The deadline to vote for your favourite Kenyan author at the TBC Penmanship Awards 2026 is March 31.
Text Book Centre (TBC) announced this year’s edition of the awards, featuring six categories of fiction and non-fiction for different age groups.
Under the theme Across Ages, Across Pages, the awards celebrate books by Kenyan authors, with nominations selected based on bestselling reads.
In the adult fiction category, a strong lineup of writers is competing.
These include Things They Lost by Okwiri Oduor, Big Little Fights by Jackson Biko, Nairobbery Cocktail by Ciku Empress Kimani-Mwaniki, Unplugged by Jacob Aliet, Havoc of Choice by Wanjiru Koinange, After 4:30 by David Maillu, Sponsor by Kelvin Kimuyu, House of Rust by Khadija Abdalla, and Lucky Girl by Muchemi.
“I’m very happy to be nominated for the award. It means we are being read, heard and recognised,” says Ciku Empress Kimani-Mwaniki.
In adult non-fiction, notable titles include Unbowed: One Woman’s Story by Wangari Maathai, Confessions of Nairobi Men and Women: Last Chapter by Joan Thatiah, Strength and Sorrow by Oyunga Pala, Humanized Leader by Dr Martin Oduor, Rough Silk by Deborah Auko Tendo, Brothers in Arms by Patrick Njoroge, I’ll Take Some Self Love with That by Cece Ojany, What They Don’t Teach You Before Marriage by Mwancha Okioma, Business Conquest by Ian Dennis, and How to Write about Africa by Binyavanga Wainaina.
Tendo applauded the TBC for creating an award for Kenyan writers instead of waiting to be recognised at the Nobel Prize for Literature, The Caine Prize for African Writing, or Booker Prize.
“As an author, I am grateful that I can even make it to this star-studded list. Rough Silk is the story of an ordinary man and now sits among greats like Binyavanga Wainaina, Wangari Maathai, Dr Martin Oduor, and for me that is the win,” says Tendo.
Other nominees in various categories include Janet Mbugua for My First Time, Ndoto ya Almasi by Ken Walibora, and Dear Mama by Kinyanjui Kombani.
The awards are in their second year, following an inaugural edition held to mark Text Book Centre’s 60th anniversary. During that debut, Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to John Kiriamiti, David Maillu, Malkiat Singh, and Muthoni Likimani.
Voting is open both in person and online. Readers can cast their votes at any Text Book Centre branch or through the dedicated online platform before the March 31 deadline. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on May 14, 2026.
Here is the full list of nominees:
Children (0 – 12 years)
Fiction
Wandia Wears Clothes by Lorraine Malu
Super Lisu: Road Trip Trouble Bk 4 by Yolanda Chakava
Erwin the Baby Brown Eagle’s Great Adventure by Adam David
Pendo’s Power by Lydia Matioli
Jabali The Brave: You’re The Chicken by Ray Mwihaki
Cocco the Bushy-Haired Broccoli by Doris Makena Kirima
Amani at the Safari Rally by Mary Wambui Wamburu
Amka! Little Lele by Mariah Kalungu
Usiku wa Hofu by Shaleen Keshavjee-Gulam
Where is Jasiri by Wangari Grace
Kuku and The Red Shoes LV1 by Rebecca Nandwa
Imani’s Adventure by Janet Kiritu
Maria Taabani by Daniel Mwangi
Nonfiction
Environmental Champions by Janet Ruto
Mambo Safari Adventure Book by Ruhan Shah
Bongo Kiddie Journal 2ED by Victoria Musyoka
Mochabo & Neuropals by Dr Sylvia Mochabo
Financial Literacy for Kids Vol 1 by Edwin Kiarie Wanjiku
Heavenly Hints Bible Based Word Search Puzzles by Sarah W Wainaina
Teenagers (13 – 17 years old)
Fiction
Mkuu: Mbona Hivi by Shullam Nzioka
A Rebirth by Florence Kiranki
Wildlife Detectives: The Case of Persecuted Pangolins by Goro Wa Kamau
Rattles of a Heartbeat by Mark Chetambe
Ndoto ya Almasi by Ken Walibora
Twist of Fate by Steve Odero
Dark Stormy Night by Ngumi Kibera
Adventure of Thunder by Charles Okoth
Calamity of the Kasigau by Makenzi Gideon
Queen Mkabayi Zulu Kingmaker by Hellen Akeyo
Princess Njinga by Emily Khalayi
Two faces of Chief Odera by Michael Oluoch
Broken Mask by Mukami Mbugua
Dear Mama by Kinyanjui Kombani
Nonfiction
My First Time by Janet Mbugua
Menstrupedia Comic by Janet Okeyo
Sonko: A Story about Friendship, Family, Loss, Bravery, and Overcoming Adversity by Ruth Gathoni
The Other Side of Hard: How to Build Resilience and Own by Antony Manyara Muchui
Growing up: A Boy’s Guide Through Puberty by Jane Wambui
Adult
Fiction
Things They Lost by Okwiri Oduor
Big Little Fights by Jackson Biko
Nairobbery Cocktail by Ciku Empres
Unplugged by Jacob Aliet
Havoc of Choice by Wanjiru Koinange
After 4:30 by David Maillu
Sponsor by Kelvin Kimuyu
House of Rust by Khadija Abdalla
Lucky Girl by Muchemi
Nonfiction
Unbowed: One Woman’s Story by Wangari Maathai
Confessions of Nairobi Men and Women: Last Chapter by Joan Thatiah
Strength and Sorrow by Oyunga Pala
Humanized Leader by Dr Martin Oduor
Rough Silk by Deborah Auko Tendo
Brothers in Arms by Patrick Njoroge
I’ll Take Some Self Love with That by Cece Ojany
What They Don’t Teach You Before Marriage by Mwancha Okioma
Business Conquest by Ian Dennis
How to Write about Africa by Binyavanga Wainaina
