An examination of the spiritual and moral importance of contemporary male circumcision ritual among the Ameru in Kenya

Abstract

Ritualistic circumcision has been carried out in West Africa for over 5000 years. This was a revered rite and upheld in indigenous societies. In Kenya, almost all ethnic groups traditionally practice male circumcision. Those that do not include some people spilling over the Ugandan border (eg: Teso and Chapadola), and the Turkana and Luo. The purpose is generally to facilitate a seamless transition of adolescent males to adulthood. However, this revered rite has been transformed in contemporary times and some societies do not practice it as it was done in the past.The study thus examined how circumcision is practised among the indigenous Ameru who inhabit both the Meru and Tharaka Nithi Counties of Kenya. It further underscored the changes that have affected the conduct of this ritual in contemporary society. It finally expounded on the future and continuity of this significant ritual among the Ameru. The research was carried out in the Ameru and Tharaka Nithi Counties in Kenya. The mixed methods approach proved appropriate for this study since the empirical data gathered from the field is important in examining the contemporary male circumcision ritual among the Ameru of Kenya. A total of eighty-eight respondents were purposefully sampled to participate in the study. They comprised 24 Njuri Ncheke Elders, 32 males from the eight age sets among the Ameru who underwent the traditional circumcision rite, and 32 youthful males from the Ameru age sets who underwent modern hospital circumcision. Apart from employing oral interviews with the selected respondents, open and closed-ended questionnaires were administered to them. The research findings established that circumcision is an important rite among the  Ameru enabling the youth to transform into mature and responsible adult men. Religion, education, intermarriage, and other modern ways of life have transformed male circumcision among the Ameru. The churches, schools, and the Njuri Ncheke now undertake the educational and moral teachings of this important ritual. Apart from the physical nature of circumcision, elaborate seminars should be conducted to educate adolescent males on the importance of this ritual.