Abigail Arunga

Kenya

Author: Akello, a side of raunch. Editor. Publicist. MC. Columnist. Scriptwriter. @ruganobooks COO. Quizmeister. Culture Writer @debunkdotmedia. Adulting?

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Articles

I can only say thank you to her

Jan 17, 2025 | debunk.media | Abigail Arunga |Isaac Otidi Amuke |Lilian Mutinda |Soila Kenya

All you really want, when you get into the messy, highly guarded, ruthless world of writing, full of mostly unwarranted ego and an editor who hates you, is for someone to read you. Anyone, really. Of course you want to write for yourself, but you want someone else to agree with you. You want one person to read you and change their mind because of your logic, or your wit, or even by chance, you know? Anyway, it happens.
Our Land, Our Freedom: the unabridged review

Nov 2, 2024 | akello.co.ke | Abigail Arunga

Our Land, Our Freedom, is the seminal documentary of the year on post-colonial Kenya, and its relationship to those who fought for it. In other words, this is a movie that will move you, anger you, and potentially even radicalize you – as is the case with any movie about Kenya’s fraught history. This is your official trigger warning (this review’s summarized version is on sinemafocus.com).
how to live in these times

Sep 10, 2024 | akello.co.ke | Abigail Arunga

That’s the title, but I don’t actually have the answer, except maybe to write about it. On my mind a lot is what I’ve been seeing about the French ratbastard who was drugging his wife and the runner who was set on fire by her ex boyfriend. What’s running through my mind is (yet another) slogan: Not All Men, but Always Men. Always the bear. Always anything else other than the men we have to share an earth with.
Sam Soko on ‘Free Money’ and Finding Intrigue in the Complexities of Real Life

Oct 10, 2023 | sinemafocus.com | Abigail Arunga

With his captivating approach to socio-political storytelling, Kenyan documentary filmmaker Sam Soko has developed content and collaborated with firebrand artists worldwide. His first feature documentary project, Softie, Boniface Mwangi’s story about balancing the deep love for country with the family’s needs, premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, winning a Special Jury Prize for Editing. Soko has received Emmy, Peabody, and PGA nominations for his work.
Malik Mbelle: The government needs to give filmmakers loans and grants to facilitate their work

Sep 21, 2023 | nation.africa | Abigail Arunga

What you need to know:The revenue that can be generated from the film industry can boost employment, and the country’s growth. The government needs to give filmmakers loans and grants to help them in the quest for telling stories through films; talk to financial institutions to ensure easier partnerships between them and the filmmakers; and ease transportation inside and outside the country through easier acquisition of passports and visas and so on.
Adieus my readers! A luta continua to a better Kenya

Sep 13, 2023 | nation.africa | Abigail Arunga

What you need to know:Am I incredibly glad that this space afforded me the platform to talk about topics I thought and still think are important? Overwhelmingly so. But the topic I seem to keep coming back to, year in, year out, is the state of this country, and whether or not it will change in my lifetime; whether I will get to see it. I’ve written about so many topics in the 11 years that I’ve had this column.
Kenya at the Oscars and Why We Must Put More Thought into Our Submissions

Sep 13, 2023 | sinemafocus.com | Abigail Arunga

Last year, there was quite a bit of talk around Kenya’s 2023 entry to the Oscars in the Best International Feature Film Award category, both good and bad. The film at the centre of this debate was Terastorm, the animated superhero written and directed by Andrew Kaggia who’s also the film’s sole animator.
Essy Mosa: When it comes to fashion, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication

Sep 6, 2023 | nation.africa | Abigail Arunga

Esther Mosa is the CEO and Lead Designer of Essy Mosa, a clothing line launched in Nairobi in 2019. Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, she always had a passion for fashion that led her to pursue further studies in Italy. Her made-to-measure brand took a hit during the pandemic and pivoted to the ready-to-wear sector, starting with stylish cloth masks. Esther talks about this eventful journey below 1. You started your clothing line pretty recently, yet you have managed to survive through a pandemic.
Why your government thinks you’re an idiot

Sep 6, 2023 | nation.africa | Abigail Arunga

This is your monthly reminder that your government thinks you’re an idiot. I don’t know if you’ve seen the press release for Huduma – sorry, Maisha, Namba, or whatever it is that they’re calling it, that tells you about the (third? Fourth? Who’s counting) iteration of yet another social security-like number that’s rearing its ugly head into the public sphere once again with another iteration of government.
Mark Masai: There’s always going to be an audience and stories to tell

Aug 30, 2023 | nation.africa | Abigail Arunga

What you need to know:Acting is not as easy as it may look. There are many moving pieces to make it a success and realising your part in the bigger scheme of things makes it picture-perfect. I love the experience and I believe this is not the last you have seen from the Faithless cast and crew. There is so much talent in there.