This year’s eKitabu Digital Essay Competition reached over 97,000 students from more than 8,000 public and private schools in all 47 counties, including learners in refugee camps and special needs education schools, as the competition drew to a close.

 The submission deadline for DEC 2025 was Wednesday, 6 August. The competition has eight categories: English, Kiswahili, French, German, Arabic, Mandarin, Art, braille, and sign language videos, ensuring inclusive participation. The essays were submitted through multiple methods including the DEC website, email, WhatsApp, courier and hand deliveries.

“We expect to receive over 15,000 essays in 2025, with judging beginning on 18 August and culminating in the awards ceremony on 27 September at the Nairobi International Bookfair,” said eKitabu Senior Manager, Programmes Michael Ng’eno. “Winners in each category will be celebrated. DEC continues to inspire and empower the next generation of Kenyan writers, ensuring their stories are told and their voices heard.”

Since its launch in 2013 with the approval of the Ministry of Education, the essay competition ) has grown into Kenya’s largest, promoting inclusive education and amplifying student voices nationwide. DEC is open to learners with or without disabilities in upper primary, junior, and senior school, offering them a platform to express ideas, think critically, and communicate effectively. It encourages young learners to take writing seriously, recognizing that great writers are made through practice. It builds creativity, confidence, and the literacy skills essential for lifelong learning and success. Today’s young writers are tomorrow’s thinkers, innovators, and storytellers, and DEC invites them to let their voices be heard.

The 2025 edition featured two official launches: The Primary School Launch on 21 March at State House Primary School in Nairobi County, attended by over 2,500 students, and the Secondary School Launch on 17 May at Kapsabet Boys High School in Nandi County, where close to 3,500 students from more than 30 schools participated. This year’s question, “What is your favourite book and why?”, invited learners to reflect on the power of reading.