Mvua Press

What does a priest, a cop and a thief have in common?

Well, according to NaiRobbery Cocktail, they all go to ’unburden’ themselves in the bed of a prostitute. To put it more bluntly, for them to operate at optimum, they will need the services of the woman of easy virtue. This goes to underline the maxim that sex is a unifier; everyone wants it, yet it humbles the mightiest in society. There is a reason prostitution is known as the oldest profession.

In her pulsating fifth book, Ciku Kimani-Mwaniki, takes her readers on an adrenaline-filled journey into the dark underbelly of Nairobi’s criminal network, where the so-called alternative economy thrives; where violence carries the day.

In this unforgiving world, Naliaka, a newly orphaned teenager, must find her spot. She finds solace in the hands of a ruthless high-end brothel operator, who offers her virginity to the highest bidder. Her innocence gone, Naliaka loses her soul in the process. Whether for survival or for the sake of it, she will do anything it takes to get ahead in life. Soon, her path and that of Boss - a flamboyant crime lord - with a traumatic past, cross. An unlikely bond develops between them and Boss entrusts her with his deepest secrets. Even after quitting active brothel work, she still retains close ties with her old employer. Like Boss, Queen, the brothel owner, has a soft spot for her. Father Joshua, a priest who roams the dark streets in search of a sex fix, cannot resist the feminine charms of Naliaka. Also trapped in the web of Naliaka’s sexual allure, is Chizi Samuel, an underground cop.

All the three men know the rules of the game, however, each nurses the secret urge to own exclusive access to the well, perhaps tie the lass down to marriage.

Naliaka, meanwhile, wants it all; she wants to have a cake and eat it at the same time. But can she? Meanwhile, undercover cops keep close tabs on Boss and his criminal empire. To them, he is an asset that keeps crime in the city at ’manageable levels’ and must be protected at all costs. Crooked cops, who run protection rings in the criminal underworld, have other ideas. They get greedy and demand a bigger cut from Boss’ outfit. Harsh words are exchanged and threats issued.

No side is willing to compromise. In a world where deadly violence lurks on the surface, betrayal and revenge go hand in hand. Still, loyalty is demanded, at the pain of death. Matters come to a head when one of Boss’ sidekicks feels overlooked for a promotion and colludes with the dirty cops to take over operations.

The books climaxes in a gangland fire fight that renders the whole downtown a no-go-zone.

In NaiRobbery Cocktail, Ciku brings her awesome story telling skills to uncover the sleazy side of the city. With the help of colourful and relatable characters, the author takes her readers on a deep dive into a side they only get to know through the media.