Modern ethnicities
87-551: Mount Kenya ( Meru : Kĩrĩmaara, Kikuyu : Kĩrĩnyaga , Kamba : Ki nyaaa , Embu : Kirinyaa ) is an extinct volcano in Kenya and the second-highest peak in Africa , after Kilimanjaro . The highest peaks of the mountain are Batian (5,199 metres (17,057 feet)), Nelion (5,188 m (17,021 ft)) and Point Lenana (4,985 m (16,355 ft)). Mount Kenya is located in the former Eastern and Central provinces of Kenya; its peak
174-753: A beautiful wife at Gogo River Salt Lick , in Mukuuri , hence her name "Ciũrũnjĩ" or "Nthara". Gogo River separates Mukuuri Location and Gitare localities at the edge of a ridge called Mûrurîrî. Eminent historian Prof Mwaniki Kabeca (in his 2005 book Mbeere Historical Texts , page 105 ) narrates that Mwenendega took his cattle to drink at the Gogo Salt Lick and found a girl who refused to talk to him at first. After much cajoling, she spoke with him and made him swear never to tell her negative things or abuse her, as there would be consequences. The woman's parents were not known, and it was, therefore, believed she
261-498: A critical role in the development of the mountain, influencing the topography and ecology amongst other factors. It has a typical equatorial mountain climate which Hedberg described as winter every night and summer every day. Mount Kenya is home to one of the Global Atmosphere Watch 's atmospheric monitoring stations. The year is divided into two distinct wet seasons and two distinct dry seasons which mirror
348-604: A lot on case law and precedence. A lesser known, yet important function of the Njuri Ncheke, is overseeing and enforcing the rules and regulations controlling the use and conservation of open grasslands, salt-licks and forests. Their work as conservators extends to the preservation of the Sacred Sites. The Njuri Ncheke is influential in socio-economic and political decision-making amongst the Meru. The council spearheaded
435-473: A non-profit organization, has been putting up fences in key areas around the country. As of 2021, 250 kilometres (160 miles) out of a planned 450 kilometres (280 miles) have been constructed in the Mt. Kenya area. The fence discharges an electric shock, but is not dangerous to humans or animals. The main ethnic groups living around Mount Kenya are Kikuyu , Ameru , Embu and Maasai . The first three are Bantus while
522-748: A politician of Asian origin, to represent Imenti North Constituency and Kinoti Gatobu , a 26-year-old independent candidate, to represent Buuri Constituency . In the same elections, Kithure Kindiki , the Senator from Tharaka-Nithi County, became the Majority Leader in the Senate. The historical and cultural artifacts of the Meru are preserved at the Meru Museum , formerly the colonial office located in Meru Town . The Njuri Ncheke Shrine at Nchiru
609-454: A seclusion period that may last up to a month. As a matter of principle, young men must ensure minimal contact with their mothers after initiation. Nowadays, the depth of instruction varies depending on the extent of urban influence. Previously, girls would also undergo circumcision , but the practice was outlawed by the Njuri Ncheke in April 1956. The practice has been progressively abandoned and
696-481: A series of seven hydroelectric power stations and dams. The density of streams is very high, especially on the lower slopes which have never been glaciated. The ice cap which used to cover the mountain during the Pliocene eroded large U-shaped valleys which tend to only have one large stream. Where the original shape of the shield volcano is still preserved, there have been millions of years for streams to erode
783-600: A steep pyramidal form. Significant craggy outlying peaks include Terere (4,714 m or 15,466 ft) and Sendeyo (4,704 m or 15,433 ft) which form a pair of twin peaks to the north of the main plug. Together, they form a large parasitic plug. Other notable peaks include The Hat (4,639 m or 15,220 ft), Delamere Peak, Macmillan Peak and Rotundu . The glaciers on Mount Kenya are retreating rapidly. The Mountain Club of Kenya in Nairobi has photographs showing
870-574: A strong modern educational heritage provided by Christian missionaries . The main education institutions were started or sponsored by the Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian churches. Greater Meru has numerous institutions of learning, including primary schools, secondary schools, teachers' training colleges, nursing schools, technical institutes and universities. One of the most prestigious chartered private universities in Kenya, Kenya Methodist University
957-402: Is Kĩrĩnyaga which literally means 'the one with the ostrich'. The ostrich has dark feathers and a white tail– when the bird bends its head to the ground with its tail in the air, its body forms a triangular shape with a white peak, closely resembling the snow capped mountain of Kĩrĩnyaga. The name Kĩrĩnyaga therefore figuratively means 'the one with white tails', referring to the glaciers among
