Nandi County — Public institutions and the business sector in Nandi County have been called upon to nurture a reading culture among citizens as a means to foster economic development and tackle contemporary challenges. Josphine Otwori, the County’s Director of Library Services, highlighted the vital role of reading in knowledge acquisition and informed society building during an interview with Kenya News Agency.

According to Kenya News Agency, an engaged and well-informed community is key to managing current global challenges and ensuring the resilience of future generations. She emphasized that cultivating an interest in reading books and leveraging technology is critical for economic advancement.

The Director expressed concern that the potential of public libraries is not fully recognized by some parents, schools, and institutions in Nandi. She underscored the need for all stakeholders to promote the importance of books, invest in libraries at all levels, and support literary initiatives.

Additionally, Otwori pointed out the risks associated with unsupervised digital gadget use among children. She suggested that modern public libraries, like the Eliud Kipchoge Library in Chesumei, equipped with e-books and guidance on beneficial social media use, could serve as resources for educating youths on harnessing digital platforms for income generation.

She also called on parents and guardians to instill reading habits in children from a young age, including the utilization of online materials. Otwori’s confidence is buoyed by the devolution of library services to county governments, which she believes will lead to significant improvements in local reading cultures.

The completion of the Eliud Kipchoge Library is seen as a milestone for Nandi residents, expected to significantly contribute to youth empowerment and the county’s future prosperity, concluded Otwori.