Acclaimed Kenyan writer and dissident, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, dies at 87

Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong'o holds up a copy of his book, Weep Not, Child, as he speaks to the audience during a book signing event held in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2015 [File: Dai Kurokawa/EPA]

Renowned Kenyan writer Ngugi wa Thiong’o has died at age 87, his family members have announced.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dad, Ngugi wa Thiong’o,” his daughter Wanjiku Wa Ngugi wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.