Author Binyavanga Wainaina and Director of Investments at Omidyar Network, Ory Okolloh, are Kenyans who have been listed among world’s 100 most influential people by Time Magazine. Listed among them are former United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, Russia’s president Vladmir Putin, Iran president Hassan Rouhani, Pope Francis, Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, Nigeria’s Finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, footballer Christiano Ronaldo, Singer Beyonce, and actor Kerry Washington, among others.
Okolloh, was celebrated for ‘Ushahidi’, the online service for crowd-mapping data through which she creates an accountable transparent world for millions. She was referred to as “the activist who helps Africans exercise their power,” by tech investor and founder of HICCup, Esther Dyson. She acknowledged Okollo’s efforts to support African entrepreneurs and citizens in building their own society at her current position at Omidyar’s. “To the extent that Ory’s integrity and courage reflect Africa’s society, we should all stand up and cheer,” said Dyson.
Early this year, Binyavanga announced he was gay, causing mixed reactions from the public, with some condemning him and others backing him. Binyavanga was dubbed; ‘The Memoirist with a Mission,” by award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who acknowledged his courage to speak out as a gay man in Africa despite the demonisation of gays in majority of countries in the continent.
