KIKUYU women elders have called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to recognise them during the December 12 Kenya@50 celebrations.
“We are calling upon Uhuru to set aside some seats for Kikuyu traditional women and also if possible give us a chance to dance like other communities do,” said Phylis Njoki Kiambu County Kikuyu Council of Elders women leader.
Speaking yesterday at the Kikuyu Council of Elders headquarters in Karasani, Njoki said the late Jomo Kenyatta used to recognise the Kikuyu women and women from other communities during his time in power.
She said it will be of great significance if Uhuru emulates his father and honours Kikuyu women.
Kikuyu Council of Elders national chairman Wachira Kiago said kikuyu women should wear their traditional attire during the ceremony to promote Kikuyu culture which has fast faded away.
“We need to revive what our forefathers used to wear and also urge our children to be dressing decently, uphold their morals, and shun being influenced by the West,” he said.
Speaking in the same forum General Muiruri Njuguna (vetting chairman) asked the government to recognise the women who championed the struggle for independence and have since been forgotten.
"Were it not for women like Mekatilili wa Menza this nation would not have gained independence. Unfortunately they have been forgotten. The government of the day should recogniSe them due to the big role they played,” he said.
Njuguna accused the western countries that colonised Africa of wanting to come back to Africa and Kenya. He said that is why they are charging Uhuru and Deputy President William Ruto at The Hague.
“Because Britain failed to jail Jomo Kenyatta they now want to jail his son Uhuru who is the current president but we will not allow them to do that no matter what. We refuse neocolonialism,” Njuguna said.