Kenya has earned its nickname “Silicon Savannah” for good reason: the country is buzzing with EdTech startups, mobile-money miracles, and government programs like the Digital Literacy Programme that put tablets in primary classrooms. When Covid hit, Kenya responded fast with radio lessons, TV classes, and SMS learning packs. Yet for all the innovation, one stubborn problem remains: far too many kids still can’t read properly. Recent Uwezo assessments found that only 4 out of 10 Grade 4 pupils can read a simple story meant for their age. And at home? A UNICEF survey from a few years back showed that 96% of kids under five grow up in houses with fewer than three children’s books.
That’s the gap the “Raising Readers” project – a partnership between EdTech Hub and Worldreader – is trying to close.
They are testing whether a free digital library app (Booksmart) plus some clever nudges and support can get parents and caregivers reading with their kids more often, in English and Swahili. They co-designed five different approaches with parents, teachers, and community members, and right now they are running a big experiment across 14 public primary schools in Nairobi and Kiambu counties.
Even though the full results are still months away, they just finished a baseline survey with 209 parents and caregivers, and the early picture is fascinating (and hopeful).
Here’s what stood out:
- Books are still rare at home
Most of the families they spoke to earn less than KSh 12,300 (about $102) a month and have low levels of formal education. On average, there are only three children’s books in the house – sometimes zero.
- Smartphones are everywhere
68% of these same parents own a smartphone, and almost everyone can get their hands on one. Men tend to use theirs more often, but the reach is there. That’s huge for any app-based solution.
- Parents think their kids are better readers than they probably are
90% of parents rated their child’s reading as “intermediate” or “advanced”. They haven’t tested the kids yet, but this optimism is actually encouraging – it means parents believe improvement is possible.
- The two biggest blockers? Books and time
When we asked why they don’t read with their kids more, the top answers were “no books at home” and “I’m too busy”. Totally understandable – and totally fixable.
- Mums are carrying most of the load
Mothers are far more likely to read with kids, check homework, and talk to teachers. Dads are involved too, but the day-to-day support still falls mostly on women.
One more encouraging sign: a small number of parents told us they’d already taken part in things like reading workshops, WhatsApp reminder groups, or school reading days – and every single one said it helped.
All of this lines up with what we learned during Covid through the Keep Kenya Learning initiative: parents want to help, but many lack confidence, materials, and a community of other parents doing the same thing.
So the big question now is simple: can a well-designed app, plus the right mix of messages, training, feedback, or even tiny incentives, turn “I wish I had time and books” into “We read together every night”?
That’s exactly what the next phase of Raising Readers will tell us. We’ll keep testing, tweaking, and sharing what works (and what doesn’t) as we go.
Because if we can crack this in Kenya – a country already full of tech energy and parental goodwill – it could light the way formillions of kids across the continent.
Also Read:Education Ministry Reassures Kenyans of Full Readiness for Grade 9 Transition