List of notable Kikuyu people facts for kids

Here is a list of famous Agikũyũ people and those with Gĩkũyũ family roots. The Agikũyũ are the largest ethnic group in Kenya, known for their rich culture and history. Many people from this community have made big contributions in different areas, like science, arts, sports, and leadership.

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Professor Wangari Maathai

Amazing Agikũyũ People

Leaders and Activists

Many Agikũyũ people have been important leaders and activists, fighting for human rights and making a difference in their communities and the world.

• Wangari Maathai: She won the Nobel Peace Prize! She was the first African woman and the first environmentalist to get this award. She was also the first Kenyan woman to earn a Ph.D.
• Kimani Maruge: He became famous for being the oldest person in the world to start primary school. He enrolled in first grade when he was 84 years old!
• Gibson Kamau Kuria: A respected lawyer who received the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award for his work.
• Paul Muite: A lawyer and politician who worked hard for Kenya to have many political parties.
• Judy Thongori: A lawyer who champions the rights of women.
• Maina Kiai: A lawyer and human rights activist who worked for the United Nations.
• Koigi wa Wamwere: An author, politician, and human rights activist.
• Boniface Mwangi: A photojournalist and activist who speaks up about social and political issues.
• Ann Njogu: A human rights activist who worked for changes in Kenya's laws.
• John Githongo: An activist known for fighting against corruption.
• Waiyaki Wa Hinga: An important leader from the 19th century.
• Waruhiu Itote: Also known as General China, he was a leader in the Mau Mau resistance movement.
• Bildad Kaggia: A freedom-fighter and politician who was part of the Mau Mau Central Committee.
• Julius Waweru Karangi: A retired General who used to be the head of the Kenya Defence Forces.
• Josephat Karanja: A former Vice-President of Kenya.
• Martha Karua: A politician and former presidential candidate.
• Lucy Gichuhi: The first person of Black African descent to be elected to the Australian Parliament.
• Kung'u Karumba: A freedom-fighter who was also part of the Kapenguria Six.
• Jomo Kenyatta: Kenya's first President.
• Uhuru Kenyatta: Kenya's fourth President.
• Mwai Kibaki: Kenya's third President.
• Dedan Kimathi: A brave leader of the Mau Mau resistance.
• Eliud Mathu: The first African member of the Kenyan Legislative Council.
• Kenneth Matiba: A businessman and politician who worked for Kenya to have many political parties.
• Njoki Susanna Ndung'u: A Judge of the Supreme Court of Kenya.
• Charles Njonjo: A former Attorney General.
• Wambui Otieno: A freedom fighter known for a famous court case about burial rights.
• Charles Rubia: A politician who worked for Kenya to have many political parties.
• George Saitoti: A former Vice-President of Kenya.
• Harry Thuku: A freedom-fighter and hero of Kenya's independence.
• Anne Waiguru: A former Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning.
• Rigathi Gachagua: The current Deputy President of Kenya since September 2022.

Creative Minds

Many Agikũyũ people are talented artists, writers, musicians, and actors who share their creativity with the world.

• Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o: A famous author who writes in the Gikuyu language.
• Micere Githae Mugo: An author, activist, and literature professor.
• Ngugi wa Mirii: A playwright.
• Meja Mwangi: A well-known author.
• Rebeka Njau: An author and playwright. Her play The Scar (1965) is thought to be the first play written by a Kenyan woman.
• Gitura Mwaura: An author and poet.
• Wangechi Mutu: A globally recognized artist and sculptor.
• Ingrid Mwangi: A Kenyan-German artist.
• Wanuri Kahiu: A talented film director.
• Wahome Mutahi: A humorist known for his funny column Whispers.
• Jeff Koinange: An Emmy Award-winning journalist.
• Julie Gichuru: A news anchor and businesswoman.
• Edi Gathegi: An actor who has appeared in stage, film, and television.
• Tom Morello: A Grammy Award-winning guitarist.
• Eric Wainaina: A popular musician.
• Janet Mbugua: A news anchor.
• David Mathenge: A musician known as "Nameless".
• Stella Mwangi: A Kenyan-Norwegian musician known as STL, who represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011.
• Wahu: A musician.
• Avril: A musician and actress.
• Amani: A musician.
• Jaguar: A musician.
• Joseph Kamaru: A musician.
• Daniel Kamau Mwai "DK": A musician.
• Queen Jane: A musician.
• Abbas Kubaff: A hip hop artist.
• Wangechi: A rapper.
• Victoria Kimani: A musician and actress.
• Patricia Kihoro: A musician, actress, and radio personality.
• Size 8: A musician and actress.

Science and Academics

Many Agikũyũ individuals have excelled in science and education, pushing the boundaries of knowledge.

