Plans are underway to celebrate and immortalize Kenya’s literary legends, including the writers, scholars, and thinkers who have defined the nation’s identity through the power of words.
The government, through the State Department for Culture and Heritage in partnership with the Kenya National Library Services (KNLS), plans to establish a National Hall of Fame that will honor the country’s most influential authors and intellectuals.
Speaking during the History Conference at the University of Embu on Saturday, November 8, 2025, held in memory of the late historian Stanley Mwaniki, Principal Secretary for Culture and Heritage Ummi Bashir described the initiative as a monumental stride toward preserving Kenya’s cultural memory.
“This initiative will act as a living archive of our stories, struggles, and triumphs, preserving the spirit of the men and women who shaped our national identity,” Bashir said.
The Hall of Fame, the first of its kind in Kenya, will serve as a dedicated space to safeguard and showcase the country’s literary and intellectual heritage. It will be housed at the Sanaa Center Auditorium within the KNLS Maktaba Kuu Headquarters in Upper Hill, Nairobi.
The gallery will feature rare manuscripts, literary works, and personal stories tracing Kenya’s literary evolution, from the post-independence period to contemporary times.
Bashir said the hall will celebrate iconic figures such as Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Ali Mazrui, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Grace Ogot, and Joseph Muthee, author of Mau Mau Detainee, among others whose works have shaped Kenya’s historical and cultural consciousness.
“The Hall of Fame will not only honor the literary giants of our past but also ignite a flame in young writers, scholars, and content creators, urging them to keep telling Kenya’s story in their own voices,” she added.
University of Embu Vice-Chancellor Daniel Mugendi praised the initiative, noting that Kenya has long celebrated heroes in politics and sports but overlooked intellectual icons.
“We have honoured our heroes in politics and sports. It is now time to give our intellectuals and literary figures the recognition they deserve,” Mugendi said.
Once completed, the National Hall of Fame will become a hub of inspiration and learning, offering students, researchers, and art lovers a chance to explore Kenya’s rich literary journey and rediscover the power of storytelling in shaping the nation’s identity.
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