Excited at the opportunity to attend school, Njoroge envisions a better future. However, events in his village disrupt his education. An uprising against the White settlers and loyalists spreads through his village and other parts of the country, as the local people demands freedom and justice on their own land. 

Caught in a country struggling to free herself loose from her colonial power's grip, Njoroge, who had been forced to drop out of high school, is left to care for his two mothers after his father's death and the imprisonment of his three half-brothers.

Feeling that his life has crumbled, Njoroge despairs. Leaving his mothers behind, he wanders through the village toward a familiar tree near his home, carrying a knotted rope in his pocket, intent on ending his life.

The title of the novel, 'Weep Not, Child,' is an encouragement from the author to Njoroge, urging him not to lose hope despite the devastating events that have turned his world upside down. 

Part 1: The Waning Light

Chapter 1

Nyokabi calls her son, Njoroge, and asks if he would like to go to school. Njoroge quietly replies that he would be happy to. She reminds him that he will have to forego lunch at school because they are poor. She also asks if he would ever bring shame to the family by deciding one day to stop his education. Njoroge assures her he would never do such a thing. 

Thrilled by the prospect of going to school, Njoroge shares the news with his stepbrother, Kamau. He invites Kamau to join him, but Kamau declines, saying he will not leave his apprenticeship in carpentry to attend school. 

Chapter 2

On Monday, Njoroge meets Mwihaki who takes him to school as she also studies there. She is the daughter of Jacob, the owner of the land where Njoroge’s family resides. 

At school, Njoroge is bullied by some of the boys, but Mwihaki intervenes and puts a stop to it. The boys, fearful that Mwihaki might report their mistreatment to her elder sister, who teaches at the school, cease their bullying. 

One day, after school, Njoroge finds her mother shelling some castor oil seeds. He offers to help but she insists he finish his homework first. After completing his homework, he kneels beside her and helps with the seeds. Njoroge then asks her to tell him a story, explaining that they have been asked to narrate one in class. She promises to tell him some stories in the evening but first he has to convey to Kamau that she wants to see him.

On his way to Nanga's compound where his brother is doing his carpentry apprenticeship, Njoroge meets Kamau and asks why he has been late getting home. As they walk back together, Kamau complains about Nanga’s insensitiveness, saying he assigns him menial tasks instead of training him in carpentry.  

Chapter 3

Ngotho leaves early for work. As is his custom, he avoids pass through the fields to Mr. Howlands farm and instead walks along the road. He is troubled by Boro’s words after he had narrated a story to the young men, including his sons, who had gathered in his hut, the previous night. 

On his way, Ngotho meets Mr. Howlands, who had also risen early. They exchange greetings. Mr. Howlands, a British citizen, had purposed to settle in Kenya, far from the ‘troubles’ in his homeland. 

They walk around the farm, inspecting the plants, and pulling out weeds where they have grown. 

Ngotho, inwardly, wonders when Mr. Howlands and other settlers will leave his country so that the black people can tend their own lands. On the other hand, Mr. Howlands wonders who will tender his farm when he passes away. His son, who had been closely involved with the farm, was killed in the Second World War while serving as a soldier. His youngest son, Stephen, shows little interest in the farm. 

Chapter 4

In the evening, after school, Mwihaki asks Njoroge why he keeps to himself and if he is avoiding her. Njoroge had made a conscious decision to stay away from her after his mother found them playing together on a hill. 

He offers an excuse, but Mwihaki presses on, asking if his parents beat him. He answers that they only do so when he does something wrong. He then asks if her parents beat her. She replies that sometimes they do, but when her mother doesn’t punish her physically, she uses harsh words, which hurt her more than beating.

The following year, Njoroge is promoted to class 1.

Chapter 5

Kamau reveals to Njoroge on a hill near their huts, built from accumulated trash, that he longs to leave the village, just like their brothers Boro and Kori, who are in Nairobi.

As they hear Kamau’s mother, Njeri, calling them, Njoroge recalls something about the land and asks Kamau if it’s true that the land owned by the whites actually belongs to the black people.

