Dido G Kotile

The Unfortunate Event and Other Stories Dido G Kotile

The Unfortunate Event and Other Stories is a collection of short stories based in rural villages in Northern Kenya.

Each story includes an illustration, beautifully crafted to show the scene of the settings. The stories depict the daily life and turmoil of modern Kenya against the unique tribal background. These stories are distinct, with characters ranging from children orphaned during the civil war, innocent victims of female circumcision, corrupt government officials, infidelity, political opportunists, and illegal wildlife trophy traders. Some of the stories were inspired by the author's experience while growing up in Northern Kenya.

"The village Duksi," highlights the strict disciplinary rote learning method of the Holy Quran by village children in the remote part of the country. With no room for error, each child has to memorize or else face the dire consequences.

"The Kitchen Soup" is a tale about a boy in elementary school who does not have any food to eat at his home during lunchtime. His friend, whose mother works at the Kitchen soup, invites him for lunch. However, his frequent visit causes him sorrow, despise from his stepmother, and scorn from his friend's mother.

"A bowl of Worms" is a political story about infighting, disunity, and the bitter rivalry among the clans that robs and destroys the overall tribal unity. Perpetual bickering continues even after the tribe's loss of a parliamentary seat to a lesser-known outsider confirming the reality of the days to come for the mightier tribe in disarray.

"The Mirra Addict" is the tale of a reckless tax collector who embezzles funds and maintains his addiction by taking Mirra on credits and placing his plot as collateral. He endangers the health of his children, loses his wife, and ends up in jail.

"The Unfortunate Event" reveals the practice of female circumcision and how a politician attempts to eradicate this behavior, and in the end, the action cost his political aspirations.

"The Predator" details the story of an arrogant womanizer who gets AIDS-HIV while still married and ends up in disgrace.

"The Dreadful Camp" follows an elderly man escaping to Somalia after unjustly jailed for his views and supports of the "Shifta War." "The Confused" narrates the story of two brothers after the civil war; one escapes the war and returns home only to find that his brother is now a devout Catholic believer.