One day, I was running to the river. Along the way there was the most exquisite butterfly, a tiny little thing, on the pavement. I kind of jumped over it. And then two days later I woke up in the middle of the night with a character running, jumping over butterflies on the streets of Nairobi. After that, I followed the story. The story wrote itself.

I don't think Kenya is the only country that tries to induce amnesia - it seems to be a global phenomenon. But offenses do not die. They do not disappear.

Every Kenyan writer has offered me something to hold onto, something to believe in.

Even though we've written epic poems and made incredible films about love, I still don't think anyone can understand what it is, or why it means everything.

One day, I was running to the river. Along the way there was the most exquisite butterfly, a tiny little thing, on the pavement. I kind of jumped over it. And then two days later I woke up in the middle of the night with a character running, jumping over butterflies on the streets of Nairobi. After that, I followed the story. The story wrote itself.

I can edit into infinity. It's such a joy. I'd probably edit until the last word. Until there's only one word left.

Even if you're in charge of the grand story there's still memory. The other stories do not go away.