Mimi

My academic journey, which began amidst the rolling hills of central Kenya, has been marked by significant milestones, including the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship, recognition on the Goethe Institute's shortlist, and being named among the Top 100 Kenyans of 2020 by Kenyans.co.ke. These achievements stem from a strong interest in languages and multilingualism, which was fostered by my parents' unwavering optimism and lifelong love of literature.

My early school years in Kenya's Luhya and Luo regions raised many questions about language in complex multilingual settings. This quest for answers led me to study African languages and literature at the University of Nairobi, followed by a second master’s and doctoral degrees in linguistics at Michigan State University under the guidance of the esteemed sociolinguist, Professor Dennis Preston.

Ngugi wa Thiong'o has inspired me, and I am dedicated to researching and promoting African languages. I have had the privilege of teaching language and literature courses at Washington University in St. Louis, Michigan State University, and the University of Nairobi. Please refer to my publications for more information.