Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga shrine needs cleansing, claims Wa Iria – KBC

Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria now claims that Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga shrine needs cleansing after National assembly speaker Justin Muturi was crowned as spokesperson of GEMA communities.

Wa Iria who downplayed the crowning of Muturi said the shrine is not meant for coronating leaders but for traditional prayers.

Speaking shortly after the speaker was crowned, a section of elders from Kikuyu, Embu, Mbeere and Meru communities said the occasion turned political and the presence of police officers at the facility was an abuse to the shrine.

He said he received many calls from elders, leaders among other people from the community who wished to spearhead cleansing of the shrine.

“The coronation was a sham. No crowning occasion is done in a place believed to be sacred to the Agikuyu community. Even our political leaders were not crowned at the shrine,” stated Wa Iria.

The Saturday occasion saw heavy presence of police officers as Wa Iria had reportedly planned to stop the event.

Muturi who arrived at the Shrine at around 9am was taken through rituals which saw him ascend to spokesperson of communities from Mount Kenya region.

Elders who spoke during the occasion castigated Wa Iria for what they termed as being bothered by issues that do not concern him.

The occasion which went on peacefully after tight security from police officers was a rubber stamp that the speaker will now represent people from Mt Kenya area in all forms of negotiations including those concerning governance.

Patron of Kikuyu council of elders Captain Kung’u Muigai said coronation of Muturi was not to make him president but a person who will speak on behalf of people of east and west of Mount Kenya.

He said Muturi will not take over as leader of the region from President Kenyatta but will only serve as spokesperson.

The event received criticism especially from political leaders from the central region who termed the crowning of Muturi as null and void.

Wa Iria said he opted not to mobilize locals to block the occasion as it would have sparked chaos due to heavy presence of police officers.

“They wanted us to engage in clashes but we opted to keep off and let them continue with their things but this will call for cleansing of that shrine,” he added.

After Muturi was crowned, he said he will spearhead unity of all the communities from the Mount Kenya region.

He said the region has a strong history which needs to be protected, inviting those with different opinions to come together and deliberate on the way to move forward, saying if the region remains disunited, it is doomed to lose.

“We cannot seek better things for this region if we remain divided. I know each one has his or her opinion but we need to come together and move the region forward,” he added.