Chaos rock Mijikenda ‘Chenda Chenda’ cultural festival

The political supremacy between Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro and former Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa played out in the open during the annual Chenda Chenda celebrations in Kaloleni constituency on Monday. 

Two different daises were mounted where camps supporting Mung’aro and Jumwa attempted to hold parallel rallies, which led to heckling and name-calling.

The confusion at the fete forced Trade and Industrialisation CS Salim Mvurya, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and Jumwa to leave the venue prematurely. 

The annual festival is observed by the nine sub-tribes of the Mijikenda and entails showcasing the tribe’s culture on September 9. 

They include Giriama, Chonyi, Kauma, Duruma, Kambe, Ribe, Rabai, Jibana and Digo.

Trouble became imminent when Jumwa’s team erected a separate dais from the one that had earlier been mounted by Kilifi County Government workers.

When Jumwa arrived and inspected the display stands, she went to her camp’s dais while county officials led by Deputy Governor Flora Chibule settled on the county government podium. 

Mung’aro arrived and as Chibule stood to welcome him, Jumwa and Mung’aro’s supporters reportedly engaged each other verbally and physically dismantling the public address system.

More trouble ensued when CS Mvurya arrived. Jumwa tried to woo him to her dais but he declined and joined Mung’aro’s dais, forcing Jumwa to join the other leaders. 

When Jumwa took the microphone and started addressing the thousands of Mijikenda culture lovers, the crowd started booing her, forcing her to return to her podium in a huff, followed by a handful of her supporters. 

Speaker Kingi later joined the other leaders who were sharing the government dais but the booing continued disrupting speeches forcing the microphones to be muted. 

Kingi and Mvurya addressed the chaotic meeting and left the venue followed by Jumwa who abandoned her own dais.

Before leaving, Mvurya, who represented President William Ruto at the celebrations, said the government would support cultural activities in Kenya through legislation

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir arrived moments later.

The departure of Jumwa and her colleagues gave leaders who remained behind fodder to attack the combative politician, who was recently sacked as Gender and National Heritage CS for allegedly attempting to hijack the event. 

The leaders included National Assembly Deputy Majority Leader and Kilifi North MP Owen Baya and his Kaloleni and Malindi counterparts Paul Katana and Amina Mnyazi.         

On his part, Nassir urged the Mijikenda community to remain united. 

Jumwa vied for the position of Kilifi Governor in the last general election and came second to Mung’aro.