Bethwell Allan Ogot (3 August 1929 – 30 January 2025) was a Kenyan historian and academic who specialised in African history, research methods, and theory.

One of his works started by saying that "to tell the story of a past so as to portray an inevitable destiny is, for humankind, a need as universal as tool-making.

[3] Ogot, a Kenyan Luo, was born on 3 August 1929 in Gem Location of Siaya County of Kenya.

[citation needed] From the University of Nairobi, Ogot was appointed by President Jomo Kenyatta to serve as member of the East African Community (EAC) Legislative Assembly, between 1975 and 1977.

[9] Between 1978 and 1980 Ogot served at the International Louis Leakey Memorial Institute for African Pre-History (TILLMIAP), which was an integral part of the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), as its first director.