The National Gikuyu Cultural Association, Kiama- kia- Ma in Nyeri is seeking government’s intervention in weeding-out cultural groups, which are planning to infiltrate and corrupt the initiation ceremony for young boys this year after the candidates sit for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education.
The elders have asked security agents, to stay vigilant and to investigate the activities of the illegal groups, which are bent on causing cultural conflict and promoting outlawed cultural practices such as Female Genital Mutilation.
The elders noted that the intrusion by the outlawed groups had already taken place in Kajiado County and Mai-Mahiu in Nakuru County and there were plans to encroach into Nyeri via Southern part of the County.
“There are groups which are trying to soil Kiama Kia Ma by copying and corrupting what we do. We might not be able to say everything that they are planning, but we are asking the National Government to take stringent action to stem out that intrusion into our community,” said the Chairman, Nyeri County Kiama kia Ma Nyeri, Wachira Matheri.
The cultural elders who were speaking after submitting their petition to the Nyeri County Commissioner, Pius Murugu, equally released a list of initiation centres in the eight Sub-counties, where they will be conducting the rite of passage. The centres are Ihururu,Muthinga,Narumoru,Njui Igiri, Wanjee Camp,Othaya,Mathari and Tetu .
While explaining the Kikuyu initiation process, the elders also warned parents whose children will undergo the initiation ceremony in November, after the candidates sit for their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education, to be wary of the groups which they said, will corrupt the morals of the initiates by encouraging them to sway from Kikuyu cultural values.
The elders stated that only boys would undergo circumcision, whereas the girls will be taken through counselling by Kikuyu cultural women (Nyakinyua).
“The circumcision for boys is performed by doctors. The cultural elders counsel the young boys, while our Nyakinyua will counsel and mentor girls. The counselling is aimed at building the resilience of youth throughout their lifetime, that is why we are trying to protect our young boys and girls from being misled by these outlawed groups,” said Matheri.
Parents who wish for their adolescents to undergo the rite of passage, have been advised to verify the authenticity of the elders, by visiting the Kiama Kia Ma offices in Tetu and the eight centres. According to Wachira Ndei, the Nyeri Kiama kia Ma Organizing Secretary, members of the public can also confirm the authenticity of the cultural elders, by asking the elders to produce their National and County badges.
“We are appealing to our people to be vigilant. We are also asking parents to cross check very carefully whether they are in the right place and if they are not sure, they are welcome to visit our offices in the Sub-counties and our main office in Tetu, to seek assistance,” said Ndei.
By Wangari Mwangi
