Okong'o Kinyanjui

Biography

Okong'o Kinyanjui is the Co-Founder and Executive Director, of the Queer African Network (QAN), a mobile application designed to ensure that every LGBTQ+ person of African heritage, both on the continent and in the diaspora, has access to the resources and meaningful connections they need to thrive. His passion is to build a comprehensive digital platform and information hub that globally crowdsources opportunities, transnational alliances, and affirming content for LGBTQ+ persons of African heritage.

In 2022, his TED Talk on QAN received over 1 million views and received support from Echoing Green, Numun, and the NGO-CSW at the UN. Okong'o was also named as a 2023 Obama Africa Leader.

Okong'o is the recipient of the Strangway Award for Excellence (full academic scholarship) to Quest University Canada where he was served as the elected president for his university's student association and was awarded the Showcase Award for his graduating thesis on "Queering Technology."