Raila Odinga to be honoured posthumously at Nairobi International Book Fair

The literary legacy of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will take centre stage at this year’s Nairobi International Book Fair, where he is set to be inducted posthumously into the Kenya Publishers Association Hall of Fame.

Odinga will be honoured alongside veteran publishing figure Malkiat Singh and librarian, author and reading advocate Lily Nyariki when the 27th Nairobi International Book Fair opens at the Sarit Expo Centre on Wednesday.

The recognition adds a literary dimension to the legacy of a political figure whose public life has largely been documented through politics, reform and public service.

Odinga was also an author. His 2013 autobiography, The Flame of Freedom, was published by Mountain Top Publishers and runs to nearly 1,000 pages. The book traces his life and political journey and is held in major research libraries.

The Kenya Publishers Association Hall of Fame was introduced in 2024 as part of efforts to recognise people who have made notable contributions to the country's publishing and literary ecosystem.

Singh is being recognised for his contribution to educational publishing, including his work associated with the KCPE Encyclopedia, while Nyariki has spent decades working in librarianship, book development and the promotion of reading.

Nyariki is also a published author. She co-authored Publishing and Book Trade in Kenya, a 1997 work examining the country's publishing industry, and has continued to advocate for reading and stronger book policies in Africa.

The honours will form part of a wider programme at this year's fair, which organisers say is intended to bring readers closer to authors and the people behind the books they read.

Three books shortlisted for top literary prize

The fair will also provide the stage for the announcement of the 2026 Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature winner in the English Adult Category.

Three books have made the final shortlist: Nandi Bear by Abenea Ndago, published by Nsemia Inc. Publishers; Clan of Warriors by Ken N. Kamoche, published by East African Educational Publishers; and Old Money by Charles Chanchori, published by Oxford University Press East Africa.

The winner and runners-up will be announced during the closing ceremony on September 27.

The winner in the category will receive Sh150,000.

However, the 2026 awards have also exposed a challenge facing Kenya's literary sector.

Several other prize categories will not be contested this year after organisers received too few entries to support what they considered a fair and meaningful judging process.

Agatha Karani, managing director of Bookmark Africa, said the decision followed consideration by the judging panel, the KPA Council and the awards subcommittee.

The affected categories are expected to return in 2027, subject to sufficient entries.

The development has put participation in literary competitions back into focus, even as the publishing industry seeks to grow Kenya's reading culture and create more opportunities for local writers.

Book fair targets 60,000 visitors

The five-day Nairobi International Book Fair will run from September 23 to 27 under the theme “Read, Think, Lead”.

Organisers are targeting at least 60,000 visitors, including children and young readers. The 2025 edition attracted just over 36,000 visitors, according to organisers.

Publishers and exhibitors from countries including China, India, Türkiye, Egypt, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Tanzania are expected to participate.

But organisers say the fair is no longer simply about putting books on display.

Mary Maina, chairperson of the book fair and managing director of Moran Publishers, said the programme would give readers opportunities to meet authors, discover new stories and take part in reading activities.

The event will feature book launches, author engagements, exhibitions and workshops.

For children, organisers hope the experience will go beyond buying school books. They want young readers to meet writers, illustrators, editors, publishers and booksellers and understand how a book moves from an idea to the hands of a reader.

The fair will also provide a meeting point for publishers and other players in the book industry, at a time when the sector is dealing with challenges ranging from piracy and changing reading habits to financial pressures and the growing use of digital content.

With Raila's posthumous induction, the event will also offer a reminder that Kenya's literary history is not shaped only by professional writers.

It includes public figures who have recorded their experiences, publishers who have built the industry, librarians who have promoted access to books and readers who keep those stories alive.

For five days, the focus at Sarit will therefore be on more than books on shelves. It will be on the people, ideas and stories that keep Kenya's reading culture moving.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.