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#17327718537821044-540: Is Ngai or Mwene Njeru ).The Embu name for Mount Kenya is 'Ki nyaga' which means similar to the Kikuyu 'the one with the ostrich'. The mountain is sacred, and they build their houses with the doors facing toward it. The Embu people are closely related to the Ameru and Mbeere people. The Mbeere and Akamba are the settlers of the southeast side of the mountain. The Ameru occupy the east, north, and north-western slopes of
1131-465: Is a stratovolcano that was active in the Plio-Pleistocene . The original crater was probably over 6,000 m (19,700 ft) high; and potentially up to 7,000 m (23,000 ft) high, making the prehistoric Mount Kenya higher than present-day Kilimanjaro . Since it became extinct there have been two major periods of glaciation , which are shown by two main rings of moraines below
1218-470: Is a reflection of previous migratory patterns, the level of intra-community interactions, and the influences of other adjacent Bantu, Nilotic and Cushitic communities. As a whole language scholars have demonstrated that the Meru language exhibits much older Bantu characteristics in grammar and phonetic forms than neighbouring Bantu languages. The Meru people are of Bantu origin. Like the closely related Kikuyu , Embu and Mbeere , they are concentrated in
1305-478: Is also gazetted as a heritage site and placed under the care of the National Museums of Kenya. The Shrine is accessible and open to the public most time of the year unless there are Njuri Ncheke activities at the site. Members of the Njuri Ncheke, though bound by a strict oath of secrecy, can also provide valuable and authoritative information and insights into the Meru traditions and culture dating back to
1392-515: Is being replaced by instruction based alternative rites of passage. Typical Meru cuisine includes nyani (traditional vegetables), mûkimo (mashed banana with traditional vegetables or potatoes), kîthere or mûthere (unfettered corn seeds cooked with beans or peas and traditional vegetables), nyama cia gwaakia (roasted meat), ūkie or ûcûrû (fermented porridge made from flour of corn, millet or sorghum), and rugicu (a mixture of honey meat and vegetables). The Meru have
1479-472: Is known as the giant rosette, which is exhibited by giant senecio, giant lobelia, and giant thistle ( Carduus ), which use bud leaves to protect their buds from freezing. Giant rosette senecios form single-aged stands that drive community structure over decades. Many plant species in the Afro-alpine zone of Mount Kenya are giant versions of lowland (or temperate) relatives. However, nearer the nival zone
1566-405: Is more intact because it is less accessible and better protected. When the trees can no longer grow the vegetation changes into heathland and chaparral , at around 3,000 m (9,800 ft). Heathland is found in the wetter areas, on the west side of Mount Kenya, and is dominated by giant heathers . Chaparral is found in drier areas and grasses are more common. and bushfires still occur. As
1653-475: Is much wetter than the north, so species more dependent on moisture can grow. Some species, such as African alpine bamboo , are limited to certain aspects of the mountain because of the amount of moisture. The climate of Mount Kenya changes considerably with altitude, forming belts of community types. Around the base of the mountain is fertile farmland. The people living around the mountain have cultivated this cool, relatively moist area for centuries. Mount Kenya
1740-424: Is no formation of new ice. It is predicted to be less than 30 years before there will no longer be ice on Mount Kenya. Glacial retreat and disappearance can be caused by changes in temperature trends, or by a change in precipitation trends. The glacier names are (clockwise from the north): The total area covered by glaciers on the mountain was recorded as about 0.7 km ( 1 ⁄ 4 sq mi) in
1827-548: Is now the intersection of Meru , Embu , Kirinyaga , Nyeri and Tharaka Nithi counties, about 16.5 kilometres (10.3 miles) south of the equator , around 150 km (90 mi) north-northeast of the capital Nairobi . Mount Kenya is the source of the name of the Republic of Kenya. Mount Kenya is a volcano created approximately 3 million years after the opening of the East African Rift . Before glaciation, it
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#17327718537821914-549: Is represented in the University Council. The Meru are primarily agrarian, and their home life and culture is similar to other Highland Bantus. The Meru have maintained adherence to a fairly strict customary code amongst the various cohorts of the population. For instance, circumcision is a mandatory rite of passage for boys, during which time cultural education including community norms and expectations, such as respect for elders and protection of children are taught in
