Elders perform rituals after Mugumo tree falls in Kiambu

Kikuyu Council of Elders Kiama kia Ma outfit in Kiambu County on Tuesday performed prayer rituals after a fig tree fell Monday evening due to the ongoing rains.

The tree, popularly known as Mugumo in Kikuyu community, fell across the road near former attorney general Paul Kihara's home, rendering the road impassable.

Falling of a Mugumo tree is considered a bad omen in the Kikuyu culture as it's believed to signify the end of an era.

The fallen tree, considered sacred by the Kikuyu community, blocked the busy Kanunga- Banana road in Kiambaa subcounty.

Motorists were forced to take longer alternative routes to their destinations.

Shamte Munyua, Kiama Kia Ma chairman, Kiambu County, who attended the prayer ritual said they are glad the tree did not hurt anyone or fall on passing vehicles despite the road being busy and having homesteads nearby.

"This is the grace of God as no one was harmed due to the falling of the tree," Munyua said.

He said when a Mugumo tree falls, elders visit the scene to establish why it fell and pray to God not to allow any bad omen to befall the community.

"Mugumo tree is not planted by anyone and it lives upto over 500 years and when it falls since it used to be the shrine for the elders, we must come and establish why it has fallen and pray to God so that nothing befalls the community," he said.

Mugumo tree is a combination of many trees growing up together as one tree which makes it impossible to fall.

Munyua said as elders, they suspect that the falling of the tree may signify that God is not happy for the division of the Kikuyu community and wants them to foster unity amongst themselves.

"It might be one way that God is communicating to the community that they need to unite as they have abandoned Him and are divided," he said.

Elder Kimani wa Kuria known as Muthamaki who performed the prayer ceremony said the tree is a shrine and rituals must be performed.

"The Kikuyu elders were using the Mugumo tree as their church and that was the norm and no one would play with the tree," Kimani said

He said after the tree is cut and removed from the road, it cannot be used as a firewood but it's instead put somewhere for it to rot.

"It is only elderly women from age 80 years and above are allowed to use the Mugumo tree as firewood and anyone else younger than that who uses the tree on anything, bad omen can befall them and their families," he said.

Munyua said in 10 days, the elders will visit the scene to perform rituals to appease the gods and pray for protection, peace and unity of the community.

Kariuki Njuguna, a resident, said they heard a huge thud that around 10pm that shook nearby homes like an earthquake and electricity went off.

"It was like an earthquake where our homes trembled and we had to come out while it was raining to check what was happening," Njuguna said.

He said they found the tree had fallen from one end of the road to the other, shuttering a wall but luckily there are no homesteads nearby.

The Mugumo tree has occupied a mythical place for generations among the Agikuyu.

Most popular myth is that if one went round the Mugumo tree seven times, they would experience gender change.

No records exist of such a transformation though.

Some people also believe that spirits of ancestors dwell in Mugumo trees and their canopies have been used as shrines for offering sacrifices to gods and holding prayers.

Agikuyu ancestors believed that God would heed their prayers if they prayed under the tree.

Elders say the tree is respected for its role in the beliefs and culture of the community that have over the years helped it to thrive.