Kenyan authors have been urged to embrace technology and leverage social media platforms to attract young readers and revive the country’s reading culture.
Speakers noted that the reading culture among Kenyans remains low, especially among the youth who now spend most of their time online.
They challenged writers to adapt to changing trends by distributing their work through digital platforms to reach a wider and younger audience.
The remarks were made during the launch of an Agikuyu cultural book authored by Prof. Wanjiru Wanyoike, a lecturer at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
Scholars at the event emphasized the need for young people to engage more with literary works to enhance their knowledge and better understand their heritage.
Wilfred Mwaura, a Catholic priest, said it is important for the youth to appreciate and embrace their culture, adding that they must make deliberate efforts to learn and understand their roots.
Nduta Njenga called on authors to seize the opportunities presented by the internet to share their knowledge across the country and beyond.
The book, titled “Gathirimu Bloodline,” was launched at Ruiru Sports Club, with Prof. Wanyoike encouraging Kenyans to read their history to discover where they come from and strengthen their identity.
