Pilgrims troop to Mt Kenya for annual prayers

Hundreds of people pray facing Mt Kenya at Samson Corner along Embu-Nairobi highway during an annual prayer pilgrimage on December 27,2014. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• They prayed for national unity and integration among all communities in the country.
• The pilgrims wore blue clothes, tied blue ribbons on their vehicles and women wore blue head scarfs.

By JAMES NGUNJIRI
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Hundreds of pilgrims from different parts of the country participated in a day long religious expedition on Saturday around Mount Kenya to pray for the nation.

The pilgrims started their prayer session at Samson Corner in Kirinyaga County and went round the mountain.

They prayed for national unity and integration among all communities in the country.

The pilgrims wore blue clothes, tied blue ribbons on their vehicles and women wore blue head scarfs.

They took an anti-clockwise trip round the mountain making seven stopovers along the Sagana – Embu – Meru – Nanyuki - Nyeri road during the December 27 annual event.

Hundreds of people walk on the Embu-Nairobi highway during the annual Mt Kenya pilgrimage on December 27, 2014. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

At each stop, they raised their hands and faced Mt Kenya as they prayed, with the first stopover eventually becoming the seventh and the last.

According to Gikuyu and Mumbi Cultural Museum Director General Samuel Kamitha, who are the organisers of the event, the prayers were to seek divide intervention over incidents that happened in the country this year.

Mr Kamitha said the communities involved had a common culture, beliefs and to some extent traditions which should be exercised so as to live in harmony.

“The unique prayers are also attracting tourists who have shown interest in attending the annual event,” noted Mr Kamitha.

He said Mt Kenya has a rich history that touches on all African countries stating that the mountain is believed to once have hosted the Holy covenant.

Director of pilgrims in Mt Kenya and the coordinator at Gikuyu and Mumbi Cultural Museum Ruth Njoroge Engeseni said they also prayed for the country’s economy and insecurity.

"We are very saddened when we see people killing each other in Africa, we have come to request God to take control of this country and harmonise the minds of Kenyans so that we can live in peace,” she said.

The pilgrims also prayed for good governance and peace in the country.