Chapter 6

The village elders frequently visit Ngotho’s father to discuss important matters. On this particular day, Kori and Boro join the elders and other young men to discuss the country’s problems, including the War they fought in, unemployment, stolen lands, and the plan for workers’ strike.

Mr. Howlands warns his men against joining the strike, telling them they will lose their jobs if they do.

Njoroge finds his mother, Nyokabi, crying after school. She pleads with his father not to join the strike for fear of losing his job, but Ngotho, unshaken, slaps her.

When Njoroge tries to intervene, his father looks at him, and walks away.

Chapter 7

The following year, Njoroge and his friends anxiously await the results of their exams. He and Mwihaki are overjoyed to learn they passed. 

When Mwihaki reaches home, from school, she finds her mother in tears, fearing her husband Jacob is dead. Meanwhile, Njoroge returns home to find a crowd gathered at his father’s compound. Kamau informs him that the strike had turned violent, with two people killed and their father severely injured.

Chapter 8

Two years after the strike, Jacob is appointed as a Chief and Mr. Howlands as a District Officer.

Jacob throws Ngotho and his family off his land, but Nganga offers them a part of his land to settle.

Njoroge returns from school to find the compound empty and hears voices in Njeri’s hut. Inside, the family is anxiously awaiting news of Kori, who soon arrives and tells them he narrowly escaped arrest. He explains how Boro had fled when they were taken to a field and loaded onto a lorry.

Chapter 9

The country is in turmoil over the imprisonment of Jomo, the leader who many hope will liberate them from colonial rule. However, Jomo loses his case and is sent back to detention.

Ngotho’s family gathers in Njeri’s hut, discussing the case and Ngotho’s growing concerns. He wonders if he has failed his children, particularly Boro, who wants him to join the Mau Mau fighters. Ngotho, though sympathetic, refuses to take orders from his son, feeling it would undermine his authority as a father.

Chapter 10

Jacob, now Chief, visits Mr. Howlands and warns him about Ngotho’s sons, especially Boro, who he suspects is involved in Mau Mau activities.

Back home, Ngotho and his wives, Nyokabi and Njeri, as well as their children, face increasing pressure from the authorities. One night, after the curfew, Njeri and Kori go out to search for Boro, only to be arrested.

Njoroge learns about a notice warning students to stay away from school or face execution. His mother insists he stop attending, but Kamau urges him to keep going, as the notice might be a hoax. Njoroge decides to defy the warning.

Chapter 11

The situation in the country worsens, with European soldiers killing innocent people, claiming they are Mau Mau fighters.

Njoroge visits Kamau in the African market, where they learn that several people, including Nganga, have been found dead in the forest.

Njoroge and Mwihaki meet and talk about their changed circumstances. Mwihaki confesses that people avoid her because her father is a Chief. Njoroge sympathizes with her, and they agree to meet near his home to attend church together.

Chapter 12

Mr. Howlands confronts Jacob about Boro’s involvement with Mau Mau, revealing that he received threatening letters. Howlands expresses his anger at Jacob for not acting sooner.

Njoroge and Mucatha, a fellow student, are stopped by a white military officer during a procession. They are questioned, but the women in the group are allowed to go free. Isaka, the teacher, is tortured and killed for not having identification document.

Boro, now a leader of the Mau Mau, plans to kill Jacob for his role in the oppression of his people.

Chapter 13

Njoroge is the only boy in his village to qualify for high school. Mwihaki also passes, but her marks are not enough to be enrolled in high school. Instead, she will attend a teacher training institution instead.

Chapter 14

Njoroge joins Siriana Secondary School where he meets both European teachers and boys from different tribes. He is initially puzzles by their kindness but comes to understand it’s not a universal experience.

The school participates in an interschool sports competition where Njoroge encounters Stephen, Mr. Howlands' son. They talk about their shared experiences, and Stephen reveals that he and his mother will soon return to England, though he is reluctant to leave.

Chapter 15

Njoroge is summoned to the headmaster’s office where he is unexpectedly arrested by police officers. He is questioned about the murder of Jacob and beaten for not providing satisfactory answers.

After several days of torture, Njoroge is released, along with his mother.

Meanwhile, Ngotho, unsure of what drives him, goes to the District Officer’s office and falsely confesses to killing Jacob thereby enduring more torture in the process.

