David Gachuhi
12th August 1963 · 3 obras en el catálogo
BY PAULO MWANGI David Gachuhi a self publisher and author of two novels which have acquired an international outlook is a man crying out for justice. The man behind the authoring of ‘The Terrorists Hunter’ and ‘New World Order Frustrated’, sits quietly in his office at Mugama building along Uhuru Street at the heart of Murang’a town in Kenya writing a manuscript for his next novel. The self publisher and author recently discovered that his original works are being sold world wide via internet and also through bookshops in the developed world without his personal consent. As a result of this he says he sees this as a clear case of illegal copyright infringements both according to copyright laws of Kenya as well as those of developed countries. The soft spoken Mr. Gachuhi says he decided to become a self publisher after carrying out a baseline survey in book publication industry. “I knew of a famous writer from my home area who had authored several books that were widely read locally but had nothing much to show in terms of monetary gains despite the author being regarded as renown novelist”, says Mr Gachuhi. He says after further consultation from other writers, they disclosed to him that the hindrances deterring the writers were so many that unless one was an aggressive writer; his or her work would not reach the publishing house. The author narrates how he ventured into the industry, “it all started in 1992”, and he says he had a manuscript that he had written in voluminous exercise books that he wanted published as a novel. He enquired from different publishing houses in Kenya what it entailed for one’s manuscript to be published as a book. “I wrote to one publishing house that has branches in Kenya and overseas and they sent me a guiding manual that detailed what is required for a manuscript to be considered for publication”, he says. He borrowed a manual typewriter from a Consolata Catholic priest and typed the big typing guidelines and sent the typed manuscript to the publishing firm through the post office. After sometimes, the publishing firm sent him the assessors report enclosed with his original work that showed his book was highly romantic. He says he had so many hindrances that involved visiting the would be publisher or making phone calls. Mr. Dave as he is commonly known by many people admits that due to frustrations, he submitted the very manuscript to a close friend who worked in Nairobi the Capital of Kenya located about 100 kilometers from his rural area enclosing the assessor’s report. The friend had promised him of a connection in a good publishing firm in Nairobi. However, the friend failed to communicate back; he could not contact him easily because of communication limitations. “I lived in a rural area with no electricity neither phones and after doing all the donkey work I ended up loosing my original manuscript”, he says. “I didn’t loose hope and I personally made a crucial decision come what may, one day I will publish my novel”, he adds. In March 2007, he managed to publish his first novel, ‘THE TERRORISTS HUNTER'. He says his greatest fear was how to penetrate the market dominated by the major publishing firms. “I started an aggressive marketing strategy targeting key people within my society like lawyers, the clergy, school principals, doctors and the local institutions”, he says. Still in the same year,Kenya was to hold its general elections; Gachuhi says he capitalized on chapter 14 in his novel that explains the mobilization techniques of how one can win a democratic election. “Several political aspirants found it very crucial in their campaigns strategy and they positively appreciated my work and bought the book”, he says. Mr Gachuhi registered his book at the Attorney General’s office on July 10, 2007 under the literary category. The author says he could write even during the night using a simple kerosene lamp, little did he know his works would later be sold via internet and through bookshops without his personal consent as a copyright holder. “This makes me feel very much distressed whenever I visit the internet to see how my original copyright works is being blatantly commercialized”, he says. The Terrorists Hunter’s author further says, he reported the infringements of his literary work to the State Counsel in charge of copyright registrations at the AG’s chambers who advised him to write a protest letter to the permanent secretary in the ministry of foreign affairs in Nairobi. On March 17, 2009, he point out that he sent a copy of the same protest letter to the United States of America embassy office in Nairobi and personally delivered a hand copy to the permanent secretary in the ministry of Home affairs in Kenya who told him to wait for a feedback. “Hitherto, I have not received any communication from the office of foreign affairs neither from the American embassy”, he comments. Further, he has also written protest letters to some of the Universities in the USA using his work and some have forwarded his concerns to the US government who gave him contact addresses including those of Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to make the report. “I reported to the FBI and they advised me to report to the reproduction department in USA”, he says. He has an email documentary evidence from an Attorney in Indiana Universities in the US, one of the institutions holding his works who advised him to register his copyright works in the United States of America copyright authorities and find a good lawyer to represent him. Mr. Gachuhi says he feels disturbed after having done all the tiresome job of writing fast selling novels that are being used internationally to shape the mentality of the world and he is not getting his rightful dues as the author and the publisher. “Honestly speaking, I would highly appreciate if someone guides me on how to register my work in the US and other developed countries so that those who are commercializing with it agree to pay