Kenya's literary award winners unveiled

Marx Kahende, whose last posting as a diplomat was in Belgium, won the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature with his book, The Wayward Vagabond, while Samuel Wachira who is a priest in Meru, won the Wahome Mutahi Literary Award with his book Hustlers’ Chains.  Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s son, Nducu wa Ngugi emerged winner in the English youth category of the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature, with his book, Benji’s Big Win.

The awards ceremony, organised by the Kenya Publishers Association came at the tail-end of the Nairobi International Book Fair.

Other winners included Kiswahili scholar Prof Kithaka wa Mberia, whose book Kwenzi Gizani won the Kiswahili Adult Category. Journalist Sarah Haluwa took top prize in the English children’s category, with her book Chadi’s Trip. In the Kiswahili youth category, the winner was Mbona Hivi? Written by Shullam Nzioka.

The winner in the Kiswahili children’s category was Fumbo la Watamu.

During the event, Prof Laban Ayiro, the Daystar University Vice-Chancellor challenged Kenyans to embrace the culture of reading if they hoped to become good leaders. He emphasised that reading is a prerequisite to good leadership. He also decried the poor reading habits exhibited by the younger generation and majority of leaders across all sectors. 

Kiarie Kamau, the chairman of Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) spoke about the supremacy Kenyan publishing.

“We are increasingly becoming a force to reckon with in the area of Publishing in Africa and beyond,” he said. We are already visible on the digital publishing and online selling space ... the two literary awards demonstrate that indeed Publishing in Kenya has come of age.”