Structure of the Play

The play is divided into three acts. Act One has no scenes, Act Two is divided into two scenes, and Act Three contains three scenes. Each act presents important events that develop the themes of poverty, exploitation, religion, and social inequality.

ACT ONE

The play begins at the home of Kiguunda and Wangeci, who live a very poor life. Their house is small, made of mud walls, and has only one room for the whole family. Their daughter, Gathoni, sleeps on the floor using old rags as bedding. This setting immediately shows the harsh living conditions of peasant families after independence.

Kiguunda and Wangeci prepare for the visit of Kioi and his wife, Jezebel. While repairing a broken chain, Kiguunda accidentally drops his title deed. He proudly picks it up because the land is the only valuable property he owns. However, Wangeci is not impressed because the land is too small and not fertile enough to improve their lives.

The playwrights also introduce the problem of drunkenness among unemployed people. A drunkard passes near Kiguunda’s house singing loudly and behaving irresponsibly. He even urinates nearby, which annoys Wangeci and forces her to chase him away.

Another issue presented is the Harambee contributions for church building and the spread of Christianity. Kiguunda and Wangeci dislike the idea of poor people being forced to contribute money to churches. Kiguunda questions the importance of building churches that are only used once a week. Because of this, he angrily sends away a group of church singers who come to persuade them.

Conflict is also seen within the family. Wangeci complains that Gathoni spends too much time dressing her hair instead of helping with domestic work. Gathoni becomes angry and complains about the poverty she faces, including not being sent to school and sleeping on the floor with rags as bedding. She exchanges bitter words with her mother until Kiguunda intervenes harshly.

Afterward, Kiguunda and Wangeci discuss how modern children have lost respect for their parents and morals in society are declining.

The issue of low wages and the rising cost of living is also discussed. After running out of salt, the family realizes they do not even have enough money to buy basic needs. Gathoni is sent to borrow salt from Gicaamba. Kiguunda complains that prices of goods continue to rise while wages remain very low, despite people working long hours on the farms of wealthy individuals like Ikuua wa Nditika and Kioi. He calls such rich people “bedbugs” because they exploit poor workers.

The relationship between Gathoni and John Muhuuni is another important issue in this act. Wangeci believes Gathoni’s behavior has changed because of her relationship with John, who often hoots his car outside their home. Gathoni later leaves to meet him. Wangeci begins to imagine that Kioi and Jezebel’s visit might concern marriage plans between John and Gathoni, although Kiguunda does not believe so.

Later, Gicaamba and Njooki are introduced. They warn Kiguunda and Wangeci that relationships between rich and poor families rarely end in marriage because people usually marry within their social class. They also discuss the exploitation of workers in farms and factories, blaming wealthy Africans like Kioi and Ikuua for serving the interests of foreigners from Europe and America.

Eventually, the expected visitors arrive: Kioi, Jezebel, Samuel Ndugire, and Helen. They are elegantly dressed and begin preaching Christianity to Kiguunda and Wangeci. They persuade the couple to become Christians and bless their marriage in church. Kiguunda becomes angry and chases them away, while Wangeci feels he acted too quickly before understanding their true purpose.

At the end of the act, Gathoni returns wearing new clothes and shoes. Her parents become upset because they know they did not buy them for her. Gathoni reveals that John has invited her to accompany him to Mombasa for a week. Kiguunda becomes furious, but Gathoni ignores him and leaves with John. Wangeci comforts her husband, still hoping that the church wedding proposal may eventually lead to marriage between Gathoni and John.

ACT TWO

Scene One

Kiguunda explains to Gicaamba and Njooki that Kioi’s family wants him and Wangeci to have a Christian wedding so that the marriage between Gathoni and John Muhuuni can be accepted.

However, Gicaamba and Njooki do not trust the promises of the rich. Gicaamba warns that promises are often empty, while Njooki insists that rich families rarely marry into poor families. Even so, she admits that true love should not depend on wealth or social class.

Gicaamba criticizes hypocrisy in society, especially in religion. He says many people attend church only for fashion and status. He also explains that churches favor the rich. According to him, when a rich person dies, the church gives them respect and prayers, but poor people are neglected. He supports this argument with the proverb, “A rich man’s fart does not stick,” meaning that society easily ignores the mistakes of wealthy people.

Gicaamba further rejects Christian marriage, arguing that traditional African marriages also receive blessings. He believes Christianity was introduced by colonialists to weaken Africans and make exploitation easier. He recalls how some African religious leaders cooperated with colonial authorities during the detention of freedom fighters in camps such as Manyani, Mageta, and Hola. While some people betrayed others, brave individuals like Wanjeri refused to do so.

In the end, Gicaamba discourages Kiguunda and Wangeci from accepting the church wedding arrangement. However, Wangeci strongly desires the blessing because she believes it could secure a better future for Gathoni through marriage to John Muhuuni. She finally convinces Kiguunda to visit Kioi and agree to the plan.

Scene Two

The setting changes to Kioi’s luxurious home, which sharply contrasts with Kiguunda’s poor house. Kioi’s house contains sofas, a television, electric lights, plastic flowers, and a radiogram. On the wall are Christian messages such as: “Christ is the Head of This House,” “The Unseen Guest at Every Meal,” and “The Silent Listener to Every Conversation.” These decorations emphasize the family’s outward display of Christianity.

Present in the house are Kioi, Jezebel, Samuel Ndugire, Helen, Ikuua wa Nditika, and a waiter. Before leaving, Ikuua discusses plans to build an insecticide factory with foreign investors. They agree that the factory should be built in poor areas rather than near the homes of wealthy people. Ikuua suggests buying land cheaply from poor peasants like Kiguunda, claiming they sell land because of laziness. He advises Kioi to register the land in the name of his wife or son instead of his own name.

