Wezesha, Laptop initiative for University Students Launched

By · December 4, 2010 · 73 Comments
Hardware ·

The Government of Kenya under the Ministry of Information and Communications, with the Kenya ICT Board as the implementation agency, launched ‘Wezesha’-a laptop ownership initiative for university students across Kenya.
Under ‘Wezesha’ which means ‘enable’ in Kiswahili, university students in participating public and private universities and colleges will be eligible for 15% – 33% price rebate on the purchase of laptops from select retailers.

There are 15,667 laptops available for rebate purchase under this scheme, 5% of all Wezesha laptops will be reserved for physically challenged students to purchase.

The purpose
An empowered student is better equipped to carry out research, complete assignments. In addition the laptop becomes a critical tool for entertainment and information.

It is the hope of government that students will become ambassadors for greater digital literacy across their communities and in their homes across Kenya improved access. The government also hopes to achieve greater student innovation and entrepreneurship, with students collaborating to create and execute bankable business ideas.

With laptops, students will be able to access the Internet, already available on campus and off campus from service providers.

Wezesha further compliments another initiative currently underway through the Kenya ICT Board and the Kenya Education network (KENET) across all universities and colleges to provide subsidised Internet access.

Pre-qualified Retailers
Following a successful pre-qualification exercise, the following retailers have been pre-qualified to participate in the Wezesha project as laptop suppliers:

  • Fonexpress/Orange
  • PC World/ Airtel
  • Ravenzo Trading
  • Safaricom
  • Win Comp Company Limited

Other partners

Intel

Wezesha.co.ke Portal

Wezesha Portal

How  it works

Step1: Students browse for laptops on the web portal www.wezesha.co.ke

Step2: University student register

Step3: University coordinator verifies and approves student registration online

Step4: Student receive voucher via email

Step5: Student logs onto wezesha portal and selects his/her preferred laptop and inputs voucher information. The voucher is $120; approximately Ksh. 9,600.00

Step6: Student goes to the preferred retailer; among the 5 prequalified retailers; to get a laptop. The student must pay the top-up amount of the chosen laptop

A voucher is valid for 14days once it is sent to the student

Fiunding

The laptop initiative is  funded by the World Bank and implemented by The Kenya ICT Board under the Kenya Transparency and Communications Infrastructure Project (TCIP), as part of a  component to implement the Computers for the Communities Initiative

About the author

Mad about Tech, Mobile apps, Social media consultant,
  • Mboga Oribo

    The ICT board of Kenya and the the World bank I take this chance to thank you for the good work you done towards the Kenyan students.This will improve the reseach work and other necessary work to be done using the lap top.It is high time we the students to take this chance to ensure that we are focussed to the vision 2030.

    • http://www.smenetwork.co.ke SME Network

      the machines are not cheap..an Acer Aspire One for example goes for Kshs 31,000, when you minus the Govt voucher worth Kshs 9,600 you get kshs 21,400..I can buy the same machine for Kshs 21,000 from ordinary computer shops! So wamesaidia nini sasa? Do the math and you will find wanamake profit.

      • KIM

        NI SHOP GANI HIYO ASPIRE YA 4 GB RAM, 500GB HDD NA 2.6 DUO CORE NI 21K? KUWA SERIOUS KIDOGO BOSS!

  • zac ken

    I am grateful for the idea but then not many will afford even less the voucher from the govt. I will advise the govt to give us 50% which will be much better.

  • calvo

    It is a great aspect to the government in line with vision 2030 but how can ordinary student get that laptop yet the student cannot his/her own school fees

  • Steve

    Mbogo, thats a positve critic. I like that !

  • charles

    Great idea,only wish that the payment of the balance provided a longer duration of time considering that the average student almost completely relies on HELB loans

  • http://twitter.com/Mwangy @Mwangy

    this initiative though laudable is not very straight forward e.g some of the laptops are available in the shops at the said discounted prices. I think the retailers have had them

  • nancy kanana mwenda

    Its a good idea.

  • Peter Kanyoro

    it seems vision 2030 is on it's heels.congraturations ICT BOARD n GOVA at large.

  • Omeda Kubasu

    is it really cheaper?

