President Ruto Mourns Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s Literary Legacy

President William Ruto has led Kenyans and the global literary community in mourning the passing of Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong’o, a towering figure in African literature, who died on Tuesday, May 28, 2025, at the age of 87. The celebrated academic and writer passed away at a hospital in Buford, Georgia, USA.

In a heartfelt tribute shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, President Ruto hailed Ngugi as a courageous thinker and a national treasure who reshaped discourse around independence, social justice, and political power. “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,” the President wrote.

Ruto praised Ngugi for his fearless engagement with both authority and dissent, noting that his voice resonated with supporters and critics alike. The President also reflected on the nation’s collective hope that Ngugi would one day receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki also expressed his sorrow, describing Ngugi as a revered intellectual. “He was admired by many across the globe, and even those who disagreed with his views respected him. The world’s academia is left very much the poorer without this great son of Kenya,” Kindiki said.

Ngugi’s literary legacy includes seminal works such as Weep Not, Child, A Grain of Wheat, and Petals of Blood, the latter earning him a year in detention. He later transitioned to writing in his native Gikuyu, producing influential texts like Ngaahika Ndeenda (I Will Marry When I Want) and Caitaani Mũtharaba-Inĩ (Devil on the Cross).

Ngugi wa Thiong’o leaves behind a profound legacy of resistance, cultural pride, and literary brilliance.