Why Kenya is a reading nation
Over the last decade, Kenya has experienced a rise in reading culture. This is attributed to the emergence of booksellers from whom Kenyans can purchase books at affordable prices.
More importantly, bookstores selling new and preowned books make it easy for Kenyans to engage in leisure reading.
Several factors explain why Kenya is a reading nation, and we shall explore them, shall we.
The emergence of more book clubs in Kenya
Book clubs have come about thanks to their introduction by various bookstores and libraries. These reading groups are constituted by a few or more book enthusiasts who discuss books based on various topics. Over the past few years, access to more books has contributed to the rise of more book clubs, underpinning why Kenya is a reading nation.
Availability of physical bookstores
Nairobi has the highest concentration of bookstores from where people can access books. More importantly, some bookstores like Halfprice Books sell their books at half the price, making it easy for people to read more work from local and international writers. The presence of street nook vendors is another reason why Kenya is a reading nation because they sell assorted books at very low prices.
Online bookstores
Another reason Kenya is a reading nation is the emergence of online bookstores. We live in the Internet age, which makes it possible to have online bookstores. Kenyans are purchasing books from online stores, which are delivered on time. What’s more, here are soft copies of books sold online, meaning Kenyans need not go to a physical store, but they will still read their favorite title at the touch of a button.
This has caused physical stores to diversify in the online frontier and create websites from where clients can buy books.
Book Festivals
Another reason why Kenya is a reading nation is the book festivals that happen in the country. The turnout alone explains that the country is on the right trajectory as regards the reading culture. Kenya enjoys higher literacy levels in Africa, and the trend continues to burgeon daily, with book festivals playing a role in it.
Bookstagrammers
While this phenomenon is yet to take root in the country, it is another reason why Kenya is a reading nation. Bookstagrammers are Instagram users who artfully stage book photos and reviews on this social media platform. Bookstagrammers popularize the books to their followers, enabling authors and bookstores to make sales.