Professor Mukoma Wa Ngugi has accused his father, renowned Kenyan author Ngugi Wa Thiong’o of physically abusing his late first wife, Nya...
Professor Mukoma Wa Ngugi has accused his father, renowned Kenyan author Ngugi Wa Thiong’o of physically abusing his late first wife, Nyambura, who is also Mukoma’s mother.
This revelation sheds light on a dark chapter in the family’s history, as Nyambura passed away in 1996.
Mukoma, who is also an author, said that some of his earliest childhood memories include visiting his mother at his grandparents’ place, where she sought refuge every time Ngugi wa Thiong’o beat her.
“My father, @NgugiWaThiongo_ physically abused my late mother – he would beat her up. Some of my earliest memories are me going to visit her at my grandmother’s where she would seek refuge. But with that said it is the silencing of who she was that gets me. Ok- I have said it.”
Mukoma wa Ngugi stated on X.
Ngugi wa Thiong’o Accused of Abandoning first Wife’s Memory
Professor Mukoma accused Ngugi wa Thiong’o of “systemically erasing” his mother Nyambura’s legacy, even though his mother held down the family through Ngugi wa Thiong’os political persecutions.
Ngugi wa Thiong’o went to Kamiti Prison in December 1977 for a year. He was accused of criticizing the then Jomo Kenyatta government through the satirical play “Ngahika Ndeenda” (I Will Marry When I Want). Ngugi wa Thiong’o was subsequently compelled into exile, first in London and later in the US.
While living in the US, The English and Literature professor at the University of California, Irvine met his second wife Njeeri 1989 in New York at the Grand Central Station. They got married in 1992 and had four children. After which he denounced his first wife saying he had no legal ties to any other woman.
Ngugi wa Thiong’o spoke for his mother saying, “It hurts to see my late mother, Nyambura (my daughter is named after her) being systemically erased from the @NgugiWaThiongo_ story. We literally (of course) and figuratively would not be here if it was not for her keeping us glued together through the political persecutions.“
Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s Wife Raped
In 2004, Ngugi wa Thiong’o famously returned to Kenya with his wife Njeeri to launch his book- “Murogi wa Kagogo” (Wizard of the Crow). However, upon arriving, the couple was attacked at their Nairobi home by four men who raped his wife Njeeri. Speaking on the attack, Ngugi wa Thiong’o stated, “In her case it was not attempted rape. It was rape, period.”
The assailants also ransacked the home and subjected the prostrate cancer survivor to cigarette burns and gun butt beatings. The gang made away with about $US500, a laptop computer, his wedding ring and Njeeri’s earrings.
By Vivian K.
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