This is a list of Kenyan writers.

A

* Justus Kiprono (2019–) * Abdilatif Abdalla (1946–) * Carolyne Adalla *

Jared Angira Jared Angira (born 21 November 1947) is a Kenyan poet. He has been called "the country's first truly significant poet". Life Angira was born in 1947 in Siaya, Kenya. He studied commerce at the University of Nairobi from 1968 until 1971. He contr ...

(1947–), poet * Jonah Anguka * Khadambi Asalache (1934–), poet and author

B

* Karen Blixen a.k.a.

Isak Dinesen 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 ...

(1885–1962), novelist

C

* Rocha Chimera, Swahili author and critic

D

* Hazel de Silva Mugot (1947–), novelist * Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla

G

* Mugo Gatheru (1925– ), autobiographical writer * Muga Gicaru (c. 1920– ), novelist, real name as John Mwengi * Moraa Gitaa, author, novelist, short story writer, 2010 Penguin Prize for African Writing nominee, 2008 * Stanley Gazemba (1974–) author, novelist

H

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 lyric ...

(1907–1997), journalist and autobiographical writer

I

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

K

* Samuel Kahiga, short story writer and novelist * Joseph Elijah Kariuki (1931–1975), poet * Amin Kassam (1948–), journalist and poet * Jomo Kenyatta (1892?–1978), politician and 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 * John Kiriamiti (1950–), writer of popular fiction * Henry Ole kulet (1950–), * Kinyanjui Kombani (1981–), writer of popular fiction

L

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

M

* Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye (1928–2015), novelist, essayist and poet * Charles Mangua (c.1940–), fiction writer * Anne Matindi (1942–), children's writer * Ali A. Mazrui (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 (1900?–?), writer * Mwana Kupona binti Msham (died c.1865), Swahili poet * Micere Mugo (1942–), playwright, academic and poet * James Ngugi *

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–) * Ben Mutua Jonathan Muriithi, a.k.a. BMJ Muriithi, US-based Kenyan journalist, works for VOA (US) and NTV (Kenya) * Joseph Muthee (1928–), Kikuyu writer *

Meja Mwangi Meja Mwangi (born 27 December 1948) is a Kenyan writer. He has worked in the film industry, including in screenwriting, assistant directing, and casting. Biography Mwangi was born David Dominic Mwangi in Nanyuki, Kenya, and was educated at Nany ...

(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 (1979–), novelist, scriptwriter and Kenyan e-book and Print on Demand pioneer * Mona L. Nduilu (1976–) * Stephen N. Ngubiah (1936–), novelist *

Ngugi wa Mirii Ngugi wa Mirii (1951 – 2/3 May 2008) was a Kenyan- Zimbabwean playwright, social worker and teacher, most known for his play '' Ngaahika Ndeenda'', which he co-authored with fellow Gikuyu writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o.''The Times'', June 8, 2008 ...

(1951–2008), playwright *

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (; born James Ngugi; 5 January 1938) is a Kenyan author and academic who writes primarily in Gikuyu and who formerly wrote in English. He has been described as having been "considered East Africa’s leading novelist". His wo ...

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

O

Asenath Bole Odaga Asenath Bole Odaga (1937–2014) was a Kenyan publisher and author of novels, plays, children's books, and other literary works. Odaga also promoted literature in Kenyan languages and the study of oral literature by writing in Luo and co-autho ...

(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 - 01 ...

(1945–2009), academic *

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

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

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. ''Ta ...

(1930–2015), writer and politician *

Makena Onjerika Makena Onjerika (born 1980s) is a Kenyan writer, who won the 2018 Caine Prize for African Writing, making her the fourth writer from her country to do so—following wins by Binyavanga Wainaina in 2002 and Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor in 2003, and Okwi ...

, winner of the

Caine Prize The Caine Prize for African Writing is an annual literary award for the best original short story by an African writer, whether in Africa or elsewhere, published in the English language. The £10,000 prize was founded in the United Kingdom in 20 ...

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, Ke ...

(1968–), winner of the

2003

P

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

R

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

S

* Shilaho Wa Muteshi

V

M. G. Vassanji Moyez G. Vassanji (born 30 May 1950 in Kenya) is a Canadian novelist and editor, who writes under the name M. G. Vassanji. Vassanji's work has been translated into several languages. As of 2020, he has published nine novels, as well as two sho ...

(1950–), novelist and editor * Iman Verjee

W

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”. Sh ...

(1980–), film director, producer and writer * Wangui wa Goro (1961–), academic and translator * Koigi wa Wamwere (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 Kenneth Binyavanga Wainaina (18 January 1971 – 21 May 2019) was a Kenyan author, journalist and 2002 winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing. In April 2014, ''Time'' magazine included Wainaina in its annual ''Time'' 100 as one of the "Mo ...

(1971–2019), founder and editor of ''

Kwani? ''Kwani?'' ( Sheng for ''so what?'') is a leading African literary magazine based in Kenya that has been called "undoubtedly the most influential journal to have emerged from sub-Saharan Africa". The magazine grew out of a series of conversatio ...

'', winner of the

2002 * Gakaara Wanjau (1921–2001), writer and Gikuyu nationalist * Kenneth Watene (1944–), playwright * Miriam Were (1940–), public health advocate, academic and novelist * Wanjiru Koinange, writer, restorer of libraries and entrepreneur

References

{{Lists of writers by nationality Kenyan Writers

List A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to: People * List (surname) Organizations * List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America * SC Germania List, German rugby unio ...