Dorcas Owinoh is bridging Kenya’s tech gap by empowering youth and women in underserved regions through LakeHub.
Dorcas Owinoh serves as the Executive Director of LakeHub, a Kisumu-based innovation hub working to expand access to technology and entrepreneurship in western Kenya. As one of the founding members, she has been involved since its inception and has played a vital role in its growth.
LakeHub was founded in 2013 by a group of students and young professionals in Kisumu who recognised the need to create opportunities for local talent outside the capital. At a time when Kenya’s technology sector was heavily concentrated in Nairobi, the hub aimed to decentralise innovation by supporting tech entrepreneurs and developers in smaller cities and communities.
Initially, Dorcas Owinoh served as Director of Programmes from 2018 until mid-2023. During this period, she was responsible for designing and managing initiatives focused on youth empowerment, digital skills training, and entrepreneurship support. In June 2023, she transitioned into the role of Executive Director, continuing to lead programmes that provide training and mentorship for young people and women entering the digital economy.
Under her supervision, LakeHub has launched several programmes targeting both skill development and job placement. One such programme is the LakeHub Academy, a software development fellowship that equips participants with full-stack JavaScript skills, fundamentals of computer science, and soft skills training. It combines technical instruction with mentorship and support for job placement. The hub also runs an incubation programme for early-stage entrepreneurs, including women-led startups. This initiative offers business training, coaching, and access to funding and networks to scale their ventures.
LakeHub received a grant of KES 10 million (about $77,000) through the Kenya Industry and Entrepreneurship Project–Strengthening Kenya’s Innovation Ecosystem (KIEP-SKIES). The grant supports a two-year software development training initiative, followed by a three-year employment commitment for successful participants.
In addition to its work with youth and entrepreneurs, the organisation has expanded its reach to secondary schools. Through partnerships with 13 schools, LakeHub has mentored over 600 high school girls, offering training and opportunities to participate in global tech competitions such as the Technovation Challenge.
Owinoh’s contributions to empowering youths and women in Kenya’s tech and innovation space have been recognised through accolades including Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 and Business Daily’s Top 40 Under 40 Women in Kenya.
“Youth account for 60% of all African unemployed, according to the World Bank. This is a ticking time bomb. Young women feel the sting of unemployment even more sharply. That is why I am passionate about training young girls how to create solutions for their own challenges, especially using technology. We are in the fourth industrial revolution and women and girls can’t miss out on being part of this revolution,” she said in a recent interview.
Through her work at LakeHub, Dorcas Owinoh continues to advocate for a more inclusive tech sector by focusing on underserved regions and amplifying the role of women and youth in shaping Kenya’s digital future.
