05/10/2026
What does it mean to tell the Kenyan story today? 🇰🇪📚
Over the weekend, Kitabu Fest brought together authors, readers and literary enthusiasts for an afternoon of conversations around Reading Culture in Kenya and The Kenyan Story Told — from the set books that shaped generations to the stories being written, published and read today.
In partnership with KE Subcultures, the conversation brought together perspectives from one generation to the next, exploring not just the stories we read, but the ecosystem that keeps those stories alive.
We heard from authors across different worlds:
đź“– K. Kimuyu, author of Sponsor, on the world of fiction and storytelling. Kisauti
🌱 Joram Mwinamo, author of The Enterprise Jungle, on writing from the business world. Joram Mwinamo
🎙️ Francis Okello, author of Concert of Life, on documenting the corporate world through autobiography.
The authors also unpacked what it takes to make a book stand out — from writing and positioning to marketing and building an audience — and why book launches, book clubs, podcasts and word-of-mouth recommendations continue to matter in growing a reading culture.
But perhaps just as important was hearing from the readers.
What is missing from Kenya's literary scene? What do readers want to see more of? And what would make more people pick up a Kenyan book and keep turning the pages?
Because The Kenyan Story Told isn't only about authors telling stories. It is about publishers creating space for them, booksellers bringing them closer to readers, and readers deciding which stories continue to be heard.
The conversation continues. 🇰🇪
