On Thursday, 29th January 2026, the KICTANet team paid a courtesy visit to Tana River County as part of the Enhancing Digital Access and Community Resilience (EDACR) project, one of the eight counties in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) where the programme is being implemented. The visit marked an important step in strengthening collaboration with county leadership and local stakeholders to advance digital inclusion, community resilience, and safe participation in the digital economy.
Led by Mwendwa Kivuva, the team included Florence A. Ouma, Program Assistant – Gender and Accessibility, and Egline Samoei, Communications Consultant, EDACR Project. The delegation was warmly hosted by Mwanajuma Hiribae, Ag. County Secretary and CEC for Lands and Physical Planning, Agriculture, Livestock, and Cooperative Development, whose support and optimism underscored the county’s commitment to digital transformation.
EDACR in Action Empowering VSLAs and Cooperatives
During the engagement, Mwendwa Kivuva introduced the EDACR project and outlined its core objectives. He emphasized the importance of working with Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), cooperatives, and community groups to build awareness around the value of digital technologies, the practical benefits they bring to livelihoods and service delivery, and the potential risks that come with digital adoption.
The EDACR project, led by KICTANet and supported by the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme, seeks to strengthen digital inclusion and resilience across Kenya’s ASAL regions. Through this initiative, KICTANet aims to provide foundational digital literacy training to 154,600 citizens, covering the use of digital devices, productivity tools, communication platforms, online safety, and digital entrepreneurship. The training model leverages Community Digital Champions and Entrepreneurs to reach organized groups such as VSLAs and cooperatives, ensuring learning is community-driven and locally relevant.
County Leadership’s Commitment to Digital Empowerment
In her remarks, Mwanajuma Hiribae expressed strong support for the EDACR project and affirmed the county’s readiness for collaboration and partnership to advance its goals. She highlighted the presence of digital infrastructure in Tana River County and the need to ensure it is fully utilized by residents.
“For Tana River County, there is digital infrastructure, but it is underutilized,” she noted. She urged youth, cooperatives, and community groups to take up the initiative and become digitally empowered, emphasizing the role of technology in unlocking economic opportunities and strengthening community resilience.
Her message reinforced the importance of moving beyond access to ensure meaningful and safe use of digital tools, particularly for women and underserved groups.
Advancing Inclusion and Accessibility
Florence Awino of KICTANet spoke about the programme’s strong focus on inclusivity, with particular attention to persons with disabilities (PWDs) and women. She emphasized that EDACR is designed to create safe, accessible, and supportive learning environments that enable all participants to build confidence and skills in the digital space.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of tailoring digital literacy approaches to meet diverse community needs, ensuring that no one is left behind as digital services and opportunities continue to expand.
Complementary Support Through ICTA
Florence Olweny, representing the ICT Authority (ICTA), shared how ICTA’s digital courses complement the EDACR project. She explained that these programmes help bridge the digital divide in Kenya by providing additional pathways for communities to build practical digital skills and connect with national digital initiatives.
Her contribution underscored the value of multi-stakeholder collaboration in creating a robust digital ecosystem that supports learning, innovation, and sustainable development at the community level.
Conclusion
The courtesy visit to Tana River County reaffirmed the shared commitment between KICTANet, county leadership, and national partners to advance digital inclusion, community resilience, and safe participation in the digital economy. With strong local support, a clear focus on inclusivity, and complementary partnerships, the EDACR project is well positioned to deliver meaningful, community-level impact.
As implementation continues across Kenya’s ASAL regions, KICTANet looks forward to deepening these collaborations and empowering communities especially youth, women, and organized groups such as VSLAs and cooperatives to harness digital tools for sustainable growth and development.