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List of prominent Agikĩkũyũ and people of Gĩkũyũ descent

June 8, 2022
in Africa, African History
Reading Time: 10 mins read
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List of prominent Agikĩkũyũ and people of Gĩkũyũ descent. The Kikuyu (also Agĩkũyũ/Gĩkũyũ) are a Bantu ethnic group native to Central Kenya, but also found in significantly less numbers in Tanzania. At a population of 8,148,668 as of 2019, they account for 17.13% of the total population of Kenya, making them the largest ethnic group in Kenya.

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Kikuyu
Gĩkũyũ
Agĩkũyũ
Nyũmba ya Mũmbi
Total population
8,148,668
Regions with significant populations
Kenya
Languages
Gĩgĩkũyũ, Kiswahili and English
Religion
Christianity, Islam, Agikuyu Religion and Irreligious
Related ethnic groups
Embu, Meru, Mbeere, Kamba, Sonjo and Dhaiso
Person MũGĩkũyũ
People AGĩkũyũ
Language GĩGĩkũyũ
Country Bũrũrĩ Wa Gĩkũyũ

Swahili form of the word Gĩkũyũ. Gĩkũyũ is derived from the word mũkũyũ which means sycamore fig (mũkũyũ) tree”. Hence Agĩkũyũ in the Kikuyu language translates to “Children Of The Big Sycamore”. The alternative name Nyũmba ya Mũmbi which encompasses Embu, Gikuyu, and Meru translates to “House of the Potter” (or “Creator”). Agĩkũyũ can also be a shortened form of Mũũgĩ (wise) kũrĩ (than) ũyũ (him/her), hence “one who is wise to others”

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List of prominent Agikĩkũyũ and people of Gĩkũyũ descent in Activism, authorship, academics and science

  • Wangari Maathai, Nobel Laureate, first African woman and first environmentalist to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. First Kenyan woman to earn a Ph.D.
  • Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Gikuyu-language author, father of author and professor Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ[53]
  • Wanjiku Kabira, literature professor and gender rights activist
  • Maina wa Kinyatti, historian and one of the foremost researchers on the Mau Mau
  • Micere Githae Mugo, author, activist, literary critic and professor of literature at Syracuse University
  • Wanjiru Kihoro, economist, feminist and political activist
  • Njoki Wainaina, founder and first executive director of the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET)
  • Wangui wa Goro, academic and social critic
  • Joseph Maina Mungai, pioneer medical researcher in East Africa
  • Ng’endo Mwangi, Kenya’s first woman physician. The Mwangi Cultural Center at the Smith College in Massachusetts is named in her honor
  • Carole Wamuyu Wainaina, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management at the United Nations
  • Helen Gichohi, ecologist and President of the African Wildlife Foundation
  • Olive Mugenda, first woman to head a public university in the African Great Lakes region
  • Florence Wambugu, plant pathologist and virologist
  • Thumbi Ndung’u, HIV/AIDS researcher and the first to clone HIV subtype C. Recipient of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s International Early Career Scientist award
  • Dorothy Wanja Nyingi, ichthyologist and recipient of the Ordre des Palmes académiques (Order of Academic Palms)
  • Kimani Maruge, oldest person in the world to start primary school after enrolling in first grade aged 84
  • David Muchoki Kanja, the first Assistant Secretary-General for the Office of Internal Oversight Services at the United Nations
  • Muthoni Wanyeki, political scientist and human rights activist
  • Simon Gikandi, English professor at Princeton University
  • Gibson Kamau Kuria, lawyer and recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award
  • Paul Muite, lawyer, politician, multiparty activist and former presidential candidate
  • Judy Thongori, lawyer and women’s rights activist
  • Maina Kiai, lawyer, human rights activist and United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
  • Michael Ndurumo, deaf educator and the third deaf person from Africa to obtain a Ph.D.
  • Ngugi wa Mirii, playwright
  • Koigi wa Wamwere, author, politician and human rights activist
  • Meja Mwangi, author
  • Rebeka Njau, author and playwright. Her one-act play The Scar (1965), which condemns female genital mutilation, is considered the first play written by a Kenyan woman
  • Binyavanga Wainaina, author, LGBT activist and a winner of Caine Prize for African Writing
  • Boniface Mwangi, photojournalist and sociopolitical activist
  • Ann Njogu, human rights and constitutional reform activist
  • Audrey Mbugua, transgender activist
  • John Githongo, anti-corruption activist
  • Gitura Mwaura, author, poet

