MAN OF THE HOUSE

AND OTHER NEW SHORT STORIES

FROM KENYA

Edited with an introduction by Emma Dawson

Critical, Cultural and Communications Press Nottingham 2011

Man of the House and Other New Short Stories from Kenya, edited by Emma Dawson. World Englishes Literature (Fiction) General Editor: Emma Dawson The right of Emma Dawson to be identified as editor in this work have been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988. Introduction and other editorial material © Emma Dawson, 2011. Individual stories © the contributors, 2011. All unauthorised reproduction is hereby prohibited. This work is protected by law. It should not be duplicated or distributed, in whole or in part, in soft or hard copy, by any means whatsoever, without the prior and conditional permission of the Publisher, CCC Press. First published in Great Britain by Critical, Cultural and Communications Press, Nottingham, 2011. Cover design by Andrew Dawson. All rights reserved. Publisher’s website: www.cccpress.co.uk

ISBN 978-1-905510-32-0(UK) ISBN 978-1-60271-029-0 (USA) First edition. Printed by Bookbinding Direct, Keele, Staffordshire, U.K..

CONTENTS

Map of Kenya 5

General Editor’s Preface 7

Acknowledgments 9

Introduction 11

Emma Dawson

Man of the House 27

Stanley A. Gazemba

Kissing Gordo 38

Muthoni Garland

The Last Supper 51

Rasna Warah

Screaming Thunder 72

Alison O Owuor

Shaba Park 85

Lloyd Igane

Reality Cheque 108

Shalini Gidoomal

Taking Care of Suzanna 127

Kahuho Mureithi

Recharge 142

Munene Mwiindi

A Season of Pain 151

Mukumu Muchina

Three Sides of a Coin 167

Pasomi Mucha

Innocent Guilt 179

Paul Mutuku

Square Peg, Round Hole 189

Suhaila Karim

Days Long Gone 209

Simon Mbuthia

What Does a Woman Want? 222

Joseph Muleka

A Night in Hell 234

Ismael M. Akango

Notes on the Contributors 248

MAP OF KENYA

GENERAL EDITOR’S PREFACE

7

This volume belongs to the Fiction series of CCCP’s World Englishes Literature imprint. This series focuses on the production of new writing in English, specifically new World Englishes fiction – a term which is defined in the introduction of each publication in the series. Country anthologies of new writing in English feature here, writing which is newly sourced, edited and presented with a critical introduction.

Each country anthology of new writing goes through a sequence of processes. Firstly, a call for short stories is launched electronically through email lists of writers, writing groups, universities and other relevant organisations. Once submissions have been received and read, a journey to the respective country is arranged by the editor in order to meet with the writers who have submitted their work as well as to offer an opportunity for others who have not yet heard of the project to come along and learn about it.

Making the journey to the country in question is paramount and this is what makes the CCCP’s country anthologies different from other anthologies of new writing in English. The journey to meet the writers is one that is made in order ‘to listen’ and not ‘to tell’. The World Englishes Literature imprint as a whole explores being beyond the postcolonial, by ‘listening’ to those who know, who are writing the literature now. This stance diverges markedly from anthologies compiled using already published (and recognised) literature, as well as anthologies which are compiled from ‘the Western armchair’.

The critical introduction to the country anthologies benefits from this act of ‘listening’ and, in doing so, aims to present an accurate

Man of The House and Other New Short Stories from Kenya

8

portrait of the writing emerging from the country in question. The visit to the country also affords the editor an opportunity to research the history of the place and culture, emerging criticism and contemporary literary events, all of which concern themselves with writing in English. All discussions with writers, readers, teachers and other interested parties who contribute to the debate on writing in English are audio-recorded in order for the material to be reproduced in a sensitive and accurate manner.

The final process is a re-opening of the call for submission within a limited timescale. This is conducted because very often, after the editor’s visit to the country, writers continue to hear of the project and wish to submit their work. On the editor’s return to the U.K., the selection of entries is made in consultation with a second editor and reader. Selected writers are paid for their submissions.

The World Englishes Literature Fiction volumes are compilations of short stories which range from 3,000 to 10,000 words in length. The idea motivating such an anthology of short stories is to offer the reader an accessible and manageable ‘taste’ of a country’s contemporary fiction writing in English. The short story also allows a country’s writers to explore a variety of contemporary themes and concerns as well as exhibiting the linguistic diversity of the land in question.

