In a remarkable achievement, 11-year-old Racheal Nafula has set a new record by reading an astonishing 1,178 books in just three months. This feat earned her the prestigious Mashujaa wa Kusoma award, presented by Worldreader in collaboration with the Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) during a recent ceremony at Nairobi’s Maktaba Kuu Building.
Launched in July 2024, the Mashujaa wa Kusoma program aimed to ignite a passion for reading among children aged 3 to 12, with an initial target of encouraging them to read 25 books within the three-month period. Nafula’s achievement far surpassed this goal and inspired other young readers across the country, with notable performances from competitors including Quintine Owino (1,087 books), Delssa Owino (1,080 books), Ian Olive (1,077 books), and Wesley Joel Mareri (732 books).
The reading challenge attracted participants from various cities, including Nairobi, Kisumu, Kiambu, and Mombasa, who all vied to become reading champions. Nafula and her fellow top achievers were celebrated as heroes of literacy, embodying the program’s mission to ensure everyone has access to books and the joy of reading.
According to Olivia Kimani, Director of Partnerships & Services at Worldreader Kenya, the initiative is pivotal for empowering children through equitable access to digital learning tools. The program utilized the BookSmart app, a digital library offering thousands of free, child-friendly books, allowing kids to explore diverse genres from African folklore to adventure novels at their fingertips.
In addition to promoting individual reading, the program also fostered community engagement through parent-child book clubs established in county libraries. Dr. Charles Nzivo, CEO of KNLS, emphasized the critical role of libraries in cultivating a reading culture, stating, “Our libraries are gateways to knowledge. Mashujaa wa Kusoma reflects our commitment to making books accessible to all, whether through physical branches or digital platforms like the BookSmart app.”
Looking ahead, Worldreader and KNLS plan to expand the initiative nationwide, aiming to reach even more communities across Kenya’s 47 counties and further inspire a love for reading among young learners.
