The 2019 shortlists for the various categories of the Text Book Center Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature has been announced.
The prize, regarded as Kenya’s most prestigious literary award, was established by the Kenya Publishers Association, the umbrella body for Kenya publishers, in 1974.
Previous winners of the award include; Meja Mwangi (English – “Kill Me Quick” – 1974), Abdilatif Abdalla (Kiswahili – “Sauti ya Dhiki’ – 1974), Wahome Mutahi (Three Days on the Cross – 1992), David Mailly (The Broken Drum – 1992), Henry Ole Kulet (English – Vanishing Herds – 2013), Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor (English – Dust – 2015), amongst others.
The shortlists for the various categories are;
English Adult Category
• Remembrance by Lily Mabura – Published by Longhorn Publishers.
• Elders of the Mace by Mutu wa Gethoi – Published by Longhorn Publishers.
• A Spider’s Web by Samuel Wachira- Published by One Planet and Media Services.
Kiswahili Adult Category
• Hidaya Yangu by John Habwe- Published by Moran Publishers (E.A).
• Watoto Wa Mwelusi by Mwenda Mbatiah- Published by Jomo Kenyatta Foundation.
• Hujafa Hujaumbika by F.M. Kagwa- Published by Longhorn Publishers
English Youth Category
• A Boy Named Koko by Adipo Sidang’- Published by Longhorn Publishers.
• Finding Columbia by Kinyanjui Kombani- Published by Oxford University Press
• Do or do by Kinyanjui Kombani- Published by Oxford University Press
Kiswahili Youth Category
• Picha Ya Karne by Hassan Ali- Published by East African Educational Publishers
English Children Category
• Trio Troubles by Jennie Marima- Published by Setmark Publishers.
• Curious Koko and the Water Activities by June Mwikali- Published by Longhorn Publishers
Kiswahili Children Category
• Busara Na Hekima by Simiyu Mukuyuni- Published by East African Educational Publishers.
• Masaibu Ya Bintu by Yahya Mutuku- Published by East African Educational Publishers
Wahome Mutahi Literary Award 2019 Shortlist
English
• Of Pawns and Players by Kinyanjui Kombani- Published by Oxford University Press
The winner will be announced at the 22nd Nairobi International Book Fair, which will be held from the 25th to 30th of September, 2019.
