ELDAMA RAVINE, BARINGO COUNTY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2026: The Government marked International Literacy Day 2026 at Eldama Ravine County Library today by donating 600 books to local schools, as it reaffirmed literacy as a national development priority.
Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture and Children Services Hanna Cheptumo said literacy must be treated as a priority across government, not just an education-sector issue. “Literacy today encompasses not only the ability to read and write, but also the capacity to access, understand, evaluate and apply information,” she said, citing digital, financial and media literacy as growing priorities.
She linked literacy to Kenya’s wider human capital agenda, saying it underpins education, skills development and economic participation, and called for children in rural and underserved areas to have the same access to quality learning resources as those elsewhere. “A child’s location should not determine the quality of learning resources and opportunities available to them,” she said.
The books, donated through a partnership between the Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) and Book Aid International, were formally handed over to representatives of participating schools before learners, teachers and county officials. Cheptumo described the donation as a practical investment in the education and future of Kenyan children and commended Book Aid International for its longstanding partnership with KNLS.
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The commemoration, held under the theme “Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity” to mark the 60th anniversary of International Literacy Day, brought together learners, teachers, parents, librarians and government representatives. Children led an International Literacy Day Book March procession and toured the county library, followed by entertainment and reading-focused activities.
KNLS Director General Dr. Charles Nzivo said the institution’s libraries give communities “opportunities to access knowledge, develop reading habits, acquire digital skills and engage in lifelong learning,” and encouraged learners to make libraries part of their ongoing education.
KNLS Board Chairman Bishop Robert Theuri Maina called for closer collaboration between national and county governments and development partners, noting that Eldama Ravine County Library continues to serve as a key community resource with room to expand literacy initiatives further.
