Dr. Kawive Wambua Launches Three New Books at Theatre-Filled Event at Nairobi’s Kenya National Theatre

 By Gedion Nzyoki - 

Photo collage of Dr. Kawive Wambua alongside copies of the three books he unveiled today. Photo: Courtesy

• Dr.Wambua wa Kawive launched three new literary works in a vibrant, theatre-infused event at the Kenya National Theatre in Nairobi, blending performance with literature
• The publications span multiple genres, including drama, poetry, and narrative poetry, each exploring complex themes such as society, love, identity, and cultural reflection
• The launch also featured live performances and a scholarly dialogue, highlighting the growing intersection between Kenyan literature, theatre, and public intellectual engagement

Nairobi, Kenya | May 2, 2026 — Celebrated Kenyan writer, educationist, and literary scholar Dr. Kawive Wambua on Saturday afternoon officially launched three new books during a vibrant, theatre-infused literary event held at the iconic Kenya National Theatre in Nairobi.

The event brought together writers, performers, academics, students, and members of the public in a rare fusion of literature and live stage performance, transforming the launch into a full artistic showcase rather than a conventional book unveiling.

From left: Nick Ngeli, Dr. Kawive Wambua (centre), and Frank Muendo. Photo: Gedion Nzyoki.

The three books launched were The Travails of King’ole, a trilogy of plays; The Making of Gods and Shrines, a collection of poetry; and Tears in a Love Bowl, a narrative poem.

An Inside Look at The Travails of King’ole

The work is dedicated to Peter Muema, also known as Sungu, the author’s brother, who has witnessed and endured the many faces of social injustice.

King’ole, rooted in Akamba tradition, is a mythic concept representing a society where leadership has collapsed into moral decay. Traditionally, King’ole is portrayed as a ritual punishment system used during famine, where individuals found with excess food are stoned for hoarding while others starve. It also functions as an ultimate traditional court capable of issuing death sentences. 

In Kawive’s play, however, the concept is reimagined as a powerful metaphor for political and social breakdown.

The play traces the deterioration of leadership from distorted justice to ethnic violence and ultimately to psychological collapse, symbolized by madness and institutional confinement. 

At its center is King’ole, a young man destined for leadership but stripped of real power, whose life shifts between sanity and insanity, reflecting the instability of his society. 

The fluidity of character identities—where roles, names, and time constantly shift—underscores the theme of a fractured and unstable world.

Written across the 1990s and early 2000s, the three one-act plays examine how traditional justice systems are corrupted by divine interference, centralized authority, and eventual societal chaos. The ritual meant to enforce communal fairness becomes distorted into oppression and psychological destruction.

The narrative unfolds through three interconnected movements that trace King’ole’s psychological and societal decline. In In at the Birth, a young king confronts a devastating famine and the moral dilemma of enforcing a harsh ritual that punishes those with surplus food, unaware of his divine connection to the system and caught between opposing forces and personal desires.

In Mourning Shadows, the story shifts into his troubled mind as a university student grappling with loss, violence, and national instability, leading to deep psychological strain and a growing sense of responsibility for a broken society.

Finally, in Country Caves, he is confined in a hospital after being accused of murder, reliving painful memories as familiar figures reappear in distorted forms, blurring the line between reality and illusion. 

Overall, the play serves as a powerful metaphor for the collapse of moral and political order, exploring themes of power, injustice, identity, and madness in a fragmented world.

A Deep Dive into The Making of gods and Shrines

The Making of gods and Shrines, a collection of poetry, is structured into three distinct sections. The first explores love poetry, capturing the tenderness and complexity of human relationships. The second section shifts into a more eclectic space, bringing together reflective and imaginative poems. The collection culminates in two lyrical songs dedicated to Mother Nature—Kilaimeti and Going to Kisumu.

Complementing the literary showcase was a performance of In at the Birth, directed by Caroline “Coach” Odongo. The production infused the event with theatrical energy, transforming the launch into a full artistic experience rather than a conventional book unveiling.

In addition to the performances, Dr. Kawive engaged in a thought-provoking conversation with scholars Dr. Mshai Mwangola and Dr. Justus Makokha. The discussion explored the evolving landscape of Kenyan literature, the role of theatre in storytelling, and the importance of preserving cultural narratives through creative expression.

Speaking during the launch, Dr. Kawive explained that his inspiration to write stems from the art of storytelling and the desire to share narratives, noting that writers often have the freedom to shape and creatively embellish the stories they tell.

He added that the creative process can evolve unpredictably, leading writers to document people’s experiences in ways that reflect how individuals grow and change over time. He illustrated this by noting that even simple moments such as someone choosing to remain in a vehicle at a given time, can become part of broader narratives.

“What makes me write is the art of telling stories and sharing narratives, especially because you can easily embellish a story the way you want. But it’s in creatives. Sometimes you write people’s stories, and people grow differently. A person in a vehicle, for example, may refuse to get out of it at a certain stage. So, you know, it’s just about telling stories,” Dr. Kawive said.

The event, which was open to the public, also allowed attendees to purchase the newly launched works at a bundled price, encouraging wider access to the publications.

Other Publications by Dr. Wambua wa Kawive

Among Dr. Wambua wa Kawive’s other notable works are The Ridges Across River Kaiti, a novel that blends narrative depth with a strong sense of place and human experience, and Conversations on Political Education in Kenya – A Citizen’s Action Manual, a reflective work that engages readers in civic awareness, participation, and the responsibilities of citizenship in Kenya.

About the Author

Dr. Wambua wa Kawive is an educationist, literary scholar, and writer who currently serves as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Inuka Trust. He is also the immediate former County Executive Committee Member (CEC) for Devolution and Public Service in Makueni County.

During his tenure in the Makueni County Government, he held several key portfolios, including Roads, Transport, Infrastructure and Energy; Devolution and Public Service; and Education and Civic Education. He notably spearheaded the development and operationalisation of the Citizen Participation Framework, strengthening public engagement in governance.

Dr. Kawive has been active in civil society since 2004, contributing significantly to its growth, networking, and expansion in Kenya. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the Constitution and Reform Education Consortium (CRECO) and as Executive Officer at the Institute of Performing Arts (IPAL), where he played a key role in advancing civic and creative initiatives.