Lodwar, September 8, 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
Turkana County joined the rest of the world in celebrating International Literacy Day at the Turkana County Public Library, where pupils, partners, and education stakeholders came together to promote a culture of reading and knowledge sharing.
The celebration, themed “promoting literacy in the digital era” was graced by the County Chief Officer for Early Childhood Development and Social Protection, Paul Lodung’a who underscored the government’s commitment to expanding literacy opportunities.
“Literacy goes beyond reading and writing, it is about empowering children with skills, including digital literacy. By mobilizing resources for books and digitizing our library systems, we are investing in the future of every Turkana child,” the Chief Officer said.
He further encouraged pupils to make good use of the library, especially during school holidays, and announced plans for the construction of a modern library facility in Lodwar.
The Chief Officer urged partners to sustain their support as he acknowledged the President’s support for the establishment of the Turkana University charter to advance higher education and knowledge access in the region.
Hellen Mbotela, Librarian at the Turkana County Public Library, thanked teachers and stakeholders for supporting continuous learning. She noted that the library had embraced digitization, with membership now required to access its expanding digital resources.
“We loan books to institutions on a monthly basis to ensure schools and communities benefit from our collection, ” she said.
Dr.Miriti Geruaso of Turkana University College described every book donated as a step closer to a brighter future for the community.
He highlighted the region’s high illiteracy rate currently at 82 percent as a call to action.
“Through community outreach, we want to ensure every learner has access not only to reading materials but also to digital tools. Together with partners, we will continue to bridge this gap,” he said.
Turkana based author Flavian Nyambura donated six of her books to inspire young readers, while Rev. Iruko Jackson, Dean of students at Turkana University College, pledged the institution’s continued support for education initiatives.
“As a university, we are committed to stand behind any effort that advances learning in this County,” he said.
Partners who supported the event included the Kenya Red Cross, TUC, Equity Bank, and Turkwood brands while Bishop Mahon, Erait Academy and Loyoo schools participated in the event.
International Literacy Day, observed worldwide on September. In Turkana, the celebration reinforced a collective call to action, ensuring that every child, youth, and adult has the resources to learn.
