VOI — A coalition of educators, civic leaders, and youth advocates in Taita-Taveta County has launched a high-stakes campaign to reverse declining literacy rates, issuing a stern warning against premature technology reliance in classrooms while announcing the return of a regional mobile library fleet.
The movement, unveiled during the World Literacy Day 2026 summit in Voi, targets shrinking student attention spans driven by unchecked screen time and seeks to rebuild baseline reading comprehension through physical books, mother-tongue storytelling, and classroom reading corners across 20 rural wards.
Leading the calls for reform was renowned author and storyteller Wangare Grace, who challenged parents and educators to actively model reading habits rather than treat books solely as academic requirements. “We need to make reading a culture, not something you abandon the moment you finish school and burn your books,” Grace told attendees.
She recommended that primary school educators particularly those teaching Grades 1 through 3 open every class session with five minutes of storytelling, even in technical subjects like Mathematics and Science. Identifying unmonitored screen time as a primary driver of shrinking attention spans among young learners, she urged parents to replace digital distractions with structured home reading routines. “Even faking it by simply holding a book sends a powerful message to a child,” Grace added, pledging to conduct teacher-training workshops on narrative integration and donate copies of her 21 published books to local schools.
Students also voiced the immediate impact of access to physical books. 14-year-old Allan Kuto, a student champion from Kipusi School, delivered a moving appeal directly to county representatives to establish dedicated reading corners in every classroom. “Before the library, we spoke broken English,” Kuto shared. “As students, we are deeply grateful for what it has given us.”
The push to restore baseline reading skills comes as local schools navigate digital integration and curriculum reform under Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). Moses Njogu, Deputy Head of Institution at Mwakingali School, welcomed the CBC’s shift toward practical skill-building over standard examination scores, but cautioned against relying heavily on artificial intelligence tools for early learners. “AI is like fire it can be harnessed, but it can also be dangerous and destructive,” Njogu said, emphasizing the enduring value of hardcopy literature. “A phone’s battery can die, but a printed book never runs out of charge.”
The necessity of core reading mechanics was echoed by international donor partners supporting rural education. Sharon Afandi of the Segal Family Foundation which supports local literacy initiatives including Elimu Fanaka noted that effective tech usage depends entirely on strong foundational literacy. “AI is here to stay, but reading builds the comprehension and critical thinking needed to use it effectively,” Afandi said, noting that even writing proper prompts for tools like ChatGPT requires high reading fluency. She cited educational policies in Finland, Norway, and Switzerland that limit early classroom exposure to digital screens in favor of print media, advising county officials to secure baseline literacy before rolling out broad digital access.
To address the shortage of physical books, former Taita-Taveta Governor John Mruttu announced concrete steps to revive a mobile library initiative originally launched during his administration. Citing Kenya National Library Service data, Mruttu pointed out that student academic scores across Taita-Taveta trended upward between 2014 and 2018 when mobile book circulation was active, before the project stalled in 2017.
Under a new agreement between local stakeholders and the County Government, a pilot program will launch on September 24. The initiative will deploy mobile library units to 20 schools one per ward to test circulation logistics and book care. Mruttu appealed to residents with unused books at home to donate to the fleet.
County officials are also expanding the scope of local literacy to include cultural preservation. Chief Officer of Education Lonyce Wakesho advocated for storytelling in mother-tongue languages including Taita, Taveta, and Kisagala arguing that native-language instruction helps children connect with regional heritage and wildlife alongside English and Kiswahili study. Meanwhile, Chief Librarian Winfred Mdali committed to lobbying for expanded regional library collections.
Grassroots literacy work in the region continues to gain formal support. Ministry of Education official Lilian Karanja Mwaita confirmed that the Ministry has officially recognized the local organization Elimu Fanaka following a comprehensive evaluation of its community work, which includes building school libraries and installing a solar-powered borehole at Marungu Comprehensive School.
Closing the forum, event moderator Joseph Mwakideu called on all community sectors to maintain momentum beyond the annual summit. “Let’s make reading joyful and accessible a normal part of everyday life across Taita-Taveta County,” Mwakideu said.