2001-418: Is restricted to small isolated bunches in the north because of low rainfall. The bamboo is natural, and does not require forest disturbance. Tracks are common through the bamboo. Bamboo suppresses other vegetation, so it is uncommon to find trees or other plants here. Above the bamboo is the timberline forest. The trees here are often smaller than the trees in the forests lower down the mountain. The forest here
2088-399: Is surrounded by forests. The vegetation in the forests depend on rainfall, and the species present differ greatly between the northern and southern slopes. As time has passed the trees on the edge of the forest have been logged and the farmland has encroached further up the fertile slopes of the mountain. Above the forest is a belt of African alpine bamboo . This zone is almost continuous but
2175-459: Is the richest District in Kenya The district is home to Mount Kenya to the north. This is a tourism attraction with many foreigners and local people visiting its slopes. Numerous expeditions set out each year to scale the slopes to the mountain top. This climb is not easy and calls for great stamina and resilience. Legend has it that one man Munyao did scale the mountain to the peak and hoisted
2262-860: Is typical for their vegetation band. The highest peaks are Batian (5,199 m or 17,057 ft), Nelion (5,188 m or 17,021 ft) and Pt Lenana (4,985 m or 16,355 ft). Batian and Nelion are within 250 m (270 yd) of each other, separated by the Gate of the Mists gap of 5,144 m (16,877 ft). Other peaks around the central plug include Pt Piggot (4,957 m or 16,263 ft), Pt Dutton (4,885 m or 16,027 ft), Pt John (4,883 m or 16,020 ft), Pt John Minor (4,875 m or 15,994 ft), Krapf Rognon (4,800 m or 15,748 ft), Pt Peter (4,757 m or 15,607 ft), Pt Slade (4,750 m or 15,584 ft) and Midget Peak (4,700 m or 15,420 ft). All of these have
2349-748: The Embu language known as Kiembu as a mother tongue. It belongs to the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family. Kimeru , Kikuyu , and Kikamba share similar language characteristics. To the west, Embu neighbours are the closely related Kikuyu in Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Kiambu, Muranga and Nyandarua counties. The Meru people border the Embu to the East. Source: The Embu are of Bantu origin. They are also known as
2436-611: The Meru and Mount Kenya national parks and the Lewa Conservancy. Mining activity is also expected to pick up once the ongoing exploratory works on the iron-ore deposits in Tharaka are completed. The Meru wield a lot of political influence in Kenya, due to their astute and strategic political organization. No Meru has been president of Kenya . However, members of the community have always held some key and strategic positions in
2523-494: The Ngaa ) are a Bantu ethnic group that inhabit the Meru region of Kenya . The region is situated on the fertile lands of the north and eastern slopes of Mount Kenya in the former Eastern Province . The word Meru means 'shining light' in the Meru language . In Kiswahili , the Meru are called Ng'aa , a word meaning 'Dazzling or Shinning' in both languages Ameru in the Meru language means 'the shining ones' or 'the children of
2610-614: The Tana , the largest river in Kenya, and the Ewaso Nyiro North. The Mount Kenya ecosystem provides water directly for over 2 million people. The rivers on Mount Kenya have been named after the villages on the slopes of the mountain that they flow close to. The Thuchi River is the district boundary between Tharaka Nithi and Embu. Mount Kenya is a major water tower for the Tana river which in 1988 supplied 80% of Kenya 's electricity using
2697-452: The Wameru of northern Tanzania , other than both being avid farming Bantu communities. The Meru speak the Meru language, also known as Kimîîrú. Kimîîrú , Kikamba , Kiembu , Kimbeere and Kikuyu share critical language characteristics. The Meru language is not uniform across the Meru lands, but comprises several mutually intelligible dialects which vary geographically. Each dialect
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2784-455: The 'Aembu'. They are closely related in language and culture to the Kikuyu , Meru , and Kamba . They inhabit the southern windward slopes and farmlands of Mount Kenya . Along with their closely related Eastern Bantu neighbors the Kikuyu , Mĩĩrũ , Mbeere and Kamba the Embu are believed to have entered their present habitat from the coast of East Africa, where they had settled early on after
2871-416: The 1980s, far less than that recorded by the first observations, made in the 1890s. Although Mount Kenya is on the equator the freezing nightly temperatures result in periglacial landforms. There is permafrost a few centimetres (inches) below the surface. Patterned ground is present at 3,400 m (11,155 ft) to the west of Mugi Hill. These mounds grow because the repeated freezing and thawing of