loyalty dues”, he says. In September 24, 2009 he launched his second novel ‘New World Order Frustrated’ a highly suspense novel that stimulates a reader to form mysterious imagination and makes his or her own judgment in case a disaster strikes. The author says he believes that the ability to imagine is the ability to add value to life. He also adds that he believes in attempting to venture into innovative thoughts that he puts down in writing. According to Kenya Copyright Board, the copyright law protects the expression of an idea from being copied without authority. It does not protect the concept or the idea, and also it does not protect logos, symbols, titles, short phrases or factual information that may be contained in a copyright work. Gachuhi also says his works has been translated to other international languages like German and Spanish and has internet documentary evidence. He is also the author of the book, ‘The Literature Booster’ a guide on Journalistic values, Oral Literature, drama and poetry dedicated to the fans and critics of his debut novel ‘The Terrorist Hunter’ as he puts it. Despite all these, he says he is not a bitter man but happy because he has realized that his works have been recognized internationally and only what he wants is to be given his rightful dues. ENDS. April 27, 2010 Brief history of David Gachuhi David Gachuhi is a journalistic artists and a former Catholic functionary in Kenya in East Africa. He trained as a Catechist at St. Augustine Training Centre in Nyeri, Kenya. His interests during childhood were reading novels, playing church musical instruments and composing church songs. He worked for 10 years as a full time Catechist in the Catholic Diocese of Murang’a before he was dismissed because of highlighting in a Catholic Church Magazine The Seed published by the Consolata Fathers in Kenya some injustices of the Church. He later joined a rural publication as a newspaper vendor, rose as a correspondent, then a reporter. He then got promoted and became the Deputy Editor in charge of editorial where he lernt about journalistic values. Gachuhi later attended several courses in journalism and media management organized by Free World Media Organization FWMO and the Network Defense of African media NDIMA. Gachuhi believes that the ability to imagine is the power to add value to life. He believes in attempting to venture in innovative thoughts. David Gachuhi is a Kenyan citizen born and brought up in Kenya. He requests the worldwide universities using his 2 books entitled THE TERRORIST HUNTER numbered KCB 025 ISBN 99667198 and NEW WORLD ORDER FRUSTRATED ISBN 996671982-2/9789966719829 numbered KCB 314 that were registered in his names-DAVID GACHUHI NGANGA by the KENYA COPYRIGHTS BOARD on 10th July, 2007 and 5th October 2009 respectively to pay him his loyalty dues. The two books are indicated they are owned by Worldwide university libraries and sold via the internet and perhaps also through bookshops without his personal consent, permission or direct authority. Gachuhi is bitter because of those trading with his book without bothering to contact him as the legal copyrightholder. David Gachuhi later wrote THE LITERATURE BOOSTER a guide on Journalistic values, Oral Literature, Drama and Poetry in year 2007. Gachuhi is working on a another suspense fiction novel Known as "CLONED MANKIND". He says his vision is to pass imaginative ideas to the world. Currently, David Gachuhi is the Editor in chief of The Finder, a periodical regional rural newspaper in Mt. Kenya Central. His hobby is reading thrilling fiction novels and playing church musical instruments like the organs and melodica. Gachuhi can be reached through [email protected] Gachuhi says he wrote to the State Counsel in charge of registration of foreign copyright registration who sent him an emai address of an officer at US Copyright Office who adviced him to register his copyright work online. He managed to register one of his book "THE TERRORISTS HUNTER" as per the following transactions indicates Thank you for submitting your registration claim using the Electronic Copyright Office (ECO) System. The following files were successfully uploaded for service request 1-690307267 File Name :formtx.pdf File Size :715 KB Date/Time :11/25/2011 12:34:28 PM [THREAD ID: 1-BF4GYA] United States Copyright Office After waiting after some time, he received the following reply RE: SEEKING TO BE PAID MY LOYALTY DUES FOR MY BOOKS SOLD AND USED IN USA Inbox David Gachuhi Wed, Dec 14, 2011 at 8:30 PM Copyright Information <[email protected]> Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 4:59 PM To: David Gachuhi <[email protected]> Cc: Copyright Information <[email protected]> Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Delete | Show original For some reason, the fee you paid was attached to your case. We are correcting that situation. Once you see the case listed in your open cases, you may send us a copy of your work to complete your copyright registration. ***************************************************js Try our new online registration system and save $$. For further information, go to: http://www.copyright.gov/eco/index.html IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT FEES: Effective August 1, 2009, most U.S. Copyright Office fees changed. The new fees apply to applications for basic registrations and recordations filed on or after August 1, as well as to other special services. For further information, see http://www.copyright.gov/docs/fees.html ******************************************** U.S. Copyright Office Library of Congress 101 Independence Ave SE Washington DC 20559 1(877) 476-0778 (202) 707-3000 www.copyright.gov **************************** - Show quoted text - - List item Gachuhi says he is just looking foward to receive his loyalty dues for his patented work as he has now registred one of his book with the US Copyright office and ask legal attache to see that justice is done. You can visit David Gachuhi's wbsite www.dagafinder.webs.com
