President Kenyatta secures Microsoft support for computers

President Kenyatta has secured Microsoft International's support for the implementation of the computer to schools programme.

Microsoft Global President Jean-Philippe Courtois said his company will support the government in training all primary school teachers to enable them implement the programmes by January 2014.

Mr Courtois said his company will work with different partners to develop at least five enterprises in each County to provide technical support in hardware, connectivity and software to all schools in the country. He was speaking during a meeting with President Kenyatta at State House Nairobi Tuesday.

He assured the President that Microsoft will develop a research and innovation hub at Konza Technology Park to support software developers in the country.

Mr Courtois said through Microsoft’s universal access to broadband programme, the company will provide connectivity to rural schools, hospitals and homes.

President Kenyatta said his government is ready to enter into partnerships that will facilitate the implementation of ICT programmes in the country in a cost-effective manner.

The President assured Mr Courtois that his government will provide all the facilitation needed to roll out the partnership in line with the existing laws and regulations.

The President urged the Ministries of Education and Information Communication and Technology to work closely with Microsoft in order to come up with a framework of rolling out the partnership immediately.

Saying the country has great potential to be a global centre of ICT, the Head of State said the government will empower citizens, especially the youth, to develop ICT programmes themselves.

The President asked Microsoft International to develop a sustainable model that includes local assembly of computers as well as local software and content development, which can be replicated in other African countries.

Present during the meeting were ICT Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, Secretary to the Cabinet, Francis Kememia, and Permanent Secretaries Bitange Ndemo (Information and Communication) and George Godia (Education).