Philo Ikonya is a writer, journalist and

human rights activist A human rights defender or human rights activist is a person who, individually or with others, acts to promote or protect human rights. They can be journalists, environmentalists, whistleblowers, trade unionists, lawyers, teachers, housing campai ...

from

Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...

. Her articles and books often cover the current political situation in Kenya. She was the president of Kenya's branch of

PEN PEN may refer to: * (National Ecological Party), former name of the Brazilian political party Patriota (PATRI) * PEN International, a worldwide association of writers ** English PEN, the founding centre of PEN International ** PEN America, located ...

, the international association of writers. After several arrests for her activism and a severe beating in 2009 while in police custody, she left Kenya in political exile.

Professional life

In addition to journal and magazine articles, Ikonya has published books of poetry and a novel, ''Kenya, Will You Marry Me?'' She also translated a book of poetry by Chinese poet

Jidi Majia Jidi Majia ( zh, s=吉狄马加, t=吉狄馬加, p=Jídí mǎjiā) is a Chinese poet and a lieutenant governor of Qinghai from 2006 to 2010. He was born in 1961 and belongs to an ethnic minority of China, the Yi. He has published numerous poet ...

into the

Kiswahili Swahili, also known as as it is referred to in the Swahili language, is a Bantu language originally spoken by the Swahili people, who are found primarily in Tanzania, Kenya, and Mozambique (along the East African coast and adjacent littoral i ...

language. Ikonya attended the

University of Nairobi The University of Nairobi (uonbi or UoN; ) is a college, collegiate research university based in Nairobi and is the largest List of universities and colleges in Kenya, university in Kenya. Although its history as an educational institution dat ...

, where she earned a master's degree in literature. She has taught

semiotics Semiotics ( ) is the systematic study of sign processes and the communication of meaning. In semiotics, a sign is defined as anything that communicates intentional and unintentional meaning or feelings to the sign's interpreter. Semiosis is a ...

at Tangaza College of the

Catholic University of Eastern Africa Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) is a multi-campus private university in Kenya. It is accredited by the Commission for University Education in Kenya. Location The main campus of the university is located along Bogani East Road, in ...

Activism

While in Kenya, Ikonya was active in the work of human rights and nonviolent activism and was arrested two separate times in 2007. At a 2008 protest against Kenya's then-president

Mwai Kibaki Emilio Stanley Mwai Kibaki (15 November 1931 – 21 April 2022) was a Kenyan politician who served as the third President of Kenya from December 2002 until April 2013. He served in various leadership positions in Kenya's government including ...

, she said, "Every day something is happening that is just showing insensitivity on the part of the leaders so there is general discontent." In 2009, she learned of British journalist

Michela Wrong Michela Wrong (born 1961) is a British journalist and author. She has written about Africa for over 20 years. She began her career covering European affairs before focusing on Africa, reporting on its Western, Central, and Eastern regions. ...

's book ''It's Our Turn to Eat: The Story of a Kenyan Whistle-Blower,'' which was available internationally but censored in Kenya. Ikonya and other members of Kenyan PEN acquired copies and brought them back to Kenya for more widespread distribution. On 18 February 2009, Ikonya and two others were arrested outside the

Parliament of Kenya The Parliament of Kenya is the bicameral legislature of Kenya. It is based at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi and consists of two houses. The upper house is the Senate, and the lower house is the National Assembly. See also * Politics of K ...

at a protest against

hyperinflation In economics, hyperinflation is a very high and typically accelerating inflation. It quickly erodes the real versus nominal value (economics), real value of the local currency, as the prices of all goods increase. This causes people to minimiz ...

. While in police custody, she was severely beaten by a male police officer. Later that year, she left Kenya and went to an International City of Refuge in Oslo, Norway. She continued to be involved with PEN, including with their Writers in Prison Committee.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ikonya, Philo Year of birth missing (living people) Living people 21st-century Kenyan women writers African diaspora literature African diaspora in Europe Kenyan human rights activists University of Nairobi alumni Academic staff of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa Victims of police brutality Kenyan activists Kenyan women activists