Rugby Academy takes digital classroom on the road

Kings Rugby Development Academy (KRDA) has launched a mobile digital learning initiative aimed at bringing computers, internet access and basic technology skills to children in underserved communities, as part of efforts to narrow Kenya’s digital divide.

The project, dubbed the DIGI-AI Bus, will deliver hands-on training in information and communication technology, digital literacy, artificial intelligence and robotics directly to public primary schools that lack computer infrastructure.

The bus will rotate between schools in Nairobi and Kiambu counties, targeting learners who would otherwise have limited exposure to digital tools.

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KRDA said the initiative is designed to prepare learners for participation in the global digital economy by combining access to technology with practical skills aligned to Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

The programme builds on a decade-long partnership between the Kings Rugby Development Academy and the Atlas Foundation UK, which has focused on using rugby as a platform to support underprivileged children through education and life skills development. The DIGI-AI Bus expands that model beyond sport, with a focus on digital inclusion.

James McGreevy, KRDA’s co-founder and chief executive, said the bus is equipped with computers, internet connectivity, and AI-driven learning software tailored to the CBC.

The system allows learners to receive customised lessons based on their individual strengths and learning gaps, enabling them to progress at their own pace while learning alongside their peers.

For beneficiaries like Stephen Mlumo, the programme has opened doors that once felt out of reach.

“What I learn here, I don’t keep to myself. I go back to school and teach my friends so we can all grow together,” Mlumo said. “Before this programme, I never thought I would touch a computer. Now I believe I can do more.”

The DIGI-AI Bus is designed to operate in areas with limited infrastructure. It is powered by rooftop solar panels linked to battery storage, with a silent generator as backup, allowing it to function even where electricity supply is unreliable.

KRDA has partnered with Code Yetu to deliver digital literacy training, including coding and personalised AI-based curricula tailored to individual learners. Code Yetu founder Asha Makana said the lessons are integrated into the CBC, ensuring that coding becomes part of pupils’ everyday learning.

“We have structured the programme to meet the current curriculum of CBC, integrating coding into their day-to-day lives,” Makana said. “Coding drives problem-solving skills, creativity and innovation.”

KRDA has called on the government, schools, technology firms, foundations and other partners to support the initiative, saying broader collaboration is needed to build an inclusive education pathway and ensure no child is left behind in Kenya’s digital transformation.