Members of the Kikuyu Council of Elders, representing the revered Kiama kia Ma outfit in Kiambu County, convened on Tuesday to conduct prayer rituals following the unexpected fall of a fig tree, known as a Mugumo, on Monday evening, amidst the ongoing rains.
The colossal tree, a significant symbol within the Kikuyu community, collapsed across a road near the residence of former Attorney General Paul Kihara, obstructing passage and stirring concerns among locals.
For the Kikuyu, the felling of a Mugumo tree carries profound significance, often regarded as an ominous event marking the conclusion of an era.
Amidst the inconvenience caused by the fallen tree, blocking the busy Kanunga-Banana road in Kiambaa subcounty, motorists were compelled to seek alternative routes, navigating detours to reach their destinations.
Shamte Munyua, Chairman of Kiama Kia Ma in Kiambu County, expressed gratitude that despite the commotion caused by the fallen tree, no harm befell individuals or passing vehicles. Munyua underscored the importance of convening elders to discern the cause behind the tree’s collapse and to beseech divine protection for the community.
“When a Mugumo tree falls, it warrants the attention of elders, who conduct rituals to seek understanding and implore divine intervention to avert any ill omens,” Munyua explained.
The Mugumo tree, characterized by its amalgamation of multiple trees growing as one, is revered as a sacred site and is traditionally utilized as a spiritual locus by Kikuyu elders.
Elder Kimani wa Kuria, known as Muthamaki, emphasized the sanctity of the Mugumo tree, noting its historical significance as a revered place of worship and congregation for elders.
Following the removal of the fallen tree from the road, rituals will be performed to honor the tree’s spiritual legacy and ensure its respectful disposal. Munyua emphasized that the community will reconvene in ten days to conduct further rites aimed at appeasing the gods and fostering unity and protection among the people.
The falling of the Mugumo tree has sparked introspection among elders, who perceive it as a potential message from the divine, urging the community to mend divisions and rekindle unity.
Residents recounted the momentous event, describing a thunderous thud akin to an earthquake that reverberated through neighboring homes, prompting them to venture out in the rain to investigate.
The Mugumo tree, steeped in myth and legend, has long been revered among the Agikuyu, believed to house ancestral spirits and serve as a conduit for prayers and offerings to the divine.
As custodians of tradition, the Kikuyu elders uphold the reverence for the Mugumo tree, ensuring its sacred legacy endures for generations to come.
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