M-Pesa, BookSmart partner to boost children’s reading in Kenya

Families across Kenya can now access thousands of free children’s books through the M-Pesa App following a new partnership between the mobile money platform and Worldreader’s BookSmart app.

The initiative introduces a digital library in the “Education” section of the M-Pesa App, giving users access to more than 2,700 books and reading activities in English and Kiswahili.

The titles range from adventure and science to preschool and sports, targeting children aged three to twelve.

According to Worldreader, ten minutes of shared reading daily can help children improve their vocabulary, confidence, and school readiness.

However, many households in Kenya still lack age-appropriate reading materials, a gap the partnership aims to close by turning smartphones into digital libraries.

Worldreader’s Director of Partnerships Olivia Kimani said the integration will help parents and children develop reading habits at home.

“By bringing BookSmart into the M-Pesa App, we’re putting the gift of reading right where it matters most — into the hands of parents and children,” she said.

The organization’s chief executive, Rebecca Chandler Leege, noted that the collaboration comes at a time when access to reading resources remains a challenge globally.

“We’re in a reading crisis, not because children don’t want to read, but because too many families lack the tools to help them start,” she said.

BookSmart, available on Android, iOS, and the web, has reached more than 22 million readers in over 100 countries since 2010.

In 2023, Worldreader received the U.S. Library of Congress International Literacy Award for its work in promoting literacy.