Upya Fresh

  December. That month of hard truths. December. That month that brings to severe light that which lays hidden for the rest of the year… the state of a man’s pocket and mind, his relationships or lack of them, whether he is going places or he is stuck in a rut… complaining and blaming everything else but himself for his present circumstances… incessant, soul-sucking complaining that turns him into a drag and an unhappy and unlucky man. The broken man. The broken man revealed in the light of December… when you meet in the whereabouts of Christmas, he asks if you can buy him a drink. Preferably, hard liquor of the cheap kind. Right there, is manifest of his lack of desire for better outcomes. I mean, this being the week that ushers in the New Year, you would expect him to ask (better yet, offer) for something that is a bit kind to his liver… a cider ale, perhaps, or a glass of sweet red. The broken man, he starts his conversation… first, he blames the government. Then, what his great

  And so, another year ends Perhaps, for you, it was a bend Wounds, grief, pain, you tend Adios to these, you must send. Still, after everything, here you stand How Great He is, now you understand The year – lifelong lessons, you to better You say thanks to all, long is your letter. Another year, blessings tis your portion Ready to wear all, silky this your lotion Ill will and greed, you say no to this potion Made for greatness, when you know this notion. Dreams to give wings, this New Year Love, hugs and life, this New Year Dancing under the stars, this New Year You, His co-creator, thanks to a New Year.                    ******** #GreaterTogether   You are great. Say after me, slowly, “I am great!” Yes, you are. And so, we are going to create great works together… memorable characters, riveting plots, immortal phrases. Yes, you and me. With your support of Kshs 20, we are going to launch two great anthologies: ‘A Funeral Dress for Nyasuguta’ and ‘Love Told, Poetry

  With Wycliffe Omondi, talking matters Creative Economy in Kenya. He is into Fashion: hats, caps, headwear… I am into Books, Performing Arts and Leather… but there is always room for collaboration and co-creation, more so, with disruptions in the economy. That way, we can tap and leverage on each other’s ideas and opportunities, more so, in scaling up. Among opportunities shared were Creative Hubs (iHub, Alliance Francaise, Kenya Cultural Centre, Baraza Media Lab, British Council, among others), government support (Talanta Hela, KIRDI, KBC Studio Mashinani, Hustler Fund – awaiting the launch of the IMELP component by CSChelugui and the President), markets (William Ruto’s CAIPS, UK Innovate), and learning opportunities. Here is to wishing every Creative a Merry Christmas and a Breakthrough 2024!                                                         ********** NB: Meanwhile, I have a small ask:- I am running a campaign that will enable me launch my two books in February, end, 2024

  We Had Our Time We had our time, our time to love We had our time, our time to poet We had our time, love, cry, laugh We had our time, sweet words we sung. We had our time, the sun to kiss We had our time, the moon to paint We had our time, the stars blue game We had our time, mad love to tame. We had our time, to travel the world We had our time, these stories to tell We had our time, change man’s fate We had our time, to fall, rise again. We had our time, the sun to kiss We had our time, the moon to paint We had our time, the stars blue game We had our time, mad love to tame. We had our time, jaded now we are We had our time, faded this love We had our time, to stare gaze the sun We had our time, memories our graves. We had our time, the sun to kiss We had our time, the moon to paint We had our time, the stars blue game We had our time, mad love to tame.

