Kenya and world mourn literary icon, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o

Tributes are pouring in from across Kenya and beyond following the death of celebrated writer and thinker Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, who passed away on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Atlanta.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula described the celebrated author as a “mighty voice” whose writings were more than just stories.

“Ngũgĩ was not confined by the ordinary constraints of storytelling. He bore the soul of a continent and the cry of its people within every line he penned. His writings were not just literary artefacts, they were acts of defiance, declarations of dignity, and hymns of remembrance,” he said.

Wetang’ula praised Ngũgĩ’s decision to write in Gĩkũyũ, calling it a radical act that reclaimed the pride of African languages and resisted cultural erasure.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi hailed him as a literary icon and leading intellectual whose focus on language and social justice would continue to influence generations.

“His death is a major loss not only to Kenyans who easily identify with Ngũgĩ's outstanding works but also to the African continent at large, where he features among the golden generation of writers who blazed the trail with their compelling works of literature,” he said.

People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua remembered Ngũgĩ as a patriot and literary giant whose work lives on in the nation’s memory.

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya described him as a “towering giant” whose bold literary voice helped redefine African identity and turned literature into a tool of resistance.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said Ngũgĩ’s legacy would shape global discussions around African identity and language for years to come.

"Kenya has lost a literary giant. Africa has lost one of her boldest voices. In a world that continues to evolve rapidly, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o stood firm as a custodian of culture, urging us to remember who we are and where we come from. His commitment to writing in indigenous languages and centering African worldviews has profoundly shaped the global intellectual discourse," he said.

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga reflected on a personal meeting with Ngũgĩ in 2019, saying his life’s work remains a source of pride for the country.

Beyond political leaders, tributes came from global literary circles and rights groups. Amnesty International called Ngũgĩ’s work “freedom writing” and honoured him as a literary teacher whose influence reached far beyond Kenya.

Writer Muhsin Ibrahim recalled discovering The Trial of Dedan Kimathi in 2005 and a brief meeting with Ngũgĩ in Germany in 2018, saying the author’s passion for decolonising the mind came through clearly in person and in his work.

Kenyans also shared personal memories.

Enock Bett described Ngũgĩ as a fearless thinker whose legacy would live on in African storytelling. Martin Imanthiu, who once taught at Kamirithu Polytechnic, reflected on Ngũgĩ’s roots in cultural education and community theatre.

Ngũgĩ leaves behind a vast body of work that shaped modern African literature. His early novels, including Weep Not, Child, The River Between, A Grain of Wheat, and Petals of Blood, tackled themes of colonialism, nationalism, and identity.

Later works such as Devil on the Cross and Matigari, written in Gĩkuyũ, deepened his push to decolonise African literature.

He also authored acclaimed memoirs like Detained: A Writer’s Prison Diary, Dreams in a Time of War, and Birth of a Dream Weaver.

Ngũgĩ was a playwright, essayist, and academic. His non-fiction works like Decolonising the Mind and Moving the Centre continue to shape global debates on language, power, and culture.

He also translated many of his own works to elevate African languages as tools of resistance and cultural pride.

The family said plans for his celebration of life will be shared in the coming days.