Mawingu, Kenya’s leading and largest rural and peri-urban internet service provider driving digital inclusion across unserved and underserved regions, has taken another step toward its 2028 vision of impacting one million Africans.
In collaboration with the African Centre for Women in Information and Communication Technology (ACWICT), Mawingu launched the Digital Skills for Underserved Communities initiative across Garissa and Wajir Counties, two regions that are at the heart of Kenya’s semi-arid belt and among the least digitally connected areas in the country. To ensure local ownership and sustainability, ACWICT worked closely with downstream partners, including community-based organizations such as the Semi-Arid Resilience Network (SARNet) in Garissa, to mobilize participants and coordinate the success of the training programs.
The initiative, themed “Building Digital Resilience and Inclusion,” sought to bridge the digital divide by equipping local educators and healthcare professionals with the digital tools and knowledge to transform their service delivery and community engagement.
In Garissa County, the program brought together over 200 teachers and healthcare workers for a transformative Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop. Similarly, in Wajir County, 115 participants underwent a three-day intensive training, gaining hands-on experience in using digital platforms to enhance learning, data management, and healthcare coordination.
“Connectivity is the foundation, but empowerment is the goal,” said Mr. Charles Watiri, Head of Impact at Mawingu Foundation, during the launch in Garissa. “By equipping teachers and healthcare workers with the right skills, we’re ensuring that technology becomes an equalizer and enabler.”
The training curriculum focused on digital literacy, online collaboration tools, and the integration of technology into education and healthcare systems. Participants learned how to utilize digital platforms for classroom engagement, virtual learning, community health tracking, and data-driven decision-making.
For many participants in both Garissa and Wajir, this marked their first structured exposure to digital education tools and cloud-based systems, setting a foundation for continuous digital adoption in their institutions.
“These trainees now serve as digital ambassadors,” said Thomas Ayuaki, Programs Lead ACWICT. “They are replicating the training in their own schools and health centers, ensuring that the benefits of digital access spread further within their communities.”
The success of the program highlights the power of collaboration. Mawingu’s partnership with ACWICT demonstrates how public-private cooperation can drive tangible progress toward Kenya’s and Africa’s broader digital inclusion goals.
By leveraging its affordable internet infrastructure and local partnerships, Mawingu ensures that connectivity is both accessible and meaningful.
“At Mawingu, we’ve always believed that when access meets purpose, impact is possible,” said Farouk Ramji, CEO of Mawingu. “This project reflects our mission to open opportunity for all, because inclusion isn’t complete until every community is connected and equipped to thrive.”
The Garissa and Wajir programs are part of a broader strategy to make digital access a driver of opportunity across Africa. In Kenya and beyond, Mawingu continues to expand affordable connectivity while building capacity in education, entrepreneurship, and community development.
The Road Ahead: Impacting One Million Africans by 2028
Mawingu’s mission is bold yet clear: to impact one million Africans by 2028 through affordable internet, local partnerships, and digital empowerment programs.
To us, each connection represents opportunity, independence, and growth.
As the Garissa and Wajir stories show, when communities are empowered with both access and ability, transformation becomes inevitable.
