Chief Wangombe wa Ihura of the Kikuyu

 

             The Kikuyu faced Mt Kenya during prayers in the belief that God reseded there - image from Wikipedia commons

Who was Wang'ombe wa Ihura of the Kikuyu?


Chief Wangombe was the son of a Kikuyu man and a Maasai woman. He was born in Tetu, at Kamakwa, near present-day Nyeri Town. His father and therefore the whole family belonged to the Ambui clan of Thiukui Mbari. Mbari is a cluster of homesteads whose members of several generations can trace their origins to a single clan member.

His father was a trader by the name, Ihura Karugu. He went frequently into Maasai country to trade with foodstuffs, especially during famines and cattle epidemics when the Maasai needed grain most.

In one of Ihura’s business trips, in the company of the young Wangombe, he was dispatched by the Laikipiak Maasai. The young boy escaped and went to live with his relatives among the same people who had caused the demise of his father. After a period that is not clear, he returned to his paternal relatives in Tetu. But his kinsmen were suspicious of his relations with their perennial enemies and some people planned to dispatch him as well. But Wangombe got wind of those plans and escaped. This time he traced other relatives in an area called Ruthagati in Mathira Division, not too far away.

As a Hinga – a person who could speak both Kikuyu and Maasai and therefore a perfect spy for either group—Wangombe betrayed the Maasai by leading Kikuyu warriors in successful raids. His ability to lead a double life and therefore fool his enemies endeared him to the Tetu people, who accepted him as a leader. With this increasing influence, he was able to lead combined forces of the Mathira and Tetu warriors against the Maasai. Unfortunately for his Kikuyu people, he sometimes combined forces with contingents of the Maasai in raids against some sections of the Kikuyu and their close cousins, the Ndia. According to Muriuki, In 1898, he made his largest ever incursion against the Ndia with an estimated “five hundred Maasai and Kikuyu warriors…”

For reasons that are debatable, Wangombe was not loyal to either of the two communities—Maasai and Kikuyu. Perhaps he bore a grudge against the Maasai for eliminating his father and the Kikuyu for not fully accepting him when he returned from Maasailand. When it suited him, he raided the Maasai at one time or a section of the Kikuyu at another time. The thirst for war and booty meant that he never lacked eager warriors for any expedition. Eventually, tired of his vacillating, the Mathira people chased him out to Tetu, from where he continued to raid against them. While there is no record of the use of firearms in these raids, John Bowes, a white trader, was to write that he found Wangombe with rifles that were in working order.

The probability exists that among his mercenaries were Swahili or Kamba men who could use the arms. It seems unlikely that a man who pillaged as he did would let go of an opportunity to terrorise his adversaries with gunfire. In a rare glimpse of tribal ritual, John Bowes describes a ceremony where an animal was sacrificed to god Ngai.

“...went out into one of the “sacred groves” in the bush, taking with them a sheep ...the blood caught in a calabash and put on one side. A sort of wooden gridiron was then made by planting four upright sticks in the ground and laying others across them, under which a fire was lit and the sheep, having by this time been cut up, was roasted on this side... Blood was put into the stomach to make a sort of black pudding, which was then roasted and eaten after the meat. The meat was eaten in the Abyssinian fashion, each man taking up the joint and biting hold of as much as he could get into his mouth, the mouthful then being severed from the joint with his sword and the joint passed on to his neighbour, who did the same.”

Preserving Kikuyu memory takes time, care, and community support. If this post added to your understanding, Buy Me a Coffee and help keep these stories alive.

....................................................................................................................................................................

📘 Want the full version? Ask for the expanded PDF—now featuring five captivating Kikuyu leaders:

·        Brief biographies of Karuri wa Gakure, Waiyaki wa Hinga, Kinyanjui wa Gathirimu, Wa Ihũra, and Wangu wa Makeri

·        Cultural insights, proverbs, and historical context

·        Reader-friendly layout and educator-ready format

 

💰 Only KES 300 or 2 USD (PDF download) 📩 Email kenatene@yahoo.com or 💳 (or PayPal, kenatene@yahoo.com)

 Preserving memory. Honoring leadership. Inspiring futures. 

.........................................................................................................................................................................

References

1. Muriuki G. A history of the Kikuyu 1500 - 1900

2. Mutaarani, A Kikuyu Reader for Std. IV, Catholic Mission Press, Nyeri, 1953

3. Boyes, J., King of the Wa-Kikuyu, A true story of travel and adventure in Africa, Methuen & co Ltd. London – 1924, Ist published 1911

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Was the Kikuyu Second Birth Ceremony that Disappeared?

Image
  Kikuyu people: Ceremony of the second birth Routledge, writing in the early 1900s, noted that all the Kikuyu clans in his locality took their male children through a ceremony that re-enacted a birth. He termed it appropriately ‘second birth’ and was perplexed by it. He noted that “the symbolical second birth is perhaps the most mysterious of the Kikuyu rites…” Routledge tried to get to the bottom of the rite, but much as he tried, the Kikuyu would not let him in on it. He even offered to be taken through the rite himself, while his wife offered to be one of the birth attendants. Routledge records that “no amount of bribery or use of personal influence prevailed to permit either of us to witness it.” The European couple was, however, fortunate to have among their servants “natives who have freed themselves from tradition,” who described the procedure, having gone through the ceremony themselves. For those who have read my writings about the Kikuyu having come from ancient Egyp...
Read more

Wangu wa Makeri: Unearthing the Story of the First Woman Kikuyu Chief in Colonial Kenya

Image
   Wangu wa Makeri Introduction In the annals of colonial Kenya, leadership was largely a male domain. Yet, Wangu wa Makeri stands out as a remarkable figure – the first Kikuyu woman to hold the esteemed position of chief in living memory. This account offers a unique window into her life, moving beyond legend through an intimate interview with her grandson, James Makeri Muchiri, a retired teacher who holds the key to a more personal understanding of this pioneering leader. Who was Wangu wa Makeri? Wangu wa Makeri was the first Kikuyu female leader in living memory. This hub will bring fresh insight into the life of Wangu wa Makeri, the first woman chief in colonial Kenya. Some people have the mistaken belief that Wangu ruled the Kikuyu during the legendary era when the Kikuyu were ruled by women. According to the legend, the women, who were also great fighters, were tricked and overthrown by men who have continued to take charge of tribal affairs to this day. This is far from...
Read more

Kikuyu Through Everyday Conversations: Mastering Basic Interactions

Image
                                                                                       A Kikuyu man in 1910  Karibũ! Welcome to a practical approach to learning Kikuyu. Immersing yourself in everyday conversations is a fantastic way to grasp the language as it's actually spoken. In this section, we'll explore several common dialogues you might encounter in daily life in Kenya. By examining these exchanges, along with their vocabulary breakdowns, you'll begin to understand sentence structure, common phrases, and essential words used in various situations. Pay close attention to the pronunciation guides, and don't hesitate to practice these dialogues aloud. Let's dive in and start building your conversational Kikuyu skills! Section 1: Essential Daily Exchanges D...
Read more