Moses Were, AJAN staff

Kenyan Peter Ouma Ojunga, a long standing member of AJAN, has launched his book, Determined to Live: A Story of Courage & Hope.

In his brief autobiography, published by Aura Books and launched in Nairobi on 12 November 2016, Peter eloquently writes about the many times that he came close to losing his life “as he battled with an unwelcome, unseen guest in his body, the HIV virus.”

In the narration of his life’s struggles captured in 152 pages, Peter confronts the “sting of stigma”, which still inhibits a healthy discourse on the subject of living positively. But this book confirms that we can turn the tide around and find hope.

The book launch was hosted by Hekima University College, the Jesuit School of Theology in Nairobi, with the collaboration of AJAN. Fr Emmanuel Foro SJ, Dean of Hekima, welcomed the audience. He said there are many gifts that God blesses us with and that God has granted our brother, Peter Ouma Ojunga, the gift of writing. Through his book, Peter has shared with us this gift.

Fr Elphège Quenum SJ, incoming Director of AJAN, Irene Mureithi, founding CEO of Personal Development Institute (PDI), and Nelson Otuoma, Director of the National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV in Kenya (NEPHAK) held a panel discussion. They talked about positive living from the author’s perspective, the Church response, as well as disclosure and the challenges of positive living in the light of new HIV infections.

Mr Charles Oloo from MSF Belgium closed the event with a vote of thanks.