Kenya to provide 1.2 million laptops to primary school students
Kenya's government campaign to give 1.2 million tablets or laptops to Class One pupils entering their first year of primary school is set to start with Cabinet Secretaries and Permanent Secretaries personally delivering the first consignments to schools around the country in the coming weeks. The devices are for teachers and pupils and come with Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD)-approved content. The move follows a successful pilot phase which has seen more than 22,000 schools connected to the grid to facilitate the programme, which was originally launched in 2013. All the tablets are expected to be distributed by December.

Class one pupil from Getembe Primary school in Kisii town smiles large on day one after she learned a few basics on how to use a government provided tablet on May 12,2016. The national distribution of 1.2 million digital tablets to all public schools kicks off tomorrow. (PHOTO: DENISH OCHIENG/ STANDARD)

The national distribution of 1.2 million digital tablets to all public schools kicks off tomorrow.

Cabinet secretaries have been assigned various regions to officiate the distribution. The roll-out of one of Jubilee's election promises comes two months after successful implementation of the pilot phase.

The digital learning equipment is to be distributed to 23,000 schools.

Details seen by The Standard reveal that a series of events have been lined up to ensure that the first 60 primaryschools across the country get laptops for teachers and tablets for learners before the end of next month.

The Standard has also established that the Cabinet secretaries' participation in the month-long launch was the result of a directive from President Uhuru Kenyatta.

ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru and his team will be at Ortum Boys Primary School in West Pokot tomorrow as his Devolution counterpart, Mwangi Kiunjuri, presides over the launch at Kapkikorwet Primary School in Bomet.

Tourism's Najib Balala will next Tuesday preside over a similar launch at Ucekeini Primary in Gatundu, Kiambu County, as Cleopa Mailu launches at Mwandishe in Mwatate, Taita Taveta County.

Charles Keter (Energy) will preside over the launch at Baragoi Primary in Samburu County as Lands CS Jacob Kaimenyi officiates at Koibem in Nandi County.

Education CS Fred Matiang'i has been assigned Bofu Primary in Kwale County.

Permanent Secretaries Peter Kaberia, Karanja Kibicho, Collette Suda, Lillian Mbogo and Paul Mwangi have each been assigned schools in Nyamira, Elgeyo Marakwet, Garissa and Mandera counties respectively.

Water CS Eugene Wamalwa and his Foreign Affairs counterpart Amina Mohammed will conclude the exercise on October 28.

The plane carrying the first batch of 20,000 tablets from China arrived in the country last month.

Details from the Information and Communication Technology Authority (ICTA) showed that last week, another batch of 50,000 tablets arrived in the country by sea.

This means that by the end of September, 200,000 tablets will have been imported ready for distribution.

The multi-billion shilling Digital Learning Project (DLP) will be implemented in two phases, with the second phase scheduled for next year.

It is projected that by the end of next year, about 600,000 digital learning devices will have been distributed and installed across all the selected schools.

Under phase one, some 23,596 tablets for teachers will be given out.