The collection
includes stories on science, adventure, sports, and early learning — all aimed
at helping children aged 3 to 12 develop strong reading habits at home.Kenyan families can now access a free library of children’s books directly through the M-Pesa App, following a new partnership between mobile money platform M-Pesa and international nonprofit Worldreader.
The collaboration integrates Worldreader’s BookSmart app into M-Pesa’s “Education” section, giving parents and children instant access to more than 2,700 books and learning activities in English and Kiswahili.
The collection includes stories on science, adventure, sports, and early learning—all aimed at helping children aged 3 to 12 develop strong reading habits at home.
According to Worldreader, regular family reading time—as little as 10 minutes a day—can significantly boost a child’s vocabulary, confidence, and school readiness. Yet, limited access to age-appropriate books remains a major challenge for many Kenyan households.
“By bringing BookSmart into the M-Pesa App, families can now enjoy thousands of quality books from the convenience of their phones,” said Olivia Kimani, Worldreader’s Director of Partnerships. “It’s about making reading part of daily family life.”
Worldreader CEO Rebecca Chandler Leege noted that the initiative addresses a wider global reading gap.
“We’re in a reading crisis not because children don’t want to read, but because families lack the tools. This partnership helps remove those barriers,” she said.
BookSmart, which has reached over 22 million readers in more than 100 countries since 2010, was recognized by the U.S. Library of Congress in 2023 for advancing global literacy.
To access the service, M-Pesa users can open the app, navigate to the “Education” section, and select BookSmart—no additional downloads required.
Children living in urban areas, such as those in Kenya, are generally believed to have better access to schooling than their rural counterparts.
However, research indicates that this advantage does not always translate into improved learning outcomes for those in informal settlements.
While many urban children can attend school, factors such as overcrowding, limited resources, and poor learning environments mean they do not fully enjoy their right to quality education.
