The Trial of Dedan Kimathi Cover Image

The Trial of Dedan Kimathi

by Ngugi wa Thiong'o

Start Free Trial

Opening and First Movement

Download PDF PDF Page Citation Cite Share Link Share

The play begins in a courtroom where Dedan Kimathi—a prominent figure often referred to as either the Prime Minister or Field Marshal—is on trial for possession of an unlicensed firearm under Special Emergency Regulations. The courtroom is divided between Kenyan and white participants, reflecting the racial tensions of the time.

As the trial scene closes, the narrative shifts back in time to a powerful, intense portrait of Black history illustrated through a song sung by a crowd of peasants. The flashback includes scenes of African chiefs trading their people for trinkets, enslaved individuals enduring harsh conditions, and an enslaved workforce working under white overseers. The song flickers through various stages of suffering and resistance and then concludes with a call for freedom and unity.

As the song ends, the stage goes dark, and the drumbeat gets louder. Abruptly, the setting shifts to the early dawn as Mau Mau guerrillas—Kenyan nationalists who opposed British imperialism—are on the run, chased by Waitina, the European District police officer responsible for organizing searches and arrests.

Waitina comes across a woman in her thirties—pretty, strong, and observant. The woman is carrying a kondo (basket) filled with fruits and an oddly enigmatic loaf of bread. The interaction escalates and tension rises when a white soldier requests her “passbook,” which she does not have. He becomes suspicious of the contents of her basket and eats her fruit.

Upon hearing a noise signaling the arrival of soldiers, the woman gathers the remaining contents of the basket and quickly hides in a bush, while the soldier questioning her goes to investigate.

Two soldiers arrive. The first expresses his dissatisfaction with the trial, suggesting that the government is making them harass innocent villagers who see Kimathi as their hero. The second soldier argues that the Mau Mau are finished without Kimathi; after Kimathi's trial, he argues, there will be no more fighting.

The narrative turns again, introducing a boy chasing a young girl and accusing her of theft for not returning his change. The interaction—in all its absurdity—offers readers a brief glimpse into the challenges of urban life in Nairobi. Their hijinks are interrupted by the woman hidden in the bushes, who scolds the boy and identifies him as someone she remembers from her life in Nairobi: "The boy who organized a group of boys scouting for beer brewers in Mathare Valley."

The woman invites the young boy to come with her, providing food and the money he wants from the girl. The boy opens up to her, explaining that his mother passed away during childbirth, and his father brought him to Nairobi. His father had a small job with a merchant firm, but he suffered a hand injury at work, died due to a lack of medical care, and left his son alone to fend for himself. The woman, familiar with these hardships, empathizes with him.

Having lived a troubled past herself, she shares her story of self-transformation, transitioning from a life of vice to a commitment to the struggle for freedom. The boy asks if he can show gratitude and offers to do anything for her. To his surprise, she responds angrily, telling him he must not be reckless or naive and should instead aim for a bigger purpose in life and to avoid becoming a slave to anyone.

Their conversation turns from their individual hardships to Kimathi's role in the anti-slavery movement. The woman states that Kimathi is not alone and implies the lasting impact of his cause when she argues that even if he were to pass away, "no bullet can kill him." Her words are...

(This entire section contains 759 words.)

Unlock this Study Guide Now

Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.

Get 48 Hours Free Access

powerful and certain as she expresses her belief that their land will once again belong to them alone: 

Kimathi was never alone ...will never be alone. No bullet can kill him for as long as women continue to bear children. [with even greater conviction]: Let a thousand bullets be shot through our heads, but this I believe: one day, the soil will be restored to the people. Our land shall one day be truly ours.

Noticing the boy has responded well to her words, she asks if he wants to accept a very important "mission for Kimathi" that will transform him into a man. The boy agrees, and she tells him to take the mysterious loaf of bread to a man in a red shirt selling oranges "between the prison gates and the courtroom." Stressing its significance, she insists that he must protect the loaf, as it is "worth a life."

Next

Second Movement