List of prominent Agikĩkũyũ and people of Gĩkũyũ descent in Arts and media

  • Wangechi Mutu, artist and sculptor
  • Ingrid Mwangi, Kenyan-German artist
  • Wanuri Kahiu, film director
  • Wahome Mutahi, humorist popularly known as Whispers after satirical column he wrote
  • Jeff Koinange, Emmy Award-winning journalist
  • Julie Gichuru, news anchor and entrepreneur
  • Liza Mũcherũ-Wisner, a semi-finalist in The Apprentice Season 10
  • Edi Gathegi, stage, film and television actor
  • Tom Morello, Grammy Award-winning guitarist, son of Ngethe Njoroge
  • Eric Wainana, musician
  • Janet Mbugua, news anchor
  • David Mathenge, musician popularly known as “Nameless”
  • Stella Mwangi, Kenyan-Norwegian musician known by the stage name STL. Represented Norway in Eurovision Song Contest 2011
  • Wahu, musician
  • Avril, musician and actress
  • Amani, musician
  • Jaguar, musician
  • Joseph Kamaru, musician
  • Daniel Kamau Mwai “DK”, musician
  • Queen Jane, musician
  • Abbas Kubaff, hip hop artist
  • Wangechi, rapper
  • Victoria Kimani, musician and actress
  • Patricia Kihoro, musician, actress and radio personality
  • Size 8, musician and actress (mother: Esther Njeri Munyali (Kikuyu), father: Samuel Kirui Munyali (Ugandan from Mbale))
  • Mustafa Olpak, Writer, Turkish Human rights activist descended from Kikuyu slaves in Crete

List of prominent Agikĩkũyũ and people of Gĩkũyũ descent in Business and economics

  • Patrick Ngugi Njoroge, Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya
  • Njuguna Ndung’u, economics professor and former Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya
  • Samuel Kamau Macharia, founder and chairman of Royal Media Services, the largest private radio and television network in Eastern Africa
  • Philip Ndegwa, entrepreneur, internationally respected economist and former Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya
  • Peter Munga, founder and chairman of Equity Group Holdings Limited, Eastern Africa’s second largest bank by customers after C.B.E.
  • James Mwangi, group CEO and largest individual shareholder at Equity Group Holdings Limited
  • Eunice Njambi Mathu, founder and editor-in-chief of Parents Africa Magazine
  • Nelson Muguku Njoroge, entrepreneur
  • Pius Ngugi Mbugua, entrepreneur and owner of the Kenya Nut Company, one of the world’s largest macadamia nut exporters
  • Jimnah Mbaru, investment banker, entrepreneur and founder chairman of African Securities Exchanges Association
  • Joseph Barrage Wanjui, chairman of UAP-Old Mutual Group
  • Chris Kirubi, industrialist and largest individual shareholder at Centum Investment Company Limited, the largest listed private equity firm in East Africa
  • Titus Kiondo Muya, founder of Family Bank
  • Jane Wanjiru Michuki, lawyer and investor
  • Duncan Nderitu Ndegwa, former Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya
  • Sam Thenya, founder and group CEO at Nairobi Women’s Hospital
  • Betty Muthoni Gikonyo, co-founder and group CEO at Karen Hospital
  • Simon Gicharu, founder of Mount Kenya University, East and Central Africa’s largest private university
  • Tabitha Karanja, founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries, Kenya’s second-largest brewery
  • Gerishon Kamau Kirima, real estate magnate
  • Alex Njenga Njoroge, Founder of Renown Blog Buchacha50.com
  • Eddah Waceke Gachukia, educationist, entrepreneur and co-founder of Riara Group of Schools
  • Paul Wanderi Ndung’u, entrepreneur and co-founder of SportPesa, one of the first African businesses to sponsor a Premier League team
  • Gideon Maina Muriuki, group CEO at Cooperative Bank of Kenya, the country’s second-largest bank by customers and third-largest by assets
  • Esther Muthoni Passaris, businesswoman and politician
  • Wanjiku Mugane, businesswoman and investment banker. Co-founder of First Africa Group which was later bought by Standard Chartered
  • Dorcas Muthoni, an inductee to the Internet Hall of Fame
  • Joram Kamau, founder of Tuskys, the largest retail chain in Eastern Africa
  • Peter Mukuha Kago, founder of Naivas Limited, the second-largest retail chain in Eastern Africa
  • Benson Wairegi, group CEO at Britam Holdings plc
  • John Gachora, group CEO at NIC Bank Group
  • Wilfred Kiboro, chairman of the Board of Directors at Nation Media Group, East Africa’s largest media house. Former group CEO
  • Mugo Kibati, group CEO of Sanlam Kenya Plc and chairman of Lake Turkana Wind Power
  • Joseph Mucheru, former Google Sub-Saharan Africa Lead and current Cabinet Secretary for ICT in Kenya
  • Dominic Kiarie, former group CEO, UAP Holdings

List of prominent Agikĩkũyũ and people of Gĩkũyũ descent in Politics, military and resistance

