Philo Ikonya

In addition to journal and magazine articles, Ikonya has published books of poetry and a novel, Kenya, Will You Marry Me?^[2] She also translated a book of poetry by Chinese poet Jidi Majia into the Kiswahili language.^[3]

Ikonya attended the University of Nairobi, where she earned a master's degree in literature. She has taught semiotics at Tangaza College of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.^[4]

While in Kenya, Ikonya was active in the work of human rights and non-violent activism and was arrested two separate times in 2007.^[1] At a 2008 protest against Kenya's then-president Mwai Kibaki, she said, "Every day something is happening that is just showing insensitivity on the part of the leaders so there is general discontent."^[5] In 2009, she learned of British journalist Michela Wrong's book It's Our Turn to Eat: The Story of a Kenyan Whistle-Blower, which was available internationally but censored in Kenya. Ikonya and other members of Kenyan PEN acquired copies and brought them back to Kenya for more widespread distribution.^[2]

On 18 February 2009, Ikonya and two others were arrested outside the Parliament of Kenya at a protest against hyperinflation. While in police custody, she was severely beaten by a male police officer.^[1][2] Later that year, she left Kenya and went to an International City of Refuge in Oslo, Norway.^[4] She continued to be involved with PEN, including with their Writers in Prison Committee.^[6]