Stephen Kamore, a counselling psychologist, researcher, mentor and motivational speaker, recently marked one of the most defining moments of his life: the launch of three books that almost never made it to the shelves after years of exploitation by rogue publishers.
The event was more than a literary celebration; it was a powerful testament to endurance, faith and resilience forged through a 26-year struggle.
“Today is a very important day for me,” Kamore said during the launch. “It confirms the struggle I have gone through in writing and finally publishing my books.”
He traces his passion for writing back to his high school days, long before the era of social media. Kamore recalls how he would write poems and romantic letters for classmates eager to impress their girlfriends.
Occasionally rewarded with small tokens of appreciation, he was unknowingly laying the foundation for a lifelong calling.
After high school, Kamore enrolled at university to pursue a teaching course. Once employed as a teacher, his interest in research and writing deepened. He began producing articles and resource materials, typing them at cyber cafés and binding them into booklets for fellow teachers.
“If a teacher was involved in counselling, I would prepare a manual written by myself and give it to them free of charge,” he explained.
Colleagues often questioned why he spent his own resources on free copies, but Kamore held firmly to his belief.
“The knowledge God gave me is not for me to keep to myself. It is meant to help others.”
With time, his ambition grew from writing articles to becoming a published author. That transition, however, proved devastating. His first publisher disappeared with his money.
“I paid him, and he vanished into thin air,” Kamore recalled. The betrayal happened more than three times. One publisher disappeared with his book after publication; another delivered substandard work; while yet another produced only a handful of copies, contrary to their agreement.
“I almost lost hope completely,” he admitted.
Despite the setbacks, Kamore refused to abandon his dream. He mobilised resources again and pressed on. Publishing a single book cost him more than Sh300,000.
“You can imagine how much the three books have cost me,” he said. At the time, he did not even have a stable income, making the journey all the more painful. Still, he persevered, driven by purpose rather than profit.
The newly launched books focus on family life and motivation. One of his major works, The Art of Parenting, emerged from years of engagement with teenagers, parents and teachers.
“When I started mentorship programmes in schools after university, I noticed that handling children was not the problem,” he explained. “The real challenge was how parents were handling them.”
Kamore observed frequent conflict between guidance and counsellors and parents, often hindering students’ progress. In many cases, behavioural issues stemmed from ineffective parenting styles rather than the children themselves.
“Sometimes children are not the problem,” he said. “The problem is the parenting style being used.”
These insights inspired his parenting series. The Art of Parenting, Volume One focuses on parental self-awareness and how a parent’s personality shapes a child’s development. Volume Two explores effective approaches to discipline, an issue he describes as a major challenge in homes, schools and communities.
His third book, Principles of Keeping Your Dreams Afloat,” centres on motivation and perseverance. “As a human being, you must be doing something if you are not sick,” Kamore said. “And to do it well, you need motivation.”
The book encourages readers to remain focused on purpose despite life’s uncertainties and hardships.
Another title, Anchor of Marriage, is currently in the pipeline and expected to be released soon.
Reflecting on the journey, Kamore notes that it has taken more than two decades of sacrifice, disappointment and repeated restarts.
“This struggle has taken me more than 26 years,” he said.
Looking ahead, Kamore hopes to digitise his books and sell them online to reach a wider audience, although he admits that navigating digital platforms remains a challenge.