Machakos Kyamwilu ‘gravity pull gone crazy’

By Marion Ndung’u

Situated in the heart of Eastern Kenya, the area is dry with largely sandy soils, making it virtually impossible to grow crops.

And here stands a phenomenon that even scientists have not quite managed to demystify.

A few kilometres off Machakos towards Kangundo, one goes on free gear for about 100 metres when climbing a hill.

Weird as it may sound, this is the reality of Kyamwilu hill.

The hill has baffled locals and scientists with the forces of gravity seemingly operating contrary to the norm.

In the colonial days; a tale is told of a colonialist having stopped his vehicle downhill to fetch water from a nearby stream in the Valley to cool his car engine.

He had forgotten to put the handbrake and on returning he found his vehicle uphill.

The man was shocked, having witnessed such a weird and borderline magical occurrence.

The hill has become a site of tourist attraction to many.

A group of men sit at a corner and when a vehicle stops they offer information about the hill for a small fee.

Alphonce Makau is among these men.

He says they come to the hill in the morning and wait for people to stop, then they offer them their services.

“This is what I do for a living,” Mr Makau says.

Unable to explain

At the end of the 100 metre stretch uphill there is drainage for the water that has flowed uphill. The hill is also known as Kituluni hill.

The Kamba tale about the hill goes that two brothers had married the same woman.

She used to take turns visiting each of their houses and after some time she conceived and named the child Kamau.

The wife seemed to prefer Kyallo  who lived on the lower side of the hill to Mwilu who lived on the upper side of the hill.

When she passed on, the tale concludes that the woman was buried between her two husbands but her son went to live somewhere else.

Even scientist have been unable to explain what goes on here.

If you put a bottle of water on the hill it will roll uphill instead of downhill.

Obviously, it is a rare experience even in the polygamous society to have two men marry a single woman.

This explanation by the Kamba community goes to show that the practice was considered abnormal and perhaps the reason why even the forces of nature conspired.

Running uphill is also a relatively easy task as opposed to running downhill.

For a car it also requires much more effort to go downhill than  uphill.

Water here will flow uphill to the amusement of many.

For locals however it is a somewhat a normal experience given that many have been brought up in this area where forces of nature seem to work in opposite directions.

The stretch on Kyamwillu hill is only 100 metres but baffles many.

The hill is named after the two men who were married to the same woman and who seemingly were jealous of each other. 

A number of vehicles stop and people-mostly visitors- get out to marvel at the happenings at the hill.

They pour water, run and experiment with their vehicles the wonder of the hill.

Worthwhile experience

Until scientists find a reason behind the abnormal occurrence at the hill people will believe the story of Kyallo and Mwilu.

For religious believers it is a miracle.

Meanwhile it is a worthwhile experience to run what seems like downhill and fall short of breath.

Or perhaps chase after your ball that is going uphill.

For those who are superstitious, here is another thing to add.