Growing up, I thought, writing should take just one style and any story that did not begin with once upon a time or years ago or something close to that tasted like hay on my tongue. And for some many years, I nurtured this ill notion. Up until I met writings by Ian Arunga.
In his writings, he comes out as a fellow who scoops out of life in large handfuls, ignoring the tiny spoons that the modest population prefer to use. He sounds like one of those fellas that grab life with both hands and shake it until they get what they want. He is authentic in his writings. There is neither guile nor shame in his writings because he is always writing about his day-to-day experiences.
Apart from possessing the tall frame of Paul Kagame, Ian Arunga is a multi-disciplinary art director, blogger, book lover, literature activist, fine artist, a mosquito assassin and even more interestingly, collecting key rings from around the world. He is also a children’s author. He has written four children’s books that have been approved for Kenyan schools curriculum by Kenya Institute of Childhood Development. He also runs a blog by the name: www.mydeardoris.com. Where he writes letters to a plus sized, light-skinned woman with tiny cute feet. The kind of fondness he expresses towards this imaginary lady, who he says is round in all the right places makes any girl to wish they were just as round and soft. With cute feet like hers. His blog has been nominated for BAKE Awards severally. In 2014 and 2015, Dear Doris was nominated for Best Kenyan Blog and Best Creative Blog
Contrary to the expectations of many, he did not always love reading books when young. He was your typical naughty kid; slightly callused hands from climbing loquat trees and bruised knees from sliding in the mud. Ian, however believes that a reading culture should be instilled in children from an early age.
When he is not writing, Ian runs his own online store called The Dapper Monkey which deals with men’s clothing, shoes and accessories. And truly, I am yet to meet a person who wears a slim tie or dons a boutonniere better than Ian does.
