Patrick Gathara is a Kenyan journalist, political cartoonist, author, and strategic communications consultant known for his political commentary and satirical cartoons.
Professionally, Gathara has established himself as one of Kenya’s most influential public intellectuals through journalism and visual storytelling.
His work promotes accountability and shapes conversations on democracy, governance, and media ethics.
He has contributed to major local and international publications, including The Washington Post, Al Jazeera, The Star, Financial Times, and The East African.
Gathara currently serves as the Senior Editor for Inclusive Storytelling at The New Humanitarian, where he advocates for more equitable and representative humanitarian reporting.
According to Gathara, political cartoons are not merely meant to entertain but to encourage audiences to question society, power structures, and accepted narratives through satire.
“As a political cartoonist, you want people to find your drawings funny. But it is not just funny; it is satire that should make them think about the things that they see, to question how the world is,” Gathara explained about his cartoon drawing.
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Early Life and Career
Patrick Gathara was born in Kenya in 1972.
He began his career as a political cartoonist and quickly became one of Kenya’s most recognizable satirical voices.
He started his career as an information officer and later rose to head the Press and Media Team within the AU/UN Information Support Team.
During his tenure as the head of the print team, Gathara helped to deliver strategic communications support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
His cartoons use humor and sharp political insight to critique governance, corruption, elections, and social issues, earning him recognition both within Kenya and internationally.
Beyond cartooning, Gathara has built a career in journalism, with articles and opinion pieces that have appeared in leading global and regional media outlets, where he analyzes politics, democracy, humanitarian issues, and African affairs.
Previously, he served as the Curator-in-Chief of The Elephant, an online publication known for long-form journalism and in-depth analysis.
During his tenure, the platform gained prominence for its coverage of governance, culture, economics, and politics.
Gathara currently works as the Senior Editor for Inclusive Storytelling at The New Humanitarian.
In addition to journalism and cartooning, he is an influential blogger and public speaker.
Gathara’s personal blog gained national recognition and was named Kenya’s Best Political Blog in 2017.
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Patrick Gathara’s Achievements
Patrick Gathara is widely recognized as one of Kenya’s leading political cartoonists and commentators.
His work has been published and exhibited across East Africa and internationally, gaining praise for the critique of authority and commitment to democratic values.
Patrick was a founding member and the first General Secretary of the Association of East African Cartoonists, where he helped promote and support the growth of cartooning as an important form of public expression in the region.
Gathara is also the author of Gathara Will Draw for Food, a collection of political cartoons and commentary on Kenyan politics.
He has further written on the history of political cartooning in Kenya and published collections of his essays and blog posts.
Further, his contributions to journalism and democratic communication have earned him recognition as a Kettering Foundation Fellow.
He has also served on the board of Cartoonists Rights Network International and advised organizations working in media, humanitarian communication, and civic engagement.
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