Ruto eulogises Ngugi wa Thiong’o as towering giant of Kenyan letters

President William Ruto has eulogised the celebrated author and scholar Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong’o describing him as a ‘towering giant of Kenyan letters’.

In a condolence message on X handle, Ruto described Thiong’o as a courageous man who made an indelible impact on how we think about Kenya’s independence, social justice as well as the uses and abuses of political and economic power.

“I have learnt with sadness about the death of Kenya’s beloved teacher, writer, playwright, and public intellectual, Prof Ngugi wa Thiong’o. The towering giant of Kenyan letters has put down his pen for the final time.” Mourned President Ruto.

Adding that: “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. 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.”

Kenyan literary giant Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong’o died at the age of 87 on Wednesday morning.

On her facebook handle, Ngugi’s daughter Wanjiku wa Thiong’o announced the passing of the dad noting that he lived a full life.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dad, Ngugi wa Thiong’o this Wednesday morning,” wrote Wanjiku Wa Ngugi. “He lived a full life, fought a good fight.”

Widely regarded as east Africa’s most influential writer, Ngugi sought to forge a body of literature reflecting the land and people from which he came, and not follow in the footsteps of Western tradition.

Tributes continue to pour for the late Prof. Thiong’o.

Also read https://www.kbc.co.ke/giant-of-kenyan-literature-ngugi-wa-thiongo-dead-at-87/