The Kistrech International Poetry Festival in Kenya, initiated in 2013 by Dr. Christopher Okemwa, has become the most popular and largest literary event in Africa. Its primary goal is to unite local and international poets annually, fostering poetry, art, and cultural exchanges. The festival features various forms of expression, including spoken word, rap, song, poetry, oral poetry, and Swahili poetry (mashairi). Emerging poets, particularly from Africa, have greatly benefited, with many having their works published in prestigious magazines and journals or in book form with reputable publishers. The festival has opened doors for local poets to participate in international poetry events, and several student-poets have earned scholarships to study abroad, thanks to the Kistrech Poetry Festival. Moreover, MA and PhD students of literature in Kenyan universities gain exposure to foreign authors and literary works they were previously unfamiliar with, through academic papers presented by guest poets during the festival.

https://kistrechpoetry.org/festivals/2023-poets.html