Kenya can't give up on laptop project, says Ruto

The Government will roll out the laptop programme for pupils in primary schools before the next General Election, Deputy President William Ruto has said.

Speaking in Thika yesterday when he launched the M-Pesa Foundation Academy, Mr Ruto said the Government cannot afford to give up on the laptop programme, adding it is a promise they have to honour.

"The programme will bring the transformation that the country requires through technology and innovation," Ruto said.

The deputy president said no country would in this day and age advance without laying emphasis on technology and innovation and therefore called on the youth to embrace science-oriented courses in order to make Vision 2030 a reality.

Ruto said the Government was working to review the curriculum in order to align the education system to the needs and plans of the ambitious blue print.

"If we do not review our curriculum, relook at our training and fix the gaps, align our education system to the aspirations of the country's development blueprint, then Vision 2030 may as well easily become Vision 3020," he said.

He challenged students to take up science and technical oriented courses. Citing a recent skills audit analysis carried out by the Government, Ruto said the country was facing acute shortage of technicians, artisans and technologists since many students were increasingly shying away from undertaking such courses.

"It is good to know when Vasco Da Gama arrived in Mombasa through history but it is even better to know how to fix broken sewer thorough science training," he said.

The chairman of the M-Pesa Foundation, Michael Joseph, said the academy being built on a 50-acre piece of land is expected to admit its first batch students in January 2016.