  • Moses olwal Otieno

    Am Moses Olwal Otieno Chepkoilel University Collage.i did register but ever since i haven't been cleared by the university co_ordinator, what could be the problem?

  • wright luciano

    i think its an effort to say the least

  • Gathecha

    This is realy good.I appreciate your work in supporting Kenyans.Its encourangin,big ups!

  • Peter

    who is this University Coordinator

  • alexis

    this is nonsense! They sell a hp dv6 at 78,000 and yet i can get it at 60,000…i'd rather 'wezesha' myself

  • jephther

    thanks but we still can't afford i think all laptops could have be given in hirepurchase terms

  • NIGEL

    I THINK ITS BETTER IF THEY HAD ALLOWED A 50% OFF

  • RAYMOND NZAI

    I guess unbundled offer is fair enough, for the govt they can do better than that?

  • Godfrey Binaisha

    So,is this just one more way of ensuring university students remain debtors for life?majority of the students rely on HELB which is too inadequate!If the government is sincere enough it should offer at least 50%.

  • Daville

    its a great idea only if the students could afford it!! this is resulting to the students selling the vouchers at as less as Ksh. 2,000 to those who can afford who will later sell the cheaply acquired machines at super profit!!!!

  • c ni mimi

    is these selected ones y not all u suckers

  • morris

    wen wil this be ending

  • Bennah Daddy

    Thanks to the govt this is a good initiative but it seems the suppliers shortlisted are taking advantage of this coz they have now shot up their normal prices since the offer was given to them and so it seems like no aid given to students even after the voucher is successful!!! govt should look into this also!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Jaduong

    The idea is a very brilliant idea. The promotion is good but it is just another way tying the neck of poor student who depend on only HELB which is also too less to sustain then. There could have been a consideration to those unable student who are just in Universities because of HELB. The better off student have it all. Govt! Do something for us

  • http://www.dascubesartshop.com Das

    Just hope its a clean deal. A laptop is not just a laptop. Which one(properties)? wats its market value? Give us more infor.

  • Martin Mugendi

    A fellow student took our details purporting to be for research purpose but he actually registered us for wezesha.We tried to register but the process failed because our details were already used.We are fearing that he might download the vouchers if he created new email account for each one of us.I intended to purchase the subsidized laptop when i receive my next HELB loan but now this cunning fellow messed me up. Any help for this?My email address is cristianokamato@yahoo.com and my contact is 0710964408

  • kane

    Smart initiative for enhancing globalization.THANKS for deal.

    • Cate

      I need this urgently..is there a deadline for this offer?

  • Rosina

    well,am grateful! and i think the wezesha team is awesome.but i wish the valid days for the vourcher were more at least 30 days,coz one may not be able to get remaining amount for the 14 days.

  • isaac onyango

    A good initiative but what about the needy students who cannot afford to make it to such expensive colleges and universities. Its great but will be in line with vision 2030 if locals college students too are put in to considerations. Thanks.

  • http://wyzed.blogspot.com OmburaW

    A nice initiative though the ICT board should do a little more, say, by increasing the amount offered. It's however amazing how students have misused this opportunity; I've seen several ads on the noticeboards of fellows who want to buy the vouchers.

  • lizz

    it is very unfortunate that the vouchers set 4 kenya methodist uni are over….

  • KELI

    we see the government is now doing smthing. thanks 4 the roads too. Keli. UoN.

  • comrade

    mega scheme for the govt to dispose off stupid non-functioning laptops to poor students in the name of promoting vision 2030. shame on you mwai kibaki and raila odinga. fellow comrades for your info the laptops we purchased at 5,000 by the govt from japan and china in the name of promoting kenyan students hence were being siphoned by the govt. REVOLT

  • nelson

    I think the timimg for this priject was very poor. Why not bring the project around august when students actually have the purchasing power. nelson from eldoret

  • ALEX MWAI

    thanks a lot especially 4 us ICT GUYS

  • werhms

    When will this be ending?

  • REDEMPTA

    Thanks alot for doing us this favour GOD bless you so much

  • evans ombuya

    it's a great idea only if it was affordable to students from humble background

  • joe oduor

    help me am in kca univarsity and i applied for a voucher two weeks ago but i havent gooten one upto today what coukd bethe problem.