Most of the writers presented in the country anthologies will not be ‘known’ to the Western reader and also possibly not even to many readers in their own countries. This is a basic aim of the series: to promote new, emerging writers, often unknown to the West, writers who have not been ‘endorsed’ by Western publishing houses, but whose writing tells wonderful new stories in wonderful new ways.

Emma Dawson

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

9

My thanks go to the Garlands for their hospitality during my stay in Nairobi and memories of a wonderful drive through Tsavo East. Thank you to Keith Pearson for the drive out, to Monica for meeting me so last minute, and to Moses who kitted me out with the tunes.

To the reception at Moi University, to Dr Mellitus, thank you. It was great to meet everyone there and to see Masibo on home turf.

The road from Nakuru to Eldoret was an interesting one, made only more so by the company of my dear friend Peter, who, when we hit a ‘change of road surface’ at nearly 60 miles an hour didn’t swear anything like I did (I was driving) but I must say that I’ve never seen anyone look quite so ill, quite so quickly!

And to whichever guiding spirit it was who directed me to my bus at Busia when I couldn’t quite remember if it was red, brown, blue or pink….Thank you.

Thank you to all the writers who submitted in order to be considered for this anthology: keep writing, keep being who you are. A special thank you to the writers who feature here for working with me on editorial changes and considerations. I am honoured to have worked with you and to have produced your anthology.

E.D.

NOTES ON THE CONTRIBUTORS

248

Ismael M. Akango is currently a student at the Writers’ Bureau School of Journalism and a freelance journalist and teacher of writing lessons. He has three published articles to his name, and one short story, ‘The Wily Seductress’, published in the Friday Nation weekend pull-out (2008).

Lloyd Igane was born in Chuka on the Eastern slopes of Mt Kenya in 1961. He has held many jobs including goatherd, untrained teacher, feature writer, copywriter, cowshed cleaner, creative director, rabbit contraceptive peddler, sub-editor, accountant and husband. His education history is sketchy at best, but while in his forties he almost completed a B.A. in Literature and

Communication at the University of Nairobi. He is, however, still on a sabbatical he had to take while dealing with the termination of his most demanding and longest held-job yet – husband. ‘Shaba Park’, a short story aimed at children aged 14 to 99, was originally an assignment in the course ‘Sources and Applications of Children’s Literature’ during that brief foray into academia. He divides his time unevenly between Athi River near Nairobi, Kenya, and Kigali, Rwanda. , Kenya

Muthoni Garland writes fiction for adults and children. Her stories have been published online and in literary journals like Kwani? and Chimurenga. Her novellas, Halfway between Nairobi and Dundori, and the Caine Prize-shortlisted Tracking the Scent of my Mother, are published by Storymoja. Her children’s book, The Matatu from Watamu Drove into

the Sea, has been produced as a musical theatre show. Another children's story, ‘Kamau’s Finish’, was published by CCCP as teaching material for U.K. schools. Muthoni is based in Nairobi and is married to Wallace. They have four children.

Man Of The House and Other New Short Stories from Kenya

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Stanley Gazemba was born in 1974 in Vihiga, western Kenya. He lives with his family in Kangemi, Nairobi. Stanley trained as a journalist at Kenya Polytechnic University College and has written for Sunday Nation, The East African and Msanii Magazine. His fiction has appeared in The Literary Review, the online magazine Crossing Borders and ‘A’ is for Ancestors, a selection of stories from

the Caine Prize (Jacana, 2004). He has published a novel, The Stone Hills of Maragoli (2003: Jomo Kenyatta Prize) and six children’s books: Poko at the Koras, Poko and the Jet, Shaka Zulu, The Herdsboy and the Princess, Grandmother’s Winning Smile (long-listed for the 2007 Macmillan Prize) and Tobi and the Street Boy. In 2003 Stanley attended the Caine Prize Writers’ workshop in Cape Town, South Africa, and in 2007 he attended the Breadloaf Writers’ Conference, Vermont, USA as an international fellow.

