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Ciku Kimeria is a Kenyan author "Of goats and poisoned oranges" - (https://www.amazon.com/goats-poisoned-oranges-Ciku-Kimeria-ebook/dp/B00HBBWPI6), development consultant, adventurer and travel blogger (www.thekenyanexplorer.com). She writes both fiction and non-fiction focusing on African stories that need telling. She has worked on diverse pieces for various international and local publications including Quartz, Ozy, The East African etc. She has travelled to 45 countries – 16 of them in Africa. 153 countries to go and 63 territories!
"Of goats and poisoned oranges" has been extremely well received in Kenya and beyond. It tells the story of a Kenyan middle aged power couple and their complicated marriage. The novel explores issues of greed, revenge, betrayal and murder. It runs from the 1960s to 2013. It has been described as “Wicked, funny, poignant, wacky, human, a big ball of fun and danger”, “A unique and captivating book”, “Fun and intriguing”, “Impossible to put down once you start reading.”
She recently moved to Dakar, Senegal from Kenya to work on her second novel. She also works at as the Africa Communication Manager at a leading global strategy consulting firm.
She holds a B.S. in Management Science from MIT with minors in Urban Planning and International development studies.
Anthony Bourdain’s Premiere Posthumous Episode On Kenya
The trailer for Anthony Bourdain's premiere posthumous episode on Kenya has me eagerly waiting to watch the full episode. This is for many reasons. First, I'm an Anthony Bourdain fan and still can't believe that there will be no more new stories coming from him. As a traveler, I have greatly admired his way of traveling, telling people's stories with dignity—wherever he might be, his energy, his sense of adventure. Second, I am Kenyan. How can I not be excited to see my country through this great storyteller's eyes? Third, he went on this trip with Kamau Bell whose CNN series – United Shades of America – I quite enjoy. For someone with such a typical Kenyan name (Kamau), I'm curious to see what his first time in my country was like.
The show decidedly got personal, political, and covered economics too. Bourdain and Bell visit the famous Toi market in Nairobi, where second-hand clothes and shoes are sold. There, they have a candid conversation about the “dignity” of wearing someone else’s used underwear and the Trump administration’s threat to suspend duty-free privileges if African nations refused to take these clothes.
Yes, this is all true. The Trump administration has said that Africans need to keep taking the US' second hand clothes (at the expense of stifling our own textile industries) or risk a suspension of duty-free privileges that we get under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA.)
The two also tour the sprawling Kibera slum, and speak about the manifestations of the so-called “White Savior Complex.” They also meet with members of Kenya’s gay community, who are pushing for more recognition and space. And what’s a trip to Kenya without getting on its “seizure-inducing” colorful and loud matatu minibuses?
It seems they did not shy away from many personal, political and societal issues that I spend a lot of time thinking about. I believe the full episode may even exceed my expectations.
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