List of Kenyan writers

This is a list of Kenyan writers.

• Jared Angira (1947– ), poet^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Oduor Jagero , The Ghosts of 1894
• Khadambi Asalache (1934– ), poet and author^{[Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Karen Blixen aka Isak Dinesen (1885–1962), novelist
• Rocha Chimera, Swahili author and critic
• Hazel de Silva Mugot (1947– ), novelist
• Mugo Gatheru (1925– ), autobiographical writer^[Jahn]
• Muga Gicaru (c.1920– ), novelist^[Jahn], real name as John Mwengi.^[1]
• Moraa Gitaa, author, novelist, short story writer, 2010 Penguin Prize for African Writing nominee, 2008
• Elspeth Huxley (1907–1997), journalist and autobiographical writer
• Francis Imbuga (1947– ), director and playwright^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Samuel Kahiga, short story writer and novelist^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Joseph Elijah Kariuki (1931– ), poet^[Jahn]
• Amin Kassam (1948– ), journalist and poet^[Jahn]
• Jomo Kenyatta (1892?–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
• John Kiriamiti (1950– ), writer of popular fiction^{[Gikandi & Mwangi]}
• Muthoni Likimani (1926– )^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye (1928–2015), novelist, essayist and poet
• Charles Mangua (c.1940– ), fiction writer^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Ali A. Mazrui (1933– 2014), academic and political writer^{[Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• John Samuel Mbiti (1931– ), poet and writer on religion^[Jahn]
• Miguna Miguna
• Parmenas Githendu Mockerie (1900?–?), writer ^[2]
• Mwana Kupona binti Msham (died c.1865), Swahili poet
• Micere Mugo (1942– ), playwright, academic and poet^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• James Ngugi^[Jahn]
• Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ (1971– )
• Ben Mutua Jonathan Muriithi, aka BMJ Muriithi, US-based Kenyan journalist, works for VOA (US) and NTV (Kenya)
• Wahome Mutahi ( −2003), satirical journalist
• Joseph Muthee (1928– ), Kikuyu writer
• Meja Mwangi (1948– ), novelist^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Gitura Mwaura, development writer and journalist
• Rebecca Nandwa, Swahili children's writer^[3]
• Alexander Nderitu, novelist, scriptwriter and Kenyan e-book and Print on Demand pioneer
• Mona L. Nduilu (1976– )^[4]
• Stephen N. Ngubiah (1936– ), novelist^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Ngugi wa Mirii (1951– ), 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
• Atieno Odhiambo (1945–2009), academic
• Oginga Odinga (1912–1994), writer, philosopher and politician^{[Gikandi & Mwangi] [Jahn]}
• Margaret Ogola (1958–2011)^{[Gikandi & Mwangi]}
• Grace Ogot (1930–2015), writer and politician^{[Gikandi & Mwangi] [Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor (1968– ), winner of the Caine Prize 2003
• Shailja Patel, poet, playwright and activist
• Mwangi Ruheni (born 1934), scientist and popular novelist^{[Gikandi & Mwangi] [Killam & Rowe]}
• M. G. Vassanji (1950– ), novelist and editor
• Wangui wa Goro, academic and translator^[5]
• Koigi wa Wamwere (1949– ), politician and writer
• Godwin Wachira (1936– ), novelist^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Charity Waciuma (1936– ), novelist^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Binyavanga Wainaina (1971– ), founder and editor of Kwani?, winner of the Caine Prize 2002
• Gakaara Wanjau (1921–2001), writer and Gikuyu nationalist
• Kenneth Watene (born 1944), playwright^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Miriam Were (1940– ), public health advocate, academic and novelist^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Jeff Lumiri (2015– ), author, poet, and novelist^{[Killam & Rowe]}

References

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. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
2. Angus Calder "The Journal of Commonwealth Literature March 1983 vol. 18 no. 1 128-130", 6. A Note on Parmenas Mockerie
3. Kiundu Waweru, "Champions of the writers' bloc", The Standard, 29 May 2009.
4. Gitonga, Catherine (2007). Can Scars Become Stars. Nairobi: Revival Springs Media. p. 312. ISBN 9789966724106.
5. Golden Rhino Film Festival Jury Panel

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1. [Gikandi] Simon Gikandi, ed., Encyclopedia of African Literature. Routledge, 2002. ISBN 978-0-415-23019-3
2. [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
3. [Killam & Rowe] Douglas Killam & Ruth Rowe, eds, The Companion to African Literatures. James Currey & Indiana University Press, 2000. ISBN 0-253-33633-3
4. [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