Wetangula allocates Tuesday for MPs to eulogise Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o

The National Assembly has allocated Tuesday next week as a day to eulogise legendary writer Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, following his passing at a hospital in Buford in the State of Georgia, United States of America on Wednesday.

During Parliamentary proceedings on Thursday, National Speaker Moses Wetangula led the Members of Parliament in observing a moment of silence in honour of the literary icon. 

Wetangula commemorated the late literary icon as a champion whose work transcended Kenya's storytelling to the global stage. 

"This country has lost one of its greatest sons in the literary world, Professor Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. A prolific writer of global repute, Prof. Ngũgĩ stood in the league of African literary giants such as Chinua Achebe, Elechi Amadi, Flora Nwapa, and many others who helped illuminate the African narrative through literature. His work not only shaped Kenya's literary heritage but also positioned African storytelling on the world stage," the Speaker noted.

Wetangula also referenced how Ngũgĩ was instrumental in founding and developing the Department of Literature at the University of Nairobi and acknowledged his mark in laying the foundation of modern Kenyan literature. 

"Next week on Tuesday, I shall allocate thirty minutes for this House to formally eulogize Professor Ngũgĩ. But for now, as a patriotic and conscious House, we must recognize this great son of Kenya," he went on.

"He worked alongside other literary luminaries such as Okot p’Bitek, Micere Githae Mugo, Chris Wanjala, Francis Imbuga, John Ruganda, and many others whose collective efforts laid the foundation of modern Kenyan literature."

The Speaker, however, castigated the media for highlighting 'less deserving matters' on the front page papers as opposed to the prolific professor.

"I must, however, express my disappointment with the media. I had expected to see Prof. Ngũgĩ’s image gracing the front pages of every newspaper in this country just as we do when other global figures such as the Pope or Chinua Achebe pass on. Sadly, that was not the case today. Instead, we continue to see front-page coverage of less deserving matters," Wetangula remarked.

"Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o should have been the national headline today. As your Speaker, I invite this House to join me in recording this collective disappointment and calling for greater recognition of our heroes."

Ngũgĩ has left an indelible mark in the literature field as he was synonymous with works such as ‘Petals of Blood,’ which saw him detained for a year before being released in December 1978. 

His other works include; ‘A Grain of Wheat’ and ‘Weep Not, Child,’ written in English and a myriad of works he wrote in the Agikuyu dialect, such as ‘Ngaahika Ndeenda’ (I will marry when I want), and ‘Caitaani mũtharaba-Inĩ’ (Devil on the Cross).