Craft It · 2013–2023
Archived stories
Ten years of Kenyans and the things they make by hand: makers, Nairobi and Kampala, motherhood, dusty rugs and the conversations in between. 300 stories, brought back online.
2019Urban GuideUrban GuideLife latelyBY BETT KINYATTI It’s Saturday. I’m at a bar in tao with Mike and his two pals. They’re all millenials, Nairobi Millenials.…
Made By HandWeaver manBY BETT KINYATTI There’s a secluded clearing of trees off James Gichuru Road. It sits in the valley of the road, where…
Dusty RugsThe AgencyBY MIKE MUTHAKA He was a chef in Paris. Then he was a farmer. Then he was a door-to-door salesman in Scotland.…
Dusty RugsLights. Camera. ActionBY MIKE MUTHAKA Love can make a man do crazy things. Love can make a man run through the rain clutching a…
Dusty RugsRasBY MIKE MUTHAKA Margaret Wanjiru smoked her first cigarette with her campus boyfriend. They had just had sex. He sat by the…2019Urban GuideUrban GuideLunch moneyBY BETT KINYATTI My pal, Vicky, doesn’t believe in insurance. I asked her why and she said, “Insurance companies are a rip…
Dusty RugsJust, stuffBY MIKE MUTHAKA The curse of the black leather jacket The muscly wide-nosed bouncer at Milan wants to see my ID before…
Dusty RugsThe one with the braceletBY MIKE MUTHAKA “No one understands the magnitude of fuckery that goes on when your mind is like, ‘Peace bitch, we’re not…
Urban GuideMy baby is a chameleonBY BETT KINYATTI I’ve been having a running tummy. It began Monday evening, in the digs. I’m writing this on Thursday, which…2019Dusty RugsDusty RugsThis Young ManBY MIKE MUTHAKA Mike Laria was out clubbing last night. He has a searing pain in his calf. He climbs the stairs…2019Dusty RugsDusty RugsThe parts of MiriamBY MIKE MUTHAKA February 2, 2014. On this Wednesday, Miriam (not her real name) was 17, a regular tiny-limbed form two student…2019Urban GuideUrban GuideChinese eyesBY BETT KINYATTI I don’t know how to say this gently so I’ll come right out and say it – I’m balding.…2019Dusty RugsDusty RugsLoafers and pencilsBY MIKE MUTHAKA I didn’t get around to interviewing a millennial this week. So I’m just going to tell you about my…2019Urban GuideUrban GuideChef Tom of Crave Kitchen: “Food goes with music”Kitchen Confidential: a miniseries about Kenyan chefs in Kenyan kitchens #2. CHEF TOM KAMUNTI. HEAD CHEF AND PROPRIETOR OF CRAVE KITCHEN, KIKUYU…
Dusty RugsA girl goes corporateBY MIKE MUTHAKA “I ask why in everything. Sometimes I get my answers. Sometimes I don’t. It’s life.” “Why do you ask…2019Urban GuideUrban GuideThe Dapper GentlemanBY BETT KINYATTI Tail end of January I buy socks from this Instagram page that sells socks. I won’t tell you their…
Dusty RugsThe click of MordecaiBY MIKE MUTHAKA Mordecai Nuni isn’t quick to laugh. Corruption and people who don’t get his jokes sadden him. But puns and…
Urban GuideHappy hourBY BETT KINYATTI I’m broody again. Last time I was this broody was in the Easter of 2017. Muna was a year…
Dusty RugsThe book of JoyBY MIKE MUTHAKA “We create. We’re actually gods. We build cities. We design. We do art. We can shape the world.” Joy…
Urban GuideOur beautiful vaginasBY BETT KINYATTI I’m in Westy getting waxed. I’m getting a Hollywood bikini and armpits wax. Oh, plus an eyebrow tweeze and…
Dusty RugsThe moment of Patoh NjugunaBY MIKE MUTHAKA On December 3rd 2016, after six years of courtship, at Blessed Sacrament Church, Buruburu–in front of friends and family—Patrick…
Dusty RugsThe turbulent millenialBY MIKE MUTHAKA In the last 36 hours I’ve taken about 10 mugs of water with lemon, ginger and honey. I have…2019Urban GuideUrban GuideTuesdayBY BETT KINYATTI Nostalgia is a feeling Nyama Mama has turned into something you can hold in your hands. They’ve turned it…2019Dusty RugsDusty RugsThe wet rug. (And other stories from our kitchen)BY MIKE MUTHAKA Felista’s Rug I knew there was something odd about Felista the moment I saw her. She had a slumbering…
