Kenyans have been urged to embrace the culture of writing and reading books to share knowledge, skills and experiences to improve their lives and others.

Kisii County Chief Office in charge of markets, Trade and Tourism, Mengo Ochwangi  said Kenyans are facing challenges whose solutions can be shared through written books to ease their suffering.

The officer who spoke at Culture hall during the launching of a Book  ‘Guidance and Counseling, a Handbook for Teachers and Students written by Dr Charles Tinega also urged Kenyans to buy books and read to benefit them.

Ochwangi, accompanied by Authors, and Tinega Joshua Araka said the Book will help students; teachers and parents cope with stresses of life especially that associated with Covid 19, which has caused deaths and suffering to Kenyans.

“Many Kenyans have  jobs due to economic hardship while others have succumbed to the pandemic. The disease has affected the economy and impoverished many people. They need to read such books to cope with stress,” Ochwangi said.

Most schools, noted the Officer, lack adequate and professional counselors, stressing the Book will enable teachers to learn guidance and counseling skills to help stressed learners and fellow teachers.

He appealed to parents to read the Book and help community members who are stressed and depressed due to family problems to enable them appreciate the challenges

Dr Tinega said he wrote the book to share his experiences in his guidance and counseling career to give solutions to problems people face in many areas.

He appealed to Kenyans to support talented writers write and publish books to share their skills, knowledge and experiences to benefit the society.

“This is the first Book to tackle challenges of Covid 19, which is affecting our people. I wrote it to be part of the people giving solutions to the challenges,” Dr Tinega said during the launching of the Book.

Araka said many Authors have manuscripts and are unable to publish their Books due to poverty and challenged them to seek support to publish them.

He said early Authors sought support, published few copies, sold and used the funds to publish more copies to reach and benefit more readers.