This is a list of

Kenyan The Demographics of Kenya is monitored by the Kenyan National Bureau of Statistics. Kenya is a multi-ethnic state in East Africa. Its total population was at 47,558,296 as of the 2019 census. A national census was conducted in 1999, although t ...

writers, includes writers of various genres, who are notable and are either born in Kenya, of Kenyan descent or who produce works that are primarily about Kenya.

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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 began writing poetry in solitary confinement. A collection of poems from this time were publishe ...

(1946–) * Carolyne Adalla * Jared Angira (1947–), poet * Jonah Anguka * Khadambi Asalache (1935–2006), poet and author

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* Carey Baraka (1996-), writer and journalist

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* Rocha Chimera, Swahili author and critic

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* Eastlandah David (Wesonga) (born 1985) *

Hazel de Silva Mugot Hazel de Silva Mugot (born 1947) is a Seychelloise Kenyan writer. The daughter of a Sri Lankan accountant and a teacher from the Seychelles, she was educated in Kenya, the United States and the UK. After her return to Kenya, she worked as a profes ...

(1947–), novelist * Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla * G.V. Desani (1909–2000), writer

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* Mugo Gatheru (1925–2011), autobiographical writer * Muga Gicaru (c. 1920–), novelist, real name as John Mwengi * John Rugoiyo Gichuki * Njeri Simon Gichimu (Kiswahili and children's story writer, ''Jomo and the Wild Cats'') * Moraa Gitaa, author, novelist, short story writer, 2010 Penguin Prize for African Writing nominee, 2008

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Elspeth Huxley Elspeth Joscelin Huxley CBE (née Grant; 23 July 1907 – 10 January 1997) was an English writer, journalist, broadcaster, magistrate, environmentalist, farmer, and government adviser. She wrote over 40 books, including her best-known lyri ...

(1907–1997)

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

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* Samuel Kahiga, short story writer and novelist * Daniel Kamau * Kingwa Kamencu - poet, script writer * Joseph Elijah Kariuki (1931–1975), poet * Josiah Mwangi Kariuki (1929–1975) * Amin Kassam (1948–2024), Kenyan 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 played a significant role in the ...

(1893–1978), Kenyan politician and writer * Justus Kiprono (2001-), Kenyan journalist and finance writer * Leonard Kibera (1942–1983), novelist and short story writer * Wanjiru Kihoro (1953–2006), journalist, writer, academic, activist; produced ''Kenya News'' in the 1980s from London * Maina wa Kinyatti *

John Kiriamiti John Kiriamiti (born 14 February 1950) is a Kenyan former bank robber turned writer. Kiriamiti is best known as the writer of '' My Life in Crime'' and '' My Life with a Criminal: Milly's Story'', which were both a sensation among Kenyan youth ...

(1950–), writer of popular fiction * Wanjiru Koinange, writer, restorer of libraries and entrepreneur * Kinyanjui Kombani (1981–), writer of popular fiction * Henry Ole kulet (1950–),

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* Muthoni Likimani (1926–) * Jeff Lumiri (2015–), author, poet, and novelist

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

(1928–2015), novelist, essayist and poet * David Gian Maillu (1939–) author and publisher *

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 Nairobi is the Capital cit ...

(c.1940–), fiction writer * Anne Matindi (1942–), children's writer * Ali A. Mazrui (1933–2014), academic and political writer * John Samuel Mbiti (1931–2019), poet and writer on religion *

Miguna Miguna Miguna Miguna is an Advocate of the High Court (Kenya), 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 Amollo Odinga fr ...

, lawyer * Ngugi wa Mirii (1951–2008) * Parmenas Githendu Mockerie (1900?–?), writer * Mwana Kupona binti Msham (died c.1865), Swahili poet * Micere Mugo (1942–2023), playwright, academic and poet *

Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ (born 1971) is a Kenyan American poet, author, and academic. He is associate professor of literatures in English at Cornell University and co-founder of the Safal-Cornell Kiswahili Prize for African Writing. His father is the au ...

