President William Ruto has led the country in mourning celebrated writer and scholar, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, describing him as "Kenya's greatest man of letters and a fearless voice for justice, truth, and African identity." "The towering giant of Kenyan letters has put down his pen for the final time.
Always courageous, he made an indelible impact on how we think about our independence, social justice, and the uses and abuses of political and economic power," Ruto wrote in a post on X.
The president also acknowledged the Nobel prize that eluded Ngugi, calling him the champion of literary emancipation and innovation in our hearts and minds.
His sentiment echoed by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki. "Prof Ngugi was admired across the globe.
