First-of-its-Kind Manual to Help Swahili-Speaking Journalists and Human Rights Advocates Defend Against Online Harassment and Abuse
Note: Press release below in Swahili (NAIROBI, NEW YORK) — The literary and free expression group PEN America launched the Mwongo wa Mafunzo ya Unyanyasaji Mtandaoni, a Swahili-language manual to… More
From Titans to Emerging Voices, 2022 Literary Awards Celebrate Remarkable Writing
PEN America Literary Awards returned as a vibrant live event—the first in-person awards ceremony since March 2020—celebrating the resilience of the literary and artistic communities across two years of… More
Maina wa Kinyatti
A Marxist historian, Kinyatti served six years in prison from 1982-1988 for his criticism of authoritarian president Daniel arap Moi. During his time in prison, he was severely mistreated… More
Maina wa Kinyatti | Status: Released | Kenya
Kenyan writer and historian Maina wa Kinyatti was released on October 17, 1988, after serving six and a half years in prison, and fled to Tanzania fearing rearrest. After… More
Kenyan Pen President and Secretary General Arrested; Fears for Safety
International PEN is alarmed at reports that Philo Ikonya and Kingwa Kamencu, President and Secretary General of Kenyan PEN respectively, were arrested this afternoon while taking part in a… More
Kenyan Pen President Released
International PEN welcomes the release of Kenyan PEN President Philo Ikonya and a student activist following their arrest yesterday while taking part in a peaceful demonstration against corruption in… More
Journalist Murdered Following Police Threats
International PEN is shocked by the murder of Weekly Citizen journalist Francis Nyaruri, who disappeared on January 15, 2009 and whose decapitated body was found on January 29. More
Pen President and Member Assaulted By Police
International PEN protests the arrest and alleged police assault of Philo Ikonya and Fwamba N C Fwamba, president and member of Kenyan PEN, respectively, in Nairobi on February 18,… More
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