Kill Me Quick – by Meja Mwangi

Kill Me Quick is a powerful urban novel by Kenyan writer Meja Mwangi, first published in 1973. The story follows Meja and Maina, two young men who leave their rural home in search of jobs and a better life in the city. Instead, they find themselves trapped in a brutal cycle of poverty, unemployment, hunger, and hopelessness.

Through vivid storytelling and gritty realism, Mwangi explores the harsh realities of urban life, youth disillusionment, and the moral compromises people are forced to make to survive. A landmark in African urban literature, Kill Me Quick remains relevant for its unflinching portrayal of social injustice and human desperation.