Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature facts for kids

The Text Book Centre Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature is a special award given to talented writers in Kenya. It's like a big trophy for the best books! The Kenya Publishers' Association gives out this prize every two years. Many people think it's the most important writing award in the whole country.

The first time this award was given was in 1974. But then, they ran out of money, so they couldn't continue it for a while. Luckily, in 1990, a company called Text Book Centre helped bring the award back. The first new prize was given in 1992. Since 2015, the award has been officially known as the Text Book Centre Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature.

Award Winners

1974

• English Winner: Meja Mwangi, Kill Me Quick
• Kiswahili Winner: Abdilatif Abdalla, Sauti ya Dhiki

1992

• First Prize: Wahome Mutahi, Three Days on the Cross
• First Prize: David Maillu, The Broken Drum

1995

• First Place: Margaret Ogola, The River and the Source
• Second Place: Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye, Homing In
• Third Place: Sam Kahiga, Paradise Farm

1997

• English Winner: Ngumi Kibera, Grapevine Stories
• Kiswahili Winner: Emmanuel Mbogo, Vipuli vya Figo
• Children's Winner: Ezekiel Alembi, Settling the Score

1999

• (No awards given this year)

2001

• English Winner: Meja Mwangi, The Last Plague
• Kiswahili Winner: Kyalo Wamitila, Nguvu ya Sala
• Children's Winner: Lily Mabura, Ali the Little Sultan

2003

• English Adult Book Winner: Stanley Gazemba, The Stone Hills of Maragoli
• English Adult Book Runner-up: Tobias Otieno, The Missing Links
• English Adult Book Third Place: Paul Nakitare, I Shall Walk Alone
• English Children's Book Winner: Wahome Mutahi, The Ghost of Garbatula
• Kiswahili Book Winner: Ken Walibora, Ndoto ya Amerika

2005

• English Adult Book Winner: (No prize given)
• English Adult Book Runner-up: Muroki Ndung’us, A Friend of the Court
• English Adult Book Third Place: Valerie Cuthbert, Wings of the Wind
• Kiswahili Adult Book Winner: Kyalo Wamitila, Musaleo
• Kiswahili Adult Book Runner-up: Ken Walibora, Kufa Kuzikana
• Kiswahili Adult Book Third Place: Kyalo Wamitila, Pango
• English Youth Book Winner: Bill Ruto, Death Trap
• Kiswahili Children's Book Winner: Ruth Wairimu Karani, Kofia ya kadogo

2007

• English Adult Book Winner: Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye, A Farm Called Kishinev
• English Adult Book Runner-up: Margaret Ogola Place of Destiny
• English Adult Book Third Place: Wanjiru Waithaka, The Unbroken Spirit
• Kiswahili Adult Book Winner: Kyalo Wamitila, Msimu wa Vipepeo
• Kiswahili Adult Book Runner-up: Joseph Muthee, Kizuizini
• Kiswahili Adult Book Third Place: Kimani Njogu Al Amin Mazrui, Sudana
• English Youth Book Winner: Kingwa Kamencu, To Grasp at Star
• English Youth Book Runner-up: Ken Walibora, Innocence Long Lost
• English Youth Book Third Place: Meja Mwangi, Boy Gift
• English Children's Book Winner: Kabaru Ndegwa, The Wonderful Ball
• English Children's Book Runner-up: Kyalo Wamitila, The Mysterious Box and the Magic Spoon
• English Children's Book Third Place: Nyambura Mpesha, Far Far Away
• Kiswahili Children's Book Winner: Nyambura Mpesha, Hanna na Wanyama

