John Ah Kit graduated from Darwin High School and began his career as a truck driver and labourer. In 1978 he was awarded a Diploma in Social Work by the South Australian Institute of Technology.
Ah Kit was appointed to the Katherine District Office at the Department of Social Security (1979-81) and following this he became the Director of the Katherine Kalano Association (1981-1984). He then worked as the Executive Director of the Jawoyn Association in Katherine from 1991-1995.
In October 1995 he was elected as the Labor member for Arnhem and was Shadow Minister for Regional Development; Resource Development, Transport and Infrastructure; Resource Development and Territory Ports. His portfolio included Asian Relations, Aboriginal Affairs and Sacred Sites. He retired from the Northern Territory Parliament in 2005 and passed away on 12 July 2020.