A section of Nyanza women leaders led by former Karachuonyo mp Phoebe Asiyo addresses the press in Kisumu on September 2nd 2022. They discredited the advisory issued by the US embassy saying Kisumu is safe. (FILE/Standard) The punch landed on my jaw, sending me reeling on the hard surface. I struggled to stand up but was met with a flurry of kicks and lashes. With my face pinned down, I stayed glued to the burning ground inside the prison yard. Blood gushed down my nose and my cracked lips as the tall, muscular warden stomped on my shoulder. There was an eerie silence.…
Author: By Caleb Atemi
Novelist Ngugi Wa Thiongó after he was released from detention. [Courtesy] In September 2023 I had occasion to read for the umpteenth time Ngugi wa Thiongo’s memoir: Detained: A Writers Prison Diary. I was serving a 10-year prison sentence for a crime I knew nothing about; a crime I never committed. I clung to the promise of God that the appeal I had filed at the High Court Milimani would restore my freedom. My prayers were answered — I was released on appeal. .fade-out-overlay{position:absolute;top:-80px;left:0;width:100%;height:60px;z-index:1;background:linear-gradient(to bottom,rgba(255,255,255,0),rgba(255,255,255,1))}.paywall-container{position:relative;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;padding:25px;border:1px solid #e0e0e0;border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,.1);background-color:#fff}.paywall-container h2{text-align:center}.paywall-container a{text-decoration:none!important}.paywall-header{font-size:24px;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:15px;color:#333;text-align:center}.price-highlight{font-size:20px;font-weight:bold;color:#d40511;margin:15px 0;text-align:center}.price-highlight .original-price{text-decoration:line-through;color:#777;margin-right:0}.divider{border-top:1px solid #e0e0e0;margin:20px 0}.subscribe-button{display:block;width:100%;padding:12px;background-color:#d40511;color:#fff;border:none;border-radius:4px;font-size:25px;font-weight:bold;cursor:pointer;margin-bottom:20px;transition:background-color .3s;text-decoration:none}.subscribe-button:hover{background-color:#b0030e;text-decoration:none}.features-list{margin:20px 0;padding-left:20px;list-style:none}.features-list li{margin-bottom:10px;list-style-type:none;position:relative;padding-left:25px;list-style-type:none!important}.features-list li:before{content:”✓”;color:#d40511;position:absolute;left:0;font-weight:bold}.existing-subscriber{text-align:center;color:#555;font-size:14px}.existing-subscriber…