Over 300 learners at Thamuru Primary School in Thika are set to benefit from a Ksh 1 million investment by Ecobank Kenya to expand access to digital learning resources in efforts to bridge technology gaps in education.
The investment has funded the refurbishment of the school’s computer laboratory, the installation of 25 desktop computers and the provision of textbooks and stationery to improve the learning environment.
The initiative seeks to equip young learners with digital literacy and other skills needed in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
Ecobank Kenya Managing Director Rebecca Mbithi says investment in education was critical to expanding opportunities and strengthening communities.
“Education remains one of the most powerful tools for creating opportunities and transforming communities. Investing in education today is an investment in the future of our communities,” says Mbithi.
She says the Thamuru project was intended to give pupils access to resources that would improve their knowledge and prepare them for future opportunities.
Mbithi says the latest intervention, launched ahead of World Children’s Day on November 20, was part of its broader commitment to education and digital inclusion through the Ecobank Foundation.
The investment comes amid persistent gaps in digital access, particularly among children in developing economies. Data from UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union estimates that about 1.3 billion children aged three to 17 globally do not have internet access at home.
In 2023, Ecobank Kenya adopted Heritage of Faith and Hope Children’s Centre in Mlolongo under the group’s three-year Transforming Africa Through Education campaign.
The programme has supported 137 students through computer laboratory expansion, scholarships for seven secondary school learners, mentorship, digital literacy training and donations of learning materials.
In 2025, the bank also contributed to the construction and equipping of a science laboratory at the centre, extending its investment beyond basic digital access to practical science education.
My local rural school lacks such upgrades despite recent aid programs. Access remains a major hurdle for many students.