Uhuru's Free Laptops Used By DJs in Ugandan Clubs

The free laptops project meant to benefit primary schools across the country has suffered a setback after incidences of robbery incidents threw the digital literacy programme into disarray.

Sources indicate that up to four schools in Bungoma County have lost hundreds of the branded tablets and the teacher's instructional laptops which are allegedly sneaked and sold in neighbouring Uganda.

According to the Standard, one of the laptops is being used to play music in a busaa club at Bumbo market in Uganda, barely 3km from the Kenyan border.

[caption caption="DP Ruto with beneficiaries of the digital literacy initiative"][/caption]

Tulienge Primary in Bungoma lost 47 laptops on May 4 while Namawanga FYM Primary lost 64 laptops in August 2017 after cutting off part of the roof above the head teacher’s office leaving the school with only 21 tablets.

Mufungu Salvation Army (SA) Primary School lost 49 of the 72 tablets issued by the government in September last year while Namunyu Primary lost 46 laptops in a similar incident.

Bungoma West Deputy County Commissioner Daniel arap Kurui blamed school management and teachers in the affected schools for carelessness. 

"After I visited some of the schools, I found out that it was pure carelessness. In one school, the laptops were stolen from the desks. The government insisted that these laptops be kept in a secured place,"Kurui indicated.

Bungoma Education Director Jacon Mong’are noted that the affected schools have asked for other tablets to allow them to continue with digital lessons.

"We have to give a report to the Ministry of Education, wait for their opinion, and advise the way forward," the education boss noted.

[caption caption="President Uhuru during the launch of the digital literacy program"][/caption]

Kenyan officers are reportedly following the matter with one of the stolen laptops said to have been intercepted by police officers manning the Kenya-Uganda border.

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