Chapter 16

Ngotho lies on his bed, surrounded by his two wives, Nyokabi and Njeri. He gazes at them and then turns his attention to Njoroge.

Boro visits Ngotho’s hut, asking for his father’s forgiveness. Ngotho asks him to stay, but Boro, unable to, whispers that he should have arrived earlier before leaving.

Njoroge, his mother, and Njeri watch in silence as Ngotho passes away.

Chapter 17

Njoroge, facing the realities of life and the absence of school fees, takes a job with an Indian employer. However, he is soon dismissed after less than a month due to the country’s political instability.

Chapter 18

Mwihaki, now living in a homeguard post with her family, reflects on the broken promises between her and Njoroge. She reads a note she wrote, pledging never to see him again after learning that members of his family killed her father.

When they meet, Njoroge apologizes for his family’s actions. Mwihaki, moved by his apology, forgives him. She tells him they must both stay and take care of their families until the country gains independence.

Njoroge, in deep contemplation, leaves his home the next day, wandering through the village. He contemplates his father’s death, Boro’s upcoming execution, Kamau’s imprisonment, and the uncertain fate of his other brothers.

He ends up at the spot where he last spoke to Mwihaki. As he ties a rope to a tree branch, ready to end his life, he hears his mother calling. He returns to her in silence, feeling the weight of his actions and the burdens of his family.

1. War

Why would the white colonizers involve Africans in a war that had nothing to do with them? Why would they fight among themselves, killing each other with guns and weapons of mass destruction? These are some of the questions that troubled the villagers of Mahua.

The author paints a grim picture of the British invasion of Kenya, their rule over its people, and forcing Africans to fight alongside them in both World War I and World War II. The wars, as Ngotho recalled his son saying while walking toward Howlands Farm, led to senseless deaths and were a terrible waste of lives. Many Europeans and Africans alike perished, including Mwangi, Njoroge's brother.

Those who survived returned physically and mentally wounded, only to face more challenges. They were shocked to find that their ancestral lands had been seized and employment opportunities were scarce. Ngotho's father, like others, was forcefully displaced from his homeland while fighting on the battlefield. His land was given to another person and later sold to Jacob. As a result, Ngotho and his family lived on a portion of Jacob's land as if it did not rightfully belong to them.

Boro, after hearing Ngotho recount how their land was taken during the war, bitterly asked, "For whom or for what had Mwangi died?" To him, Mwangi’s death was pointless. Boro, who narrowly survived World War II, realized that their fight alongside the British was in vain. Instead of achieving liberation, they became slaves on their own land, now controlled by colonial masters.

Mr. Howlands, a British settler, fled England after serving in the First World War in search of peace. He made Kenya his home, but his first son was killed in the Second World War after he had sent his children to England for their education.

War causes immense suffering: loss of life, psychological torment, and disruption of peace. It also indirectly impacts those not directly involved and often devastates a society’s economy.

2. Rite of Passage

Circumcision is a significant rite of passage practiced in Njoroge's village. A rite of passage, as defined by Your Dictionary, is "a ritual or ceremony signifying an event in a person's life indicative of a transition from one stage to another, as from adolescence to adulthood."

In pre-colonial Africa, both boys and girls underwent circumcision. Female circumcision, also known as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), was discouraged by British colonialists and missionaries due to its severe consequences, such as excessive bleeding, death, and complications during childbirth. As a result, the practice of female circumcision declined during the colonial era.

Those who underwent circumcision ceased being referred to as boys or girls—they became adults. This elevated their status in the community and separated them socially from the uncircumcised.

Njoroge eagerly anticipated the day he would become a man, "for then he would have the freedom to sit with big circumcised girls and touch them as he saw the young men do."

3. Polygamy

Ngotho was married to two wives, Njeri and Nyokabi, who lived in the same compound, as was customary in pre-colonial African societies.

Ngotho treated his wives equally, ensuring fairness, such as buying the same amount of beef for both. He did not show favoritism. Despite their friendship and companionship, Ngotho realized he could not fully trust them. Jealousy between the wives sometimes turned the household into a battleground.

