Lawyer Donald Kipkorir on Thursday named 7 prominent Kenyan intellectuals who he stated were rejected in Kenya but embraced by the world.
Roselyne Akombe
The Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioner resigned ahead of the repeat Presidential election, citing the IEBC's inability to conduct a free and fair election and fled to the United States.
Ms Akombe, who holds dual citizenship, has since been promoted to a senior position at the United Nations (UN).
Professor Calestous Juma
The late Havard professor was also the only Kenyan listed in the 2017 'Most reputable People on Earth'.
Mr Juma began his career as a science teacher in Mombasa between 1974 before becoming the first science and environment journalist for Daily Nation.
He studied at Egoji Teacher’s College and also held a PhD in Science Policy Research from the University of Sussex.
[caption caption="The late Prof Calestous Juma"]
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Ngugi wa Thiong'o
Mr Thiong'o is a renowned Kenyan Writer who is mostly known for his book, The River Between. Most of his work painted a picture of Kenya in neo-colonial times and landed him in a lot of trouble with the government.
In 1978, he forced himself into exile for 22 years after receiving reports of a plot to eliminate him.
Professor Makau Mutua
Mr Mutua is a Kenyan American law professor who has served as the Dean of the University at Buffalo School of Law. In 1981, he was arrested for his dissenting position against the national government.
He moved to Tanzania where he applied for United Nation(UN) refugee status. He earned his Masters at the University of Dar es Salaam before proceeding to Havard School of Law.
[caption caption="Prof Makau Mutua and Ngugi wa Thiong'o"]
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Dr Mukhisa Kituyi
He is the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and previously served as Kenya's Minister of Trade and Industry from 2002 to 2007
Kituyi obtained a BA in Political Science and International Relations from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda.
Richard Dawkins
He is an English ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author who was born in Kenya.
He is famous for his criticism of creationism. Mr Dawkins, an atheist, firmly believes that that the theory of evolution is a better explanation for life's complexity.
Dr Stephen Kaptoge
Kaptoge is a senior statistician at the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit (CEU), where he has worked since 2005. He is a graduate of the University of Cambridge (Ph.D. Epidemiology 2005, MPhil Statistical science 2000) and University of Nairobi (BSc Mathematics 1998).
