The name is absent

oathing, stirring pots seven times, and licking the sticks while taking the oath in
order to enforce the power of the oath, and drinking blood seven times.⁵⁸ By
repeating these actions seven times, the oath administrators were invoking the
symbolic “magic” or power of numbers. Some accounts of traditional kithitu
invoked the use of seven such as using seven stones while taking the oath.
Lindblom states “...in taking the oath on the kipitu 7 stones are placed by the
side of it; on these stands the man who swears and they probably help to a
certain extent to make the breaking of the oath baneful.”⁵⁹ Lindblom also
references in his work that the number seven was used during prayers and
sacrifices when the Kenyans wanted something positive.⁶⁰ Therefore, the number
seven was symbolic of another power source to enforce the dangerous nature
and consequences for breaking the oathing statements. The number seven was
found both as a good and evil number leading to good or bad repercussions.⁶¹

Banana Leaf Symbolism

The banana leaves were also an instrumental symbol in oathing and
remain sacred in different cultures. Banana trees can create large and luscious
leaves and are readily available. This is part of the reason for its use in oathing
practices. In the case of Mau Mau oathing ceremonies the leaves were used to
form an arch symbolic of a gate in which participants went through representing
their spiritual transformation. The physical movement through the banana arch

⁵⁸ KNA MLA 11/93 - CC 204/55 Rex vs. Kabibya p. 2; KNA MLA 11/43 - CC 1/1954 Rex vs.
M’Miragwi S/О M’Mwithia; KNA MLA 1/986 - CC 103/54 Rex vs. Rueben Mbwika, p. 2.

⁵⁹ Lindblom, The Akamba, 307

⁶⁰ Lindblom, The Akamba, 308

⁶¹ Lindblom, The Akamba, 307

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