Cut from the same cloth: US lecturer, his nephew ignite fight for justice in Kenya

A fortnight ago, two actions, though different and on two continents, thrust the larger Ndang’ui family into the national and global limelight, revealing its deep-rooted gene for activism.

In Nairobi, Mr. Ndiang’ui Kinyagia, a 35-year-old software engineer described as a person of interest in connection with the June 25 Gen Z protests, went missing, sparking public anger.

In the U.S., Kinyagia’s uncle, Prof Peter Ndiang’ui, wrote to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, not to host President William Ruto, citing the killings and abductions of Kenya Gen Zs.

In a letter dated June 29, Prof Ndiang’ui described the United Kingdom’s decision to host the Kenyan president as “a betrayal of human rights and an insult to Kenyans.”

Prof Ndiangui, a renowned activist and a lecturer at Florida Gulf Coast University in the United States, says that his nephew’s advocacy was a continuation of the family’s legacy.

“It is not something we choreograph, but something we live by,” said Prof Ndiang’ui, adding that the mastered seed of activism was planted in him by the late Prof Ngugi wa Thiongo.

The lives of the two professors' paths crossed in the late 1970s.

“I first encountered him in the late 1970s during my university years and the unforgettable Kamirithu days. We reconnected later in the United States, and over the last year of his life, we spoke almost daily—sometimes up to five times in a single day,” said Prof Ndiang’ui.

The Kamirithu theatre was established by Ngugi in Limuru, said Prof Ndiang'ui in an interview with the Standard.

The theatre played Agikuyu plays to decolonise Kenya's educational system and raise awareness about neocolonialism. It was later closed down by the government.

“Ngugi influenced not just my intellectual path but also my journey toward self-rediscovery. He once told me, You write very well, but that’s not enough—write as if you are telling a story.

“I began to enjoy what I call the “Ngugi-style” of storytelling—grounded, intimate, and liberating,” said Ndiang’ui, a self-styled voice in Kenya diaspora activism.

He added, “I had long dismissed the idea of writing in my mother tongue—until Ngũgĩ challenged me to do exactly that. One of his final joys was reading a love poem (irebeta) I had written for my wife in my native language—a moment that moved us both deeply.”

Ngugi also shaped Ndiang’ui's Marxism and socialist ideologies. He said Ngugi reviewed several of his political commentaries and always urged him to avoid divisiveness.

Ndiang’ui has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, essays, and books. His most recent publication, The Way I See It: Essays on Kenya’s Turbulent Political Landscape Under President William Ruto, offers a powerful, morally charged critique of authoritarianism, corruption, and the erosion of democratic governance.

“I told myself to speak the truth, but also empower the smallholder farmer and the struggling worker. His humour, intellect, and unwavering moral clarity enriched every one of our conversations,” said Ndiang’ui.

Mwaura Andu…

For Ndiang’ui, Prof. Ngungi’s legacy lives in those who carry forward his call for cultural and intellectual emancipation. He said Ngugi referred to President William Ruto as Mwaura Andu (the one who strips people of their goods).

“He also referred to him as a consummate chameleon who will change to suit any circumstance. According to Ngugi, Ruto is a man without a stand who will often behave like a wolf in sheepskins depending on the nature of the sheep.

Ndiang'ui described President Ruto's administration as tragic and infuriating "after he rode into office on the backs of lies, claiming to champion the hustlers.”

He said the bottom-up economic model, which once stirred hope, has collapsed into a hollow slogan.

“But even more distressing is the brutal response to peaceful protests with abductions, torture, and the cold-blooded murder of young people. It reveals a regime that lacks empathy, moral grounding, and the basic decency expected of leadership,” said Ndiangui.

He said President Ruto, being a father himself, should reflect on what it means to bury a child whose only crime was demanding a better future.

“As a biological father himself, President Ruto should reflect on what it means to bury a child whose only crime was demanding a better future,” says Prof. Ndiang’ui.

He explains that the normalisation of state violence, especially against youth, is not just a failure of leadership but a moral collapse in Ruto's regime.

“Past presidents may not have been exemplary, but Ruto’s regime represents a frightening low. Every act of violence against innocent Kenyans will carry consequences—legal, historical, and moral,” quipped the don, who says time will tell.

He also said Kenya’s political space has expanded since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution, but President Ruto’s administration was systematically dismantling institutional checks and balances.

“What we are witnessing is the systematic dismantling of institutional checks and balances. The erosion of a meaningful opposition, the capture of Parliament, the paralysis of the IEBC, and subtle attacks on the judiciary. These are all warning signs of creeping authoritarianism,” said Ndiangui.

Ruto Must Go but Who Must Come?

He said that Kenyans must be vigilant, intentional, and principled in how we vote—not just for president, but across all levels of leadership—as the country heads to the 2027 General Elections.

“Yes, Ruto Must Go—but equally important is the question: Who Must Come? Leadership is not just about replacing one face with another. It is about vision, integrity, and accountability,” he said.

He said Kenyans must reject vote-buying and “political prostitution,” adding that voters should not allow anyone to reduce their right to elect leaders to a handout.

“A bribe today is hunger tomorrow. We must support leaders who have consistently demonstrated commitment to justice, truth, and public service—not opportunists in new clothing,” he said.

“I admire leaders like Martha Karua, who has long championed human rights and good governance. She may not be the only one, but she is emblematic of the kind of leadership Kenya urgently needs—principled, courageous, and untainted," he said.

He urged the opposition to unify behind a single, credible, and blameless candidate.

In 2021, Prof. Ndiang’ui was honoured with the Keeper of the Dream Award here in Florida, named in honour of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“I was the first African-born recipient. That recognition affirmed our belief: that wherever we are in the world, we must stand for justice.

“The future of our republic depends not just on the defeat of Rutoism, but on the rebirth of a democratic culture rooted in integrity,” said Prof. Ndiang’ui.