ĨTŨĨKA

Ituĩka is the passage of the generation-sets (mariika) that comes upon the land through blessing — the elders blessing the offspring with solemn sacrifices. Its meaning is this: from its very origin, the Agĩkũyũ nation has been held together by a council of elders — people set apart to commune with Ngai (God). These elders carry the honour bestowed on them by the people of the land. They are chosen to become the leaders handed down to the generations by their forebears.

That thread of guiding wisdom carried the aims of the pillars that belonged to the Agĩkũyũ generational order. This is how it was marked: the community adorned itself, and the regalia known as ngotho was worn. The council (ndundu) was arrayed in that regalia. Among them were those skilled enough to align the ngotho with the moon, so that it answered to the very word the Mũgĩkũyũ himself spoke — that they stand before Ngai; for it was seen that an elder bearing the ngotho on the left hand appeared like the moon.