Editor's Review

The virtual library was set up at a cost of Ksh 250 million and seeks to encourage a reading culture. 

Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba on Wednesday, July 12 launched Kenya’s first virtual library, Vtabu, containing over 200,000 digitised books, periodicals, research papers, and government publications.

Speaking at the launch held at the Maktaba Kuu premises in Nairobi, CS Namwamba underscored the importance of technology and innovation in enhancing Kenya’s global competitiveness and job creation initiatives through online and content generation related careers.

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“The Virtual Library with its Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) materials will greatly support the young learners to easily identify their talents and work to nurture these skills as their future career opportunities. I, therefore, urge the relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to partner with KNLS in promoting knowledge sharing in schools, higher learning institutions and TVETs,” CS Namwamba stated. 

The Government also announced the exemption of Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) from VAT and other related taxes on the shipment of all donated books and other information materials. 

Sports CS Ababu Namwamba during the launch of Kenya’s first virtual library v.tabu.  
President William Ruto, in a speech read on his behalf by CS Namwamba, declared 12 July as the annual national reading day.

The virtual library, which is accessible from any internet enabled device globally, will also host e-books downloadable for offline reading.

It also has an assortment of resources accessible for free, especially children's content and general information e-books, journals and attracts a nominal daily membership fee of KES 20 fee payable via wireless payment platforms. 

One can also pay weekly at KES100, monthly at KES500, bi-annual at KES1,500, and an annual membership fee is set at KES 2500.

The virtual library, which was set up at a cost of Ksh 250 million, seeks to encourage a reading culture and provide an avenue through which one can grow and hone their skills in a particular field, anytime and anywhere.

Content available on Vtabu includes e-books for any subject studied at Pre-School, Primary, Junior, and High School, tertiary to the university level. Fiction and non-fiction works have also been included as well as e-books on any subject.