Kikuyu elders cleanse fallen mugumo tree

Kikuyu Council of Elders Wednesday performed an unusual ceremony at Kiamigwi village in Mathira Constituency to spiritually and culturally relegate a former shrine to normal status after a fig tree serving as the symbol of the memorial fell two weeks ago.

In a bid to mark the end of the holy place, the elders conducted the ceremony, which involved slaughtering and offering of burnt sacrifice of a sheep without blemish with another being feasted upon.

The elders had to first subject themselves to an eight-day fast in a bid to pray and sanctify themselves before offering the sacrifice.

They said the site, which had served as a memorial for the Agikuyu for over two centuries that the tree has existed, had upon the rituals, ceased to be a shrine and the land can be put to alternative use.

Their explanation however contradicted speculations that the falling of the tree had some political significance.

The council High Priest, Mathenge Wa Iregi, said the falling of the tree had no political implication as it fell due to old age and rotting of its roots.

“The mugumo tree died a natural death just as people do, with no political connotation,” said the priest in a colorful event that attracted a huge crowd of villagers, especially women who are culturally not allowed to attend such ceremonies, watching from a safe distance.

He said the event was open to all because it was a prayer ceremony though conducted traditionally where they also prayed for rains to end the dry spell as well as have peaceful elections.

The elders also cautioned that the fallen tree should not be put to any use such as firewood or timber, but left to decompose naturally, upon which the land could be put to other use.

In 2012, a similar tree fell at Giakanja in Tetu constituency where the elders performed similar rituals and announced that it signified change of guard in national political leadership.

They said it marked the change of leadership from an old guard to a youthful leader.