Political memoirs, culture titles dominate Kenyan reading trends in 2025

The late Raila Odinga presents his autobiography 'The Flame of Freedom' to Ngugi Wa Thiong'o during a meeting at his office in 2005 [File/Standard] Kenyan writers continued to command attention in 2025 with a year marked by political memoirs, cultural documentation, and a renewed interest in locally written fiction. Bennet Owuonda, a salesperson from Nuria Bookstore, says one of the strongest trends this year has been the popularity of memoirs and autobiographies, especially on topics of politics, leadership, and personal endurance. This, he says, is proof that true-to-life stories make just as compelling reads as fiction. Owuonda records that consistent bestsellers in the memoir part at the bookstore include The Flame of Freedom by Raila Odinga and Sarah Elderkin, The Fight for Order: The Secret Political Deals, Statecraft, and a Reckoning with Power by Justin Muturi, Concert of Life: From the Lakeshore to the Boardroom by Francis Okomo Okello, Between Law & Diplomacy by Philip Richard O. Owade, and At the Ready: A Memoir by Marsden Madoka. Another noticeable trend is the rise in books documenting culture and community life, with authors revisiting community practices and traditional systems of knowledge. "We've seen people going for books talking about how communities do most of their daily activities, from childbirth, naming, marriage, and care for the sick all the way to death and burial practices," says Owuonda. Among the titles he mentioned were Luo: Kitgi Gi Timbegi by Ker Paul Mboya, The Essentials of Akamba Culture by Felix Kyengo, Bantu Beliefs and Magic by Charles William Hobley, and The Ameru History and the Rise of Njuri-Ncheke by Bishop Zacchaeus Murianki. And book clubs have leaned towards reading Kenyan fiction this year, says Owuonda. "We have seen some book clubs focus fully on Kenyan-authored books, and thus a rise in new Kenyan styles of writing," he says. Some of the books that have stood out in this are Imperfect Match by K. Kimuyu and The Havoc of Choice by Wanjiru Koinange. This year also welcomed strong debut authors, and one of them that impressed Owuonda is Wavinya Makai, the author of Capital Violence: The Economic War on African Dignity. It is a book that exposes how global financial systems, from the IMF to corporate boardrooms, have waged a silent war against Africa's soul. Of established authors, readers have been diving into the works of Jacob Aliet, who released the fifth book in his popular Unplugged series, Unplugged 5: Operant Conditioning. "The book is a continuation of his exploration of what it means to be a man in an era where masculinity is mocked, purpose is blurred, and love has become transactional," he says. Certain Kenyan titles continue to generate conversations about identity and justice, like Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, a book on a family saga set against the turbulent backdrop of Kenyan political history, exploring themes of grief, loss, family secrets, and national identity. The Big Conservation Lie: The Untold Story of Wildlife Conservation in Kenya by Mordecai Ogada and John Mbaria. "It is a book that has significant impact by challenging the status quo and inspiring a new generation of African conservationists to advocate for more inclusive and equitable approaches," he says. For new readers of Kenyan literature, he recommended starting with recent releases that reflect a wide range of voices and genres. His list includes Man About Town by Silas Nyanchwani, Boy Child by Franz Owano, The Honourables by Brian Mbanacho, and A Surreal Journey of Discovery by Eric Rugara. Nuria Bookstore stocks a high number of Kenyan-authored books, with books by African writers presently taking a big slice of 65 per cent at the store. It also has a quarterly 'Top 100 Books' list that has helped readers find direction and discover new authors. "In the past few months, we have witnessed and experienced the breadth of perspective in pages penned by Kenyan authors," says Owuonda. Beyond mainstream genres, there has also been growth in speculative fiction and sci-fi, categories overlooked by local readers. Titles such as The Black by Peter Wanjohi, Guerrilla Queen: Arikana Book 2 by W.B. Njeru, and Africanum by Mutendei Writes have attracted small but loyal followings. Owuonda curates his best books by Kenyan authors of 2025 as follows: Mastering Your Money by Chacha Nyaigoti Bichanga, a poetry collection titled Everything Has Wings by J.O. Bernard, a novel Transition by Mirigo Kinyanjui, a cultural book From the Cradle to the Cradle by Tony Olang', and an autobiography by Francis Okomo Okello titled Concert of Life: From the Lakeshore to the Boardroom.

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