the writing

i had one question. this is what happened.

Essays on language, grief, culture and public life - written from Nairobi, with no obligation to behave once they leave.

four ways in

start here.

  1. language and powerI'm Kenyan. I Don't Write Like ChatGPT. ChatGPT Writes Like Me.the defining essay - on Kenyan English, colonial education, and who gets to sound human.8 july 20259 min  →
  2. grief and memoryI just realised that adulthood is a never-ending exercise in grief management.three RIP posts before morning tea, a father, a school uniform, and grief as the work of repair.9 april 202614 min  →
  3. culture and workThe Showman's Proof.what one Nairobi residency revealed about the invisible labour that lets culture become infrastructure.18 april 202615 min  →
  4. public lifeThe Pan-Africanism of it all.a visiting president, a borrowed politics, and the people required to remember what the room would rather forget.12 may 202627 min  →

newest first

the full archive.

20 essays
  1. culture and workA Eulogy for Fable 5 and Mythos 5. Cause of Death: Being Too Useful.18 june 20268 min  →
  2. public lifeThe Pan-Africanism of it all.12 may 202627 min  →
  3. culture and workThe Showman's Proof.18 april 202615 min  →
  4. grief and memoryI just realised that adulthood is a never-ending exercise in grief management.9 april 202614 min  →
  5. culture and workI think I hate content.2 april 202616 min  →
  6. public lifeOn Raila Odinga: This will be... complex.15 october 202516 min  →
  7. public lifeDear bible-knowing people: I need your help.14 september 202515 min  →
  8. public lifeCharlie Kirk said many things. So many things.11 september 202513 min  →
  9. culture and workI reviewed the last 4 years of Apple Events. Guess what.9 september 202513 min  →
  10. language and powerThe Professional Armour.18 july 20259 min  →
  11. language and powerIt started with one elegant word: ‘Jidishi.’11 july 202511 min  →
  12. language and powerI'm Kenyan. I Don't Write Like ChatGPT. ChatGPT Writes Like Me.8 july 20259 min  →
  13. culture and work"members only."28 june 20252 min  →
  14. grief and memoryMy brain is broken.6 march 202518 min  →
  15. grief and memoryHappy New Year?2 january 20243 min  →
  16. grief and memoryIt's been a year.22 may 20233 min  →
  17. grief and memoryGrief is really, truly not a straight line.27 september 20224 min  →
  18. public life#BreakTheBias, Chapter 1: "But what did she do?"9 march 20226 min  →
  19. culture and workThe Nokia T20: The essence of functionality - and my new portable office.3 march 20227 min  →
  20. public lifeToday in gaslighting...19 october 20216 min  →

the writing lives at this man’s mind. →

this man’s mind.

the essays arrive when they are ready. Substack does the admin.