Living in the Edge by Jagi Gakunju
These days, autobiographies and memoirs are a dime a dozen, many of them uninspiring or thinly-veiled attempts at aggrandisement. As a history and heritage enthusiast, Jagi’s Gakunju’s inspiring memoir was right up my alley.
Living on the Edge is an engaging read about overcoming the odds in early life and becoming a successful executive in the health insurance sector. Gakunju grew up in Central Kenya during the Mau Mau independence struggle and his childhood gives us a fascinating glimpse into a pivotal period of Kenya’s history. We get insights into the impoverished life of the native reserves, African World War II veterans like his father, and cultural traditions that have largely disappeared in both practice and memory.
Outside of his professional life, Gakunju is also an avid outdoorsman, hiker and naturalist. The tales of his wild adventures in the bush, mountain climbing and overlanding across Africa in the pre-digital age are equally as absorbing. And instead of settling into a luxurious retirement, Gakunju converts part of his upcountry farm into a forest reserve and bird sanctuary.
An early reader of his manuscript described Gakunju as ‘living on the edge’ which inspired the name of the book. It is combination of naturally good storytelling and a life lived to the full.
About the Reviewer
Kari Mutu is a Kenyan freelance features writer for various print publications and the author of The Firemakers of Azali, an African fantasy novel for tweens.