Shalini Gidoomal is a freelance journalist, writer, businesswoman and inveterate traveller, born and currently living in Nairobi. She has worked on various U.K. and international magazines and newspapers, including The Independent, News of the World, Sunday Mirror, Today, FHM, GQ

and Architectural Digest. In Kenya, she has written for the East African, Travel News, The Standard, Care International and Camerapix. Her short stories and non-fiction have been published in The Obituary Tango, Jungfrau, Kwani? 04 and 05 and the New Kenya fiction anthology. She is deputy treasurer for Pen Kenya, festival director of the recently held Kwani Litfest 2008, director of Revisioning Kenya, founder of the Baharini festival, trustee of the Kenya Youth Business Trust and vice-chair of the KEPSA private sector board for Heritage and Culture. She is working on a novel and a guide book.

Notes on the Contributors

250

Simon Mubuthia was born on November 3, 1987 in Nyeri, Central Kenya. He attended both primary and secondary education in little known Mukurwe-ini; first at Kaheti primary school and later Kaheti High School. He started writing early. He used to write stories when he was still in primary school. Before he

joined college, he had already written a collection of eight short stories, two collections of poetry, and was working on a novel. But it was when he joined Kenya Polytechnic University College in Nairobi that he got down ‘seriously’ to write. Having experienced a tranquil village life, the city presented a deeply contrasting environment to him. It was in Nairobi that he witnessed real poverty, strife and despair. So far, Mbuthia has written hundreds of poems (some of which will be published soon), many short stories and two novels (unpublished). Having recently graduated with a diploma in Journalism and Public Relations from Kenya Polytechnic University College, Mbuthia is a regular contributor to the local dailies.

Pasomi Mucha is first a mother. She has three sons, Ben Kieru, 16, Julius Ruruma, 13 and Michael Ithagu, 9. She is a teacher, one who has had the good fortune to teach at several levels; primary, secondary and university. She teaches English, Literature and Communication Skills. She also works extensively with the Kenya Institute of Education in curriculum and curriculum support

materials development. After receiving training as a primary school teacher, she taught for 13 years before going back to school. She graduated in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in English and Literature and is currently in the completion stages of her Masters degree in English and Linguistics at Kenyatta University, Kenya. Pasomi delights in verbal creation. ‘Words fascinate me, and so does

life; I put into words what I see, hear, feel as we go about the business of living,’ she says. She is currently working on a novel for upper secondary school and two books for upper primary school readers.

Man Of The House and Other New Short Stories from Kenya

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Joseph Muleka was born in the Busia District of Western Kenya. He studied at Mundika School and St. Paul's Amukura, before joining Mosoriot College for a certificate course in teaching. He later joined Kagumo College to study Music and Kiswahili. He then studied at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa for his Bachelor of

Education, specialising in English and Literature. After teaching in several schools, he joined Kenyatta University for his MA in Literature and the University of Nairobi for his Ph.D. He currently lectures there in the Department of Literature. His recent publication, Images of Women in African Oral Literature, is a research project carried out in Kenya. He has authored Introduction to Prose, currently used by students of literature. He is also the author of Naomi and the Cannibals and Naomi in her New School, titles for young readers. He has also written study guides and contributed to various academic publications and journals.

Mukumu Muchina is an award-winning veteran journalist, playwright and fiction writer. A native of central Kenya, he read government and sociology at the University of Nairobi before proceeding to the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication to study mass communication. He taught briefly at Daystar before mastering in communications at the

University of Pittsburg. Mukumu’s first literary work was an acclaimed play, The Bell (1981), a searing indictment of Kenya’s detention without trial practice. He honed his writing as a journalist at the global charity World Vision and wrote a Gikuyu novel, Tombo wa Mutoi, currently being translated to Brain of a Lunatic. In 1983, Mukumu Muchina was Kenya’s Journalist of the Year, and has published numerous professional papers in local and international journals. He is currently editing his professional manual, PRACTICAL Corporate Communications. Presently, he is a director at a Nairobi printing firm.

Notes on the Contributors

252

Kahuho Mureithi was born on 9 September 1985 in Kenya’s Central Province. He attended Nyeri High School and later joined Moi University for an undergraduate degree in Education, graduating in 2009. ‘Listen up People’ is one of his poems, appearing in Counterpoint and Other Poems (OUP, Nairobi,

2010). He is currently working as a high school teacher.

