President William Ruto has paid tribute to celebrated Kenyan author, playwright and scholar Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o who passed away yesterday at the age of 86.
Ruto described the late writer as a “towering giant of Kenyan letters” whose voice and intellect profoundly shaped Kenya’s literary and political consciousness.
“I have learnt with sadness about the death of Kenya’s beloved teacher, writer, playwright, and public intellectual, Prof Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. The towering giant of Kenyan letters has put down his pen for the final time,” said President Ruto.
Ngũgĩ, known globally for his bold and unrelenting critique of post-colonial African governance, colonialism, and cultural imperialism, leaves behind a body of work that defined African literature for decades. Among his most influential novels are Weep Not, Child (1964), The River Between (1965), A Grain of Wheat (1967), Petals of Blood (1977), and Devil on the Cross (1980), which was originally written in Gikuyu. His memoirs, essays, and plays also contributed significantly to pan-Africanist discourse and debates on language and decolonization.
“Always courageous, he made an indelible impact on how we think about our independence, social justice as well as the uses and abuses of political and economic power,” Ruto noted.
Throughout his career, Ngũgĩ challenged the intellectual status quo, urging African writers to embrace indigenous languages and narratives that reflect their cultural realities. His insistence on writing in Gikuyu was both a political and artistic act, inspiring generations of African writers to reclaim their voice.
“In his bold and creative career, Prof Thiong’o showed us how to make contributions that cannot be ignored and speak in ways that both supporters and opponents cannot ignore,” said Ruto.
Ngũgĩ spent years in exile following his arrest in 1977 for staging the politically charged play Ngaahika Ndeenda (I Will Marry When I Want). Despite persecution, he never wavered in his commitment to truth, justice, and intellectual freedom.
“His patriotism is undeniable, and even those who disagree with him will admit that Prof Thiong’o’s discourse always sprang forth from a deep and earnest quest for truth and understanding, devoid of malice, hatred or contempt,” Ruto added.
For many Kenyans and admirers across the world, Ngũgĩ was a perennial contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature—a dream that remained unfulfilled in official form, but not in spirit.
“Many Kenyans cannot remember a time when we were not united in the hope that Prof Thiong’o would finally receive the Nobel Prize for Literature, which we all felt he more than deserved,” the President said. “Be that as it may, he will always remain the champion of literary emancipation and innovation in our hearts and minds.”
Ruto offered condolences to Ngũgĩ’s family and celebrated his unmatched contribution to Kenya and the global literary stage.
“May his family find peace and comfort in this period of mourning, and may Prof Thiong’o rest in eternal peace.”
