Chinese contractors sprinkle blood, spill beer for 'good luck' before starting work

An employee of East African Development Engineering and Trading Company Limited sprinkles goat blood onto a heavy commercial vehicle as part of good luck rituals before embarking on construction of 46km Karishen - Naro Moru road, Nyeri County. PHOTO: MOSE SAMMY/STANDARD

Residents of a Nyeri village were treated to a rare spectacle after Chinese contracted to build a road in the area resorted to traditional rituals before starting the work.

It was a sight to behold as members of the East African Development Engineering and Trading Company Ltd embarked on what they said were Kikuyu rituals that involved slaughtering a goat before commencing work on the Naromoru-Munyu-Karichen road.

Residents of Karichen village watched in awe as the Chinese joined village youths in performing the rites.

Kieni MP Kanini Kega, who was on an inspection tour of the project, which is in his constituency, witnessed the rare ceremony.

The contractors led by General Manager Wen Zhi Jin jointly burnt incense with locals and Kanini as part of "good luck" rituals before continuing with the construction of the 46km road in Kieni East.

The road will be constructed at a cost of Sh2.4 billion and will take two years to complete.

The goat's blood was sprinkled onto earth-movers and all other equipment that will be used in the construction, and beer spilled as part of the "good luck" rituals.

For lack of muratina (the traditional Kikuyu liquor), the contractors and residents toasted to a commercial beer before concluding their rituals.

Kanini had to calm the nerves of the locals who were concerned about the ceremony. "There is no cause for alarm. These contractors always perform these rituals in accordance with the local traditions wherever they commence work. We should allow them do their thing," he said.

The MP asked the national government to terminate services of road contractors who do not deliver.

"We have been forced to award some projects to new contractors after the previous contractors did shoddy jobs," Kanini said.