Library Book Reviews

THE GUINNESS GIRLS A HINT OF SCANDAL by Emily Hourican

I have said it before, and make no apologies for stressing the point again, but when I read a book such as ‘The Guinness Girls’, it is difficult to find appropriate adjectives to describe it – the usual ones are all worn out and over-used, and I have just ‘discovered’ another description that frequently appears – ‘a page-turner’ - what on earth would one do with a book, but ‘turn the pages?’. Yes, I know what they mean but….

However, back to ‘The Guinness Girls’, classified as a novel, Hourican’s book could almost be a biography. The three daughters of that wellknown family are ‘real’ people. Aileen, Maureen and Oonagh, all vastly different in character, come to life under Hourican’s pen, as do the strange and incredibly different lives they led. It didn’t necessarily bring any of them what they had hoped for, or anticipated, which rather proves the cliché that money isn’t everything. The 1920s, and to a certain extent the 1930s, in all their cynicism and break-away from the previously ‘conventional’ high society lifestyle, become alive through a skillful depiction of that period of racy living both in Dublin and London.

So many fascinating and colourful characters appear alongside these beautiful Guinness girls – the Mitfords, for instance, another even more famous family, and friends of the Guinnesses.

Emily Hourican is herself an Irish journalist who has already written five novels. This one must surely be her best to date. To conclude and use those already mentioned two much over-used adjectives, it’s brilliant AND a page-turner!

A DAUNTING JOURNEY by Jeremiah Gitau Kiereini

Here is one of the most fascinating autobiographies I have read in a long time. Possibly it is of added interest to me personally since its time span coincides approximately with my own arrival in Kenya and the years spent here since. I am sure that it will remain a valuable record of one man’s very fair assessment not only of his own life, but also of what was taking place around him, especially at an extremely significant time in Kenya’s history. I hope very much that his authorship will inspire more Kenyans to come forward with their own life stories ‘before it is too late’. Kenya has its own history and the sooner those who have a story to tell get on with recording them, the richer the country’s past and futures will become.

Kiereini’s days at the Alliance Boys’ High School were happy, as they appear to have been for most of the pupils who went there. From there he went on to Uganda’s Makerere University. He served in five consecutive governments, inclusive of heading the Civil Service.

Although essentially very much a Kikuyu himself, he never seemed to let tribalism dominate him or his thinking. His own personal life was not without it own tragedies, especially as he was very much a ‘family man’, and his choice of his book’s title is indeed and an apt one.

“LABOUR LAW & INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS IN KENYA” by Justice Nzioki wa Makau

MCC Member Judge Nzioki wa Makau is the author of the recently published book, “Labour Law & Industrial Relations in Kenya.”

Written in simple, reader-friendly language, “Labour Law & Industrial Relations in Kenya” offers a comprehensive overview of the current labour laws, as well as the historical perspectives of labour relations and employment law in Kenya, with references to noteworthy case studies.

With many years of experience as Judge of the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Kenya and with meticulous research, Judge Nzioki wa Makau has written a handy reference book which offers invaluable, up-to-date advice on all aspects of Kenya’s labour laws, with ideas and pointers for where to go for guidance.

The last edition of Kenya’s labour laws was published back in the 1980s and Judge Nzioki wa Makau has written this definitive up-date specifically for the purpose of educating and enlightening in this diverse field of law and to assist today’s lawyers, court practitioners, employers and employees, to guide and assist them through the complexities of the current labour laws in Kenya.

“Sharing information is critical. This is how we grow and develop our understanding of the Law. With an overview of the current labour laws and by highlighting historical cases, I hope my book will help those clients who access the courts, with suggestions and ideas for how best and where, to seek legal assistance.”

“Labour Law & Industrial Relations in Kenya” addresses all major areas of labour relations and employment law in sufficient detail to enable readers to attain a broad grasp of the law. This is a must-have reference book for anyone wrangling with Kenya’s labour laws.

Copies of “Labour Law & Industrial Relations in Kenya” can be ordered through LabourLawBook@gmail.com for Ksh 3,550/-, or call 0711-677883.

Delivery is free within CBD with collection points at Supreme Court and Milimani Commercial Law Courts, once the order is placed.

Judge Nzioki wa Makau will be giving a talk about Kenya’s labour laws at MCC and signing copies of his book, on 5th May in the Ballroom from 6.30pm.