting youth empowerment by strengthening digital centers, expanding training programs, and ensuring greater access to financing. With increased connectivity, vibrant innovation spaces, and a rising culture of digital entrepreneurship, Baringo is positioning itself as a promising hub for economic growth in the North Rift region.