| Being the largest ethnic group in Kenya, they | | | | part of a subgroup mbari formed a muhiriga which |
| have a lot to do with the political and social climate | | | | is a clan. The nine clans in Kikuyu culture were the |
| in the land. About four centuries ago, the kikuyu | | | | Achera, Agachiku, Airimu, Ambui, Angare, Anjiru, |
| migrated to their present home. This is the slopes | | | | Angui, Aithaga, and Aitherandu. Kikuyu cultural |
| of Mount Kenya formerly known by the kikuyu | | | | practices did not allow for them to fully count |
| as Kirinyaga. Kirinyaga is where their God 'Ngai' | | | | people, children and livestock. Therefore the clans |
| lived. He was also known as Mwene Nyaga. The | | | | were ten but only nine were mentioned. |
| founder of this great tribe was called Gikuyu, | | | | The counsel elders were the ones who sorted |
| according to their traditions. He was instructed to | | | | out any disputes in the clan. The ones it could not |
| start the tribe by Mwene Nyaga on Kirinyaga. God | | | | sort out were resolved by the ordeal of the hot |
| provided him with a wife, Mumbi and they got | | | | knife where one was burnt on the tongue to |
| nine daughters who make up the nine clans in the | | | | determine if he was telling the truth. An oath was |
| group. Kikuyu cultural practices are being eroded | | | | also taken to determine whether one was telling |
| by westernization today. | | | | the truth. Youths were circumcised to graduate |
| The family initially known as nyumba was joined | | | | them to become warriors. |
| by other family units to form a mucii. The mucii, a | | | | |
