By John Oywa
Kenya will on Tuesday turn a leaf in her chequered history with the launch of the country's first ever Yearbook.
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka will preside over launch of the 1,150-page Kenya Yearbook 2010 at a Nairobi hotel.
The book captures events in Kenya dating from pre-colonial times, through the struggle for Independence to the fall of Kanu from power and the historic promulgation of the new Constitution.
Titled a New dawn for Kenya, the book also captures Kenya’s rich arts and culture, sports, tourism, finance and justice, among other issues.
Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Chebitwey, said it took a team of top editors and linguists a record seven months to compile the book that gives a complete overview of the country.
"It is a fantastic product. It is a book Kenyans and tourists will love to read," said Mr Chebitwey.
Mr Munyori Buku, who served as the Yearbook’s Editorial Manager, described the work on the product as challenging but exciting.
"We had to keep updating topics that had been overtaken by events. For example, the entire chapter on governance had to be overhauled following the promulgation of the new Constitution," said Buku, who is the spokesman for Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta.
Ms Esther Kamweru chairs the board.
President Kibaki penned the book’s foreword.
"I am pleased to present to you the first ever annual Kenya Yearbook. This is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking information about our beautiful country," he wrote.
