Wrangles threaten Kaya Fungo sanctity

Politics and leadership wrangles are threatening the sanctity of the Kaya Fungo, a shrine for the Giriama community, elders have said. According to Thayari Mwaringa, who claimed to have ousted from the Kaya Fungo leadership by a powerful person he declined to name, the shrine is being run by people who are unable to conduct important rituals. Speaking to the Star in his Gotani village in Kaya Fungo on Friday, Mwaringa claimed that the sacred shrine has been taken over by individuals who are working with politicians, which is against the Mijikenda traditions. “I have been in the shrine for over 10 years, but I was chased away and other people took over. But they know very little about the Kaya rituals,” he said. The shrine has not had stable leadership since the demise of Simba Wanje, four years ago.