I am Francis Muriithi Njue, a devoted Christian, husband of one wife, and father of four children—two boys and two girls. I was born and raised in Makengi Village, Embu County, Kenya. My academic path took me from Ngoire Primary School and St. Paul High School, Kevote, to Njoro High School in Nakuru County, and later to the University of Nairobi, where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education.
My professional career began in the classroom, teaching at Sagana Technical School and Njega Secondary School before joining the Teachers’ Service Commission as a Staffing Officer. Today, in retirement, I am passionate about passing messages of wisdom, discipline, and faith to both children and adults through storytelling — what I like to call “shooting without scaring the target.”
My Writing Journey
As a child, I spent many evenings listening to my mother and grandmother tell stories by the fireside as we waited for food, sometimes late into the night. These stories, filled with lessons about obedience, character, and consequences, planted the first seeds of storytelling in me.
In secondary school, however, I struggled with English. Writing compositions was difficult—I could barely fill one foolscap page, while classmates easily filled several. Watching them raise their hands for more paper often felt like mockery.
After completing my degree, I worked as a teacher and later became Deputy Principal. Speaking to students during weekly assemblies, I drew heavily on my mother and grandmother’s style—using stories to correct behavior gently yet effectively. Later, as a leader in the Catholic Church, I continued this practice, often addressing youth with corrective stories. One Sunday, a priest remarked publicly that I should consider putting my stories into writing. Though the idea stayed with me, I initially dismissed it.
It wasn’t until a season of deep financial crisis that God stirred me into action. One early morning after prayer, I reflected on Moses’ encounter with God (Exodus 4:2) and the widow with Elisha (2 Kings 4:2). Both were asked, “What do you have?” In that moment, I realized God could also use what I had — and what I had was a laptop and the ability to write. That was my starting point.
Encouraged by fellow Christian author Jane Wangeci, who reminded me that “the message is more important than the size of the book,” I finally took the leap. This led to the publication of my first novel, Tears of an Orphan.
My Books
The Sacred Njengei
The Rebellious Girl
Helping a Boy Become a Man
Tears of an Orphan
In Tears of an Orphan, I explore how polygamy can enter a family subtly, yet lead to deep frustrations. Through the struggles of Muya, an orphan child, I show both the painful realities of such challenges and the ways God intervenes for orphans. Ultimately, the story portrays how even the hardest conflicts can be resolved within a true African setting.
Storytelling has always been my God-given stick, just as Moses had his. Through it, I seek to correct, to heal, and to inspire.
