List of Kenyan writers

This is a list of Kenyan 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.

A

Abdilatif Abdalla (1946–)
Carolyne Adalla
Jared Angira (1947–), poet^{[Killam & Rowe]}
Jonah Anguka
Khadambi Asalache (1934–), poet and author^[Jahn]^{[Killam & Rowe]}

C

Rocha Chimera, Swahili author and critic

D

Eastlandah David (Wesonga) (born 1985)
Hazel de Silva Mugot (1947–), novelist
Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla
G.V. Desani (1909–2000), writer

G

Mugo Gatheru (1925–2011), autobiographical writer^[Jahn]
Muga Gicaru (c. 1920–), novelist^[Jahn], real name as John Mwengi^[1]
John Rugoiyo Gichuki
Njeri Simon Gichimu (Kiswahili and children's story writer, Jomo and the Wild Cats)^[2]^[3]^[4]
Moraa Gitaa, author, novelist, short story writer, 2010 Penguin Prize for African Writing nominee, 2008

H

Elspeth Huxley (1907–1997)

I

Francis Imbuga (1947–2012), director and playwright^{[Killam & Rowe]}

K

Samuel Kahiga, short story writer and novelist^{[Killam & Rowe]}
Daniel Kamau
Kingwa Kamencu - poet, script writer
Joseph Elijah Kariuki (1931–1975), poet^[Jahn]
Josiah Mwangi Kariuki (1929–1975)
Amin Kassam (1948–), journalist and poet^[Jahn]
Jomo Kenyatta (1893–1978), politician and writer^{[Gikandi & Mwangi]} ^[Jahn]
Leonard Kibera (1942–1983), novelist and short story writer^{[Gikandi & Mwangi]} ^{[Killam & Rowe]}
Wanjiru Kihoro (1953–2006), journalist, writer, academic, activist; produced Kenya News in the 1980s from London
Maina wa Kinyatti
John Kiriamiti (1950–), writer of popular fiction^{[Gikandi & Mwangi]}
Wanjiru Koinange, writer, restorer of libraries and entrepreneur^[5]
Kinyanjui Kombani (1981–), writer of popular fiction
Henry Ole kulet (1950–), ^{[Zakayo & Manexe]}

L

Muthoni Likimani (1926–)^{[Killam & Rowe]}
Jeff Lumiri (2015–), author, poet, and novelist^{[Killam & Rowe]}

M

Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye (1928–2015), novelist, essayist and poet
David Gian Maillu (1939–) author and publisher
Charles Mangua (c.1940–), fiction writer^{[Killam & Rowe]}
Anne Matindi (1942–), children's writer
Ali A. Mazrui (1933–2014), academic and political writer^[Jahn] ^{[Killam & Rowe]}
John Samuel Mbiti (1931–2019), poet and writer on religion^[Jahn]
Miguna Miguna, lawyer
Ngugi wa Mirii (1951–2008)
Parmenas Githendu Mockerie (1900?–?), writer^[6]
Mwana Kupona binti Msham (died c.1865), Swahili poet
Micere Mugo (1942–2023), playwright, academic and poet^{[Killam & Rowe]}
Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ (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^{[Killam & Rowe]}
Gitura Mwaura, development writer and journalist

N

Rebecca Nandwa, Swahili children's writer^[7]
Alexander Nderitu (1979–), novelist, scriptwriter and Kenyan e-book and Print on Demand pioneer
Mona L. Nduilu (1976–)^[8]
Michael Ndurumo (born 1952)
Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ (born 1971)
Stephen N. Ngubiah (1936–), novelist^{[Killam & Rowe]}
Ngugi wa Mirii (1951–2008), playwright
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (1938–), English-language and Gikuyu writer^[Jahn] ^{[Killam & Rowe]}
Rebeka Njau (1932–), novelist, playwright and poet^{[Gikandi & Mwangi]} ^[Jahn] ^{[Killam & Rowe]}
Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha (1952–), playwright

O

Asenath Bole Odaga (1937–2014), publisher and author
Atieno Odhiambo (1945–2009), academic
Oginga Odinga (1912–1994), writer, philosopher and politician^{[Gikandi & Mwangi]} ^[Jahn]
Margaret Ogola (1958–2011)^{[Gikandi & Mwangi]}
Bethwell Allan Ogot (born 1929)
Grace Ogot (1930–2015), short story writer and politician^{[Gikandi & Mwangi]} ^[Jahn] ^{[Killam & Rowe]}
Makena Onjerika, winner of the Caine Prize 2018
Troy Onyango (1993–), writer
Dominic Owuor Otiang'a (1987–), author, novelist^[9]^[10]^[11]
Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor (1968–), winner of the Caine Prize 2003

P

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

R

Mwangi Ruheni (1934–), scientist and popular novelist^{[Gikandi & Mwangi]} ^{[Killam & Rowe]}

T

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (born 1938) - novelist, playwright, essayist

V

M. G. Vassanji (1950–), novelist and editor
Iman Verjee
Vincent de Paul (1986–), novelist, editor, publisher, and creative writing tutor^[12]

W

Wanuri Kahiu (1980–), film director, producer and writer^[13]
Wangui wa Goro (1961–), academic and translator^[14]
Koigi wa Wamwere (1949–), politician and writer
Godwin Wachira (1936–), novelist^{[Killam & Rowe]}
Charity Waciuma (1936–), novelist^{[Killam & Rowe]}
Binyavanga Wainaina (1971–2019), founder and editor of Kwani?, winner of the Caine Prize 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^{[Killam & Rowe]}
Miriam Were (1940–), public health advocate, academic and novelist^{[Killam & Rowe]}

