Gikuyu elders are sharply divided following revelations that there is a plan to install National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi as the Mt Kenya region spokesman at the revered Gikuyu shrine – Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga.
And it emerged that some worried elders have vowed they will not allow the event to proceed saying conducting a political coronation will defile the shrine and result in disaster.
A section of Gikuyu Council of Elders and Kiama Kia Ma elders are said to be behind the event slated for next weekend at the holy shrine in Gaturi ward, Murang’a County.
Self-styled Kiama Kia Ma elders’ patron Cpt Kungu Muigai is said to be behind the event which come barely a month after another occasion where Muturi was installed as the Mt Kenya East spokesperson in Embu.
Muturi was also taken to the Njuri Ncheke shrine in Meru where received blessings from the elders and where Muigai was present.
National Chairman of the Kikuyu Council of Elders Wachira Kiago disowned the group that is organizing the event together with Muigai saying he is not aware and that his council is not involved in the event.
The National Deputy Chairman of Kiama Kia Ma Dr Michael Mugo denounced the event saying it does not have the blessings of the elders. Mugo said Kiama Kia Ma removed the position of the patron in their constitution and therefore Kungu was an imposter with no role.
“The position of patron does not exist. We removed it from our constitution because it had been sneaked in without proper processes. Capt Muigai cannot therefore speak on behalf of Kiama Kia Ma elders,’’ said Dr Mugo.
The issue has caused sharp divisions among the elders with many cautioning against defiling the Gikuyu shrine with political issues – saying it is a holy ground for prayers and cultural events.
They warned that the last time a political coronation event was conducted at the shrine resulted in a deadly catastrophe that affected the organisers.
Muturi has been working silently in the region with the aim of positioning himself as the next kingpin of Mt Kenya region when President Uhuru retires.
However, many people say Muturi is jumping the gun because during the Mt Kenya Leadership Forum popularly known as Sagana 3 that was hosted by President Uhuru at State Lodge Sagana – it was agreed that Uhuru remains the spokesperson for the region.
It was also agreed that President Uhuru would call another meeting towards the end of this year after the conclusion of the BBI process where the region will map the political future post his presidency.
It is against this background that many elders are frowning at the political maneuvers that Muturi and other leaders are conducting in the region.
