Ciokaraine: The Story of the Female Meru Diviner

Ciokaraine: The Brave Meru Diviner
Ciokaraine M’Barungu was a prominent female diviner, leader and human rights activist.

Ciokaraine was born in 1909 in Gauki, Igembe Location of Meru County. She and her siblings were orphans and were raised by their grandfather, Kiabira wa Mwichuria, a prominent “mugo” or medicine man.

Ciokaraine was her grandfather’s favourite grandchild and often followed him everywhere he went, on his duties treating people, most of whom were children. From a tender age, she was exposed to many forms of illnesses and treatment methods.

At the age of the 15 Ciokaraine was given a new name – Kanyiri - by her age mates after an initiation ceremony held at Gakuo. Kanyiri meant one who stood out from the rest.

This name was chosen because Ciokaraine had shown great leadership qualities and her age mates often involved her in mediating their conflicts because she was fair and just.

During the resistance to colonial rule, the Mau Mau were accused of killing a man called Kibuti, who was a member of the Meru Council of Elders (Njuri Ncheke). The colonial administration took advantage of this incident to relocate the people of Gauki to a place called Kiegoi. The colonialists calculated that this would make sure that the people of Gauki could not provide food to the Mau Mau.

When the senior chief of Igembe, M’Mruaa, himself a member of the Njuri Ncheke seemed to be in agreement with the colonial government's position, Ciokaraine stood up to him and rallied the people against him during a public meeting.

Ciokaraine rallied her people as well as the people of Ithima and Akachiu to gather near what is today Maua trading centre. They protested while carrying sacks and baskets and resisted the colonial government’s instructions to uproot their yams, bananas and all food from their farms. Ciokaraine was fearless and her people followed her.

When the Njuri Ncheke eventually summoned Ciokaraine to explain why she had defied the orders of the colonial government and the male leaders in her community, her response stopped them dead in their tracks.

She asked why her people were being asked to destroy their crops which would cause famine. She also told them that it was the responsibility of the Njuri Ncheke and the colonial government to guard the people and to stop the killings.

Ciokaraine’s was unshakeable in her resolve. And she even said that she was ready to sacrifice her own son. Her bravery changed the colonial government’s action and the people were not forcefully relocated.

A few weeks after the meeting with the Njuri Ncheke elders, the senior chief recommended that Ciokaraine be appointed to the position of assistant chief.

She was appointed in April 1954 and served in this role until 1959 when she retired after being involved in a car accident while on official duty.