This is a list of

Kenyan ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

writers.

A

* Justus Kiprono (2019–) *

Abdilatif Abdalla Abdilatif Abdalla (born 1946 in Mombasa) is a Kenyan writer and political activist. He was imprisoned for his support of the Kenya People's Union, and wrote the poems collected in ''Sauti ya Dhiki'' while in solitary confinement, which were subseq ...

(1946–) * Carolyne Adalla * Jared Angira (1947–), poet *

Jonah Anguka Jonah Anguka is a Kenyan author and former District Commissioner at Nakuru, known as the only person to date to have been tried for the murder of Dr Robert Ouko, Kenya's Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was shot dead on 13 February 1990. Early l ...

Khadambi Asalache Khadambi Asalache (28 February 1935 – 26 May 2006) was a Kenyan poet and author who settled in London, England. He was later a civil servant at HM Treasury. He left his lavishly decorated South London terraced house, 575 Wandsworth Road, to th ...

(1934–), poet and author

B

Karen Blixen Baroness Karen Christenze von Blixen-Finecke (born Dinesen; 17 April 1885 – 7 September 1962) was a Danish author who wrote works in Danish and English. She is also known under her pen names Isak Dinesen, used in English-speaking countrie ...

a.k.a. Isak Dinesen (1885–1962), novelist

C

Rocha Chimera Rocha Chimera is a Kenyan writer. He received the Noma Award in 2000 for ''Ufundishaji wa Fasihi: Nadharia na Mbinu''. Chimera holds a B.Ed. and M.A. from Kenyatta University, and a Ph.D. from Ohio University. He is Professor of Swahili language ...

, Swahili author and critic

D

* Hazel de Silva Mugot (1947–), novelist *

Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla is an American writer. He is most famous for his novel ''Ode to Lata'' published in 2002, that was adapted to a film in 2008 under the title ''The Ode''. He has also published the novel ''The Two Krishnas'' in 2011, which ...

G

* Mugo Gatheru (1925– ), autobiographical writer *

Muga Gicaru Muga or MUGA may refer to: * Assam silk * Bodegas Muga, a Rioja winery * MUGA scan * Muga, Nepal, village * Muga (river) The Muga is a river in Catalonia, Spain, that rises in the Alberes mountains of the eastern Pyrenees and enters the Medit ...

(c. 1920– ), novelist, real name as John Mwengi *

Moraa Gitaa Moraa Gitaa is a Kenyan novelist, born in Mombasa. She is also a Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution researcher, cultural advocate and arts curator. She is the author of the YA novels ''Let's Talk About This'', ''The Kigango Oracle'', ''Hila'' ...

, author, novelist, short story writer, 2010 Penguin Prize for African Writing nominee, 2008 * Stanley Gazemba (1974–) author, novelist

H

* Elspeth Huxley (1907–1997), journalist and autobiographical writer

I

* Francis Imbuga (1947–2012), director and playwright

K

Samuel Kahiga Samuel ''Šəmūʾēl'', Tiberian Hebrew, Tiberian: ''Šămūʾēl''; ar, شموئيل or صموئيل '; el, Σαμουήλ ''Samouḗl''; la, Samūēl is a figure who, in the narratives of the Hebrew Bible, plays a key role in the transit ...

, short story writer and novelist *

Joseph Elijah Kariuki Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...

(1931–1975), poet * Amin Kassam (1948–), journalist and poet *

Jomo Kenyatta Jomo Kenyatta (22 August 1978) was a Kenyan anti-colonial activist and politician who governed Kenya as its Prime Minister from 1963 to 1964 and then as its first President from 1964 to his death in 1978. He was the country's first indigenous ...

(1892?–1978), politician and writer *

Leonard Kibera Leonard Kibera (1942- 1983) was a Kenyan novelist and short story writer, famous for his works Voices in the Dark (1970) and Potent Ash (1968) (Short Stories). He was awarded third prize in the African drama contest by the British Broadcasting Com ...

(1942–1983), novelist and short story writer *

Wanjiru Kihoro Wanjiru Kihoro (9 September 1953 – 12 October 2006) was an economist, writer and feminist activist from Kenya. She was one of the founders of the pan-African women's organisation Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA) and the Committee for the Release of P ...

(1953–2006), journalist, writer, academic, activist; produced ''Kenya News'' in the 1980s from London *

John Kiriamiti John Kiriamiti (born 14 February 1950) is a Kenyan former bank robber turned writer. Born in Thuita Village, Kamacharia Location of Murang'a District in Central Kenya, he is the second of the nine children of Albert and Anne Wanjiru Kiriamiti, bo ...

(1950–), writer of popular fiction *

Henry Ole kulet Henry may refer to: People *Henry (given name) *Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...