• Wanjiku Kabira: A literature professor and activist for gender rights.
• Maina wa Kinyatti: A historian and a leading researcher on the Mau Mau.
• Joseph Maina Mungai: A pioneer medical researcher in East Africa.
• Ng'endo Mwangi: Kenya's first woman physician. A cultural center at Smith College in Massachusetts is named after her.
• Carole Wamuyu Wainaina: An Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management at the United Nations.
• Helen Gichohi: An ecologist and President of the African Wildlife Foundation.
• Olive Mugenda: The first woman to lead a public university in the African Great Lakes region.
• Florence Wambugu: A plant pathologist and virologist.
• Thumbi Ndung'u: An HIV/AIDS researcher who was the first to clone a specific type of HIV.
• Dorothy Wanja Nyingi: An ichthyologist (someone who studies fish) who received a special French award called the Ordre des Palmes académiques.
• David Muchoki Kanja: The first Assistant Secretary-General for the Office of Internal Oversight Services at the United Nations.
• Muthoni Wanyeki: A political scientist and human rights activist.
• Simon Gikandi: An English professor at Princeton University.
• Michael Ndurumo: A deaf educator and the third deaf person from Africa to earn a Ph.D.

Business and Economics

Agikũyũ people have also made significant contributions to business and the economy, creating jobs and growing industries.

• Patrick Ngugi Njoroge: The Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya.
• Njuguna Ndung'u: An economics professor and former Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya.
• Samuel Kamau Macharia: The founder of Royal Media Services, a large media network in Eastern Africa.
• Philip Ndegwa: An entrepreneur and respected economist who was also a former Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya.
• Peter Munga: The founder of Equity Group Holdings Limited, one of Eastern Africa's largest banks.
• James Mwangi: The CEO and a major shareholder of Equity Group Holdings Limited.
• Eunice Njambi Mathu: The founder and editor-in-chief of Parents Africa Magazine.
• Nelson Muguku Njoroge: An entrepreneur.
• Pius Ngugi Mbugua: An entrepreneur who owns the Kenya Nut Company, a big exporter of macadamia nuts.
• Chris Kirubi: An industrialist and a major shareholder in Centum Investment Company Limited, a large private equity firm in East Africa.
• Jane Wanjiru Michuki: A lawyer and investor.
• Duncan Nderitu Ndegwa: A former Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya.
• Betty Muthoni Gikonyo: A co-founder and CEO of Karen Hospital.
• Simon Gicharu: The founder of Mount Kenya University, the largest private university in East and Central Africa.
• Tabitha Karanja: The founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries, Kenya's second-largest brewery.
• Gerishon Kamau Kirima: A real estate expert.
• Eddah Waceke Gachukia: An educationist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Riara Group of Schools.
• Esther Muthoni Passaris: A businesswoman and politician.
• Wanjiku Mugane: A businesswoman and investment banker who co-founded First Africa Group.
• Dorcas Muthoni: An inductee to the Internet Hall of Fame for her work in technology.
• Benson Wairegi: The group CEO at Britam Holdings plc.
• John Gachora: The group CEO at NIC Bank Group.
• Wilfred Kiboro: The chairman of the Board of Directors at Nation Media Group, East Africa's largest media house.
• Mugo Kibati: The group CEO of Sanlam Kenya Plc and chairman of Lake Turkana Wind Power.
• Joseph Mucheru: A former Google Sub-Saharan Africa Lead and current Cabinet Secretary for ICT in Kenya.
• Dominic Kiarie: A former group CEO of UAP Holdings.

Sports Stars

Agikũyũ athletes have achieved great success in various sports, especially in long-distance running.

• Samuel Wanjiru: The first Kenyan to win an Olympic gold medal in the marathon (2008 Beijing). He also won the London and New York Marathon in 2009.
• John Ngugi: A World Cross Country Champion who won four titles in a row and five titles overall. He was also the 1988 Olympic Champion in the 5000 meters.
• Catherine Ndereba: A four-time Boston Marathon Champion and an Olympic marathon silver medalist in 2004 and 2008.
• Henry Wanyoike: A Paralympics Gold medalist in the 5,000 meters, holding many marathon and half marathon records.
• Douglas Wakiihuri: The 1987 World Championships in Athletics Marathon Champion and a 1988 Olympic Marathon silver medalist. He also won the London and New York Marathon in 1990.
• Patrick Njiru: A rally driver for the Subaru World Rally Team.
• Joseph Gikonyo: A gold medalist in the 100 and 200 meters sprints at the 1990 African Championships.
• Boniface Tumuti: A gold medalist in the 400 meters hurdles at the 2016 African Championships and a silver medalist at the 2016 Olympics.
• QueenArrow: An esports player, who is the first woman in East Africa to be signed by a professional esports organization.
• Cliff Nyakeya: A footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder/winger for an Egyptian club and the Kenya national team.

Religious Figures

Religious leaders from the Agikũyũ community have played important roles in faith and spiritual guidance.

• Mugo wa Kibiru: A 19th-century traditional healer and seer.
• Manasses Kuria: The second African Anglican Archbishop.
• John Njenga: An Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church.
• Judy Mbugua: The chair of the Pan African Christian Women Alliance (PACWA).
• David Gitari: The third Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church of Kenya.
• Margaret Wanjiru: An Evangelical Bishop.