Kenya will equip 10,382 public junior secondary schools with interactive smart boards and teacher laptops under a programme launched July 13, 2026, designed to embed digital skills into the curriculum and prepare students for an economy shaped by artificial intelligence. The initiative, supported by the World Bank under the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP), was announced at Kaptarkok Junior Secondary School in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki presided over the launch, which included a live synchronized lesson connecting schools in Elgeyo Marakwet, Nyandarua, Nairobi, Kakamega and Mombasa to a single instructor. The demonstration showed how digital technology can bridge geographic gaps and extend access to quality teaching across the country.
Infrastructure and equipment rollout
The first phase will deliver interactive smart boards to 176 junior secondary schools in Elgeyo Marakwet County, with plans to expand to all 10,382 schools nationwide. The programme is part of the government's push to modernize classroom learning under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum.
Teacher training for digital integration
More than 62,000 teachers have already been trained to integrate digital technologies into their lessons. Principal Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy John Tanui said, "teacher preparedness is critical to ensuring that investments in digital infrastructure translate into improved learning outcomes." The training effort reflects a broader demand for continuous professional development in digital teaching methods, a focus area covered in resources like the AI Learning Path for Teachers.
Broadband backbone and national AI strategy
The classroom rollout runs alongside Kenya's Digital Superhighway Programme, which has deployed more than 37,000 kilometres of fibre optic infrastructure toward a target of 100,000 kilometres. The growing broadband network is expected to support connected schools, digital public services, and the development of an AI-ready workforce. The programme's focus on teacher training and infrastructure echoes the broader conversation in AI for Education, where digital equity and educator readiness are central to preparing students for an AI-shaped job market. Tanui said the ICT learning programme is part of Kenya's National AI Strategy, adding that "the success of the country's digital transformation will ultimately be measured by the opportunities it creates for learners."
Why this matters for education professionals
For education professionals, the Kenyan rollout offers a large-scale example of how national policy can bridge the digital divide. The programme's blend of hardware provision, teacher training, and broadband expansion highlights the operational steps needed to move from policy to practice. Teachers and administrators monitoring this rollout can track its impact on student engagement and digital literacy, gathering lessons for their own contexts.
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