Ajira Digital Certification: Training | Registration | Courses

Ajira Digital Certification: Training | Registration | Courses

Ajira Digital is a free, online digital training program sponsored by the Kenyan government. It teaches digital skills and skills-based education to students and professionals.

The program was launched in November 2016 by the Ministry of ICT in association with the Ministry of Public Service, Youth, and Gender Affairs. Additionally, It also partners with the University of Nairobi in offering the courses.

The core of the program is an immersive 1-week curriculum that teaches the youth how to use technology as a tool for economic and social change. The Kenyan government aims to make it possible for over a million young Kenyans to obtain online employment by providing resources, training, and mentorship.

Training


The training is purely online, and it’s done on a first-come, first-served basis.

Once you select a course, you are assigned a competent professional in your area. Keep in mind that the 1- week session is only available full-time and you can’t organize for part-time classes.

The best part? Your instructor will walk with you throughout the training and mentorship. It may look vigorous, but it’s worth it.

They network to connect you to a global pool of professionals that link you to jobs. You also get access to the networking features that allow you to communicate with employers and other experienced online workers.

One more beautiful perk is that you are offered a certificate at the end of the training. The credentials will be available on the Ajira website. 

Courses offered by the Ajira Digital program

The learning network offers a wide variety of courses spanning from:

  • Leadership skills: cross-cutting module
  • Blue collar: fundamental module
  • Basic computer programming
  • Basic graphic design module
  • Introduction to Web Development
  • Data entry
  • Transcription
  • Virtual assistance
  • Digital marketing and e-commerce
  • Aws re/start
  • Content/Copywriting

To qualify for this program, students begin by completing an online assessment before moving on to their main courses.

  • One must be 18 years of age and above,
  • Be fluent in both written and verbal English.
  • Have a high school certificate or diploma.
  • Willing to commit 40 hours a week to the training.
  • Have a laptop and a reliable Internet connection.

How do you register for the Ajira Digital Program?

Follow these simple steps to register for the Ajira Digital Training.

  1. Visit the official Ajira website.
  2. Navigate to the top-right corner of the website.
  3. Click on the “Register” tab.
  4. Now, enter your registration information on the site.
  5. You’ll need to provide information like your name, ID number, mobile number, legal email address, and password.
  6. Tap the “Register” tab in the lower right corner of the registration page after filling out these details.


After you’ve filled in all your details correctly,  you’ll receive an email to verify your registration.

On the other hand, if you’d like to enroll in the courses, the process is pretty straightforward.

  1. Login at Ajira digital website 
  2. To view all of the future online training opportunities, scroll down the page.
  3. Next, schedule a training session.
  4. Select the county and training facility where you want to receive your training.
  5. Now, select the course that you want to take.

Keep in mind that you can only schedule one Ajira class at a time.
The system will then send you an email with details about your reservation.

And, when your reservation is complete, you will receive email notifications when Ajira training courses are available in your region.

Why Ajira Digital Training?

The government is actively working to use local talent to move 50% of outsourcing and online jobs to Kenya over the next ten years.
In a prior interview with the CS ICT, more than 100,000 Kenyans said they currently make their whole living from online activities. And, as the government boosts ICT spending, this number is expected to rise after the COVID-19 pandemic tested the limits of physical work. 

Currently, a single person living in Kenya needs at least Kshs. 20,000 per month in terms of finances to meet their most basic needs. If they had access to digital employment, young people could begin to meet their basic necessities. The availability of digital employment will increase prosperity and the middle class nationwide. At the same time, additional people in the middle class translate into more company prospects and direct GDP development.

Politically, the project will strengthen national cohesion and integration and promote equitable development in order to realize Vision 2030. Socially, jobs mean people will be able to earn a living wage, and they are less likely to participate in crime and destructive behavior.

Ajira Digital FAQ

What is Ajira digital programme?

It is a government initiative driven by the Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs to empower young Kenyans to access digital and digitally-enabled job opportunities.

