Safaricom Ignites Future Careers for 5,000 Students.

Safaricom Ignites Future Careers for 5,000 Students.

Students participate in an interactive digital skills and career development session during the Safaricom Hook Circle programme at Kiambu National Polytechnic, where over 5,000 learners received hands-on training, mentorship and industry exposure to enhance their employability and prepare for opportunities in the digital economy.

By Jeff Oyugi 

Nairobi - July 18, 2026

More than 5,000 students have been equipped with practical, market-oriented skills following a two-day career and skills development programme organised by Safaricom through its youth platform, Safaricom Hook Circle, at Kiambu National Polytechnic.

The initiative brought together learners, educators, industry professionals and technology partners in an effort to prepare young people for the demands of Kenya's fast-evolving digital economy while addressing the persistent gap between academic training and workplace expectations.

Students drawn primarily from the institution's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Automotive Engineering departments took part in a series of interactive sessions that combined practical learning with mentorship, career guidance and exposure to emerging technologies.

The programme was delivered in partnership with DigiFarm, Power Learn Project (PLP) and other industry experts, exposing participants to career opportunities in technology, agribusiness, entrepreneurship and innovation. Learners also attended sessions on data privacy, cyber fraud awareness and financial literacy, equipping them with knowledge considered increasingly essential in today's digital environment.

Unlike conventional classroom learning, the initiative focused on experiential education, allowing students to engage directly with professionals, explore real-world industry challenges and better understand the skills employers are seeking.

Safaricom said the programme reflects its broader commitment to empowering young people by providing opportunities that enhance employability while nurturing entrepreneurial thinking.

Speaking during the event, Safaricom Chief Consumer Business Officer Fawzia Ali Kimanthi said the Safaricom Hook Circle initiative is designed to prepare young people for success by connecting them with practical learning experiences and industry networks.

"The Safaricom Hook Circle is all about creating opportunities for young people by equipping them with the skills, knowledge and support they need to succeed in today's changing world. Through engagements like this, we connect students with industry experts, practical learning experiences and mentorship that help bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace. Working closely with learning institutions and industry partners, we are preparing young people for meaningful careers, entrepreneurship and lifelong growth. Our commitment is to continue creating opportunities that empower the next generation to reach their full potential," she said.

The programme featured technology demonstrations, mentorship forums, employability workshops and cultural activities aimed at creating an engaging learning environment while encouraging students to explore career pathways beyond traditional employment.

Industry experts challenged participants to embrace lifelong learning and continuously upgrade their digital competencies as technological advancements continue to reshape labour markets locally and globally.

The initiative also highlighted the growing importance of partnerships between educational institutions and the private sector in preparing graduates with competencies that align with current industry demands.

Representatives from both sectors noted that collaboration is becoming increasingly critical as employers seek graduates who possess not only technical knowledge but also practical experience, problem-solving abilities and soft skills required in modern workplaces.

The Kiambu National Polytechnic programme forms part of Safaricom Hook Circle's nationwide youth empowerment strategy, which seeks to strengthen career readiness among young Kenyans through mentorship, digital skills development and entrepreneurship support.

The platform has steadily expanded its footprint since its launch in 2023, reaching institutions and communities across several counties as part of Safaricom's broader investment in youth development.

According to the telecommunications company, the initiative has already impacted more than one million young people in Meru, Mombasa, Nairobi, Kakamega, Siaya and Nyeri counties through skills training, mentorship and career development programmes.

Safaricom says it intends to further scale up the programme with the goal of reaching young people in all 47 counties, broadening access to opportunities that can enhance employability and foster innovation among Kenya's youthful population.

The expansion comes at a time when policymakers, educators and employers continue to raise concerns over the widening mismatch between skills acquired in learning institutions and those required in an increasingly technology-driven job market.

With youth unemployment remaining one of Kenya's major socio-economic challenges, initiatives that provide practical workplace exposure, digital competencies and entrepreneurial training are increasingly viewed as essential in preparing graduates for emerging opportunities.

By incorporating topics such as digital safety, fraud prevention and financial management alongside technical and career-focused training, the Kiambu programme sought to equip students with a holistic skill set capable of supporting both employment and self-employment.

For many participants, the event offered more than technical instruction. It created an opportunity to interact directly with industry leaders, gain mentorship from experienced professionals and better understand the realities of today's competitive labour market.

Safaricom maintains that empowering young people with relevant skills remains central to its youth engagement agenda, with the Hook Circle platform serving as a gateway for education, innovation and personal development.

Young Kenyans aged between 10 and 24 years can join the Safaricom Hook Circle community by dialling *555# or registering through the Safaricom App to access various learning, mentorship and career development opportunities.

As Kenya accelerates its digital transformation agenda, programmes such as the Kiambu National Polytechnic engagement are increasingly positioning young people to compete in future workplaces by combining classroom education with practical industry experience, professional mentorship and exposure to emerging technologies.