Development of Christian Publishing in Kenya and of Local Authors in Eastern Africa
The story of how CLC Kenya strengthened Christian publishing, supported local authors, and helped more African voices move from manuscript to ministry impact.
Building a bridge between authors and readers
In 2019, CLC Kenya continued a journey that had begun several years earlier with a very practical question: how can we help African Christian authors move from a God-given message to a well-produced book that can reach readers?
The project, Development of Christian Publishing in Kenya and of Local Authors in Eastern Africa, focused on strengthening Christian publishing, supporting local authors, improving book quality, and helping writers reach readers more effectively.
The project helped us move from simply offering publishing services to building a stronger author-support system. We wanted to help writers produce books with editorial excellence, better design, clearer marketing direction, and a stronger chance of reaching the readers God had placed on their hearts.
Before the 2019 growth phase
By March 2018, CLC Kenya had already served 83 authors from 7 countries, worked on 271 titles, and printed 29,713 copies.
The grant-supported project helped us build on this foundation and organise our author-support work into a stronger, more sustainable ministry platform.
2019–2020 Impact at a Glance
What we set out to strengthen
Editorial & Design Excellence
We wanted to help authors develop stronger manuscripts, better covers, improved layouts, and books that could carry their message with clarity and excellence.
Training & Community
Through the Authors Club and later training structures, we aimed to create a community where authors could learn, receive encouragement, and grow together.
Visibility & Sales
We recognised that printing a book is only the beginning. Authors needed digital visibility, marketing guidance, book videos, and pathways to reach readers.
Milestones Reached
One of our biggest milestones was the development of the CLC Kenya website. This gave us a direct platform for visibility, communication, online sales, author support, and ministry growth.
Online sales grew from KES 18,585 between January and September 2019 to KES 202,624 during the same period in 2020, representing an average growth of about 1,000 per cent.
We also set up a related publishing blog, which became a space for articles on writing, publishing, book reviews, author encouragement, launches, and training. Within the first six months, over 50 posts were created.
Programmes that helped writers grow
iGen Teen Authors & Artists
In 2019, five teenagers graduated with ready manuscripts and creative projects: one fiction writer, one non-fiction writer, and three illustrators.
Writing Classes
Twenty-five writers were mentored in developing their voice, strengthening their manuscripts, and growing in discipline.
Self-Publishing Classes
Thirty authors were supported through the self-publishing process, with eight having launched their books by the reporting period.
Marketing Strategies for Authors
Authors were helped to think beyond printing and develop clearer plans for book visibility, reader engagement, and sales.
Book Programmes
Two book-based programmes were developed, including youth and teen mentorship initiatives built around published books.
The numbers tell part of the story
Authors and Writers
We partnered with over 285 authors in Print-On-Demand, supported 30 self-published authors, mentored 25 writers, and trained approximately 300 authors.
Young People
The iGen Teens programme graduated 5 teenagers, while book-based programmes supported 70 youths and 6 teenagers in mentorship journeys.
Team and Capacity
With 5 staff members, 8 outsourced professionals, and 30 volunteers, more than 20,000 hours were invested in developing Christian publishing in Kenya and East Africa.
Challenges that shaped our growth
Pandemic Disruption
Some physical gatherings, author events, video shoots, and in-person engagements had to be postponed or adjusted because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Delayed Equipment
Media equipment purchased from abroad took months to arrive due to shipping, clearance, permits, and uncertainty in the season.
Changing Author Needs
Authors faced uncertainty, delayed launches, cancelled events, and financial pressure. We had to adjust our support strategies and become more flexible.
Recipient Testimony
“Muthoni Mercy Omukhango and the entire CLC Kenya Group, if I hadn’t walked into your offices in 2019 and had that conversation, this book would still have been a pipe dream. Thank you for your patience, encouragement and cooperation in making this project successful. You have made writing and publishing a book seem so easy.”Pastor Barnie & Grace Achoki, Authors of Marriage, Thistles & Flowers
A timely encouragement from God
For CLC Kenya, this project was more than a programme. It was a timely encouragement from God at a season when our ministry was vulnerable and in need of clarity, courage, and direction.
