Kaya elders from the nine Mijikenda sub tribes have anointed Transport minister Ali Chirau Mwakwere as their community leader.Mr Mwakwere was anointed in a colourful ceremony in which Mijikenda cultural rites were performed. Dozens of people attended the occasion at Kaya Kinondo in Kwale District.However, other Coast MPs did not attend the ceremony, which the minister said was a private ceremony between him and Kaya elders.
The only politician who gave the minister company was Kwale county council chairman, Mshenga Ruga and officials of the Mijikenda Council of Elders, led by Mr Vincent Mwachiro.The elders, led by Mr Charo Menza Tuva of Kaya Giriama, took Mr Mwakwere inside Kaya Kinondo forest.They conducted their traditional rites that included dressing the minister in traditional Kaya attire, reserved for respected elders.
Behind him
He was then blessed by the nine Kaya elders representing the Mijikenda sub tribes, as a Digo traditional music group entertained those in attendance.To instal him as the Mijikenda leader, each of the Kaya elders handed Mr Mwakwere a stick, to signify that the whole community rallied behind him.
The Kaya elders from the nine Mijikenda sub tribes were Abdalla Mnyenze (Digo), Kalume Nzai (Duruma), Kalama Jimbi (Rabai) and Chilumo Chai of Kaya Ribe.Others were Hussein Ndenge (Kambe), Shoka Tinga (Jibana), Daniel Mwangome (Chonyi), Hamisi Dida (Kauma) and Charo Menza of Kaya Giriama.Mr Mnyenze said he could not understand why the other Mijikenda MPs snubbed the ceremony yet they were invited.“It is sad that not even one Mijikenda MP is here to witness the anointing of Mr Mwakwere as the Mijikenda community leader. All the same, we shower the minister with all our blessings,” said the Digo Kaya elder.But Mr Mwakwere downplayed the absence of his colleagues, saying the ceremony was a private matter between him and the nine Mijikenda elders.
“During such a ceremony nobody is supposed to get into the Kaya forest save for the nine Kaya elders. That is why the MPs are not here,” the minister said.After accepting the new role, the Matuga MP said he would work closely with President Mwai Kibaki, prime minister-designate Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.Mr Mwakwere, who is also the leader of the Coast-based Shirikisho Party of Kenya, said he would ensure that all the landless people in Coast Province were settled.
Greedy people
“Many Mijikenda villagers have been living as squatters because their land was grabbed by influential individuals. Some kayas were not spared by these greedy people. I will ensure that land inequalities are sorted out,” he added.
The Kaya elders asked the minister to go for the deputy prime minister’s post, to which Mr Mwakwere said he was ready for, if President Kibaki appointed him.“I have what it takes to be the deputy prime minister, but the power to appoint rests on President Kibaki,” he said.
The Kaya elders asked the minister to go for the deputy prime minister’s post, to which Mr Mwakwere said he was ready for, if President Kibaki appointed him.“I have what it takes to be the deputy prime minister, but the power to appoint rests on President Kibaki,” he said.
++++++++++++
No comments:
Post a Comment