The M-PESA Foundation, in partnership with Safaricom PLC, has launched a landmark education initiative dubbed “Citizens of the Future”, aimed at transforming Kenya’s learning landscape over the next five years.
The programme seeks to upgrade infrastructure in more than 600 basic and tertiary institutions, offer over 10,000 scholarships, and provide digital skills training for teachers across the country.
Speaking during the launch, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said the Foundation will invest about KSh30 billion in the initiative to bridge learning gaps through innovation and material support.
“Under the Citizens of the Future Programme, we are consolidating our education interventions to ease access to education from early learning to technical and vocational training,” said Ndegwa.
The programme will also see the creation of “Schools of the Future” — model institutions equipped with sustainable, tech-enabled infrastructure designed to enhance inclusivity, especially for learners with special needs.
Despite education receiving a significant KSh628.6 billion allocation in the 2023/24 financial year, accounting for 20.7% of national revenue, Kenya still grapples with challenges such as inadequate learning materials, poor infrastructure, and insufficient teacher training. The new initiative aims to complement government efforts by leveraging private-sector expertise and resources to modernize education delivery.
M-PESA Foundation Chairman Nicholas Nganga emphasized the transformative goal of the programme, saying:
“We are going beyond supplementing education to transforming it. Quality education empowers communities, and our goal is to enhance both the learner and teacher experience in a digital era.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Michael Joseph, Trustee at the M-PESA Foundation, said the programme coincides with Safaricom’s 25th anniversary, reaffirming its long-term commitment to transforming lives.
“Our objective is to ensure every region has a model institution that nurtures future-ready learners through digital integration,” he noted.
Kenyans have been invited to nominate learning institutions for consideration via the official website, www.citizenofthefuture.org, within the next month. Shortlisted schools will then be evaluated based on set criteria to identify beneficiaries.