By Bonface Mulyungi
Kikuyu elders on Friday held a symbolic traditional ritual in Githunguri, Kiambu County, breaking a calabash as a sign of a curse against individuals and authorities they accuse of undermining Kikuyu heritage.
The ceremony, conducted on a contested 58-acre parcel of land earmarked for the government’s Affordable Housing Project, brought together elders from groups including the Kikuyu Council of Elders, Kenya Unity for Heritage and Culture, and the Maina and Mwangi clans.
The elders insist the land holds deep cultural and historical significance and should be preserved as a heritage site.
Tensions marked the event after police initially restricted access to the site, forcing the elders to carry out their prayers and rituals outside the designated area.
During the ritual, the elders called on the government to immediately halt the housing project and instead honour the prophecy of Mugo wa Kibiru by establishing a cultural shrine on the land. They argued that the site is spiritually significant and forms part of the community’s identity and historical continuity.
However, Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba has defended the Affordable Housing Project, noting that the land has remained idle for years. She maintains that the development will deliver tangible benefits to local residents, including improved housing and economic opportunities.
The standoff reflects a broader clash between development priorities and cultural preservation, with elders accusing authorities of sidelining indigenous heritage in favour of modern infrastructure projects.
