In 2014, when Gabriel was an economics and finance student at Kenyatta University, he and a group of colleagues saw a need to have a platform dedicated to growing writers and encouraging young people to pen their stories. That was the beginning of the Writers Guild Kenya.

“Since then, we have trained writers, encouraged those who never thought they could write to write, and collaborated with different partners to grow a vibrant community.”

“Our membership now stands at 3,093 across the country. We have trained and encouraged 102 first-time authors who are now published. Many of our members now run blogs and generally there is a new meaning and appreciation of our stories through the pen. We are happy that we were right to start this journey and to put in all the efforts over the years.”

From an ambitious university dream, the Writers Guild Kenya today is worth an estimated Sh10 million with six employees.

“But largely, the Writers Guild has not been built by me, so to say. It has been built by these many writers with a true desire to grow a home for writers.”

Gabriel has authored two books and co-authored one. He also has two manuscripts awaiting publication.

He is currently a lecturer at Strathmore University, teaching ethics and philosophy. That is quite diverse from what he studied as an undergraduate.

“I studied economics and finance and also did a bit of CPA, but I think with time, and with a lot of prayers, I realized that that was not my route.”