Meet the Author of
Books That Enlighten, Entertain,
and Inspire…
Wanjirũ Warama was born and raised on a British colonial farm in Solai, Nakuru, Kenya, where her parents worked as peasant laborers. With no access to books and little expectation of formal education, Wanjirũ's path to schooling was unexpected—and transformative. Education became her lifeline out of poverty and remains central to her life’s mission.
After attending local primary schools and Menengai High School, she trained in secretarial studies at Kenya Government Secretarial College in Nairobi. She went on to work for the Ministry of Labor and later British multinational Lonrho Limited, all while pursuing advanced studies through evening and correspondence courses. Though the University of Nairobi declined her application, Wanjirũ continued her education at private colleges and eventually joined United States International University in Nairobi. In 1984, she transferred to its San Diego campus, where she completed both her undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Her early years in the U.S., including her work with a legal newspaper agency and real estate firms, inspired her debut memoir, Unexpected America, which explores the challenges immigrants face. She later built a 25-year career in real estate, including 23 years as a licensed broker. That chapter of her life is the focus of her second book, Entangled in America.
In 2014, Wanjirũ left real estate to pursue writing full-time. She has since authored seven books—with the eighth due in late 2025—that explore themes of identity, resilience, and justice. Her works include Years of Shame, which addresses female genital mutilation; Beyond Conscious Self, a travel memoir; and New Beginning, a personal essay on spiritual transformation.
Her acclaimed series, THE COLONIZED, sheds light on untold stories of Kenya’s colonial history through the lens of her family and community. The first book, The Colonized and the Scramble for Africa, was named “Book of the Month” by the San Diego Public Library’s Local Author Showcase. The second book, The British vs. Kenya’s Mau Mau, offers a ground-level view of colonial oppression. The third, The Colonial Farm, is a coming-of-age memoir chronicling her journey from a farmhand’s daughter to a determined young girl seeking liberation through education. Book 4 is slated for release in 2025.
Wanjirũ is also a dedicated philanthropist, passionate about education. She is a member of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild, the Rotary Club, and a lifetime member of the Friends of the San Diego Public Library. She lives in California and visits her family in Kenya when she can.
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