Renowned Kenyan writer and journalist Rasna Warah has passed away. The news was shared by family friend Al-Amin Kimathi, who expressed his heartfelt condolences to her family during this time of grief.
“Heartbreaking news of Rasna Warah’s passing. She left us a few hours ago. More details will follow. Zahid Rajan shared this on our WhatsApp group,” Kimathi said. “My deepest sympathies to her husband, Grey Phombeah, and the family. Inalillahi wainailaihi rajeoon.”
Rasna Warah was celebrated for her bold commentary on societal issues, governance, and human rights, making her a respected and influential voice in Kenya and beyond.
With over two decades of experience in journalism, writing, editing, and communications consultancy, Warah left an indelible mark. She worked with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) for nearly 12 years, where she edited and co-authored key publications, including two editions of the State of the World’s Cities report (2006/7 and 2008/9) and the Habitat Debate magazine.
Her bylines appeared in publications like the Mail & Guardian, the East African, Cityscapes, UN Chronicle, and Kwani? She also played a pivotal role in communication campaigns for major events such as Habitat II in Istanbul and the World Urban Forum in Vancouver and Beijing.
In Kenya, Warah’s contributions included developing a communication strategy for the National Urban Development Policy, editing Vision 2030, and working on the Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission report. She also collaborated with county governments on public health strategies under USAID initiatives.
Her editorial expertise extended to projects like the State of the Cities in Africa report series for the African Centre for Cities and Towards the Just City in Kenya, published in 2020 by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Kenya Office.
As an author, Warah penned critical works such as Missionaries, Mercenaries and Misfits (2008), War Crimes (2014), Mogadishu Then and Now (2012), UNsilenced (2016), Triple Heritage (1998), and Red Soil and Roasted Maize (2011).