2009

• English Adult Book Winner: Henry Ole Kulet, Blossoms of the Savannah
• English Adult Book Runner-up: Rhodia Mann, Hawecha: A Woman for All Time
• English Adult Book Third Place: Meja Mwangi, Big Chief
• Kiswahili Adult Book Winner: Kyalo Wamitila, Unaitwa Nani
• Kiswahili Adult Book Runner-up: Mwenda Mbatia, Vipanya Vya maabara
• Kiswahili Adult Book Third Place: Kala Tufaha, Omar Babu
• English Youth Book Winner: Stephen Mugambi, Walk with me Angela
• English Youth Book Runner-up: Juliet Barnes, Lake of Smoke
• Kiswahili Youth Book Winner: Sheila Ali Ryango, dago wa munje
• Kiswahili Children's Book Winner: Kisasi Hapana, Ken Walibora
• Kiswahili Children's Book Runner-up: Bifungu Matundura, Sitaki iwe siri
• Kiswahili Children's Book Third Place: Atibu Bakari, Ngoma za Uchawi
• English Children's Book Winner: Elizabeth Kabui, The Prize

2011

• English Adult Book Winner: Yusuf Dawood, Eye of the Storm
• English Adult Book Runner-up: Ng'ang'a Mbugua, Terrorists of the Aberdare
• English Adult Book Third Place: Joe Kiarie, The Lone Dancer
• Kiswahili Adult Book Winner: Timothy M. Arege, Kijiba cha Moyo
• Kiswahili Adult Book Runner-up: Alex Ngure, Utoro
• Kiswahili Adult Book Third Place: John Habwe, Fumbo la Maisha
• English Youth Book Winner: Eva Kasaya, Tale of Kasaya
• English Youth Book Runner-up: Muthoni wa Gichuru, Breaking the Silence
• English Youth Book Third Place: Leonard Kibera Njenga, The Reunion
• Kiswahili Youth Book Winner: Godfrey Ipalei, Mlemavu? Si Mimi
• Kiswahili Youth Book Runner-up: Pauline K. Kyovi, Kipendacho Roho
• Kiswahili Children's Book Winner: Nuhu Z. Bakari, Wema wa Mwana
• Kiswahili Children's Book Runner-up: Enan Mwakoti, Msichana Aliyeokoa Watu
• Kiswahili Children's Book Third Place: Florence Nyakeri, Sungura na Mbwa
• English Children's Book Winner: Peter Kimani, Upside Down
• English Children's Book Runner-up: Elizabeth O. Mazuri, Sheila, Let's Write to God
• English Children's Book Third Place: Christopher Okemwa, Let us Keep Tiger

2013

• English Adult Book: Henry Ole Kulet, Vanishing Herds
• Kiswahili Adult Book: Tom Olali, Watu wa Gehenna
• English Youth Book: David Mulwa, We Come in peace
• Kiswahili Youth Book: Patrick W. Kuloba, Mambo Kangaja
• English Children's Book: Kap Kirwok, I Blame the Sky
• Kiswahili Children's Book: Rebecca Nandwa, Nimefufuka

2015

• English Adult Book: Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, Dust
• Kiswahili Adult Book: John Habwe, Pendo la karaha
• English Youth Book: Edward Mwangi, The Tissue Boy
• Kiswahili Youth Book: Ken Walibora, Nasikia Sauti ya mama
• English Children's Book: Stanley Gazemba, A Scare in the Village
• Kiswahili Children's Book: Clara Momanyi, Ushindi wa nakate

2017

• English Adult Book: Henry Ole Kulet, The Elephant Dance
• Kiswahili Adult Book: Tom Olali, Mashetani wa Alepo
• Kiswahili Youth Book: Mwenda Mbatiah, Majilio ya Mkombozi
• English Youth Book: Goro wa Kamau, Ghost and the Fortune Hunters
• English Children's Book: Muthoni Muchemi, Koko Riko

2019

• English Adult Book: Mutu Wa Gethoi, Elders of the Mace
• Kiswahili Adult Book: Mwenda Mbatiah, Watoto Wa Mwelusi
• English Youth Book: Kinyanjui Kombani, Do or Do
• Kiswahili Youth Book: Hassan Ali, Picha Ya Karne
• English Children's Book: Jennie Marima, Trio Troubles
• Kiswahili Children's Book: Simiyu Mukuyuni, Busara Na Hekima
• Wahome Mutahi Literary Award: Kinyanjui Kombani, Of Pawns and Players