The Kenyan government has named five institutions that will serve as East African Community (EAC) centers of excellence. Speaking to reporters, the ministry of EAC Affairs permanent secretary David Nalo said that he hopes this will help push information technology in the region. The five institutions named are the University of Nairobi's College of Health Sciences, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Kenya Institute of Education, the Bomas of Kenya and the Rift Valley Technical Training Institute. Nalo said he hoped the centers would “add value” to the EAC's current integration process, “enhance interactions among the region's citizens and facilitate the achievement of a political federation.” The immediate goals of the centers are to create quality skills development and innovation among the younger generation. “Once approved by the EAC secretariat, a regional technical team will carry out a verification exercise to determine the level of development and the extent at which the selected institutions can benefit all EAC partner states,” Nalo said. The move is being seen by observers and analysts as a step in the right direction to help buttress the younger generation in the face of the growing necessity to tackle the IT sector head on through educational practices. One government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that “this will help our young people battle and make a claim in the global technological age.” BM
