Thieves broke into the Mitheru Tourism and Cultural Centre in Tharaka Nithi County, near the infamous Nithi bridge, and stole several Ameru cultural artefacts.
The unknown criminals also vandalized and stole eight doors from the facility, which is owned by the Tharaka Nithi County government but run by the Ameru Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders.
Njuri Ncheke elders, led by Muthambi sub-county chapter chairman Japhet Njagi, condemned the incident on Wednesday, saying they had lost several items including clothes, musical instruments, weapons, and cooking utensils used in ancient times.
As the center does not have a caretaker, he believes the theft could have happened several days earlier.
“The houses have been vandalised and very many cultural artefacts, including bows, arrows, spears, shields, baskets, shoes, and pottery, stolen by unknown criminals,” Mr Njagi said.
According to the center’s chairman, Marangu Mugo, the day and night watchmen left after the county government stopped paying them.
The center was built by Meru’s first governor, Samuel Ragwa, and fenced by the current governor, Muthomi Njuki, but the artefacts are the property of the Njuri Ncheke.
The enraged elders have ordered the criminals to return the items, including the doors, and apologize or face curses and unspecified consequences.
According to Mr Mugo, the criminals destroyed some of the artefacts and scattered the pieces in the open rooms and outside.
He urged Governor Njuki to pay the guards so they could return to work.
The center was originally intended as a stopover for local and international tourists climbing Mt Kenya through the Chogoria gate.
