CHESS AS A LIFE METAPHOR IN KINYANJUI KOMBANI'S OF PAWNS AND PLAYERS

This study explored the literary concerns of third-generation Kenyan authors, positioning them as a thematic shift from first- and second-generation writers. Whereas earlier generations largely emphasized corruption, postcolonial disillusionment, and stalled national development, this research examined how contemporary authors articulate the evolving notion of Kenyan nationhood. The study was inspired by the limited critical attention given to this emerging literary generation, whose works capture Kenya’s shifting political, cultural, and social realities. The analysis focused on three texts: Of Pawns and Players (2018) by Kinyanjui Kombani, Nairobi Heat (2009) by Mukoma wa Ngugi, and The Dragonfly Sea (2019) by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor. It investigated how these writers depict contemporary Kenyan issues, the role of language in engaging the nation, and the narrative techniques employed to represent the complexities of national identity. The research was guided by three questions: What issues are addressed in the texts? How is language used to address the Kenyan nation? Which narrative techniques are employed in narrating the nation? Drawing on narratology as the theoretical framework, particularly the works of Roland Barthes and Gerald Prince, the study applied a qualitative methodology. Primary data was drawn from the novels, supplemented by secondary data from critical literature on Kenya’s socio-political landscape. Content analysis revealed that the selected authors foreground pressing issues such as identity crises, systemic crime and corruption, shifting gender dynamics, and the impact of technology and social media on public discourse. These themes were interwoven into the narratives in ways that highlight a nuanced, globalized, and intersectional vision of the Kenyan nation Rather than presenting the state as fixed or monolithic, the authors depict it as contested and fluid, shaped by historical memory, diasporic influence, and everyday struggles. Language was shown to blend multiple registers that reflect class divisions, urban speech patterns, and Kenya’s multilingual reality. The findings contribute to literary scholarship by mapping the changing contours of Kenyan fiction and demonstrating how contemporary literature both reflects and critiques socio-political transformation. Ultimately, this study provides a reference point for future research and offers a literary lens for understanding Kenya’s ongoing national conversation.