Famous Kenyan Writers

This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

Joy Adamson

(Naturalist and Author of the Book 'Born Free', Which Documents Her Experience In Raising a Lion Club)

Birthdate: January 20, 1910

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Opava, Czechia

Died: January 3, 1980

Best known for her iconic book Born Free, which describes her experiences of raising a lion cub named Elsa, Joy Adamson was a noted Austro-Hungarian wildlife conservationist. She excelled in music and medicine in her younger days and later settled in Kenya with her third husband, conservationist George Adamson.

Warsan Shire

(Writer)

Birthdate: August 1, 1988

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Kenya

Auma Obama

(Kenyan-British Journalist, Community Activist and Half-Sister of Barack Obama)

Birthdate: 1960 AD

Birthplace: Nairobi, Kenya

Auma Obama is a Kenyan-British journalist, community activist, author, and sociologist. She is also famous as the half-sister of former American President Barack Obama. Auma Obama is perhaps best known for her association with a non-profit organization called Sauti Kuu Foundation, where she serves as the executive chairwoman. The organization aims at helping orphans struggling with poverty in Kenya.

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Ngugi wa Thiong'o

(Writer and Academic who writes primarily in Gikuyu)

Birthdate: January 5, 1938

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Kamiriithu, Kenya

Kuki Gallmann

(Writer)

Birthdate: June 1, 1943

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Treviso, Italy Treviso, Kingdom of Italy Italy

Born to Italian writer Cino Boccazzi, Kuki Gallmann later moved to Kenya with her husband and son, both of whom she lost in separate accidents. Taking up Kenyan citizenship, she focused on ecological conservation. He bestselling book I Dreamed Of Africa was later made into a movie.

Ali Mazrui

(Academic)

Birthdate: February 24, 1933

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Mombasa, Kenya

Died: October 12, 2014

Daphne Sheldrick

(Writer, Conservationist)

Birthdate: June 4, 1934

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Kenya

Died: April 12, 2018

Margaret Ogola

(Novelist)

Birthdate: June 12, 1958

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Asembo, Kenya

Died: September 21, 2011

Josiah Mwangi Kariuki

(Kenyan Politician Who Was a Major Figure in Jomo Kenyatta's Government)

Birthdate: March 21, 1929

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Kenya

Died: March 2, 1975

Kenyan politician Josiah Mwangi Kariuki, also known as JM, was a major figure in anti-colonial Kenyan politician Jomo Kenyatta's government. He became an MP from Nyandarua and also served as an assistant minister for Kenyatta. He was later killed, and his body burnt and thrown beside Lake Magadi Road.

Grace Ogot

(One of the First Members of Parliament from Kenya)

Birthdate: May 15, 1930

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Asembo, Kenya

Died: March 18, 2015

Grace Ogot was a Kenyan nurse, politician, journalist, diplomat, and author. One of the first members of parliament from Kenya, Ogot served as an assistant minister during her political career. A prolific writer, Grace Ogot was one of the first Anglophone female Kenyan authors to have her works published.

Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye

(Writer)

Birthdate: October 21, 1928

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Southampton, England

Died: December 1, 2015

Philip Ndegwa

(Economist)

Birthdate: October 18, 1936

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Kirinyaga County, Kenya

Died: January 7, 1996

Nanjala Nyabola

(Kenyan Writer and Journalist)

Birthplace: Kenya

Meja Mwangi

(Novelist)

Birthdate: December 27, 1948

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Nanyuki, Kenya

Micere Githae Mugo

(Kenyan-born Zimbabwean Author, Playwright, Poet, and Activist)

Birthdate: 1942 AD

Birthplace: Baricho, Kirinyaga District, Kenya

Micere Githae Mugo is a Kenyan-born Zimbabwean author, playwright, poet, and activist. A literary critic, she also serves as the professor of literature at Syracuse University's Department of African American Studies. Over the years, Micere Githae Mugo has received several prestigious awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in African Literature from the Royal African Society in 2021.

Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor

(Writer)

Birthdate: 1968 AD

Birthplace: Nairobi, Kenya

Ngugi wa Mirii

(Playwright)

Birthdate: 1951 AD

Birthplace: Limuru, Kenya

Died: May 3, 2008

Muyaka bin Haji al-Ghassaniy

(Author)

Birthdate: 1776 AD

Birthplace: Kenya

Died: 1840 AD