“We Will Not Accept ” Kikuyu Elders Stage Heavy Protest, Reject Ruto's Project In Kiambu

Kikuyu elders have staged protests in Githunguri to oppose government plans under President William Ruto to construct affordable housing on a contested piece of land, insisting the site is sacred and should be preserved. 

The elders argue that the land holds deep historical and cultural significance, claiming it once served as a shrine and a meeting place for Mau Mau fighters during the struggle for independence.

They want the area instead designated as a non-denominational place of worship and a protected heritage site. 

The proposed Githunguri Affordable Housing Project seeks to develop 2,180 housing units on approximately 58 acres. 

However, the initiative has been temporarily halted following a High Court order issued after objections were raised by the Kikuyu Council of Elders. 

The court’s intervention has intensified public debate around the balance between development and cultural preservation.

Meanwhile, police have been deployed across Githunguri to maintain order as tensions rise and demonstrations gain momentum. 

A section of residents has expressed solidarity with the elders, arguing that the project disregards community values and historical memory.