A fundraiser by Halfpriced Books in partnership with Dr. Christina from Worcester State University :
Since its establishment in 2001, the Ol'kalou Community Library has stood as the beating heart of literacy and learning in Nyandarua County. Born out of the collaboration between the Ol'Kalou Town Council, the local community and the Kenya National Library Service, it became the only public hub where children, youth, teachers and researchers could access books, explore digital tools and nurture a culture of reading. For many learners in rural and under-resourced schools, it was the only gateway to textbooks, revision materials, storybooks and ICT facilities.
In June 2025, the library was set on fire, leading to the loss of all resources available in the library, including a library catalogue of more than 30,000 books. This fire struck at the very heart of the education eco-system in the Ol'Kalou community. Today, Nyandarua's learners -from pre-primary to Secondary School- are left without a functional library. For a county approaching 750,000 residents, this has created a dangerous vacuum in access to knowledge and opportunity.
The loss of this library is two-fold :
- Immediate deprivation - Pupils have no access to curriculum textbooks, safe study spaces and digital tools
- Long-term risk - A generation may face setbacks in literacy, learning outcomes, and digital readiness, widening inequalities.
Eric Kaniu and Dr. Christina Kaniu are committed to helping the Ol Kalou Library regain its role as a vibrant center for learning and community engagement. Together, they share a deep belief in the transformative power of education and lifelong learning.
Eric Kaniu, a native of Ol Kalou, developed a love of reading while growing up in Nyandarua. He is passionate about ensuring that the people of Ol Kalou have access to quality books and a welcoming library where children and adults alike can come together to learn, explore, and grow. He is an IT entrepreneur and is also co-founder of Edvirons Inc, an edtech start-up that is leveraging AI to build an offline first adaptive learning system developed for African schools.
Dr. Christina Kaniu is a Professor of Education at Worcester State University in the United States, where she teaches courses in elementary (primary) education and coordinates the Master's program in Elementary Education. In 2023, she led a group of graduate students from Worcester State University to Ol Kalou Library, where they collaborated with local educators and children through workshops and learning activities. The experience fostered meaningful cultural exchange, with both the American students and Kenyan children learning from one another.
Dr. Kaniu’s research focuses on school–university partnerships, teacher preparation, and experiential learning. Together, Eric Kaniu and Dr. Christina Kaniu hope to support the continued growth of the Ol Kalou Library as a welcoming space that inspires literacy, learning, and opportunity for the entire community.
Halfpriced Books has equipped more than 100 community libraries and public primary schools, as well as more than 10 TVET institutions, with approximately 50,000 educational books. Making reading accessible and affordable is a journey that has been intentional, and impact is at the core of Halfpriced Books.
All proceeds from this fundraiser will go to Halfpriced Books who will deliver books to the Olkalou Library.
