UHURU KENYATTA fulfils MUGUMO TREE PROPHECY, Kikuyu elders claim...

UHURU KENYATTA fulfils MUGUMO TREE PROPHECY, Kikuyu elders claim...

The prophesied generational change in leadership after the fall of a Mugumo tree in Nyeri last month has come to pass.

Early last month, the sleepy Giakanja Village received overwhelming popularity, after the giant and mystic tree fell, with elders claiming it was predicting a change in leadership from older generation to the younger ones.

According to the talk, the happening at Giakanja Village can be described as ituika, a word that means change of guard from one age group to the other.

The leaders intimated that the fall symbolised ascension to power of a younger breed of leaders, which somehow directed at the president-elect, Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate William Ruto.

It was in Samuel Wang’ondu’s homestead that the famous tree tumbled after downpour.

Surprise after the fall

“It came as a surprise when we saw what had happened to the tree,” said Wang’ondu who said the tree could be more than 200-years-old.

Mr Samuel Kamitha, the Director General of Gikuyu and Mumbi Cultural Museum noted that in Kikuyu culture, falling of a mugumo tree is referred to as ituika, which means change of guard or an end of a dynasty. Kamitha said that whenever a mugumo tree fell in Gikuyu land; it had a meaning to the community.

He noted that in 1963, a huge mugumo tree fell in Thika, and this led to the exit of colonialists, who were being fought by a local group, the Mau Mau.

Kikuyu prophet Mugo wa Kibiru also prophesied the Thika tree, according to Kamitha and a Kikuyu elder, Wanjohi Waweru.

“Mugo prophesied that the fall of a giant mugumo tree in Thika would symbolise the end of European rule in Kenya,” said Waweru.

When the British Colonial government learnt of the prophecy, they built an iron ring around it to prevent it from falling. 

“In 1963, the tree split and fell in two parts, hence leading to an independent Kenya led by Mzee Jomo Kenyatta,” said Waweru.

Retreat by elders

Kamitha said the elders also scheduled to retreat to Mount Kenya for traditional prayers to help them translate the secret behind the tree’s fall.

What was not clear in the villagers’ minds is whether Uhuru would succeed Kibaki as the community leader or as president, until the prophecy came to be yesterday dawn when various media houses reported that the Jubilee team had scooped the mandatory 50 per cent-plus-one votes.

The news, which started streaming in as early as 3am saw most residents flock streets in Nyeri, Nanyuki, Murang’a, Kirinyaga and Kiambu, as they celebrated Uhuru’s victory.
Kamitha said the victory was a fulfilment of the Giakanja prophecy, and noted that the group of elders will soon hold a ceremony at the site.

“We went to Mt Kenya for prayers on February 28 to ask for divine intervention, and our prayers have been answered. We will soon come back to Giakanja and plant another tree, as well as conduct more ceremonies,” he said, adding that more good things are lined up for Kenya.

Courtesy of Standard Digital