Youth and Technology in Kenya

A lot has been said on the continent of Africa. As I write this article, Thabo Mbeki’s speech on I am African comes to mind when I think of the good things that have been said about said about Africa. However, Oscar Wilde’s remark breaks my heart when he said that the only good thing about Africa is HIV.

For many years now, Africa has been known for its rich culture heritage, its vast wildlife, famous people like Nelson Mandela, Ellen Johnson Sir leaf(the first black woman president in the world) and Wangari Maathai (first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize). It has also been known for things such as such as poverty, drought, civil wars, sickness and corrupt governments.

Kenya, a country in Africa, has also been known for many things. It has appeared on many headlines around the world due to its abundance of rare and amazing wildlife, fast runners in marathons held in different countries, its rich African culture and also the mobile money also known as M-PESA. However, not much has been said of its technology.

Young people have embraced technology

Technology is the ability to accomplish a task especially using technical processes, methods or knowledge. Here in Kenya we have various types of technology to accomplish numerous tasks around us. The presence of technology in Kenya has made life a bit easier.

It is interesting to note that back here in Kenya it is the young people who have embraced technology and the changes it brings to life. They have easily adapted to it and hence life has become much easier to deal with. They have been called the ‘dot.com’ or the ‘microwave’ generation where every task that they do takes as little time as possible. However the older generation has been rigid to accept the changes that come with the new technology.

If you happen to walk down the streets of Nairobi today, you will notice most of the young people on their earphones listening to their IPods or MP3 players as they walk and others busy on their phones probably on the social networks as they take photos to update each other. When they go home at night, some will switch on their digital TV to catch up with whatever they fancy viewing and others will probably be on their laptops finishing up on their assignment or work.

“I am going to the movies”, my friend said to me the other day. “This time I am going for the 3D one”, he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Yes we also have movie theaters here in 3D among many other things.

Young people in church

The church in Kenya has not been left behind in identify with its youth. My home church has embraced technology especially during the youth services. The overhead projector that displays lyrics, announcements and also the bible verses make the whole process easier. We have everything from state-of the-art lights to a great sound system that make going to church enjoyable and you leave the place feeling blessed.

What about you? How has the youth in your country been transformed by technology?