Patmoz
By Njeri Irungu
9-07-2025, Nairobi
Huawei’s LEAP Job Fair brought together over 60 Chinese and Kenyan companies at the University of Nairobi Grounds on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in a landmark event aimed at accelerating youth employment and digital skills development. Held under the theme “Unlocking Potential, Building Connections,” the job fair served as both a symbol and a platform for deepening cooperation between Kenya and China in preparing young people for the demands of a rapidly changing economy.Organized by Huawei Technologies Kenya in partnership with the Kenya-China Economic and Trade Association (KCETA) and the University of Nairobi, the event offered more than 1,700 job opportunities across sectors such as technology, manufacturing, infrastructure, and media. It drew thousands of young Kenyans, eager for pathways into careers aligned with the digital future.Addressing participants, Yu Xiaodong, President of KCETA and General Manager of China Road and Bridge Corporation (Kenya), said the job fair represented the growing, results-oriented partnership between China and Kenya. He emphasized that beyond infrastructure achievements such as the Standard Gauge Railway and the Nairobi Expressway, Chinese companies were now investing significantly in people.“Over 60 enterprises are offering more than 1,700 job opportunities today,” he said. “Chinese companies are deeply invested in local employment and training. Huawei alone trains around 6,000 students annually, while KEDA Ceramics has created over 50,000 jobs directly and indirectly.”KCETA, which brings together 104 member companies, reaffirmed its commitment to Kenya’s Vision 2030. It also pledged to continue working with training institutions to promote merit-based recruitment and expand upskilling programs that align with market needs.Nation Media Group was also among the key partners in the event. Its Group Managing Director and CEO, Geoffrey Odundo, highlighted the role of media in not only informing society but also actively shaping the country’s development trajectory.“At Nation Media Group, we believe in the power of information to transform lives — and today, we extend that power through action,” he said. “By co-hosting the LEAP Job Fair, we are not only creating visibility for job opportunities but also reinforcing our commitment to youth empowerment, digital transformation, and economic progress. Together with our partners, we are building a future where every young Kenyan can dream bigger and do more.”The fair received a strong endorsement from government leadership. Delivering the keynote address, Deputy President Professor Kithure Kindiki underscored the importance of technology, youth, and strategic partnerships as the key drivers of future economies.“Our government is committed to creating an enabling environment for both local and foreign enterprises, and we encourage all firms to prioritize Kenyan talent,” he said. “We envision Kenya as Africa’s preferred talent hub.”He applauded the private sector for aligning its initiatives with national priorities, particularly youth empowerment and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to create inclusive and sustainable growth from the grassroots.Huawei Technologies Kenya CEO Gavin Gao reiterated the company’s long-term vision for digital inclusion and youth empowerment. He said the job fair’s theme, “Unlocking Potential, Building Connections,” resonated deeply with Huawei’s core mission.“We don’t just build networks; we empower people to realise their potential,” he said.Through the LEAP initiative — which stands for Learn, Engage, Accelerate, Progress — Huawei has committed to training over 100,000 Kenyan youth in digital fields such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, networking, and cybersecurity by 2026. Gao also introduced the Huawei Management Trainee Program (HMTP), which has trained over 200 graduates to date, with 133 of them now employed full-time at Huawei.“LEAP is more than a program — it’s a movement toward a future where Kenyan youth lead in innovation and digital transformation,” he added.Huawei’s broader strategy includes partnerships with more than 50 universities and TVET institutions across Kenya through its ICT Academy program. The company is also working closely with the Government of Kenya to support the country’s Digital Superhighway initiative, which aims to expand connectivity and digital access nationwide.The event was also graced by China’s Ambassador to Kenya, Guo Haiyan, who celebrated over sixty years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. She said the China-Kenya partnership was rooted in a people-centered approach that went beyond roads and telecom infrastructure.“Chinese companies are not only building roads and networks — they are also creating long-term careers and skills development opportunities for Kenyan youth,” she said. “Today’s job fair is a testament to our integrated industrial and human resource cooperation.”Ambassador Guo noted that Chinese enterprises in Kenya have created more than 60,000 local jobs and are actively supporting programs in education, healthcare, and environmental conservation.As the fair drew to a close, many job seekers left with newfound opportunities and a sense of optimism. The event served as a vivid reminder that when government, business, and academia work in concert, they can create meaningful impact — not just in numbers, but in transforming lives and shaping a more inclusive digital future for Kenya’s youth.