2958-454: The Aembu people, not only had sixteen wives and many children, but he was also a respected administration officer for the colonial government and independent Kenya. An entire village bears his name, and a school is named after him. The Embu were fierce warriors who, although rarely raiding other tribes, always stood firm in defense of their territory and people. Many occasions are on record where
3045-596: The Embu had to fiercely repulse Kamba and even the dreaded Maasai invasions. They also rose against the British in the Mau Mau fight for Kenya's independence. The fact that the tribe was and continues to be considerably small explains their relatively small impact on the history of Kenya. A captivating photo of Embu warriors hangs at the Izaak Walton Inn in Embu, named after Izaak Walton, an English gentleman who
3132-699: The Greater Meru vote for candidates based more on individual merit than on the basis of the sponsoring political party. This particularly manifested itself in the general elections of 2013 , where the Orange Democratic Movement captured two seats, Igembe Central and Tigania East , in Meru County despite the predominance of the Jubilee Party in the larger region. The elections also saw the historic election of Rahim Dawood ,
3219-511: The Karue hill. The Kirimiri hill is also nearby. Though not open for tourism, it is home to a diverse array of wildlife.The hill is home to natural forests which are indigenous to the region. The hill is suitable for hiking purposes as there are no life-threatening wildlife.Embu is home to Mwea National Reserve. Best known for the diversity of bird species in the reserve. Ancient caves are also found in Embu, commonly referred to as 'Ngurunga ya Ngai' by
3306-539: The Maasai are Nilotes. The mountain is as an important aspect of their cultures. They arrived in the Mount Kenya area in the last several hundreds of years. The Kikuyu people live on the southern and western sides of the mountain. They are agriculturalists , and make use of the highly fertile volcanic soil on the lower slopes. They believe that God, Ngai or Mwene Nyaga , lived on Mount Kenya when he came down from
3393-807: The Masinga Reservoir. The rivers in the northern part of the mountain, such as the Burguret, Naru Moru, Nanyuki, Likii, and Sirimon flow into the Ewaso Nyiro. The rivers to the southwest, such as the Keringa and Nairobi flow into the Sagana and then into the Tana. The remaining rivers to the south and east, such as the Kathitâ (Largest River in Meru), Mutonga, Nithi, Thuchi, and Nyamindi, flow directly into
3480-541: The Njuri Ncheke are carefully selected and comprise mature, composed, respected and incorruptible members of the community. This is necessary as their work requires great wisdom, personal discipline, and knowledge of the traditions. The Njuri Ncheke is also the apex of the traditional Meru judicial system and their edicts apply to the entire community. The functions of the Njuri Ncheke are to make and execute community laws, to hear and settle disputes, and to pass on community knowledge and norms across generations in their role as
3567-418: The Tana. Mount Kenya has several altitudinal ecological zones, from the savanna surrounding the mountain to the nival zone by the glaciers. Each zone has a dominant species of vegetation. Many of the species found higher up the mountain are endemic, either to Mount Kenya or East Africa. There are also differences within the zones, depending on the side of the mountain and the aspect of the slope. The southeast
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3654-460: The Thuci River, on the border with Embu County , in the south to the border with Isiolo County in the north. The Ameru have been governed by elected and hierarchical councils of elders since the 17th century . These extend from the clan level up to the supreme Njuri Ncheke council. Membership of the Njuri Ncheke is the highest social rank to which a Meru man can aspire. The elders forming
3741-492: The alpine zone, and other sightings are remembered in names such as Simba Tarn (simba means lion in Swahili ). Several bird species live in the Afro-alpine zone, including sunbirds , alpine chats and starlings and the raptors, augur buzzard , lammergeier and Verreaux's eagle , the latter of which specializes in hunting hyraxes. Birds are important in this ecosystem as pollinators. The climate of Mount Kenya has played
3828-591: The altitude increases the temperature fluctuations become extreme and the air becomes thinner and drier. This region is known as the Afro-alpine zone. The environment here is isolated, with the only similar area nearby being the Aberdares , which are 80 km (50 mi) away. Many of the species here are endemic, with adaptations to the cold and fluctuating temperatures. Typical plants here include giant groundsels (senecios) and giant lobelias. The region where
