Ruraya

Wanjiru is the author of RURAYA

The book honors lineage, womanhood, and the preservation of our stories

From Mt. Kenya to Buckingham palace

a Mother’s story of struggle survival and success

Ruraya is Wanjiru Gichigi's debut novel and a heartfelt biographical tribute to her mother, Rosemary Muthoni. Through her mother's extraordinary journey, Wanjiru preserves a story of resilience, sacrifice, and determination, while capturing the social and cultural transformations that shaped Kenya across generations.

The path to publishing Ruraya was itself a story of perseverance. Wanjiru lost her first completed manuscript when the laptop containing it crashed. Rather than giving up, she began again. Ruraya became her third manuscript—a testament to resilience, patience, and an unwavering commitment to honouring her mother's legacy.

Wanjiru credits her Master's studies in Dance Anthropology with giving her the confidence and perspective to tell this story. Her research into memory, identity, and the body as a living archive deepened her understanding of storytelling, helping her weave personal history into a narrative that speaks to both family and nation.

In 2026, Ruraya was officially launched during a Double Book Launch at Mwembe Resort, Malindi, alongside Silent Strength of a Dad by Abigael Claris Adhiambo. The event brought together family, readers, and friends—including Wanjiru's son and his family from the United Kingdom—to celebrate stories of parenthood, sacrifice, resilience, and legacy.