  • Johnson Gicheru, former Chief Justice of Kenya
  • Stanley Munga Githunguri, politician and businessman
  • Ndindi Nyoro – politician and businessman
  • Waiyaki wa Hinga, 19th century leader
  • Waruhiu Itote also known as General China. Mau Mau resistance leader
  • Bildad Kaggia, freedom-fighter and politician. Member of the Mau Mau Central Committee and the Kapenguria Six
  • Mutahi Kagwe, politician
  • Julius Waweru Karangi, retired General and former Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces
  • Josephat Karanja, former Vice-President
  • Godfrey Gitahi Kariuki, politician
  • Josiah Mwangi Kariuki, businessman and socialist politician
  • Muthui Kariuki, former spokesman for the Government of Kenya
  • Martha Wangari Karua, politician and former presidential candidate
  • Lucy Muringo Gichuhi, first person of Black African descent to be elected to the Australian Parliament
  • Kung’u Karumba, freedom-fighter and member of the Kapenguria Six
  • Njenga Karume, politician and businessman
  • Peter Kenneth, politician, businessman and former presidential candidate
  • Jomo Kenyatta, first President of Kenya, father of Uhuru Kenyatta
  • Margaret Kenyatta, fourth and current First Lady of Kenya, wife of Uhuru Kenyatta
  • Uhuru Kenyatta, fourth and current President of Kenya, former Deputy Prime Minister
  • Ngina Kenyatta (Mama Ngina), former First Lady, wife of Jomo Kenyatta, mother of Uhuru Kenyatta
  • Lucy Kibaki, former First Lady, wife of Mwai Kibaki
  • Mwai Kibaki, third President of Kenya
  • Dedan Kimathi, Mau Mau resistance leader
  • Mbiyu Koinange, former Minister of State, brother-in-law of Jomo Kenyatta, first Kenyan holder of a master’s degree
  • Moses Kuria, Member of parliament, Gatundu South.
  • Arthur Magugu, politician
  • Eliud Mathu, first African member of the Kenyan Legislative Council (LegCo)
  • Kenneth Matiba, businessman, politician, multiparty activist and former presidential candidate
  • John Njoroge Michuki, politician and businessman
  • Githu Muigai, Attorney General
  • Njoroge Mungai, politician and businessman. Personal doctor and first cousin to Jomo Kenyatta
  • Chris Murungaru, politician
  • John Michael Njenga Mututho, politician and anti-alcohol abuse campaigner
  • David Mwiraria, former finance minister and member of parliament
  • Njoki Susanna Ndung’u, Judge of the Supreme Court of Kenya
  • Charles Njonjo, former Attorney General and Minister for Constitutional Affairs
  • Wambui Otieno, freedom fighter and the principal protagonist in landmark burial case
  • Charles Rubia, former member of parliament and multiparty political activist
  • George Saitoti, former Vice-President
  • Harry Thuku, freedom-fighter and Independence Hero
  • Anne Waiguru, former Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning
  • Gakaara wa Wanjaũ, freedom fighter, author and histor

List of prominent Agikĩkũyũ and people of Gĩkũyũ descent in Religion

  • Mugo wa Kibiru, 19th century traditional healer and seer
  • Manasses Kuria, second African Anglican Archbishop. See biography
  • John Njenga, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church
  • Judy Mbugua, chair of the Pan African Christian Women Alliance (PACWA)
  • Dr. David Gitari, former Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya

List of prominent Agikĩkũyũ and people of Gĩkũyũ descent in Sports

  • Samuel Wanjiru, first Kenyan to win the Olympic gold medal in the marathon, 2008 Beijing Olympic Marathon Champion, 2009 London and New York Marathon Champion, 2009 Rotterdam Half Marathon champion
  • John Ngugi, World Cross Country Champion four consecutive titles between 1986 and 1989 and five titles overall. 1988 Olympic Champion 5000 metres
  • Catherine Ndereba, four-time Boston Marathon Champion, Olympic marathon silver medalist in 2004 and 2008.
  • Henry Wanyoike, Paralympics Gold medalist over 5,000 meters, holder of various marathon and half marathon records
  • Douglas Wakiihuri, 1987 World Championships in Athletics Marathon Champion, 1988 Olympic Marathon silver medalist, 1990 London and New York Marathon Champion
  • Patrick Njiru, rally driver with Subaru World Rally Team
  • Joseph Gikonyo, 100 and 200 metres sprints gold medalist at 1990 African Championships.
  • Boniface Tumuti, 400 metres hurdles gold medalist at the 2016 African Championships, silver medalist at the 2016 Olympics.
  • QueenArrow, esports player, first woman in East Africa to be signed by a professional esports organisation
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