3915-475: The area, making Greater Meru a key education hub in Kenya The Meru are primarily agrarian, growing a variety of crops and keeping livestock. Greater Meru is endowed with soils and climatic conditions that allow for the production of a variety of commodities including wheat, barley, potatoes, millet, sorghum and maize. High grade tea, coffee, bananas and miraa ( khat ) are the key cash crops. The Meru were
4002-428: The centre of the mountain which have an Alpine appearance due to their craggy nature. Typically of Alpine terrain, the highest peaks and gendarmes occur at the intersection of ridges. The central peaks only have a few mosses , lichens , and small alpine plants growing in rock crevices. Further away from the central peaks, the volcanic plugs are covered in volcanic ash and soils. The vegetation growing on these peaks
4089-469: The country's athletic team has immensely utilized the altitude and climate advantage of Embu through doing practices especially at Kigari teachers college and its environs, area that is at the slope of Mt. Kenya. These have gone on to win prestigious awards in the Olympics and competitive world marathons. Clans And Lineages Embu lies on the windward slopes of Mount Kenya . It remarkably occupies
4176-421: The custodians of traditional culture. Local disputes will invariably first be dealt with by lower ranks of the elders (Kiama), then the middle rank (Njuri) and finally the Njuri Ncheke. However, the Njuri Ncheke does not handle matters involving non-Meru people, or those that are expressly designated as being under Kenya's common law. The determination of cases by the Njuri Ncheke, just like is for common law, relies
4263-438: The ecosystem. Some smaller mammals, such as the groove-toothed rat , can live here by burrowing into the giant senecios and using their thick stem of dead leaves as insulation. The Mount Kenya mole-rat Tachyoryctes rex occurs at high altitudes, living in visible mounds. Leopards are resident in the alpine zone. Other mammal species are only occasional visitors. Remains of elephants, monkeys, and bongo have been found high in
4350-465: The establishment of the Meru College of Science and Technology and donated 641 acres of community land in 1983 for its development. In 2008, the college was upgraded to a University College of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology . In early 2013, the college was awarded a charter by President Mwai Kibaki and renamed to Meru University of Science and Technology . The Njuri Ncheke
4437-522: The first Africans to grow coffee in Kenya, which they began in the early 1930s upon the implementation of the Devonshire White Paper of 1923. Other crops include groundnuts and a wide range of legumes, vegetables and fruits. The Meru also keep livestock, both for subsistence and commercial purposes. These include dairy and beef cattle, goats, sheep, poultry and honey bees. The Meru lands have huge potential for tourism by virtue of hosting
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#17327718537824524-477: The glaciers have recently retreated from is nival zone . It is the area that plants have not yet been able to colonise. The flora found on Mount Kenya varies with altitude, aspect, and exposure. As the altitude increases, the plants have to be more specialised, with adaptations to strong sunlight with ultraviolet , lower mean temperatures, and freezing night temperatures. Plants in the Afro-alpine zone have overcome these difficulties in several ways. One adaptation
4611-551: The glaciers. The lowest moraine is found at around 3,300 m (10,800 ft). Today the glaciers reach no lower than 4,650 m (15,260 ft). After studying the moraines, Gregory put forward the theory that at one time the whole summit of the mountain was covered with an ice cap , and it was this that eroded the peaks to how they are today. The lower slopes of the mountain have never been glaciated. They are now mainly cultivated and forested. They are distinguished by steep-sided V-shaped valleys with many tributaries. Higher up
4698-485: The government. In the early years of Kenya's independence, the Meru were in the Gikuyu, Embu, and Meru Association , a political mobilization outfit formed during the reign of Jomo Kenyatta . GEMA was formally banned in 1980, but since the advent of plural politics in Kenya in 1992, the Meru have largely voted with the Kikuyu and Embu in subsequent presidential elections. In non-presidential elections, most constituencies in
