In less than two days, the work of two prolific writers who wrote about the oppression in Kenya have been resurrected:
Francis Imbuga: Recognised by Brian Kibet Bera who felt the Betrayal in the City and broke into State House to demand freedom. Francis Imbuga’s Betrayal in The City was resurrected by Brian Kibet Bera, the man who was shot and injured as he jumped over the State House fence had allegedly threatened to attack President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Margaret Ogola: Recognised by Google Doodle for The River and the Source and more, on the 12th June 2019. Margaret Ogola who is lesser known that the famous Githeri Man was resurrected today when Google Doodle honoured her literary contribution.
Next, we should have Kifo Kisimani (Death at the Well)… though Kithaka Wa Mberia is still alive the freedom he talks about in his book is non-existent because Mwelusi is still gathering up courage to unite the people.
What we call prophets today are busy preaching the prosperity gospel like Bishop Allan Kiuna and Reverend Kathy Kiuna or the “Holiness and Repentance” gospel like Prophet Dr. David Owuor, who claims to be the Mightiest Prophet of God.
The genuine prophets are definitely our writers. They never claimed any fame and glory. They were recognised in absentia. Their work is true today even years after the death!
Margaret Ogola: Born: 1958, Died: 2011
Margaret Atieno Ogola was a Kenyan novelist who wrote The River and the Source and its sequel, I Swear by Apollo. The River and the Source follows four generations of Kenyan women in a rapidly changing country and society.
Francis Imbuga: Born: 1947, Died: 2012
Professor Francis D. Imbuga was a Kenyan playwright and literature scholar whose works, including Aminata and Betrayal in the City, have become staples in the study of literature schools in Kenya.
Precious Wamau
A good example is Death at the Well, a translation of the well-known Kiswahili play Kifo Kisimani. The play is set in Butangi, an imaginary African society led by Bokono and characterised by poor political leadership, violation of human rights, political patronage, corruption and looting of public resources.
A young man, Mwelusi, (easily Brian Bira) decides to change all that. His mission, however, proves to be a tall order Indeed, for his patriotism, he pays the price with his life. But the fire he has awakened in the people is not extinguishable. Led by Atega, a young woman and Mwelusi’s friend and comrade, the people take carry on with the struggle. And, to Bokono’s and his chief sycophants’ utter shock and chagrin, the old order is brought to its knees.
Ian Ngugi
Oppression is not a prophesy. We have had it since before independence. It has been part of our culture and lifestyle. I can even predict that the next government will oppress the people only that they can do it differently and use new technology to achieve the very thing the colonisers did.
Phanice Wamukota
Makes me wonder, do we even have a Mwelusi at the moment?
But yes, these writers definitely saw what was happening and penned down their fears as to what would be the outcome. A warning that was never headed.