Kaya elders from the Giriama community have formed a vetting committee to grill politicians who wish to receive their blessings. The committee, formed under the Giriama Cultural Development Association, will be responsible for instilling sanctity in the Kaya shrines. Malindi District Cultural Association secretary Karisa Mwarandu said the idea will be sold to all Kaya elders in the Coast. “We came up with the vetting committee because most politicians come to the shrines so that they can get the blessings of the kaya elders yet their integrity is doubtful.
“We will vet most of them and select the ones whom we are going to bless and give our support. We will ask the rest to battle it out without our support,” said Mwarandu. Speaking to the Star yesterday, Mwarandu said the time when elders were bribed in order to give their blessings to politicians is over and they intend to focus on the integrity and credibility of aspirants.
The vetting committee will pick six candidates, one for every elective position. “Our holy shrines have been misused by politicians who come to be crowned as elders. This has eroded the integrity and trust of our holy shrines. We will make sure that all Kayas adopt the idea so that our shrines can earn the respect they deserve,” he said
During electioneering period, political leaders have made it a culture to visit the Kaya shrines to seek the blessings of the elders and crowned as Mijikenda elders. The trend has however been criticised by many elders who claim that those crowned are not fit to be Mijikenda elders.
Former Kisauni MP Emmanuel Karisa Maitha, who was crowned as the spokesman of the Mijikenda community and held the title until his death in 2004, received the blessings of all Kaya elders. The second politician to receive full backing since Ronald Ngala. Mvita MP Najib Balala and Matuga MP Chirau Ali Mwakwere have also been crowned Mijikenda elders. This was however criticised by a section of the elders.