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Lemn Sissay and Imtiaz Dharker – Writing and Performing Poetry (10yrs - 14yrs)

Two celebrated contemporary British poets, Lemn and Imtiaz have written five collections of poetry spanning the past 25 years. Lemn Sissay is a poet, playwright, broadcaster and artist-in-residence at London’s Southbank Centre. Imtiaz Dharker is a poet, artist and documentary film-maker. Facilitated by Michael Osando

Supported by British Council

Careers advice workshop with Eric Omondi (15yrs – 18yrs)

The stand-up comedian and broadcaster shares his experiences on careers in the entertainment industry. Chaired by Millie Dok.

Fab Lab Robotics

The famous University of Nairobi Fab Lab comes to the festival, with their picocrickets kits, armed to make ‘almost’ anything! Get your first taste of robotics.

Publish your own book

An event for 6-9-year-olds, working with writers and illustrators to create their very own book in just two hours.

Sponsored by the US Embassy

Storytelling and puppet-making with KoKo Riko for 6-9-year-olds

Storyhippo’s own storyteller, Wangari Grace brings alive the much loved cheeky character from the book Koko Riko, who woke me?

Screening - Getting Justice

Getting Justice A documentary on the justice options for Kenya, following the 2007 General Election Disaster. Maina Kiai takes to the road to talk to ordinary Kenyans (English version)

Manuscript Doctor

Join Caine Prize-nominated Kenyan writer Lily Mabura for tips and advice about your manuscript. (pre-registration only)

Start a library

Teacher training workshop

Boats of the Future with Marit Tornqvist

The Dutch illustrator Marit Tornqvist runs an art workshop for 6–9-year-olds. Marit is best known for beautifully illustrating many of the well-loved children’s books by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. (pre-registration only)

Supported by the Netherlands Embassy

Precious Williams, Dinaw Mengestu and Ross Van Horn (15yrs – 18yrs)

Creative Writing 1: Displacement and Identity – Telling our life stories

Daughter of a Nigerian princess, Precious Williams was raised by a white family in Sussex and her first book - a memoir - describes the growing pains of an African foster child. Dinaw Mengestu was born in Addis Ababa but migrated to the USA during the years of the Ethiopian revolution. His two novels Children of the Revolution and How to Read the Air are fictional accounts of displacement and identity experienced by immigrants. Share their ideas and expertise on writing from life experience.

Supported by the US Embassy and Van Horn Consulting

Publish your own book (10yrs – 14yrs)

Join writers and illustrators and publish your own book – in just two hours. Storymoja’s most popular session! 

Supported by the US Embassy

Meet the Authors (10yrs – 14yrs)

Join Africa’s most loved children’s book authors Lola Shoneyin (Nigeria) & Lauri Kubuitsile (Botswana) for your chance to learn more about the inspiration behind their stories, and just where their characters come from.

Why the Cheetah Hunts at Night and Owen and Mzee(6yrs – 9yrs)

JC Niala reads her captivating book Why the Cheetah Hunts and Night and teaches you how to make your own puppets. Celebrated National Geographic explorer and conservationist Paula Kahumbu unveils some secrets behind the remarkable true story of the friendship of Owen and Mzee, Kenya’s most famous Tortoise and Hippo.

Screening - Tomorrow will come

Tomorrow will Come/ Kesho Itakuja takes a look at the ICC process and how it affects Kenya after the naming of the 6 suspects by the ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo. (English and Kiswahili versions)

Supported by the Netherlands Embassy

Creative Writing Masterclass

Giles Foden, novelist (The Last King of Scotland, Zanzibar) and Professor of Creative Writing at the legendary University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. (pre-registration only)

Supported by British Council

Festival Launch– Party with the Stars

Join us in the starlit grounds of the National Museum to celebrate the fourth annual Storymoja Hay Festival, with music by Denise Gordon. TICKETS KSH 5000

Precious Williams

Creative Writing Masterclass: Magazines and Newspapers

For university students and young writers, a masterclass given by writer and journalist Precious Williams (Elle, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Daily Telegraph, The Times) on generating ideas and drawing from your own experiences.

Supported by Van Horn Consulting

Cash, Chapaa, Dough (15yrs – 18yrs)

Founder of Money Academy and Pesatalk.com, Joel Macharia shows you it is never too early to start making money.

The Google Platform: Ory Okolloh, Dr Christian Turner and John Kampfner

Google’s head of Policy and Government Relations, Africa and the Freedom of Expression advocate discuss the cultural and social transformative power of the internet and new technologies. They are joined by Dr Christian Turner, former Director of the Middle East and North Africa in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Dr Turner is now British High Commissioner to Kenya.

In Association with Google

Poetry Workshop (10yrs – 14yrs)

Nigerian poet and English teacher Lola Shoneyin coaches aspiring poets