Kenya is set to mark National Reading Day 2026 in a colourful celebration aimed at promoting a stronger reading culture across the country.
The event, organised by the Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) in partnership with KCB Bank, will be held on Friday, July 10, 2026, at Maktaba Kuu in Nairobi.
This year’s celebration will run under the theme “Our Stories, Our Future: Empowering Minds Through Reading.”
The event seeks to position reading and literacy as key drivers of Kenya’s socio-economic development, while encouraging learners, parents, educators, authors, publishers, and the wider public to embrace books as tools for knowledge and empowerment.
The day’s activities will begin with a reading march, bringing together learners, educators, authors, and stakeholders in a symbolic show of support for literacy.
The march will set the stage for a series of activities, including exhibitions, performances, author engagements, and interactive sessions designed to inspire readers of all ages.
A major highlight of the celebration will be a publisher exhibition and book fair, which will run throughout the week.
The exhibition will feature leading publishers, including KLB, Longhorn, Moran, One Planet, EAEP, Oxford, Phoenix, Queenex, and Spotlight.
Members of the public will have an opportunity to buy educational materials at discounted prices, with CBC learning materials being offered at 20 per cent off, while 8-4-4 series books will be available at discounts of up to 50 per cent.
The discounts are expected to make quality learning resources more accessible to families, schools, and learners as the country continues to emphasise inclusive education and lifelong learning.
The event will also feature a lineup of authors who will interact directly with readers through reading sessions, conversations, and book-focused engagements.
According to KNLS, the author sessions are part of efforts to promote local content, support Kenyan writers, and nurture a reading culture among children, young people, and adults.
The culmination ceremony will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will bring together key stakeholders for keynote addresses, recognition of outstanding participants, and a celebration of reading as a national priority.
The event will be officiated by the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services, Hanna Wendot Cheptumo.
Her participation is expected to underscore the government’s support for literacy, culture, inclusion, and national development through access to knowledge.
Speaking ahead of the event, KNLS Director General Dr Charles Nzivo noted that reading was more than a basic skill, describing it as a pathway to empowerment, creativity, and informed citizenship.
KNLS has called on Kenyans from all walks of life to participate in the national celebration and embrace reading as a daily habit.
National Reading Day has grown into a flagship initiative aimed at transforming Kenya into a knowledge-based society by promoting inclusive literacy and lifelong learning.
Through partnerships with institutions, publishers, and private sector players, KNLS continues to expand access to books and information while bridging knowledge gaps across communities.
With activities running throughout the week, including youth forums, author spotlights, children’s reading sessions, exhibitions, and the book fair, National Reading Day 2026 is expected to be a major moment in Kenya’s literacy journey.
