Post by nowayhaha on Apr 3, 2011 13:46:20 GMT 3
Agikuyu elders hold prayers for Ocampo Six
www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/Agikuyu+elders+hold+prayers+for+Ocampo+Six/-/1064/1137806/-/2u3mlnz/-/index.html
By JOHN NJAGI
Posted Sunday, April 3 2011 at 13:26
The Agikuyu council of elders held prayers at the Mukuru wa Nyagathanga shrine in Murang’a county to “cleanse’ the country of what they termed as the return of western powers into the affairs of an independent state.
“Our forefathers are unhappy because the enemy we fought (during the independence struggle) because he oppressed us has come back to take away our children,” they said.
The elders went through the rigours of traditional worship that included lifting arms and removal of shoes in respect of the shrine.
The elders called for the formation of a local tribunal and deferral of the ICC cases against the Ocampo six during the traditional ceremony.
“The last time elders prayed here was in 1952 when they were in the face of defeat by the colonialists during the freedom struggle. They told God if we win it will be your victory and if we lose it will be you that will lose,” said council chairman Wachira Kiogo.
The elders declared war against ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo, for what they termed as interference that would bring suffering. Ocampo was characterised as "taking away our children".
They expressed confidence in the country’s ability to resolve its internal matters and rooted for a local tribunal.
“We have people who are educated and indeed every community can produce a judge. We have no need for foreigners,” said another elder John Baptist Mugecha.
The meeting was organised by the Agikuyu council of elders and the Music Reforms Association and included performances by several musicians.
Musician Albert Gacheru, said the events would be held across the country among all communities to rally different tribes behind their cultures and vouch for local conflict resolution mechanisms.
“Foreigners are getting a chance to dictate our own affairs because we have failed at the community level to foster unity,” he argued.
The historical shrine is significant for the Kikuyu community as it was the ancestral origin for the community and was home to Gikuyu and Mumbi, who gave birth to nine daughters that went on to multiply into present Agikuyu community.
