A traditional farmer and one of Ilmorog’s elders, Njuguna often speaks up in favor of wrongheaded conservative ideas. For example, Njuguna and his other elderly farmer friends have a conversation suggesting that Ilmorog’s drought is occurring because God is angry at humanity’s arrogant technological advancements, specifically the moon landing. When Karega suggests a delegation to seek aid for Ilmorog’s drought, Njuguna argues it’s beneath the town’s dignity to journey somewhere to get help and suggests the MP Nderi wa Riera should come to them instead—something that is clearly not going to happen. Eventually, Njuguna does join the delegation. When Wanja’s sexual abuser Kimeria detains her, Njuguna, and Karega on the way—refusing to let them go until Wanja has sex with him—Njuguna argues that Wanja should submit to Kimeria’s advances. He furthermore suggests that because Kimeria and Wanja have had previous sexual contact, Wanja is something like Kimeria’s wife and, by implication, the situation is something like her fault. Njuguna’s character adds nuance to the novel’s criticism of colonialism and capitalism’s destruction of Kenyan culture; while the novel clearly believes that the destruction of Kenyan culture is bad, its implicit criticism of the elderly, conservative, sexist Njuguna also suggests that Kenyan culture should be open to change and development, especially better technology and more gender equality.
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Njuguna Character Timeline in Petals of Blood
The timeline below shows where the character Njuguna appears in Petals of Blood. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2
...a boy named Joseph. As Munira drinks a beer at Abdulla’s, three older farmers, including Njuguna, enter. They chat with Munira about a possible drought, but Munira doesn’t care about farming....
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Later that night, Njuguna and the other farmers visit Nyakinyua and vouch for Munira’s decency to her and the...
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Chapter 4
...eventually, he stopped yelling at Joseph, sent him to school, and started seeming much happier. Njuguna believed the credit was due to Wanja.
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Chapter 5
...with imperialist countries, is assassinated. Drought continues to afflict Ilmorog. One day, Ilmorog farmers, including Njuguna, are sitting outside Abdulla’s. They’re discussing the drought, the possible failure of Mwathi wa Mugo’s...
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...is punishing humanity with drought. They lament their children’s desertion of Ilmorog for city jobs. Njuguna recalls that his son complained he worked too hard at farming for too little profit;...
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Chapter 6
...gets up and gives a speech suggesting they send a delegation to their MP instead. Njuguna speaks against the suggestion. He says that they shouldn’t have to plead with their MP...
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The Journey
...Wanja’s “unfulfilled motherhood,” and she demands they go straight to the next house. Karega and Njuguna go with her; the delegation assumes that Njuguna, being an elderly man, will prove the...
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Before Wanja, Karega, and Njuguna reach the house, men appear, grab them, tie them up, take them into the house,...
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One of the men who tied up Wanja, Karega, and Njuguna enters the room, cuts their ropes, and says his employer (Kimeria) wants to speak with...
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One of Kimeria’s employees takes Wanja back to the room with Karega and Njuguna. Another takes Njuguna out and tells him Wanja married Kimeria but left him and is...
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...argues the sculpture makes sense because both men and women fought for Kenya’s freedom. When Njuguna claims women are less important, Nyakinyua ignores him and asks the lawyer where his wife...
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The next afternoon, Nderi wa Riera meets Wanja, Abdulla, Njuguna, Karega, and Munira in his offices. When Riera learns that only Njuguna is originally from...
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...Ilmorog chased away the men who ordered them to attend tea. Aloud, he assures Wanja, Njuguna, Karega, and Munira that he’ll help them even if they aren’t from Ilmorog. They explain...
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Chapter 7
...before the circumcision ceremony, the town comes together for dancing and singing contests. Nyakinyua and Njuguna engage in a song duel full of sexual innuendo. After a while, Njuguna concedes Nyakinyua’s...
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Chapter 11
...burden them—they just have to pay regularly. For the next year, everyone feels hopeful except Njuguna, whose sons all come back to Ilmorog and demand shares in his farms. The sons’...
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Chapter 12
...day, news arrived that the lawyer had been assassinated. Horrified, Munira, Karega, Wanja, Abdulla, and Njuguna gathered and talked about the event. Munira wondered aloud why anyone would assassinate a good,...
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