There was presence of heavy security ahead of the coronation of National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi at the Mukurwe Wa Nyagathanga shrine on Saturday, May 22.
In videos and photos from the event, officers are at each side of the road, inspecting vehicles and leaders that strolled in to attend the ceremony.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, a journalist in the area indicated that Muturi had already been ushered to the shrine where the coronation would take place.
Women including female journalists were not allowed into the event and resulted to watching from the fence.
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"The proposed candidate for spokesman of Mt Kenya region inside the shrine. Elders from the all regions in Mt Kenya came here today to witness the making of Muturi as the spokesman of the Mt Kenya region," one of the elders stated.
"In the shrine, the top most elders of Kikuyu are called Maturagu. They are holding a prayer for Mr Muturi and also blessing him because the journey he is about to take is a tough one," he added.
The coronation followed an eight day seclusion in his house where he was participating in the cultural ritual.
During this time, he is only allowed to see a few elders who have undergone cleansing and only eats a special diet.
He noted that he was ready to take over the mantle as the next Mt Kenya spokesman after President Uhuru Kenyatta's retirement in 2022.
"There will be all forms of opinions but the idea is to be able to reach out to everybody through persuasion, consultation and discussion," he stated.
A section of leaders were not pleased with the coronation ceremony including Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui and his Murang'a counterpart Mwangi wa Iria.
A bitter Wa Iria had vowed to stop the ceremony indicating that he was protecting the shrine. He added that the shrine was protected and not a place where leaders take their 'sideshows'.
“The shrine is under our custody and we shall ensure it is protected and nobody will be allowed in because are not going to let it be turned into a political stadium," he stated.