Even the application process helped us think deeply about what mattered, what needed to be strengthened, and what we were willing to let go of in order to remain faithful and sustainable.
What changed for us
The project enabled us to set up a website, strengthen our blog, grow our online presence, improve our media capacity, organise author classes, support teenage creatives, build an editor and designer pool, and increase the number of authors we could actively walk with.
We thank God for the story He allowed us to tell in 2019.
Every author, reader, teenager, volunteer, staff member, partner, and donor became part of a larger story: helping Christian literature reach more people so that lives may be strengthened, taught, comforted, discipled, and encouraged.
Find All Annual Donor Reports
Forever Grateful
Donor Annual Report · 2019
Development of Christian Publishing in Kenya and Eastern Africa
A year of building bridges between authors and readers — strengthening editorial excellence, nurturing young creatives, and growing the reach of Christian literature across East Africa.
From a Printing Press to a Publishing Ministry
In 2019, CLC Kenya continued a journey that began with a very practical question: how can we help African Christian authors move from a God-given message to a well-produced book that can reach readers?
After receiving the Publish4All Print-On-Demand system in April 2015, and beginning to walk authors through the full publishing journey in January 2017, the 2019 project enabled us to move beyond offering services — toward building a stronger, more structured author-support system.
In simple terms, the project helped us build a bridge between authors and readers. On one side: writers with messages. On the other: readers, churches, families, young people, and communities in need of those messages. Our role was to strengthen the bridge.
What We Set Out to Do
- Strengthen Editorial and Design Excellence Help authors develop stronger manuscripts and better-designed books through editing, layout, cover design, and professional publishing guidance.
- Develop a Platform for Training and Networking Through the Authors Club and structured programmes, create a community where authors could learn, share contacts, access professionals, and grow together.
- Increase Book Visibility and Sales Strengthen digital presence through a new website, blog, social media, author landing pages, and book videos so that printing is not the end of the journey.
- Promote Best Practices in Christian Publishing Help authors understand that a Christian message deserves careful stewardship — excellence in clarity, care, and presentation.
- Reach Authors Beyond Nairobi Use digital tools and structured training to serve authors and readers across Kenya and the wider English-speaking East Africa region.
Progress Made in 2019
The support received helped us make significant progress and laid a strong foundation for continued growth.
Online sales growth — from KES 18,585 (Jan–Sep 2019) to KES 202,624 (same period in 2020) — after the website was established and strengthened.
A direct platform for visibility, online sales, author support, and ministry growth beyond our physical location.
Over 50 posts created in the first six months — covering writing, publishing, book reviews, launches, and training.
iGen Teen Authors, writing classes, self-publishing classes, marketing strategies, and book programme development.
Five teenagers graduated with ready manuscripts and creative projects — one fiction, one non-fiction, three illustrators.
A professional support structure of 5 editors and 3 designers to improve manuscript and book quality.
Cameras, lighting, and sound equipment established for author videos, book trailers, and online training resources.
What Changed
The impact was felt in two directions: in the strengthening of CLC Kenya as a ministry, and in the lives of the authors, young creatives, readers, and communities we served.
Authors previously walked alone. By September 2020, 60 authors were receiving active training and support — up from around 12 in previous years. Our publishing output grew from about 10 authors per year to 30 — each representing not just a book, but a message, a testimony, a discipleship resource.
Two book-based programmes expanded the impact further: Julius Mwebia's Conceive Achieve programme began mentoring about 70 youths, while Adnah McKenna's Conceive Achieve for Teens began mentoring 6 teenagers and launched a 4-book reading club. A book was no longer simply sitting on a shelf — it was shaping conversations, encouraging purpose, and helping readers apply what they were learning.
