The Trial of Dedan Kimathi Cover Image

The Trial of Dedan Kimathi

by Ngugi wa Thiong'o

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Second Movement

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The play picks up on a street outside the courthouse, where a large crowd has gathered. The woman from the first movement—now disguised as the man in a red shirt she instructed the boy to meet with—is selling oranges from a basket. Inside the court, the white attendees are elegantly dressed and well-armed; conversely, the Kenyan attendees wear torn clothes and appear exhausted as they are frisked by Waitina’s soldiers.

After having his charges read, Kimathi remains silent when the judge asks how he pleads, quietly undermining the authority of the colonial court. The judge insists he gives a plea, but Kimathi declines, instead criticizing the court as an arm of British imperialism.

Kimathi expresses his frustration with colonial laws that benefit the powerful and exploit the poor. Judge Henderson tries to defend the importance of maintaining law and order, but Kimathi dismisses his argument, highlighting the exploitation experienced by oppressed Kenyans:

JUDGE: Law is law. The rule of law is the basis of every civilized community. Justice is justice.

KIMATHI: Whose law? Whose justice?

JUDGE: There is only one law, one justice.

KIMATHI: Two laws. Two justices. One law and one justice protects the man of property, the man of wealth, the foreign exploiter. Another law, another justice, silences the poor, the hungry, our people.

So begins the first of “four trials” Kimathi will face: After the court scene, Judge Shaw Henderson visits Kimathi in his cell, begging him to plead guilty so his life will be spared. Kimathi is resolute in his decision, refusing to bow to Henderson’s—and, by extensive, the British government’s—authority. Doing so, in his eyes, would be a betrayal of his beliefs and his people.

In the second trial, still in Kimathi's cell, various dances portraying different aspects of Kenyan culture unfold. These dances symbolize the people's resilience and resistance; Kimathi notices differences in the traditional dances and ponders how colonialism has affected them, which renews his dedication to the ongoing struggle.

Various individuals, including a representative from imperialist Europe and an Indian man, attempt to persuade Kimathi to plead guilty. The two men—speaking from the perspective of the colonizer and the colonized, respectively—attempt to argue the financial benefit of colonialism, but Kimathi is unconvinced, questioning the delegation’s motives. 

The Indian man argues for the advantages of independence, giving examples from India. The white man, a banker, claims that his people are willing to collaborate with a black-led government, proposing a joint effort for advancement. He outlines a vision for the nation that involves international investments, hotels, resorts, and prosperity. Kimathi remains doubtful, questioning how his people will be included in this partnership.

As the delegation leaves, the spotlight shifts to the girl, who is walking slowly and reflecting on a life marked by harassment and mistreatment. The boy arrives, expressing regret for his past actions, but the girl hesitates. In the midst of their emotional struggle, a gun unexpectedly falls out of the loaf of bread the boy is carrying, exposing a concealed weapon. Taken aback, the boy considers reporting it to the police, worried about potential consequences.

The girl advises against it, highlighting the risk of being labeled a terrorist. The significance of the loaf of bread given to the boy in the first movement becomes clear to the audience. The pair devise a plan to rescue Kimathi, agreeing to return in disguise the next morning. They decide to use a new loaf of bread to conceal the gun, instructing the warder to deliver the loaf with the hidden gun to Kimathi.

The story moves to Kimathi's third trial. During this time, a...

(This entire section contains 863 words.)

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businessman, a politician, and a priest approach him, urging him to plead guilty. The businessman claims that the British will ultimately prevail in the war against the Mau Mau, arguing that this victory will lead to the end of racism and colorism. The politician suggests achieving independence either province by province or as a unified nation. The priest, drawing on religious teachings, urges Kimathi to surrender.

Kimathi questions the meaning of victory—and the fate of those Kenyans still held captive. He refuses to surrender, revealing his distrust of advocates for peace. After they depart, Kimathi is even more motivated to continue the fight, feeling both determined and uncertain about the road ahead:

Who are friends and who enemies?

Oh, the agony of a lone battle!

But I will fight on to the end

Alone...

Alone, did I say?

No. Cast out these doubts!

The fourth trial starts as Judge Henderson, flanked by Waitina’s soldiers, enters Kimathi's cell to pressure him into pleading guilty. Kimathi remains defiant, refusing to surrender or reveal the whereabouts of his co-conspirators. Henderson resorts to physical violence, slapping and beating Kimathi, and later orders him to be taken to the torture chamber.

In the torture chamber, Kimathi endures whipping and beatings from Waitina but does not reveal the information they seek. He is then brought out, visibly broken but spiritually unyielding; Henderson again insists he surrender. In a rebellious act, Kimathi tears the paper Henderson asks him to sign and delivers a powerful speech denouncing imperialism.

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