Exclusive: Kenya Publishers Association’s 25 Notable Books and Authors

In a Writing Africa exclusive, we share advance information on the Kenya Publishers Association “notable 25 books and authors” to be announced on Saturday, September 28, 2024,

The Kenya Publishers Association (KPA), representing the publishing fraternity in Kenya, was founded in 1972. It plays several roles, such as lobbying for publishers at the government level while engaging the public with events like book launches, book fairs, and award ceremonies. Their most significant event is the Nairobi International Book Fair first hosted in the nation’s capital in 1996. The event which started humbly with a few people displaying a few books has grown to be the most significant book fair in this part of the world with visitors from across the continent and further afield.

The Silver Jubilee of the popular fair kicked off at the Sarit Centre, Nairobi today and will run until Sunday, September 29. The KPA has organised several activities to commemorate the occasion such as the returning Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature with its shortlists announced. Another is its “Notable Books and Authors”, which we can exclusively share, which will celebrate those who have been doing significant work in their field for the last two and a half decades. The notable list leaked to us is selected by several factors such as the awards received and the marketing effort by the authors/publishers including those who use social media.

Looking through the list, one can’t fail to notice that the jury felt that the contribution from the women writers of Kenya is severely lacking or not considered “notable” enough. Among the notable authors, they list 20 men and 5 women showing that the men are leading on that front significantly. The trend continues with the adult (5 texts by women, 20 by men) and Youth (4 texts by women, 21 by men) categories. It’s only in the children’s writing category that the jury felt the women held their own with 15 texts by women and 10 texts by men.

The Kenya Publishers Association’s notable books and authors, listed in no particular order with the women writers and their texts in bold are;

Authors (20 men, 5 women)

1. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
2. Meja Mwangi
3. David Maillu
4. Egara Kabaji
5. Ezekiel Alembi
6. Charles Mangua
7. Wahome Mutahi
8. Francis Imbuga
9. Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye
10. Ken Walibora
11. Henry ole Kulet
12. Onduko B’wAtebe
13. Rebecca Nandwa
14. John Habwe
15. Binyavanga Wainaina
16. Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
17. Stanley Gazemba
18. Mwangi Gicheru
19. Nyambura Mpesha
20. Kinyanjui Kombani
21. Ng’ang’a Mbugua
22. Ngumi Kibera
23. Emmanuel Kariuki
24. Kithaka wa Mberia
25. Eunniah Mbabazi

Adult Category (5 texts by women, 20 by men)

1. Boundless Voices: Poems from Kenya, Ed Arthur Luvai
2. Betrayal in the City, Francis Imbuga
3. Kill me Quick, Meja Mwangi
4. The River Between, Ngugi wa Thiong’o
5. My Life in Crime, John Kiriamiti
6. Son of Woman, Charles Mangua
7. Across the Bridge, Mwangi Gicheru
8. Land Without Thunder, Grace Ogot
9. Coming to Birth, Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye
10. Siku Njema, Ken Walibora
11. Walenisi, Katama Mkangi
12. Kifo Kisimani, Kithaka wa Mberia
13. Three Days on the Cross, Wahome Mutahi
14. Blossoms of the Savannah, Henry ole Kulet
15. Redemption, David Mulwa
16. The Verdict of Death, Onduko Bw’Atebe
17. Kovu Moyoni, John Habwe
18. Dust, Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
19. The River and the Source, Margaret Ogola
20. Eye of the Storm, Yusuf Dawood
21. Potent Ash, Leonard Kibera and Sam Kahiga
22. After 4.30, David Maillu
23. Ripples in the Pool, Rebeka Njau
24. One Day I will Write About this Place, Binyavanga Wainaina
25. Unplugged, Jacob Aliet

Youth Category (4 texts by women, 21 by men)

1. The Boy Gift, Meja Mwangi
2. To Grasp at A Star, Kingwa Kamencu
3. The Salem Mystery, Emmanuel Kariuki
4. Thorns of a Dead Rose, Pat Ngurukie
5. Benji’s Big Win, Nducu wa Ngugi
6. Taabu za Tabu, Mathias Momanyi
7. Picha za Karne, Hassan Mwana wa Ali
8. Mwanasiasa, Swaleh Mdoe
9. The Shark Attack – Moraa Gitaa
10. Run Cheche Run, Tony Mochama
11. Finding Columbia, Kinyanjui Kombani
12. Tale of Kasaya, Eva Kasaya
13. Dunia Tambara Mbovu, Shisia Wasilwa
14. Anasa, Yusuf King’ala
15. Finders Keepers, Patrick Ngugi
16. Parliament of Owls, Adipo Sidang
17. Death Trap, Bill Ruto
18. Wait for me Angela, Stephen Mugambi
19. Ask the Sky, Antony Mugo
20. Hop Skip and Jump, Scholar Akinyi
21. Mbona Hivi, Shullam Nzioka
22. Devil’s Hill, Ngumi Kibera
23. Names and Secrets, Mark Chetambe
24. A Taste of Fame, Argwings Otieno
25. Tissue Boy, Edward Mwangi

Children’s Category (15 texts by women, 10 texts by men)

1. The Wonderful Ball, Kabaru Ndegwa
2. A Ride to the Park, Ezekiel Alembi
3. Koko Riko, Muthoni Muchemi
4. The Billy Goat and Other Stories, Rebecca Nandwa
5. Trio Troubles, Jennie Marima
6. The Poor Child, David Maillu
7. Fumbo la Watamu, Ali Attas
8. The Hidden Package, Muthoni wa Gichuru
9. The Cunning Tortoise, Pamela Kola
10. Keminto Say Aah, Nyambura Mpesha
11. Busara na Hekima, Simiyu Mukuyuni
12. Mkala na Mwezi wa Mifugo, Kitula King’ei
13. Uncle Sese, Egara Kabaji
14. Shida the Street Boy, Ruth Makotsi
15. Sheila, Let’s Write to God, Elizabeth O. Mazrui
16. Kofia ya Kadogo, Ruth Wairimu Karani
17. Silence in Shame, Philo Ikonya
18. The Forever Tree, Grace Wangari
19. Visa na Mkasa, Zakaria Zani
20. Aku the Antelope, Dinesh Revankar
21. Mchongoma, Zena Mshenga
22. Chadi’s Trip, Sarah Haluwa
23. Bobo the Rat, Frank Odoi
24. Ali the Little Sultan, Lily Mabura
25. Sokwe Sokini na Hadithi Zingine, Pauline Kea

Correction: In a previous version of this story, we had mentioned that the list had been announced on Sunday, September 22. We have since established that this list has not officially been shared to the public. The unveiling will happen in Nairobi on Saturday, September 28.

Please support our work at Writing Africa with a one-off donation or regularly on Mobile Money, PayPal, or Patreon starting at US$3 a month by clicking here.