Self-styled Kiama Kia Ma patron and President Uhuru’s cousin Capt (Rtd) Kungu Muigai was dealt a blow after the elder’s council appointed a new Patron.
Kinyua Mwangi has been named the new Kiama Kia Ma patron replacing the controversial Kungu who rose to infamy after he led the crowning of National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi as the Mt Kenya spokesman.
Kinyua will be installed as the new elders’ Patron in three week’s time in an elaborate ceremony to be conducted in Kirinyaga County where he was serving as the chairman.
His appointment was agreed on in Naivasha where the national leadership of Kiama Kia Ma met led by the national chairman Ndungu Gaithuma.
Gaithuma said the appointment of Kinyua as the patron was also endorsed by the Kikuyu Council of Elders led by their chairman Wachira Kiago.
Muturi’s coronation caused a major cultural and political rift in Mt Kenya whose ramifications are still experienced.
Both the Kiama Kia Ma and Kikuyu Council of Elders were opposed to his crowning that happened at the holy Agikuyu Shrine of Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga.
Kungu went ahead with the ceremony despite protests from the cultural leaders who feared holding a political event on such a holy ground would render the shrine unclean.
After the coronation a joint ceremony between Kiama Kia Ma and Kikuyu Council of Elders was conducted to cleanse the shrine and restore it to its former glory.
The endorsement of Kinyua as the patron leaves Kungu at an awkward place and isolated. Kungu has been leading a section of Kiama Kia Ma elders that has endorsed Muturi as the Mt Kenya spokesperson.
