KISTRECH International Poetry Festival 2025

INTRODUCTION            

 International Poets

1. Winston Farrel – Barbados
2. Rina – Finland
3. Teresa – Czech Republic

Acknowledgement

1. Arts Promotion Centre in Finland
2. Self-Sponsor
3. Patron ; Dr. Chris Okemwa
4. KISTRECH Volunteers: Lilian Gisesa, Amos Mochama , Bichang’a, Sharon. George
5. Attending Students
6. Local Artists
7. Gusii Elders Council

Kenyan Poets

1. Evans Gesura Mecha
2. Chris Okemwa
3. Alfred Nyamwange
4. Obino Nyambane
5. Mzee Nemwel Atemba
6. Fidel Ogola
7. Student Poets

ACTIVITIES

Day 1 – Friday 17^th October 2025, Dallas Le Premier Hotel

MC for the day – Dr. Jacky Walubwa

Prayer was done by a Gusii Elder

Wilson Ombiro did Gusii traditional songs from Obokano

This was followed by doing the Life Time Award

Then Poetry Reading started

Guest Poets

1. Reena – Finland

• Born in 1969
• Daughter of Journalist
• Masters in Literature – Uni of Helsinki
• Written 3 Novels
• Poetry explores poems of childhood, mother hood, fatherhood
• Among visible Finish Poets
• Active in Literature Circles

Read by Bichang’a

Read 5 Poems in both English and Finish

1. Night of Berries
2. Words are not Straight

• The Wilderment of Some People…., The Protagonist

1. The Walk
2. The Awakening

2. Treeza – Czech Republic

• Poet, Publisher, Literary Historian
• 1977 in Prague
• Studied Czech Language and Lit
• PhD in Literacy
• At University of Paris taught Czech Language
• Teaches Language in several universities;
• 2015 –
• Founded Literary for works of Poets
• Organised festival between Cz
• Multilingual; Czech, French, English, Italian, Polish, Italian and Germany

 Read by Amos

 Read six (6) Poems

1. Czech
2. The Ocean Blooms

• Bye Madonna

1. A Poem about writing
2. Desire – about dreams, what everybody of us dreams
3. ….

3.Winston Farrel – Barbado

• Award Winner
• Alumnus of University of Leeds where he did Theatre and Development Studies
• Travelled Widely in Carribean
• Poetry has appered in ….
• Recordings of .. Poetry have earned him recognition
• Green is his favourite colour

Notes

University of West Indies collaboration for Theatre Students

Performed 5 Pieces

1. Free Up Yourself African to know yourself, Free up Yourself
2. Amina Wangara – 1^st time he came to Africa

• I Remember Kisii

1. Cameras Don’t Lie – Gaza
2. A Gaze from Gaza
3. People transport using bus system

   Student Poets

1. What can Bring my joy Back –
2. You Let me Go –         
3. Time – Mary Avin
4. –
5. Streets of Silence – Lydia Nyaboke
6. ………………………………………….. – Gillian Ndemo
7. Choke and Chains – Marion

Afternoon

Twenty (20) students presented their poems

1. Things we didn’t Understand – Angelina Munee
2. The Journey you Took – Pendo Naomi
3. Architects of the Future
4. Shunning Light in Darkness –          Jillian Ndemo
5. His Memories –               “”
6. The Girl of My Dream –           ……….
7. The Silence of Wealth –           Fenwick Onyango
8. The Calling Aroma –                    “”
9. I want to Die When You Love Me –           Robinson Ongeri
10. Save Their Names –           Hulda Auma Ogolla.
11. The Greened –                     “”
12. The Greatest Love of Mama –           Sharon Mogaka
13. Kisii University –                       “”
14. My Lovely Dad –           Mary Samwel
15. The Teacher’s Legacy –                       “”
16. Be Kind to My Remains –           Verah Enosh
17. Allow Me –                       “”
18. I Love You –           Manyura Diana
19. Sudden Demise –                  “”  (about her mum)
20. He Promised Me Heaven –           Rahab Gesare
21. What Can Bring My Joy Back –                       “”
22. Si Lazima –           Calvin Omae , Xy         (Spoken Word)
23. I am Happy Who We Were –           …………………………..
24. Monto Nchara –           Alfred Nyamwange
25. Time –           Mary Ivy
26. My Tipple Assignment –                       “” (Drunk Dad)
27. Dear Daughter –           Reiner (for future daughter)
28. A Teenager –               “”
29. Mosaiga Agacha Egesa –           Evans Mecha
30. Minto Minto                                     –           ……………………….(Obokano)
31. The Lion Who Roared for Us –           Marion Nyamisa – YouTube Poet Marion
32. When I say I Love You –                       “”
33. Streets of Silence –           Linda Nyaboke
34. My Beautiful MoonLight –                   “”
35. Love is You –           Scovia Anyango (dedicated to a lover led to.
36. You Let Me Go –                  “”   (follow up of 30)
37. If I Were Kenya’s Leader –           Alex Mwema
38. An Odd to My Dear Parents –               “”
39. Jikomboe Mwafrika                         –           Georgina , Kiswahili lecturer KSU

Notes

Students should learn to explain why or the circumstances in which they wrote their poems

Day 2     –         Saturday 18^th October 2025  , Humphreys Hotel

Day 3     –         Sunday , 19^th October 2025 ,  Village

Three student homes were visited

Day 4     –         Monday, 20^th October 2025,

The Maasai Mara

Day 5     –         Tuesday, 21^st October 2025,

Rusinga Highland

Day 6 – Wednesday 22^nd  October 2025, Kisii University Dallas Le Premier Hotel
The three poets donated 31books

List will be attached

Thereafter, they had a brief tour to the university water plant and a very brief campus tour

In the evening there was Poetry reading at Dallas Le Premier Hotel, Sagini Hall on 2^nd Flr.

The Following Poems were read

1. ……
2. ………
3. Evans Mecha             –           The Ribbon Tree

4. Christopher Okemwa –           ………….

I Love You

5. Duncan –           Friendship Poem
6. David Korema –           The Lord is watching
7. Davip
8. Fenwick
9. Mary Monyoro
10. Jillian Duncan
11. Kebabe Anthony –           Digital, Art Galore International: Spoken words, Poetry and Music
12. Miss Kwamboka , The Poet –          
13. Baraka Music –          
14. …. –           Music from a Safe Place
15. Martha –           Solo Verse ; The Quagmire
16. Tryson Wafula –           What if God was my Agemate
17. Michelle –           It is Love (Music)
18. Ombiro –           Siberia Ong’e Omosaiga ,

 Poetry wipes the dust of everyday life from our souls.