A video of literary icon Ngugi wa Thiong'o strongly criticising Kenya's peacekeeping mission in Haiti has gone viral after the author died.

In the clip, recorded during a past interview, Ngugi criticizes President William Ruto's decision to send 1,000 police officers to the gang-ravaged Caribbean nation.

"They have agreed to take 1,000 police officers to Haiti. Any Black person who knows the history of Haiti would not do that. I felt teary, I didn't believe just how Kenya is doing this!" a visibly upset Ngugi said.

"There is something wrong with such a leader!" he added.

Ngugi passed away on the morning of Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the age of 87, after battling prolonged health complications, including kidney issues and limited mobility.

"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dad, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, this Wednesday morning, May 28, 2025. He lived a full life, fought a good fight. As was his last wish, let's celebrate his life and his work. Ria ratha na ria thua. Turi aira," said his daughter, Wanjiku wa Ngugi, in a social media post.

The family has emphasized that Ngugi wished for his life and work to be celebrated rather than mourned.

Born James Ngugi in 1938, Ngugi was a towering figure in African literature and is widely regarded as East Africa's most influential novelist.

He wrote in both English and Gikuyu and was a vocal advocate for the use of indigenous languages in literature.

His extensive body of work, spanning novels, essays, plays, and short stories, focused on themes such as colonialism, cultural identity, and justice.

Haiti mission

Kenya's deployment to Haiti, under the United Nations-authorized Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, began in mid-2024.

The mission was designed to assist the Haitian National Police in combating gang violence, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where armed groups reportedly control around 85% of the city.

However, the MSS mission has faced several logistical and operational setbacks, with reports indicating that the contingent is under-resourced, lacking vital equipment such as armored vehicles and air support, seriously hampering their effectiveness.

In January 2024, Kenya's High Court declared the deployment unconstitutional, citing the absence of parliamentary approval.

Despite the ruling, the government went ahead with the mission, sparking criticism over governance, transparency, and the rule of law.

Human rights groups have also expressed concern over the Kenyan police's record of brutality and warned of potential abuses during the Haiti operation.