Wanjiru Koinange
Wanjiru Koinange is a celebrated Kenyan writer, cultural strategist, and social entrepreneur renowned for revitalizing Nairobi’s literary heritage and reimagining public libraries as community-centered cultural hubs. Her debut novel, The Havoc of Choice, published in the UK (2019) and Kenya (2020), became a national bestseller from 2020 to 2022 and earned critical acclaim as a powerful exploration of post-election trauma; it was later translated into Arabic and reissued in the UK.
In 2017, she co-founded Book Bunk, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring Nairobi’s iconic public libraries—including the McMillan Memorial Library and branches in Eastlands. Their efforts have more than doubled library usage, turning these neglected spaces into vibrant ‘palaces for the people’.
A former cultural correspondent for Commonwealth Writers, Wanjiru’s journalism has been featured in prominent African publications like Chimurenga and SlipNet. She holds a BA in Journalism and Literature (United States International University) and an MA in Creative Writing (University of Cape Town), where she developed her bestselling novel.
Wanjiru’s leadership extends to global recognition as a Yale Directors Forum Fellow, fortifying her mission to preserve and amplify African cultural heritage. Her work powerfully shows how art, storytelling, and archival preservation can catalyze social transformation in East Africa.