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President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki have expressed profound sorrow following the death of renowned Kenyan author and activist, Professor Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, who passed away on May 28, 2025, at the age of 87. The literary giant died in Buford, Georgia, USA, after a prolonged battle with ill health .
In a statement, President Ruto described Prof. Ngũgĩ as a “towering figure in African literature” whose work profoundly influenced Kenya’s cultural and political landscape. He highlighted the late author’s commitment to decolonizing the mind through literature and his advocacy for the use of indigenous languages in storytelling.
Deputy President Kindiki, who has a background in law and academia, praised Prof. Ngũgĩ for his intellectual rigor and dedication to social justice. He noted that Prof. Ngũgĩ’s works, including “Weep Not, Child” and “Devil on the Cross,” challenged both colonial and post-independence injustices, leaving an indelible mark on generations of readers and scholars.
Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o was a leading figure in East African literature, known for his critiques of colonialism and post-independence Kenyan elites. His notable works include Weep Not, Child, Devil on the Cross, and Petals of Blood. In the 1980s, he made a significant shift by writing in his native Gikuyu language, advocating for linguistic decolonization.
The literary community and the nation at large mourn the loss of a visionary whose work has left an indelible mark on Kenyan and African literature.
Wamuzi News Ke
