List of notable Kikuyu people facts for kids

Here is the list of notable Agikĩkũyũ and people of Gĩkũyũ descent:

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Professor Wangari Maathai

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
• 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) is considered the first play written by a Kenyan woman.
• Boniface Mwangi, photojournalist and sociopolitical activist
• Ann Njogu, human rights and constitutional reform activist
• John Githongo, anti-corruption activist
• Gitura Mwaura, author, poet

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

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
• Chris Kirubi, industrialist and largest individual shareholder at Centum Investment Company Limited, the largest listed private equity firm in East Africa
• Jane Wanjiru Michuki, lawyer and investor
• Duncan Nderitu Ndegwa, former Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya
• 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
• Eddah Waceke Gachukia, educationist, entrepreneur and co-founder of Riara Group of Schools
• 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
• 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

Politics, military and resistance

• Johnson Gicheru, former Chief Justice of Kenya
• Stanley Munga Githunguri, 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 First Lady of Kenya, wife of Uhuru Kenyatta
• Uhuru Kenyatta, fourth 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
• 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 historian

Rigathi Gachagua deputy President of Kenya as from September 2022

Religion

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

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
• Cliff Nyakeya, footballer who is an attacking midfielder/winger for Egyptian club ZED FC and the Kenya national team