Excerpt from the Judges’ report: “Tale of Kasaya” is a very well-told and inspiring story of the underdog in our society. The persona goes through horrendous, spine-chilling experiences, but her tone remains unsentimental and even stoical. We hear her say: “well, I am not the only one who has suffered; so many Kenyans endure on a daily basis what I have described”. Indeed, Kasaya turns her life as a maid into the story of our time. And in the end, her work becomes a testimony to the triumph of good over evil.

Panel of Judges

• Prof. Henry Indangasi - Chair
• Prof. Wangari Mwai - Member
• D r. Tom Odhiambo - Member

Criteria for Evaluation

The panel of judges evaluated the entries according to the following criteria:-

• Plot
• Theme
• Characterization
• Language/Style
• Setting

We also considered the overall achievement in terms of creativity and message. We were interested in the lasting impression a book creates on the reader, and the final message the reader walks away with.

Number of Entries
We read a total of 48 books: 17 in the adult category, 15 in the youth category, and 16 in the children’s category. In the adult category, 9 were in Kiswahili and 8 in English. In the youth category, 7 were in Kiswahili and 8 in English. The distribution of entries in the children’s category was lopsided as 3 were in Kiswahili and 13 in English. This means, there isn’t much writing of children’s literature in Kiswahili.

Meetings for Short-Listing
The panel held six meeting for the purpose of short-listing the entries. In these meetings, a decision was made as to which titles were shortlistable and which were not. In most cases, the decision on what was shortlistable was arrived at by consensus. We all tried to argue for the merits or demerits of a particular publication before making our judgments.

Meeting for Ranking
We held our final meeting on 13 September 2011. This was the meeting at which we discussed and agreed on the ranking of these publications.

General Comments and Observations

• As we said earlier, we received a total of 48 entries. This is a large number, and for us it suggests that Kenyans are writing and hopefully reading.
• Several of the entries were well edited; and a number had interesting storylines and good characterization. Many of the publications gave us the impression that the authors did background research before writing their stories.
• We were impressed by many of the entries in the children’s category. In a number of them, we saw what we were looking for, namely, child characters and children’s themes. In the past, we came across adult themes which were given to children in what were supposed to be children’s books.
• The youth category had some excellent entries, with the authors demonstrating a good grasp of issues that the young people of today are grappling with. The language, style, and characterization in this category were generally well executed.
• In the adult category, we came across works that furnished the reader with lasting insights into the human condition, insights that will resonate with readers a thousand years from now.
• In the same vein, we want to caution writers against the use of literature for political propaganda and other forms of advocacy. Writers should also guard against the portrayal of ethnic or gender stereotypes.
• The physical presentation of many of the entries indicated that publishers paid less attention to the appearance of books and more to the content. Yet a good book should not only be interesting to read, it should also be physically attractive. It should be packaged in such a manner it lasts a long time on the shelves.
• It is important, when writing a play, to imagine what if would look like on stage, and it might be advisable for publishers of dramatic texts to demand they be produced. Some of the plays we read were difficult to image on stage.
• Some of the Kiswahili works used a style that came across as stiff and pedantic – the kind you encounter in the classroom – with no attempt at creative variation, or a conversational rendition.
• A number of texts, especially those in Kiswahili, seemed to address a specific theme (e.g. the tribulations of the girl child), which inevitably excluded other areas of human experience.
• There were entries which were submitted in the wrong category. This was especially the case with the youth and children’s categories.
• Finally, the panel wishes to recommend a closer working relationship between authors and their editors to address shortcomings such as poor book design, grammatical and spelling mistakes, awkward plots, overuse of coincidence, factual errors, and improbable character names.

Winners
Children’s Literature
Kiswahili

• Wema wa Mwana by Nuhu Z. Bakari, Longhorn Publishers
• Msichana Aliyeokoa Watu by Enan Mwakoti, Marimba Publishers
• Sungura na Mbwa by Florence Nyakeri, Marimba Publishers

English

• Upside Down by Peter Kimani, Oxford University Press
• Sheila, Let’s Write to God by Elizabeth O. Mazuri, E.A.E.P
• Let us Keep Tiger by Christopher Okemwa, Pauline’s Publications

Literature for the Youth
Kiswahili

• Mlemavu? Si Mimi by Godfrey Ipalei, Oxford University Press
• Kipendacho Roho by Pauline K. Kyovi, Oxford University Press.

English

• Tale of Kasaya by Eva Kasaya, Kwani Trust
• Breaking the Silence by Muthoni wa Gichuru, E.A.E.P.
• The Reunion by Leonard Kibera Njenga, Longhorn Publishers

Literature for Adults
Kiswahili

• Kijiba cha Moyo by Timothy M. Arege, Longhorn Publishers
• Utoro by Alex Ngure, Jomo Kenyatta Foundation
• Fumbo la Maisha by John Habwe, Jomo Kenyatta Foundation

English 

• Eye of the Storm by Yusuf Dawood, E.A.E.P
• Terrorists of the Aberdare by Ng’ang’a Mbugua
• The Lone Dancer by Joe Kiarie, E.A.E.P