Author Mutu wa Gethoi (in cap) receives the 2019 Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature for his book ‘Elders of the Mace’. Photo/File
BY NEWSFLASH WRITER
The Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature (JKPLA) has deferred several categories to next year after receiving too few entries to facilitate a fair and meaningful judging process.
The Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) said the affected categories are English and Kiswahili Youth and Children, Kiswahili Adult and the Wahome Mutahi Award.
The decision leaves the English Adult Category as the only active JKPLA category with a shortlist for the 2026 awards, with three books selected to compete for the top literary honour.
The shortlisted titles are Nandi Bear by Abenea Ndago, Clan of Warriors by Ken N. Kamoche and Old Money by Charles Chanchori.
The books were published by Nsemia Inc., East African Educational Publishers (E.A.E.P) and Oxford University Press, respectively.
The KPA said the shortlist “highlights the range and vitality of contemporary English-language literary publishing in Kenya”, as the three authors compete for recognition under one of the country’s established literary prizes.
The winner and runners-up in the English Category will be announced during the official awards ceremony at the closing ceremony of the 27th Nairobi International Book Fair on September 26, 2026.
Four categories moved to 2027
The decision to defer the other categories followed a review by the JKPLA judges, KPA Council and Awards Subcommittee, which determined that the number of entries received was insufficient to support a viable judging process.
“After careful consideration, the Judges, the KPA Council and the Awards Subcommittee agreed that there were not enough entries to allow for a fair and meaningful judging process in these categories,” the KPA said.
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The association said the affected categories will be included in next year’s JKPLA awards, subject to receiving sufficient entries to make the judging process viable.
The deferment means that authors and publishers seeking recognition in the affected categories will have to wait until the 2027 awards, when the categories are expected to return if enough eligible works are submitted.
Meanwhile, attention will turn to the three shortlisted books in the English Category as the awards ceremony approaches.
The shortlist features works from three authors and publishers, reflecting different contributions to Kenya’s contemporary English-language literary publishing.
The September 26 ceremony will bring together authors, publishers, booksellers, readers and other stakeholders in the literary sector for the announcement of the winner and runners-up.
The development also places renewed focus on participation in the country’s literary awards, following the decision to postpone several categories because of the low number of submissions.
The KPA said the categories would be considered for inclusion in the 2027 awards, provided there are enough entries to allow judges to conduct a fair and meaningful assessment.
Shullam Nzioka (left) who won the Kiswahili youth category of the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature in 2022 with his book Mbona Hivi?. He is with former Managing Director of Oxford University Press East Africa John Mwazemba. /People Daily
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