Young Writers Shine as Text Book Centre Celebrates Local Literature

Text Book Centre hosted the second edition of the Penmanship Awards, bringing together authors, publishers, educators and students to celebrate Kenyan storytelling and promote local literary talent.

Held at the Jain Bhavan Auditorium under the theme “Across Ages, Across Pages”, the awards highlighted the growing importance of Kenya’s publishing industry amid rising demand for educational and locally produced content.

The event builds on the inaugural Penmanship Awards launched last year during Text Book Centre’s 60th anniversary celebrations.

Industry stakeholders noted that the awards come at a time when the global publishing industry is experiencing renewed momentum, driven largely by educational publishing, children’s books and increased interest in local stories. Across Africa, rising literacy levels, expanding middle-class populations and developing education systems are also boosting demand for books.

In Kenya, educational and trade publishing remain key growth segments, with expectations of further expansion following the government’s proposal to increase the education budget to Sh767 billion in the 2026/27 financial year.

Speaking during the ceremony, Text Book Centre Chief Executive Officer Sachin Varma said the awards were aimed at creating opportunities for emerging writers and strengthening Kenya’s literary ecosystem.

“Each year we run the Penmanship Awards, we lower the barrier for one more writer who might otherwise never have known this platform existed,” he said.

University of Nairobi lecturer Prof. Miriam Maranga-Musonye emphasized the role of literature in preserving culture and shaping communities.

“Communities can see themselves, their histories and their futures reflected in their literature,” she said, adding that storytelling should be nurtured among younger generations.

The event also featured a panel discussion titled “From Manuscript to Marketplace”, which explored opportunities and challenges facing African writers. Panellists included Musyoki Muli, author Chris Madison and Sharon Banda.

Several Kenyan authors and young writers were recognised during the awards ceremony. Among the winners were media personality Janet Mbugua for her book My First Time, Dr. Anuradha Khoda for Noah and the Rainbow Promise Series 2, and Jackson Biko for Big Little Fights.

The ceremony also recognised young authors under the age of 13, including Joseph Laight of Potter House School for The Big Tomato, Joseph Yohan Ayiro of WoodCreek Schools for Big Africa, and sisters Maya M. and Nia M. from Kiota School for To the Land of Magic.

Closing the ceremony, Joy Okumu said building a strong reading culture requires collaboration between writers, publishers, schools, libraries and readers.

She said the Penmanship Awards would continue supporting Kenyan authors and strengthening the country’s educational and literary landscape.