By Fridah Mbuvi, June 12, 2026
Traditional elders from Kirinyaga County have carried out a purification ceremony at Kutus Police Station in Gichugu Sub-County following the gradual falling of a sacred Mugumo (fig) tree within the police compound two weeks ago.
The ritual was organized by the Kirinyaga Kiama elders’ council, which brings together more than 18 elder groups from across the region. The ceremony was led by Mzee Mathenge Wa Wairegi, the oldest member of the council, who presided over the traditional rites in accordance with Agikuyu customs.
During the cleansing exercise, a sheep was slaughtered as part of the sacred ritual, with its blood sprinkled around the fallen tree site to cleanse the area and ward off what elders described as possible bad omens.
Kutus Police Station Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Dominic Muriuki briefed the elders on the circumstances under which the tree fell, noting that the matter had already been escalated to higher administrative authorities for further attention.
After the ceremony, the elders declared the site cleansed and reaffirmed that the fallen Mugumo tree remains culturally significant. They also stated that members of the local community are still permitted to access and use the area in line with traditional practices.
In Agikuyu tradition, the Mugumo tree holds deep spiritual significance as a sacred shrine associated with ancestral presence and communal prayers. Its natural fall is often interpreted as a symbolic moment of transition within the community, sometimes linked to shifts in leadership or generational change.
However, elders emphasize that without proper cleansing rituals, interference with or misuse of a Mugumo tree is strictly prohibited, as it is believed to carry serious spiritual consequences for the community.
