Ciokaraine M'Barungu (1909 - unknown), known simply as Ciokaraine, was a prominent female

diviner Diviner, also referred to as the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment (DLRE), is an infrared radiometer aboard NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, part of the Lunar Precursor Robotic Program which is studying the Moon. It has been used to create ...

, political leader and human rights activist from Igembe,

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

. She was a fierce supporter of

women's rights Women's rights are the rights and entitlements claimed for women and girls worldwide. They formed the basis for the women's rights movement in the 19th century and the feminist movements during the 20th and 21st centuries. In some countri ...

and is known for having offered up her son's life during the

Mau Mau Uprising The Mau Mau rebellion (1952–1960), also known as the Mau Mau uprising, Mau Mau revolt or Kenya Emergency, was a war in the British Kenya Colony (1920–1963) between the Kenya Land and Freedom Army (KLFA), also known as the ''Mau Mau'', an ...

Early life

Ciokaraine was born in Rusanga, Athiru Ruuine in 1909, the village situated in the Igembe region of the Meru district in Upper eastern region, Kenya.She came from antubeiya clan of Igembe subtribe of Meru community, a clan known for in the region for producing tough women. After her parents passed away, she and her siblings were raised by their grandfather, Kabira wa Mwichuria, a well-known muaa ( meru traditional medicine man). Ciokaraine was her grandfather's favorite and she accompanied him on his healing rounds. He treated people of all ages, and Ciokaraine was exposed to various situations notably involving women and children.

Defiance & Bravery

Early in 1954, during the resistance to the colonial settlers, a member of the Njuri Ncheke named Kibuti was dragged out of his home and killed by Mau Mau rebels during the

, a war in the British

Kenya Colony The Colony and Protectorate of Kenya, commonly known as British Kenya or British East Africa, was part of the British Empire in Africa. It was established when the former East Africa Protectorate was transformed into a British Crown colony in ...

(1920–1963) between the

Kenya Land and Freedom Army The Kenya Land and Freedom Army (KLFA), also known as the Mau Mau, was a guerrilla army, formed mainly by the people of central and eastern Kenya, dominated by the Kikuyu people. It resisted British colonialism in Kenya from the late 1940s to ...

(KLFA), also known as ''Mau Mau'', and the British authorities. This led to a ruling by British colonialists that accused the residents of Gauki of maintaining supply lines to the insurgents. They planned on moving the residents to Kiegoi, located in the Igembe South Constituency, to ensure they couldn't support the Mau Mau hiding in the nearby forests. Ciokaraine stood up bravely against the patriarchal Njuri Ncheke the senior chief of Igembe, Ntoamuruaa. He then ordered residents of Ithima and Akachiu to gather near the trade town of Maua and bring sacks and baskets with them. It was at this meeting that the colonial government took notice of Ciokaraine. At the gathering, the colonial authorities announced to the people that they were to uproot all edible food from their ''shambas'' (farms). Ciokaraine stood up defiantly and instructed the people, "The yams and bananas must not be uprooted." The Senior chief was displeased with her disobedience and she was given direct orders to explain herself. She responded fearlessly and asked that, instead of destroying the food and potentially starving the entire region, the colonial forces must guard the yams and bananas and stop the Mau Mau from killing any more residents. "I am ready to sacrifice my son if that will stop the killing," she stated.

Recognition

Her bravery changed the attitudes of the elders and started a system of "''shamba-squatting,"'' where colonial forces occupied all farms close to the forests in order to prevent the Mau Mau from stealing the crops. A few weeks after the meeting, senior chief M'Muraa recommended Ciokaraine for the position of assistant chief. She was appointed the first female headman in April 1954 and held the position until she retired in 1959 after being involved in a car accident while on official duty. Ciokaraine survived the accident and remained active in her community after retirement. Her legacy continues and she is said to have been as famous as Cierume of the Mbeere and Wangu wa Makeri of the Gikuyu.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:M'Barangu, Ciokaraine 1909 births Year of death missing People from Meru County Kenyan activists Kenyan politicians