Reading culture in Kenya
Napoleon Bonaparte once said that a family of readers are the real people who move the world. The reading culture in Kenya has increased rapidly, especially among the young generation.
Unlike yesteryears when people were not accustomed to reading as much, the advent of the internet and its incorporation in the library system has helped entrench reading culture.
Understanding reading culture
Reading culture is an environment that champions, values, respects, and encourages reading. In Kenya, reading goes hand in hand with the curriculum and is crucial to a child’s personal, social, and academic well-being. The reading culture in Kenya has contributed to the rising literacy levels, given that the country boasts one of the most highly educated populace in Eastern Africa.
A few decades ago, books in Kenya were only used as a means to an end. However, this has changed recently, thanks to the internet, where people can shop for their favorite books or read online on their own time.
Preowned and half-priced books
On the other hand, you cannot ignore the contribution to the reading culture in Kenya by the prevailing bookstores selling hard-to-find and rare books. For instance, Halfpriced Bookstores sells all its reading materials at half the price, making it easy for bibliophiles to access their favorite books. Not only do these stores sell books, but they also organize reading sessions especially for kids, thus creating the necessary awareness and embracing the reading culture in Kenya.
Government Efforts
The facilitation of government-run libraries has helped to stimulate public interest in reading for information, knowledge, and gratification. The government’s input in enhancing reading culture in Kenya is felt through the National Book Development Council in collaboration with other interested bodies. The reading tent is a concept that has pushed for the improvement of the reading culture in Kenya, whether in rural or urban settings.
More importantly, through these efforts, the government has painted reading as leisure and makes access to books easy for children, especially in hard-to-access areas.
Internet as a complement to the reading culture
For book lovers, the internet is playing a complementary role to published materials, given that the youth have fully embraced online platforms. This affects not only the youth but people in all demographics who enjoy reading.
Generally, the reading culture in Kenya has made meaningful strides, but more effort is needed, especially in imparting this culture to the younger generation.