Paul Mutuku is a playwright, screen writer, poet and actor. Born in the Machakos district, Eastern province, in 1985, Mutuku has a diploma in Community Development from the Kenya Institute of Development Studies. He has written over 100 poems, some of which have featured in Kenyan music and drama festivals. Mutuku was the second runner up in the 2009 youth to youth global essay writing

competition organised by the World Bank. He has previously worked in the script development of ‘Block D’, a Kenyan Television drama series. He has also previously worked with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation as a part-time radio presenter.

Munene Mwiindi received classroom education at Baitigitu Primary School, Kanyakine, and Meru High Schools. While studying sciences for his A-levels he found joy discovering the world and people’s minds, through story books. He was awarded a B.Sc. in

Animal Production at Egerton University. He briefly taught Physics and Mathematics in high school before joining the Ministry of Livestock Development, where he helps farmers discover better ways of producing more milk, meat, eggs and honey. Some of his short stories have been featured in local newspapers. He has written several stories for teenagers and adults, plus a novel, all awaiting their fate with publishers. In 2009 he won three awards in a writing competition organised by the National Book Development Council of Kenya. His story ‘Love Potion’ was a winner in the Studio Edirisa Short Story Competition, 2010.

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Suhaila Ahmed Karim was born on 6 May 1986, in Nairobi, and is a third generation Kenyan of Arab descent. She has had a passion for writing since childhood. She decided to take up formal training

in writing after completing her O-level exams. However, even without training, she has written several short stories and poems that she has not published to date. She currently lives in Nairobi.

Alison Ojany Owuor is a twenty-seven year old Kenyan writer and poet. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and has presented her work in various public fora. Her poem ‘(confessions)’ was published in 2004 by Forward Press (UK) in the anthology Through Different Windows. Since then other pieces have been published by Kwani?, a popular Kenyan literary journal. Prose that was inspired by the Kenya post

election violence (2007-08) has been published and reprinted in a few magazines, including Farafina (Nigeria) and Wajibu magazine (Kenya) as well as After the Vote (Kenya). Her poetry has been translated and selected to appear in the Swedish literary journal 10tal.

Rasna Warah is a respected columnist with the Daily Nation, Kenya's largest newspaper. For several years, she worked for the United Nations Human Settlements Programme as a writer and editor. More recently, she edited an anthology entitled Missionaries, Mercenaries and Misfits, which critiques the development industry in East Africa. She is also the author

of Triple Heritage, a historical memoir that explores the role of Asians in Kenya's politics and economy. She is currently based in the coastal town of Malindi, where she lives with her husband.

About the Editor Dr Emma Dawson works at the intersection of postcolonial literature and cultural studies, drawing on ethnographic research paradigms to conduct her fieldwork. She is the general Editor of CCCP's World Englishes Literature imprint. For the fiction series of the imprint she is currently editing a further anthology of short stories from Malaysia. Anthologies in the World Englishes Literature Fiction series she has edited are ‘The Spirit Machine’ and Other New Short Stories From Cameroon (2009) ‘Daughters of Eve’ and Other New Short Stories From Nigeria (2010), and ‘Butterfly Dreams’ and Other New Short Stories From Uganda (2010). She is currently working on a monograph, Beyond The Postcolonial: World Englishes Literature (forthcoming, Palgrave).

About the World Englishes Literature imprint

Educational Series

Our popular Read Around series, launched in 2008, has been specially designed for the secondary school classroom, and is closely correlated with the requirements of the U.K. National Curriculum in English, Key Stages 3 and 4. We are currently working on plans for a Read Around Multicultural Britain. Fiction Series

This series focuses on the production of new writing in English, specifically new World Englishes fiction. Country anthologies of new writing in English feature in this series – writing which is newly sourced, edited and presented with a critical introduction. The series was launched with ‘The Spirit Machine’ and Other New Short Stories From Cameroon (July 2009), followed by ‘Daughters of Eve’ and Other New Short Stories From Nigeria (April 2010). Uganda’s Butterfly Dreams followed in 2010. Criticism Series

As new World Englishes Literature emerges, a body of critical writing grows and this series aims to capture these new critical viewpoints. For example, Working and Writing for Tomorrow, our festschrift for Professor Itala Vivan, contains critical essays on the South African poets Ingrid Jonker, Ingrid de Kok and Karen Press, on the fiction of Yvonne Vera (Zimbabwe), on Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe (Nigeria), and on South African novelist Zoë Wicomb's David's Story.