Mbizo Chirasha talks to Kenyan Writer Rachael Simiyu

Who is  Rachael Simiyu and what makes her remain relevant?
Rachael Simiyu, also known as Nettabella Simiyu, is a Kenyan part-time author and an educator. She writes both academic and creative work. She remains relevant by the fact that she keeps learning and developing curiosity as well as giving people a platform to voice themselves through their talents- and writing in particular. She keeps on challenging the occurances, beliefs and views that surround her daily life.

What are your writing genres and why have you chosen  those as your best areas of writing?
Being biased, and moving from poetry, doesn't really define Rachael. She writes both poems and fictional stories. However, she has recently concentrated more on short stories due to the fact that narration gives one a wider space to creatively write down contemporary thoughts.

Do you write anything on women or the girlchild?
Yes. Women are the backbone of the globe. I have some fiction and poems that advocate for the womenfolk. My recent publication is a collection of short stories based on the challenges that women face while raising children with learning disorders.

Do you have any of your writings published abroad  in journals or presses , give a short list possibly?
Well, yes.I am yet to expand my writing abroad, as I said before that I am open to learning. Most of my writings have been published within my country. Though not many, I have done some of the following writings in abroad presses:

a) The Pan-Writers Caravan Press: has published some poems by Rachael Simiyu.  (https://panwriterscaravan.wordpress.com/2022/11/20/kirinyaga-griot-nettabella-rachael-simiyu-your-verses-are-the-revolutionary-manifesto-of-protest-poetry/#respond)

b) The African William Blake Word Press: mentioned one of her poems that managed to pave its way to the long-list, during the 2023 Writing Ukraine Prize - "Prestigious Ripples".
https://africanwilliamblake.wordpress.com/2023/02/14/the-jury-panel-passed-their-writing-ukraine-prize-longlist-verdict/

c) The Kalahari Review Magazine: Pride- African LGBTQ: this was an Igby Prize Essay on the pride that the LGBTQ members hold for belonging to the community.
https://kalaharireview.com/pride-african-lgbtq-8f2252638ff6

How are Human Rights Defenders treated in your country?
The HRDs have continued to undergo a lot of challenges despite the freedom for expression. They have continued to face torture and beatings, arbitrary arrests and detention, death threats, harrassment and defamation, as well as restrictions of expressions, association, assembly and movement.
Recently, one human rights defender who advocates for social and environmental justice was brutally attacked by some unknown armed individuals during a burial event, Cite:(https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/human-rights-defender-chris-owalla-brutally-attacked) Freedom of expression and assembly, and the rights to life, truth, justice and reparation have been infringed, leading to extrajudicial killings, unlawful killings and enforced dissapearances.  (Cite: https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/africa/east-africa-the-horn-and-great-lakes/kenya/report-kenya/)

Does any  of writings carry messages of human rights , free speech and social justice?
Yes, most of my pieces of writing, especially poems, revolve around themes of social injustice and human rights.
a) My two poems : Annexation and Despondency, strongly highlight the pessimistic African that finds no joy living in their own land with so much social injustice in their surrounding. (https://panwriterscaravan.wordpress.com/2022/11/20/kirinyaga-griot-nettabella-rachael-simiyu-your-verses-are-the-revolutionary-manifesto-of-protest-poetry/)
b)  Another poem "A Prodigious cup of Tea" published by http://amka.or.ke/ a Kenyan Literary Forum, highlights the corruption held high by our elected leaders that compromises the cost of living of the citizens.
c) The nonfiction essay mentioned above, "Pride" highlights the discrimination, lack of expression, lack of right to life, association and assembly by members that belong to the LGBTQ community.
There are many other pieces in my social media handles that I haven't mentioned.

How many books have you published so far?
I have published both academic and non-academic or fiction books. I should admit that publishing is a rigourous task, especially when it comes to balancing family, work and writing, and moreso, as a woman. So far, I am on my fourth publication. 

Mention any of your accolades ?
Well, I have some writing awards/ mentions in the past, though I feel like I have much more to grab from the globe. I have been recognized in the following: -

a) Igby Essay Writers Award (2020)- Non-fiction Category: www.kalaharireview.com Magazine.

b) African Writers Awards (2020)- Children's Short Story Awards Longlist.

c) Writing Ukraine Prize (2023)- Poetry : Longlist

What is your parting shot to young writers
Young writers should be on the look out for what is happening around them. They should pay attention to the world, and chanel their thoughts on blank slates. They should have a mind-set of making the world change and not making their pockets change- the latter will follow. Lastly " a maimed tigress dies clutching on the ground"- there's no reason why someone should lose hope about telling the world what they have noticed.

Nettabella Rachael Simiyu is a renown Kenyan Academic and Creative Writer. She was born in the 80s, in Bungoma County, in the Western Part of Kenya. She is the daughter to the late Nicholas T.T. Simiyu, who was a renown Kenyan Accounting and Tax Author and lecturer at the University of Nairobi. Nettabella is a mother, and an educator by profession. She has a Bachelors degree in Education- English and Literature, and currently taking a Masters in Educational Psychology. She has participated in some writing awards, and has published several poems, short stories as well as non-fiction work. Nettabella is the founder of the Rachael Simiyu Greative Writers Awards. The term “Greative” is not
misspelt- it actually emanates from her shared motto: “All creative writers are Great writers”. Ms. Simiyu is an advocate for Human Rights. She believes that people have the right to exercise their freedom despite their race, gender or social orientation. This does not make her a believer or
participant in various social groups that she does not belong to, but rather acknowledges the fact that Humans have to be handled in dignity, despite their choices in life.
Besides, Nettabella has developed keen interest on the rights of children living with disorders, and has added value by advocating for their existence and their rights as any other child. She currently works and lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.