Soma Nami’s Books in Review
By Wendy Njoroge
Wendy Njoroge reviews Truth is a Flightless Bird by Akbar Hussain
Nairobi is a city of many faces—ask any resident, and they’ll confirm it with a knowing nod. It’s a place where opportunity and danger walk hand in hand, where wealth and crime share a thinly veiled coexistence. And one of its more infamous faces? The one that earned it the nickname Nairobbery. That’s the gritty, shadowy Nairobi that Akbar Hussain thrusts us into in Truth is a Flightless Bird, a high-octane crime thriller that unfolds over the course of a single, pulse-pounding night.
The story opens with Nice (not her real name), an aid worker stationed in Mogadishu, making a pit stop in Nairobi—not for sightseeing, but for a little side hustle. A quick errand to smuggle some narcotics for her Somali drug-dealer boyfriend? What could possibly go wrong? With her cargo safely swallowed, she’s all set to board her flight—except fate, or rather Nairobi’s underbelly, has other plans.
Enter our rogue cop, the kind whose police uniform strains over a well-fed belly, perpetually chewing on a toothpick as if it’s an extension of his personality. Corrupt? Naturally. Menacing? Absolutely. And then there’s Madam Ciru—a no-nonsense, street-smart crime boss who runs a tight operation. Kidnappings, muggings, contraband—you name it, she’s orchestrated it. In the middle of all this, we have Duncan, an American pastor who’s stationed in Nairobi on a mission to save souls. Irony of ironies—he’s agnostic. His right-hand man, a Nigerian preacher with unshakable faith and ambitions of his own, is all too eager to undermine him at every turn.
Author Akbar Hussain
Now, how does a cast this motley fit together? That’s precisely the magic of Hussain’s storytelling. The plot is propelled by unexpected alliances, shifting power dynamics, and decisions made in moments of desperation. Take Duncan, for instance—his complicated history with Nice turns out to be more than just an inconvenient past; it’s the fuel that sets the book’s events in motion. And our corrupt cop? Let’s just say his interests align far too well with Madam Ciru’s for anyone’s comfort.
If you’ve lived in Nairobi long enough, some of these pairings won’t surprise you. (Wink wink.) What will surprise you, however, is how Hussain manages to weave a tale that feels both utterly familiar and refreshingly unpredictable.
The result? A seat-edge thriller that is as intoxicating as the city itself. It’s no wonder Truth is a Flightless Bird has been optioned for a TV mini-series. Here’s hoping they do justice to Nairobi’s chaotic charm and cast actual Nairobians. Now that would be full circle.
Until the next review—stay safe in Kanairo!
Akbar Hussain is a lawyer and co-founder of a successful fintech startup. He lived in Nairobi for 7 years and currently resides in New York.
Truth is a Flightless Bird is available at Nairobi’s Pan-African bookshop Soma Nami – with 2 locations: at Greenhouse Mall in Ngong Rd. and in Ngara, also online at www.somanami.co.ke
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