Kevin Mwachiro

Kevin Mwachiro is a Kenyan writer, podcaster, queer activist, and journalist whose media and communications career spans more than two decades. He began as a journalist with the BBC, contributing to its radio, television, and digital platforms. A self-described custodian of people’s stories, Kevin is deeply committed to amplifying marginalized voices. His debut book, Invisible – Stories from Kenya’s Queer Community, was the first of its kind in the country, breaking ground in documenting queer narratives. He later led the editorial team for the publications We’ve Been Here, a moving collection that shares the stories of LGBTQI Kenyans over 50, and the anthology Rainbow Childhoods. Kevin was also part of the team behind Boldly Queer – African Perspectives on Same-Sex Sexuality and Gender Diversity. As a writer and cultural commentator, Kevin contributes to various media outlets and literary journals, offering a nuanced and courageous perspective on LGBTQI issues in Kenya and across Africa. He was a guest editor for The Commonwealth Foundation, online magazine adda stories’ Remember to Rest edition, further cementing his role as a thoughtful curator of African and other global south voices.

In 2017, Kevin launched Nipe Story, a storytelling podcast that brings African short fiction to life through audio. Nipe Story was one of 13 African podcasts that were recipients of the initial African Podcast Fund initiative that was setup by Spotify in 2022. He is also the co-founder of the Out Film Festival, East Africa’s first LGBTQI film festival.

Kevin holds a degree from Daystar University in Kenya and an MA in Radio Production from Bournemouth University in the UK. He is also an alumnus of The Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Centre residency program.