The woes of choice

Author's Name: Wanjiru Koinange

Kawatha flees her husband, Ngugi, and their small family to live with her cousin abroad. Ngugi, whom she met at university, fell in love with because he defended her against students who constantly taunted her about her wealthy father's corruption and theft of public funds. However, her husband has not remained the same since their marriage. Her father has tightened his grip on him, indoctrinating him into his world without him even realizing it, until he falls into the trap without knowing it. Problems between the couple begin and culminate when Ngugi tells his wife that he is seeking to run for parliament with her father's support. Kawatha then threatens to leave her husband, and their daughter conceals her affiliation with a rival party.

The novel explores the Kenyan presidential elections and the violence that accompanied them, highlighting the civil war and the massive destruction that occurred during the 2007 elections, as Kavata struggles to preserve her home and family amidst the cycle of violence that engulfs the country.