By Ogova Ondego
Published March 8, 2024
Henry Chakava, founder and chair of Nairobi’s East African Educational Publishers (EAEP), has died.
The passing on of Chakava on March 8, 2024 was announced by Kiarie Kamau, managing director of EAEP.
“It is with deep shock and sadness that the board and management of East African Educational Publishers Limited, in consultation with the family, wishes to announce the passing of its founder and chairman, Dr Henry Chakava,” Kamau said in a statement.
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The late Chakava, who was managing director of Heinemann Educational Publishers (HEP) that he later acquired in 1992 and renamed EAEP, was associated with Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) whose chairman he was from 1982 to 1992; African Publishers Network (APNet); East African Book Development Council (EABDC); Kenya National Development Council (KNBDC); African Books Collective and Bellagio Publishing Network, among several other initiatives that sought to promote literature in Kenya, East Africa and Africa.
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Born Henry Miyinzi Chakava in Vokoli village in Maragoli in western Kenya on 26 April 1946, Chakava joined HEP East Africa after completing his Bachelor’s degree course in Literature and Philosophy at University of Nairobi.He rose through the ranks from editor in 1970 to become managing director by 1975.
