Philo Ikonya

Philo Ikonya is a writer, journalist and human rights activist from Kenya. Her articles and books often cover the current political situation in Kenya. She was the president of Kenya's branch of PEN, the international association of writers. After several arrests for her activism and a severe beating in 2009 while in police custody, she left Kenya in political exile.

Professional life

In addition to journal and magazine articles, Ikonya has published books of poetry and a novel, Kenya, Will You Marry Me?

Ikonya attended the University of Nairobi, where she earned a master's degree in literature. She has taught semiotics at Tangaza College of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

Activism While in Kenya, Ikonya was active in the work of human rights and non-violent activism and was arrested two separate times in 2007. In 2009, she learned of British journalist Michela Wrong's book It's Our Turn to Eat: The Story of a Kenyan Whistle-Blower, which was available internationally but censored in Kenya. Ikonya and other members of Kenyan PEN acquired copies and brought them back to Kenya for more widespread distribution.