Kenya Launches Nationwide Digital Learning Programme

The Kenyan government has launched a nationwide programme to integrate digital learning into all 10,382 public junior schools, marking a significant step in its efforts to strengthen technology-enabled education under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum.

The National Integration of ICT Learning in Junior Schools programme was officially launched by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki at Kaptarkok Junior School in Elgeyo Marakwet County. The initiative is being implemented by the ICT Authority under the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, through the World Bank-supported Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP).

Under the programme, every public junior school will receive a teacher laptop and a 65-inch interactive smart board, amounting to more than 20,700 devices to be distributed across all 47 counties. The rollout begins with schools in Elgeyo Marakwet before expanding nationwide.

Beyond the classroom devices, the programme includes internet connectivity, curriculum-aligned digital learning content, technical support and continuous monitoring to support effective integration of technology into teaching and learning.

The government has also trained more than 62,000 junior school teachers to use digital technologies in the classroom. Additional training will continue through the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA), focusing on digital pedagogy, artificial intelligence and the use of virtual laboratories.

The launch featured a live demonstration of the programme’s capabilities, with an Integrated Science lesson transmitted from Kaptarkok Junior School to learners in schools across six counties, including Nairobi, Nyandarua, Kakamega and Mombasa. The demonstration showcased how digital technology can enable teachers to deliver lessons simultaneously to multiple classrooms regardless of location.

The initiative supports Kenya’s ongoing implementation of the Competency-Based Education curriculum, which places greater emphasis on practical learning, digital literacy and the development of workplace-relevant skills.

Aneliya Muller, Task Team Leader for the World Bank’s Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project, said the interactive learning tools are expected to make classroom instruction more engaging while helping learners build digital competencies from an early age.

ICT and Digital Economy Principal Secretary Eng. John Tanui said the programme also aligns with Kenya’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, noting that digital skills are becoming increasingly important as AI continues to reshape economies and workplaces.

The classroom digitisation programme forms part of the government’s broader Digital Superhighway initiative, which includes expanding national broadband infrastructure to support digital services across the country. The government has previously announced that more than 30,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable have already been deployed towards its target of 100,000 kilometres.

The initiative also complements other digital education projects, including the recently launched Smart Library programme, as Kenya continues investing in digital infrastructure to modernise teaching and learning.

Speaking during the launch, Deputy President Kindiki said strengthening digital education is central to preparing learners for a technology-driven economy and supporting the country’s long-term development ambitions.

While the programme establishes the digital infrastructure needed for technology-enabled learning, its long-term success will depend on sustained connectivity, reliable power, ongoing teacher support and effective maintenance of the equipment as deployment continues across thousands of schools nationwide.