Worshippers set for Mt Kenya prayer walk

By JOB WERU

Nyeri County

Hundreds of believers are for the third year running expected to hold a prayer walk around Mount Kenya on December 27.

The group, under Gikuyu and Mumbi Cultural Museum, acquired a licence to hold the annual event from the Internal Security Ministry.

Speaking to The Standard on the telephone, the event organiser Samuel Kamitha said the prayer session aimed at enhancing national unity and integration among communities.

He added that they had intentions of converting it into an international prayer walk.

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Incorporate all Kenyans

"The event is a tourism expedition that will promote cultural diversity between Kenyans and international communities," he said.

"We have received communication from foreigners who are interested, although we first want to establish the annual event and incorporate all Kenyans before reaching for others," said Kamitha.

The event was in the last two years termed a security threat, with the police suspecting members of the outlawed Mungiki sect would infiltrate it.

Last year, officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit were stationed at Samson’s Corner along Embu-Makutano Road to screen participants who drove around the mountain in vehicles marked with sky-blue ribbons.

In 2008, participants in the event were dispersed by police officers over fears of the Mungiki.

Mr Kamitha said the Internal Security ministry had allowed the participants to go on with the prayers, adding that PCs from Central, Eastern and the Rift Valley had been instructed to offer security.

"We are peace loving Kenyans and we would not associate ourselves with criminals," he said.

Another participant, Ms Ruth Njoroge, who has participated since 2008, said the event was aimed at bringing together all communities, more so after the post-election violence.

Open to all

"The prayers are open to everybody, and I have my friends from the Maasai and Mijikenda communities who have promised to accompany me. We are all Kenyans and Mt Kenya belongs to all communities," she said.