Tourists attracted by Machakos’ anti-gravity force of nature

Tourists attracted by Machakos’ anti-gravity force of nature

T

he puzzle of the myth is that storytellers do not explain who sired Kamau. Is it Mwilu or Kyalo? I guess it is Kyalo since the mother had a soft spot for him.

BY MUSYOKA NGUI

Kyamwilu defies gravity. Photo/Google Images

Ukambani is changing for the better. With a top-notch governor like Alfred Mutua the Lower Eastern region is no more synonymous with hunger and relief aid. True, the region is sandy and not the best place to grow crops unless under irrigation but we in Ukambani have a phenomena that defies forces of nature and baffles scientists since it was “discovered” by the colonialists in the 19^th century. I say discover in quotes because historians would want to erroneously make us believe that Africans who lived in Kyamwilu village had not lived with the phenomenon where water climbs uphill for years until the Whites arrived. How racist? That aside, welcome to Machakos County the home to Kyamwilu hill where water does not follow conventional laws of nature. Located along Machakos- Kangundo road, the Kyamwilu hill is a gem.

The origin of the name Kyamwilu is interwoven in rich Akamba myths which have been passed from generation to another by the word of mouth. A story is told about a woman who was married to two brothers. With time the polyandry hit the rocks as the siblings grew jealous against one another. The marriage went on and on until the woman became pregnant with one of the men and gave birth to a baby boy named Kamau.

The wife never accorded both brothers equal affection since she visited Kyalo more often than Mwilu. As a result their siblings’ rivalry escalated as the woman of the house preferred to visit Kyalo who lived on the lower side of the hill than Mwilu who lived on the upper part of the hill. As a consequence, Kyalo enjoyed more frequent conjugal rights compared to his brother Mwilu.

The wife eventually passed away and the son survived her although he refused to stay at the disputed matrimonial homestead preferring to migrate to an unknown place. The Kamba folk lore seem to hold glaring double standards since it permits polygamy where a man marries many wives but in this story the woman who married just two brothers was doomed. Even Mother Nature seems to reprimand the woman for having her cake and eating it, literally.

Rebellious Hill

The abnormal scenery makes climbing the hill easier than descending it given the force of gravity acts contrary to the way it is supposed to do; make ascending easier. If your car breaks down on the road at Kyamwilu you will have to hire people to push it downhill where more force is required to work that going uphill. It is also a nice place for fitness as you enjoy climbing upwards more than downhill.

A simple experiment is usually administered by guests who carry water in bottles and pour it on the road and eureka, the water flows upstream not the expected downhill! The spot that spans about 100 meters is named in honor of Mwilu, the husband who never got to enjoy conjugal rights from the matriarch of the house who instead preferred his brother Kyalo. The puzzle of the myth is that storytellers do not explain who sired Kamau. Is it Mwilu or Kyalo? I guess it is Kyalo since the mother had a soft spot for him.

Unfortunately, the marvelous wonder of the world reinforces stereotype that says Kambas love sex and fans superstition which the community is revered for the “kamuti” culture. Their neighbours from Kitui excel better in this. Just look at the next street post and it will be written “Dakitari Kutoka Kitui”.