ICT expert Mahmood Noor has emphasized the vital role of creativity and digital skills in tapping into Kenya’s growing online job market, urging young people to take advantage of opportunities available on digital work platforms such as Upwork.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Generation on October 20, 2025, Noor who's also the Swahilipot Hub founder, stressed that innovation thrives when diverse talents come together, particularly in environments that encourage creativity and collaboration.
“Even the quality of the innovations became better,” he said.
“When we had hackathons and incorporated all kinds of people, including creatives, what was coming out of those hackathons was far much better. You can’t separate creativity because, by nature, man is a creative person. You give him the right environment, the right tools, and the right motivations.”
He said that the digital economy offers a wide range of employment opportunities for Kenyans who possess the necessary skills and dedication.
Drawing from his personal experience, Noor recalled how platforms like Elance, now known as Upwork, revolutionized the freelance market by connecting skilled individuals to global clients.
“I was using Upwork, which was then called Elance.com. There are millions of jobs there, from the simplest ones like transcription to complex ones such as graphic design, proposal writing, and AI-related tasks,” said Noor.
Noor added that having a strong online profile and reputation is key to success in the digital workspace.
“Jobs are not all the same,” he explained.
“Once you’ve given good reviews, eventually you’re profiled, and it becomes easy for you to earn more. You might start small, but with consistency and quality work, you grow.”
He encouraged Kenyans to embrace online learning and self-improvement through free tutorials and training resources available globally.
“There is no easy money. Go online, look at the resources there, and learn. The government, through the Ministry of ICT and Konza Technopolis, has also been doing a lot to promote digital skills and create opportunities through collaborations with county governments and other partners,” he advised.
Noor emphasized that with the right mindset, skills, and collaboration, Kenya’s youth can unlock vast opportunities in the global digital economy.
