Kenya's Presidential Digital Talent Programme (PDTP) has processed the first 100 graduates from the ICT skills programme initiated in 2014 through the Ministry of ICT.

The PDTP is run by the country's ICT Authority with assistance from the private sector.

Most of the graduates will take up positions in the government, while others will branch out into ICT sector.

Joseph Mucheru, Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communications, said, "We have a great opportunity to build this country through ICT. We have to continually innovate if we are to move this country forward. The talent pool that you represent is crucial to the development of the ICT sector in this country. PDTP is the army to drive our country Kenya to a knowledge based economy."

The ICT Authority says the PDTP has already produced quality county ICT inspectors in addition to supporting the youth in their quest for employment.

Several local ministries have benefited extensively from PDTP trainees, according to the Authority, including the Ministry of Agriculture which got the trainees to design its new website.

Fernando Wangila, Director of ICT at National Transport and Safety Authority said the state agency plans to develop smart license that capture all the necessary details of a driver with assistance from the PDTP.

The PDTP class of 2015 produced 29 innovations, five of which have advanced to implementation stage. The five include the Nyumba Kumi app that enhances security in an area by availing real-time information and the Damu-Sasa app that helps to facilitate blood delivery services.

John Lechner, Chief Scientist at IBM Research, which was granted a record-breaking 8,088 patents for 2016 in the US, advised the graduates against keeping their innovations to themselves.

"Resist the urge to keep your innovations a secret; one innovation will often lead to another. Bad ideas usually lead to good ideas, so keep innovating on your ideas because we all have the same job - to create a better world," said Lechner.