Crying stone of Kakamega in Kenya.
Crying stone and legend has it has it that it was once a happily married man. He had no troubles,and and therefore,no reason to cry.
One day the man woke up to discover that bhis beloved wife had left him for another man. His heart was broken,and he wept inconsolably. Ever since that tragic day,the man has been waiting for his wife to return,but as she never has so he stands alone on the side of the road weeping with no one to comfort him. Eventually,he turned into a rock,but his tears continued to flow, earning him the name,The Crying Stone of Illesi.
To most locals however,the stone is known as Ikhongo Murwi.
Not only is Ikhongo Murwi a signifier of the rainy season to come,but it is also a source of magical protection.Before we had our present country demarcations,the stone was regarded a boundary between the Luhya and the Nandi territories. Both communities believed that Ikhongo Murwi and magical powers and was protecting the Luhyas.
Upset that they kept losing wars,the Nandis tried to topple the stone. They sent their best warriors to carry and 100 of them died.
The caves beneath Ikhongo Murwi are also used for healing rituals by the Isukha sub-tribe. If one has committed a crime or a taboo act,they must be cleansed in the caves before being allowed to re-join society.
The ritual involves animal sacrifices, food preparation and performances of the traditional Isukuti dance in celebration of the successful ceremony.
