The Incomplete Gravestone

What kind of man digs his own grave while still alive? Not figuratively, but literally. What compels someone to choose their own gravestone, fully aware that the date of their death remains unknown? These are not mere morbid curiosities, but rather profound, unsettling questions about identity, agency, and the burden of personal history. Through the lens of structured therapy sessions with Wa-Monica—a psychologist grappling with her own inner complexities—David recounts a childhood marked by scars that have never faded, a calling to the priesthood and celibacy, and the stigma of being unmarried and childfree in a deeply traditional society. Yet he tells this story not through a single voice, but through two alter egos: Cletus and Wa-Monica. Both are drawn from within—not for disguise, but for revelation. This memoir is meant to challenge. It will unsettle those who have never questioned the roles assigned by culture and religion. It will provoke those who believe that faith and personal freedom cannot coexist. And for those trapped in lives they did not choose, it will resonate in ways that words alone cannot fully capture. There are moments in life when we must ask ourselves: Who am I beyond what the world expects of me? David ‘Cletus’ Kuria Mbote has dared to ask this question and, in doing so, has crafted a deeply personal and universally significant narrative.