Driving Kenyaโs Digital Superhighway Straight into the Classroom
For years, we have spoken about bridging the digital divide. Today, we are putting the physical infrastructure directly into the ecosystem where it can spark the most profound change: our classrooms, our laboratories and our teacher training hubs.
I am incredibly thrilled to celebrate the official launch and flag-off of the Digital Literacy Programme (DLP) devices at the [Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA)] today.
This crucial intervention is a milestone under the [Kenya Digital EconomyAccelerationProject ], funded by the World Bank and spearheaded by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy through the ICT Authority. With the rollout of 10,382 interactive smartboards and laptops to public Junior Schools across the country, we are directly expanding high-tech capabilities into thousands of institutions nationwide during this first phase.
Why This Launch Matters
Technology is not an elective; it is a fundamental pillar of modern literacy. We are executing a highly strategic, three-pronged transformation:
* Empowering the Educators: We cannot build tech-savvy students without digitally empowered teachers. Centering this deployment at CEMASTEA ensures our trainers and teachers master digital pedagogy, AI integration, and virtual lab modeling.
* Democratizing STEM Learning: Whether a child sits in an urban center or a remote rural school, these devices ensure uniform, high-quality, and curriculum-aligned digital science and mathematics content.
* Accelerating our Digital Economy: This rollout directly feeds into Sub-component 3.1 of KDEAP, purposefully scaling digital skills, innovation, and collaboration to build the workforce of tomorrow.
*Beyond Hardware: Building a Legacy
A device is only as powerful as the infrastructure and capacity backing it.
Through KDEAP, this launch is intertwined with ongoing efforts in expanding last-mile fiber connectivity, developing immersive digital repositories, and fostering localized digital skills. We aren't just handing out tools; we are constructing a self-sustaining digital learning ecosystem.
We were honored to have key leadership steering this transition at the flag-off ceremony today, including:
Mr. Stephen Isaboke, PS for Broadcasting and Telecommunications
Prof. Julius Bittok, PS for Tourism (immediate former PS Education)
Hon. John Kiarie, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Communication, Innovation, and Information
Mr.Jessy Maruti, leadership at the ICT Authority
Aneliya Muller
The World Bank Task Team Lead
Mrs. Gladys Masai, CEO of CEMASTEA
I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the teams at the ICT Authority, the Ministry of Education and our partners at the World Bank. Your collaborative execution is turning Kenyaโs Digital Masterplan into a reality.
Honored to meet with Kenyan President Dr. William Ruto (@WilliamsRuto). We discussed the partnership between the United States and Kenya on a range of regional and security issues, as well as opportunities to expand U.S.-Kenyan commercial and investment opportunities.
We discussed U.S.-Kenyan cooperation to respond to Ebola and I thanked President Ruto for his steadfast partnership. Both of our nations have vital roles to play in fighting this outbreak and protecting our populations. The United States has contributed over $200 million in direct support to the Ebola response, in addition to $350 million for Ebola response and other humanitarian assistance in the DRC, South Sudan, and Uganda, as part of our $1.8 billion contribution to UN OCHA.
We also covered he critical importance of achieving a humanitarian truce in Sudan, followed by a permanent ceasefire. We emphasized that external actors must cease fueling the conflict through military support to the warring parties. We highlighted the announcement of the June 8 joint statement on the Sudan political track. This is an important document developed by a coalition of multilateral institutions โ including the AU, IGAD, Arab League, EU, and UN - reaffirming the international commitment to a peaceful, democratic, and stable future for the country, as well as to sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.
๐๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎโ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Today, I joined H.E. President Dr. William Samoei Ruto in Brussels for high-level engagements with the European Union, i Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen focused on advancing cooperation in digital transformation.
The discussions reaffirmed Kenyaโs position as one of Africaโs leading digital economies and a trusted strategic partner of the European Union.
A major outcome of the engagements was the continued progress toward an EUโKenya Data Adequacy Decision, now reaching final stages, with only a few elements remaining before the process advances to the next phase.
Present during the discussions were Renate Nikolay, Deputy Director-General at the European Commissionโs Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT); H.E. Harriet Geiger, European Union Ambassador to Kenya; Milou Vanmulken , Programme Director for Digitalisation and Macroeconomics at the European Commission; and Christin Schulz-Kaunga, Programme Director, Digital Transformation Center Kenya (GIZ).
An adequacy decision will enable seamless and trusted cross-border data flows, reduce compliance costs, facilitate digital trade, attract investment, strengthen innovation ecosystems, and enhance Kenyaโs competitiveness.
For Kenyaโs BPO, Global Business Services (GBS), Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing, fintech, research, and digital services sectors, adequacy will unlock access to one of the worldโs largest digital markets. The European Unionโs digitally delivered services trade exceeds โฌ1.3 trillion annually, while the EU data economy is projected to grow from over โฌ630 billion in 2025 to approximately โฌ815 billion by 2030.
Kenya is currently ranked the 11th most attractive outsourcing destination globally and 3rd in Africa.
To move forward we are :
โ Expanding the Digital Superhighway.
โ Rolling 1,450 Digital Hubs.
โ Implementating the National BPO and IT Enabled Services Strategy.
โ Strengthening AI, digital skills, and software development ecosystems.
โ Attracting of global technology companies, hyperscalers & innovation centres.
โ Enhancing of data protection, cybersecurity & trusted digital governance frameworks.
โ Pursuing of the EUโKenya Data Adequacy Decision.
The European Union also announced:
โข โฌ10 million for the next phase of the Digital Transformation Centre.
โข โฌ12 million to further digitise land governance systems and expand ArdhiSasa.
โข โฌ15 million in grant financing leveraging โฌ65 million in French financing to expand Kenyaโs aerial fibre network and accelerate connectivity
As Kenya advances its National AI Strategy, National Data Strategy and Digital Public Infrastructure agenda
Our objective remains clear: to build a trusted, secure, innovative, and inclusive digital ecosystem.
@EUinKenya , @EU_Commission , @MoICTKenya , @EUAmbKenya , @giz_gmbh , @eacgiz ,
@EU_Partnerships ,