BY SHABAN OMAR
The Kaya Tiwi elders in Kwale County marked this year’s annual celebration on Saturday with a memorable and vibrant event.
The celebration, which is a long-standing tradition, is held annually to honor the importance of the Kayas sacred forests and shrines that hold deep cultural and spiritual significance to the Mijikenda community.
This year’s gathering, referred to as the 721 extravaganza, brought together a diverse group of elders, community members, and guests who came to reflect on the history of the Kayas and the vital role they play in preserving the heritage and traditions of the Mijikenda people.
The event took place in an enchanting setting at Kaya Tiwi forest, located along the pristine coastline of Diani Beach, adjacent to the iconic Kongo Mosque.
Kaya Tiwi, one of the most revered Kayas, is known for its deep-rooted history and cultural significance.
Surrounded by lush greenery and the gentle sounds of the ocean, the setting provided a fitting backdrop for the day’s proceedings, offering a peaceful and sacred atmosphere.
The celebration featured a variety of activities that honored the ancestral spirits, celebrated cultural heritage, and fostered unity among the different Kaya communities.
Elders performed traditional rituals, including the offering of prayers and sacrifices, aimed at seeking blessings for the community and the preservation of the Kayas.
The participants feasted on various foods as beautiful traditional songs and dances such as Sengenya and Kayamba entertained the guests.
Dressed in colorful regalia, the elders shared stories and wisdom passed down through generations, imparting important lessons about the care and protection of these sacred spaces.
One of the key highlights of the event was the collective reflection on the environmental and cultural importance of the Kayas.
According to one of the Kaya Tiwi elder Hamisi Mwajao for centuries, kaya forests have been recognized as not only spiritual hubs but also important ecosystems that provide shelter to diverse flora and fauna.
Mwajao said the event underscored the urgent need to protect kaya spaces from degradation, with the elders calling on younger generations to take up the mantle of stewardship and ensure the survival of the sacred forests.
He said the celebration also brought attention to the challenges faced by the Kayas in the modern world, including encroachment, deforestation, and climate change.
Mwajao called on the national government to consider protecting and conserving Kayas, terming them as vital natural and cultural resources.
“We urged the government and area leaders to consider the Kayas in their plan to buy lands from absentee landlords,” he said.
Mwajao said many coastal county kayas have been grabbed and perpetrators walk scot free.
He noted that the most affected Kayas are those located on prime land along the coastal strip from Vanga to Lamu, including Kaya Tiwi, Diani, Waa, and others, which have been severely impacted by land grabbing.
Mwajao said that the government must prioritize freeing grabbed Kaya forest lands and returning them to the communities.
Ali Mwachangu, a prominent junior Kaya elder, expressed deep concern over the ongoing destruction of a huge portion of gazetted Kaya forests in the Coast region.
He said the rate at which Kaya lands are grabbed is alarming.
Mwachangu said private developers have been cutting down indigenous trees to make way for development projects.
He said the rampant deforestation has led to extensive environmental damage, disrupting the delicate balance of the region’s ecosystems and displacing wildlife that has long inhabited the sacred Kaya forests.
Mwachangu said that the loss of the kaya forests has had a severe impact on biodiversity, with many species of flora and fauna facing the threat of extinction due to the shrinking of their natural habitats.
Moreover, Mwachangu said the cutting down of indigenous trees, which are integral to the ecosystem, has resulted in soil erosion, decreased water retention, and reduced air quality.
He called for urgent action to halt the destruction of the Kaya forests and ensure their long-term protection.
Mwachangu stressed that it is essential to preserve these sacred sites not only for the cultural and spiritual benefits they offer to the Mijikenda community but also for their crucial role in mitigating environmental degradation.
He urged both government authorities and local communities to work together to implement stronger conservation measures, including stricter enforcement of laws that protect the forests from illegal logging and land encroachment.
Another Kaya elder Hamisi Athman Bwika said that reclaiming their ancestral lands would largely boost farming and fishing activities since they are the main source of livelihoods for the community.
He said the activities would ensure food security, improved living standards, and sustainable development for the communities.
Bwika said that the displacement of local communities from their ancestral lands has not only disrupted their economic activities but also severed their spiritual and cultural connection to the land.
The restoration of grabbed Kaya and community lands, he said, would not only rectify historical wrongs but also empower the communities to thrive economically and socially.
“As coastal communities, we fully support President Ruto’s commitment to addressing land injustices. This is a historic opportunity to right the wrongs of the past and give our people a chance to rebuild their lives with dignity,” he said.
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