Digital endeavor initiated by Mawingu and ATC Kenya: Establishing Digital Communities Program to Address Kenya's rural internet deficiency
The Mawingu Foundation, in partnership with American Tower Corporation (ATC) Kenya, has announced a three-year Digital Communities initiative aimed at bridging the digital divide in underserved regions of Kenya. The programme, unveiled on July 16, 2025, targets vocational training centres, secondary schools, special schools, dispensaries, and their surrounding communities.
The initiative, which focuses on establishing technology-enabled community spaces, is designed to expand digital access in rural areas by providing both infrastructure and training. This, in turn, fosters digital inclusion and economic development in these regions.
At the heart of the initiative is digital literacy training for youth, equipping them with essential skills in using digital technologies, enhancing their employability and ability to engage in the digital economy. Additionally, the programme offers vocational and financial skills development for adults, enabling them to benefit from digital opportunities and improve their economic prospects.
The Digital Community established at Tenri Vocational Training Center in Embu County is a testament to the initiative's impact. It offers digital literacy training, vocational and financial skills development, and access to essential healthcare services.
The collaboration between Mawingu Foundation and ATC Kenya strengthens ATC's Digital Communities program, which aims to accelerate digital inclusion across Kenya's rural landscape. Farouk Ramji, Chief Executive Officer of Mawingu, emphasised the initiative's focus on connecting communities most in need. George Odenyo, Chief Executive Officer of ATC Kenya, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the initiative's aim to expand digital access across underserved regions in Kenya.
Currently, only 1 in 25 households in Africa has access to affordable internet. However, in Kenya, the figure improves slightly to 1 in 10 households. Despite this, rural communities still face the greatest barriers to access. The partners note that holding back progress in education, healthcare, and economic opportunity is due to these barriers to access.
The Digital Communities initiative is projected to directly benefit over 50,000 people. By combining strategic infrastructure with grassroots partnerships, the initiative unlocks transformative opportunities, with the ultimate goal of fostering societal advancement through technology.
[1] Mawingu Foundation Press Release, July 16, 2025. [2] American Tower Corporation Press Release, July 16, 2025. [4] Interview with Farouk Ramji, CEO of Mawingu Foundation, July 17, 2025. [5] Interview with George Odenyo, CEO of ATC Kenya, July 17, 2025.
- The Digital Communities initiative, launched by the Mawingu Foundation and American Tower Corporation (ATC) Kenya, aims to bridge the digital divide in Kenya by providing technology-enabled community spaces, community infrastructure, education-and-self-development programs, and enhancing digital access to underserved rural regions.
- The Digital Communities program, directed at vocational training centres, secondary schools, special schools, dispensaries, and their surrounding communities, offers digital literacy training for youth, vocational and financial skills development for adults, and access to essential healthcare services, thereby empowering people for economic development in these regions.
- By providing both technology infrastructure and education-and-self-development opportunities, the Digital Communities initiative directly benefits over 50,000 people in Kenya, fostering digital inclusion and improving access to essential services in healthcare, education, and economic opportunities, thereby driving societal advancement through technology.
