The Kenya Rugby Development Academy has rolled out a mobile digital learning bus to help public primary school pupils in Nairobi and Kiambu Counties access computers, internet, and artificial intelligence lessons, in a move aimed at closing the digital gap in schools.
The project, known as the DIGI-AI Bus, targets schools that lack computer facilities and reliable electricity. It delivers customised digital lessons that adjust to each learner’s abilities and learning needs, while supporting the Competency-Based Curriculum.
James McGreevy, co-founder and chief executive of KRDA, said the initiative is designed to help learners move at their own pace without separating them from their classmates.
“The initiative allows students to progress at their own pace while remaining in a shared classroom environment, ensuring that every learner can benefit from personalised digital education,” he said.
The mobile program builds on KRDA’s long partnership with the Atlas Foundation UK, which has supported disadvantaged children in Kenya through rugby and life skills programs for more than ten years.
The new project expands this work into digital learning, preparing students for opportunities in the digital economy.
Stephen Mlumo, a beneficiary of the academy, said the program has changed how he views technology and learning. “What I learn here, I don’t keep to myself. I go back to school and teach my friends so we can all grow together. Before this programme, I never thought I would touch a computer. Now I believe I can do more,” he said.
The bus operates independently using solar panels connected to batteries, with a silent generator as backup. This setup allows the lessons to continue even in schools where electricity is unreliable, ensuring learners in underserved areas are not left behind.
KRDA has partnered with Code Yetu to provide digital literacy and coding lessons that fit into the CBC framework. Code Yetu founder Asha Makana said the lessons are structured to align with the current curriculum and help learners apply coding in their daily lives. “We have structured the program to meet the current curriculum of CBC, integrating coding into their day-to-day lives. Coding drives problem-solving skills, creativity, and innovation,” she said.
KRDA has urged government agencies, schools, technology firms, foundations, and other partners to support the program and help expand access to digital learning. The academy said the initiative aims to give young people the skills and confidence needed to succeed in a digital world.
