Keke! My people come see wonders
Now he has become a preacher!
With his mud slinging sermons, throwing dirt at your sister
Assassinating my character, oi nano, what a bother!

Did my village not call me Nkatha?
Mwari wi nthoni, a daughter of Mt Kenya, well raised by my mother!
The daughter of Mugambi, the chief is my father!
My grand father, Mukuru Koome, sat in the Nchuri Ncheke’s Council of elders!

This daughter of the soil is not happy my elders
I send my mother to my father, so that my anger can reach your ears
With the best of my sorghum harvest, indaakiyiri marua, I have brewed you marua

Raise your flywhisk for your daughter, she is not throwing a tantrum, ti mururu!
Allow me gikaro, a sitting in your midst, I am burning with maruru!
My anger is raging, roaring like the lions of masaai mara

They said he is laing’o, the village warrior
Kibunda kia miraa, Mutembei brought to my father
He asked for my hand, Mukuru Mugambi my father agreed, and took the miraa
My father Mugambi and Akuru ba ntura, as a sign of blessing of our courtship, aprroved of the ngambanio, ibanyuire marua!
From Mutembei, the tree planting champion
Nchamba at planting his tree of life in other people’s gardens

Leaving his oat seeds sprouting everywhere, he went looking for work in the town of Meru
He has been working for Mr Nyakeeru the White man.
For ten years he has tended his ranch and weeding Mrs Nyakeeru’s private garden

Akuru, my elders he is asking for his bride price, nkabuuria, iu ti nthuu, is he not mad?
When my waist remains stiff, my garden full of weeds
And his nciarwa, the offspring of Mutembei, single handedly, I have fed!
Buru ni ndaarima, ndaauyuria nchuku, utiirio ana baariwa i mpara, the children have been well fed.
Why now is Mutembei undressing your daughter, ambaciria nthoni buru, her honour he does not defend!

Mukuru Kanyuithia says, mucii i yuroami, I am his daughter in law, and the mother of his grandchildren, of my good character he raves
Akuru itu ni kaniei Mutembei, I will not be send early to my grave!
I the daughter of Mugambi, the granddaughter of Koome will keep my home because I am brave!

Akuru ringei muregi nthi, strike your staff and defend your daughter
Let it be known that Mutembei the son of Kanyuithia, his father will bear witness, i ndema kuya, your counsel he does not heed!
Kirindi kia Mukunga! Let the people, antu ba ntura bamenye, let them hear it is not the first time Mutembei has been warned!

©️ C Akui 2020/07/13

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