- Kenya’s Digital Essay Competition has attracted a record 24,984 entries in its 14th year.
- Young writers submitted work in 46 languages, including Kenyan Sign Language and indigenous languages.
- The winners will be honoured on Friday at the Nairobi International Book Fair in Nairobi.
The Digital Essay Competition (DEC) 2026 has recorded its highest-ever participation, attracting 24,984 entries from learners as Kenya’s young writers prepare to be celebrated at an awards ceremony in Nairobi.
The winners will be honoured on Friday, September 25, 2026, during the Nairobi International Book Fair at Sarit Expo Centre in Westlands.
Now in its 14th year, the competition is being held under the theme “Let Me Speak,” providing learners with a platform to express their ideas, experiences, hopes and perspectives through writing.
According to the organisers, learners from 43 counties participated in this year’s competition.
The entries reflect significant linguistic diversity, with learners submitting work in 46 languages, including English, Kiswahili, Mandarin and Kenyan Sign Language (KSL), alongside Kenya’s indigenous languages.
Other submissions included Spanish, Swedish and Korean, marking the first time the competition has received entries in the three languages.
A major milestone in the 2026 competition is the introduction of a Mother Tongue Category, allowing learners to submit essays in Kenya’s indigenous languages.
The inaugural category attracted 363 entries written in 34 Kenyan mother-tongue languages, highlighting the country’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
The organisers said the category was introduced to give learners greater freedom to tell their stories and express their experiences in languages closest to them.
Kenyan Sign Language also features among the competition’s submissions, broadening participation for learners who use different forms of communication.
The Constitution of Kenya recognises Kenyan Sign Language alongside indigenous languages and promotes their development and use.
The wider competition also received thousands of entries in English and Kiswahili as well as submissions in Braille, French, Arabic, German and Mandarin.
The record participation marks a significant rise in interest in the annual competition, which seeks to promote literacy, creativity, digital engagement and original expression among learners.
Winners to be honoured at book fair
Winning learners, their teachers and families are expected to attend Friday’s awards ceremony alongside education stakeholders, publishers and partners.
Winners of the inaugural Mother Tongue Category will also be recognised during the event.
The ceremony will give learners an opportunity to showcase their writing and share the experiences, challenges, aspirations and ideas reflected in their entries.
Organisers say the competition has increasingly provided learners with opportunities to develop their writing abilities while building confidence in expressing issues affecting their lives and communities.
DEC 2026 is open to learners in upper primary, junior and senior school, with winners standing to receive prizes including scholarship funds, computing devices, certificates, gift hampers and national recognition.
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The September 25 prize-giving ceremony forms part of the 27th Nairobi International Book Fair, being held at Sarit Expo Centre from September 23 to 27, 2026.
By Joseph Mambili
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