Nairobi, April 10 -- The Kikuyu Council of Elders on Friday performed a cursing rite at the Githunguri kia Wairera shrine in Kiambu County against the government, after the police attacked their meeting with teargas and batons.

They smashed calabashes to symbolise how they beseech the gods to frown upon the attack and also crush all ambitions aimed at 'desecrating' the shrine, where the government intends to build affordable housing units.

Smashing of pots and calabashes in the Agikuyu culture signifies curses that are considered irreversible and with no atonement, unless elaborate rites are performed to mitigate the progression of the consequences to survivors and later generations.

The elders say they were on a mission to go and pray...