Ngugi wa Mirii

Ngugi wa Mirii (1951 – 3 May 2008) was a Kenyan playwright who lived in exile in Zimbabwe, where he died in Harare. He was known for his play, I Will Marry When I Want, which he co-authored with fellow Gikuyu writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o.^[1]

Biography

Born in Roromo, Limuru, Kenya, Ngugi wa Mirii was educated at Ngenia Secondary School and from 1972 to 1974 worked with the Kenya Posts and Telecommunications Corporation. He took a diploma in Adult Education at the Institute of Adult Studies, Nairobi University, and then joined the Institute of Development Studies.^[1] While working there he became involved with peasants and workers in community development at Kamiriithu, Limuru. In 1982, he went to Zimbabwe where he lived in exile. He was known as a supporter of Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF.

On 3 May 2008, Ngugi wa Mirii was killed in a car accident in Zimbabwe, at the age of 57. He drove into a stationary lorry nearby the suburb of Eastlea.^[2]

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