(1950–), *

Kinyanjui Kombani Kinyanjui Kombani, popularly known as “''The Banker who Writes'',” is a Kenyan novelist, playwright, script writer, and literature critic/activist. His novels, The Last Villains of Molo and Den of Inequities have been used for undergraduate an ...

(1981–), writer of popular fiction

L

Muthoni Likimani Muthoni Gachanja Likimani (born 1926) is a Kenyan activist and writer, who has published works of both fiction and non-fiction, as well as children's books. In her career she has also been a broadcaster, actress, teacher and publisher. She was th ...

(1926–) *

Jeff Lumiri Jeff is a masculine name, often a short form (hypocorism) of the English given name Jefferson or Jeffrey, which comes from a medieval variant of Geoffrey. Music * DJ Jazzy Jeff, American DJ/turntablist record producer Jeffrey Allen Townes * ...

(2015–), author, poet, and novelist

M

Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye Marjorie Phyllis Oludhe Macgoye (21 October 1928 – 1 December 2015), was born in Southampton, England, but immigrated to Kenya soon after Kenya became independent. She was a poet, novelist, and a missionary bookseller. She studied at the Un ...

(1928–2015), novelist, essayist and poet *

Charles Mangua Charles Mangua (born in Nyeri, 1939 – 20 March 2021) was a Kenyan fiction writer. His novels explore, among other issues, the "hardship and urban poverty" experienced by ordinary people in places such as Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Mangua's ...

(c.1940–), fiction writer *

Anne Matindi Anne-Rose Waruguru Matindi (born 1942) is a Kenyan nurse and children's writer, known for her plays aimed at elementary school children.Jones, Wilma L."Twenty Contemporary African Women Writers: A Bio-Bibliography" 1995. Accessed 11 February 2020. ...

(1942–), children's writer *

Ali A. Mazrui Ali Al'amin Mazrui (24 February 1933 – 12 October 2014), was a Kenyan-born American academic, professor, and political writer on African and Islamic studies, and North-South relations. He was born in Mombasa, Kenya. His positions included Dire ...

(1933–2014), academic and political writer * John Samuel Mbiti (1931–), poet and writer on religion *

Miguna Miguna Miguna Miguna is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. He practices law as an attorney, a barrister and solicitor in Toronto, Canada. Miguna served as a senior adviser to former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga from 2009 to 2011. Early li ...

Parmenas Githendu Mockerie Parmenas Githendu Mockerie (1900/1901 – ?) was a pioneering Kikuyu writer, nationalist and contemporary of Jomo Kenyatta. He published the first book in English by a black Kenyan. Early life Parmenas Gĩthendu Mukiri was born at the turn o ...

(1900?–?), writer * Mwana Kupona binti Msham (died c.1865), Swahili poet *

Micere Mugo Micere Githae Mugo (born Madeleine Micere Githae in 1942) is a playwright, author, activist, instructor and poet from Kenya. She is a literary critic and professor of literature in the Department of African American Studies at Syracuse Univers ...

(1942–), playwright, academic and poet *

James Ngugi James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguat ...

* Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ (1971–) *

Ben Mutua Jonathan Muriithi BMJ (Ben Mutua Jonathan) Muriithi (born Jonathan Nyaga; 4 May 1969) is a print, radio and television journalist and actor based in the United States. Muriithi is also a regional reporter and correspondent for NTV, a Kenyan media outlet, QTV, ...

, a.k.a. BMJ Muriithi, US-based Kenyan journalist, works for VOA (US) and NTV (Kenya) *

Joseph Muthee Joseph Muthee (born 1928) is a Kenyan writer and Kikuyu sage who wrote about his experience as a detainee of the British colonial government at Kapenguria during the Mau Mau Uprising. He was released in 1959, and entered politics as the KANU Part ...

(1928–), Kikuyu writer * Meja Mwangi (1948–), novelist *

Gitura Mwaura Gitura Mwaura is a Nairobi, Kenya-based writer currently working as a media consultant with various organisations. He is an author and development journalist previously involved in the areas, among others, of gender and conflict management as a res ...

, development writer and journalist

N

* Rebecca Nandwa, Swahili children's writer *

Alexander Nderitu Alexander Nderitu (born 23 April 1979) is a Kenyan novelist, scriptwriter and Internet technologist. He has also expressed interest in fashion design, music production A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, c ...

(1979–), novelist, scriptwriter and Kenyan e-book and Print on Demand pioneer *

Mona L. Nduilu Mona may refer to: People * Mona (name), a female given name, nickname and surname *Mona (Angolan footballer) (born 1997) *Mona, ring name of American wrestler Nora Greenwald Museums * Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, Nebraska, US * Museum of N ...

