Hundreds to attend 100-year anniversary in honour of kind chief

The quiet Tuthu village in Murang’a County is an important cultural heritage site for the Agikuyu. It is not only home to Tuthu Shrine, it is also the first place where the Consolata Missionaries celebrated mass under a mugumo tree, considered sacred among the community. One cannot mention the history of the church without mentioning one man.

A picture of the present Tuthu Catholic church. PHOTO:BONIFACE GIKANDI

The late paramount Chief Karuri Gakure accommodated the messengers of Christ during their first sojourn. Back then, the clergy team of four was en-route to Ethiopia before they diverted after a king in Somalia declined to provide guides and security.
When the team got to Nairobi, they were introduced to chief Gakure by then Murang’a District Commissioner as they attended a ceremony to celebrate enthronement of the British King in 1902.
Later on, the first church was built with support of the paramount chief and the local community in 1902 before it was burnt during Mau Mau liberation.
According to historians, then Murang’a DC introduced the clergy to the chief to seek for accommodation.

The chief agreed to host them and secure space to build a church. To reach Tuthu, the clergy used a train to Naivasha before trekking towards the Aberdares.
Once they landed on June 28, 1902 they were shown by the late Gichure wa Kimani where to build the church. The first mass was held the following day.
The clergy settled in Tuthu and started close collaboration with the community. The church grew and spread to Murang’a town ushering in construction of St Mary Cathedral.
After establishing a firm base at Tuthu, the missionaries moved to Nyeri, Embu, Meru and others parts of the country to set up missions.
On Wednesday June 29, all the roads in Murang’a will head to Tuthu village to celebrate the 100 anniversary of the paramount chief that will also coincide with the first Catholic mass by Consolata missionaries to be held on Kenyan soil at the Tuthu Catholic Church.

The event’s organising committee chairman Francis Macharia told The Standard on Sunday that thousands of people are expected to grace the occasion.
“The purpose of the celebration is thanksgiving for the role the church has played and also to remember our great father and paramount chief who did a lot for the community and especially in education,” said Mr Macharia.
Historian, researcher and retired Catholic Priest Joakim Gitonga, said Karuri was the chief first in Mt Kenya region to welcome the British ministers while others fought them. He also encouraged use of coins instead of the barter trade.
The researcher said a research has revealed that Karuri lineage could be extended to the family of the late President Jomo Kenyatta in Kiambu and Nyeri Catholic Archbishop Peter Kairu who was born and brought up in Molo.
It was during his reign that Wangu wa Makeri (a woman) from Weithaga location was promoted to a chief.
Locally, Karuri is remembered for banning circumcision of boys in the entire Murang’a County.
The ban was lifted after elders pleaded with the late chief, arguing that in three years there were hundreds of boys wishing to undergo the rite but could not because he had imposed a fine of Sh2 per boy.
Tuthu Catholic Church also houses the mausoleum of Chief Gakure.