A remarkable team of 12 pupils and students from across Kenya were on Thursday celebrated at Nation Centre in Nairobi after excelling in the 2025 National Essay and Insha Writing Competition, an annual literacy initiative spearheaded by Nation Media Group (NMG).
The event, held on December 4, highlighted exceptional talent in both English essays under the Nation brand and Kiswahili insha through Taifa Leo.
The ceremony brought together learners, teachers, education leaders and media personalities to honour creativity, critical thinking and linguistic mastery among the country’s young writers.
In total, NMG awarded Sh720,000 in prizes, with each student receiving a Sh50,000 school fee award and each teacher pocketing Sh10,000 for their guidance and mentorship.
The Nation essay competition, launched in May 2023 to bolster writing and comprehension skills, produced six winners: three from primary and junior schools, and three from secondary schools.
In the secondary school category, Ethen Atkings of Kabianga School, Kericho, stood out with an impressive 18 out of 20 marks, earning him the top spot. He was followed by Cosmas Munene of Kisima Mixed Secondary School in Nyahururu, who scored 16 marks, while Precious Blood Riruta’s Alice Kemunto came in third with 15 marks.
The primary and junior school category saw equally fierce competition. Abisai Immaculee of St Teresa Yala Girls Junior School in Siaya topped the list with 18 out of 20 marks. Precious Muoti of Lukenya Academy took second place with 17 marks, while Greenwood Academy’s Purity Ngugi secured third position with 16 marks.
Judges praised the young writers for their originality, clarity of thought and polished expression.
In the Taifa Leo insha competition – a flagship Kiswahili writing contest running since 2010 – Ongata Academy’s Hope Onyango led the primary school category with 18 out of 20 marks. Close behind were Clement Muoko of St Michael’s Junior School, Nairobi, and Dorcus Saru from Mwatate Junior Preparatory School in Taita Taveta, both earning 17 marks.
The secondary school category of the Insha competition delivered a rare three-way tie. Muyukani Favour of St Anne’s Musoli Girls High School (Vihiga), Newton Wambua Muli of Khamis Secondary School (Mombasa) and Margaret Wanjiru of St Faustina Kerugoya Girls (Kirinyaga) all scored 18 marks, demonstrating exceptional mastery of Kiswahili craft.
The panel of judges – comprising seasoned teachers and examiners – applauded the students for meeting high standards in content mastery, organisation, creativity and mechanical accuracy. They described this year’s entries as some of the most compelling since the competition’s inception.
Addressing the winners, NMG’s Editor-in-Chief Dr Joe Ageyo lauded their brilliance and depth, noting that the young writers had displayed “the gift of deep thought and articulate writing skills to convey ideas, communicate philosophy, recall occurrences and peep into the future.”
Dr Ageyo encouraged them to treat writing as a lifelong tool for inquiry, imagination and self-expression.
Taifa Leo Chief Sub-Editor Sylvester Mukele highlighted the teachers’ unwavering role in grooming young writers, saying the competition “ignites flames of creativity and inspires a generation of critical thinkers and storytellers.”
NMG Education Editor David Muchunguh echoed this, remarking that this year’s submissions reflected remarkable preparation and heartfelt expression.
Teachers also celebrated the impact of NMG’s Newspapers in Education (NiE) programme, which anchors the competition. Mr Nicholas Kilonzo of St Michael’s Junior School in Nairobi, whose student Clement was among the winners, praised NiE for improving learners’ language performance over recent terms.
For many students, the moment was both surreal and inspiring. Atkings, a first-time participant, expressed gratitude for the recognition.
“I wasn’t sure I could write, but I decided to give it a try, and now that I’m among the winners, I’m really excited,” he said, adding that he hopes to pursue journalism.
NTV news anchor Fridah Mwaka commended the initiative for motivating young learners nationwide. NiE Coordinator Nuhu Bakari reaffirmed the programme’s role in improving literacy and promoting academic excellence, while NMG’s Circulation Operations Manager, Edward Ogunda, described it as “a life-changing programme that builds the future generation.”
As the twelve awardees returned home inspired, their success underscored a broader message: with nurturing, opportunity and creative platforms like NiE, Kenya’s next generation of writers is poised for a bright future.
