• Walibora is said to have been knocked down by a matatu last Friday as he was attempting to cross the busy Landhies Road from Muthurwa market, Nairobi.
The Kenya Publishers Association has sent its condolences to the family of Kiswahili author Ken Walibora.
His body was traced to Kenyatta National Hospital mortuary on Wednesday.
Walibora is said to have been knocked down by a matatu last Friday as he was attempting to cross the busy Landhies Road from Muthurwa market, Nairobi.
His family said that they had been looking for the professor from Friday before his body was discovered in the mortuary.
The association said through the statement that they learned about Walibora’s death with great shock.
“The Kenya publishing fraternity learnt with shock the passing on of Prof Ken Walibora. Walibora will be remembered for his moving novel,” the publishers association said.
It added that the late author was not only a writer but a rare distinguished author who wrote textbooks for secondary, primary schools among other novels.
The association also said that Walibora was a voice of the community who addressed the challenges of the people through his novels.
“Though his books echoed the real struggles of real people in the real world, they carried with them hope and inspiration,” they said.
The writer has also been described as a person who worked with different publishers, both big and small.
The association said the author won the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for literature on four occasions including:
2003- The Kiswahili adult category for his book Ndoto Ya Amerika.
2005- Second prize Kiswahili adult category for his book Kufa Kuzikana.
2009- The Kiswahili Children category for his book Kisasi Hapana.
2015- The Kiswahili youth category for his book Naskia Sauti ya Mama.
Walibora was also a journalist who once worked with Nation Media Group and KBC.
He had written over 40 titles under his name including Siku Njema, Kidagaa Kimemuozea, Siku Njema.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto on Wednesday led Kenyans in mourning Walibora's death.
The President eulogised him as a polished broadcaster and prolific writer whose literary works will continue to inspire future generations.
Ruto said he was deeply saddened by the passing of Walibora.
Ruto described Walibora as a man of insight and brevity - a driving force with monumental energy and vision when pushing Kiswahili language-related issues.