Kenya Literary Retreat

Write - Learn - Be Inspired

September 14–25, 2026

Optional Safari: September 25–27

Applications are open again, as we have had a couple of people cancel due to outside circumstances.

Come with us to write in beautiful Kenya! Our Kenya Literary Retreat includes workshops with writers from East Africa and the United States, one-of-a-kind cultural experiences including the Macondo Literary Festival in Nairobi and a spoken word workshop and open mic with local young writers, as well as time to explore Nairobi’s energy and creativity.

Participants will have ample uninterrupted time for writing, inspiration, and exploration. We will spend several days in luxurious lodgings at Kitengela Glass overlooking Nairobi National Park and in Watamu on the Indian Ocean. 

Virtual Information Sessions

Did you miss one of our info sessions? Fill out the form below and we’ll send you the recording.

APPLY NOW
PAY THE APPLICATION FEE

The application includes a statement of intent and $15 application fee.

Letters of recommendation are not required or accepted.

Who can apply?
Applications are welcome from writers of all levels of experience and genres, including fiction, non-fiction, travel writing, children’s books, poetry/spoken word, memoir, and creative non-fiction. Emerging as well as established writers are invited to apply. 

Notification
Notifications will be sent on or before March 15, 2026.

Kitengela Glass Houses (near Nairobi National Park)

Nairobi (during Macondo festival)

Tree House in Watamu (on the Indian Oceanl)

Photos by Kitegela Glass and Watamu Treehouse, Norfolk Fairmont in Nairobi.

Morning workshops will mainly be led by published, award-winning writers from East Africa and the United States. Bios and more information will be available in mid-February.

The workshops are designed to appeal to writers of all levels and styles, and provide an opportunity to learn, experiment, and create community. Participants are expected to attend each workshop.

Our guest writers will lead at least one workshop and join us for a meal. 

Wangari Grace

Wangari the Storyteller is a Kenyan Performance Storyteller and Writer who believes in the power of stories to make us reflect on life past, present and future. As a storyteller, Wangari’s performances are highly participatory with the stories woven with dance, chant, song and other performance delicacies. She is also a published author of children's books, with more than 20 titles to her name. In 2026, Wangari is curating Hadithi On The Move Tour, a storytelling journey into 20 counties to celebrate her 20 years in Performance Storytelling.

Ngwatilo Mawiyoo

Ngwatilo Mawiyoo is the multi-award nominated author of two poetry collections, blue mothertongue and Dagoretti Corner. A regular guest at local and international literary festivals, her poems appear in Wasafiri, Obsidian, The Malahat, and other esteemed literary magazines. Ngwatilo is also an emerging writer/director with two short fiction films under her belt. Her interests span heritage, history and the quotidian. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia.

Joan Thatiah

Joan Thatiah is a Kenyan author, journalist, and former columnist for the Daily Nation in Nairobi. With a background in law, she has established herself as a compelling voice in contemporary African literature, focusing on themes of womanhood, empowerment, and societal introspection. Her works often draw from real-life stories, particularly those of Kenyan women, offering candid insights into their experiences. She has authored eleven books including Confessions of Nairobi Women (1&2), Confessions of Nairobi Men (1&2), and Guilty. She is the founder of Stori Zetu, a bookstore initiative aimed at promoting African literature.

Valerie Wallace

Valerie Wallace is the author of House of McQueen, winner of the Four Way Books Intro Prize in Poetry, and the chapbook The Dictators' Guide to Good Housekeeping, which includes 10 poems chosen by Margaret Atwood for the Atty Prize. Other awards include the Minds Shine Bright Poetry Prize, an Illinois Arts Council Literary Award, San Miguel de Allende Poetry Award, and many grants. Her work has been published in anthologies and journals, including Poetry, Poets.org, the Eloquent Poem, and elsewhere. She has taught at the Newberry Library, City Colleges of Chicago, and privately. She lives in Indiana, where she is Poet Laureate of LaPorte County.

Teddy Warria

Teddy Warria, a passionate African entrepreneur, author, and youth advocate, is dedicated to preserving family values, histories, and traditions through his "I AM FROM" books series and framework. He is the Founding President of Africa 2.0 Kenya. Together with Francis Okomo-Okello and Mamadou Kwidjim Touré, he has nurtured and developed over 1,000 Young African Leaders through Africa 2.0. He has written several books and is currently working on 'Mandela Warria Moments' and 'Mandela Leadership Blueprint' with Anne Pratt, Co-Founder of the Mandela-Inspired Global Leadership Movement for Change.

The 12-day schedule will be available in March 2026. However, we know that it will include:

  • Morning workshops with writers from Kenya and the United States
  • Uninterrupted time for writing and exploration
  • A few days at  Kitengela Glass, near Nairobi National Park
  • The Macondo Literary Festival in Nairobi
  • Spoken word workshop and open mic with local young writers from Kibera
  • A few days in Watamu on the Indian Ocean
  • A 2 1/2 day optional safari will be available to add on to the schedule, so your flight departing Kenya would be late Sept 27

How much does it cost to attend?
The residency fee is $3,500 per participant and includes shared accommodation, in-country transport, most meals, programming and festival fees.

The fee does not include flights to and from Nairobi or optional add-ons.

Payment Schedule
$500 deposit (non-refundable) is due upon acceptance
$1,500+ optional safari deposit of $500 due April 15, 2026
$1,500 trip balance + optional safari balance of $595 + optional manuscript consultation fee of $150 due June 15, 2026

Add-ons
The following optional add-ons are priced as indicated. 

    • Safari September 25-27, $1,095 USD. Includes lodging and meals, in-country transportation, and safari guide
    • Manuscript consultation with one of the workshop leaders, $150 USD. We will ask you to send your manuscript ahead of the retreat (10pp). 

Glass blowing workshops, yoga, and other activities can be chosen closer to the departure date and/or once we have arrived on site.

Cancellation and Refund Policy
Please purchase trip insurance.
There is no refund for the application fee or $500 deposit.

The first and second payments are refundable for 7 days from payment date. After that date, first and second payments will be treated as a tax-deductible donation.

Please note that our cancellation policy is in place because the lodging and experiences are carefully scheduled and reserved in advance. Last-minute cancellations make it difficult for staff to offer the opportunity to another participant. We understand that unexpected circumstances may arise, and we appreciate your understanding that cancellations impact both our operations and other participants waiting for a chance to attend. We strongly advise you to purchase trip insurance.

The optional safari is 2 1/2 days in Tsavo and includes transportation there and to the airport, private room at the lodge, meals, safari guide and excursions. September 25-27, $1,095 USD. 

Optional activities during the retreat that you would pay for include:

  • Glass experiences: glass blowing, mosaic making, bead making 
  • Suspension bridge
  • Yoga
  • Massages
  • Kayaking
  • Stand-up paddle boards
  • Snorkeling
  • Guided nature excursions 

Photos by Tsavo National Park;  Kitegela Glass and Watamu Treehouse.

A limited number of spouses/partners are welcome for the same residency fee as participant, and expected to attend all activities except for the workshops.
 
If both participants are attending the writing workshops, each must complete their own application and application fee.
 

Please email any questions not answered above to Linda Stolz, Lstolz@caaln.org.

Download Trip FLYER (PDF)