MADARAKA DAY COMES TO WAJIR AS CONNECTIVITY CONTINUES TO SHAPE EVERYDAY LIFE
For the first time in Kenya’s history, Wajir is hosting the national Madaraka Day celebrations, placing the county at the center of the country’s attention.
Beyond the significance of hosting a national event, something else is already visible on the ground: a county in transition, where access to information, learning, and opportunity is gradually being shaped by connectivity.
Wajir has long faced gaps in digital infrastructure, with many communities experiencing limited access to reliable internet compared to other parts of the country. But that reality is slowly shifting.
This year’s Madaraka Day finds Mawingu already on the ground in Wajir, providing internet connectivity to homes, schools, and businesses as part of its ongoing expansion of fiber and wireless infrastructure in underserved regions.
“When we started Mawingu, our mission was simple but ambitious: to bridge the digital divide by making reliable internet accessible and affordable for communities that had been left out of Kenya’s digital growth story,” said Farouk Ramji, CEO of Mawingu. “Wajir represents that mission coming to life.”
Across Wajir, internet access is increasingly becoming part of daily life. From schools and businesses to homes and youth spaces, more people are relying on digital platforms for communication, education, and access to information.
For Mawingu, this progress is part of a broader effort to expand reliable internet access in underserved communities and ensure that more people are connected to opportunities in the digital space.
Recently, Mawingu upgraded its fiber network to deliver faster internet speeds, improved stability, and a more consistent online experience for customers in Wajir.
At Wajir School for the Deaf, the impact of connectivity is already visible. Through a partnership involving Mawingu Foundation and the Internet Society Foundation, the school has access to internet connectivity that is helping support more interactive learning for students with disabilities.
“Mawingu internet has opened up new possibilities for us,” says Dr. Lona Irene, Deputy Principal at the school. “We also use it to video call parents who want to check in on how their child is doing.”
Teachers at the school say online learning materials and visual resources are helping make lessons more engaging and accessible for learners.
Beyond the classroom, young people and small businesses in Wajir are also increasingly using digital tools for communication, online learning, and access to new opportunities.
As Kenya marks Madaraka Day in Wajir, the celebrations sit alongside a quieter reality already unfolding in the county. Change here is not dramatic, but it is visible in classrooms, in businesses, and in how people are beginning to use digital tools in their daily lives. It is a shift that is still in progress, but increasingly difficult to ignore.
To learn more about Mawingu’s commitment to rural connectivity and digital equity, visit Mawingu. To learn more about Mawingu Foundation, you can contact Charles Watiri on charles.watiri@mawingu.co or visit Mawingu Foundation.
