Nairobi Learners Benefit From Citywide Reading Marathon Initiative

Primary school learners in Nairobi are taking part in a new Reading Marathon campaign, aiming to boost literacy by encouraging students to read 25 books over a term. Launched on September 11, 2024, by the free children’s reading-app platform BookSmart in partnership with Worldreader, the initiative officially rolled out in Nairobi alongside other Kenyan cities. Participating schools set classroom goals, hold book-clubs and reward students who meet the reading targets, with the aim of turning reading into a daily habit rather than a rare task.
The programme arrives amid concerns that many Kenyan learners—despite being enrolled in school—lack the reading fluency and comprehension skills needed for success. To address this, the Reading Marathon leverages over 2,700 age-appropriate storybooks in both English and Kiswahili, accessible via BookSmart’s digital platform, including offline modes for learners with limited connectivity. Schools and partner libraries have organised events such as reading laps , peer-mentorship sessions and parent-child reading nights to encourage participation and foster a shared reading culture.
Reaction from teachers, parents and learners in Nairobi has been overwhelmingly positive. One head-teacher remarked that students who previously avoided reading are now excited each morning to check their reading-log progress and earn class-recognition awards. Parents noted that children who join the marathon arrive home eager to discuss stories and borrow extra books, changing the homework routine. However, literacy advocates caution that while the campaign is promising, its impact will depend on backing such as teacher training, library resources in schools and inclusion of learners from under-resourced areas who may lack devices, data or home-reading spaces.
Looking ahead, organisers plan to roll the Reading Marathon out to more schools across all 17 sub-counties of Nairobi by the end of the 2025 academic year, with plans to expand content into junior secondary levels and include tracking of reading gains in end-of-term assessments. If achieved, Nairobi’s campaign could set a benchmark for urban reading initiatives in Kenya, helping ensure that the next generation enters senior school better prepared for the demands of the Competency‑Based Curriculum.