Kenyan authors are raising alarm over a rising wave of book piracy, warning that illegal sharing of novels online and through PDF platforms is rapidly eroding their income and stifling creativity in the literary industry.
Writers say that within days of publishing, their books are already circulating freely on social media platforms, on the streets, and across unauthorized websites, leaving them with almost zero returns despite months of hard work.
Speaking in Thika during the launch of a new novel titled ‘My Husband, My Abductor’ authors led by Andrew Maina strongly condemned the growing piracy trend, describing it as “destroying the future of storytelling in Kenya” and urging government agencies, publishers, and readers to take responsibility in stopping illegal distribution before emerging writers abandon the craft entirely.
Maina said piracy has made it nearly impossible for many writers to sustain themselves, arguing that it has reduced writing from a profession to a struggle for survival, forcing many to quit and seek alternative livelihoods.
His sentiments were echoed by Muthoni wa Gichuru, who lamented that even well-promoted books are being illegally distributed before recovering production costs and called for urgent action from authorities and digital platforms to protect intellectual property.
She revealed that it is increasingly disheartening to witness many people, including school teachers, purchasing duplicated books commonly sold on the streets, and urged those involved in piracy to stop undermining authors whose daily livelihoods depend on book sales.
Joseph Ndirangu and Francis Kilango called on the government to support writers and encouraged young people to embrace reading and writing independently instead of over-relying on AI, which they said is weakening creativity and critical thinking.
Authors also urged the government to revive the reading culture and consider removing VAT on books, saying the added tax is eating into their already shrinking earnings and leaving them with little to show for their work.
Ivy Mumbi, a book editor, warned that the steady decline in reading culture is quietly weakening the literary industry and urged writers to remain resilient and keep writing despite mounting challenges such as high publishing costs, emphasizing that their work remains vital to society and the global literary space.
Authors, editors, and professors from various fields gathered at the luncheon event to celebrate the launch of the new novel My Husband, My Abductor written by Andrew Maina, a thought-provoking narrative reflecting today’s social and cultural realities, with the occasion marked by renewed calls to protect the creative industry.