  • jay bee

    the government of kenya can do better.we just students not business partners

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2NI6T5JBLYAGAXBTST4BM6FTOA Cheruiyot Langat

    thanks to wezesha initiatives you have a good job.will you come for the round or this is the last?

  • catherine Maina

    just wanted to know whether the offer has ended .ave been waiting for a message not yet.my email is katrina .maina@yahoo.com from kimathi university

  • Peterdennis45

    Hi, I’m worried whether the offer is gone or what. I registered 3 weeks ago and until now I haven’t got any update in my email concerning the offer. Here is my email: peterdennis45@gmail.com from J.K.U.A.T main campus. Thank you.

  • Mcdariusmbela

    Hi admin,
    is this a real offer bacause i registered one month down the line and my account has never been approved? is the offer still on or it is closed? mcdariusmbela@gmail.com,maseno university

  • Wilsonewaar

    I would like to buy a laptop in the mid Augast 2011,but I don’t know the time wezesha promotion would end.Please inform me. THANKS.

  • Dolubero

    when is the next offer starting?would like a laptop.contact dolubero@gmail.com

  • EVANCE KAYIERA

    How can i purchase the laptop through wezesha?

  • josh

    why is it that the program is not running now, i tried yesterday 10th & today 11th  and its not responding 
    Josh

  • Dmdoramu

    is the time over for the subcription or it is’nt,want to aply for a laptop
    please need it soon….doris kenya methodist nairobi campus 

  • Musyokaelijah21

    I would like to acquire a laptop through wezesha and i do not hav e a national ID.Please help. 

  • Musyokaelijah21

    I would like to acquire a laptop through wezesha and i do not hav e a national ID.Please help. 

  • Simon Thuku

    I AM A COLLEGE STUDEND, CAN I PUCHASE A LAPTOP THROUGH WEZESHA?

  • Bennry

    the university of nairobi is taking to long to approve the vouchers. please help.

  • Johnmutindam

    I applied for the voucher but i have not recieved any response and its almost three months since i applied for it.

  • Joseph

    just wanted to know whether the offer has ended .ave been waiting for a message not yet and my email is jose.mwash@yahoo.com from Moi university

  • S.K.Munyi

    This is real,I already have a laptop through Wezesha,(Moi University Student)

  • SARAH KOSKEI

    keep up the spirit i got my laptop on 14.06.2011.Thanks for your concerns

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Idi-Ameka/100000749292433 Idi Ameka

     Halo, when is wezesha promotion likely to end?

  • Kariithi Joshua

    I congratulate the Kenya ICT board for such a wonderful plan together with the world bank.The only thing that I request is persistence of this promotion for a longer duration to enable those students who don’t have ready cash to benefit from this program in the months ahead.

  • Ronald Kibet

    i am happy i got my laptop, thanks to wezwsha.another problem now has already emerged,the (@) button
    doesn’t function so u can not write your e-mail address as expected.please help me use you products with ease.
     (From KU Student)

  • Onchuruw2006

    What may be the problem because it has been long and my  voucher is still to be approved.Am Wycliffe from KU, email_ onchuruw2006@yahoo.com

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Joslyne-Muthoni/100000734454077 Joslyne Muthoni

    l would like to buy a laptop right away is the offer stil on?
     

  • Shiksjacky

    i had register with you but wen i log in it says i ave a passwordi forgot ma pass word ave nvr received a vourcher on my email i cld lyk to apply again is da offer stil on?

  • Godfreyochieng008

    please i`d like to buy a laptop at the end of this month;however i don`t exactly know when phase two of wezesha is kickng off.Anyone with an idea?

  • shi

    has this offer already ended ama its still on??

  • peter fred mbosyo

    want it agently…………..min thi voucher………..em seen no option 4 editing,so wat wanna i do……….?

  • Caspar Spat

    Would wish to know when the second phase beginning?

  • Lisalitsa

    I there a lap top now or the programme is now over

  • Phoebesheneda

    is the wezesha promotion on going

  • Nyongesakitongo

    is wezesha initiative discriminative against kenyans outside the borders. if not then, i seek clarification y ma requests to own laptop tendered in last year has not been responded to. (nyongesakitongo@hotmail.com)

  • Rodgers

    hi wezesha when are we likely to have round two of the programmes

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