List of Kenyans

The following list gives a categorised overview of notable people from Kenya.

Pre-colonial leaders

 * Koitalel Arap Samoei
 * Mekatilili Wa Menza
 * Nabongo Mumia
 * Waiyaki Wa Hinga

Anti-colonial activists

 * Bildad Kaggia
 * Dedan Kimathi
 * Dennis Akumu
 * Elijah Omolo Agar
 * Esau Khamati Oriedo
 * Fitz Remedios Santana de Souza
 * Fred Kubai
 * Harry Thuku
 * Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
 * John Keen (Kenya politician)
 * Jomo Kenyatta
 * Joseph Murumbi
 * J.M. Kariuki
 * Kung'u Karumba
 * Makhan Singh (Kenyan trade unionist)
 * Martin Shikuku
 * Mary Muthoni Nyanjiru
 * Masinde Muliro
 * Musa Mwariama
 * Ochola Ogaye Mak'Anyengo
 * Paul Ngei
 * Pio Gama Pinto
 * Ramogi Achieng Oneko
 * Stanley Mathenge
 * Tom Mboya
 * Wambui Otieno
 * Waruhiu Itote

Politicians

 * Moody Awori, Vice President, August, 2003–December 2007
 * Nicholas Biwott, Member of Parliament, former Cabinet Ministère
 * Cyrus Jirongo
 * Josephat Karanja, Vice President 1988–1989
 * J. M. Kariuki, assassinated 1975
 * Uhuru Kenyatta, son of the first President, Jomo Kenyatta and 4th President of Kenya, 2013–2022
 * Mwai Kibaki, third President of Kenya December 2002 – March 2013
 * Esau Khamati Oriedo, first served in the District House Assembly the Local Native Council (LNC) of North Nyanza; original member of KAU progenitor to KANU.
 * Michael Wamalwa Kijana, Vice President 3 January 2003 – August 2003
 * Catherine Omanyo, Member of Parliament and school founder
 * Ochola Ogaye Mak'Anyengo, Member of Parliament, Assistant Cabinet Minister
 * John Mwirichia
 * Tom Mboya, Cabinet Minister, assassinated 1969
 * Kenneth Matiba
 * Musalia Mudavadi, Vice President 4 November 2002 – 30 December 2002
 * Joseph Murumbi, Vice President 1965–1967
 * Simeon Nyachae
 * Daisy Nyongesa (born 1989), senator
 * Charity Ngilu, first female to run for presidency
 * Raila Odinga, former Cabinet Minister, Member of Parliament. Son of Oginga Odinga and former Prime Minister
 * Esther Passaris
 * Quincy Timberlake, President, Platinum Centraliser and Unionist Party of Kenya
 * Appolo Ohanga
 * James Orengo
 * Robert Ouko, Cabinet Minister, assassinated 1990
 * Pio Gama Pinto, assassinated 1965
 * Charles Rubia
 * George Saitoti, Vice President May 1989 – Dec 1997, April 1999 – 30 August 2002
 * Makhan Singh, freedom fighter
 * Fitz R S de Souza, Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker 1963–1970
 * Kalonzo Musyoka, Vice President Jan 2008 – March 2013
 * William Ruto, Deputy Vice-President April 2013–present
 * Martha Karua
 * John Michuki
 * Njenga Karume
 * Jeremiah Nyagah, long-serving cabinet minister and member of Parliament
 * Mutahi Kagwe, former Member of Parliament, former Senator and former Cabinet Secretary.
 * Harry Thuku
 * Koigi Wa Wamwere
 * Martin Nyaga Wambora, first Governor of Embu, former chairman of Kenya Airports Authority, successful Runyenjes MP and noted former Kenyan trade secretary
 * Samuel Kivuitu, Electoral Commissioner of Kenya (2013)
 * Prof. Crispus Makau Kiamba, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Government of Kenya from 2008 to 2013.

Activists

 * Auma Obama
 * Boniface Mwangi
 * Esau Khamati Oriedo
 * Samwel Mohochi, human rights lawyer
 * Ciiru Waithaka CEO of Funkidz
 * Eric Njuguna, climate activist

Notable civil servants

 * Barack Obama Sr.
 * Edward H Ntalami
 * Stanley Kamang Nganga
 * Chris Kirubi
 * Margaret Nyakang'o
 * Muthui Kariuki

Academics, scientists and medical professionals

 * Ali Mazrui
 * Amina Abubakar
 * Bethwell Allan Ogot
 * Borna Nyaoke-Anoke
 * Calestous Juma
 * Charity Wayua
 * Paula Kahumbu
 * Davy Kiprotich Koech
 * Dorothy Wanja Nyingi
 * Elizabeth Gitau
 * Esther Ngumbi
 * Evelyn Gitau
 * Fardosa Ahmed
 * Gladys Ngetich
 * Hope Mwanake
 * Jemimah Kariuki, doctor
 * Louise Leakey
 * Richard Leakey
 * Juliet Obanda Makanga
 * Leah Marangu
 * Maina wa Kinyatti
 * Margaret Ogola
 * Phoebe Okowa
 * Mary Abukutsa-Onyango
 * Moses Rugut
 * Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
 * Ng'endo Mwangi
 * Peter Amollo Odhiambo
 * Reuben Olembo
 * Miriam Were
 * Stellah Wairimu Bosire-Otieno
 * Steven Runo
 * Teresia Mbaika Malokwe
 * Thomas R. Odhiambo
 * Washington Yotto Ochieng
 * Winnie Apiyo
 * Bildad Bosire

