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Plot summary
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A young man called Waiyaki is a focal point in Ngugi’s story. At an early age,
Waiyaki was already considered to have special gifts. He once encountered two boys
fighting and attempted to break up the squabble. Although he was the youngest of
the three, he was able to put a stop to the violence. Ngugi reveals that the three
boys, Waiyaki, Kamau and Kinuthia, are all destined to study at a local mission
school nearby and, from there, to become teachers. Waiyaki is eventually enrolled
at the school at the behest of his father, Chege. He explains to young Waiyaki the
legend of a savior who would be born into their village and accomplish great things
for his people. Waiyaki's father believes that he is that savior. Although Waiyaki
is skeptical of such a fantastical prophesy, he excels in the school and is well on
his way to playing a vital role in the development of his people. The significance
of Chege’s eagerness to send Waiyaki to the mission school rests on the fact that
the boy would be in a position to learn the wisdom of the colonists. This knowledge
would equip Waiyaki for the struggle against the colonial government. Despite the
liberating potential of this knowledge, Waiyaki must ensure he does not embrace the
colonial system, as doing so would defeat the purpose of his training.

As the story progresses, the division between the two villages intensifies, and the
proposed circumcision of the young girl Muthoni causes much dissention within the
community. Her death galvanizes the missionary school—in which Waiyaki is enrolled—
into action, going so far as to expel children whose parents still uphold the
tradition of circumcision. Waiyaki is among those forced from the school. In
response, he decides to take up the challenge of building a school for the expelled
children. While he still does not fully understand the leadership role his father
predicted he would take up, he begins to realize that his mission is to enable
education for the children of the villages. He becomes so preoccupied with this
goal that he fails to recognize and address the other needs of his community, such
as reclaiming lands seized by the colonists. Some villagers begin conspiring behind
closed doors, eventually forming a secret organization known as Kiama, whose
singular purpose is to ensure the purity of the tribe.

As a result of this upheaval, Waiyaki makes enemies. Among them is Kabonyi, who
begins to provoke dissenters in the community to undermine and destroy Waiyaki.
Eventually, Waiyaki succumbs to Kabonyi’s trickery. While he desires nothing more
than to quell the growing unrest within the village and heal the angst among the
people, he is powerless to undo the polarizing effects of colonialism. Waiyaki
blames himself for having failed to address the lack of unity in time.

The story concludes on an ominous note. Waiyaki and his new love interest Nyambura
find themselves in the hands of the Kiama who would then decide their fate. What
happens beyond that remains a mystery.