BY STEPHEN KILONZI
Kenya is set to immortalize its literary giants with the establishment of a National Hall of Fame, aimed at celebrating authors, scholars, and storytellers who have shaped the nation’s cultural identity.
The initiative, announced by the State Department for Culture and Heritage in partnership with the Kenya National Library Services (KNLS), will be the first of its kind in the country.
The Hall of Fame will preserve and showcase Kenya’s rich literary heritage through manuscripts, personal stories, and archival works.
Speaking at the History Conference at the University of Embu, Principal Secretary for Culture and Heritage Ummi Bashir described the project as “a vital step in safeguarding Kenya’s cultural memory.”
She added that it will honor celebrated figures including Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Ali Mazrui, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Professor Grace Ogot, and Joseph Muthee and Embu’s Professor Mwaniki Kabeca among others.
“The Hall of Fame will not only honor the literary giants of our past but also ignite a flame in young writers and scholars, urging them to continue telling Kenya’s story in their own voices,” Bashir said.
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The Hall will be housed at the Sanaa Center Auditorium within the KNLS Maktaba Kuu Headquarters in Upper Hill, Nairobi, and is envisioned as a hub for students, researchers, and art lovers to explore Kenya’s literary journey and the power of storytelling in shaping national identity.
University of Embu Vice Chancellor Prof. Daniel Mugendi praised the initiative, noting that while Kenya has long celebrated heroes in politics and sports, it is time to recognize intellectual and literary excellence.
The National Hall of Fame is expected to become a landmark destination for preserving the country’s cultural and intellectual legacy, inspiring generations of writers and creators to come.
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