Nairobi, Sept. 10 -- What does it mean to be literate in Kenya in 2026? For generations, the answer was straightforward, the ability to read, write and perform basic arithmetic. Today, that definition is no longer enough.

A person may read a newspaper yet fall victim to online misinformation. They may own a smartphone but lack the skills to use it for learning, employment or entrepreneurship.

As we mark International Literacy Day, we must move beyond celebrating literacy rates and ask a more fundamental question: Are we giving every Kenyan the knowledge, skills and opportunities needed to participate meaningfully in the economy and society? Literacy is no longer simply an education issue. It is an economic issue, a social justice issue ...