East African Publishers founder Henry Chakava dies aged 77

The founder of East African Educational Publishers Limited Dr Henry Chakava has died at age 77.

The publishing firm confirmed that Dr. Chakava died while receiving treatment at the Nairobi Hospital on Friday, March 8.

The company’s Managing Director Kiarie Kamau, hailed Chakava, the founder and chairman of the publishing firm, for his great achievements including publishing some of the most read literary luminaries within the continent such as Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Meja Mwangi, John Kiriamiti, and others. 

“He will be remembered as the father of book publishing in Africa, who presided over the acquisition of the British multinational. Heinemann (East Africa). and changed its name to East African Educational Publishers,” said the MD. 

Dr.Chakava will be remembered for publishing iconic books like Grace Ogot, Francis Imbuga, and Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye (all from Kenya). 

Other works he published include that of Chinua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi, David Rubadiri (Malawi), and Peter Abrahams (South Africa), among many others.

The books were published under the Africa Writers Series, which remains unrivaled for the quality of its literature and the many classics it has produced.