Global technology company Acer has announced a major change in its East African strategy, moving away from its traditional hardware sales model to a more purpose-driven focus on public sector partnerships and digital equity in education.
This new direction was unveiled by Grigory Nizovsky, Acer’s Vice President for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), during a recent partner forum held in Nairobi. He explained that the company is realigning its operations in Kenya to work more directly with schools, universities, and government institutions. The goal, he said, is to support the country’s digital learning ambitions by offering integrated and scalable solutions.
“The public sector and education are our top priorities. Wherever digitisation is happening, especially in education, we want to be part of the solution,” Nizovsky said. “We’re ready to bring integrated, scalable solutions that go beyond hardware.”
Acer’s new strategy aligns with the Kenyan government’s push for universal digital literacy. Over the past few years, through initiatives such as the Digital Literacy Programme (DLP), more than one million devices have been distributed to over 20,000 public schools. But despite these gains, challenges such as poor infrastructure, lack of adequate teacher training, and ineffective classroom integration still persist.
Speaking at a recent education summit, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, Julius Migosi, described digital literacy as “the foundation of economic participation,” adding that matching device deployment with human capital development is essential for real impact.
To address this gap, Acer says it is moving beyond just supplying education-grade devices. The company plans to introduce teacher training programmes, affordable financing options, and solutions tailored to the local learning environment. Nizovsky disclosed that Acer is in talks with financial institutions to enable flexible payment models that will help schools, county governments, and households overcome cost barriers to access.
In addition, Acer is exploring opportunities to support local assembly in Kenya, in line with government efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing through special economic zones. “We can customise products and support local assembly initiatives,” said Nizovsky. “This not only reduces cost but creates jobs and builds capacity within the country.”
Kenya has increased its budget allocation to the DLP to Ksh 3.2 billion in the 2025/26 financial year — a 9.5% increase from the previous cycle. The move signals a growing commitment to digital education, but questions remain about how efficiently the funds will be used. Education stakeholders are calling for strict oversight to ensure the money is spent on improving learning outcomes rather than administrative expenses.
Experts in the education technology space have also cautioned that progress will be limited unless teacher training, localised digital content, and infrastructure development are properly aligned. Without this, they warn, classrooms could become digital in name only.
Acer’s plan aims to fill those gaps. “We’re not just here to sell devices,” Nizovsky said. “We’re here to help build resilient, context-specific digital learning ecosystems that reflect the needs of Kenyan learners and educators.”
The company’s approach could help position Kenya as a continental leader in affordable and inclusive digital education. However, experts note that the success of Acer’s strategy will depend on how well it collaborates with government bodies, teachers, and development partners to scale solutions that deliver real impact in the classroom.
If successful, Acer’s model in Kenya could be replicated across other African countries facing similar challenges in building sustainable digital education systems.
