Digital literacy programme launched in Samburu

Parents in Samburu County have been urged to shun Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and invest in education for their daughters.

While launching Digital Literacy Programme at Baragoi Primary School in Samburu North Constituency, Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter assured residents that it is profitable to invest in education of girls as they grow into good caring women and support their parents.

Besides making work easier for teachers and pupils, Keter said exposing children to the digital devices at an early age would groom them into responsible citizens who would use technology to improve the country’s economy.

He noted that it was unfortunate that implementation of the digital literacy programme in primary schools delayed as most schools in the country were yet to be connected to electricity and teachers had not been taken through digital literacy training.

“At the moment 60 per cent of the country has been reached with electricity as compared to 28 per cent in 2013 before the Jubilee Government took over. In June next year (2017) the government aims to increase electricity supply to 70 per cent,” he said.

He however noted that less than 500 out of 23,411 primary schools in the country are yet to be connected to the grid.

“I am in charge of energy and electricity. I promise you that all schools will be connected to electricity by April next year (2017),” he said, adding that houses located within a radius of 600m from a transformer will also be connected with electricity.

He said the government has already bought transformers and materials required for the connection.

Keter noted that lack of data network is a problem in remote areas, saying the government would engage network service providers such as Safaricom to supply data network to for schools and community to have access to the Internet.

The function was attended by other regional leaders including Samburu North MP, Alois Lentoimaga, Women Rep, Maison Leshoomo and Nominated Senator Naisula Lesuuda.

Senator Lesuuda urged opposition to allow the government to do its job and fulfil its pledges.

“We want tell all the CORD people to leave the Jubilee Government to do its job. They should get themselves busy and tell us what they are going to do for the country,” she said.