Made By HandWeaver manBY BETT KINYATTI There’s a secluded clearing of trees off James Gichuru Road. It sits in the valley of the road, where…Dusty RugsThe AgencyBY MIKE MUTHAKA He was a chef in Paris. Then he was a farmer. Then he was a door-to-door salesman in Scotland.…Dusty RugsLights. Camera. ActionBY MIKE MUTHAKA Love can make a man do crazy things. Love can make a man run through the rain clutching a…Dusty RugsRasBY MIKE MUTHAKA Margaret Wanjiru smoked her first cigarette with her campus boyfriend. They had just had sex. He sat by the…2019Urban GuideUrban GuideLunch moneyBY BETT KINYATTI My pal, Vicky, doesn’t believe in insurance. I asked her why and she said, “Insurance companies are a rip…Dusty RugsJust, stuffBY MIKE MUTHAKA The curse of the black leather jacket The muscly wide-nosed bouncer at Milan wants to see my ID before…Dusty RugsThe one with the braceletBY MIKE MUTHAKA “No one understands the magnitude of fuckery that goes on when your mind is like, ‘Peace bitch, we’re not…Urban GuideMy baby is a chameleonBY BETT KINYATTI I’ve been having a running tummy. It began Monday evening, in the digs. I’m writing this on Thursday, which…2019Dusty RugsDusty RugsThis Young ManBY MIKE MUTHAKA Mike Laria was out clubbing last night. He has a searing pain in his calf. He climbs the stairs…2019Dusty RugsDusty RugsThe parts of MiriamBY MIKE MUTHAKA February 2, 2014. On this Wednesday, Miriam (not her real name) was 17, a regular tiny-limbed form two student…2019Urban GuideUrban GuideChinese eyesBY BETT KINYATTI I don’t know how to say this gently so I’ll come right out and say it – I’m balding.…2019Dusty RugsDusty RugsLoafers and pencilsBY MIKE MUTHAKA I didn’t get around to interviewing a millennial this week. So I’m just going to tell you about my…2019Urban GuideUrban GuideChef Tom of Crave Kitchen: “Food goes with music”Kitchen Confidential: a miniseries about Kenyan chefs in Kenyan kitchens #2. CHEF TOM KAMUNTI. HEAD CHEF AND PROPRIETOR OF CRAVE KITCHEN, KIKUYU…Dusty RugsA girl goes corporateBY MIKE MUTHAKA “I ask why in everything. Sometimes I get my answers. Sometimes I don’t. It’s life.” “Why do you ask…2019Urban GuideUrban GuideThe Dapper GentlemanBY BETT KINYATTI Tail end of January I buy socks from this Instagram page that sells socks. I won’t tell you their…Dusty RugsThe click of MordecaiBY MIKE MUTHAKA Mordecai Nuni isn’t quick to laugh. Corruption and people who don’t get his jokes sadden him. But puns and…Urban GuideHappy hourBY BETT KINYATTI I’m broody again. Last time I was this broody was in the Easter of 2017. Muna was a year…Dusty RugsThe book of JoyBY MIKE MUTHAKA “We create. We’re actually gods. We build cities. We design. We do art. We can shape the world.” Joy…Urban GuideOur beautiful vaginasBY BETT KINYATTI I’m in Westy getting waxed. I’m getting a Hollywood bikini and armpits wax. Oh, plus an eyebrow tweeze and…Dusty RugsThe moment of Patoh NjugunaBY MIKE MUTHAKA On December 3rd 2016, after six years of courtship, at Blessed Sacrament Church, Buruburu–in front of friends and family—Patrick…Dusty RugsThe turbulent millenialBY MIKE MUTHAKA In the last 36 hours I’ve taken about 10 mugs of water with lemon, ginger and honey. I have…2019Urban GuideUrban GuideTuesdayBY BETT KINYATTI Nostalgia is a feeling Nyama Mama has turned into something you can hold in your hands. They’ve turned it…2019Dusty RugsDusty RugsThe wet rug. (And other stories from our kitchen)BY MIKE MUTHAKA Felista’s Rug I knew there was something odd about Felista the moment I saw her. She had a slumbering…