Children’s writer pens her last

By David Odongo

Barbara Kimenye will be remembered by millions of children who grew up reading her books. Kimenye, who penned the popular Moses series about a mischievous youngster at a boarding school for troublesome boys, died at age 82 in London last month.

She wrote more than 50 children’s books, which were (and still are) popular in East Africa.

Those who worked with her have fond memories. Barrack Muluka, who published a dozen of Kimenye’s titles, remembers a witty, charming, and brilliant writer.

“She was one of the best I have ever worked with,” reminisces Muluka, who was then the publishing editor at East Africa Educational Publishers (EAEP).

He first ‘met’ the writer in the late 1960s during his primary school years when he read her books.

“I loved reading her books. I was fascinated and wished to meet such a brilliant author in person. My chance came after 16 years when I edited a dozen or so of her books – and we became firm friends.”

Born Barbara Clarke Holdsworth in England in 1929, she met her future husband, Bill Kimenye, in London when she was studying nursing.

She moved with her husband to Tanzania, but the marriage was short lived. After they broke up, she  moved to Uganda with her son, David Kimenye (Daudi) while she was expecting another son.

In Uganda she had many friends and she soon found herself working for the newly independent government.

While in Uganda, Kimenye worked as a personal assistant to the then Kabaka of Uganda, Edward Muteesa.

Tea and cake

“It is when President Milton Obote stopped Kabaka’s reign that Kimenye fled to Kenya, with her two sons.”

In Nairobi, Kimenye worked for The Nation and later The Standard. It was then that she wrote her first book, Kalasanda, starting off a writing career.
She settled in England in 1988.

“I remember her son Daudi. Barbara used to invite me over to the Serena for tea and cake. She would tell me to come with my wife and children.” She liked the hotel as it was near her home on Mamlaka Road.

Muluka says Kimenye was forthright and spoke her mind. On more than one occasion, Kimenye and Muluka got into work related arguments.

“If she didn’t like anything, she would tell you. After our heated arguments, we would go to the Serena poolside and have coffee and cake,” says Muluka.

Her younger son, Christopher, died in 2005. Kimenye leaves behind son David and granddaughter, Celeste.

Favourite hotel

“I remember she had two dogs, which my daughter hated so much. I have pictures taken with Kimenye and my family; I had gone to visit her. With the dogs present, my daughter became sulky and Kimenye decided to take all of us to her favourite hotel, the Serena, for coffee and cake.”

Jeremy Ng’ang’a, who edited Kimenye’s books, Beauty Queen and Pretty Boy, Beware at the EAEP, titles commissioned as a way of creating awareness on HIV and Aids among young people, describes her as “very meticulous” when it came to editing and proofing her work.

They understood because the titles had to have minimal (if not zero) errors.

“I remember her insightful thoughts, lovely accent, amiability, endless chats and warm hospitality. Above all, she was a wonderful storyteller, narrating captivating stories as we seeped her homemade wine.

“She had exotic mannerisms, which were quite interesting to observe.”

The eleven Moses titles are now being rebranded by Oxford University Press, which is also translating them to Kiswahili.