By BILDAD OKECHI

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has stepped up efforts to bridge the country's digital divide through a nationwide computer donation programme targeting learning institutions, with schools in Embu County among the latest beneficiaries.

Speaking during the handover of computers at Kanyuambora Boys' Senior School, Communications Authority Director Steve Ngari said the initiative was part of the authority's Corporate Social Responsibility programme aimed at supporting digital learning and complementing the government's digital transformation agenda.

"We are distributing computers to over 23 schools across the country through our Corporate Social Responsibility programme. In this region, we are covering Embu, Nyeri, Murang'a and Kiambu counties as part of our efforts to bridge the digital gap and support the digitization of learning institutions,"Ngari said.

Ngari noted that the programme aligns with the government's broader efforts to expand digital access and strengthen the country's digital infrastructure. He said equipping schools with modern technology would help learners acquire critical digital skills needed in the contemporary job market.

The initiative is also intended to complement ongoing government programmes aimed at expanding connectivity and enhancing digital inclusion across the country.

At Kanyuambora Boys' Senior School in Mbeere North, the donated computers were welcomed as a significant boost to the institution's digital learning capacity. Deputy Principal  Emilio Njeru said the school has embraced the Competency-Based Curriculum by introducing technical subjects such as electricity, metalwork and woodwork, with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) being a compulsory subject for Grade 10 learners.

The school currently has more than 150 students taking ICT and hopes to acquire additional computers to meet the growing demand for digital learning resources.

A similar sense of optimism was evident at St. Stephen Karangare Senior School, where Chief Principal Njue Benjamin described the donation as a major milestone for the institution.

The school, which has a population of 704 students, including 265 Grade 10 learners, had previously been operating with only one desktop computer and one laptop for both teachers and students. The shortage had posed challenges, particularly for learners undertaking practical ICT lessons and project-based assessments.

Benjamin said the new computers would greatly improve teaching and learning, while also providing teachers with better opportunities for research and lessons preparation. He added that the school has recorded significant academic improvement in recent years, with its Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education mean score rising from 4.1 to 6.213 over the last two years.

As ICT becomes increasingly central to education under the Competency-Based Curriculum, stakeholders say investments in digital infrastructure will play a critical role in preparing learners for future opportunities.

For schools such as Kanyuambora Boys and St. Stephen Karangare, the computer donation programme represents more than the provision of equipment; it marks a significant step towards greater digital inclusion and enhanced learning outcomes.