Shockwaves have spread across Tharaka Nithi after three solar panels were recovered a few hours following a curse invoked by the county government Spokesperson, Paul Mwabu, with other elders.
The thieves are said to have stolen five solar panels used to pump water from River Tana at Kiamurukima village in Tharaka constituency.
The former deputy speaker and Marimanti MCA led a team of elders at the village in conducting the traditional practice locally known as nduuka that is used to recover stolen propety. When invoked, nduuka is believed to immediately culprits.
Mwabu,a retired teacher arrived at the village with several items including a ‘devil’s pot’ full of paraphernalia including pieces of broken pot, horns and a nest of a bird known as ngoco among the Atharaka.
After the ‘magical’ ceremony, the elders assured residents that the solar panels would be recovered after few hours and the thieves later go bonkers.
Some hours after the elders left, three panels were recovered at Gacooroni, a few kilometres away from the village.
It is said that declarations of the traditional practice, conducted in the bush away from the homesteads, cannot be revoked and those involved in the criminal acts must face the music even if they surrender themselves or return the stolen property.
Tharaka Nithi Government Spokesman, GK Mwambu.Photo/FILE.
In 2016, the trade unionist also led elders from Tharaka community in performing rituals after yellow metallic boxes with witch-like paraphernalia including goat body parts were discovered in four schools.
The boxes were reportedly placed at the schools by political rivals to Governor Muthomi Njuki, who was then Chuka Igambang’ombe MP and who through Muthomi Njuki Foundation used to distribute boxes to students joining form one.
The move is alleged to have been geared towards instilling fear in the pupils not to accept the boxes.
After the rituals, a vehicle reportedly used to ferry the boxes to the schools caught mysterious fire and was reduced to ashes at Ndagani area near Chuka University.