List of Kenyan women writers

This is a list of women writers who were born in Kenya or whose writings are closely associated with that country.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

A

• Carolyne Adalla, novelist, author of Confessions of an AIDS victim (1993)

B

• Karen Blixen (1885–1962), Danish novelist, short story writer, essayist, active in Kenya

G

• Moraa Gitaa (active since 2008), novelist, short story writer
• Wangui wa Goro (born 1961), poet, novelist, essayist, translator, non-fiction writer

H

• Elspeth Huxley (1907–1997), non-fiction writer, poet, journalist, government adviser

L

• Muthoni Likimani (born 1926), novelist, non-fiction writer

M

• Olga Marlin (born 1934), American-born non-fiction writer
• Micere Githae Mugo (1942–2023), playwright, poet, non-fiction writer, educator, activist
• Mwana Kupona (born c.1865), Swahili poet

N

• Christine Nicholls (born 1943), biographer, non-fiction writer
• Rebeka Njau (born 1932), novelist, playwright, educator

O

• Asenath Bole Odaga (1937–2014), publisher and author
• Cristina Odone (born 1960), journalist, newspaper editor, novelist
• Margaret Ogola (1958–2011), novelist, biographer
• Grace Ogot (1930–2015), short story writer, novelist
• Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye (1928–2015), novelist, essayist, poet
• Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor (born 1968), novelist

P

• Shailja Patel (active since 2000), poet, playwright

R

• Rebecca Nandwa (active since 1988), children's writer, writing in Swahili and English

S

• Daphne Sheldrick (1934–2018), wild-life conservationist, writer
• Hazel de Silva Mugot (born 1947), novelist

W

• Charity Waciuma (born 1936), novelist
• Wanjikũ wa Ngũgĩ (born 1970s), short-story writer and novelist
• Miriam Were (born 1940), public health expert, educator, non-fiction writer
• Carolinda Witt (born 1955), yoga specialist and writer

See also

• List of Kenyan men writers