The increasing integration of technology in Kenyan higher learning institutions is creating unintended consequences, impacting students, lecturers, administrative staff, and even support personnel.

• Technology adoption, including AI and digital systems, is altering relationships, identities, and expectations across the university ecosystem, leading to both empowerment and marginalisation.
• While students benefit from access to resources, they face shortened attention spans and dependence on AI, while lecturers experience increased workloads and blurred work-life boundaries.
• Administrative and support staff risk obsolescence and exclusion without adequate reskilling as digital transformation progresses.
• The article emphasizes that the success of technology in higher education should be measured by its capacity to enhance the wellbeing and inclusion of all community members, not just system efficiency.