Homa Bay:Education stakeholders in Homa Bay County are alarmed by the increasing incidents of theft involving digital literacy gadgets in local schools. Six schools have recently reported break-ins resulting in the theft of essential equipment.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has started efforts to track down the stolen gadgets, which include laptops, tablets, and projectors. These devices are crucial for providing students with necessary IT skills.
During the launch of the Kenya Digital Acceleration Project at Homa Comprehensive School, Homa Bay Sub County Director of Education, Ziada Osano, highlighted the issue. She reported that 421 institutions in the county have already received smart boards and laptops, with an additional 366 expected in the next phase.
The theft of these digital resources poses a significant challenge to educational advancements in the region. Osano emphasized the importance of community involvement in protecting these assets, as the government has invested heavily in bringing them to schools.
In particular, Omolo Agar School in Rachuonyo North suffered a major loss, with 45 Safaricom-donated computers being stolen. DCI Commander Jimmy Kisobo noted that efforts to trace the devices have been unsuccessful, suggesting they may have been smuggled out of the country.
To enhance security, police collect serial numbers and collaborate with internet service providers to trace devices when they connect to the internet. However, no feedback has been received from these efforts, indicating the potential international reach of the stolen items.
Osano called on the community to help safeguard the electronics, emphasizing that schools rely on public support for security. She reiterated the need for stakeholders to ensure the safety of these gadgets to preserve educational progress.
