Blemish-free bull reverts ‘cursed’ Kaimenyi to ‘true son of the Ameru’

Njuri Ncheke council of elders show a bull from Education CS Prof Jacob Kaimenyi, a fine that was imposed on him by the elders for gross misconduct that led to his curse and excommunication. He was reinstated again at the Nchiru shrine yesterday. [photo: PATRICK Muthuri/standard]

A white, spotless bull and Sh100,000 in cash were yesterday handed over to leaders of a faction of the Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders that had fined and ostracised embattled Cabinet Secretary Prof Jacob Kaimenyi three months ago.

In a ceremony held at the Njuri Ncheke shrine, a curse that had been bestowed on the CS was reversed and support declared for Kaimenyi who now reverts back to a "respected true son of the Ameru".

It was a brief ceremony attended by about 150 elders in which faction leaders Linus Kathera (chairman), Josphat Murangiri (secretary general) and Ayub Bundi (assistant secretary general) accepted the fattened Boran bull plus the token of cash to "water the elders".

SAME STEPS

"We want to announce that from today henceforth we are walking the same steps with Kaimenyi. He is our son and we shall protect him as a community including against the vote of no confidence in the National Assembly," Murangiri said.

Kathera also said following the olive branch from the CS, they now wanted Meru leaders including Senators Kiraitu Murungi, Kithure Kindiki, all MPs and Governors Peter Munya and Samuel Ragwa to lead in lobbying for support to save the Kaimenyi's troubled career.

"We want to say that Meru MPs who will attempt to go against the spirit of the Njuri Ncheke will face sanctions," Kathera said.

Prof Kaimenyi was not at the shrine. The fine bull referred to as Mirongo Ithatu (thirty thousand) and cash was handed over by Isaac Mbogori who is the Njuri Ncheke chairman representing the CS's Imenti North district.

After introductory speeches, Mbogori addressed the congregation after approaching the podium while humming a song.

He then stated his mission and offered an apology on behalf of Prof Kaimenyi who had been accused of slighting the Njuri Ncheke leadership during the homecoming party of county MP Florence Kajuju attended by Deputy President William Ruto on March 28.

Mbogori then presented the bull after asking the Imenti North elders flanking him to stand up before asking the congregation whether it accepted the fine. After a verbal confirmation, the bull was received by elders led by larger Meru region vice chairman Geofrey Mwingirwa on behalf of the seated national officials.

REMOVE CURSE

Another elder then gulped some honey and sprinkled the whole congregation starting with Kaimenyi's representatives as a gesture of restoring the blessings to and removing the spell of the curse on the CS, his family, his livestock and farms as pronounced in the cursing ceremony in May.

It was after prayers by the elder who had sprinkled honey for the well being of Prof Kaimenyi that the token to "water" the Njuri Ncheke was handed over. The elders then had a cerebratory moment even ululating briefly after conclusion of the traditional dispute settling mechanism.

According to Mwingirwa, Prof Kaimenyi was not required to be present in yesterday's ceremony because the offence he had committed was not that serious and could therefore be represented by a nominal "father".

He said in more serious cases, the offender would have to be present and a ram would be slaughtered and blood sprinkled on him. Part of the sheep hide would then be cut to be won by the offender overnight.