Final curtain falls on Francis Imbuga

Francis Imbuga, whose play, Betrayal in the City, became one of Kenya's most iconic works of literature died on Sunday night after a stroke, the Daily Nation has reported via twitter.
Imbuga, who died at the age of 65, has had an illustrious writing career, emerging as one the most prolific playwrights in Kenya alongside the late Wahome Mutahi, who died after a botched surgery nine years ago.
As a literature lecturer, Prof Imbuga contributed to debates on culture and shaped a generation of scholars, teachers and writers who studied at Kenyatta University where he taught for many years.
Earlier this month, the Kenya Institute of Education (KIE) reselected Betrayal in the City as a literature set book for secondary schools. This was the third time that the play was being used as a study text for students sitting the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education. Also reselected a second time was The River and the Source, a novel by the late Dr Margaret Ogola.
Betrayal in the City was a popular book during the repressive years of the Moi administration, firing the imagination of young readers who yearned for change in governance. The play's conflict was resolved in a bloodless coup lead by a disgruntled university student, Jasper Wendo, whose brother had been shot dead during an earlier protest by students. The play had high resonance especially because, in the years of the Moi repression, university students were at the forefront of championing democracy, human rights and other freedoms. Some of them would later ascend to positions of political leadership nationally.
On November 9, 2012, in an interview with the Saturday Nation, Prof Imbuga said that he would have preferred to have his newest play, The Return of Mgofu, selected as a set book, arguing that it had more contemporary themes. However, the book published by Longhorn Publishers Kenya Ltd, was not among those submitted to KIE for consideration.
Among his other books are Aminata, Man of Kafira (a sequel to Betrayal in the City), Shrine of Tears and Miracle of Remera among others.
Prof Imbuga's widow, Prof Mabel Imbuga, is vice-chancellor of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.