Koigi wa Wamwere is a Kenyan politician, writer, and human rights activist known for his decades long fight against authoritarianism. Born in 1949 in Nakuru, he was first detained in 1975 under Kenyatta for alleged involvement in an illegal organization. He was detained again multiple times under Moi's regime, spending over ten years in prison and detention camps. Koigi was tortured and sentenced to death in 1992 on what Amnesty International called politically motivated charges, but international pressure secured his release in 1996. He has written extensively about his experiences, including the memoir "I Refuse to Die," and has been a vocal critic of corruption and ethnic politics. Koigi served as an MP for Subukia Constituency and has contested presidential elections. He remains active in civil society, advocating for human rights, environmental conservation, and social justice.
See Also
Moi Detention Policy The Second Liberation Koigi wa Wamwere
Sources
- wa Wamwere, Koigi. 'I Refuse to Die.' Seven Stories Press, 2003.
- Amnesty International reports, 1990s.
- Nation Media Group archives.