By Collins Wanderi via Facebook
The Nyeri woman has now assumed national notoriety over what some people consider disgraceful conduct in the domestic front. This is news only to those who do not the history of Nyeri County and its women. Nyeri women have always led their counterparts from neighbouring Counties in almost every aspect of life. It all began in 1929 when the Church of Scotland, now PCEA made a declaration that Christianity should not just be concerned with conversion, but with “cultural transferenceâ€.
The Church which had established two major Mission Centers at Nyamachaki and Tumutumu in Nyeri ordered its faithful to cease and desist from Female Circumcision (FGM) as a right of passage for girls. Contrary to what the men expected, a lot of women in Nyeri embraced this directive and refused to be cut. This was the first major act of defiance against male domination by women in Central Kenya, led by the Nyeri woman.
Many joined PCEA run schools in those days to escape FGM. By early 1960s FGM had virtually disappeared from the face of Nyeri but continued to thrive in neighbouring Counties lasting up to mid 1980s! It is thus no wonder that Nyeri women are pioneers in academia and women empowerment. You all know where great women such as the late Prof. Wangari Maathai (who acquired a PhD in 1971) and Mrs Jane Kiano were born.
I could mention many other great Nyeri women who are leaders in the corporate world, academia and business but I do not have their permission.
My point; the Nyeri woman learnt early enough and long before her sisters from neighbouring Counties to fight and create her own space. She does not suffer fools and can hardly submit to a man who cannot stand his ground. And any man who grew up in Nyeri knows this; Nyeri women will do anything to maintain their independence and hold their families together.
They are hardworking, enterprising and elegant. Even Joseph Kamaru, the legendary Kikuyu musician sang about them; ‘Gathoni’.
In most households in Nyeri, women are very strong and will in most cases take change of the proceeds of farm and dairy produce. They actively participate in Gitati (modern chamas) and their husbands have no control over money or property acquired through these chamas.
Most Nyeri women, even in rural areas of Nyeri, Nyandarua, Laikipia & Nakuru maintain a separate bank account where the husband has no control. The men of Nyeri understand this but men from other places view the woman from Nyeri as rebellious, aggressive, controlling, domineering and manipulative.
There is a clear difference between the Nyeri woman and her sisters. It is noteworthy that since independence, Murang’a and Kiambu Counties only elected their first female (non-preferential) direct Constituency MPs in March 2013.  Nyeri and Kirinyaga Counties had done this many years ago!!
Alcoholism, drug and substance abuse has become a major problem in Central Kenya. The Nyeri woman is sending a clear message; she will not entertain such excesses anymore.
Instead of holding public demonstrations over this problem like we have seen in Limuru, Makuyu and Kinangop, the Nyeri woman has chosen to do what she knows best. Confront the problem head on and deal with fellows who cannot stand their ground because of alcohol, drugs and psychotropic substances.
You will note that most of the men who are said to have been attacked by women in Nyeri are loafers; idlers and lazy-bones who cannot maintain a household and their only claim to manhood is long legs and facial hair. And just like in 1929, the Nyeri woman is now leading her counterparts in the fight against alcoholism and drug addiction; Rûûi Rûtithereraga na Rûgogongo!
The Nyeri woman is sending a CLEAR message; she is willing to go to any length to whip wayward men back line.
I may not support some of the methods Nyeri women have been using to deal with domestic addiction but I understand their frustration. I too cannot understand how an adult who is capable of taking care of herself ends up living with another adult who is addicted to alcohol, drugs and other psychotropic substances.
I know a lot of men married to women from Nyeri who have had to stop smoking, drunkenness and marital infidelity. They know that a woman from Nyeri does not kowtow to outdated cultural norms and cannot stomach such excesses.
Now you also know and if you are in the group that engages in smoking, drunkenness and marital infidelity, please keep off Nyeri women. It is reckless for a lover of beer, tobacco and drugs to date, engage or even marry a Nyeri woman! Atumia na Airitu a Nyiri matihakagwo macúrú!!!
NB: Sorry for the long post. To the media, give the Nyeri Woman a break!
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