Kibuuka: The Thunderous Legend

To begin this story, we must know the Aatharaka; they are members of the Tharaka community: the community that is a sub-tribe of the Meru community. 

Now, the story begins… 

Long ago, there lived an Aatharaka couple who longed for a child. For many years, Karikundi and Ciakinene tried to get a child, but all their efforts were in vain. Fortunately for them, there was a seer in their community, and their desperation to know whether their desire would come to be true led them to the seer.  

Back then seers were respected members of the community because they foresaw and foretold events yet to happen, and what they said came to be. Sadly, when the couple visited the seer, their fate was confirmed: they would never be able to have a biological child. However, the seer told Karikundi and Ciakinene there was still hope. A day would soon come when heavy rains would dominate the day, the sky would brighten from lighting, and they would find their son waiting for them inside their cattle kraal. So yes, they would have a child after all!  

Overjoyed, the couple went home. They anxiously awaited the day when they would receive their miracle baby. The day came, and as had been predicted, the skies poured rain and soon after Karikundi and Ciakinene heard the cries of a child. They rushed to their kraal to find an infant waiting for them. They took him home and named him Kibuuka (also called Kibūka), which means the thunderous cry of a baby.  

Kibuuka grew up to be a strong boy. He was very active and naturally took on leadership roles. When he reached adolescence, he was set to go through the Tharaka inititation process, Kumerua. However, before the ceremony could take place, the boy disappeared! He later reappeared and to everyone’s shock, he was already initiated. Such mysterious events continued to surround him throughout the rest of his life, even as he became a Tharaka warrior. 

 Kibuuka’s prowess proved him to be one of the greatest warriors in his community. He led the Tharaka troops to win several wars and ensured their safe return by administering protective charms before each battle. When he married and retired from combat, Kibuuka’s eldest son took over his father’s mantle. To ensure the extra protection of his son, Kibuuka inserted a protective charm into his son’s abdomen. The charm was a magic horn called rugoci and only the trusted members of the Tharaka community knew about what Kibuuka had done. Kibuuka’s son continued to have success on the battlefield. Whenever he was killed, the rugoci resurrected him. Infuriated by this, Kibuuka’s enemies conspired with an Aatharaka traitor who revealed the location of the hidden charm. The next time Kibuuka’s son died in battle, his enemies cut out the rugoci, preventing him from resurrecting. This time, he was gone for good. 

When Kibuuka heard the news of his son’s tragic death, he was overcome with rage. Annoyed by the betrayal of his fellow tribesman, Kibuuka cursed his entire tribe. Their fate was that they would never have a leader like him again. He was so angry that he decided to leave his community and never come back. Kibuuka’s departure was a great blow to the Aatharaka. They had lost a great medicine man, diviner, rain maker, warrior and spiritual leader. It is said that the path Kibuuka walked as he left his village became a seasonal river, the Kathambangiri River. When he stopped to rest at Kijege Hill, he left one of his cooking pots, giving the place the name Kaungini, meaning “at the pot”. Even as he left Kijege, his footprints remained imprinted on a rock on the hillside. Legend has it that Kibuuka disappeared into Tana River. As he was born of water, he returned to water. 

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