Binyavanga Wainaina- Renown Kenyan Author and Gay Activist Dies at 48

Kenneth Binyavanga Wainaina, a renowned gay rights activist, Kenyan author, and blogger and the winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing 2002 has died.

GAY

Binyavanga hit the headlines in 2014 when he came out to publicly declare that he was gay. Binyavanga made the declaration in a published article titled, I Am a Homosexual, Mum.

Binyavanga’s article created tension, given his high profile status, in Kenya, Africa and the World bringing to the limelight a discussion that Africa evaded.

Binyavanga was also a respected and acclaimed African literary legend who founded a Nairobi-based journal titled Kwani?

HIV Positive

Binyavanga triggered more controversy around him when he once again came out to declare that he was HIV positive on 1^st December 2016 as the World celebrated the Annual World Aids Day.

Binyavanga not only declared his HIV status but also stated that he was living with the virus and was happy.

“I’m HIV positive and happy! That is all I can say,” Binyavanga stated.

Death

Binyavanga breathed his last after suffering a stroke according to sources at the Kwani Trust. Binyavanga was receiving treatment at a Nairobi hospital but succumbed a few minutes past 10 pm. May his soul rest in peace. Binyavanga has died at the age of 48.