This study examined the effects of literature in English on students’ character development in
public secondary schools in Ekerenyo Sub County, Nyamira County, Kenya. The research aimed
to explore the contribution of literary texts to the development of students’ critical thinking and
empathy in public secondary schools, to examine the influence of literature in English on
development of students’ character in public secondary schools and to identify the experiences of
students regarding the effects of literature in public secondary schools in Ekerenyo Sub County,
Nyamira County. The study was guided by Social Learning Theory by Albert Bandura. A
descriptive survey design was employed, targeting English teachers and students from selected
public secondary schools. Data were collected through questionnaires and the findings revealed
that literature significantly contributed to students' character formation. Exposure to various
literary themes including, conflict resolution, moral dilemmas, and ethical decision-making
encouraged students to reflect on their values and develop empathy. Additionally, teachers
played a crucial role in integrating character education within literature lessons, reinforcing
positive attitudes and behaviors. However, challenges such as limited access to relevant literary
materials and inadequate instructional approaches were identified as barriers to maximizing the
impact of literature on character development. The study concluded that literature in English was
instrumental in shaping students' personal and social development and recommended the
adoption of interactive and reflective teaching strategies to enhance its effectiveness. The study
therefore, recommended that, the school administration should ensure that literature was
integrated into the curriculum with a focus on character development, to teachers they should
adopt an interactive teaching method that encouraged students to analyze literary texts critically,
additionally, they should emphasize moral lessons from literature to help students develop
empathy and ethical reasoning. Lastly, parents should encourage their children to read literature
at home and discuss its moral and ethical lessons by providing them with literary materials that
support character development and personal growth.