MERU DAILY

An illustration of Felix Kinyua's Memoir back page. Illustrated by Felix Kinyua .  This is a continuing series drawn from Roads Less Travelled: A Street Kid’s Memoir by Felix Kinyua. Each installment shares an unedited extract  from the book, offering readers an honest window into a childhood shaped by the streets—and the fragile moments of kindness that made survival possible. Below is a direct, unchanged extract from Chapter Four. Extract from Chapter Four > As the sun begrudgingly rose over the streets of Meru town, I stumbled my way through the aftermath of the previous day's trials, my face bearing the fresh reminders of my misadventures. I sought refuge on a nearby empty veranda, my body aching, and I nestled into a corner like a battle-worn warrior seeking respite. Exhaustion engulfed me, and I drifted into a deep slumber, as if the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders. In that elusive realm of dreams, even the scars and pain dared not intrude, or pe...

Front Cover Page of Felix Kinyua's Memoir, Now available at Ksh. 350. Image/Felix Kinyua.  Some stories are lived before they are written. Others are written so they are never forgotten. Roads Less Travelled: A Street Kid’s Memoir by Felix Kinyua is a deeply personal account of childhood shaped by poverty, hunger, and abandonment—and the quiet strength that emerges from surviving it. Below is an unchanged extract from Chapter One , offering readers a glimpse into the world this memoir reveals. Extract from Chapter One By the tender age of three, I was well-acquainted with the gnawing pangs of an empty stomach, a rite of passage in our grand saga of struggle. Our main culinary masterpiece was the art of surviving a few days on nothing but sheer willpower. My grandmother and I ventured into the world of casual Labor, navigating the perilous landscape of sporadic job opportunities on nearby farms. These jobs, like the fabled pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, were elusive, deman...

Apostle Dennis Murimi (with a cap) is joined by a fan as he tries an 80-hour tree-hugging challenge to raise Cancer Awareness in Meru. Photo/Felix Kinyua.  Late last year, a 22-year-old environmental conservationist, Truphena Muthoni , reminded the world that trees need love too — and not just the occasional glance. She hugged a tree for 72 straight hours, earning herself a Guinness World Record and a stiff neck, all in the name of indigenous tree preservation. Inspired by this leafy legacy, the “ hugging movement” has officially landed closer to home — right in the heart of Meru Makutano . Enter Apostle Dennis Murimi , affectionately known by supporters as the man of the cloak , who has decided that if trees could speak, they would probably say: “ Thank you for noticing cancer too.” Apostle Murimi has embarked on an 80-hour tree-hugging challenge, not for records or bragging rights, but to raise cancer awareness — a cause that urgently needs more than thoughts and prayers. And ...

DJ Astroid’s Friends Pay last respect at his home in Naari Village, Buuri Sub-County, Meru. Photo/Felix Kinyua.   There is pain in death. That is unavoidable. But when a young person dies, the pain doesn’t just hurt—it lingers, interrogates you, and refuses to make sense. This is the story of Vincent Nyaga Nthiga, popularly known as DJ Astroid – The Hype Kid. A story so heartbreaking, so poorly handled, and so suspiciously delayed that it feels less like a tragedy and more like a case study in justice postponed indefinitely. I first met Astroid back in campus. As a certified ravehead, our paths were destined to cross. Astroid quickly became more than just a DJ I admired—he was a friend. Friendly, humble, full of life, and notably, a man with zero tolerance for violence. Which is why the news of his death didn’t just shock us; it confused us. Now, let’s be clear. If this had been a natural death, grief would have been enough. Painful, yes—but understandable. But no. Astroid was brut...

Kenyans Celebrate New Year at an entertainment joint.  Photo Curtesy/ Standard Media. Happy New Year to you, my esteemed readers. Before we go any further, allow me to issue a public service announcement: if you have New Year resolutions, kindly keep them to yourself. Experience has shown that the moment you announce them, the universe cancels them with immediate effect. Now that we are clear on that, let me do what I came here to do—tell you sweet nothing stories. After all, that is my ministry, and 2026 is no exception. On the eve of ushering in the new year, I accepted an invitation to what is now officially my soon-to-be favourite joint: Aquadel Carwash and Auto Spa. And in the immortal words and tone of King’ang’i the radio presenter, let me tell you Maina—it was fireworks. Literally. Let’s start from the beginning. On 31st December, the very last day of the year, my friend and sometimes boss (depending on the mood), Mr. Bloko, found me minding my own business at my humble chi...

Felix Kinyua is the face behind Meru Daily's Content. Photo/Felix Kinyua. As a journalist, my mandate is simple: to inform, educate, and entertain .  Anything else is volunteer work. And as 2025 quietly clears its throat and prepares to exit, I find it only right—professionally and shamelessly—to look back at the last 365 days. Dear reader, it was eventful . Being a freelance print journalist is a lot like being Batman. You do the work, save the city, but rarely appear in daylight. That’s why whenever I tell friends that I am the blogger behind this famous blog , they often go silent—processing, recalculating, and suddenly respecting me differently. People love the writing, but very few can put a face to the name. I prefer it that way. At the start of the year, I revived this blog after it had been dormant for about three years —deep sleep, no alarm, no dreams. I expected a slow comeback, maybe a few courtesy clicks. Instead, I received mad love and a crazy following . Readers we...

American Based Artists Chiclopz and Servant Saivonne. The duo are known locally as MwendaMwendwa.  Photo/MwendaMwendwa  If you ever wondered what would happen if American hip hop packed its bags, missed a flight to Atlanta, and accidentally landed in Meru — well, wonder no more. American-based singing duo Duo Chiclopz and Servant Saivonne, together known by the tongue-twisting but unforgettable stage name MwendaMwendwa, have officially opened talks with Kenyan artists to cook up a full album aimed at one thing only: shaking Kenyan speakers and exporting Kenyan talent abroad. And yes, this is not a drill. From Texas With Vibes For those keeping score at home, Chiclopz is no stranger to serious music credentials. He is a former member of Minds of a Different Kind (MDK) — a respected hip hop group based in Texas, USA . Translation? This isn’t your cousin who “also raps” after two bottles of soda. This is certified experience crossing the Atlantic. Meru Has Entered the Chat Heme...