4785-417: The ground draws in more water. There are blockfields present around 4,000 m (13,123 ft) where the ground has cracked to form hexagons. Solifluction occurs when the night temperatures freeze the soil before it thaws again in the morning. This daily expansion and contraction of the soil prevent the establishment of vegetation. Mount Kenya is the main water catchment area for two large rivers in Kenya;
4872-524: The hillside. This area is therefore characterised by frequent deep fluvial V-shaped valleys. The gradual transition from glaciated to the fluvial valley can be clearly observed. Rivers that start on Mount Kenya are the tributaries of two large Kenyan rivers: the Tana and the Ewaso Ng'iro rivers. A lot of Mount Kenyan rivers flow into the Sagana which itself is a tributary of the Tana, which joins at
4959-651: The initial Bantu expansion from Cameroon . The migration to Mount Kenya was occasioned by intertribal conflicts with the coastal Swahili and Mijikenda communities. Linguistic evidence suggests their migration from as far as the Kenyan Coast, since the Mĩĩrũ elders refer to Mpwa (Pwani or Coast,) as their origin, Felix Chami says "Pwani" is the Punt of ancient the Egyptians. These conflicts forced them to retreat northwest to
5046-502: The interior of Kenya, and they settled by the slopes of Mount Kenya. They were to refer to this location as the place of the Lord, the owner of the snow ("Nyaga") or ("Njerũ" meaning white) – hence the name "Mwenenyaga" or "Mwenenjerũ". Embu mythology claims that the Embu people originated from the current Mwenendega grove in the interior of Embu, close to Rũnyenje's town. The mythology claims that God ( Ngai ) created Mwenendega and gave him
5133-492: The local and national economies, preserving an area of great scenic beauty, conserving the biodiversity within the park, and preserving the water catchment for the surrounding area. Kenya's government has announced a project to discourage animals from straying into small holdings surrounding the Park and devastating crops, which will see the Park enclosed by an electric fence with five electrified strands. Kenya's Rhino Ark Trust,
5220-500: The most prime fertile lands of the Kenya highlands. Two seasons are enjoyed each year, and the weather is favourable for diverse agricultural activities. The main food crops grown are maize, beans , yams , cassava , millet , sorghum , bananas and arrowroot , among others. This, alongside the domestic livestock of cows , goats, sheep and chicken, keeps the people well fed throughout the year. Instances of drought or famine are extremely rare. Embu county has repeatedly been ranked among
5307-476: The mountain and described what they considered to be the crater . In 1893 Gregory's expedition reached the Lewis Glacier at 5,000 m (16,400 ft). He confirmed that the volcano was extinct and that there were glaciers present. The first thorough survey by Europeans was not undertaken until 1966. The peaks of Mount Kenya are almost all of volcanic origin. The majority of the peaks are located near
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#17327718537825394-445: The mountain at the beginning of time. The Maasai name for Mount Kenya is Ol Donyo Keri , which means 'mountain of stripes', referring to the dark shades as observed from the surrounding plains. At least one Maasai prayer refers to Mount Kenya: God bless our children, let them be like the olive tree of Morintat, let them grow and expand, let them be like Ngong Hills like Mt. Kenya, like Mt. Kilimanjaro and multiply in number. Mount Kenya
5481-419: The mountain at the time of the first recorded ascent in 1899, and again more recently; the retreat of the glaciers is very evident. Descriptions of ascents of several of the peaks advise the use of crampons, but this is true only in some cases and at higher elevations. Every year there is less new snow accumulating in winter than melting in summer, even on the Lewis Glacier (the largest of them) in winter, so there
5568-411: The mountain most of the precipitation falls as snow. Combined, these water sources feed 11 glaciers . The current climate on Mount Kenya is wet, but drier than it has been in the past. The temperatures span a wide range, which diminishes with altitude. In the lower alpine zone temperature usually do not go below 12 °C (54 °F). Snow and rain are common from March to December, but especially in
5655-403: The mountain symbolically represent a crown on God's habitation. Kikuyu used to build their houses with doors facing the mountain. The Kikuyu name for Mount Kenya is Kirima Kĩrĩ Nyaga (Mt. Kirinyaga), which literally translates to the mountain that has the "Nyaga" – Ostriches. The mountain, therefore, is locally accepted as 'God's Resting Place' or 'Where God Lives'. The Kikuyu name for Mt. Kenya
5742-410: The mountain, in the area that is now moorland, the valleys become U-shaped and shallower with flatter bottoms. These were created by glaciation. When Mount Kenya was active there was some satellite activity. The northeastern side of the mountain has many old volcanic plugs and craters. The largest of these, Ithanguni, even had its own ice cap when the main peaks were covered in ice. This can be seen by
