Mijikenda Kaya elders have embarked on a campaign for coastal unity.
The elders said the divisions among the coastal political leadership have affected regional development.
Already the elders drawn from the nine Kayas of the Mijikenda have met several times to put their house in order and prevent ‘fake’ Kaya elders from being used to endorse politicians.
They were categorical that no other Kaya elders will be recognised apart from those that are identified by the Mijikenda Kaya elders.
Mijikenda kaya elders chief coordinator Tsuma Nzai Kombe said they have had a series of prayers in different Kayas to bring together all the elders.
Speaking at Magarini cultural centre, he said the aim of the traditional prayers was to seek unity and come up with a political stand for the region.
He challenged political leaders from the Coast to engage Kaya elders saying the region is greatly divided politically.
“If the leaders won’t recognise elders now, a time will come when they will remember that there are elders to be respected. Today’s prayers were aimed at uniting the Mijikenda,” he said.
Normally the traditional prayers, he said, are conducted under a tree and then rituals are conducted to appease ancestors and God to get blessings.
Mijikenda Kaya elders association secretary Hamisi Mwavigo said their aim is to ensure they forge unity of the coastal region including those who are not Mijikenda.
He said they have prayed to God to end the Covid-19 pandemic, the country to have peace and ensure culture and traditions are preserved.
“Our aim as elders is to ensure we defend the resources for the region, it is sad that residents are regarded as squatters in their own ancestral land,” he said.
Mwavigo said the issue of lease ended in January 20, 2019 but surprisingly to date residents are still living as squatters.
He said they want to safeguard and reclaim all Kayas which were grabbed by greedy individuals who took advantage of the fact that the sacred places have no land ownership documents.
Kaya Ribe elder Kenga Mbeo said unity of Coast region is key in promoting development and get blessings from the ancestors.
He said their mission is to preach peace love and unity together among all the Mijikenda kayas and other communities living in the Coast.
Naomi Cidi Kumbatha a leader from Coast who has been in the forefront in championing for unity of the region, said for a long time the region has been divided. She blamed it on leaders not according respect to Kaya elders.
She said the Kaya elders have been sidelined and left to suffer while some people who do not deserve are given a chance to conduct rituals against the traditions hence offending the ancestors.
“We have our cultures but most of the time we abandon them. First we came up with plan to bring all Kayas together which we did on March 23 at Kaya Fungo where prayed and asked for forgiveness from ancestors and God,” she said.
She said their unity aims at ensuring elected leaders recognise the Kaya elders.
Kalama Mtengo, a youth leader, called on Coast leaders to unite and save the region from the problems it is facing.
He said region has never produced a president or deputy since independence because of the political divisions.
-Edited by SKanyara