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Kenya is preparing to teach artificial intelligence in classrooms — some schools cannot protect the computers they already have.
By Oduor Victor
Six schools in Homa Bay County have been burgled and digital learning equipment stolen, exposing a security gap at the heart of Kenya’s digital education drive.
Omolo Agar School in Rachuonyo North was among the worst hit, losing all 45 computers from its computer laboratory. Sub-County Director of Education Ziada Osano confirmed the break-ins at the local launch of the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project at Homa Comprehensive School. “The government has spent a lot of money to install these devices,” Osano said, urging community members and stakeholders to help protect school equipment.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has begun tracing the stolen laptops, tablets and projectors. Homa Bay Town DCI Commander Jimmy Kisobo said detectives are collecting serial numbers and working with internet service providers to track devices when they connect online. No local leads have emerged, raising the possibility that some equipment has already left the country.
The thefts come as the Information and Communications Technology Authority moves to introduce artificial intelligence into basic education. The authority closed its call for expressions of interest for consultants on 28 October. The 40-week World Bank-funded consultancy will develop digital literacy frameworks for the Competency-Based Curriculum, introduce AI at pre-primary level and promote gender-inclusive digital education.
Under Phase One of the National Digital Class Experience, the government has distributed 10,382 laptops and an equal number of interactive smartboards to public junior schools across all 47 counties, with more than 62,000 teachers trained.
Stealing from schools does not just remove hardware — it dismantles futures.
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