And what are the activities of Ajira?

Ajira conducts awareness about digital work through free trainings, mentorship, and providing access to infrastructure such as free Internet and laptops at the Ajira Centres. The programme seeks to position Kenya as a choice-labour destination for multinational companies, as well as encourage local companies and the public sector to create digital work. Digitisation of both government and private sector projects has already created significant viable micro-work for digital workers.

Is academic writing part of the training?

Ajira discourages academic writing as it is un-ethical and negatively impacts the job market where employers distrust qualifications of graduating youth. The programme, therefore, shows the youth alternatives such as how to participate in ethical digital work from universities and content writing for global clients.

How do I join the programme?

Create an account on AJIRA and register into one of the trainings. It’s absolutely free.

Requirements to train?

All Ajira activities are free to all Kenyans. All you need to do is create an account on the Ajira portal, have access to the Internet and a computer. If you don’t have Internet or a computer, you can visit the over 300 Ajira Youth Empowerment Centres countrywide that are fully equipped.

Am I given a job after training?

Not exactly. Instead of giving you the fish, Ajira teaches you how to fish and points you to the direction of the ocean. In other words, Ajira shows you where the jobs are and trains you on how to apply for them.

Anything else?

Yes. The main objectives of Ajira are: to raise the profile of digital work; promote a mentorship and collaborative learning approach to finding digital work; provide Kenyans with access to digital work, and finally, promote Kenya as a destination for digital workers.

Any gains so far?

More than 72,000 youth have been trained, sensitized and have accessed learning opportunities from the programme. Overall, as per a household survey carried out in March of 2020, some 677,961 Kenyans are working on digital and digitally-enabled jobs.

The programme has also established partnerships with over 20 job linkage platforms and is currently working with the MasterCard Foundation, eMobilis and KEPSA to scale and implement the programme activities countrywide.

What skills qualify me to start earning with digital work?

To start working online, you only need basic computer skills, Internet connection and a desktop or laptop computer.

Can I get State-sponsored free Wi-Fi?

There are 300+ Ajira Youth Empowerment Centres (AYECS) countrywide. You can view their details including those already with Internet connection on the Ajira website under the ‘Resources’ tab.

How will I get paid?

As a digital worker you can get paid through a number of channels which include; MPESA, Direct deposits, Skrill, PayPal and Payoneer. You can get more information from the website.

Should I pay anyone for an account?

No! Neither should you pay to get a job. Trusted digital work platforms are free to join. Visit Ajira’s ‘Find Work’ page to get started with some digital job linkage platforms.

Are online courses helpful?

Yes. Online courses deepen your skill. These can be videos, webinars or eLearning courses. Take several tests or recognised certification to strengthen your digital work profile and demonstrate your ability to potential clients. Check out Ajira’s ‘Certification Resources’ page for some links to free certification, and sign up to Ajira partners’ courses which include Cisco, IBM, Huawei and HP.

And connecting with others?

Very important too. Ajira is setting up Ajira Clubs in every University, TVET and Polytechnic. The clubs will also be rolled out at Ajira Centres and form an opportunity for youth to be part of a community of workers, where they can network and drive innovation. You can also find a community or even mentors on social media.

I guess starting should be small?

Absolutely. For your first few jobs, take small, easy-to-complete tasks and build up to more complex work. This will allow you to build a good reputation online. Be patient, grow your digital work career with purpose and direction.

In summary…

Programme initiatives are anchored on four strategic pillars designed to address the key challenges that hinder the youth from benefiting from digital and digitally-enabled job opportunities:

  • Access to dignified work – Catalyse the demand side locally, regionally and internationally
  • Education and skills – Opportunities to gain useful work-readiness skills and mentorship for the dynamic and always-changing ecosystem at no cost
  • Access to infrastructure – Empowerment through regulatory, infrastructure and financial support. Free access to Innovation Hubs, Studio Mashinani, and Y254 TV Channel
  • Awareness – Building trust and confidence
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