A Mathematics teacher in Isiolo can now teach a student in Meriti. A Chemistry lesson can reach learners in Sericho, while students in Garbatula can follow an English class taught from Isiolo Girls High School. Mawingu Wi-Fi Empowers Isiolo Girls to extend its teaching beyond the school through a live-streaming programme connecting teachers with learners in other schools across Isiolo County. 

The programme is one of the most significant ways reliable internet has changed how the school uses technology. But the difference is also visible in everyday teaching and administration. 

Making Technology Work for the School 

Isiolo Girls had computers before it had reliable internet. The school received the equipment through the Oracle programme when it was a centre of excellence, but limited connectivity made it difficult to use the computers effectively. 

Teachers and administrators relied on modems and internet bundles to register candidates for national examinations and upload marks for practical subjects such as Computer Studies, Home Science, and Agriculture. 

“We realized that these computers are not as useful as they could be without the internet,” says John Muriuki, Deputy Principal in charge of Academics at Isiolo Girls High School. 

The school also had few laptops, leaving desktop computers as the main devices available to teachers. Completing work outside the computer laboratory was therefore difficult. 

The introduction of Mawingu Wi-Fi changed this. 

Internet access is now available in classrooms, science laboratories, libraries, and computer laboratories. Teachers can access online resources while preparing and delivering lessons, while administrators can complete online tasks without relying on individual modems. Students have also gained more ways to learn beyond their textbooks. 

“The learners are able to explore all the digital materials that are available on the internet, therefore expanding the scope of learning,” says Muriuki. 

Teachers can similarly find additional information to strengthen their lessons and expand their own knowledge. The experience is not unique to Isiolo Girls. Katheka Kai Primary in Machakos County has also benefited from connectivity that gives teachers greater access to digital learning resources. 

From One School to Learners Across the County 

For Isiolo Girls, however, internet connectivity has created an opportunity that goes beyond using digital resources within its own classrooms. 

The school serves as the principal school in a live-streaming lesson programme involving five schools: Isiolo Girls, Isiolo Boys, Mary’s Secondary, Adegani Secondary, and Ondonjilo Secondary. 

Teachers from Isiolo Girls deliver Mathematics, English, Chemistry, Physics and Biology lessons to learners in areas including Meriti, Sericho, Oldoniro and Garbatula. For schools that may not have enough teachers in particular subjects, the programme gives learners access to teachers with expertise in those areas. 

Eric Kinoti, the County ICT Champion Teacher in Isiolo County, has been involved in the programme since it began in 2021 following the disruption to learning caused by COVID-19. 

Connectivity was a challenge from the start. The programme initially received internet support through partnerships involving the Ministry of Education, the Teachers Service Commission, and other partners. 

When that arrangement ended in 2024, the team needed another provider to keep the lessons running. 

That is when they turned to Mawingu. 

“Fortunately, we landed on Mawingu and we have been with them since then to date, and they have proved to be a good partner in lesson live streaming,” says Kinoti. 

Helping Teachers Use the Technology 

The live-streaming programme also requires teachers to be comfortable using platforms such as Google Meet, Google Classroom, and Microsoft Teams. 

Mawingu supported training for teachers at the Isiolo Youth Innovation Centre, covering basic ICT skills and how to use the different platforms. Kinoti says the training helped teachers become more confident. 

“Since then, after we’ve been trained on the basic ICT skills on how to use Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, and how to navigate our emails, the impact has been good. Our teachers have been positive about the entire training.” 

The training is part of Mawingu Foundation’s wider digital skills work. Through its Digital and skills programme in Garissa and Wajir  , the Foundation has supported teachers and other community members to build practical digital skills. 

What the Connection Makes Possible 

The difference at Isiolo Girls can be seen in simple moments: a teacher finding information to strengthen a lesson, a student exploring a topic beyond a textbook, an administrator completing an online task, or a teacher delivering a lesson to students in another school. 

That connection between internet access and everyday school operations is also visible at Tetu Senior School, where reliable connectivity has helped improve digital record keeping, online registration, communication with education offices and access to online learning materials. 

Mawingu’s 2025 Impact Report highlights the company’s work connecting underserved and unserved communities including schools and other community institutions. 

The experience at Isiolo Girls is part of a wider effort by Mawingu to bring reliable connectivity to communities where access has traditionally been limited. In 2026, Mawingu announced plans to deploy connectivity across 450 community hubs, including schools and digital resource facilities, through its Microsoft-Starlink rural connectivity initiative.  

Mawingu Wi-Fi has helped Isiolo Girls make better use of its technology, support its teachers, and extend learning to students beyond its own classrooms. 

Want to learn more about Mawingu and how its connectivity is opening opportunities for communities across Kenya? Visit Mawingu.