Elders from Maasai, Kikuyu and Ameru at Kibuuka sacred fall in Tana River in Tharaka constituency at a past event giving sacrifice to appease the legendary Kibuuka | PHOTO- Dennis Mutua
By Dennis Mutua
In Tharaka culture, there existed several cultural practices that the community believed in and practiced during various seasons of the year such as harvesting, planting, initiations, and others.
However, to date, a number of cultural practices are still in place and residents and especially elders in vast Tharaka land believes and practises them.
Among these beliefs is the Community legend Kibuuka who is said to have disappeared into the deep waters of River Tana many years ago after the Tharaka community who he had led and delivered in numerous battles against other communities angered him.
Despite him disappearing into the waters with all his belongings long ago, Kibuuka’s spirits are still evident in the community and elders conduct traditional prayers at the banks of River Tana every year to appease his spirits after what is said to be a curse he left behind that Atharaka shall never again get a savior after they upset him. Before every planting season commences, these elders led by Atharaka religious leader known as Mugwe conducts prayers at the place to ask for blessings from Kibuuka for bumper harvests in the season.
Also when rains delays, the same elders conduct prayers to appease Kibuuka’s spirits to have mercy and open the heavens to shower the community with rains, the practice that elders believe to work for the community and has continued to date.
However despite many years of practice, now a group of pastors from Tharaka has come out to strongly condemn the worshiping of the community legend terming it as unGodly and thus vowing to stop it by prayers.
According to Pastor Severino Kithuuka who led other clergy members, the practice of praying to Kibuuka is showing disrespect to God and as a result, God has shown Tharaka people his back as it has been manifested in a bunch of problems facing Tharaka in terms of even leadership.
“Without the spirit of Kibuuka leaving Tharaka, we shall not experience any form of development. The issue of tarmacked roads stalling at the entry of our county while our leaders have continued to fight by themselves is a clear indication of Kibuuka’s curse to Tharaka that has continued to affect us,’’ he said.
Kithuuka says even among the clergy, the curse has not spared them as they have experienced pastors fall from their ministries and becoming useless people in society in the most shocking turn of events.
The pastors say that paying respect and taking commands from the dead biblically equals praying idol gods and it should come to an end or else the wrath of God will befall the Tharaka community.
Another cultural practice the pastors have vowed to stop is Kirimo, a super animal that swallows and vomits people as a rite of passage that they said should be a thing of the past since it is retrogressive and does not help the community in any way.
Their sentiments have however been criticized by community elders who have said that there is a need to conserve community culture like it has been in other communities as a way of promoting cultural heritage.
Their argument has been backed by Rev. Dr.Mugambi Mwithimbu a master’s Arts degree holder in religion from the University of North Carolina, the USA saying he is willing to enlighten the clergy and anyone else with such thoughts.
“I am willing to enlighten those who are like me when my mind was a `truly dominated nation’ by colonial ideas. We shall help with guidance as much as they may want,’’ Rev. Mwithimbu said.
With a well-organized SALT organization that safeguards the Atharaka culture in place and where Mwithimbu is a member, the community waits to see the direction the battle between the two groups will take as events unfold.
