As Kenya races to position itself as East Africa’s artificial intelligence and digital innovation hub, a growing infrastructure gap in rural and peri-urban schools is threatening to lock millions of learners out of the country’s future economy.
The issue came into focus during a Rotary International conference in Naivasha this week, as Rotarians convene for its annual conference.
Rotary International president-elect Yinka Babalola warned that digital literacy is increasingly becoming a prerequisite for economic participation, particularly as artificial intelligence reshapes labour markets and business operations globally.
“Generations of students will pass through that school and pick up these skills,” he said during the conference, arguing that early digital exposure could inspire more learners into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.
Speaking when the club unveiled a $40,000 (Sh5.2 million) digital laboratory for a Mirera Primary School with nearly 4,000 learners, he noted that private sector players will need to step in as traditional CSR initiatives change.
“When you connect students to digital literacy. That helps improve their critical thinking skills, their problem-solving skills, and equips them for careers in science, technology, even arts and mathematics. It allows them to progress in those kinds of ideas,” added district governor for region 9212 region Wairimu Njage.
Kenya’s public schools have been facing pressure to provide ICT equipment to learners on rising capitation challenges.
Yet data shows that access to digital infrastructure remains deeply unequal across Kenya.
According to a joint survey by the Communications Authority of Kenya and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, only 35 per cent of Kenyans use the internet, with rural areas significantly lagging urban centres.
Computer usage in rural Kenya stands at just 7.3 per cent compared to over 20 per cent in urban areas. The disparities are most severe in marginalised counties such as Turkana, West Pokot, Marsabit and Tana River, where internet usage rates remain below 17 per cent.
That divide is increasingly becoming an economic concern rather than just an education challenge.
Kenya has aggressively marketed itself as Africa’s “Silicon Savannah,” with rising investment in artificial intelligence, fintech, cloud computing and digital services.
However, analysts warn that the country risks creating a two-speed economy in which urban students gain access to AI tools, coding skills and online learning while millions in rural schools remain digitally excluded.
A 2026 report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) shows that while 81.6 per cent of urban households in Kenya have internet access, only 26 per cent of rural households are connected.
The challenge is compounded by infrastructure shortages within schools themselves. Although a recent survey by Elimu Yetu Coalition found that 94.7 per cent of sampled public primary schools had electricity connections, many still lack reliable internet, devices, teacher training and functioning digital laboratories.
Development agencies and private sector players are increasingly stepping in to bridge the gap.
In January, the European Union announced the connection of 363 Kenyan public primary schools to sustainable internet under the Last Mile Connectivity of Schools project, targeting underserved regions.
Technology companies including Huawei, Safaricom and UNICEF have also backed school connectivity projects aimed at expanding digital literacy in rural communities.
But education stakeholders say isolated projects may not be enough to close the widening digital inequality gap.
