On 23 September, the International Day of Sign Languages, eKitabu formally launched Season 2 of Digital StoryTime (DST) on Akili TV with the broadcast of the inaugural episode. It is now presented in a new format: an App accessible via the web or downloadable from Microsoft Store. Season 2 offers enhanced engagement, featuring newly developed stories, dynamic narration presented in Kenyan Sign Language (KSL), and interactive comprehension questions designed to stimulate curiosity and deepen understanding.
Digital StoryTime (DST) Season 1, which first aired on KICD EDU Channel TV in 2020 at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic has garnered millions of viewers, consistently registering over 6 million weekly viewers on Akili TV alone.
Building upon the demonstrable success of Season 1, DST has received both national and global recognition. In 2024, DST was honoured with the Digital Accessibility and Assistive Technology Innovation Award by inAble at the Inclusive Africa Conference. In 2025, it received a nomination for the prestigious Digital Publishing Award. Subsequently, it won the award in the Product and Business Model category for its transformative impact on the education of children who are deaf across Africa. The winners were officially announced at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
For those who have not yet watched Season 1, this is an opportune moment to do so. As preparations are finalized to upload Season 2 to eKitabu’s YouTube channel, we invite you to review the 38 episodes from Season 1, each of which was meticulously created to reach learners who may have lacked access to regular instruction during periods of school closure. These episodes are not only entertaining and informative, they also stand as a testament to inclusive innovation through Studio KSL, an eKitabu initiative established in 2018 with foundational support from All Children Reading: A Grand Challenge for Development (USAID, World Vision, and the Australian Government).