5829-412: The mountain. They are generally agricultural and also keep livestock and occupy what is among the most fertile land in Kenya. The Meru god Murungu was from the skies. Their name for Mt. Kenya is Kirimaara , which means 'mountain with white features'. The Maasai are semi-nomadic people, who use the land to the north of the mountain to graze their cattle. They believe that their ancestors came down from
5916-556: The national flag during the independence day on 12 December 1963. Other attractions in the region are the huge Karue hill towering high along the Embu-Meru highway. Made of a huge crested rock, at the top of the hill are two unique eucalyptus trees. From the summit there are views of the far reaches of Embu. Nearby to this hill are two waterfalls close together which color the sky white as their waters fall down, then marry to form one big Ena river that then meanders downstream to encircle
6003-413: The north and east, while others argue that the Embu, along with their closely related Eastern Bantu neighbours the Kikuyu, and the Meru moved into Kenya from points further north. The Embu are cash crop and subsistence farmers who also rear cows, goats and sheep. A man's riches were formerly judged by how many wives and children he had. For example, Senior Chief Muruatetu, probably one of the most famous of
6090-476: The peak. The lower slopes are covered by different types of forest. Many alpine species are endemic to Mount Kenya, such as the giant lobelias and senecios and a local subspecies of rock hyrax . An area of 715 km (276 sq mi) around the centre of the mountain was designated a National Park and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The park receives over 16,000 visitors per year. Mount Kenya National Park, established in 1949, protects
6177-468: The peaks of the mountain. Translated to the Kamba language, kĩrĩnyaga, would be ki nyaa . This is the name that Ludwig Krapf was given when he sighted the mountain from Kitui (in Kamba county). He recorded it as Kenya. It became the name of not only the mountain but also the country. The Embu people live to the south-east of Mount Kenya, and believe that the mountain is God's home (the Embu word for God
6264-507: The people and the region, which for many years was the only administrative unit. In 1992, "Greater" Meru District was divided into three administrative units: Meru Central, Meru North , and Tharaka-Nithi (Tharaka and Meru South). After the promulgation of a new constitution in Kenya on 27 August 2010, Greater Meru was further re-defined and now consists of the twin counties of Tharaka-Nithi and Meru . The Greater Meru covered approximately 13,000 km (5,000 sq mi), stretching from
6351-538: The plants decrease in size again. The majority of animals live lower down on the slopes of Mount Kenya. Here there is more vegetation and the climate is less extreme. Various species of monkeys, several antelopes, tree hyrax, porcupines, and some larger animals such as elephants and buffalo all live in the forest. Predators found here include hyenas and leopards, and occasionally lions. There are fewer mammals found at high altitudes on Mount Kenya. The Mount Kenya hyrax and common duiker can live here, and are important to
6438-425: The region surrounding the mountain. Currently, the national park is within the forest reserve which encircles it. In April 1978 the area was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve . The national park and the forest reserve, combined, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The Government of Kenya had four reasons for creating a national park on and around Mount Kenya. These were the importance of tourism for
6525-469: The richest counties in Kenya and recent demographic surveys have ranked it among counties with longest life expectancy. With the advent of colonialism , many cash crops were introduced. For long these have offered a lucrative alternative source of livelihood for the people. The most widespread cash crops to date are coffee, tea, miraa(khat) and macadamia nuts . These are mainly grown for sale with little being processed for domestic consumption. Embu district
6612-619: The shining one'. The word Miiru was also used to refer to the nearby forests of Mount Kenya, thus the name Amiiru , meaning 'people of the forest'. The Ameru people comprise nine subgroups: the Igoji, Imenti, Tigania, Mitine, Igembe, Mwimbi, Muthambi, Chuka and Tharaka. The Tharaka live in the semi-arid part of Greater Meru and they, along with the Mwimbi, Muthambi and Chuka, form the Tharaka-Nithi County . The Ameru are unrelated to
