A PC Kinyanjui Technical Training Institute student by the name of Denis Kipkurui has told President William Ruto that university and college students are no longer struggling, thanks to the president’s initiative to introduce ICT labs across the country, including one in their institution.
Speaking directly to the president during his visit to the institution on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, as part of his third day of touring Nairobi, Kipkurui impressed the head of state by commending the programme, stating that he now has more pocket money as he earns close to Ksh6,000 per week.
According to him, the Jitume Labs have enabled students to access online job platforms such as Payrib, where they can undertake tasks like promoting products and earning their pay in dollars.
“I’m taking it. Currently, my computer is not switching on, but I will just explain it to you. I am a product of the Jitume Digital Programme, and I am a student here. I work with Payrib, an online platform where I earn money by promoting products. Currently, I have earned $50.2, which is approximately Ksh6,500, and we withdraw the money when it reaches around $100. With that, I can tell you that it is helping students here in this school—we are doing well,” Kipkurui stated.
Challenges in the programme
However, the student, whose remarks were met with applause from the leaders accompanying the president, went on to lament that the number of computers in the lab was inadequate and that the available ones were disproportionately shared among the growing student population.
He informed the president that, unlike during his previous visit, the student population had grown exponentially to a staggering 8,000, meaning that the current resources were overstretched and needed urgent upgrades.
According to Kipkurui, the long-standing problem of idleness among youth in Kenya, particularly in Nairobi, could be eradicated permanently if the head of state prioritised these gaps and upgraded the labs.
“But you should empower us with more computers and facilities for the students. Our population has increased significantly since last year—right now, we are around 8,000 students. With such a population, you can see that we are experiencing challenges. If you empower us, we will keep working here, and idleness will no longer be an issue,” he appealed.
Ruto’s promises
Upon hearing Kipkurui’s remarks, the president did not shy away from expressing his joy, noting that PC Kinyanjui Technical Training Institute was an institution he had always wanted to visit but had not had the opportunity to do so until now.
He assured the students that, now that he had finally visited, he would address their concerns regarding the shortage of computers by providing an additional 100 computers by next month, April 2025.
Additionally, he pledged to enhance their digital learning experience by installing fibre-optic WiFi at the institution, stating that the high-speed internet infrastructure was also being rolled out across Nairobi.
“Thank you, comrades. Nyinyi watu wa sinema nyingi, tokeni hapa! I am so proud to be at PC Kinyanjui. I have spoken with the parliamentarians here, and I have always wanted to visit this institution, so today is a privilege. The community here has given you an opportunity through this Jitume Lab, and I am happy. As Denis has said, we may need more computers. So next month, I will ensure that 100 additional computers are brought here so that more students from PC Kinyanjui can benefit,” Ruto stated.
“How is the internet speed? Waziri yuko hapa, Mheshimiwa Kabogo. We will install fibre here so that even if we have about 300 students accessing the internet at the same time, they will be accommodated. We have also agreed that fibre-optic internet will be made available throughout Nairobi,” he added.
