The Kistrech International Poetry Festival was founded to promote poetry and cultural exchange between local and foreign artists by Dr Christopher Okemwa in 2013.
The annual festival features spoken-word, rap, song, poetry reading, oral poetry, music instrument-playing, and other performances.
For 2022, the festival had poetry readings and launches hosted over several days in Kisii, Machakos, and Rusinga Island.
Taking part were guests from Kenya and across the world which included Cornelius Muthuri, Istvan Turczi (the current Vice President of the World Congress of Poets and Secretary General of the Hungarian PEN Centre), Bonface Nyamweya, Alfred Nyamwange, Josephat Ndege Mauti, Evans Mecha, Antanas A. Jonynas, Chrys Salt, Caren Jepkogei, Yolanda Castano, John Mugubi, Tony Mochama, Joseph Muleka, Karla Brundage, Prof. Dr. Laksmisree Banerjee, Nicholas Omondi, Tom Odhiambo, Maria Dixen, George Nyandoro, Bwocha Nyagemi, and Ruth Jepkorir Koech.
