By Erick Otieno
The Government of Kenya has launched the distribution of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment to 341 public junior schools in Migori County as part of a nationwide initiative aimed at strengthening digital learning in schools.
The launch and distribution exercise was held at Migori Comprehensive School within Migori Town, bringing together government officials, education stakeholders and local leaders to mark the rollout of the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP).
Principal Secretary for Public Investments and Assets Management, Ceryll Odede, said the initiative is being implemented across all 47 counties to enhance digital literacy and support the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum.
The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, the Ministry of Education and the ICT Authority, with support from the World Bank.
Under the programme, public junior schools are equipped with interactive smartboards and teacher laptops to facilitate technology-enabled teaching and learning.
Speaking during the event, PS Odede urged school heads to put in place adequate security measures to protect the newly distributed equipment from theft and damage.
He emphasised the need for school administrations to take responsibility for safeguarding the gadgets to ensure they serve their intended purpose and benefit learners for years to come.
Odede also defended the Kenya Kwanza administration’s development record, saying the government had made significant progress in implementing its development agenda over the past four years.
He called on education stakeholders to support government initiatives aimed at improving service delivery and preparing learners for a rapidly changing digital world.
Speaking at the same event, Suna West Member of Parliament Peter Masara applauded the government for investing in digital learning infrastructure, saying the initiative would help schools keep pace with emerging technological developments.
Masara noted that digital literacy has become increasingly important as the world embraces Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technological innovations that are transforming education, communication and the employment sector.
He said equipping schools with modern digital learning tools would expose learners to technology at an early stage, helping them acquire skills necessary to compete in an increasingly digital global economy.
The national rollout is expected to strengthen the integration of ICT into classroom instruction, enabling teachers to deliver interactive lessons, annotate learning materials, share content wirelessly between teacher and learner devices, and use audiovisual resources to improve classroom engagement.
The government has said the programme is part of its broader efforts to expand access to digital learning resources and support the implementation of competency-based education in public junior schools.
The distribution of the equipment in Migori County is expected to provide teachers and learners with improved opportunities to use technology in teaching and learning, while reinforcing the importance of digital skills in Kenya’s education system.