6699-603: The sky. They believe that the mountain is Ngai's throne on earth. It is the place where Gĩkũyũ, the father of the tribe, used to meet with God. Thus according to the Kikuyu records, Gĩkũyũ is the first person on Earth to ascend the mountain. 'Mwene Nyaga' in the Kikuyu language can also translate as the "Owner of the Ostriches" or "Owner of the white patches (of snow)" where 'Mwene' translates to 'owner', and 'Nyaga' to Ostriches or white patches. The snow (in Kikuyu: Ira) caps of
6786-400: The smoothed summit of the peak. Circular hills with steep sides are also frequent in this area, which are probably the remains of small plugged vents . However, as the remaining mountain is roughly symmetrical , most of the activity must have occurred at the central plug. The rocks that form Mount Kenya are mainly basalts , rhomb porphyrites , phonolites , kenytes and trachytes . Kenyte
6873-450: The two wet seasons. The wet seasons combined account for 5/6 or 83% of the annual precipitation. The monsoon , which controls the wet and dry seasons, means that for most of the year there are south-easterly winds, but during January and February the dominant wind direction is north-easterly. Meru people Diaspora Performing arts Government agencies Television Radio Newspapers The Meru or Amîîrú (including
6960-452: The vicinity of Mount Kenya . The exact place that the ancestors of the Meru migrated from after the initial Bantu expansion is uncertain. Some authorities suggest that they arrived in their present Mount Kenya homeland from earlier settlements to the north and east, while others argue that the Meru, along with their closely related Eastern Bantu neighbors moved into what is now Kenya from points further south. The name "Meru" refers to both
7047-509: The wet and dry seasons in the Kenyan lowlands. As Mount Kenya ranges in height from 1,374 to 5,199 m (4,508 to 17,057 ft), the climate varies considerably over the mountain and has different zones of influence. The lower, southeastern slopes are the wettest as the predominant weather system comes from the Indian ocean. This rainfall supports dense montane forests on these slopes. High on
7134-431: The yore and transmitted through generations. Embu people Modern ethnicities Diaspora Performing arts Government agencies Television Radio Newspapers The Embu or Aembu (sometimes called Waembu ) are a Bantu people indigenous to Embu county . The region is situated on the southern slopes of the former Eastern province . The Embu belong to the northeastern Bantu branch and speak
7221-407: Was 7,000 m (23,000 ft) high. It was covered by an ice cap for thousands of years. This has resulted in very eroded slopes and numerous valleys radiating from the peak. There are currently 11 small glaciers , which are shrinking rapidly, and may disappear by 2050. The forested slopes are an important source of water for much of Kenya. There are several vegetation bands from the base to
7308-517: Was enraptured by the fresh trout available in the fresh rivers flowing through Embu. The Ruvingacĩ and Kavingacĩ 013 Rivers border Embu town to the west and the east respectively and are a key source of domestic water to many Embu families. Embu region has for long been known as having very conducive altitude and climate that produce highly superior human body system. There has however been very little or no efforts in engaging young people from this area in sporting activities to tap this advantage. However,
7395-541: Was first reported by Gregory in 1900 following his study of the geology of Mount Kenya. The geology of the Mount Kenya area was first described scientifically by Joseph Thomson in 1883. He saw the mountain from the nearby Laikipia Plateau and wrote that it was an extinct volcano with the plug exposed. However, as he had only seen the mountain from a distance his description was not widely believed in Europe, particularly after 1887 when Teleki and von Höhnel ascended
7482-445: Was sent by God. Then one day the two, now man and wife, had a ceremony, where Ndega broke his promise and reproached his wife. It rained heavily, and the floods drowned the old couple. Their children survived and their descendants filled the land of Embu.The couple was wealthy, and their descendants populated the rest of Embu. Other authorities suggest that they arrived in their present Mount Kenya homeland from earlier settlements to
7569-618: Was the first to be established in the area in 2006. Three chartered public universities, Chuka University and Tharaka University in Tharaka-Nithi County and Meru University of Science and Technology in Meru County, have been established. Other institutions of higher learning, including the University of Nairobi , Egerton University , Kenyatta University , Co-operative University College, Nazarene University and Mount Kenya University have established satellite campuses in
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