By Antynet Ford
More than 40 years after his award-winning novel ‘My Life In Crime’, author John Kiriamiti is set to release a new book ‘The Abduction Squad’.
Published by East African Educational Publishers, the book will be unveiled at the Nairobi International Book Fair 2024 happening at the Sarit Centre Expo Hall between September 25th and September 29th.
Three of Kiriamiti’s past books—My Life in Crime, My Life with a Criminal, and My Life in Prison—are among Kenya’s most sought-after literary works.
The reformed author opens up in his new book and paints an ordinary person’s view of over-abductions, exposing the odds that come with abductions.
As he puts it in the book, “The abduction squad comprises of five hardcore criminals are released from prison and are sent by the police commissioner on an abduction mission to a neighboring country to capture and bring back some government critics who went to exile to silence them.”
This comes as Kenya witnesses increased allegations of abductions following the Gen Z-led public protests across the country.
His first book was written in 1984 at a time when he was serving an 18-year jail term at Kamiti Maximum Prison. Having managed to evade the police for years, Kiriamiti was finally apprehended in 1971 and sentenced to jail in 1971 with 44 strokes of the cane.
East African Educational publishers will also be releasing new books by renowned authors like Dr. Dan Gikonyo, Dr. Chris Okemwa, Ken Kamoche and Waithira Protano at the Nairobi International Book Fair.
According to East Africa Educational Publisher’s CEO Kiarie Kamau, this year’s book fair is exceptionally special because the publisher will not only be unveiling new books but celebrating the publishing works of its Founder, the late Dr. Henry Chakava. The goal of the book fair for the publisher will also be to renew the interest in developing creative writing and ignite the book reading culture.
The Nairobi International Book Fair is organized annually by the Kenya Publishers Association. It will bring together publishers, authors, booksellers, print suppliers, media, and readers from Africa and worldwide since the first edition in 1996.