Elders from the Kikuyu community were on Saturday allocated a 100 acre shrine inside the Mt Kenya Forest, which they intend to use as a holy traditional prayer center.
The land was handed over by Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko, which ended the 56-year-wait and intense lobbying for the same by the group.
It was received by the 12 High priests, led by Mathenge Wa Iregi, who said that it has always been their desire to get the land to fulfill oaths made by Mau Mau fighters to God.
"During the country’s independence, Mau Mau fighters told God that if he enables them eject the British colonial administration, they would set up a community’s traditional holy prayer centre," he said.
He added that however, the plege has never been realized due to delayed allocation of the shrine.
"The country got the internal rule but we were unable to deliver on our pledge to God,” he added. The shrine which is in Naromoru, within the Mt Kenya National Park.
The priests' coordinator Wambugu Nyamu said that the allocation now saves the priests from the fee they were initially subjected to before accessing the shrine.
On his side, Tobiko warned against any economical or residential activities on the land, further cautioning them against politicizing their activities.