Moi student pens, publishes three novels and short stories online

By NICHOLAS CHERUIYOT

Growing up in Sitotwet Village, Kericho County, Philemon Ngeno nursed an unyielding ambition that one day he would be an author.

Many of his dreams have come to pass.

Ngeno has two novels, a collection of short stories and an inspirational book. Due to lack of exposure, he had to grope his way to become writer. Like many local authors, Ngeno says he faced a problem of local publishers who have invested heavily in school texts. Not to be deterred, Ngeno chose not to whine but sought the services of a Canadian online firm trading as Wsic Ebooks Limited and got his works published. The publisher has glowing remarks about the books .The company posted the books in Amazon, a leading online book library where they have gained wider readership.

The ambitious author is currently a third year student at Moi University, Kericho Campus where he is specialising in English and Literature, his pet subjects. Ngeno runs an interesting, albeit fledging  website, www.ngenopubishing.com, where he has uploaded his books. Visitors to the site won’t be disappointed. The books are in myriad formats like kindle, epub, pdf, palm and html to suit different literature lovers. “The launch of my e-Books website was borne out of my desire to write, publish and sell my literary ideas to other people,’’ Ngeno says. Even as he decries the wanting reading culture, Ngeno says the number of visitors to his website are impressive.

Easy fiction works

Kenyan readers will find the fiction works easy to relate with as they need not search far for motif behind most of the stories. Contemporary problems plaguing Kenya inspires Ngeno to write.

“I realised I could use my writing skills to influence how people think. My thematic concerns are emerging issues that face our society and I write on them to help bring about a better understanding of other people and their cultures thereby foster peace.”

His novel, The Nobel Prize Winner, is about two men, a powerful politician called Hosea Bett and his son Albert.  Albert is a brilliant Political Science student. Albert would turn to be saviour of his country that is tottering on the brink of abyss following a highly disputed presidential vote whose credibility is in doubt. He plays a key role in ending bloody skirmishes that ensue following the poll. Centre of Attention and The Power Surge are two distinct, but related novels. The former is about an African ambassador who strikes rapport with a famous preacher while in Israel. They both engage in civil and social activities, which are quite controversial. Yet their ambition is to restore order in society.

Once when they tried to intervene in two young people’s love affair the matter sparks international human interest. This is because it touches on the age-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The matter is finally resolved with leaders of both nations signing a peace deal.  The Power Surge is about an African nation pursuing a gold mining contract with Israel. President David Kalya’s dream is to let Israel use the gold as leverage in the Middle East to coerce Arabs to reduce the cost of fuel sold to Africa by half.

This will reduce poverty in Africa thereby bringing about peace.  The two stories are about the search for peace in the Middle East and Africa.

Legitimate Concerns is a collection of short stories and some poems. Legitimate Concerns is a story about Eunice Chelimo, a young woman who has just been appointed Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).  She is elated and her kin have high expectations of her.

Soon she is set to bring Cosbo, a wanted rebel leader from the DRC to be charged for war crimes at The Hague-based court.  However, her problems begin as she learns from Twitter messages that her first and key witness has been bribed not to testify.

A wealthy American businesswoman is behind these bribery allegations. What follows is an intriguing story of bribery and miscarriage of justice.