Estimated 560 People Directly Impacted
| Number | Group |
|---|---|
| 285 | Authors through Print-On-Demand partnerships |
| 300 | Authors through structured training |
| 30 | Authors through self-publishing support |
| 25 | Writers through writing mentorship classes |
| 60 | Authors receiving active support by September 2020 |
| 70 | Youths mentored through the Conceive Achieve programme |
| 6 | Teenagers mentored through Conceive Achieve for Teens |
| 5 | Teenagers who graduated from iGen Teen Authors & Artists |
| 43 | Staff, outsourced professionals, and volunteers |
| 20,000+ | Hours invested in Christian publishing development |
Challenges We Navigated
The most significant setback was the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical gatherings, author events, video shoots, and in-person engagements had to be postponed or rethought. Equipment purchased from the United States was delayed in shipping and clearance for months.
Author-support strategies also required adjustment — needs shifted as writers faced uncertainty, financial pressure, delayed launches, and reduced movement. However, even with these setbacks, the project remained fruitful. Some doors closed temporarily; others opened online. The challenge pushed us into the very digital future we had been preparing for.
In Their Own Words
"If I hadn't walked into your offices in 2019 and had that conversation, this book would still have been a pipe dream. Thank you for your patience, encouragement and cooperation in making this project successful. You have made writing and publishing a book seem so easy."
Pastor Barnie & Grace Achoki — Authors, Marriage, Thistles & Flowers
Christian publishing is not just about paper, ink, websites, or sales reports. It is about obedience. It is about stewarding messages. It is about helping God's people say what He has entrusted to them — so that others may be strengthened, taught, comforted, discipled, and encouraged.
CLC Kenya · Nairobi
Development of Christian Publishing in Kenya & Eastern Africa
In 2019, CLC Kenya built a bridge between authors and readers — strengthening editorial excellence, nurturing young creatives, and growing the reach of Christian literature across East Africa.
More About Us
As a Christian publishing ministry, CLC Kenya provides a structured pathway for African authors to move from manuscript to published book. After receiving the Publish4All Print-On-Demand system in 2015, we began walking authors through the full publishing journey in 2017.
The 2019 project moved us beyond offering services — toward building a stronger author-support system. Each project is carefully developed through our rigorous editorial process, so authors can be confident their books carry their message with excellence and clarity.
2019 Milestones & Programmes
iGen Teen Authors & Artists
Five teenagers graduated with ready manuscripts and creative projects — one fiction writer, one non-fiction writer, and three illustrators — proving the next generation of African Christian creatives is already here.
Author Training Classes
Writing classes, self-publishing workshops, and marketing strategy sessions helped approximately 300 authors develop their voice, understand publishing, and plan for reader engagement and book visibility.
Conceive Achieve Book Programme
Julius Mwebia's programme mentored 70 youths, while Adnah McKenna's Conceive Achieve for Teens mentored 6 teenagers toward purposeful living — showing that books can be platforms for transformation.
2019 – 2020
CLC Kenya Publishing Ministry
Authors
Recipient Testimony
"If I hadn't walked into your offices in 2019 and had that conversation, this book would still have been a pipe dream. Thank you for your patience, encouragement and cooperation in making this project successful. You have made writing and publishing a book seem so easy."
Read More— Pastor Barnie & Grace Achoki, Authors of Marriage, Thistles & Flowers
Our 2019 Objectives
Editorial & Design Excellence
Help authors develop stronger manuscripts and better-designed books through editing, layout, cover design, and professional publishing guidance.
Author Training & Networking
Create a community through the Authors Club where writers could learn, share contacts, access professionals, and grow together in structured programmes.
Book Visibility & Sales
Strengthen digital presence through a website, blog, social media, author pages, and book videos — online sales grew by approximately 1,000% after the site launched.
Best Practices in Publishing
Help authors understand that a Christian message deserves careful stewardship — excellence in clarity, editorial care, and book presentation.
Reach Beyond Nairobi
Use digital tools and structured training to serve authors and readers across Kenya and the wider English-speaking East Africa region including Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.
Young Creatives Development
The iGen Teen Authors & Artists programme gave teenagers room, guidance, and encouragement to develop their writing and illustration gifts for God's glory.
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