Siaya is emerging as an unlikely centre of digital employment, with a community-driven hub now positioning itself as a key player in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry.
Speaking during a visit to the Siaya Community Digital Hub, Oburu Oginga said the project has moved beyond basic digital training to delivering real jobs for young people within the county.
“Together, we have successfully positioned this hub as a key player in the Business Process Outsourcing industry, creating real world jobs right here in Siaya,” he said.
The remarks came as Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, Members of the National Assembly and other leaders toured the facility, in a visit seen as signalling growing national interest in grassroots digital job creation.
Founded two years ago, the hub was designed to bridge the digital divide among youth by providing internet access, training and pathways into online work. It has since grown into one of the country’s top-performing community digital centres, linking young people to global outsourcing markets.
Through partnerships led by CEO Tabitha Ogutu, the hub has secured opportunities in data processing, customer support and other remote services—allowing youth to earn incomes without leaving their communities.
Leaders at the event said the model could help address unemployment by decentralising opportunities traditionally concentrated in urban areas such as Nairobi. Discussions focused on scaling similar hubs across the country to tap into the expanding global demand for outsourced services.
The visit comes amid a broader government push to grow the digital economy, with BPO identified as a critical sector for job creation. Officials say community-based hubs like Siaya’s could play a central role in absorbing thousands of young people entering the labour market each year.
