Although I knew the story of my novella, Sabina and the Mystery of the Ogre, was good, I wasn’t sure what position it was going to take. I am happy to be the 2015 winner of this prestigious literary prize. I also congratulate the other nominees, Mark Chetambe (1st runners up) and Charles Okoth (2nd Runners up). Their works were equally of high quality.
Sponsored by Poets House directors—Janice Fitzpatrick and James Simmons—I attended the international poetry workshop at Poets’ House in the summer of 1993.The directors and all participating poets were glad at the effort that inspired me to travel all those expensive miles. I was young, naïve and spoke imperfect English.
In 1991, NODA (National Operatic & Dramatic Association) of England arranged for me to visit England from May to August 1991 to study Music, drama and dance. Several members of the association were pleased to have me as their guest in their homes—including June King McWilliams, Annete Reid and Ethel Fidler.
I attended and participated at the XX International Poetry Festival in Medellin, Colombia, from 8th to 17th of July 2010.
I was a guest poet at the 3rd Spring and Poetry Festival in Istanbul, Turkey, from 11th to 13th May 2018. Other guest-poets included Ion Deaconescu, Yasar Mirac, Rati Saxena, Laura Garavaglia, Deniz Durukan, Ihsan Tevfik, Metin Kaygalak, Mehmet Altun, Salahattin Yolgiden, Jeton Kelmendi, Mehmet Said Aydin, Dmytro Chystiak and Mina Gligoric.
I was invited to attend the 27th International Biennial of Poetry that took place in the Congress Hall of Liege (Belgium) from 10th to 13th October 2012. Poets from 33 countries attended. This major event was put under the presidency of Dany Laferriere, Haitian poet, novelist and script–writer (Medicis Prize 2009) and articulated around the theme “Must Poetry Be Absolutely Modern?”
13-16 Feb 1991: Drama workshop held at Kisumu Technical Training Institute organized by Nyanza Province Primary and Secondary Schools Drama & Creative Dance Committee.