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Ciarunji Chesaina

Jane Ciarunji Geteria (born 20 May 1947) is a Kenyan folklorist, professor of literature, author and researcher Her works include children literature, cultural literature of the Pokot, Kalenjin, Embu and Mbeeru. *her views on women, her inclination to cultural development ad its preservation through writing in the changing times circa give time period.

Early life and education

Ciarunji was born in Embu, Eastern Kenya to Sarah Njeri Geteria and father Rowland Njeru Geteria. She started her schooling at Kagaari Primary School in 1954 where she took her Common Entrance Examination (C.E.E) in 1957.The structure of the education system, inherited from the colonial British government, was 4-4-6-3. She joined Kabare Girls Boarding School in 1958. After the birth of her sister, Hon. Lady Justice Murugi G Mugo in early 1959, she had to return home and spend the rest of that year looking after her new sister and other siblings. Fortunately, in January 1960 she joined Mbiruri Intermediate Day School where she sat for the Kenya African Primary Examination (KAPE) in 1961. She joined Alliance Girls High School in 1962 and sat for the Overseas Cambridge School Certificate in 1965 and the Cambridge Higher School Certificate in 1967. She was Beatrice Whiting’s first project apprentice in the Child Development Research Unit (CDRU), while still a secondary school student at Alliance High School, working as a research assistant. She proceeded to Makerere University for a Bachelor of Arts degree course in English and French in 1968. She continued to work on the project during vacations from Makerere University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 1971. She subsequently earned a Carnegie Fellowship to study at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in the USA, where she graduated with a Master of Education degree in 1972. At Harvard University, Professor Chesaina specialized in Child Psychology. Upon her return to Kenya, she taught initially at Alliance Girls High School and thereafter joined Kenyatta University as a Tutorial Fellow in December 1972. In 1974, she was promoted to the position of Lecturer and became the first Department of Literature Chairperson. She joined Leeds University (UK) for M.A. degree in Literature in 1977, resuming her teaching at Kenyatta in 1978. In 1985 she was awarded a Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship and she proceeded to Leeds University once again for her doctoral studies. She obtained her Doctor of Philosophy degree in January 1988 and resumed her teaching once again at Kenyatta University. She joined the University of Nairobi as Associate Professor in 1991 and was promoted to Full professor of Literature in 1998.

Academic career

She has won many academic awards, including Carnegie Foundation Scholarship (1971), Association of African University Scholarship for Anglophone Lecturers (1977), Kenya Government Academic Scholarship (1977), Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship (1985) and American Cultural Exchange Fellowship (1988). In the year 2000 Professor Chesaina was appointed High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa and represented Kenya in Pretoria until end of her tour of duty in 2003, when she resumed teaching at the University of Nairobi. Professor Chesaina has published widely in the fields of Literature and culture. She has also contributed over 30 articles in referred journals and encyclopaediae as well as numerous chapters in books. Besides being a critic of children’s literature, she has published several stories for children. She has been External Examiner at University of Dar es Salaam and, while at Kenyatta University, she served as External Examiner for Literature at University of Nairobi. Professor Chesaina is an active member of various organizations and boards, including Kenya National Academy of Sciences, Kenya National Examinations Council, Global Civil Society and the Fraternity of Christian Lay Counsellors. She speaks several African languages and is fluent in oral and written French and German.While at the University of Nairobi she has served as Chairperson of the Department of Literature, Coordinator of Departmental Postgraduate Studies, Faculty of Arts Representative to Senate, Faculty of Arts Representative to Senate Disciplinary Committee, College of Humanities Representative to the Board of Postgraduate Studies, Acting Director of Board of Postgraduate Studies and Director of International Programmes of the University of Nairobi.

Personal life

She married the late Elijah Kiprotich Chesaina with whom they have four children: Kimulwon, Kaptuiya, Chebet and Rottok.

Her attitudes: As a teacher and an actress I see it as my responsibility to use my talents in contributing towards developing the kind of drama which can influence African societies in building up positive attitudes towards women. The theatre is a very powerful tool for influencing attitudes and social change. literature as a creative medium which articulates cultural values and subsequently as a great contributor to social development. She is the author of Oral Literature of the Kalenjin (1991), Oral Literature of the Embu and Mbeere (1997), Hope on the Horizon: Essays on the Status and Liberation of African Women (1994), Perspectives on Women in African Literature (1994), Pokot (1994), and Ninani yu majaribuni katika Mzalendo Kimathi (1982).