(1976–) * Stephen N. Ngubiah (1936–), novelist * Ngugi wa Mirii (1951–2008), playwright *

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (; born James Ngugi; 5 January 1938) is a Literature of Kenya, Kenyan author and academic who writes primarily in Gikuyu language, Gikuyu and who formerly wrote in English language, English. He has been described as having bee ...

(1938–), English-language and Gikuyu writer *

Rebeka Njau Rebeka Njau (née Nyanjega; born 15 December 1932) was Kenya's first female playwright and a pioneer in the representation of African women in literature. Her writing has addressed topics such as female genital mutilation and homosexuality. Her f ...

(1932–), novelist, playwright and poet *

Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha Professor Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha (born 22nd August 1952 in Kuria District, Nyanza Province Nyanza Province (; sw, Mkoa wa Nyanza) was one of Kenya's Provinces of Kenya, eight administrative provinces before the formation of the Counties of Keny ...

(1952–), playwright * Njeri Simon Gichimu (Kiswahili and children's story writer, ''Jomo and the Wild Cats'')

O

* Asenath Bole Odaga (1937–2014), publisher and author *

Atieno Odhiambo Eisha Stephen Atieno Odhiambo (1945 – 25 February 2009) Bibliography *''History of East Africa''. (Addison-Wesley Longman Ltd, 10/01/1978)''Mau Mau and Nationhood: Arms, Authority, and Narration'' ed. John Lonsdale, ( Ohio University Press - 0 ...

(1945–2009), academic * Oginga Odinga (1912–1994), writer, philosopher and politician *

Margaret Ogola Margaret Atieno Ogola (12 June 1958 – 21 September 2011) was a Kenyan novelist who wrote '' The River and the Source'' and its sequel, '' I Swear by Apollo''. ''The River and the Source'' follows four generations of Kenyan women in a rapidly c ...

(1958–2011) * Grace Ogot (1930–2015), writer and politician * Makena Onjerika, winner of the Caine Prize 2018 * Troy Onyango (1993–), writer * Dominic Owuor Otiang'a (1987–), author, novelist * Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor (1968–), winner of the Caine Prize 2003

P

Shailja Patel Shailja Patel is an Indian-Kenyan poet, playwright, theatre artist, and political activist. She is most known for her book ''Migritude'', based on her one-woman show of the same name, which was funded by the Ford Foundation. CNN characterizes Pa ...

, poet, playwright and activist *

Paul Kipchumba Paul Kipchumba, in Chinese Chen Pu (陈朴) (born 30 April 1983) is a Kenyan author, businessman and philanthropist from Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. His other names are Kipwendui and Kibiwott. He speaks Chinese, English, Marakwet (his native lang ...

(1983–), poet and prose writer

R

* Mwangi Ruheni (1934–), scientist and popular novelist

S

* Shilaho Wa Muteshi

V

* M. G. Vassanji (1950–), novelist and editor * Iman Verjee

W

* Wanuri Kahiu (1980–), film director, producer and writer *

Wangui wa Goro Wangui wa Goro (born 1961) is a Kenyan academic, social critic, researcher, translator and writer based in the UK. As a public intellectual she has an interest in the development of African languages and literatures, as well as being consistently ...

(1961–), academic and translator *

Koigi wa Wamwere Koigi wa Wamwere (born 18 December 1949 in Rugongo, Nakuru District) is a Kenyan politician, human rights activist, journalist and writer. Koigi became famous for opposing both the Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi regimes, both of whom sent hi ...

(1949–), politician and writer * Godwin Wachira (1936–), novelist *

Charity Waciuma Charity Waciuma (born 1936) is a Kenyan writer, who wrote several novels for adolescents and an autobiographical novel, ''Daughter of Mumbi'' (1969). Her work draws on Kikuyu legends and storytelling traditions. In the 1960s Waciuma and Grace Ogot ...

(1936–), novelist * Binyavanga Wainaina (1971–2019), founder and editor of '' Kwani?'', winner of the Caine Prize 2002 * Gakaara Wanjau (1921–2001), writer and Gikuyu nationalist * Kenneth Watene (1944–), playwright * Miriam Were (1940–), public health advocate, academic and novelist *

Wanjiru Koinange Wanjiru is a name of Kikuyu origin that may refer to: *The main character of a Kikuyu story, " Wanjiru, Sacrificed by Her People" *Daniel Wanjiru (born 1992), Kenyan long-distance runner *Esther Wanjiru (born 1977), Kenyan long-distance track and ...

, writer, restorer of libraries and entrepreneur

References

{{Lists of writers by nationality

Kenyan ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

Writers A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, plays ...

List