Mukoma wa Ngugi, the son of celebrated Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong’o, has revealed painful details of estrangement and internal family conflict that marred the final days of his father’s life, casting a shadow over the legacy of one of Africa’s most iconic literary figures.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Nation in Nairobi, Mukoma shared that his relationship with his father was fraught with silence and tension, contrary to the common image of peaceful farewells.
“It was full of tension and our family was divided,” Mukoma said. “I can’t lie and say we spent the last few months together laughing… No, it wasn’t like that.”
Ngugi wa Thiong’o, 87, passed away on May 28 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was cremated in the U.S. according to his wishes — a decision that reportedly triggered a family feud. Mukoma confirmed the cremation had been his father’s request, but many relatives were unaware until after the act had been carried out.
“I didn’t know he was dying until one of my brothers called me. I didn’t know he had gotten cremated because it started a whole family feud,” he said.
Mukoma, a professor and writer in his own right, described being shut out of crucial final moments and funeral arrangements. When asked whether he had a chance to say goodbye, he replied, “No, I did not get that chance because of the family feud.”
He added that several other family members were also unaware of the cremation, and acknowledged that many Kenyans and members of the extended Thiong’o family are now seeking closure.
“I’ve been here in Kenya for two days now, and a lot of people are asking for a ceremony… People need closure,” he said. “I don’t have the answers unless someone tells me.”
Mukoma also took time to honour his late mother, Nyambura wa Ngugi, for her role in shaping the life and work of his father, noting her influence on his legacy has often gone unacknowledged.
“If you read The River Between, there’s a Nyambura there… In many ways, she’s the unsung hero behind his becoming a hero to millions,” he said, adding, “Maybe we should rephrase the question and ask: What’s wrong with us that we don’t recognise the people who make revolutionaries possible?”
Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s death marks the end of an era in African literature. Revered for works such as A Grain of Wheat, Decolonising the Mind, and Petals of Blood, Ngugi’s writing championed African languages, political resistance, and cultural identity. He spent much of his later life abroad, teaching and writing.
Despite the familial rift, Mukoma said he is at peace with telling the truth, a value his father instilled in him: “My conscience is clean. There’s nothing more.”
