The Kiama Kia Ma, a Kikuyu cultural supreme authority led by Kungu Muigai, the national patron, has said circumcision for boys will go on this year despite stiff opposition from a splinter group.
“’It is a trend in Kikuyu culture that when a boy attains 14 years they know they have attained the age of becoming a man through circumcision and this year is not an exception and we have opened centres for boys to be circumcised,” Kungu said.
Speaking during the installation of elder John Karuthi as a Muthamaki (King), Kungu said circumcision of boys belongs to the father, the boy and the uncle and no uncle should ask for anything.
“The boy asks for blessings from the uncle to be circumcised. This is because we know that it is their blood which we will spill and no uncle should ask for anything but offer blessings,” he said.
He was reacting to a section of elders who have publicly announced that there will be no circumcision this year.
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“Why are some elders stopping circumcision and they are not the ones who are being circumcised? Circumcision is not done based on education but attainment of 14 years by the boys. Even if some parents do not have financial capability they should bring the boys to the elders and they will undergo the initiation process. We do not lock out boys to become men,” he said.
Shamte Munyua, chairman Kiama Kia Ma Kiambu chapter, said the only thing that can stop circumcision is famine, disease or war.
‘We are not at war, we have no famine in our land neither do we have a pandemic. These are the only instances that can stop the rite of passage,” Munyua said.
A splinter group explained that the decision to suspend this year’s circumcision aims at allowing boys to complete their Junior Secondary School (JSS) without disruption.
The elders noted that circumcising Grade 8 boys would have no meaning as they would return to Grade 9, which is still domiciled in primary school.
Routinely, the community has circumcised boys transitioning from primary to secondary school.
The elders who are mandated to conduct the rites were asked to prepare for the occasion and also called on parents to present their sons for the occasion.
This year’s ceremony will be conducted on November 9, 2024 at Hillcrest Academy in Kanunga village, Kiambu Sub-county, and on November 11, 2024 at Hilltop Academy in Karuri village, Kiambaa Sub-county.
By Felix Wanderi
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