How publisher almost ruined dreams of two writers
Maisha Yetu
by jngunjiri
2y ago
Kinyanjui Kombani and Stanley Gazemba have a number of things in common. They are both writers who first put pen on paper at the turn of the century. They also landed on a one-man publisher, based in Nairobi, who upon seeing their evident potential, promised them heaven on earth. Soon, each had a book out. Gazemba’s book The Stone Hills of Maragoli came out and promptly won the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature in 2003. Kombani’s debut novel The Last Villains of Molo, came out around 2004 to rave reviews in the media. This young writer, still a student at Kenyatta University had finally tackl ..read more
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Nairobi Book Fair postponed indefinitely
Maisha Yetu
by jngunjiri
2y ago
The 23rd edition of the Nairobi International Book Fair, which was scheduled to be held from September 28 to October 2, has been postponed indefinitely, as a way of prevention against Covid-19. “After careful consultative discussions with key stakeholders, the KPA board agreed that the presidential directive issued on 18th August 2021, vide Public Order No. 5 on the Coronavirus pandemic suspending public gatherings and in-person meetings, be strictly adhered to and hence the board has postponed the book fair to a later date, notwithstanding the strict and meticulous Covid 19 protocols advanced ..read more
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How Matiang’i won the battle to put books in the hands of poor pupils
Maisha Yetu
by jngunjiri
2y ago
When former Education Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang’i realised that corrupt booksellers and head teachers were pilfering money meant for the purchase of textbooks, he instituted a number of measures that cut off booksellers from the textbooks’ gravy train, leaving head teachers high and dry and pupils in public schools quite happy. Publishers, he ordered, would henceforth deliver books direct to schools, bypassing booksellers in the process. By doing so, Matiang’i hit two birds with one stone. He saved the government tonnes of money meant to purchase the books, as the government bought the b ..read more
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Why pupils in public schools are performing better
Maisha Yetu
by jngunjiri
2y ago
When schools were opening, there were complaints all over, especially on social media, by folks, with kids in academies, expressing frustrations at how queues in bookstores were unmanageable. It was hectic. However, let me give you the other side of the coin: public schools. Parents with kids in public schools only needed to present their children in school and go back home. There, kids are supplied with all, repeat, all textbooks – the ones that you sweated all day in queues, to buy – for free! Another thing, there is no sharing of books by pupils in public schools. If a pupil takes seven sub ..read more
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Fare thee well Ole Kulet
Maisha Yetu
by jngunjiri
3y ago
With the death of Henry Ole Kulet, Kenya has lost one of its most consistent and arguably the most decorated author based in Kenya. Ole Kulet is known for his novels that mainly revolve around the Maasai culture. Older folk will remember him for his books Is it Possible?, To Become a Man,  Moran No More among others. For the younger generation, the book that easily comes to mind is Blossoms of the Savannah, which is currently a literature set book for Form Four students.   Ole Kulet, a soft-spoken, bespectacled man, was based in Nakuru town where he was engaged in business. Fami ..read more
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