My Life in Crime by John Kiriamiti

About John Kiriamiti

My Life in Crime by John Kiriamiti

My Life in Crime is a thrilling page-turner that has continued to enjoy massive popularity since its publication in 1984. (Booksafricana) Based on the author's real life, it follows Jack Zollo — clever, charismatic, and reckless — from his early life of petty crime through to his career as one of Nairobi's most daring bank robbers. Kiriamiti writes with breathless pace and insider knowledge, making the reader understand exactly how the logic of crime works — the thrill, the fear, the camaraderie, and the inevitable unravelling. The book reads like a Kenyan equivalent of a gangster memoir, packed with vivid street scenes, narrow escapes, and sharp social observation about the inequality that makes crime seem rational. It became a bestseller almost immediately and has never been out of print, cementing Kiriamiti's status as the king of Kenyan popular fiction.