  Cheerful This December Cheerful this lazy December Taste of your lips remembered Blue in your eyes always rendered Just beyond my reach you hover. Taxing - love when it starts again Pretty - my heart pursues this dame Catch me when you can – the game Bruised when it ends – always the same. Cheerful this lazy December Taste of your lips remembered Blue in your eyes always rendered Just beyond my reach you hover. Guitar strums, sometimes it’s June A melody caught, sung the tune Words always not right, too soon Dark comes, I whisper unto the moon. Cheerful this lazy December Taste of your lips remembered Blue in your eyes always rendered Just beyond my reach you hover. Another year, come and gone, welcomes and byes Long days, short nights, short days, sharps nights The melody in the everyday, neon pretty was your light You are too hard to forget,   I too shy another love to try. Cheerful this lazy December Taste of your lips remembered Blue in your eyes

  May the Day Break May the day break, patch this broken heart May the day break, quench these cracked lips May the day break, bring news of love unsullied May the day break, touch these wounds into scars. May the day break, with it a fortune so great May the day break, more golden and silvern May the day break, joy above all with the rise May the day break, for the sun is all these and more.

  Maisha ya Mwanamume Hapo awali, maisha ya mwanamume kawa rahisi Kazi yake ni: kuilinda, kuitunza na kuiongoza jamii Kwa makini, yeye kawa mshauri na muuguzi Taifa kawa na ustawi, mwongozo wake mema maadili. Ila leo, mfumo kabadilika, jina maendeleo Ya Kizungu, mambo, macheo hadi machweo Mila, desturi tokomea, Uafrika sahaulika Wa kiume mwana, uume hana tena. Hapo awali, mwana wa mume lake rika Baada ya kazi, wake wenza wampe wosia Tunza bibi hivi, vipi uisimamishe jamii Fumbo, methali, semi - zamfunza mengi. Elimu sasa ya Kizungu, huru jitawale mja Vazi chaguo langu, hasemezeki wangu dada Elimu hii sumu, pesa anazo – gari, madaraka Atoa kutu – apendavyo - pasi kujali ndoa. Hapo awali, ndoa adhimu, mfano wa kuigwa Bwana bibi, dhambi adimu, kaepuka zinaa Fungate safi, milele idumu, shemeji mmoja Jalali bariki, kifaa sio butu, ofisi bila doa. Sasa maisha sherehe, haina rika hii pombe Waume wake, vijana tangamana na wazee Sababu yake, ndugu - utajiri na uchoc

  Really, our story begins in heaven. An enterprising Kenyan had found his way there – sweet words, some Kenyan ‘chai’ – he was now past the Pearly Gates and in God’s hallowed courtyard. There – more sweet words, more Kenyan ‘chai’, some ‘kahawa, the best in the world he had left behind – he was now part of God’s kitchen cabinet. It was a silent night – for a few interspersed minutes, at least. It was a holy night – for an hour, or so – when the blaring speakers from the ‘kesha’ brought church to homes, by force, by fire. Now, the stars could be seen. The cause? Kenya Power had done their thing – blackout across the city. With the security lights – hoisted on masts high above -   out, the stars twinkled as prophesied in that children’s song of old. More, Bishop Kimani’s House of Covenant Biblical Church had been quietened. Again, the occasional shouting for help as someone was parted with their valuables added flavour to the night. Jose, he was a deeply unhappy person. A few mont

  With a heavy heart, having cried my heart out, I let go. Of these dear books with many a memory. This to support my book launches. Gladden, though, for they are on offer for as low as Kshs 20 – 20bob (exclusive of delivery costs): 1.        Betrayal in The City 320 2.        Paper Doll 320 3.        Royal Scandals 320 4.        Poems from East Africa 320 5.        Mimba Ingali Mimba 220 6.        Half a Day and Other Stories 120 7.        Kitumbua Kimeingia Mchanga 320 8.        Walenisi 420 9.        Horn of My Love 220 10.    Mayai Waziri wa Maradhi 120 11.    Brisinger 520 12.    Cabal 320 13.    The Patriot Game 320 14.    The Resurrectionist 320 15.    A Season in the Highlands 220 16.    Pictures from a Trip 320 17.    The Burdens 120 18.    Visiki 120 19.    Days Without Number 220 20.    The View from Pompey’s Head 220 21.    Quarter Life Crisis 20 22.    Of Human Bondage 2220 23.    Taking Stock ofChallenges in Nairobi Slums 20