Microsoft announced the launch of its global skills initiative in Kenya today. At the event, Kenya Country Manager, Kendi Ntwiga-Nderitu, disclosed the company has so far hired about 200 software engineers at the Kenya Africa Development Center (ADC) site.
The company earlier mentioned plans to recruit 500 software engineers by 2023 at the launch of the Microsoft ADC. Last year Kenya ADC manager Jack Ngare noted it was nearing only 70 software engineers. A number that was below the planned 100 hires, with skills being a major hindrance.
Two years after the launch, Microsoft seems to have the momentum to achieve its target. This new detail from the country manager suggests the ADC has recorded more than a 110% increase in new hires.
Here is what Kendi said speaking about the ADC Kenya site at the launch of the global skills initiative in Kenya.
For those of us in tech, we like to say, if there’s one thing that is an equalizer it really is the world of technology. When you have the right digital skills it doesn’t matter where you are from in the world, it means you can play.
We have seen that possible because even as Microsoft here in Kenya we have about 200 [software] engineers. That sit to develop Microsoft programs that are used around the world.
Which tells you we have people of our land who develop globally used programs. We can bring that onboard to the country and region to impact and make a difference for Kenyans.
Kendi Ntwiga-Nderitu
Senior Software engineer hiccup
The quality of software engineers across the continent has been a recurring conversation across many Africa tech communities. With the issue of a lack of senior software engineers being a major one.
Microsoft mentioned rolling out various skills initiatives to get the kind of software engineers it needs to staff its ADC. Recently the company announced a LEAP apprenticeship program with a focus on senior software engineers. Could Microsoft also be facing this dilemma?
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