Is The Trial of Dedan Kimathi a historic play?

Yes, The Trial of Dedan Kimathi is definitely a historical play. The piece, written by Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Micere Githae Mugo, endeavors to reframe the trial and death of Dedan Kimathi, who was a Kenyan freedom fighter. Kimathi, however, was viewed by the British imperialists as a terrorist and a threat to the established British order.
The play, on the other hand, presents Kimathi as an insurrectionist who works to better the lives of the Kenyan people. In their retelling of Kimathi’s story, the authors present him as a figure who is symbolic of the overall struggle of the Kenyan people against imperialist rule and oppression. Ultimately, the drama allows the Kenyan people to redefine their own history by transforming someone who had been vilified by the British into a hero.
Works Cited
Thiong’o, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, and Micere Githae Mugo. The Trial of Dedan Kimathi. Waveland Press, 1976.