Ken Walibora passed on 15th April 2020 after he was hit by a matatu in Nairobi along Ladhis Road
The 56 year old Kiswahili advocate was a famous linguist, author and journalist.
On 10th April , 2020 he was knocked down by a speeding matatu while he was on his daily duties at work. The accident had happened few metres from his work station at Nation Centre.
He went missing before his body was found at Kenyatta National Hospital mortuary.
Nairobi area police commander Mr Philip Ndolo confirmed to the Nation that the driver of the said matatu had on Friday recorded a statement with the police after the accident happened at around 9 am.
He had been rushed to the Kenyatta National Hospital by well wishers before he succumbed to his injuries
“We are looking for the driver so as to press fresh charges against him now that his victim succumbed to injuries. He shall then be arraigned in court,” added Mr Ndolo.
Facts about Ken Walibora
- On 6th January 1964, he was born as Ken Walibora Waliaula at Baraki in Bungoma County. His family later moved to Kitale and later to Cherangany
- He had two English names, Kenny and George but he later choose Kennedy and later to Ken. Ken’s mum died in 1984 while he was just 20 years old. His dad was a school head that time. Ken was there last born child. His mum Ruth Nasambu Makali died at 51 years old
- He studied at University of Nairobi a degree in Bachelor of Arts In Literature and Swahili. Ken was one of Kenya’s most famous and prolific authors with atleast 40 titles under his maiden name
- Most of his work was vastly used in Kenyan schools as learning materials.
- Some of his famous works used in schools included Siku Njema, Ndoto ya Amerika and Kidagaa Kimemwozea.
- He worked at the defunct QTV before moving to NTV as a Kiswahili news reader
- He studied his PhD in Comparative Cultural Studies from Ohio State University in the US. He also served as a Lecture at Riara University
- He also worked as an assistant professor in African Languages at the University of Wisconsin in USA
- Ken Walibora worked until 2017 as Kiswahili quality manager at Nation Media Group
- He won lucrative awards including the Jomo Kenyatta Literature Prize