To resolve conflicts, Ngotho occasionally resorted to physical punishment. However, he noted that "when a woman was angry, no amount of beating would pacify her." This reflects the challenges of maintaining harmony in a polygamous household.

4. Suicidal Thoughts

After his father’s death, Njoroge struggled with an inner voice urging him to end his own life. For a time, he resisted, but eventually, he prepared a rope to carry out the act.

Njoroge's suicidal thoughts were driven by several factors, with his father’s death being a major trigger. As he prepared to take his own life, he was interrupted by his mother’s voice calling out to him. Worried about his absence, she had gone out to look for him. Her voice stopped him from following through with his plan.

Njoroge blamed himself for failing to fulfill the promise he made to his father to care for his mothers. As he neared home, the inner voice mocked him, calling him a coward for not going through with it. Njoroge agreed, considering himself a coward, but rushed to open the door for his mothers.

It is likely that Njoroge did not succumb to these feelings again. He felt a responsibility to care for his mothers and found hope in Mwihaki's encouragement to wait for a new day. With their country on the verge of gaining independence, there was a reason to believe a better future that was ahead.

5. Colonialism and Land Dispossession

The theme of colonialism is central to the story, illustrating how the British invaded Kenya, seized lands, and disrupted the lives of indigenous people. The dispossession of ancestral land is a recurring issue that affects Ngotho and his family deeply. After the British took over, land was sold to settlers like Mr. Howlands, leaving Africans to work as labourers on what was once their property. Africans losing their land symbolized the broader oppression and exploitation of Africans under colonial rule.

The narrative portrays colonialism as a force that not only degraded cultural identity but also inflicted psychological and economic hardship on its victims.

6. Education and Hope

Education represents a source of hope and a possible path to liberation for Njoroge. He believes that education can help him uplift his family and contribute to Kenya's freedom. His faith in education demonstrates a generational shift, as the younger generation seeks solutions through intellectual and social development rather than armed struggle.

However, as the story unfolds, education proves to be insufficient solution for the injustices of colonialism, leading to Njoroge’s disappointment. This theme highlights the tension between optimism and harsh reality in the colonial context.

7. Generational Conflict

The story portrays conflicts between generations, particularly in their approaches to resistance and survival. Ngotho, as the patriarch, clings to the hope that he will reclaim his ancestral land, while his son Boro expresses anger and frustration, blaming Ngotho for his inaction.

This generational tension highlights differing perspectives on how to respond to oppression. Boro represents the younger, militant generation that is unwilling to endure oppression passively, while Ngotho symbolizes the older generation, which clings to traditions and hopes for restoration.

8. Family and Responsibility

Family is portrayed as a core pillar of society, yet it is strained under the weight of colonial oppression. Ngotho struggles to provide for his two wives and children, and his failure to regain their ancestral land adds to his sense of inadequacy.

Njoroge feels a deep sense of duty toward his family, particularly after his father's death, vowing to take care of his mothers despite his own despair. This theme explores the sacrifices and obligations individuals make to support their families, even in dire circumstances.

9. Poverty and Struggle for Survival

The story delves into the harsh realities of poverty, as seen in Ngotho’s inability to secure stable employment or provide adequately for his family. His wives and children live in poor conditions, symbolizing the economic hardships faced by many Kenyans during the colonial era.

This theme reflects the broader impact of systemic inequality and exploitation under colonial rule, where indigenous people were relegated to menial jobs and denied access to resources.

10. Betrayal and Trust

Betrayal is a recurring theme, particularly in the relationships between Africans and the British colonizers. The promises of freedom and better lives made to African soldiers, like Boro, turned out to be empty. Upon their return, they found their lands taken and their lives shattered.

On a personal level, Ngotho’s inability to fulfill his family’s expectations creates an emotional betrayal that strains their trust in him. The theme emphasizes the fragility of trust in relationships, whether personal or political.

11. Racial Inequality

The story explores the racial divide between the colonizers and the native Kenyans. Mr. Howlands embodies the oppressive nature of white supremacy, treating Africans as inferiors and disregarding their rights.

Racial inequality is also evident in the legal and social systems that favor whites, depriving Africans of land, dignity, and opportunities. This theme highlights the persistent injustice of colonial rule.