Famous Kenyans in History - On This Day

1902-10-26 Beryl Markham (née Clutterbuck), British-Kenyan; racehorse trainer, aviator, and memoirist, born in Ashwell, Rutland, England (d. 1986)

1920-10-31 Dedan Kimathi [wa Waciuri], Kenyan freedom fighter (Mau Mau Uprising), born in Thegenge Village, British Kenya (d. 1957)

1931-11-15 Mwai Kibaki, Kenyan politician, President of Kenya (2002-13), born in Gatuyaini, Kenya (d. 2022)

1936-03-22 Roger Whittaker, Kenyan-British country singer ("The Last Farewell"; "Durham Town"), born in Nairobi, Kenya (d. 2023)

1938-01-05 Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, Kenyan writer, born in Kamirithu, British Kenya

1940-01-17 Kipchoge "Kip" Keino, Kenyan athlete (Olympic gold 1,500m 1968, 3k steeplechase 1972), born in Kipsamo, Kenya

1940-04-01 Wangari Maathai, Kenyan environmentalist and political activist, founder of the Green Belt Movement, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (2004) and Indira Gandhi Peace Prize (2006), born in Ihithe village, Kenya (d. 2011)

1942-02-12 Chananjit Vohra, Kenyan-British hotel magnate

1943-08-29 Mohamed Amin, Kenyan photojournalist, born in Eastleigh, Nairobi, Kenya (d. 1996)

1944-12-19 Richard Leakey, Kenyan paleoanthropologist, conservationist and politician, born in Nairobi, Kenya

1945-01-07 Raila Odinga, Kenyan politician, Prime Minister of Kenya (2008-2013), born in Maseno, Kenya

1945-10-09 Naftali Bon, Kenyan 4x400m runner (Olympic silver 1968), born in Kapsabet, Rift Valley Province, Kenya

1947-09-08 Amos Biwott, Kenyan 3K steeplechaser (Olympic gold 1968), born in Uasin Gishee, Kenya

1949-01-06 Mike Boit, Kenyan 800m runner (Olympic bronze 1972), born in Eldoret, Kenya

1954-10-24 Wahome Muthahi, Kenyan humorist, newspaper columnist (The Daily Nation - Whispers), and playwright, born in Kenya (d. 2003)

1955-05-29 Sut Jhally, Kenyan-born American educator

1958-02-18 Peter Koech, Kenyan 3K steeplechaser (Olympic silver 1988), born in Kiliburani, Kenya

1958-06-03 Ibrahim Hussein, Kenyan marathon runner (Boston Marathon-1988, 91, 92), born in Kapsabet, Kenya

1961-02-21 Yobes Ondieki, Kenyan 10K runner (world record)

1961-04-12 Julius Kariuki, Kenyan 3K steeplechaser (Olympic gold 1988), born in Nyahururu, Kenya

1961-10-26 Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenyan Prime Minister (2013-2022) and son of Jomo Kenyatta, born in Nairobi, Kenya

1962-07-10 Charles Papa, Kenyan comedian and actor (Papa Shirandula), born in Busia, Kenya (d. 2020)

1963-09-26 Douglas Wakiihuri, Kenyan athlete (World marathon champion 1987, Olympic silver 1988), born in Mombasa, Kenya

1965-05-06 Zahid Sadiq, Kenyan cricketer, born in Nairobi, Kenya

1966-02-25 Samson Kitur, Kenyan athlete (d. 2003)

1966-06-25 Paula Kahumbu, Kenyan-born wildlife activist (Hands Off Our Elephants campaign), born in Nairobi, Kenya

1966-12-21 William Ruto, Kenyan politician (President of Kenya 2022-, Deputy President 2013-2022), born in Kamagut, Kenya

1968-08-22 Paul Ereng, Kenyan athlete, 800m runner (Olympic gold 1988), born in Kitale, Kenya

1969-06-17 Paul Tergat, Kenyan long distance runner, born in Riwo, Baringo District, Kenya

1970-08-23 Joseph Chebet, Kenyan athlete (Boston Marathon 1999, New York Marathon 1999, Amsterdam Marathon 1998, Vienna Marathon 2003), born in Eldoret, Kenya (d. 2023)

1970-09-18 Dan Eldon, British-Kenyan photojournalist, born in Hampstead, London (d. 1993)

1970-10-01 Moses Kiptanui, Kenyan steeplechaser (World C'ship gold 1991, 93, 95; Olympic silver 1996), born in Marakwet District, Kenya

1971-01-18 Binyavanga Wainaina, Kenyan author and journalist, born in Nakuru, Rift Valley

1971-06-25 Steve Tikolo, Kenyan cricketer (outstanding Kenyan batsman in 1996 World Cup), born in Nairobi, Kenya

1972-12-12 Wilson Kipketer, Kenyan-born Danish middle-distance runner, born in Kapchemoiywo, Nandi County, Kenya

1974-02-11 Zain Verjee, Kenyan-born journalist, born in Nairobi, Kenya

1974-08-23 Benjamin Limo, Kenyan runner, born in Eldoret, Kenya

1978-04-22 Paul Malakwen Kosgei, Kenyan long-distance and marathon runner, born in Marakwet, Kenya

1978-09-26 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, Kenyan long-distance runner, born in Kapsabet, Kenya

1979-03-10 Edi Gathegi, Kenyan actor (Blacklist), born in Nairobi, Kenya

1979-08-02 Reuben Kosgei, Kenyan athlete, born in Kapsabet, Kenya

1980-07-24 Wilfred Bungei, Kenyan middle-distance runner

1980-08-29 Mohammad Sheikh, Kenyan cricketer, born in Nairobi, Kenya

1981-07-27 Collins Obuya, Kenyan cricket all-rounder (104 ODIs, 35 wickets, 11 x 50), born in Nairobi, Kenya

1983-03-01 Lupita Nyong’o, Mexican-Kenyan actress (12 Years a Slave), born in Mexico City

1984-11-05 Eliud Kipchoge, Kenyan distance runner (Olympic gold marathon 2016; first under 2:00), born in Kapsisiywa, Kenya

1994-01-10 Faith Kipyegon, Kenyan athlete (Olympic gold women's 1,500m 2016, 20; World C'ship gold 2017), born in Bomet, Kenya

1994-02-20 Brigid Kosgei, Kenyan athlete (marathon world record 2019; Chicago Marathon 2018-9, London Marathon 2019), born in Kenya

2000-03-05 Beatrice Chebet, Kenyan long-distance runner (2024 Olympic Gold 5,000m, 10,000m world record holder), born in Kenya

2001-06-29 Elsa Majimbo, Kenyan internet comedienne, born in Nairobi, Kenya

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Famous Kenyans in History - On This Day

List of Kenyan People