After a six-year wait, Nakuru has once again reclaimed its place on the national poetry stage following the crowning of Denis Mwangi, popularly known as Timelines, as the 67th Poetry Grand Slam King.

‎‎Timelines emerged victorious during the 2026 Poetry Grand Slam, an event held over the weekend that brought together 11 top poets from across the country.

Notably, the Grand Slam marked the culmination of three preliminary editions that made up the 2025 slam season, making the victory both competitive and highly symbolic.

‎‎For Nakuru, the win represents more than an individual achievement. It signals the county’s return to prominence in spoken word poetry since 2020, when Mbunge Aliyeparara was crowned the 51st Slam King.

‎‎As such, Timelines’ triumph restores Nakuru’s legacy within the national slam movement and inspires a new generation of creatives.

‎‎Reflecting on the milestone, Timelines described the moment as deeply fulfilling and transformative.

‎‎“I felt fulfilled. I felt a rebirth into a new era full of poetry and good times,” he says, adding that the title is not an end point but part of a longer journey.

Timelines displays a crown he won during the 67th grand Slam King awards

Photo credit: COURTESY

‎‎While acknowledging the weight of the achievement, he emphasized that the Slam King crown is only a stopover toward a bigger dream. “I have bigger dreams, and this is a stopover. I remain focused on the bigger dream,” he notes.

‎‎Timelines explains that his winning performance was a personal act of vulnerability and truth-telling. “This performance meant everything to me. It was me putting myself out there and hoping the world sees itself the way I see it,” he notes.

‎‎According to him, poetry only lasts when it is authentic and rooted in conscience, adding that true self-discovery often requires going to the extreme edges of one’s experiences.

‎‎In his view, poetry is not a competition of superiority but of honesty. “No poet is better than another since poetry is self-expression. Be your best self, write your truth, and believe in it,” he says.

‎‎Beyond personal success, Timelines acknowledged the broader challenges facing poets, particularly the difficulty of building sustainable creative communities.

‎‎He points to the lack of stable systems that can support poets, writers, artists, audiences, partners, and investors without constant struggle, describing sustainability as one of the biggest hurdles within the creative industry.

‎‎‎‎Looking ahead, he reveals that more work is already in the pipeline, signaling an active period for his craft. He also expressed gratitude to those who have supported his journey.

‎‎“I would like to thank every person who has supported me and believed in me, and everybody who is willing to stick around for the revolution,” he says.

‎‎Ultimately, Timelines’ victory stands as a defining moment for Nakuru’s poetry scene one that not only crowns a new Slam King but also reignites hope, community, and ambition within the county’s creative space.

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Muthoni Wanjiku