The two higher learning institutions were among eight consortiums that had submitted their tenders for the supply of the laptops.
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and Moi University have been picked to supply, install and commission digital learning devices for the 22,000 public primary schools in the country.
The two higher learning institutions were among eight consortiums that had submitted their tenders for the supply of the laptops.
JKUAT which has partnered with Positivo BGH and has been awarded one lot to supply the devices in 21 counties, while the consortium between Moi University and JP SA Couto emerged the winner in two of the three lots which covers 26 counties.
Others who had expressed their interest but lost included Lenovo, University of Nairobi, Dedan Kimathi, Kenyatta University, and Multimedia University and Hewlett - Packard EA Limited.
The programme aims to integrate the use of digital technologies in learning targeting public primary schools.
Proposal feasibility
Robert Mugo, the acting CEO ICT Authority told the Business Daily that the firms which lost had failed to meet the requirements in the tender documents.
“The winning bidders will now proceed to demonstrate their proposals feasibility in 150 selected schools across the 47 counties after which an evaluation will be made on whether they can start the full roll out of the programme across all public primary schools in the country,” read part of a statement from the Authority.
The bid winners will supply teacher digital devices, learner digital devices, special needs education learner digital devices, servers and routers as well as projectors.
The schools are distributed evenly across the 47 counties with three schools picked and representing an urban, peri-urban and rural school. An additional nine schools are allotted to special education schools.
In an earlier interview, the Authority said the 22,000 public primary schools must be equipped with the devices within two years, according to the new plan.
The cost of the first phase of the project is estimated at Sh17 billion and will deliver 1.2 million devices to cover all public primary schools.
The project is governed through a three tier framework. This consists of an oversight, inter-ministerial and a technical implementation committees.
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development has developed interactive digital content for Standard One to Three, while 61,000 primary school teachers have been trained in readiness for the project.
The project is one of the ruling Jubilee flagship campaign projects which has delayed for two years now after it was cancelled following protracted court cases between the State and initial bidders.
This forced the government to change strategy and put fresh tenders that required the consortium to partner with higher learning institutions.
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