Authors aw*rded as Nairobi Book Fair draws to a close
Winners of the Jomo Kenyatta/Wahome Mutahi Literary Prize were unveiled at a ceremony at the end of the Nairobi International Book Fair on Saturday.
One Planet Publishers and the East African Educational Publishers (EAEP) reaped big with their authors bagging more than one award each.
Marx Kahende, a retired diplomat, won the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature with his book, The Wayward Vagabond, published by the East African Educational Publishers (EAEP), while Samuel Wachira who is a priest in Meru, won the Wahome Mutahi Literary Award with his book Hustlers’ Chains (One Planet Publishers).
Nducu wa Ngugi emerged winner in the English youth category of the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature, with his book, Benji’s Big Win (EAEP). He is the son of renowned author Ngugi wa Thiong’o.
Other winners included Kiswahili scholar Prof Kithaka wa Mberia, whose book Kwenzi Gizani (Marimba Publications) won the Kiswahili Adult Category.
Journalist Sarah Haluwa took top prize in the English children’s category, with her book Chadi’s Trip (Storymoja).
In the Kiswahili youth category, the winner was Mbona Hivi? Written by Shullam Nzioka and published by Oxford University Press.
The winner in the Kiswahili children’s category was Fumbo la Watamu by Ali Attas, published by One Planet.
Reading habits
During the event, Daystar University Vice-Chancellor Prof Laban Ayiro, who was the chief guest, challenged Kenyans to embrace the culture of reading if they hope to become good leaders.
He said reading contributes to good leadership. He also decried the poor reading habits of the younger generation and majority of leaders.
Kiarie Kamau, the chairman of Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) spoke about the superiority of Kenyan publishing. “We are increasingly becoming a force to reckon with in the area of publishing in Africa and beyond,” he said.
“We sit on the Executive Committees of the International Publishers Association as well as the African Publishers Network. We publish high quality and a wide range of general reading materials, most of which serve a global audience. 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.”
