Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba has criticised a ritual carried out by a group of elders in Githunguri, describing the breaking of calabashes as “idol worship” and urging residents to rely on prayer rather than traditional practices in resolving disputes.
In a statement shared on X, Wamuchomba defended President William Ruto, saying his leadership was divinely chosen following the 2022 General Election.
“In 2022, we prayed to God Almighty for a President and He answered our prayers. He gave us William Samoei Ruto. He is God-given. If there is ever to be change, it will come through the same prayers not through witchcraft, not through calabashes, and certainly not through conflict,” she stated.
The remarks come after a group of Kikuyu elders conducted a traditional ritual in Githunguri involving the breaking of calabashes.
The ritual was linked to a dispute over a 58-acre parcel of land set aside for an affordable housing project.
The elders claim the land is sacred and accuse authorities of disregarding cultural heritage in pushing ahead with the project.
They were reportedly blocked from accessing the site and instead carried out the ritual along the roadside.
The act, which is considered symbolic in some Kikuyu traditions, was meant to express rejection of the project and those involved in it.
The incident has sparked debate in the area, with residents and leaders divided over the use of traditional rituals in modern land disputes.
Supporters of the elders argue that cultural practices remain a legitimate form of expression and resistance, especially in matters touching on ancestral land.
Others, including Wamuchomba, have dismissed the act, calling for lawful and prayer-based approaches instead.
The dispute has since moved to court, where the Kiambu High Court ordered a suspension of construction activities on the contested land pending determination of the case.