Philo Ikonya

Philo Ikonya is a Kenyan writer, journalist and human rights activist. She holds a Masters degree in Literature from the University of Nairobi, and is president of Kenyan PEN.

Ikonya has written articles for journals, web magazines and blogs, often commenting on the social and political situation in Kenya. She has also written poetry and novels, among these, the novel Kenya, will you marry me.  She has worked as a lecturer of semiotics at Tangaza College of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, and as a a socio-political commentator in both radio and television. Philo Ikonya was threatened and harassed for her work and political activism, and can no longer work in Kenya. She arrived in Oslo City of Refuge as guest writer in 2009.