(1971–), poet, author and academic * Ben Mutua Jonathan Muriithi (1968–), a.k.a. BMJ Muriithi, US-based Kenyan journalist, works for VOA (US) and NTV (Kenya) * Joseph Muthee (1928–), Kikuyu writer * Wahome Mutahi (1954–2003) * Meja Mwangi (1948–), novelist * Gitura Mwaura, development writer and journalist

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* Rebecca Nandwa, Swahili children's writer * Alexander Nderitu (1979–), novelist, scriptwriter and Kenyan e-book and Print on Demand pioneer * Mona L. Nduilu (1976–) * Michael Ndurumo (born 1952) *

(born 1971) * Stephen N. Ngubiah (1936–), novelist * Ngugi wa Mirii (1951–2008), playwright *

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (; born James Ngugi; 5January 193828May 2025) was a Kenyan author and academic, who has been described as East Africa's leading novelist and an important figure in modern African literature. Ngũgĩ wrote primarily in Eng ...

(1938– 28th May 2025), 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 (1952–), playwright

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* Asenath Bole Odaga (1937–2014), publisher and author * Atieno Odhiambo (1945–2009), academic *

Oginga Odinga Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga (October 1911 – 20 January 1994) was a Kenyan politician who became a prominent figure in Kenya's struggle for independence. He served as Kenya's first vice-president, and thereafter as opposition leader. Odinga ...

(1912–1994), writer, philosopher and politician * Margaret Ogola (1958–2011) *

Bethwell Allan Ogot Bethwell Allan Ogot (3 August 1929 – 30 January 2025) was a Kenyan historian and academic who specialised in African history, research methods, and theory. One of his works started by saying that "to tell the story of a past so as to portray ...

(1929–2025) *

Grace Ogot Grace Emily Ogot (née Akinyi; 15 May 1930 – 18 March 2015) was a Kenyan author, nurse, journalist, politician and diplomat. Together with Charity Waciuma she was the first Anglophone female Kenyan writer to be published.Mike Kuria, ed. ''T ...

(1930–2015), short story writer and politician * Makena Onjerika, winner of the

Caine Prize The Caine Prize for African Writing is an annual literary award for the best short story by an African writer, whether in Africa or elsewhere, published in the English language. Founded in the United Kingdom in 2000, the £10,000 prize was named ...

2018 * Troy Onyango (1993–), writer * Dominic Owuor Otiang'a (1987–), author, novelist *

Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor (born 1968) is a Kenyan writer who is the author of novels, short stories and essays. She won the 2003 Caine Prize for African Writing for her story "Weight of Whispers". Education and professional life Born in Nairobi, Ken ...

(1968–), winner of the

2003

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* Shailja Patel, poet, playwright and activist * Paul Kipchumba (1983–), poet and prose writer

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

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(born 1938) - novelist, playwright, essayist

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* M. G. Vassanji (1950–), novelist and editor * Iman Verjee
Vincent de Paul
(1986–), novelist, editor, publisher, and creative writing tutor

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Wanuri Kahiu Wanuri Kahiu (born 21 June 1980) is a Kenyan film director, producer, and author. She is considered to be “one of Africa's most aspiring directors, being part of a new, vibrant crop of talents representing contemporary African culture”. She ...

(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 translatorGolden Rhino Film Festival Jury Panel
* Koigi wa Wamwere (1949–), politician and writer * Godwin Wachira (1936–), novelist * Charity Waciuma (1936–), novelist * Binyavanga Wainaina (1971–2019), founder and editor of ''

Kwani? ''Kwani?'' (derived from the Sheng slang ''so what?'') was a prominent African literary magazine headquartered in Kenya. It has been hailed as "undoubtedly the most influential journal to have emerged from sub-Saharan Africa". The magazine orig ...

'', winner of the

2002 * Gakaara Wanjau (1921–2001), writer and Gikuyu nationalist * Wanjikũ wa Ngũgĩ (1970s–), writer * Binyavanga Wainaina (1971–2019) * Koigi wa Wamwere (born 1949) * Kenneth Watene (1944–), playwright * Miriam Were (1940–), public health advocate, academic and novelist

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kenyan writers

Writers A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles, genres and techniques to communicate ideas, to inspire feelings and emotions, or to entertain. Writers may develop different forms of writing such as novels, short stori ...

List A list is a Set (mathematics), set of discrete items of information collected and set forth in some format for utility, entertainment, or other purposes. A list may be memorialized in any number of ways, including existing only in the mind of t ...

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See also

References