Dr. Ashraf Sheikh: Surgeon, Historian, and Author of Kenya: Paradise on Earth

By Tessy Adhiambo

Dr. Ashraf Sheikh is a Kenyan orthopaedic surgeon, historian, and gifted storyteller whose writing preserves the rich history of one of East Africa’s most influential entrepreneurial families. Through meticulous research, vivid storytelling, and personal reflection, he captures not only his family’s remarkable journey but also the broader story of migration, enterprise, and nation-building in Kenya.

Born in 1940 in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. Sheikh completed his early education in the city before pursuing a career in medicine. At a time when Kenya did not yet have a medical school, he earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the prestigious King Edward Medical College in Lahore, Pakistan. He later undertook his Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) Part I at Makerere University School of Medicine in Kampala before completing his Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCS Ed.) in Scotland.

His medical career took him across the world. Dr. Sheikh received advanced orthopaedic surgery training and gained extensive professional experience in England, Scotland, Germany, the United States, South Africa, and Kenya, establishing himself as a highly respected surgeon dedicated to excellence in patient care and medical education.

Beyond his distinguished medical career, Dr. Sheikh has devoted himself to documenting history and preserving the stories that shaped modern East Africa. Born into the renowned Sheikh family, he draws on generations of family archives, oral history, and personal experience to tell an extraordinary story of resilience and enterprise.

His family’s roots stretch back to Punjab in present-day Pakistan, where his ancestors embarked on a daring journey to East Africa in search of opportunity. Through vision, determination, and hard work, successive generations built a thriving business empire spanning trade, hospitality, agriculture, transport, timber, manufacturing, and real estate across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Their contributions extended far beyond commerce into education, philanthropy, and community development, helping shape the economy of the region.

In Kenya: Paradise on Earth, Dr. Sheikh masterfully combines memoir, biography, and historical narrative to chronicle this remarkable family legacy. More than a family history, the book is a celebration of Kenya’s diversity, entrepreneurial spirit, and the opportunities that have attracted generations of dreamers and builders from around the world.

As a storyteller, Dr. Sheikh possesses a rare ability to weave together personal memories, historical events, and cultural insights into narratives that are both informative and engaging. His writing brings history to life, allowing readers to experience the triumphs, hardships, and defining moments that shaped both his family and the nation they proudly called home.

He champions timeless values of integrity, entrepreneurship, resilience, education, faith, and service to society. He also reminds readers of the importance of preserving family histories, recognising that personal stories collectively form the foundation of a nation’s heritage.

Dr. Sheikh has produced a valuable historical record that honours the contributions of immigrants, entrepreneurs, and nation-builders while inspiring future generations to appreciate the enduring power of vision, perseverance, and community service.

Click here to order a copy of KENYA: Paradise on Earth by Dr. Ashraf Sheikh.

The writer is a research assistant at Free Press Publishers.