Description

The Kikuyu call the mountain Kĩrĩnyaga (“the mountain of brightness” or “the one with the ostrich”) and believe it is the throne of their God, Ngai. They tell a creation story in which Ngai took the first man and woman, Gikuyu and Mumbi, to the mountain to show them the land.

The Embu refer to the mountain as “the shining one” and perceive God (Mwene Njeru) as the omnipotent creator who resides in the sky and has favorite places on earth, including Kirinyaga.

The Meru believe their God, Murungu, came from the skies and made the mountain his earthly abode. They have their own rituals and oral traditions tying them to the mountain.

The Maasai, who are semi-nomadic, believe their ancestors came down from the mountain at the beginning of time. They call it Ol Donyo Keri, or “mountain of stripes,” referring to the rock and snow.