Sh1.2 million boost for literary award

Prof Bethwell Ogot with Lily-Anne Fernandes during the launch of the first Textbook Centre Loyalty Card program.[PHOTO:COURTESY/STANDARD]

The Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature has received a shot in the arm from Text Book Centre management, after they scaled up the overall prize from Sh800,000 to Sh1.2 million. This makes it one of the highest overall paying award in Kenya.

The firm’s management and Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) have re-branded the annual award and renamed it to Text Book Centre (TBC) Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature (JKPL). TBC Managing Director Rajiv Chowdhy said the bookseller has sponsored the award since 1990 to encourage and reward creativity.