Mount Kenya Formation

Mount Kenya was formed about 3.5 million years ago by volcanic activity. It stands at the height of over 5199 meters and the second highest Mountain in Africa with a diameter of about 120 kilometers at the base. The Mountain was formed as a result of successive eruptions of volcano. Experts have been able to trace the action of ice as far below as 3,000 meters by analyzing the terminal moraines (curved ridges of boulders and stones carried down by the glaciers). This indicates the action of glaciers on the Mountain during the ice age was more extensive than they are today. This trend changed about 150,000 years as the climate changed. From 1893 when records started to be taken, 7 of once known glaciers have dried up, leaving the current 11 thin glaciers. This indicates we have lost 7 glaciers in less than 100 years. Human activities extended up to about 1900 meters line for agricultural activities, logging and cultivation. Logging has wiped out the once abundant camphor, ferns, vines, orchids and many adversely affected ecological balances. Experts believe if main activities and global warming remain unchecked by 2020 there will be no glaciers in Mount Kenya. (See seed preservation).

When a file is lost, it is common routine to constitute another from the original copies in the safe custody of the establishment. The twelve seers who entreaty in favor of the Gikuyu community and who operate in secrecy to guard their wisdom have a very interesting fashion of the formation of Mount Kenya, They say Mount Kenya was formed after a “Star” known as riuki (literally meaning –the stone that came from outer space) hit the earth’s surface. The impact created a huge explosion followed by an earthquake and outward symmetrical waves. The depression created by riuki extruded magma- gicurucuru, volcanic ashes- umbi and debris of disintegrated riuki to the surface. Riuki became an embededment of Mount Kenya rocks.

True to the opinion expressed by the seers, geologists have christened riuki  kenyte . kenyte is found in only two places in the world; on Mount Kenya and Antarctic in South Pole. By locating kenyte in two different locations, a new theory was developed, that as a huge meteorite entered the earth’s atmosphere, it broke into two pieces, one hitting the earth at the equator in modern Kenya and the second hitting Antarctic.

“The rock was plucked from the peak by Snyder himself and later mounted in an elegant display cabinet at the main entrance. Members always left with souvenir mementos, one of which is a small piece of the Mountain – a particular rock which is only found in two parts of the world, one being on the Mountain and the other the Antarctic, a fact which no geologist can explain” PARADISE FOUND. The story of Mount Kenya safari club by Dela Roque.

From time immemorial, riuki has captured the imagination of African medicine men in a pristine way. With the knowledge riuki came from Ngai abode, like the Egyptians of pre dynasty who venerated meteorites as bjah (or gods rib), they put pebbles of riuki in their defining gourds together with white chalk. In spiritual context riuki represented the way from Ngai’s Umperian seat of Majesty, The white chalk or ira representing snow hence purity. Gikuyu medicine men regard riuki as the path finder.

Interestingly, formation of Mount Kenya took place in quarter-nary, the period of Cenozoic whose beginning corresponds with advent of man as known in archeological findings. It erupted in successions, and finally, becoming dormant or extinct. Slowly in time, Mount Kenya biosphere created a new ecosystem because of her climate and topography. Her ecosystems were in a state of equilibrium or balance by the advent of Gikuyu the Adam of the Gikuyu community. (Or for humanity?)

According to Gikuyu Seers, Ngai the Creator of heavens and earth and the only Ngai, decided to create a physical world that observed His natural laws for physical survival. A world symmetrical to the world of spirits that is governed by the will of spirits, these two worlds are superimposed on one platform but would not collide because they are in different dimensions. The intelligence in the spiritual world stems from the original experience gained in the previous physical world. In life we live by law, in death we live by will. When we refuse to be governed by law we no longer belong to this physical world. We die by the action of law called demise.

Ngai gave the sign that created the form. He gave the word that made event. When the physical entity was complete, Ngai approached a floating spirit in the spiritual world and gave instructions.

I am removing your presence in this dimension, where you live life of an angel, to a physical dimension that you are at liberty to do good or evil. I am taking you there to bring forth your own offsprings who will fill the earth and when they die, I will call them to this spiritual world because they have a share of my soul through you.

The spirit and Ngai sailed side by side. But when the spirit set the eyes on Ngai, immediately Ngai’s position was taken by the ostrich. When they were some heights from the peaks of Mount Kenya, Ngai told the spirit, “Mundu! Remember whenever you are in trouble face that Mountain and talk to Me. I will hear you!”

The spirit and the ostrich descended to the top of Mount Kenya.

Ngai wanted to tell the spirit it was on its own. Surely Mundu Wa Ngai pioneered life of men in this world. When he stepped on the snow, he did not see the ostrich, but for sure his spiritual form ceased. He could stretch his hands, yet he could touch nothing.  He could desire to be at some place, yet he had no power to reach there. When he desired to eat and drink, food and water did not fill, he hunted for them. Mundu wa Ngai was like a king who had no command separated from his subjects. He could have wanted to share a light moment with flora or fauna but he did not get response. He felt lonely and dejected. But, Ngai knew, when His Mundu would die he would give him back his spiritual favours as before.

 Copyright: Gikuyu and Mumbi Cultural Museum