Three books have been shortlisted for the 2026 Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature (JKPLA) English Adult Category, with the winner and runners-up set to be announced during the closing ceremony of the 27th Nairobi International Book Fair on September 26.
The shortlisted works are *Nandi Bear* by Imali Abenea Ndago, published by Nsemia Inc; *Clan of Warriors* by Ken N. Kamoche, published by East African Educational Publishers (E.A.E.P); and *Old Money* by Charles Chanchori, published by Oxford University Press East Africa. The three authors will compete for this year’s English Adult literary award.
The shortlist leaves the English Adult Category as the only active JKPLA category for the 2026 awards after four other categories received too few entries to support the judging process. The affected categories are English and Kiswahili Youth and Children, Kiswahili Adult, and the Wahome Mutahi Award.
The Kenya Publishers Association said the decision to defer the categories followed consideration by the panel of judges, the KPA Council and the Awards Subcommittee.
“After careful consideration, the Judges, the KPA Council and the Awards Subcommittee agreed that there were not enough entries to allow for a fair and meaningful judging process in these categories,” the association said.
The affected categories will instead be included in next year’s JKPLA awards, provided they receive enough entries to support a viable judging process. The 2026 awards will form part of the 27th Nairobi International Book Fair, which will run from September 23 to 27 at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi.
The three shortlisted books cover different strands of contemporary Kenyan literature, with their authors now competing for the English Adult Category prize. The winner and runners-up will be unveiled at the official closing ceremony on September 26, bringing the 2026 JKPLA cycle to a close.
