Moses Wetang'ula Pens Poetic Tribute to Ngugi wa Thiong'o: "Sentinel of African Consciousness"
- Speaker Moses Wetang'ula mourned Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o with a powerful poem, calling him a fearless sentinel of African consciousness
- Wetang'ula praised the author's decision to write in Gikuyu, saying it restored dignity and rhythm to African languages
- He said Ngũgĩ's legacy would remain indelible, adding his writings were acts of defiance and declarations of dignity
Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi - National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has joined Kenyans in mourning the death of celebrated author Ngugi wa Thiong'o.
Source: Facebook
How Wetang'ula mourned Ngugi wa Thiong'o
As the news of Ngugi's demise shocked the country on Wednesday, May 28, Wetang'ula penned an emotional poem in tribute to the author.
In his condolence message, the speaker used poetry to describe how Ngugi used his artistic work to speak fearlessly about African issues to the world.
"Word of the passing of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o cast a long, solemn shadow across my thoughts. A mighty voice has fallen silent; not in defeat, but in transcendence. In him, we did not merely have a writer, we beheld a seer, a craftsman of truth, a fearless sentinel of African consciousness.
"Prof. 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 artifacts; they were acts of defiance, declarations of dignity, and hymns of remembrance," Wetang'ula said.
Recalling Ngugi's popular novels such as The River Between and Petals of Blood, Wetang'ula said the celebrated author used his work to restore the dignity of the African languages.
"His novels, Weep Not, Child, The River Between, A Grain of Wheat, Petals of Blood unfurled the layers of a wounded yet resilient nation. But it was his decision to write in Gikuyu that truly elevated his mission to restore to the African language its rightful rhythm, power, and prestige," he added.
According to Wetang'ula, despite Ngugi's passing, his legacy will remain indelible in the minds of many people who read his work.
"Although his pen now rests, the ink of his legacy remains indelible. It marks our shelves, our syllabi, our sensibilities. He belongs to that rare league of thinkers whose absence deepens our understanding of their greatness.
"Prof. Ngũgĩ may no longer walk among us, but his ideas live, breathe, and burn within the hearts of those he stirred. He has ascended to join the ancestral assembly of Africa’s most luminous minds. Farewell, Master of the Word. Rest not in silence, but in song. For even in departure, you continue to speak," Wetang'ula mourned.
Source: Facebook
How Ngugi wa Thiong'o's death was announced
Mukoma wa Ngugi, son of the literary giant, took to social media to mourn his father, whose passing was announced on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
He joined family, friends, and fellow Kenyans in expressing grief over the loss.
Mukoma’s sister, Wanjiku wa Ngugi, had shared the heartbreaking news on her Facebook account, leaving many shocked and deeply saddened.
At the same time, Mukoma wrote a heartfelt tribute as he mourned his father, who died at the age of 87.
He revealed how hard it was to find the right words, overwhelmed by the pain of losing his role model—the man who inspired his own journey into literature.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