References

^ Staaf, Rune (2011). "Afrikansk Litteratur på Svenska 1949-1974 (Thesis on the librarian training)" (PDF). Borås Academic Digital Archive (BADA). BADA - University of Borås. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
^ Gichimu, Simon (25 August 2017). Jomo and the Wild Cats. ISBN 978-1-9758-1063-4.
^ "The Guide Kenya". The Guide Kenya. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
^ "2017 the year that was". Daily Nation. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
^ "Kenyan women lead bold revival of libraries' faded glory". The East African. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
^ Angus Calder "The Journal of Commonwealth Literature March 1983 vol. 18 no. 1 128-130", 6. A Note on Parmenas Mockerie
^ Kiundu Waweru, "Champions of the writers' bloc", The Standard, 29 May 2009.
^ Gitonga, Catherine (2007). Can Scars Become Stars. Nairobi: Revival Springs Media. p. 312. ISBN 978-9966-7241-0-6.
^ Verlag Edition Solitude. Person:Dominic Otiang'a. Field of Practice: Literature
^ Goethe Institute: our “Frankly …” column series is written by Dominic Otiang’a
^ Deutsche Nationalbibliothek: Der deutsche Traum Otiang'a, Dominic. - Stuttgart : Akad. Schloss Solitude, 2015.ISBN 978-3-937158-88-4
^ "Vincent de Paul: It's time we told different African stories". Nation. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
^ Stevenson, Deborah (29 November 2017). "The Wooden Camel by Wanuri Kahiu (review)". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 71 (4): 164. doi:10.1353/bcc.2017.0865. ISSN 1558-6766. S2CID 201780558.
^ Golden Rhino Film Festival Jury Panel Archived 18 September 2012 at archive.today

[Gikandi] Simon Gikandi, ed., Encyclopedia of African Literature. Routledge, 2002. ISBN 978-0-415-23019-3
[Gikandi & Mwangi] Simon Gikandi & Evan Mwangi, ed., The Columbia Guide to East African Literature in English Since 1945. Columbia University Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0-231-12520-8
[Killam & Rowe] Douglas Killam & Ruth Rowe, eds, The Companion to African Literatures. James Currey & Indiana University Press, 2000. ISBN 0-253-33633-3
[Jahn] Janheinz Jahn, Ulla Schild & Almut Nordmann Seiler, eds., Who's who in African Literature: Biographies, Works, Commentaries. Horst Erdmann Verlag, 1972. ISBN 978-3-7711-0153-4

[1] Staaf, Rune (2011). "Afrikansk Litteratur på Svenska 1949-1974 (Thesis on the librarian training)" (PDF). Borås Academic Digital Archive (BADA). BADA - University of Borås. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.

[2] Gichimu, Simon (25 August 2017). Jomo and the Wild Cats. ISBN 978-1-9758-1063-4.

[3] "The Guide Kenya". The Guide Kenya. Retrieved 13 July 2019.

[4] "2017 the year that was". Daily Nation. Retrieved 13 July 2019.

[5] "Kenyan women lead bold revival of libraries' faded glory". The East African. Retrieved 20 July 2020.

[6] Angus Calder "The Journal of Commonwealth Literature March 1983 vol. 18 no. 1 128-130", 6. A Note on Parmenas Mockerie

[7] Kiundu Waweru, "Champions of the writers' bloc", The Standard, 29 May 2009.

[8] Gitonga, Catherine (2007). Can Scars Become Stars. Nairobi: Revival Springs Media. p. 312. ISBN 978-9966-7241-0-6.

[9] Verlag Edition Solitude. Person:Dominic Otiang'a. Field of Practice: Literature

[10] Goethe Institute: our “Frankly …” column series is written by Dominic Otiang’a

[11] Deutsche Nationalbibliothek: Der deutsche Traum Otiang'a, Dominic. - Stuttgart : Akad. Schloss Solitude, 2015.ISBN 978-3-937158-88-4

[12] "Vincent de Paul: It's time we told different African stories". Nation. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2023.

[13] Stevenson, Deborah (29 November 2017). "The Wooden Camel by Wanuri Kahiu (review)". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 71 (4): 164. doi:10.1353/bcc.2017.0865. ISSN 1558-6766. S2CID 201780558.

[14] Golden Rhino Film Festival Jury Panel Archived 18 September 2012 at archive.today

[15] [Gikandi] Simon Gikandi, ed., Encyclopedia of African Literature. Routledge, 2002. ISBN 978-0-415-23019-3

[16] [Gikandi & Mwangi] Simon Gikandi & Evan Mwangi, ed., The Columbia Guide to East African Literature in English Since 1945. Columbia University Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0-231-12520-8

[17] [Killam & Rowe] Douglas Killam & Ruth Rowe, eds, The Companion to African Literatures. James Currey & Indiana University Press, 2000. ISBN 0-253-33633-3

[18] [Jahn] Janheinz Jahn, Ulla Schild & Almut Nordmann Seiler, eds., Who's who in African Literature: Biographies, Works, Commentaries. Horst Erdmann Verlag, 1972. ISBN 978-3-7711-0153-4

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[9]

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[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

List of Kenyan writers

A

C

D

G

H

I

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

T

V

W

See also

References