Why EdTech Expansion is Becoming a Critical Priority for Kenya
The rapid expansion of educational technology in Kenya is transitioning from an optional innovation to a critical national priority, driven by converging educational, economic, and demographic forces that demand systemic transformation of how Kenyans learn. This shift reflects a growing recognition that traditional educational approaches alone cannot adequately prepare Kenya’s rapidly growing youth population for the demands of a digital economy, nor can they address persistent challenges of educational quality, access, and equity across the country’s diverse regions and communities.
The urgency stems from three interconnected realities: Kenya’s demographic trajectory, with over 60% of the population under 25 and a school-age population that continues to expand; the accelerating digital transformation of the global economy, which requires new skill sets that conventional education struggles to provide; and persistent educational disparities that technology has demonstrated potential to address. We are facing what might be called an ‘educational imperative’—the need to educate more young people, to higher standards, with more relevant skills, often with limited resources, explains Dr. Michael Onyango, Director of Educational Innovation at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development. Educational technology offers tools to address this challenge at scale, but only if we prioritize it systematically rather than treating it as an optional add-on.
The economic implications are profound. The World Bank estimates that learning losses during the COVID-19 pandemic could cost this generation of Kenyan students up to 10% of their future lifetime earnings. Simultaneously, employers increasingly report difficulty finding graduates with the digital competencies required in today’s workplace. Edtech expansion offers a pathway to address both challenges simultaneously—remediating learning losses while developing future-ready skills. Our competitiveness as a nation depends on the quality of our human capital, notes Linda Kamau, CEO of a Nairobi-based edtech company. In a world where knowledge and technology skills drive economic value, prioritizing educational technology isn’t just about better test scores—it’s about ensuring Kenya’s place in the global economy.
Looking ahead, Kenya’s approach to prioritizing edtech must address several critical success factors: sustainable investment in both hardware and teacher capacity; development of locally relevant content that reflects Kenyan contexts and languages; and ensuring equitable access that bridges rather than widens existing divides. The ultimate goal must be to create an education system that leverages technology not as a replacement for teachers, but as a powerful tool that enhances their effectiveness and extends their reach. This is about building an education system fit for the 21st century, concludes Dr. Onyango. By making edtech expansion a priority today, we’re investing in a future where every Kenyan learner can develop their full potential, regardless of where they start their educational journey. As Kenya positions itself as Africa’s digital hub, this educational transformation may prove to be the most crucial investment in the nation’s future prosperity and stability.