FALSE: Ngugi wa Thiong’o is not dead

Reports on social media indicating that Ngugi wa Thiong’o is dead are FALSE.

The reports started emerging on Monday evening and a section of Kenyans posted on their timelines while others shared the misleading posts.

Some influential leaders also bought into the fake news and went on to share their condolences.

Fact-checker has however debunked the reports and can authoritatively say they are fake.

Ngugi’s children dismissed the reports on Monday and said their father was alive.

Mukoma wa Ngugi, the son, asked Kenyans to desist from spreading lies.

“Not again with the death rumours! Baba @NgugiWaThiongo_ is here - talking to him as I write this. To be sure, death is inevitable for all of us - but there is no need to invite it sooner,” he tweeted.

Ngugi’s daughter Wanjiku also weighed in on the reports and tweeted: “It is just another rumour!  All is well!”

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o is a Kenyan, Kikuyu writer and academician. He writes primarily in Gikuyu and formerly wrote in English.

His work includes novels, plays, short stories, and essays, ranging from literary and social criticism to children's literature

The Star Newspaper has looked into a Facebook post claiming that Ngugi wa Thiong’o is dead and finds it to be FALSE.

This fact check was produced by The Star Newspaper with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck, African Fact-Checking Alliance Network, and the United Nations Development Program.