Obambo Primary and Junior School hosted the Kisumu launch of the National Digital Class Experience.
The government plans two phases of school coverage as it expands digital classrooms, teacher training and connectivity.
The government’s digital learning rollout targets 20,766 schools across two phases, with 64,000 teachers already trained nationally. Principal Secretary for Children Services Caren Ageng’o said the training would help teachers integrate technology into classroom lessons.
Ageng’o outlined the plans on October 15 at Obambo Primary and Junior School in Kisumu West. She was launching Kisumu County’s National Digital Class Experience under the Digital Literacy Programme.
Meanwhile, President William Ruto led the national launch at Kiminini Junior School in Trans Nzoia County. Other principal secretaries also oversaw parallel county launches.
Digital learning rollout covers two phases
Ageng’o said the current phase targets 10,383 schools, while a second phase would reach another 10,383 institutions. In Kisumu County, the initial rollout includes 305 schools, with another 669 expected to benefit next.
She also asked teachers, parents and administrators at schools outside the first phase to remain patient. The government would expand the programme to reach more institutions, she said.
Ageng’o stressed that a learner’s location should not determine access to digital education. Children in rural and underserved communities, she said, deserved the same opportunities to use technology as those in major cities.
However, she warned that the digital divide risked leaving learners in underserved areas behind. Technology increasingly shapes education, employment and access to services, making access to digital tools important.
Teacher training and school connectivity
To address that gap, Ageng’o highlighted government investment in digital infrastructure, school connectivity and classroom equipment. She said the national fibre-optic network had reached 37,000 kilometres against a target of 100,000 kilometres.
Alongside infrastructure, the PS identified teacher preparedness as central to the programme’s success. The training of 64,000 teachers aims to ensure educators can use digital tools with their learners.
She said digital classrooms would offer visual demonstrations and interactive content to make lessons more engaging. They would also introduce pupils to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Kisumu backs digital skills investment
Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr Matthew Owili welcomed the initiative, highlighting the growing importance of digital skills and innovation. He said both could help create opportunities for young people.
Owili also cited a software development training programme supported by the World Bank, the county government and Mastercard. He said the programme was helping young people gain skills relevant to the digital economy.
In addition, he pointed to digital hubs as a way to develop skills and access online employment. Such facilities, he said, could help young people work for international companies without leaving their communities.
Owili called for continued cooperation between the national and county governments to expand digital infrastructure. He also urged both levels of government to strengthen technology-based learning.
