RONALYN P.

GABICA

A GRAIN OF WHEAT (SUMMARY)

The events of the novel take place in the days of 1963 before and on the day of Uhuru, Kenya’s
liberation from British colonial rule. The novel also features flashbacks of the past.
Mugo, an introverted villager of Thabai, does not want to give a speech at Uhuru, even though
town elders ask him to. The village thinks him a hero for his stoicism and courage while he was in
detention during Kenya’s State of Emergency, but he labors under a secret: he betrayed beloved Mau
Mau fighter, Kihika. He is restless and can achieve no peace in the village.
Kihika had joined the Mau Mau as a young man and attained fame for capturing the police
garrison at Mahee and killing the cruel District Officer (‘DO’) Robson, but after Mugo betrayed him in
secret, he was captured and hanged. Those planning Uhuru want to honor him. Mugo had betrayed
Kihika because he was unsettled by the young man’s zeal and because of the reward offered for his
head, but as soon as he betrayed him he felt remorse. Most people, including General R. and Koina, two
Mau Mau soldiers, believe Karanja was the one who betrayed Kihika. They plan on executing him at
Uhuru.
Mugo was not the only man from Thabai who spent time in detention camp. Gikonyo, a well-
respected businessman and former carpenter, was also taken to a camp. Before the camp he was very
much in love with his beautiful wife Mumbi, the sister of Kihika. He had won her love even though many,
including Karanja, a friend of Kihika, sought her love as well. He dreamt of her while he was away, and
was horrified to find out that Mumbi had borne a child by Karanja while he was gone those years. He
does not believe they can ever repair their relationship, and he throws himself into his work.
Karanja works at Githima, a Forest Research Station started by the British. He tries to cultivate
the approval of the DO, Roger Thompson, who is stationed there with his wife Margery. Thompson was
once destined for an illustrious career, but it was derailed by a hunger strike and violence at Rira, the
camp where Mugo was. Now Thompson is at Githima, but is preparing to return to Britain because he
does not want to be around when whites are no longer in charge. Karanja did not join the freedom
movement but rather started to work for the whiteman, first joining the homeguard and then becoming
Chief during the Emergency. This incurred a lot of resentment from people; however, Karanja was
simply looking out for himself.
Mumbi, distressed that her husband no longer loves her, comes to see Mugo. She confides in
him the story of how she and Gikonyo fell in love, and how sad she was when he was away in camp. She
only fell for Karanja’s advances when she heard Gikonyo was returning and became deliriously happy.
She begs Mugo to come to Uhuru; on a second visit to him, she begs him again. Mugo becomes violent
and says he betrayed Kihika. Mumbi is shocked, but she does not want any more blood shed for her
brother.
Uhuru arrives, the day first rainy and then sunny. People are joyful and all of them want to see
Mugo, even though he has said he is not coming. There are games and speeches. There is also a
spontaneous race, and Gikonyo and Karanja find themselves competing with each other (much as they
competed in a race for Mumbi’s attention long ago). They stumble, though, and Gikonyo breaks his arm
and has to go to the hospital.
General R. gives a speech instead of Mugo and calls for the traitor to step forward, assuming it
will be Karanja. Mugo comes out of the crowd and says it is he who did it; he feels a sense of freedom at
first, quickly followed by terror. No one accosts him, and the confused crowd parts and lets him go.
Later, General R. and Koina come to arrest him and tell him he will have a private trial. Mugo
makes peace with this, deciding he will accept his punishment. Some of the village elders feel that
Uhuru did not go well, and that there is something wrong.
Karanja heads back to Githima. He is unhappy and considers killing himself in front of a train.
Ultimately, he decides against this.
Gikonyo wakes in the hospital and realize that he is ready to make amends with Mumbi. When
she visits him, he tells her he is ready to take care of the child he has assiduously ignored since he came
back. She tells him it must wait until they can have a serious and heartfelt discussion of their wants and
needs. He is happy, and plans to carve a stool featuring an image of a pregnant Mumbi.