Religious leaders

 * Cardinal John Njue
 * Cardinal Maurice Michael Otunga
 * Archbishop John Njenga
 * Judy Mbugua (born 1947), chair of the Pan African Christian Women Alliance

Business people and entrepreneurs

 * Benson Wairegi
 * Chris Kirubi
 * Dominic Kiarie
 * Eric Kinoti
 * Esther Muchemi
 * Isis Nyong'o
 * James Mwangi
 * James Mworia
 * Jamila Abbas
 * Mubarak Muyika
 * Muhoho Kenyatta
 * Peter Ndegwa
 * Pradeep Paunrana
 * Rosemary Odinga
 * Samuel Kamau Macharia
 * Sauda Rajab
 * Susan Oguya
 * Trushar Khetia
 * Wilfred Musau

Sports persons

 * Elisha Barno, distance runner
 * Matthew Birir
 * Amos Biwott
 * Mike Boit
 * Richard Chelimo
 * Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, Kenyan-Israeli Olympic marathon runner
 * Joyce Chepchumba
 * Jason Dunford
 * Paul Ereng
 * Chris Froome
 * John Rugoiyo Gichuki
 * Mbarak Hussein, born in Kenya, now a U.S. citizen, long-distance runner,
 * Ben Jipcho
 * Julius Kariuki
 * Kipchoge Keino
 * Ezekiel Kemboi
 * Joseph Keter
 * Eliud Kipchoge, marathon world record holder
 * Wilson Kipketer, born and raised in Kenya, now a citizen of Denmark
 * Wilson Boit Kipketer
 * Moses Kiptanui
 * Sally Kipyego, All American runner for Texas Tech University
 * Ismael Kirui
 * Samson Kitur
 * Daniel Komen
 * Julius Korir
 * Paul Korir
 * Reuben Kosgei
 * Bernard Lagat
 * Tegla Loroupe
 * Edith Masai
 * Shekhar Mehta
 * Catherine Ndereba (born 1972), marathon runner
 * Noah Ngeny
 * John Ngugi
 * Margaret Okayo (born 1976), marathon runner
 * Dennis Oliech, soccer player now based in France
 * Yobes Ondieki
 * Dominic Ondoro, distance runner
 * Henry Rono
 * Peter Rono
 * David Rudisha
 * Moses Tanui
 * William Tanui
 * Naftali Temu
 * Paul Tergat
 * Steve Tikolo, widely regarded in cricket as the best batsman outside of the test playing nations
 * Robert Wangila
 * McDonald Mariga, soccer player now based in Italy, plays for Serie A club Internazionale
 * Victor Wanyama, soccer player now based in America, plays for Vancouver Whitecaps in the country's top flight soccer league "Major league Soccer "and captains the Kenya national team
 * Biko Adema, national rugby team player

Environmentalists and conservationists

 * Elizabeth Wathuti
 * Maina Macharia
 * George Adamson
 * Helen Gichohi
 * Ikal Angelei
 * Joy Adamson
 * Daphne Sheldrick
 * Phyllis Omido
 * Saba Douglas-Hamilton
 * Wangari Maathai
 * Wanjira Mathai

Musicians

 * Timothy "Ennovator" Rimbui
 * Eric Wainaina
 * Juacali
 * Jimw@t
 * Otile Brown
 * Nyashinski
 * Sauti Sol
 * Elani
 * Henrie Mutuku
 * Naiboi
 * Sanaipei Tande
 * Size 8
 * Gloria Muliro
 * Mbuvi
 * Nameless
 * PinkPantheress
 * Wakadinali
 * Suzanna Owiyo
 * Amani Gracious

Writers and playwrights

 * Abel Mutua
 * Asenath Bole Odaga
 * Binyavanga Wainaina
 * Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha
 * Charity Waciuma
 * Charles Mangua
 * Clifton Gachagua
 * Grace Ogot
 * Hazel de Silva Mugot
 * Iman Verjee
 * Khadambi Asalache
 * Kinyanjui Kombani
 * Koigi wa Wamwere
 * Kuki Gallmann
 * Makena Onjerika
 * Margaret Ogola
 * Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye
 * Meja Mwangi
 * Micere Githae Mugo
 * Moraa Gitaa
 * Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ
 * Mwangi Ruheni
 * Nanjala Nyabola,
 * Ngugi wa Mirii
 * Ngugi Wa Thiong'o
 * Rocha Chimera
 * Shailja Patel
 * Tony Mochama
 * Wangui wa Goro
 * Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor

Journalists, bloggers and media personalities

 * Catherine Kasavuli
 * Cyprian Nyakundi
 * Farida Karoney
 * Hilary Ng'weno
 * Janet Mbugua
 * Jeff Koinange
 * Julie Gichuru
 * Kui Kinyanjui
 * Linus Kaikai
 * Mwenda Njoka
 * Ory Okolloh
 * Pamella Makotsi-Sittani
 * Patrick Gathara
 * Priya Ramrakha
 * Robert Alai
 * Xtian Dela
 * Zain Verjee
 * Idah Waringa

Actors and actresses

 * Avril (singer)
 * Khaleed Abdul
 * Charles Gitonga Maina
 * Christopher Okinda
 * Eddy Kimani
 * Edi Gathegi
 * Edwin Mahinda
 * John Sibi-Okumu
 * Joseph Olita
 * Kiran Shah
 * Lupita Nyong'o
 * Maqbul Mohammed
 * Nana Gichuru
 * Nini Wacera
 * Oliver Litondo
 * Patricia Kihoro
 * Jackie Nyaminde
 * Paul Onsongo
 * Raymond Ofula
 * Sarah Hassan
 * Sidede Onyulo
 * Deep Roy
 * Sal Hants