The Kikuyu Council of Elders has condemned the torture and humiliation of a circumcised 15-year-old teenager in Naivasha.
The elders through Kiama Kia Maa called for deterrent punishment of the culprits who planned and executed the beatings that led to the teenager ending up in hospital.
The elders visited the boy in hospital as it emerged three suspects would be charged in court with attempted murder.
Captain Kung'u Muigai, on behalf of the elders, condemned the cruelty saying Kikuyu customs do not condone violence.
He said elders countrywide circumcised over 10,000 boys with only two cases of bullying reported.
“We only had a similar incident in Gatundu and the suspects have been arrested. This is one of the most evil acts that I have seen,” he said.
Flanked by Kikuyu elders, he challenged political leaders from Central Kenya to support the ongoing initiation ceremonies.
He lauded Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi as the only leader who had embraced the exercise and supported hundreds of boys.
“We are calling on our leaders to support the ongoing initiation of boys by the elders as this is their duty and not that of the church,” he said.
Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara lauded the medics for saving the life of the boy who was in great pain when he was brought in.
She called on parents to be careful on who was mentoring their minors, noting that the Mai Mahiu incident was an eye-opener to many.
Since the weekend incident, police have arrested the step-mother, the victims’ half-brother and the main suspect who was supposed to mentor the boy.
The three were arraigned in Naivasha law courts but police applied for seven days to hold them as they complete their investigations and allow the boy to heal so that he can record a statement.
