The government has begun distributing digital literacy devices to 341 public primary and junior secondary schools in Migori County to strengthen technology-based learning.
The Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP), under the State Department for Information and Communications Technology (ICT), handed over digital learning equipment worth millions of shillings to Migori Junior Secondary School. The handover took place during the National Classroom Experience of the Digital Literacy Programme Phase II.
The event marked the official rollout of laptops and interactive smartboards to schools across the county. The government said it also sought to assess the programme's progress, clarify institutional responsibilities for managing the equipment and formally transfer the devices to school administrations.
Speaking at the ceremony, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management, Cyrell Odede Wagunda, said the equipment was meant to improve teaching and learning across the 341 institutions.
"This distribution of laptops and smartboards is designed to reach 341 schools within this region to transform how our learners interact with education," he said.
Wagunda said installation had already begun in several schools, including Migori, Ombo, Muslim and Kadika primary schools. He urged teachers to use the equipment in their daily lessons and warned that reluctance to adopt technology could limit learners' opportunities.
"I urge all our teachers to take an active part in ensuring every piece of equipment handed over today is fully utilised in the classroom," he said. "We must move past resistance and embrace digital literacy. Those who are not embracing technology in education are holding back our learners' potential."
The PS also stressed the need for qualified personnel to support the use and maintenance of the devices. "One of the core requirements we are actively pursuing is ensuring that every school has a qualified, ICT-trained teacher on site to guide both learners and staff in utilising these digital tools," he said.
Migori County Director of Education Jacob Onyiego welcomed the initiative and urged school heads to ensure the equipment was used effectively. "We applaud the government for this timely initiative that will transform learning in our schools. I urge all heads of institutions to ensure maximum utilisation of this digital equipment so that our learners reap the full benefits of modern technology," he said.
However, Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) Chairperson Okello David raised concerns about inadequate storage facilities in some schools, saying secure infrastructure was necessary to protect the devices.
"We are prepared to store and safeguard this equipment, but we are facing real challenges when it comes to adequate storage infrastructure," he said.
He called on the Ministry of Education and school board chairs to work together to ensure every school has a secure strong room for the devices. He added that security officers had been deployed to protect the equipment from theft and attempted break-ins.
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