The discussion also reveals greed among the rich. Ikuua, who already has two wives, expresses interest in marrying a third wife. Meanwhile, Kioi tells Ndugire that he has sent his son to inspect land near Watamu Bay where he plans to build a tourist hotel. He explains that tourism brings huge profits because many visitors come from countries such as America, France, and Germany.

The wealthy characters also complain about workers demanding higher wages, even when workers struggle to pay school fees and medical bills. In addition, they criticize churches run by poor and uneducated people.

When Kiguunda and Wangeci arrive, they are treated with disrespect. A waiter quickly removes a tray before Wangeci can take tea, showing humiliation and class discrimination. They are also given water from a drum instead of from the beautiful jar placed on the table.

Kiguunda finally explains why they came: they have agreed to bless their marriage in church. Kioi and his group are pleased to hear this. However, Kiguunda admits that he cannot afford the expenses of the ceremony because of financial difficulties. Kioi advises him to take a loan and promises to help him secure it. Kiguunda agrees and promises to bring the title deed the following day.

ACT THREE

Scene One

The scene opens at Kiguunda’s home, which now looks very different from before. The family has bought new household items such as plates, cups, basins, a dining table with chairs, and a suitcase. Christian words similar to those displayed in Kioi’s house are also written on the wall. These changes show that Kiguunda and Wangeci are trying to imitate the lifestyle of the rich and prepare themselves for their church wedding blessing.

Kiguunda and Wangeci are very happy and excited about the coming church ceremony. They even rehearse the wedding process by singing Christian songs together.

However, their happiness is suddenly interrupted when Gathoni arrives home crying bitterly. She reveals that John Muhuuni has abandoned her after making her pregnant. According to Gathoni, John had convinced her that he could not marry a woman before she became pregnant because he feared marrying a barren wife.

Kiguunda becomes angry and tells Gathoni that she ignored his advice, so she must now face the consequences of her actions. Wangeci, however, suggests that they should visit Kioi and request that the young couple be allowed to marry first before the church blessing of Kiguunda and Wangeci takes place.

Scene Two

The setting shifts to Kioi’s luxurious home, where Kioi and Ikuua are busy counting money. They discuss plans for establishing a factory and agree that land should be bought cheaply from poor peasants. Ikuua suggests that convincing Kiguunda to sell his land would greatly benefit them.

Kioi also displays nepotism by suggesting that his son, John Muhuuni, should become the director of the factory. He argues that “charity begins at home,” meaning that positions and opportunities should first benefit their own family members.

After Ikuua leaves, Kiguunda and Wangeci arrive at Kioi’s house. They politely ask Kioi to postpone their church blessing and instead allow John and Gathoni to marry because Gathoni is already pregnant.

Kioi reacts angrily and completely denies the accusation. He insists that his son was raised in a proper Christian manner and could never behave in such a way. He then chases Kiguunda and Wangeci away, accusing them of speaking nonsense.

Kiguunda becomes furious and threatens to take the matter to court, but Kioi confidently says that it will not help. In anger, Kiguunda draws his sword and threatens to kill Kioi unless he accepts responsibility. Before the situation worsens, Jezebel enters carrying a gun and orders Kiguunda to drop the sword. Kiguunda obeys, but when he tries to pick it up again, Jezebel fires a shot into the air, causing Kiguunda to collapse in fear and shock.

This scene confirms that Gathoni and John will never marry. It also proves Njooki’s earlier warning that rich families rarely allow their children to marry into poor families.

At this point, Kiguunda and Wangeci become completely disillusioned because their hopes and dreams of joining the wealthy class through marriage have been destroyed.

Scene Three

The final scene returns to Kiguunda’s home after two weeks. The house now looks exactly as poor as it did at the beginning of the play. All the new furniture and household items are gone except for the picture of Nebuchadnezzar and the Christian words written on the wall. This shows that the family has lost everything.

Wangeci sits in deep sadness while Njooki comforts her. Gicaamba also appears shocked and disappointed by what has happened to the family.

This scene highlights the suffering and mistreatment of women in society. Gathoni has been chased away from home by her father, something that deeply pains Wangeci. Wangeci worries because Gathoni has become a barmaid, a job she associates with prostitution.

Gicaamba, however, advises Wangeci not to blame her daughter alone. He argues that society and parents have failed women by denying them education and opportunities. He explains that women have been oppressed both by traditional customs and colonial systems.

Gicaamba further reminds the others that women played an important role in Kenya’s struggle for independence. Many women sacrificed and even died in the forests during the liberation struggle, yet they continue to be ignored and marginalized in society.

Njooki also criticizes domestic work, saying that housemaids are often mistreated and exploited by their employers, especially by male bosses when their wives are absent.

Meanwhile, Kiguunda has lost his job after quarreling with Kioi. Since he failed to repay the loan he borrowed, the bank has sold his land to Kioi, Ikuua, and their foreign partners. His heavy drinking worsened his situation because instead of paying the loan, he sold his furniture and wasted money on alcohol.

Kiguunda and Wangeci constantly quarrel because Wangeci disapproves of his drinking habit. Their argument even turns into a physical fight before Gicaamba and Njooki separate them.

Gicaamba advises the couple to stop fighting because violence will not solve their problems. Instead, he encourages them to unite and think carefully about the real causes of their suffering, such as exploitation, poverty, and oppression.

In the end, Gicaamba emphasizes that unity among workers and peasants is the only way to fight against exploitation and overcome poverty. He also warns against excessive drinking, explaining that alcohol cannot solve social or economic problems.