At exactly 8:30 a.m. on Friday, 10th July 2026, classrooms and assembly grounds across Kenya fell into a shared rhythm as children opened the same book and began reading aloud together. For thirty minutes, young voices from every corner of the country came together in an ambitious attempt to set a new world record, proving that stories have the power to unite, inspire and transform.
Children in the Wilderness (CITW) Kenya was proud to be part of this moment by supporting six of our partner schools to participate in the National Read Aloud Day 2026, an initiative led by Start A Library Trust. Through the purchase of storybooks, learners from Mara Rianda Primary School, Irbaan Primary School, Margaret Kenyatta Primary School, Suguta Mugie Primary School, Enkereri Primary School and TAFA Community Centre joined thousands of other children across the country in reading from the same text, at the same time.
In total, 643 learners from our partner schools took part in the event.
This year’s National Read Aloud Day aimed to bring together one million children in an attempt to break the current world record for the largest number of participants reading simultaneously from the same text, which is currently held in the USA
The selected book, The Boy and the Lion by Mike Saito, beautifully complemented this year’s theme, Human-Wildlife Coexistence. Inspired by a true story from the Maasai Mara, the book follows a young boy whose life-changing encounter with a lion eventually leads him to become a game warden. For many of our Eco Club members who grow up in communities neighboring wildlife, the story carried a message that was both meaningful and relevant.
The event followed a nationwide program that brought learners together before the official countdown to the synchronized reading. Afterwards, teachers led discussions around the book’s themes, giving children an opportunity to share their thoughts and reflect on the lessons they had learned.
While the read-aloud session lasted only a short time, its impact will continue long after the event. The storybooks will remain in the school libraries, allowing many more learners to discover the story in the months and years ahead. They will continue to support classroom learning, encourage a love for reading and inspire conversations about conservation and peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife.
We are grateful to Start A Library Trust for leading this inspiring initiative
We remain committed to making a positive impact on communities, educating future generations, and conserving Kenya’s diverse wildlife. Your stay with us directly contributes to these efforts.
If you would like to learn more about any of our Impact efforts, you can reach out to us via email at [email protected].
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Words by Sharon Muthoni, CITW Community Coordinator.
