Were Uhuru and Ruto duped to wear fake Akamba attire? – PHOTOS
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto have raised eyebrows on social media on their recent installation as Akamba elders.
The ceremony, held at a public rally in Kibwezi, Makueni County, has been widely criticised on social media by members of the Akamba community who claim it lacked cultural authenticity in the choice of attires used.
At the ceremony, President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto were clothed in kikois and red hats that had striking resemblance to those worn by Nigerian and Kaya elders.
The two leaders were also handed a bow – known as uta – to symbolize protection, a flywhisk (mweinga) for leadership, a gourd (kikuu) and a stick (ngolya/kamuti).
The items are not disputable, but the inclusion of the red hat in the attire sparked a debate.
According an interview with an elderly man familiar with the culture, Akamba elders used to dress a cover up and hat made from animal skin due to their animal rearing socio-economic activity.
The outfit has since been traded for a modern look of kikoi and a woven hat, a switch protested the elderly people in the community who insist that the animal skin hat should at least remain.
The elders argue that the animal skin is still easy to come by as the Akamba people still keep goats and cows.
Here are some of the reactions of online users on the attires worn by President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto at the event;
