Ciokaraine M'Barungu

Ciokaraine M'Barungu (1909 - unknown), known simply as Ciokaraine, was a prominent female diviner, political leader and human rights activist from Igembe, Kenya. She was a fierce supporter of women's rights and is known for having offered up her son's life in order to prevent a famine during the Mau Mau Uprising.[1][2]

Early life

Ciokaraine was born in Gauki, the village situated in the Igembe region of the Meru district in central Kenya. After her parents passed away, she and her siblings were raised by their grandfather, Kabira wa Mwichuria, a well-known mundo mugo[3] (medicine man). Ciokaraine was her grandfather's favorite and she accompanied him on his healing rounds. He treated people of all ages and Ciokaraine was exposed to various situations involving families, especially mothers and their children.[4] From a young age, she distinguished herself as a leader. The other children went to her when they needed a mediator for their squabbles, seeing her as impartial and fair. At the age of 15, Ciokaraine received a new name, "Kanyiri," given to her by her school friends after a coming-of-age ceremony held at Gakuo playground. Kanyiri means 'one who stands out from the rest'.[4]

Leadership and Activism

Early in 1954, a member of the Njuri Ncheke[5] named Kibuti was dragged out of his home and killed by Mau Mau rebels during the Mau Mau Uprising, a war in the British Kenya Colony (1920–1963) between the Kenya Land and Freedom Army (KLFA), also known as Mau Mau, and the British authorities. This led to a ruling by British colonialists that accused the residents of Gauki of maintaining supply lines to the insurgents. They planned on moving the residents to Kiegoi, located in the Igembe South Constituency, to ensure that they couldn't support the Mau Mau hiding in the nearby forests. Ciokaraine voiced her grievances to the patriarchal Njuri Ncheke[2] but M'Mruaa, the senior chief of Igembe, ordered residents of Ithima and Akachiu to gather near the trade town of Maua and to bring sacks and baskets with them.[5]

At the gathering, the colonial authorities announced to the people that they were to uproot their yams, bananas, and all edible food from their shambas (farms). Ciokaraine stood up and told the people, "The yams and bananas must not be uprooted."[5] She asked that, instead of destroying the food and potentially starving the entire region, the colonial forces guard the yams and bananas and stop the Mau Mau from killing any more residents. "I am ready to sacrifice my son if that will stop the killing," she finished.[2][1]

Her bravery changed the attitudes of the elders and started a system of "shamba-squatting," where colonial forces occupied all farms within easy reach of the forests in order to prevent the Mau Mau from stealing the crops.[2]

A few weeks after the meeting, senior chief M'Muraa recommended Ciokaraine for the position of assistant chief. She became the first female headman in April 1954[4][6] and held the position until she retired in 1959 after being involved in a car accident while on official duty.[2][1]

Ciokaraine remained active in the community, even after retiring.[5] Her legacy continues and she is said to have been as famous as Cierume[7] of the Mbeere and Wangu wa Makeri of the Gikuyu.[2][1]

References
  1. "Ciokaraine". Shujaa Stories. 2019-02-11. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  2. "Ciokaraine: The Story of the Female Meru Diviner". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  3. "Kikuyu Traditional Medicine". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  4. Rebeka Njau, Gideon Mulaki (1984). Kenya Women Heroes and Their Mystical Power. Nairobi: East Africa Publishing Bureau. pp. 17, 18, 19, 24.
  5. "Resolving Conflicts using Indigenous Institutions: A Case Study of NJURI-NCHEKE of Ameru, Kenya | IJSAC". www.ijsac.net. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  6. Thomas, Lynn M. "The Gender and Generational Politics of the 1956 Ban on Clitoridectomy in Meru, Kenya" (PDF). Gender & History. Vol.8 No.3, pp 338-363, St. Francis Xavier University. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  7. "Cierume: The Story of The Dancing Mbeere Warrior". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
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