The first edition of the Thika Book Fair was held in the central Kenyan town from January 31 – February 2, 2025.
Thika town, an industrial hub in central Kenya, is famous for Fourteen Falls, Chania Falls, and Thika Falls. The town of a quarter of a million population added a cultural component when the Kendeka Prize for African Literature was started by Solano Publications in 2020. The award, which has taken a hiatus, was the richest prize for short story writing in this part of the world.
The same team that gave us Kendeka unveiled the Thika Book Fair with the theme “Reading and Sharing Information for a Better Future” to bring the literary communities to the town. The fair hosted at the Ananas Mall was a merchants’ affair with people selling publishing products and literary with a book launch and workshop. The conversations and launch events were held on the first floor of the Ananas Mall showing that venues to do things in many places outside of the bigger cities are abound. The merchant affair was held at the mall parking lot.
Activities were officially kicked off by Robinson Njeru Githae who is the author of The Trial of Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi, The Trial of the Mysterious Mugo wa Kibiru, The Trial of Tom Mboya, The Trial of Wangu Wa Makeri, and several other titles. The former minister diplomat, and brother to the late great Micere Mugo, thanked those who attended promising to support writers in the future. Learners from local schools participated in the colourful opening ceremony.
There was also the launch of Unshaken: Finding Your True North Through Life’s Trial by Zachary Kabera. The title is a nonfiction offering that encourages readers to persevere through whatever tribulations life throws at you with the Christian bible as a foundation. It was a family affair as Kabera introduced his family and friends with prayers starting and ending proceedings. Speeches and prayers from church friends anchored proceedings.
There was also a workshop headlined by the Ukrainian embassy’s first secretary Oleksii Bobrovnikov.
The merchant affair at the parking lot had several exhibitors such as Stephen Njuguna who was retailing Epic Musings of a Farmer’s Daughter by Jane Nyamuringa Ruigu-Njuguna and Nongorio cia Marítwa ma Agīkùyù by Kariuki wa Mbigi. The good people at eKitabu also sold their numerous titles at the fair.
In the audience, we noted their authors Empress Ciku Kimani-Mwaniki, whose latest book is Nairoberry Cocktail, and Scholastica Moraa whose new poetry collection When Love Says Goodbye launches on February 14.
Here are more images from the events in Thika.
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