The following version of this play was used to create the guide: wa Thiong’o, Ngugi and wa Mirii, Ngugi. I Will Marry When I Want. Rev Socialist for Socialist Stories, 1977.

wa Thiong’o and wa Mirii’s play takes place over three acts and revolves around the experience of Kiguunda, a poor farm laborer, in post-independence Kenya.

The play opens in Kiguunda’s home, where he and his wife, Wangeci, wonder why Kioi, a wealthy businessman, has asked to visit them. They at first speculate that his visit might have to do with Kioi’s son John Muhuuni wanting to marry their daughter Gathoni, but then realize that Kioi is probably coming to see if he can buy Kiguunda’s land so that a foreign company can build an insecticide factory on it.

Kiguunda’s neighbor, Gicaamba, comes over before Kioi and launches into a tirade about the plight of Kenyan workers and the need to achieve liberation. Finally, Kioi, his wife Jezebel, and a newly wealthy farmer and shopkeeper named Samuel Ndugire arrive. They discuss the importance of religion and tell Kiguunda and Wangeci that they should be baptized and have a proper church wedding. Kiguunda refuses and becomes angry and violent, causing the wealthy visitors to flee. Gathoni enters and tells her parents that she has decided to accompany John Muhuuni to Mombasa for a week. Kiguunda and Wangeci realize that Gathoni’s marriage to John Muhuuni might be contingent on their having a church wedding.

As they discuss whether Kiguunda and Wangeci should capitulate to Kioi’s demands, Kiguunda and Gicaamba reminisce about their pre-independence days and patriotism in the fight for independence. Wangeci tells Kiguunda that they should join Kioi’s church for Gathoni’s sake. Kiguunda grabs his sword and goes with Wangeci to see Kioi the following evening. He tells Kioi that they will have the wedding, but that they do not have the money to pay for it. Kioi offers Kiguunda two options: he can either sell his land to the foreign company that wants to build the insecticide factory, or borrow money from a bank with the land as security. Kiguunda agrees to bring the title-deed over the next day so that they can take it to the bank.

Armed with their new loan, Kiguunda and Wangeci redecorate their home and prepare for their upcoming church wedding. Unfortunately, Gathoni returns from Mombasa distraught because she has become pregnant and John Muhuuni jilted her. Kiguunda and Wangeci march angrily to Kioi’s house and demand that he help them. Jezebel enters with a pistol and orders Kioi to surrender his sword. He does, but as they are leaving, Jezebel shoots him.

Kiguunda survives, but loses his job and becomes an alcoholic. Without the loan, their home reverts to its prior state of disrepair. Wangeci begs him to stop drinking, and the two fight. Finally, Kiguunda decides that they are stronger together and must unite to defeat the true enemy, Kioi and the other elites. Gicaamba ends the play by leading a song about the need to unite the masses to prepare for the second revolution.