The late Ken Walibora is arguably one of the most prolific authors in Kenya’s history, with at least 40 books to his name. Until his death, Walibora was a strong advocate for the growth of the Swahili language beyond borders, and he pursued this mission in various ways.
The Kidagaa Kimemwozea author is fondly remembered for his significant role in translating some of Microsoft’s and Google’s user instructions from English to Kiswahili. Overall, Professor Ken Walibora had a major influence on the growth of the Swahili language in Kenya.
In this segment , Times Digital Kenya explores the life of Ken Walibora, his family, death, books, and achievements throughout his writing career.
What happened to Ken Walibora?
First before we dive into Walibora’s journey as an author and a journalist we’ll have to look at how he passed away.
Ken Walibora’s death remains mysterious to date due to the circumstances surrounding how he lost his life. The author was found unconscious after being hit by a matatu along Landhies Road in Nairobi County on April 10, 2020. Moments later, the celebrated writer was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital by a Good Samaritan, where his condition was reported to be critical.
According to Nairobi News, Ken Walibora was identified as an “unknown African male” at the hospital because his identity could not be established in time.
After doctors conducted several tests, they discovered he had suffered a severe head injury that required intensive care. Unfortunately, this was not possible as all ICU rooms at Kenyatta National Hospital were occupied, and the hospital was unable to contact his family due to the lack of identification documents.
The medics did everything possible to save his life as he remained unconscious in the ward. Sadly, Ken Walibora died with no single family member aware of his condition.
Ken Walibora books
Without a doubt, Walibora was a legendary author in Kenya. He possessed a rare gift for vividly portraying culture through his exceptional command of the Swahili language. Some of the well-known books by Ken Walibora Waliaula include Siku Njema, Kidagaa Kimemwozea, Damu Nyeusi, Ndoto ya America, and Ndoto ya Almasi, among many others.
These books have had a tremendous impact not only in Kenya but also across the world. For instance, titles such as Siku Njema, Kidagaa Kimemwozea, and Damu Nyeusi have been used as set books in Kenyan secondary schools. In addition, Siku Njema was translated into English, making it accessible and enjoyable to readers around the globe.
Ken Walibora family
Apart from his professional career as an author and Swahili journalist at the Nation Media Group, Ken was a devoted family man.
He was married to a beautiful lady, Anne Chebet Walibora, and together they were blessed with two daughters, Katila Samba and Sheila Zawadi. The family of the renowned Swahili author is based in the United States of America (USA).
