Smart Library Opens New Chapter in Digital Learning

Director of Primary Education Stephen Barongo and WITIA Founder Eunice Pohlmann launch the Smart Library at Mbukoni Comprehensive School in Machakos on Friday July 3, 2026.

Women in Technology and Innovation Africa (WITIA) has opened a new chapter in digital learning after launching a Smart Library at Mbukoni Comprehensive School in Machakos County, an initiative expected to improve access to technology, strengthen digital literacy and enhance learning outcomes for hundreds of learners in the region.

Speaking on behalf of Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba during the launch, Director of Primary Education Stephen Barongo described the Smart Library as a major boost to the government’s efforts to integrate technology into teaching and learning, saying the facility supports the implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum while equipping learners with skills needed in an increasingly digital world.

Barongo said smart libraries provide learners with access to digital books, research materials and interactive learning content that encourage critical thinking, creativity and independent learning. He noted that the initiative also complements the government’s Digital Superhighway agenda by expanding digital infrastructure in schools and narrowing the gap between learners in rural and urban areas.

“Smart libraries help ensure learners in rural and underserved communities have the same opportunities to access digital learning resources just like those in urban areas,” he said, adding that the facilities will strengthen literacy, numeracy and digital skills while improving foundational learning outcomes.

The Mbukoni Smart Library is WITIA’s second digital learning hub under its Smart Libraries for a Smart Nation Initiative, following the successful establishment of a similar facility at Nkaimurunya Comprehensive School in Kajiado County. The new facility is equipped with computers, internet connectivity, digital learning platforms and curriculum-aligned educational resources, while three classrooms have also been renovated to create a modern learning environment that supports innovation, collaboration and creativity.

WITIA Founder and Chairperson Eunice Pohlmann said the organisation was driven by the belief that access to technology should never depend on where a child is born, describing digital literacy as an essential skill for today’s learners.

Pohlmann said Mbukoni Comprehensive School was deliberately selected because it is her former primary school, making the project a personal commitment to give back to the community that nurtured her while creating opportunities for future generations.

“Education is priceless,” she said, noting that WITIA invested beyond the Smart Library by improving the school’s learning environment to ensure learners study in facilities that inspire excellence.

She added that WITIA’s vision extends beyond providing computers and internet connectivity, noting that the organisation also intends to introduce digital skills and coding programmes for young people in the surrounding community.

“Only together can we make a change in the world. Through the Smart Library Initiative, we want to ensure that children in communities like Mbukoni have the same opportunity to learn, innovate and prepare for the future as learners anywhere else,” she said.

The library currently has 36 learner computers and one teacher workstation and is expected to serve the school’s 590 learners, with plans to extend digital skills training to young people in the surrounding community through coding and technology programmes.

The facility also incorporates accessibility features for learners living with disabilities, reflecting WITIA’s commitment to inclusive education. Education stakeholders who attended the launch said initiatives that combine technology, modern learning spaces and strategic collaboration are critical in preparing learners for the demands of the 21st-century economy.

WITIA says it plans to expand the Smart Libraries initiative to more underserved schools across Kenya, ensuring more learners have access to quality technology-enabled education.